Chapter 899

He stayed in the dorm all morning, chatting idly with his three roommates, and time passed quickly.

Cheng Xin chatted while simultaneously editing videos; Bai Haoran, sitting across from him, occasionally offered editing suggestions.

The two worked together smoothly, fitting well as a team.

As for Wen Zexuan, when he worked alone, he had to edit videos himself, but after officially confirming his relationship with Jiang Lai, he handed that task over to his girlfriend.

Wen Zexuan now primarily handled the initial video concepts and planning, as well as the filming process.

Jiang Lai was responsible for assisting with filming, post-production editing, and liaising with GG business partners.

The two complemented each other perfectly, and over these two months they'd earned quite a bit of money; during winter break, they traveled together and finally confessed their feelings while watching the sunrise atop Huangshan Mountain.

After hearing Wen Zexuan's romantic story, Cheng Xin drooled with envy and actually began looking forward to the content of Wen Zexuan's next video.

If he could find a suitable girlfriend, he'd definitely kowtow to Li Luo and Wen Zexuan.

After the morning passed.

The four roommates gathered together for once and went out for lunch.

With Li Luo present, there was no question of eating the school cafeteria—they headed straight to the nearby Tianjie.

They picked a high-end restaurant, ordered a full table of dishes, and didn't hold back, eating heartily.

Afterward, Li Luo bid farewell to the three, then went to the company for a quick round of errands.

After having trained himself in handling daily affairs, Li Luo no longer needed Ying Chanxi to remotely supervise him constantly—he could manage these small matters himself.

Only when it came to specific business advancement and planning did he require Ying Chanxi's intervention and coordination.

Ying Chanxi had already clearly outlined all of this online that morning, so Li Luo didn't need to worry about it at all.

Thus, after working at the company until around three in the afternoon, Li Luo checked WeChat and saw a message from Lawyer Tian; he got up, went downstairs, and arrived at his uncle Lin Xiufeng's bubble tea shop.

He walked in, greeted his uncle, ordered two bubble teas, then found a quiet corner seat and sat down.

Soon after, Lawyer Tian appeared at the entrance; seeing Li Luo waving from the corner, he hurried over.

"Director Li." Lawyer Tian sat down across from Li Luo, took the bubble tea he was handed, "Thank you—huh?"

Lawyer Tian thanked him, then realized this bubble tea was his favorite grass jelly flavor; after tasting it, he asked instinctively, "Three-tenths sweet?"

"Mm." Li Luo nodded. "That's probably your usual preference."

"Director Li remembers even this."

"Minor thing." Li Luo smiled and turned to the matter at hand. "Any suggestions on the student aid fund plan?"

"I've been following up closely," Lawyer Tian said simply. "Your company's legal team and Director Ying are both familiar with this project. The previous poverty-student aid fund is already being prepared by Qian Da for the new semester; students from the College of Literature may apply according to their individual circumstances."

"Additionally, you requested adding another item—a scholarship, or rather, a targeted cultivation fund."

"This is primarily to support students participating in Professor Xu's newly established Research Center's research projects."

"I summarized your requirements, consulted with Professor Xu, and finalized this current plan."

Saying this, Lawyer Tian pulled out a printed document and placed it before Li Luo.

Li Luo had already seen the online version, but he still opened the printed copy, scanned through it, confirmed its accuracy, then nodded. "No major issues."

"Good." Lawyer Tian smiled. "There are a few other minor matters—legal tasks entrusted recently by Chongran Culture—that require your personal review."

"Normally, Director Ying would handle the handover, but she said she's been busy lately, so she asked you to take a look yourself."

"If there are no problems, just sign it."

"Mm." Li Luo nodded, confirmed everything was correct, signed, then added, "The matter I mentioned to you before—no issues on your end?"

"No issues." Lawyer Tian nodded. "I'll pack my bags tonight and accompany Director Ying tomorrow to meet with Tencent Video."

"Alright, thanks for your trouble."

"One more thing." After wrapping up the basic tasks, Lawyer Tian mentioned another point to Li Luo. "Regarding the name of the aid fund, Professor Xu says it shouldn't be named after him personally—it should be called the Chongran Student Aid Fund."

