Chapter 94: Chance Encounter: Childhood Sweetheart

What does an income of over ten thousand yuan a month mean?

In Li Luo's previous life, in 2018, China raised the personal income tax threshold from 3,500 yuan to 5,000 yuan.

In other words, people earning less than 5,000 yuan per month did not need to pay personal income tax.

Under these conditions, the number of people paying personal income tax nationwide dropped from 187 million to 64 million.

That is to say, as of 2018, only that many people earned more than 5,000 yuan per month.

Not to mention the number of people earning over ten thousand yuan per month in 2014!

As a coastal province with a developed economy, Qianjiang Province was somewhat better off.

But for Li Guohong and his wife, who ran a breakfast shop from dawn till dusk, Li Luo's royalty income was still shocking.

After all, their combined monthly net profit from the breakfast shop was roughly between fifteen and twenty thousand yuan.

They had saved only six or seven hundred thousand yuan after more than a decade of hard work.

This was already thanks to the local economy's development.

Now their son suddenly told them he could earn over ten thousand yuan a month—and even more in the future.

How could Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong not be utterly stunned?

Remember, the breakfast shop's income was their joint earnings.

If you divided it equally by person, their individual monthly income was still lower than Li Luo's royalties!

That was twelve thousand yuan!

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong fell silent, exchanged a glance, and had no idea what to say.

After finally regaining their composure and calming their shock, Lin Xiuhong took a deep breath and asked slowly: "This five thousand is what you said, but where's the rest of the ten thousand? In the bank card?"

"Royalties are announced on the third of every month, and paid to the linked bank card on the twelfth," Li Luo said honestly. "Including this five thousand, there's barely six thousand in the account now."

"Didn't you say there was over seven thousand?" Lin Xiuhong raised an eyebrow. "Did you spend some?"

"No, there's tax to pay," Li Luo explained. "An 11% tax is withheld upfront."

"Oh, right." Lin Xiuhong's mind was still sluggish, but she nodded quickly once she understood. "How are your royalties announced? Can we see them?"

"Of course." Li Luo pulled out his phone, opened a browser, logged into the author backend, and said, "Here's the royalty income—August's, and September's."

Li Guohong leaned over beside her, and the two of them examined the screen closely: the numbers—seven thousand and something, twelve thousand—were clearly recorded.

Then they looked at the five thousand yuan in cash in their hands, staring at each other, unsure what to say.

"Actually," Li Luo cleared his throat and tried to reassure his parents, "I think Uncle's point makes sense."

"I've finally gotten into Fuyi High School—I still need to prioritize my studies."

"No matter what I do, I won't let it affect my studies. I understand that."

Here, Li Luo paused, then looked at his parents with sincere eyes and said: "But if I can guarantee my grades won't drop, and Qianjiang University is practically guaranteed, and I still have energy left to write novels?"

"Then there wouldn't be any problem at all."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong felt it made sense.

But Li Guohong quickly frowned: "I just looked—your novel chapters are two thousand characters each. I usually read two chapters a day, so that's four thousand characters."

"Your Chinese exams are only seven or eight hundred characters per essay. How can your brain handle writing four thousand characters every day?"

"Maybe for one or two months, but can you keep this up for one or two years? Twelve thousand yuan in royalties is a lot, but your health matters more."

"I understand that," Li Luo nodded. "But you've misunderstood one thing: writing Online Novel is my hobby. When I write, I'm happy—it's like playing a game, it's relaxing, and it's completely different from studying."

To convince his parents, Li Luo had to say things he didn't fully believe.

But for him, with the Memory Palace to rely on, both studying and typing were effortless—he didn't have to worry about physical strain.

The real issue was how to persuade his parents.

"Really?" Lin Xiuhong, hearing this, was half-skeptical. "If it's really that easy, wouldn't writing Online Novel be like picking up money off the street?"

"That's not the same," Li Luo shook his head. "Liking to write is one thing; writing well is another."

"It's like playing basketball."

"I really like playing basketball—it's relaxing and fun—but I can't make money from it."

"But Kobe and Jordan loved playing basketball too, and they made tons of money!"

In terms of logic, even if Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong combined their two mouths, they couldn't outargue Li Luo.

