Chapter 817: Furious and Fierce, Punch After Punch!

After successfully leaving the kitchen, Xu Youyu returned to her bedroom, winking at Li Luo, who was still there, and gave him an OK gesture.

"What does that mean?" Li Luo stood at the door, peering outside, then immediately shut the bedroom door and asked, "Is it already done? What did you say to her?"

"I didn't say much." Xu Youyu chuckled, "I just told Aunt Yuan I'm planning to buy a villa, and asked her to take me along next time she goes to look at one."

"This thing…" Li Luo nodded slowly, then quickly asked with confusion, "But how is this related to what I just told you?"

"You're so dumb." Xu Youyu rolled her eyes at him, "Think carefully. Uncle Ying and Aunt Yuan don't live here—they have no idea how close we really are."

"From their perspective, I'm just a roommate who's especially close to the three of you."

"So I just need to dispel a little doubt in their minds."

Li Luo rubbed his chin, thinking deeply, then gradually understood: "So you mean…"

Xu Youyu snapped her fingers and hummed twice, saying, "By letting Uncle Ying and Aunt Yuan know I'm buying a villa, they'll assume I'm just temporarily staying with you when we move there."

"After all, if I were really yours, with a super-rich husband like you, why would I spend my own money buying a villa?"

"So in their eyes, if I buy a villa myself, it clearly means I'm planning to move out."

"That way, they'll be sure I don't have any special intimate relationship with someone."

"Right?" Xu Youyu leaned close to Li Luo, tilting his chin up and whispering teasingly in his ear, "Husband~"

"You actually thought of that?" Li Luo's body burned from her teasing; he pinned her against the wall, kissed her, then asked, "Then why not just tell Aunt Yuan outright that you'll be moving out?"

"That'd be lying," Xu Youyu huffed, "And if I said it outright, wouldn't that be like 'hiding gold while proclaiming it's not there'?"

"Some things are better left for people to figure out and guess themselves—they'll believe it more that way."

"Many people trust their own logic and judgment more than answers directly given to them."

Li Luo nodded slowly after listening: "You've got a whole system of reasoning."

"Of course I do." Xu Youyu grinned, "You rushed in here in such a panic for help—did I disappoint you?"

"How should I repay you?" Li Luo carried her to the bed, sat down, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, whispering, "I locked the door earlier—should we…?"

"Let go!" Xu Youyu quickly wriggled free, glaring at him irritably, "Uncle Ying and Aunt Yuan are right outside! Are you trying to cause trouble? And I haven't even packed yet—go help me!"

"Fine." Li Luo shrugged helplessly, quelled his thoughts, stood up, and began helping Xu Youyu pack.

Xu Youyu's belongings weren't many—slightly more than Yan Zhusheng's.

Starting with the wardrobe, besides regular clothes, she had an abundance of sensual little gadgets.

JK uniforms, secretaries, rabbit ears—all were basic stuff.

The other items, even with no one else present, made Xu Youyu blush; she hastily shoved them all into her suitcase.

"Why so many?" Li Luo, watching beside her, was also stunned, "I feel like we haven't used this many."

"Where haven't we?" Xu Youyu glared at him, "I just haven't used some of them yet."

"You bought way too many…"

"Aren't they all cheap to you in the end? Now you're complaining?"

"Cough… I didn't complain." Li Luo chuckled, hugging her from behind, "Buy more—next time we'll try them."

"Hmph~"

With Li Luo's help, Xu Youyu quickly emptied the wardrobe, packing unwanted clothes into plastic bags to take downstairs later.

Among them, Xu Youyu specifically kept the white scarf Lin Xiuhong had given her, planning to wear it today.

Then Xu Youyu went to the desk and began packing its contents and the bookshelf.

"Look what I found."

While packing the bookshelf, Xu Youyu pulled out a CD, waved it at Li Luo, and asked with a grin.

"A Mojito burn CD," Li Luo smiled, reaching out to take it, "Definitely bring this."

"I got a new computer with a CD drive—I'll loop it endlessly in the study," Xu Youyu grinned, took the CD back, and carefully stored it away.

She then picked up the mechanical keyboard matching Li Luo's, along with the wooden wrist rest he'd given her, and placed them in her backpack.

Besides that, there was the mug Li Luo gave her, the complete set of Literary Era physical books that Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng had gifted her for her birthday, and the middle volume of Little Joy that Li Luo had given her.

"Oh right, these too," Xu Youyu opened the desk drawer and smiled at Li Luo, "All the pen-pal letters you've written me over the years are here—including the one you wrote me in Qiongzhou City."

"Of course, besides these, there's the most important…"

"This!"

As she spoke, Xu Youyu had finished packing the above items; she now opened the cabinet door beneath the bookshelf and showed it to Li Luo.

Li Luo leaned in—and instantly recognized what was inside.

"These things, be careful when driving—don't let them break."

"Of course," Xu Youyu nodded firmly, "I bought some foam padding—I'll pack it in to cushion them."

Xu Youyu took out the box of custom-made cocktail glasses.

These were the birthday gift Li Luo had personally given her the first time she celebrated her birthday at Bihai Lanting.

He'd even made her several signature cocktails.

Recalling that time now, the memory remained vivid, like fine wine—the longer it passed, the more deeply it lingered.

"I plan to put these on the bar downstairs," Xu Youyu said eagerly, smiling, "Then order more to fill my liquor cabinet."

"As long as you like it," Li Luo helped pack the foam padding, grinning, "I also bought a pool table—later we can drink and play."

"Just play pool?" Xu Youyu gave him a sultry look, blinked, then teased with a grin, "We could also… play me… on the pool table."

"... I advise you not to flirt with me right now."

"Hahaha~" Xu Youyu saw his gaze darken and immediately darted away, avoiding being caught on the spot.

