Chapter 889: Xu Rongsheng

7:00 a. m.

Qianjiang University faculty housing.

Xu Youyu got out of bed early, washed his face and brushed his teeth, changed clothes, stepped outside, and began jogging around Qianjiang University.

Without Li Luo and the two good sisters accompanying him, the morning run felt especially grueling.

Xu Youyu panted, gritted his teeth, white mist dispersing in the winter wind; after completing one lap, he felt dizzy, spots dancing before his eyes.

His legs trembled as he walked.

Back home, Xu Youyu dug a frozen breakfast out of the fridge, steamed two custard buns, and boiled a bowl of dumplings.

After finishing his simple breakfast, Xu Youyu finally heard movement from the master bedroom.

It was Cui Suling waking up.

Smelling the breakfast aroma in the hallway, Cui Suling came into the living room with a puzzled expression, only to see her daughter wiping her mouth after finishing breakfast—her face instantly filled with surprise.

"Why are you up so early? Why are you sweating on your head?"

Xu Youyu glanced at his mother, then said calmly: "Morning run."

Saying that, he rose and brushed past Cui Suling, walked into the study, sat at the computer despite his drowsiness, and began brainstorming and typing.

He also secretly logged into his QQ and sent a message to Li Luo.

Meanwhile, on the other side:

After parting from Ying Chanxi, Li Luo slipped back through the back gate of his yard.

He had just returned to his room when he received a message from Xu Youyu.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: What are you doing?

【Chongran】: Thinking of you. But why are you up so early?

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: Hmph~ Then guess why I got up early?

【Chongran】: Probably because you miss me too much.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: You're so full of yourself.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: But my mom took my phone, so I can only talk to you via QQ on the computer.

【Chongran】: Huh?

Li Luo paused, surprised by this turn of events.

No wonder Xu Youyu hadn't sent him another message after leaving last night.

So her phone had been taken.

But given Xu Youyu's personality and Xu Rongsheng's way of doing things, Cui Suling shouldn't have done something like this.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: Don't worry—I let her take it on purpose. Otherwise, she wouldn't have calmed down so easily.

【Chongran】: Are you really okay?

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: I'm fine. It's just my mom who's hard to deal with now.

【Chongran】: What about Uncle Xu? He doesn't seem like the type to agree to this easily.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: You're so dumb.

【Chongran】: What do you mean?

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: Nothing. I'm going to start typing now.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: But I'll give you a hint.

【Chongran】: What?

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: I remember you got two birthday gifts from my dad on your birthday before.

【Chongran】: Right. Two books.

【EarlySleepGrowsTall】: Haha~ Then take another look at those two books.

With that, Xu Youyu said no more and went straight to typing.

Li Luo stared, utterly baffled, and reopened the two birthday gifts Xu Rongsheng had given him inside his Memory Palace.

The first was given on his Gao Er birthday, when all three girls had already moved into Bihai Lanting, and the four of them lived under the same roof; Xu Rongsheng gave it to him during that birthday gathering.

It was called《TheVersionsofUs》，which could be simply translated as《Different Versions of Our Lives》.

The book tells of a male and female protagonist who meet by chance and become intertwined, yet across three parallel worlds, different choices lead to three utterly distinct life paths.

In the first parallel world, the couple fall in love and marry, but their marriage falls into crisis.

In the second parallel world, the female protagonist marries someone else, the male protagonist becomes an artist, and they maintain an ambiguous relationship.

In the third parallel world, the couple end up together, but the male protagonist dies young, leaving the female protagonist to raise their child alone.

Li Luo recalled the book's contents, leaning against the windowsill, gazing out at the bleak winter landscape, sighing softly, then began flipping through the second book.

Compared to the first, this second book was more mainstream.

It was given to him two months ago, on his birthday, by Xu Rongsheng: 《TheLittlePrince》.

In this book, the Little Prince from another planet visits different planets, meets characters like the "King" and the "Businessman," and forms a bond of taming with the "Fox."

But in the end, he chooses to return to his own planet, back to the rose he has always cared for.

The book holds many metaphors; as Li Luo flipped through it in his Memory Palace, he gained deep insights into why Xu Rongsheng had given him these gifts.