But Li Luo knew that logic alone wouldn't reassure his parents.

So after speaking, he immediately added: "Actually, this is simple."

"After National Day, there's the mid-term exam coming up."

"Once the results come out, you'll see whether it affects my grades."

"If my grades ever slip, you can stop me from writing Online Novel anytime."

At this, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong fell silent, feeling his reasoning made sense.

Of course, the key here was that Li Luo's royalties were simply too high.

Twelve thousand yuan a month…

Before, after buying their house, their six-thousand-yuan monthly mortgage had already caused the couple slight pressure.

Now, with their son suddenly earning so much, that pressure vanished instantly.

"Let's leave this five thousand with you," Li Luo said. "I don't spend much on food or drinks anyway. I'll use my royalties to pay the mortgage."

"That won't do," Li Guohong frowned. "How can a father let his son pay the mortgage, especially when you haven't even started working yet…"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Li Luo hadn't taken a real job yet—but he was already earning more than most people with one.

On this point, Lin Xiuhong, as a woman, was more pragmatic than Li Guohong, who cared too much about face. She smiled warmly: "This money really isn't useful sitting with you."

"Since you have this intention, use the royalties to pay the mortgage. Keep the rest for yourself—save it for your future wife."

"Uh..." Li Luo blinked, then chuckled, "Getting married? That's still a long way off."

"Just don't go spending your money recklessly," Lin Xiuhong glanced at him. "I'll have Chanxi keep an eye on you—can't let you waste it all."

Hearing this, Li Luo's expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly added, "Mom, you can let her supervise me, but don't mention my writing."

"Why not?" Lin Xiuhong eyed him suspiciously.

"Ahem." Li Guohong chimed in just in time to rescue him. "We didn't know before, so we could talk freely. But now Li Luo earns so much a month, don't go blabbing everything. Don't you understand the value of quiet wealth?"

"Fine," Lin Xiuhong nodded in agreement.

Li Luo shot his father a grateful look. Li Guohong smiled and gave him a look any man would understand.

After all, he'd read Li Luo's actual content—he knew exactly what was in it. If Ying Chanxi, that little girl, ever saw it, it would be a bit embarrassing.

As a father, he still supported Li Luo.

"Then it's settled," Lin Xiuhong said. "Do well in your midterms. Don't let us down."

"Got it, no problem at all."

Li Luo agreed at once.

With that matter settled, Li Luo exhaled in relief.

Lin Xiuhong curiously asked a few more details about Online Novels, then went out to the balcony to hang laundry.

Li Luo had planned to return to his bedroom and stay home for the night.

But then he thought: Ying Chanxi was alone at Bihai Lanting. If he didn't go back, she'd nag him all day tomorrow.

So Li Luo got up from the sofa, patted his backside, and told his father, "I'm heading back now."

"Huh? Aren't you staying home tonight?" Li Guohong asked, surprised.

"I made plans with Ying Chanxi," Li Luo lied smoothly. "We study together every night—she teaches me how."

"Finally decided to ask Chanxi for help," Li Guohong chuckled twice, then waved him off. "Go on, don't keep her waiting."

"Alright, bye."

Li Luo bid his parents farewell, slipped on his shoes at the door, and opened the front door.

Just as he closed the door and turned to head downstairs, he heard footsteps below.

Ying Chanxi appeared at the stair landing, and they locked eyes.

"Why are you back here?" Li Luo exclaimed in surprise.

Ying Chanxi's face flushed slightly at being caught, then she shot back, "Why are you out? Aren't you sleeping at home tonight?"

"I'm sleeping over there. You're coming home to sleep?"

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi quickly said, "No no—I just had dinner with Xinyan, took a walk, and since we were near here, I came back to pick up something."

As she spoke, she pulled out her keys and pretended to unlock the door, then turned and said, "Wait for me a moment—I'll grab what I need and go back with you."

"Then just sleep here. Go back tomorrow," Li Luo suggested, seeing she'd already returned.

"No way," Ying Chanxi shook her head vigorously. "We're going back there."

The panda doll and Li Luo's little blanket were still at Bihai Lanting—if she stayed here, how could she sleep?