The two of them packed while playfully bickering; by midday, Ying Chanxi came to call them out for lunch.

At this point, Ying Zhicheng and Li Guohong were already seated, while Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng were helping serve the dishes.

Seeing this, Xu Youyu also walked into the kitchen to help bring out bowls and chopsticks.

After everyone was seated, Li Guohong, as the head of the family, spoke up: "Today's lunch is just a simple meal; the real feast is dinner."

"So I won't waste time with speeches—let's start eating."

"After lunch, we still have to move house."

"Mm, eat, eat," Lin Xiuhong said, lifting her chopsticks.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks, savoring lunch while chatting casually.

Li Luo turned to Yuan Wanqing and asked, "Auntie Yuan, how's your work and schedule lately? I remember you were supposed to perform on the Spring Festival Gala this year."

"Mm," Yuan Wanqing nodded lightly. "I've already practiced and rehearsed my Spring Festival Gala routine—no major issues."

"There are other dance troupes and some staff doing choreography too, but it has little to do with me."

"So I just need to report in a while before the Gala and join the final rehearsals."

Yuan Wanqing had originally not planned to appear on the Spring Festival Gala—after all, for her now, going to the Gala was less appealing than returning to the countryside with Ying Zhicheng to spend New Year's Eve.

She now truly enjoyed the warmth of family together.

Especially since Ying Chanxi had fully accepted her as a stepmother.

But since Li Luo had suggested it, Yuan Wanqing wouldn't refuse.

After all, he was one of her two daughters' future husbands; she might as well help him with his career when she could.

If this altered timeline adaptation could shine on the Spring Festival Gala, it would greatly benefit Chongran Culture's future development.

"As for Douyin…" Yuan Wanqing paused, then continued, "They somehow got wind of the news."

"After learning I'd be participating in the Gala, they reached out to me, wanting to discuss Spring Festival activities with the studio."

"But they're still in the planning phase, so they've only greeted me for now."

Hearing this, Li Luo raised an eyebrow: "Could they have secured the title sponsorship of the Gala?"

"Probably not," Yuan Wanqing shook her head. "The title sponsor for this year was already locked in long before Douyin even took off."

"That's true," Li Luo said, looking enlightened, then fell into thought. "Douyin's growth will be explosive—if they have any Spring Festival activities requiring your cooperation, you can agree, but make sure to get something in return."

"Naturally," Yuan Wanqing chuckled. "I'll remind the studio."

Seizing the opportunity, Ying Chanxi also spoke about Chongran Culture's development and plans.

After listening, Lin Xiuhong's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but praise: "Our Xixi is so amazing! Back when your Uncle Li and I ran this company, we just answered phones—you've already turned it into such a well-run place!"

Li Guohong was equally astonished—only a few months after university started, Chongran Culture had transformed completely, no longer the hollow shell it once was.

As they chatted, the conversation turned to Yan Zhusheng's livestream.

Upon hearing Yan Zhusheng livestreamed every Saturday, Lin Xiuhong immediately declared she'd watch every single one from now on.

Then they discussed Xu Youyu's novels; upon learning Xu might be nominated as a Grandmaster Writer this year, Li Guohong lavished praise, saying her novels were fantastic and that he secretly followed them all along.

Hearing this, Xu Youyu blushed for the first time in front of elders, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it—she could only frantically kick Li Luo under the table to vent her mortification.

Li Luo resisted while stifling laughter, thoroughly delighted.

The meal ended with a lively, joyful atmosphere—everyone was very happy.

Except Ying Zhicheng.

Since sitting down at the table, Ying Zhicheng had said nothing—even when topics he excelled at, like company management, came up, he remained silent, face grim, lost in thought.

Only after Yuan Wanqing whispered something in his ear did his expression soften slightly—but not much.

After the meal, the three girls stood up voluntarily to help Lin Xiuhong clear the table, and Yuan Wanqing, puzzled, leaned close to Ying Zhicheng's ear and asked:

"What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you? You Youyu isn't…"

"I know," Ying Zhicheng said, face dark, glancing at Li Luo nearby. "I'm not angry about that—I have another issue."

"What else could it be?" Yuan Wanqing asked, more confused, whispering beside him. "We've already accepted this. The kids are moving to a new home—can't you at least show a better face?"

"Sigh… you don't understand," Ying Zhicheng sighed deeply, recalling what he'd found in his daughter's drawer—his chest felt clogged, painfully uneasy.

"How don't I understand?" Yuan Wanqing snapped. "Are you jealous? Like a daughter's getting married and you've lost a piece of your heart?"

"Something like that… but even worse," Ying Zhicheng grunted, speaking low and annoyed. "I just… found something in Xixi's drawer."

"What?" Yuan Wanqing frowned, utterly baffled—what could possibly make Ying Zhicheng so miserable?

"It was…" Ying Zhicheng hesitated, then decided he needed to vent—he leaned close to Yuan Wanqing's ear and whispered something.

Instantly, Yuan Wanqing's face showed shock, then she glanced at Li Luo, then toward the kitchen, where Ying Chanxi's small back was visible.

Finally, she whispered, "N-no way? I don't think Xixi would…"

"It's all that Li Luo's fault," Ying Zhicheng snorted coldly. "He's probably been spouting sweet nothings nonstop—he's completely bewitched Xixi."

"I just never thought…" Yuan Wanqing's expression turned strange, then it clicked—she remembered how Yan Zhusheng had twice asked her if it was okay to do that. "No wonder Zhusheng kept asking me if it was allowed."

"She must've seen Li Luo and Xixi often… but I kept saying no, so she got desperate and asked me."

"Now that you say it… it all makes sense."

Ying Zhicheng: "..."