Hearing this, Li Luo froze—he hadn't expected Xu Rongsheng to refuse.

He'd assumed the scholarship, meant to pave the way for Xu Rongsheng, should naturally be named the Xu Rongsheng Student Aid Fund.

Yet Xu Rongsheng had rejected this proposal?

Calling it the Chongran Student Aid Fund offered him no benefit.

Was he worried it was too obvious?

Li Luo thought of this, stroked his chin, found it reasonable, and his mind raced; he smiled at Lawyer Tian. "Then let's call it the Chongran Rongyin Student Aid Fund."

"Rong as in banyan tree, Yin as in shade—it symbolizes the tree's sheltering of students."

"Would that be acceptable?"

Lawyer Tian raised an eyebrow, chuckled. "Perfect. Excellent. Director Li really has culture—no wonder you write novels."

Thus, the name of the aid fund was officially settled.

With the main matters settled, before Lawyer Tian left, Li Luo gave him further instructions: if any issues arose during tomorrow's meeting with Tencent Video, he should call immediately.

Lawyer Tian assured him it was fine, then took his leave.

Li Luo sipped the remaining half-cup of bubble tea, wandered over to his uncle Lin Xiufeng's counter, and chatted with him for a moment.

"All done?" Lin Xiufeng looked up, then laughed. "You seem awfully relaxed—I thought your mom said you were in a hurry."

"In a hurry about what?" Li Luo asked. "Did my mom tell you?"

"Just mentioned it." Lin Xiufeng clicked his tongue. "You're really something—daring to say that in front of three girls' parents. I truly admire you."

"Of course I am." Li Luo chuckled, then asked Lin Xiufeng to make another bubble tea, took it in hand, and walked out the door saying, "In a few years, come to our wedding."

"You little brat—" Lin Xiufeng laughed and shook his head, then shouted loudly, "You should be bringing them to my wedding first!"

"Absolutely!"

Meanwhile, at Li Guohong's Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot restaurant.

In the farthest corner seat sat Ying Zhicheng.

Li Guohong sat across from him, watching the white steam rise from the boiling pot, then picked up chopsticks and dipped several slices of lamb into the broth to cook.

Dipping his chopsticks in the seasoning until his mouth was full, Li Guohong picked up his wine cup and clinked it against Ying Zhicheng's, then took a comfortable sip before finally asking, "You've been sitting here half an hour—say something already."

Ying Zhicheng looked up at his good brother, sighed, said nothing, and simply picked up his cup to drink again on his own.

After the wine slid down his throat, Ying Zhicheng sat quietly for a long while before suddenly saying, "Wanqing is pregnant."

"—What?!"

Today, Ying Zhicheng suddenly called him, saying he wanted to come eat at his hotpot restaurant.

No one else—just the two brothers.

Li Guohong had thought Ying Zhicheng wanted to talk about Li Luo and Xixi and Zhusheng.

But damn.

He hadn't opened his mouth yet, and now he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"What do you mean, pregnant?!"

"Shh!" Ying Zhicheng quickly signaled him to lower his voice. "Don't shout like that—this can't get out to outsiders."

"Oh oh oh." Li Guohong realized the gravity and fell silent, but couldn't help whispering to confirm, "Is this real? Did you go to the hospital for a checkup?"

"Mmm—specialized in a private hospital within the industry. She's definitely pregnant." Ying Zhicheng nodded.

"So are you two—" Li Guohong pressed curiously, "going to keep it?"

"Actually, I originally didn't plan to—" Ying Zhicheng rubbed his forehead. "Wanqing really wants to have it, but you know her health—so the hospital is still evaluating."

"If there are no health issues, according to Wanqing's wishes, she'll definitely have it."

"It's my fault—"

"Oh come on, why say things like that?" Li Guohong waved his hand. He raised his cup and clinked it against Ying Zhicheng's. "If Wanqing wants a child, then have it. It'll be your shared flesh and blood."

"But—"

"Have Xixi and Zhusheng found out yet?"

"Xixi already knows." This time Ying Zhicheng didn't make the same mistake—he told Ying Chanxi as soon as he confirmed the hospital results. "But Zhusheng doesn't know yet."

