The next morning, the heavy rain gradually stopped, and in its place, a chilly yet warm sun emerged.
The sky outside was clear and cloudless, the sun was bright, and everything was calm and beautiful, full of vitality.
Shen Lang woke up early to brush his teeth and wash up. Today, he had to rush to Hengdian Film Studio to shoot a short video adaptation of his novel.
All the filming equipment was ready, the actors' schedules were set, and there was no rain to delay them. It was time to seriously make some money.
Once he had a stable financial status that he could show off to his family and friends, Shen Lang could finally show off the rewards he got from the system without any worries.
After washing up, Shen Lang grabbed his car keys and phone, and opened the door. Just as he did, he ran into Li Liusu, who was about to head out to buy breakfast for him.
"Good morning," Li Liusu said, locking her door and turning to Shen Lang with a polite and happy smile.
"Morning, my foot. Are we neighbors or a couple? Stop with the 'good morning' and come here," Shen Lang teased, casually waving his right hand like he was calling over a pet cat.
Li Liusu got the hint and, with a joyful smile, ran over and hugged Shen Lang's arm, her eyes reflecting nothing but him.
"Don't bother bringing me breakfast today. Let's go out to eat, and I'll drive you to school afterward," Shen Lang said, squeezing her warm jacket and adding, "Also, it's getting cold lately, so make sure to dress warmly like you are now when you go out."
"Mmhmm, you too," Li Liusu replied, clearly touched by the small gesture of concern. She instinctively pinched the thick edge of Shen Lang's coat, a relieved smile appearing on her face.
Not far from the neighborhood entrance, a small street was lined with breakfast vendors pushing their carts. Shen Lang wasn't picky. After parking the car, he and Li Liusu found a seat.
They ordered some typical breakfast items and started chatting while eating.
Shen Lang and Li Liusu's personalities were quite different, which was evident in their conversation. Shen Lang did most of the talking, while Li Liusu mostly nodded or agreed, focused on peeling a hot tea egg.
If it weren't for the way she was so absorbed in listening to Shen Lang and the way she handed him the peeled egg, you might mistake her for some cool, distant goddess.
On top of that, their sitting posture was worlds apart. Shen Lang sat casually on the small stool, while Li Liusu sat with her back straight and hands resting politely on her knees, quietly watching Shen Lang.
After Shen Lang finished one tea egg, Li Liusu handed him another, continuing to peel it with full concentration.
This sweet and gentle act made Shen Lang smile, though if he stared too long, Li Liusu would blush and look away.
"Are you spending the New Year in Jianghai City, or are you going back home to be with your grandma?" Shen Lang asked, taking a sip of soy milk.
The New Year was only two and a half months away, and with Shen Lang's complicated situation, he needed to figure out how to handle his relationships during this important holiday.
He definitely needed to spend the New Year with his landlady and Mengmeng.
For someone like Xia Shuyi, who craved family warmth, the New Year was even more important than Valentine's Day.
He had an urgent matter with Su Lexuan yesterday and forgot to ask her, but he could check in with her later.
Ye Yinan came from a wealthy family, so she probably didn't need him around during the holidays.
So now, only this sweet and simple girl remained.
"My aunt invited me to spend New Year's at her place, and my grandma called recently to say she missed me," Li Liusu replied honestly.
"Your aunt? Is she good to your grandma and little sister?" Shen Lang asked, observing her expression and trying to gauge her family situation.
"Yes, she's very kind," Li Liusu nodded. "My aunt has paid for a lot of my tuition, and she also helps my grandma and sister get their benefits."
"Oh, that's good," Shen Lang sighed with relief. It seemed not all relatives were unreliable.
"How about I spend the New Year at your place? I've never been to Ganshu before," Shen Lang asked bluntly. "I've been seeing this local specialty 'Jiao Ge' all over TikTok, and now I really want to try some lamb head."
"Huh? You want to visit my home?" Li Liusu was clearly taken aback.
"What, not welcome?" Shen Lang tilted his head.
"No, it's not that," Li Liusu quickly shook her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's just that my home is really shabby, and the roads are rough. It'd take your car a long time to get there..."
"Stop, stop, just tell me if you want me to go or not," Shen Lang interrupted, not interested in hearing her worries.
"I do," Li Liusu nodded eagerly. Of course, she wanted her grandma and aunt to meet the boy she liked.
"Then it's settled. A few days before New Year's, I'll drive you back home, and we'll spend a few days there," Shen Lang said after peeling a tea egg and handing it to her.
"Mmhmm," Li Liusu responded happily, feeling overjoyed as she accepted the egg.
She took a bite of the egg, hesitated for a while, and then seriously said, "Before New Year's, I'd like to meet your parents and those two sisters you mentioned."
"Maybe next year," Shen Lang replied casually, trying to keep his cool while sipping his soy milk. "My parents are really busy with work. They might not even come back for the holidays this year."
"Oh, I see," Li Liusu didn't doubt him but asked, "Will your sisters be around? Can I meet them?"
"They live in Guang Province and are probably busy preparing for college entrance exams," Shen Lang smoothly dodged the question. "But if they do come back for the New Year, I'll introduce you to my family."
For Li Liusu to bravely bring up meeting Shen Lang's family, it meant she was already certain he was the one she wanted to spend her life with.
But given Shen Lang's current situation, there was no way he could let her meet his parents. If his parents found out how much he was fooling around, they might give him a scolding right in front of the whole family on New Year's Day.
"And if they don't come back, will you spend the New Year alone?" Li Liusu asked, concerned.
Shen Lang laughed and teased, "Why do you think I'm planning to visit your place?"
"You're so eager to meet my parents. Are you already thinking of marrying into my family?" Shen Lang joked, trying to steer the conversation away from the sensitive topic.
Normally, Li Liusu would blush at this kind of comment and fall silent, letting Shen Lang easily change the subject.
But this time, she looked at Shen Lang seriously for a long moment, hesitated, then blushed deeply. She clenched her fists on her knees, lowered her head slightly, and replied earnestly, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking."
PS: Going to sleep now, will update in the morning. Good night, everyone.