He was supposed to use the morning's free time to write, but he did nothing.

He stepped out of his room, sat with his grandparents in the courtyard, watching the flowers and grass by the gate, as time slipped by.

By lunchtime, he went upstairs and sat down; the five of them gathered around the table, eating in a far colder atmosphere than in the past few days.

The once-delicious food now tasted like chewing wax.

Not long after lunch, Li Luo heard the engine sound of a car next door.

He went downstairs to the courtyard and saw Yin Zhicheng already seated behind the wheel, maneuvering the car backward out of the gate.

At that moment, Yan Zhusheng ran over from that side and, out of Ying Zhicheng's line of sight, flung herself into Li Luo's arms, demanding a kiss.

By the time Ying Zhicheng straightened the car, Yan Zhusheng had already slipped back to Yuan Wanqing's side and winked at him.

Ying Chanxi beside them scowled at the brat, then immediately felt regret—her longing gaze shifted over and met Li Luo's.

The way she bit her lips clearly showed she was deeply moved.

But Ying Zhicheng was already calling them to get in the car; Ying Chanxi lost her only chance and walked reluctantly to the vehicle, opened the door, and got in.

Li Luo watched them leave, seeing Ying Zhicheng's car gradually drive away until it vanished around the corner. He looked down at the car key resting in his palm, pulled out Xu Youyu's key as well, then sighed with a headache.

How am I supposed to drive both cars back at the same time?

"What are you still staring at? They're gone." Lin Xiuhong walked up from behind and said to Li Luo, "Come inside. It's too cold out here."

"Mm." Li Luo nodded, then tossed both car keys in his hand toward Lin Xiuhong, "Mom, pick one."

"What's this? What's going on?"

"The keys to Zhusheng's and Youyu's cars—they got taken away, so we've got to drive theirs back."

"Huh? But your dad has his own car—doesn't that mean all three of us have to drive one each?" Lin Xiuhong looked baffled, reached out randomly, and grabbed Yan Zhusheng's key, "What a waste of gas. That's all money."

"Don't be so stingy over a little fuel cost." Li Luo pushed Lin Xiuhong's shoulder back inside, then went to fetch his grandparents to play mahjong.

We're leaving tomorrow, so no need to write today—spend more time with Grandpa and Grandma.

February 22nd, the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

Early in the morning, after finishing his solo morning run, Li Luo returned to the second-floor living room for breakfast.

While eating, he chatted idly with the three girls on his phone.

In the group chat of the four of them.

【Ying Chanxi】: Dad took me to stay in the city; I probably won't be able to come back for a while—Chongran Culture—

I can give remote instructions, but you'll have to go to the company yourself to handle the details.

【Li Luo】: Got it.

【Li Luo】: Has Uncle Ying woken up yet? I want to talk to him.

【Ying Chanxi】: He's up—he's been watching me these past two days, afraid I'll sneak out to find you.

【Li Luo】: What about Zhusheng?

【Yan Zhusheng】: I'm with Mom too, staying here—spending these two days wandering around her studio. So boring.

【Ying Chanxi】: Same here. Dad takes me to the company, says it's to improve my management experience—really, he's just spying on me.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Just behave for a few days. Dad's still mad—soothe him a bit.

【Ying Chanxi】: What about you? Is Mom easier to handle?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Yeah, I think Mom doesn't really mind—she just doesn't show it because Dad does.

【Ying Chanxi】: Really?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Why would I lie to you guys?

Li Luo watched the WeChat chat and casually called Ying Zhicheng.

"The number you dialed is temporarily unreachable."

Li Luo: "?"

He opened Ying Zhicheng's WeChat and tapped for a voice call.

Before the call even started, a red exclamation mark popped up.

This left Li Luo speechless.

【Li Luo】: Uncle Ying blocked me—he cut off my phone call and deleted me on WeChat.

【Ying Chanxi】: Huh? Dad's being so petty.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Talk to Mom. Have her set up a time with Dad—that'll be easier.

【Li Luo】: Okay, that makes sense.

【Ying Chanxi】: By the way, where's Senior? She hasn't said a word—still sleeping in?

