Chapter 0157

"Ran, what are you thinking about?"

"I... I'm thinking about how I can love you enough to make up for my past mistakes." The mistakes of his past life.

Lin Ran had initially wanted to ask directly, but considering he might not have experienced it yet, asking wouldn’t be as impactful as living through it firsthand.

So, letting things unfold naturally was also a way of life.

"Ran, you’re already wonderful as you are now. As long as you’re by my side, I’ll always be happy. If you leave me, I don’t know what will happen."

Lin Ran suddenly remembered what Uncle Fu had told him that night.

"Do not leave the young mistress. If you do, she will surely die."

Lin Ran drew a sharp breath. He knew better than anyone that those words were no exaggeration.

He had to keep reassuring Luo Yao earnestly—he couldn’t let her lose her sense of security.

"Yao Yao, in this lifetime, I’ll always be with you. As long as I live, I won’t leave you." If I die, I hope you can live on well.

He didn’t voice the latter half, knowing it would be futile.

Luo Yao’s love for him transcended mountains and rivers, surpassing even the bounds of the universe and life itself.

Lin Ran’s promise brought Luo Yao immense comfort.

Perhaps, before long, her Ran would return to her completely.

"Ran, I like you as you are now."

"You didn’t like the old me?"

"I did. I love every version of you."

Lin Ran affectionately ruffled Luo Yao’s hair, and she playfully nuzzled into his touch. These small, intimate gestures between lovers were always filled with sweetness.

In the afternoon, Luo Yao had work and left the office, leaving Lin Ran to return to the manor alone.

On the way back, as he passed a bridge, he suddenly slammed on the brakes.

His vision blurred for a moment, but when he looked ahead again, there was nothing there.

He stepped out of the car, leaning against the bridge railing as he scanned his surroundings.

A strange feeling—what was it?

Wang Bao rushed over.

"Young Master Lin, what’s wrong?"

Lin Ran shook his head, standing silently on the bridge.

What was that just now?

It felt as if some mysterious force had been trying to warn him.

Never mind. Best to keep moving.

Lin Ran drove off again, unaware of a pair of sinister eyes gleaming with hatred beneath the bridge.

Soon, he arrived back at the manor.

Entering the study, he sat in Luo Yao’s usual spot, reclining in the chair with his eyes closed.

"Meow—"

A cat’s cry snapped him out of his thoughts.

Was that Little Black?

Lin Ran turned to the window and, sure enough, saw the long-absent black cat.

He opened the window, and the cat leaped in with a sly grace.

"You’ve been gone so long. Where’d you go?"

[Little Black: "Recovering from injuries."]

Lin Ran: "All better now?"

[Little Black: "Not really."]

"You look perfectly healthy to me."

[Little Black: "Physically, maybe. But my wounds aren’t physical. Right now, I’m even weaker than you, damn it."]

"Watch your mouth. How am I weak?"

[Little Black: "Aren’t you?"]

"Am I? Anyway, why’d you show up all of a sudden?"

[Little Black: "You still owe me a fish, remember? I’m hungry—meow!"]

Lin Ran finally recalled that the last time they’d parted, he’d passed out.

When he woke up, Little Black was gone, and days had slipped by unnoticed.

He had the servants prepare some small yellow croakers and brought them to the cat himself.

"Here. Eat up."

Little Black purred between bites.

[Little Black: "Lin Ran, last time you were too reckless. Those few minutes we lost nearly got us both killed."]

Lin Ran felt a twinge of guilt.

"It won’t happen again."

[Little Black: "If you die, fine, but don’t drag me down. I’m the only cat in the world who can talk to you."]

Lin Ran’s face darkened. What did he mean, "if you die, fine"?

"By the way, I have a question. Why does Luo Yao remember the things I did in the past when I went back?"

Little Black stared at him like he was an idiot.

[Little Black: "Listen up. Whether it’s now or the past, there’s only ever one you. So when you go back, the present version of you ceases to exist. The same goes for Luo Yao. She genuinely experienced those events, so she remembers them. There’s no parallel timeline. Last time, we took the entire world back with us."]

"But before we time-traveled, Luo Yao already knew she’d met me as a child."

[Little Black: "You ask too many questions. I’m not answering that. Time is complicated. You’ll understand someday. That’s all I can tell you for now."]

"Fine. Next question—what’s your goal?"

Little Black paused mid-bite. Its thoughts went silent before resuming.

[Little Black: "Enough already! Why so many questions? My motives don’t concern you. Just know I mean no harm to you or Luo Yao. You’ll see in time. So stop interrogating a cat, alright?"]

"You’re not just any cat."

[Little Black: "Actually, I kinda am. Lin Ran, love Luo Yao well. And remember—one day, you must not kill me."]

"Why would I kill you?"

[Little Black: "Never mind. Just remember. We’ll talk about the rest later."]

"Fine. I’ll trust you this once."

Lin Ran said he trusted the cat, but his thoughts told a different story.

This feline was hiding something big—something it refused to share.

Better to change the subject.

"Little Black, I’ve decided on my next wish."

[Little Black: "Seriously? Even workhorses get breaks. I’m still injured, man."]

"I—" Before Lin Ran could press further, Little Black let out a sharp "Meow!" and vanished in a blur.

The door swung open before Lin Ran could react.

Luo Yao stood there, her expression troubled.

"Ran!"

She clung to Lin Ran’s shoulders, her body nearly melting into his.

Only by seeing him in the flesh could she ease her restless heart.

Lin Ran gently stroked her back, soothing her bit by bit, though worry gnawed at him.

"What’s wrong, sweetheart?"

"Don’t leave me."

An hour earlier, Luo Yao had received an anonymous email.

When she opened it, she found photos of someone surveilling Lin Ran—taken from angles that suggested the watcher was alarmingly close.

A chill ran down her spine.

To monitor Lin Ran under her meticulous security without detection…

This was no ordinary foe.

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