Chapter 897

Inside the boxing gym.

When Ying Chanxi arrived in a hurry by car and rushed into the gym, Li Luo was already gone.

Mainly because he had punched her father—though during the fight Li Luo had felt incredibly cool and satisfying, after it was over, he felt a bit embarrassed to face Ying Chanxi like this.

He simply said a few words and took his leave first.

So when Ying Chanxi rushed into the gym and saw Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing on the nearby sofa, she immediately ran over, drenched in sweat, and asked, "Where's Li Luo?"

At that moment, Yuan Wanqing was supporting the dizzy and disoriented Ying Zhicheng as he leaned against the sofa, carefully feeding him water.

After drinking the water, Ying Zhicheng finally felt a little better.

Hearing his daughter's voice, his heart suddenly panicked—he felt his head spinning again, unable to meet Xi Xi's gaze.

Fortunately, Yuan Wanqing spoke up: "Li Luo just left."

"Huh? Left?" Ying Chanxi looked puzzled, then turned to her father, seeing his exhausted state, and immediately tightened her expression, asking, "Is Li Luo okay? Did he hurt you anywhere?"

"No no," Yuan Wanqing couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "He's perfectly fine, no injuries at all."

"Oh, good," Ying Chanxi let out a deep breath, then turned to Ying Zhicheng with a concerned look, "Dad, are you okay?"

Ying Zhicheng: "————"

So after checking on Li Luo, it was finally his turn as a biological father?

Ying Zhicheng mentally grumbled, but then remembered the blunt words Li Luo had struck him with, and fell silent again.

Just then, Yuan Wanqing continued: "Xi Xi, just now Li Luo actually————"

"Spent eight hundred rounds sparring with me!" Ying Zhicheng immediately snapped his eyes open, shouting loudly, "It's mainly because I'm old and out of stamina compared to him—that's why I lost!"

"Of course he was letting you win," Ying Chanxi said, relieved but still puckering her nose, "Otherwise you'd have lost in a few rounds."

Ying Zhicheng: "————"

That comment really hurt his feelings as a father.

Yet after being beaten by Li Luo, Ying Zhicheng gradually recovered and suddenly felt strangely enlightened.

He stood up from the sofa, shook his head to confirm he could walk steadily, then finally said, "Let's go home."

Back home, Ying Zhicheng instructed his staff to send him the latest promotional plan they had been preparing.

After receiving the file, he forwarded it to Ying Chanxi and told her in the living room, "Send this to Li Luo—it's the promotional plan he asked for. Have Chongran Culture coordinate with him these few days."

Ying Chanxi received the file and, hearing Ying Zhicheng say that, paused in surprise, then immediately forwarded it to Li Luo.

At that moment, Li Luo had already driven home and, sensing his phone buzz, pulled it out to glance at it.

【Ying Chanxi】: (file)

【Ying Chanxi】: My dad says you asked him to send you—the promotional plan for "The Beginning."

【Li Luo】: Mm, received. Is Uncle Ying okay?

【Ying Chanxi】: He's fine. Don't you know whether he's okay after you beat him up?

【Li Luo】: Good he's fine. I just got home—I'm parking now.

【Ying Chanxi】: Okay, park. Then listen to me scold you.

Not long after, Li Luo finished parking, got out of the car, and pulled out his phone again. Seeing that message, he froze.

【Li Luo】: Huh? Why are you going to scold me?

Could it be she's angry because he brutally beat up Ying Zhicheng?

Li Luo thought this, already preparing to apologize and explain.

But Ying Chanxi only called him on WeChat. When Li Luo answered, she said, "Do you know how panicked I was just now?"

"Mom said you and Dad both stormed off to the boxing gym with dark faces—clearly planning to go all out."

"I was terrified—I called both of you, and you had the nerve to hang up on me?!"

"If you hadn't run away so fast, I'd have jumped in and punched you myself today!"

