"Ran, were you good today?"
Luo Yao returned to the manor after finishing her work.
Lin Ran: "Of course I was. Nowadays, I just smile politely at other women and never even glance at them."
Luo Yao knew he wasn’t lying, and she was pleased with his behavior today.
But the thought of Lin Ran initiating a conversation with Zhang Xiaonuan still left her feeling slightly unsettled.
"Ran, go to the bedroom and get ready. I’ll be there soon."
Lin Ran froze, his pupils shrinking slightly.
Get ready? Soon?
He knew Luo Yao well enough to understand the true meaning behind those words.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the look in her eyes right now was one of punishment.He was probably in for another round of suffering.
He walked into the bedroom, silently retrieving a leather restraint from the cabinet. After a moment’s hesitation, he also dug out a pair of handcuffs that hadn’t been used in a while, waiting for Luo Yao’s arrival.
"Ugh… I must’ve upset Yao Yao again. I’m the worst."
Though he said that, he genuinely couldn’t figure out what he’d done to annoy her.
Did I step forward with my left foot first when I greeted her earlier? Surely not…
As Lin Ran’s mind raced with possibilities, Luo Yao entered. Seeing the items in his hands, she smiled in satisfaction.
"Ran is so well-behaved, preparing everything in advance…"
Lin Ran’s expression darkened.
Do I look like I did this willingly?
"Don’t be scared, Ran. Today’s just a little punishment—it won’t hurt."
Lin Ran: "???"
Time flowed like sand.
The soft sound of impact gradually turned into rhythmic applause.
Lin Ran and Luo Yao plunged together into the deepest abyss.
Anger must be vented, or it festers like a sickness.
A volcano must erupt—scorching, searing…
"Ran, are you hungry?"
Lin Ran looked both aggrieved and resentful.
"I threw up before even eating. What do you think?"
Luo Yao stroked his chest sympathetically. "I didn’t mean to go that far… I was just a little upset."
"So, my dear wife, what exactly upset you?"
"Zhang Xiaonuan. Ran, you must remember—women outside are nothing but pretty skeletons. None of them will ever truly care for you. Only I love you for real."
Mystery solved.
It wasn’t a secret that Luo Yao kept tabs on him.
Lin Ran mentally cursed himself for being so dense—how had he not realized something so obvious?
But he’d only been trying to set boundaries with Zhang Xiaonuan. Was that enough to trigger Luo Yao’s innate jealousy?
Seems like his wife’s yandere tendencies were getting worse.
"Let’s go eat." Luo Yao didn’t want him to starve—replenishing energy after exertion was essential.
"Okay."
Lin Ran got up, intending to carry Luo Yao, but she yanked him down instead, pulling him on top of her.
Now face-to-face, their reflections mirrored in each other’s pupils.
"Ran, how much do you love me?"
Lin Ran didn’t understand why she was asking, but he was used to giving her solemn promises.
"No words could capture what you mean to me. If love had depth, you couldn’t see the bottom. If it had heat, we’d evaporate instantly. If it had height, the world would go dark—because you’d blot out the sky."
When something becomes habitual, it blends into life itself.
Every earnest vow Lin Ran made to Luo Yao was just part of his existence.
"Would you ever fall for someone else?"
"Never. I’m a one-woman man. My heart only has room for Luo Yao—not an inch to spare."
Luo Yao finally relaxed.
"Remember what you said. If you ever love someone else… both you and that person will regret being born."
Then, as if struck by a thought, she smiled—a disturbingly sweet expression.
"Lately, I’ve seen people online calling me a yandere. Maybe the term isn’t perfect, but it’s not baseless. I know I have issues, but I can’t control how possessive I am over you. So Ran… don’t ever make me snap."
"Because once I lose my sense of security, I will do something insane."
A murderous aura radiated from her—one that sent chills down Lin Ran’s spine, no matter how many times he’d felt it before.
He knew she wasn’t joking.
Still, he found comfort in her blunt honesty.
"You’ll never get the chance."
After dressing, Lin Ran carried Luo Yao to the dining room. The staff at their Beijing villa were long used to such displays—only Jiang Feihua looked scandalized.
Were Luo Yao and Lin Ran always this shameless here?
She’d thought their public affection in Shanghai was excessive, but Beijing seemed to dial it up even further.
"Uncle Fu is away for a couple of days. You’ll take over his duties."
"Understood."
Jiang Feihua’s eyes sparkled with joy—she’d finally become one of Luo Yao’s "inner circle."
Dinner was served, but Lin Ran and Luo Yao barely noticed the food, their gazes locked on each other.
Soup was a must with meals—Lin Ran made sure Luo Yao drank a few spoonfuls too.
"So this is what fortifying tonic tastes like?"
Lin Ran smirked.
"What, did you expect it to be delicious?"
"Not really. It’s medicinal—of course it wouldn’t taste great."
Jiang Feihua watched them sip soup, smiling to herself.
It was sweet. So, so sweet…
The Yiqi Guyuan tonic was good for health—no harm in drinking more.
They’d been exhausted after returning yesterday and went to bed early.
Today, however, they weren’t as drained. Lin Ran was the first to speak up.
"Let’s visit the garden after dinner?"
The garden?
"Okay."
For the first time since coming back to Beijing, they stepped into the rooftop garden.
The most vibrant flowers bloomed in the coldest season—a surreal contrast that felt like stepping into paradise.
They resembled a fairy-tale prince and princess—one without any tragic twists, just pure happiness.
"Stars are beautiful."
"And mesmerizing."
Both looked up at the sky, though anyone else would’ve seen nothing but haze and clouds.
Yet they gazed upward as if piercing through the smog to behold eternity itself.
So it didn’t matter if they saw stars or not.
What mattered was who stood beside them.