[Lin Ran: Alright, but we can't keep going like this. I'm planning to tell Luo Yao about you. Hmm... Actually, I'm not entirely sure how to introduce you to her.]
If Lin Ran didn’t explain Little Black to Luo Yao, he was afraid that one day, Little Black might really end up being "swiftly dealt with" by Luo Yao.
[Little Black: Ugh! Whatever, go ahead and tell her if you want. I’m exhausted anyway. Just end me already.]
The crimson in Luo Yao’s eyes gradually faded. "A-Ran, did I do something wrong?"
Lin Ran (?.?)
What do you think?
"No, everything you do is adorable in my eyes."
[Little Black: Can you stop pretending for one damn second?]
[Little Black: So I’m just a prop in your little play?]
[Little Black: Are you even gonna answer me? Do I even count as a living being?][Little Black: Screw you.]
Lin Ran couldn’t take it anymore. [Didn’t you say you were going to rest?]
[Little Black: Answer me—am I just some worthless life to you?]
[Lin Ran: No, you’re one of the most important friends I have, aside from Luo Yao.]
[Little Black: At least you’ve got a shred of conscience left. Don’t forget to pick me up tomorrow morning. I’ll be waiting here, and bring me breakfast. Then again, you could always just not come. It’s not like I matter anyway.]
Such a tsundere, that Little Black.
[Lin Ran: Got it, got it. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?]
[Little Black: Go with you? Do I look like some deranged cat to you? I was already terrified enough hiding in your backpack earlier. Now that I’m finally safe, only an idiot would go back. A capable cat like me knows when to call it quits—wherever I get hurt, that’s where I’ll sleep. See ya later, loser.]
[Lin Ran: Fine.]
[Little Black: Remember, don’t alter anyone’s fate. The adjustments I made to your and Luo Yao’s paths are already pushing the limits of my abilities. If you change too much, the consequences could be unbearable.]
With that, Little Black found a cozy spot under the bridge’s ledge and settled down.
For a cat, this place was perfect—shady during the day, sheltered from the wind at night, neither too hot nor too cold.
Lin Ran met Luo Yao’s burning gaze. There was so much he wanted to say to her.
"Yao Yao, take me home."
The word "home" struck a chord in Luo Yao. Her eyes softened with affection.
"Okay."
Soon, Lin Ran returned to the "long-lost" manor. It really did feel like coming home.
Uncle Fu was stunned to see a young man with Luo Yao. He knew she despised men and would never let one get close to her.
Upon closer inspection, wasn’t this the very boy the young mistress had been searching for?
"Welcome, Young Master Lin." Uncle Fu greeted him politely. He’d memorized Lin Ran’s file long ago, though the lack of photos had left him unsure of his appearance.
But just that morning, pictures of Lin Ran had flooded the staff group chat. He’d seen them.
Lin Ran smiled at the sight of a three-years-younger Uncle Fu, but he quickly bit back whatever he was about to say.
Best not to change anything. If Uncle Fu found out the woman he loved was now at the Lin family’s estate, who knew if he’d believe it?
And if he did, would he go looking for Granny Wang? Would that count as altering someone’s fate?
Would that push Little Black over the edge?
What if the poor cat worked itself to death? Wouldn’t that be on him?
Luo Yao’s icy aura was even more intense than it would be three years later, devoid of any warmth. "Everyone, leave."
The familiar chill sent a wave of nostalgia through Lin Ran. This was Luo Yao’s signature presence.
Ever since they’d fully committed to each other, he’d rarely felt this kind of bone-deep coldness from her.
The staff quickly dispersed, leaving only Luo Yao and Lin Ran in the villa.
"A-Ran, I sent them all away. If you don’t like them, I can just get rid of them."
Lin Ran hurriedly stopped her. "That won’t be necessary."
"Okay. I’ll listen to A-Ran."
Uncle Fu, remember—you owe me your life.
And to all you servants, I’m your savior. If you’ve got any gratitude, take good care of my wife.
Lin Ran noticed Luo Yao’s intense stare and felt a pang of emotion.
So, even three years ago, she’d looked at him like this. He just hadn’t noticed.
To Lin Ran, that gaze was predatory—full of possessiveness.
"A-Ran, long time no see." After a moment, Luo Yao suddenly spoke those words. Lin Ran understood exactly what she meant.
"Long time no see."
This greeting, spanning the years of their childhood, had finally been answered.
Their breathing grew heavier. Lin Ran sensed something was off.
This version of Luo Yao, though not exactly young, had never been intimate with him—or any man, for that matter. She didn’t quite know what to do.
All she knew was that she desperately wanted to pluck out Lin Ran’s eyes and keep them by her side, so she could admire them day and night.
Lin Ran swallowed hard and changed the subject.
"Yao Yao, are you hungry? Let me make you dinner."
Luo Yao’s eyes lit up. She had an aversion to food, but she still remembered the "takeout" Lin Ran had brought her as a child—the best meal she’d ever had.
"Okay."
Half an hour later, a lavish Chinese-style dinner was served. Lin Ran picked up his chopsticks and began feeding her himself.
Luo Yao hesitated for a second before opening her mouth.
"Om nom nom (chew chew chew)."
Watching her like this, Lin Ran thought, "She’s always been this adorable."
Luo Yao’s inner monologue: So tasty, so delicious, so happy.
Happiness breeds desire. She longed for Lin Ran to keep feeding her like this forever.
"Will A-Ran always feed me like this?"
Lin Ran’s hand paused. "A-Ran will always feed you. But the A-Ran who’s lost his memories won’t. Yao Yao, you’ll have to wait a little longer. Can you do that?"
Luo Yao nodded. "As long as my A-Ran comes back to me one day, I’ll wait forever."
Lin Ran didn’t want to dwell on unhappy topics with this version of Luo Yao. He just wanted her to enjoy the moment.
He continued feeding her. "Yao Yao, after dinner, let’s go relax in the sky garden."
That place would become their favorite spot in the future.
Luo Yao blinked. "How did you know there’s a sky garden here?"
Lin Ran smiled fondly. "In the future, we’ll do it there a lot."
Luo Yao assumed he’d misspoken and mentally corrected it to "do many things there."
"Okay."
After the syrupy-sweet dinner, the two made their way to the sky garden, lying down in a place that felt both familiar and strange.
Lin Ran wanted to share his warmth with Luo Yao.
He knew her too well—knew that the next three years would be agonizing for her. But there was nothing he could do to change that.
Trying to divert her focus elsewhere was impossible.
Gazing at Luo Yao beside him, Lin Ran reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.
Luo Yao shuddered.
This embrace—she’d waited so, so long for it.
So warm. So comforting.