Hearing this, Li Luo realized Ying Zhicheng had hidden the truth—he let out a wry laugh: "I was just angry earlier, couldn't hold back, so I sparred with Uncle Ying. Didn't expect you'd show up."

"You were angry?" Ying Chanxi was surprised—since the high school entrance exam, she'd hardly ever seen Li Luo angry.

Hearing he'd actually been angry this time, she grew curious: "What did you two talk about at dinner?"

"Nothing much," Li Luo chuckled. "My position was clear enough. Now it's up to Uncle Ying whether he's willing to accept it."

"Oh, by the way, tell Uncle Ying to unblock my WeChat and phone number."

"See if he's willing—test his reaction. If he is, then there's hope."

Ying Chanxi raised an eyebrow: "Really? After you two beat each other up, he'll suddenly get it?"

"Who knows?" Li Luo grinned. "What if Uncle Ying suddenly achieves enlightenment?"

"What enlightenment?" Ying Chanxi rolled her eyes. "You've written too many novels."

"Just try it and see."

"Alright, I'll try."

Ying Chanxi hung up, stood up, walked to the study door, knocked, pushed it open, and poked her head in: "Dad."

"What is it?"

"Can you unblock Li Luo's WeChat and phone number? Otherwise, it's hard for you two to communicate, right?"

She didn't dare say Li Luo had asked her to request it—otherwise it would sound too blunt.

Even so, she thought it would be extremely difficult to get someone to voluntarily unblock someone they'd previously blocked.

But Ying Zhicheng, upon hearing this, first froze, then fell silent. After a moment, he nodded: "Alright, I understand."

He looked at his daughter, expression full of unspoken words, but ultimately said nothing more.

Ying Chanxi was stunned—he actually agreed? She immediately took her leave and returned to her room to call Li Luo.

"Well?" Li Luo answered, also feeling hopeful.

"My dad agreed!" Ying Chanxi said happily, smiling. "So does that mean his attitude has really softened?"

"Mm." Li Luo exhaled in relief, then smiled too. "If that's the case, things will be easier now. I feel you'll be back before long."

"Mm-hmm." Ying Chanxi nodded vigorously, hugging a panda plush on her bed as if it were Li Luo himself, unwilling to end the call.

When Li Luo arrived at the study, sat down, and said he was going to write, Ying Chanxi didn't ask him to hang up—instead, she had him turn on speakerphone and just keep writing.

Listening to the continuous clacking of Li Luo's keyboard, Ying Chanxi lay in bed, as if she had returned to the Sky Ridge Elegant Residence's study, her mood gradually settling into calm.

On the other end, Li Luo typed while also reflecting on today's events.

After confirming that Ying Zhicheng had truly removed him from the blacklist, Li Luo suddenly realized something.

If dealing with Xu Rongsheng meant catering to his preferences, staying rational, and persuading him with logic and evidence…

Then for Ying Zhicheng, sweet talk seemed useless—he was completely hard to soft?

He was angry just a while ago, but after getting punched, his attitude actually improved?

Li Luo had already prepared for the worst—if Ying Zhicheng flew into a rage, he'd just have to give up entirely.

Yet Ying Zhicheng now looked like he'd been broken by the beating—

Honestly, this was a little unfamiliar to Li Luo.

But no matter what, as long as things continued moving in a better direction, it was still a good thing.

He just didn't know when Ying Zhicheng would fully come around and accept the situation between the four of them.

Evening.

After bathing, Ying Zhicheng returned to the bedroom and lay on the bed.

Beside him was Yuan Wanqing, applying a face mask and scrolling through her phone.

Ying Zhicheng also pulled out his phone and idly scrolled, then suddenly asked: "Wanqing."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think—I should approve of Li Luo's situation?"

"Huh?" Yuan Wanqing turned her head in surprise, nearly smearing her mask.

After quickly adjusting the mask, she considered and said: "Aren't you already sure of the answer?"

"Am I?"

"Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me," Yuan Wanqing chuckled. "You often stick to your own views. You only seek others' approval when you yourself can't fully accept the decision you've made."