"Oh." Li Guohong nodded. "So what's your point? Why come here to eat with me today? The sun's rising in the west."

"Can't I just have dinner with my brother?"

"Please. You're a busy man—you only show up during holidays." Li Guohong rolled his eyes. "I thought you wanted to talk about Li Luo and the others, and you open your mouth with something this explosive."

"I was caught off guard too, but—" Ying Zhicheng hesitated here, then thought of his nightly conversations with Yuan Wanqing, sighed, and said, "You're lucky."

"What?"

"About Xixi and Zhusheng." Ying Zhicheng said, exasperated. "I'm done meddling. Let them do whatever they want—as long as Li Luo doesn't mistreat them."

Hearing this, Li Guohong's face twisted into an expression as if he'd seen a ghost—but he quickly suppressed the joy threatening to burst out, forcing his face into a stiff reply: "Why are you telling me this? Go tell my son yourself."

"I don't want to see him now." Ying Zhicheng's face darkened, recalling the brutal beating he'd taken from Li Luo just days ago.

To face that brat and say those exact words to him? It would be unbearable.

But he couldn't leave it unsaid, so he'd circled around to Li Guohong instead, to get the matter clarified first.

"In any case, this matter ends here." Ying Zhicheng said. "But these next few days I'm taking Xixi to a meeting—she'll be back around the twelfth."

"Then I'll let Xixi go straight to Li Luo's place. I won't stop them anymore."

"But don't tell Li Luo yet."

"Why not?" Li Guohong was baffled. "Isn't that exactly why you came to me?"

"I'm going to let him stew a bit longer." Ying Zhicheng snorted.

Li Guohong stared, speechless, but agreed anyway.

After finishing dinner with Ying Zhicheng, he saw his good brother off and drove home.

He told Lin Xiuhong about it; she too was shocked and delighted.

Shocked because Yuan Wanqing was pregnant; delighted because the dream of three daughters-in-law was drawing closer than ever.

So Lin Xiuhong eagerly pulled out her phone and called Li Luo.

"What are you doing?" Li Guohong quickly stopped her. "I promised him I wouldn't tell Li Luo yet."

"That's your promise, not mine." Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes. "You're dumb—just stay quiet. I'll speak."

Li Guohong: "—"

Watching his wife call their son, Li Guohong thought: well, it's not me who's telling him. Let her do it.

He wasn't someone who broke his word.

After all, Ying Zhicheng only said not to tell Li Luo—he never said not to tell Lin Xiuhong.

Thinking this, Li Guohong gave up and went to the balcony to smoke.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After Li Luo got home with his milk tea, Yan Zhusheng launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

Carrying Yan Zhusheng to the piano room on the fourth floor, Li Luo handed her the milk tea, and they sat down to sip and chat.

The sofa in the piano room was specially chosen by Yan Zhusheng—wide and plush, so one sank into it completely.

She squeezed into Li Luo's lap, sipping her milk tea, taking a sip, then offering it to him.

"You've been laying groundwork for a new song in your book lately, right?" Yan Zhusheng suddenly asked. "I see your novel, I Am Really Not a Star, is already preparing for the TV adaptation of Night Watch of Great Qian."

"Mm, but it's still early." Li Luo laughed. "It has to sync with reality—the TV series won't be filmed so soon."

"What about the new song?" Yan Zhusheng asked eagerly, blinking her big eyes.

"The new song? —Well, maybe." Li Luo smiled ambiguously.

"What do you mean, 'maybe'?" Yan Zhusheng pouted, bouncing on his lap. "It's either yes or no."

"If you want it, then it exists." Li Luo chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist to stop her bouncing. "Stop wriggling, or you'll say you can't take it again."

"Mmm—" Yan Zhusheng felt his change, jumped off his lap, and pulled him to the piano. "If there's a new song, sing it to me."

"The new song was meant for Aunt Yuan," Li Luo said helplessly. "The style feels more suited to Aunt Yuan."

"What style?" Yan Zhusheng pouted in displeasure. "I can learn it."

"Hmm————it's just more————" Li Luo said, placing his hands on the piano.

The next second, his phone rang.