【Li Luo】: Her phone was taken away. She can only reply via QQ on her computer.

【Ying Chanxi】: Senior's worse off than me?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Not bad—better than someone who used fifty and didn't even notice.

【Ying Chanxi】: Shut up! How dare you bring that up!

【Ying Chanxi】: If it weren't for this being a critical time, I'd have already fought Senior!

【Yan Zhusheng】: Fight! Fight! When this is over, don't hold back, Sister.

【Ying Chanxi】: Don't stir things up—did you use any of those fifty?

【Yan Zhusheng】: No, I only used the one Dad gave me on Li Luo's birthday—I never used yours.

【Ying Chanxi】: I don't believe your lies anymore. Just don't let me catch you.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Sister's too sensitive. Fine, I'll never use them again—just get pregnant already. I want to give Li Luo a baby.

【Ying Chanxi】: We're still in college! What baby?

【Ying Chanxi】: And with your attitude, I'm afraid you'll raise a stupid kid.

【Yan Zhusheng】: You're the one who's stupid—you didn't even notice when something was used.

Watching the two girls bicker on WeChat, Li Luo found it amusing.

Too bad he wasn't beside them to stop it physically—he switched screens to QQ instead.

【SleepEarlyGrowTaller】: When are you coming back?

【Chongran】: We'll have lunch, then head back in the afternoon.

【Chongran】: Has my beloved father-in-law woken up yet?

【SleepEarlyGrowTall】: He just got up, what's wrong?

【Chongran】: Call him, set a time for dinner, let's talk some more.

【SleepEarlyGrowTall】: Are you starting to tackle them one by one? Why does it feel like you're playing a game?

【Chongran】: What kind of game requires you to woo your father-in-law?

【SleepEarlyGrowTall】: Haha~ Then call him, I'll go back to writing.

Compared to Ying Zhicheng's impulsive behavior, Xu Rongsheng was clearly much more mature and did not block Li Luo.

Li Luo called him, and Xu Rongsheng answered quickly.

The two spoke calmly and set the dinner time for tomorrow evening.

Afterwards, Li Luo called Yuan Wanqing; upon learning that Ying Zhicheng had blocked Li Luo, Yuan Wanqing was helplessly resigned.

"I'll try first, and let you know when I have news," Yuan Wanqing said. "I'll lure him to a restaurant under some other excuse; once he's seated, you come in."

"Then I'm counting on you, Auntie Yuan."

"No trouble at all," Yuan Wanqing sighed. "But Li Luo, you're just too————never mind—I won't say more."

After hanging up, Li Luo exhaled deeply, feeling the road ahead was difficult, yet hope still existed.

After eating their final lunch in the countryside, Li Luo finally bid farewell to his grandparents.

Just as Li Luo's family of three were about to drive off, their neighbor, Grandpa Ying, came over to see them off.

"Oh, you're here?" Li Luo's grandfather glanced at Grandpa Ying and chuckled. "You haven't come to play chess with me these past two days—I thought you were really mad at me."

"It's not that serious," Grandpa Ying huffed. "But Zhicheng's been angry—I couldn't just come over to play chess with you then, could I?"

"What did I say last year?" Li Luo's grandmother smiled. "Our Li Luo is so outstanding—can't all three girls want him?"

"You still have the nerve to say that?" Grandpa Ying looked speechless. "Don't you two have any shame left?"

"But you don't seem to mind much either," Li Luo's grandfather remarked with a sidelong glance.

"In our generation, men had three wives and four concubines—it wasn't unheard of," Grandpa Ying sighed. "I'm not entirely opposed—but I worry the children will suffer."

Hearing this, Li Luo's grandfather paused, then seemed to recall something, and softly sighed: "Yes, but now—after all, we're in modern times."

Two p. m.

Li Luo drove Xu Youyu's BMW, followed by Lin Xiuhong driving Yan Zhusheng's Mercedes, and Li Guohong's own SUV, finally returning to Sky Ridge Elegant Residence.

As soon as Li Luo stepped through the door, he saw a tall figure standing gracefully at the entrance; the moment she spotted him, she rushed into his arms.