"You say that—" Ying Zhicheng gave a helpless expression. "Just tell me the outcome."

"Of course I'll follow you," Yuan Wanqing checked the time, felt the mask had soaked long enough, and peeled it off, smiling at Ying Zhicheng. "But since you already approved of Xixi and Zhusheng, what difference does adding one more make?"

"Can you call that no difference?" Ying Zhicheng clicked his tongue. "Xixi and Zhusheng are both our daughters—they married into one family, but it's still just between our two families."

"But adding Xu Youyu means it's no longer two families—it's three."

"If something goes wrong later, it'll be a nightmare to handle."

"You're only thinking of the bad side," Yuan Wanqing said. "In truth, the Xu family's strength is no small matter—they'll make an excellent in-law family."

"After all, Xu Rongsheng is already Vice Dean of the Literature College at Qianjiang University. Didn't he say himself during the New Year's gathering that, with proper maneuvering, he could become Dean?"

"And I heard from Cui Suling that her father is one of the current members of Qianjiang University's Board of Governors."

"Once Xu Rongsheng becomes Dean of the Literature College, he will inevitably join the Board of Governors and take over her father's position."

"Think about it—this position at the top of Qianjiang University represents a vast network of vested interests."

"The hidden power, even just within Qianjiang Province, is absolutely formidable."

Ying Zhicheng knew Yuan Wanqing was right, but couldn't help grumbling: "Are we even considered in-laws?"

"Hmm—" Yuan Wanqing, reminded by his remark, grew slightly awkward.

But if they agreed, they'd be family—so calling them in-laws… wasn't that acceptable too?

"In short, my view is simple," Yuan Wanqing turned onto her side, snuggling into Ying Zhicheng's arms, and whispered softly: "Since Xixi and Zhusheng have both chosen Li Luo, respect their decision."

"Besides, the Xu family might never agree to this in the first place."

"In the end, wouldn't you still be forcing Li Luo to choose between Xixi and Zhusheng—or Xu Youyu?"

"Do you really think our daughter would lose to someone else's?"

Ying Zhicheng snorted: "Of course not. If Li Luo's got a screw loose, he'll pick Xixi and Zhusheng, not the Xus."

"Exactly," Yuan Wanqing continued. "So what do you think?"

"I think—" Ying Zhicheng opened his mouth to continue, then suddenly felt strange—how had he ended up only able to agree?

He recalled the scene at dinner today, when Li Luo had dominated the conversation about his career.

He remembered the boxing ring, where Li Luo had landed heavy punches on him.

Recalling the dizzy, nauseating sensation, Ying Zhicheng took a deep breath.

"No, no," Ying Zhicheng shook his head vigorously.

"Huh?" Yuan Wanqing blinked, puzzled—she'd guided him this far, how could he still say no?

But Ying Zhicheng immediately added: "We can't agree so soon. We need to take it slow."

"I just got punched by that brat today—if I agree right away, won't I look like an easy target?"

"What if he decides he doesn't like me tomorrow and punches me again? Will I even survive?"

Hearing this, Yuan Wanqing couldn't help rolling her eyes secretly, then held back a laugh and asked: "So what do you propose?"

"Let's give him some space," Ying Zhicheng grunted. "We can't give in so quickly."

"Besides, in a few days there's a film and television industry meeting—I plan to take Xixi along."

"Tencent Video will be there too. Xixi's been negotiating with them lately and wants to meet them in person."

"So let's wait until we get back to decide."

"Fine," Yuan Wanqing said, seeing Ying Zhicheng's attitude had fully softened. She didn't press further, smiled lightly, and rubbed her belly. After a moment's thought, she finally said: "Now that we've finished talking about this, I have another matter to tell you—"

"Hm? What else?"

"It's just—" Yuan Wanqing stroked her smooth, flat abdomen and said, with hesitation and uncertainty, "I think I'm pregnant."

"What?!"