Chapter 0124

"Luo Yao, I am yours." Lin Ran suddenly woke up with a start.

He looked around—he was still lying in his bedroom.

Just a minute earlier, outside the bedroom door, Luo Yao had been staring coldly at the private physician.

"Why did Ah Ran suddenly faint? It's been almost a full day, and he still hasn't woken up. What exactly are you doing?"

The private physician was an old man named Yi Siyin—a name he bore as the fourth son of the Yi Family.

Not only was he the manor's personal doctor, but he was also the pillar of the prestigious Yi Family's medical legacy.

"President Luo, Young Master Lin isn't in any serious condition. It's likely just exhaustion. He’ll recover with some rest." As he spoke, Yi Siyin gave Luo Yao a strange look.

"With all due respect, President Luo, though Young Master Lin is your husband, you should… use him sparingly. Even machines need maintenance to last long!"

He shook his head and sighed inwardly, pitying the poor young master—nearly drained dry by Luo Yao.

Luo Yao shot him an icy glare, and Yi Siyin immediately clamped his mouth shut.

Had he just lectured President Luo? Was he about to die?

"Your family hospital’s medical supply funding will be cut in half."

"Ah? Y-yes, President Luo."

His heart sank. Just one careless remark, and half the medical supplies were gone.

Still, better than losing his life.

He remembered the last physician—a woman who had merely glanced at Lin Ran a few times too many during treatment. She’d been promptly dispatched to Africa for medical aid.

"Luo Yao—!" A startled cry came from inside the room. Without hesitation, Luo Yao pushed the door open, only to hear four words:

"I am yours."

Luo Yao froze, staring in disbelief at Lin Ran, who seemed to have just woken from a nightmare.

Ah Ran… what did he just say?

He’s mine?

"Ah Ran, you're awake."

Lin Ran panted heavily, his eyes fixed on Luo Yao, brimming with joy and affection.

"Yao Yao." He stretched out his arms—a silent plea for an embrace, needing to confirm that the Luo Yao before him was real.

Seeing him like this, Luo Yao rushed over and threw herself into his arms.

"Ah Ran, the doctor said you fainted from exhaustion. You scared me."

Feeling the warmth of her in his arms, Lin Ran had never been more grateful for this love.

Luo Yao was still here, still by his side. It was enough.

"Luo Yao, I'm fine. I just didn’t sleep at all last night—I was too restless."

"Why didn’t you sleep?" Luo Yao frowned.

"Because of you. Without you beside me, I couldn’t sleep at all."

Lin Ran wasn’t lying. If he hadn’t been sleepless last night, he wouldn’t have followed Little Black on that time-crossing escapade, nor would he have left his body so drained.

Hearing this, Luo Yao’s eyes gleamed with delight.

Ah Ran… truly couldn’t live without her anymore?

Was this how he showed his love?

With that thought, she gently nestled against him.

"Ah Ran, are you telling the truth?"

Lin Ran nodded. "Truer than pearls."

"Then I promise to stay with you every night from now on, okay?"

Lin Ran nodded again.

"Okay."

Just as the two were lost in each other, Uncle Fu appeared, carrying an assortment of nourishing tonics.

The doctor had said Young Master Lin was too weak—how could someone so young be so frail?

He was still waiting to help raise their future children.

Lin Ran blinked in confusion.

He was mentally exhausted, not physically weak!

What was with all these tonics for physical debilitation? Who did they think he was?

…Well, fine. He was physically weak too.

Youth wasted on restraint? Regret in old age?

After finishing the tonics, Lin Ran pulled Luo Yao closer.

"Wife, stay with me today, okay?"

Luo Yao nodded.

"It’s almost nightfall—of course I’ll stay."

Truthfully, she had rushed back the moment she heard Lin Ran had fainted that morning and had spent nearly the entire afternoon by his side.

Lin Ran was startled. Had he really slept that long?

Luo Yao lay beside him, keeping him company—though she refrained from doing anything further.

The doctor had said her Ah Ran was too weak. He needed rest.

Lin Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The helplessness of being underestimated by his own wife stung his pride.

But there was nothing he could do. He was weak—just not in the way they thought. Still, strenuous activity was off the table.

The moon rose once more. In the sky garden, Luo Yao sat in Lin Ran’s arms, gazing up at the stars.

"Ah Ran, did you know? I didn’t like the stars at first. I only grew to love them later."

Lin Ran’s heart skipped a beat. He thought he understood.

Suddenly, he remembered the first time he had watched the stars with Luo Yao. That night, she had said something—but with time, the memory had blurred.

What was it?

That night had also been the first time Little Black appeared.

Could all of this really be a coincidence?

What was Little Black’s true purpose?

After his rebirth, Lin Ran had kept his guard up against everyone and everything—except Luo Yao.

Little Black was just a cat, after all.

He had even confided in the cat when Luo Yao wasn’t around, thinking it harmless.

And then, that very cat had taken him time-traveling. Could anyone believe it?

What had she said that first stargazing night?

With a boom, Lin Ran’s mind exploded with realization, leaving him momentarily stunned.

—That night, Luo Yao had been almost feverish. After negotiating deals worth billions, they had curled up together beneath the stars.

Luo Yao had said:

"Did you know? When I was little, a big brother once told me the stars aren’t beautiful. Because when fantasies shatter, people despair!"

Lin Ran had confidently replied, "That big brother definitely wasn’t me—I’m younger than you."

Now, he realized something was off.

Last night, he had said something similar to a young Luo Yao.

Could it be…?

"Yao Yao, do you remember our first time stargazing?"

"Of course. It was right here."

Lin Ran frowned.

"No. Not here."

Luo Yao paused. "Then where was it?"

Lin Ran closed his eyes, replaying last night’s events. Should he say it? Did Luo Yao remember that time?

He pointed to his shoulder, then to Luo Yao’s eyes.

"For you, the stars might not be beautiful. Your world is too harsh. If your fantasies ever shatter, you’ll despair."

Luo Yao went completely still, staring at him in disbelief.

"You… remember?"

Lin Ran didn’t remember—he had just lived it.

It turned out that his past self had traveled to that time and spoken those words to her.

"I’m sorry I said that to you."

Luo Yao slowly reached out, touching his head.

"You did. But you also promised to be the brightest star in my sky—one that would never fade."

Lin Ran’s heart ached. She remembered every word he’d ever said.

"Ah Ran, you won’t disappear again, will you? You won’t leave me?"

Lin Ran met her gaze with absolute sincerity.

"Never."

A brilliance unlike her usual self shone in Luo Yao’s eyes.

"Ah Ran, you’ll keep our promise, won’t you?"