Luo Yao: "Nom nom" (chew chew)
"Ah Ran, you're so mean, causing trouble for the old man."
Lin Ran complained while reaching out with his chopsticks to grab Luo Yao's favorite dish.
"Actually, it's not that I'm mean, but that old man just doesn’t know his place. How dare he point out flaws in my Yao Yao? I don’t see any flaws in you."
Lin Ran was referring to the time when Uncle Fu had freely voiced his opinions about Luo Yao’s changes.
No injuries, it seemed.
A glance at the trio’s expressions revealed nothing unusual either.
Lin Ran began to doubt his own life choices.
Had his sly, manipulative words failed?
At that moment, Lin Ran suddenly felt inferior to Lin Jian.
If Lin Jian were here, he’d have effortlessly turned them against each other without lifting a finger.
That was the power of a master manipulator.
"Uncle Fu, you’ve been in a good mood in Shanghai, right? How does it feel being back in Beijing? You don’t seem as cheerful as before."
Uncle Fu: "..."
"Young Master Lin, spare me."
"Fine, fine. So even you have to beg me sometimes. I won’t say anything more, then—wouldn’t want Granny Wang to get the wrong idea."
Granny Wang: ???
If Lin Ran weren’t the young master, Uncle Fu would’ve torn him apart on the spot.
"Ah Ran, let’s go do something fun."
Lin Ran froze. Wasn’t this a bit too frequent for one day?
"Young Master, should I prepare some tonic soup?"
Uncle Fu grinned, while Lin Ran’s face fell.
He’d been laughing at someone else’s misfortune, only to find himself in the same position moments later.
Truly, what goes around comes around.
Karma always finds its mark.
"No need. I’m still good."
Lin Ran and Luo Yao retreated to their long-missed bedroom.
It was warm.
Beijing was in the north, where heating facilities kept the entire room toasty in winter.
Life in the north meant indoor comfort—that deep, pervasive warmth that made winter feel blissful.
But no matter how warm the room, it couldn’t compare to the heat of a lover.
As the lyrics of a song went:
"May your winters never lack warmth."
Luo Yao was Lin Ran’s warmth.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, Luo Yao glanced toward the decorations.
Lin Ran instinctively followed her gaze.
It was a bit far, hard to see clearly.
The last time he’d noticed a pair of eyes placed there, Lin Ran had felt a chill down his spine.
But after considering Luo Yao’s personality, he let it go.
This was Luo Yao—everything she did was adorable.
Besides, Luo Yao had once said, "I’ll make Liu Ruxue watch how I claim you for myself."
Looking back, she’d truly kept her word.
"Ah Ran, let’s @#�0�6%..."
"Alright, whatever you say. Even if I’m drained dry, it’ll be because you wore me out."
Luo Yao shook her head. "No, the Qi-Replenishing Tonic I prepared for you is the Yi Family’s secret recipe. I traded three top-tier hospitals for it—just for you."
"In the future, you’ll only grow stronger. None of what you’re imagining will happen. At the very least, you’ll last me till I’m a hundred."
Last till she was a hundred?
Lin Ran’s eyes lit up.
No wonder he’d felt recently that no matter how much they indulged, his vitality never suffered—just some soreness at worst.
So it was all thanks to that tonic he’d once sworn never to drink.
Thinking back on how he’d wasted it before, Lin Ran wanted to slap himself.
If this were sold on the market, it’d be a sensation!
But selling it was just a passing thought—he’d never actually do it.
For one, would the Yi Family even allow it? And why share when he could enjoy it himself?
If others wanted it, they could figure it out themselves.
Find a way or perish.
Familiar music filled the bedroom as the two lost themselves in each other.
And Liu Ruxue "witnessed" it all.
It was a wild night, a homecoming night, a dreamlike night.
Luo Yao always had new surprises for Lin Ran.
She’d even studied extensively, all to keep him enthralled, making him love and depend on her more with each passing day.
A night of muffled whispers.
The next morning...
Having just returned to Beijing, Lin Ran assumed Luo Yao wouldn’t rush back to work—after all, his little demon seemed a bit too indulgent lately.
But to his surprise, when he woke up, Luo Yao was already gone.
After asking Uncle Fu, he learned she’d already left for Luo Corporation.
"Yao Yao works too hard."
"That’s all because of you, Young Master."
Jiang Feihua rolled her eyes from the side.
Oh, how flattering.
"Uncle Fu is right."
Lin Ran glanced around. "Where’s Granny Wang?"
Uncle Fu gave him a strange look. "She’s already at the hospital. Did you need her for something?"
"No, nothing. By the way, An Jian’s surgery is tomorrow, right?"
Naturally, Lin Ran wouldn’t admit he’d been scheming to use his manipulative words to get Granny Wang to teach Uncle Fu a lesson.
"Yes, Young Master."