Chapter 0159

The next day, Lin Ran woke up early because today marked the beginning of his role as Luo Yao's shadow.

Although Luo Yao had agreed to Lin Ran's suggestion, she had set conditions.

First, if Lin Ran didn’t want to follow her, he could only stay within the estate—specifically, Villa No. 1—under the protection of a 50-person security team.

In essence, it was practically like confining a death-row prisoner. Naturally, Lin Ran wasn’t fond of this arrangement.

Second, when accompanying Luo Yao, he had to stick to her like glue. Of course, the security team would provide indiscriminate protection as well.

This was something Lin Ran liked. He wanted to be with Luo Yao, and as it turned out, she felt the same way.

But early in the morning, he already began to regret it.

Since his rebirth, he had hardly ever woken up early. Most days, he either lazed around like a good-for-nothing or schemed about how to torment the Lin family.

He was practically wallowing in decadence.

After breakfast, Lin Ran followed Luo Yao into a modified executive business car. Though the vehicle looked unremarkable, its materials were all bulletproof.

Unless hit by a missile, ordinary weapons couldn’t harm it—even a sniper shot might not penetrate.

This was the first time Lin Ran learned that Luo Corporation had such high-grade equipment.

Inside the car:

"Yao Yao, you wake up so early every day just to support me. You really work too hard."

Lin Ran genuinely felt Luo Yao had it tough—rising before dawn and sleeping late, working harder than her employees despite being the boss.

"It’s not hard. I earn money for you to spend."

Lin Ran didn’t understand why Luo Yao was so obsessed with making money. Wasn’t her fortune already enough for them to live lavishly for several lifetimes?

"Why are you in such a hurry to earn more?"

"I’m afraid you won’t have enough to spend."

Lin Ran gave her a deadpan look.

"How much could I possibly spend?"

"I don’t know how much you’ll spend, but I promised you—every cent I earn is yours."

Lin Ran froze. Luo Yao had indeed said those words before.

So, from the very beginning, her world had revolved solely around him?

"I thought you were worried that if you retired, hundreds of thousands of people would suddenly lose their jobs."

Luo Yao shot him a cold glance. "Even if I step down, they won’t be unemployed. Someone else will manage the corporation."

"Then why not let someone else take over now? You could do whatever you want."

Lin Ran was genuinely puzzled. Why would someone so young, with endless wealth, still push herself so hard?

"Not yet, A’Ran… I promise you, one day, we’ll live that kind of life. And what I want most is to stay by your side."

A’Ran, I’ll eliminate every danger, wipe out every enemy. Only then can I spend every day clinging to you.

But not yet. I’m sorry.

Lin Ran’s heart stirred.

"I was just asking. Don’t feel pressured—after all, I’m still relying on you. If you weren’t here, I’d starve to death."

Luo Yao was delighted by Lin Ran’s self-awareness. She’d gladly support this man for the rest of her life.

At Luo Corporation’s CEO-exclusive parking lot, Lin Ran stepped out of the car surrounded by bodyguards.

"Wife, have half of them protect you instead."

Luo Yao: "I don’t need them. I’m not a good-for-nothing. If I can’t protect myself, no number of bodyguards will help."

Huh?

These bodyguards were all rigorously trained and handpicked by Luo Yao over the years—far surpassing ordinary security firms in skill and discipline.

They operated with absolute obedience and were prepared to lay down their lives for those they protected.

Yet, not a single one dared to disagree or challenge Luo Yao’s words—because she spoke the truth.

Lin Ran: ????? So, he was the good-for-nothing?

"Fine, I am a good-for-nothing."

Luo Yao halted mid-step.

"A’Ran, that’s not what I meant, I—"

"Shh! Don’t explain. I know what you meant. Let me tell you—I want to be a good-for-nothing who depends on you. I have no grand ambitions, just three dreams."

"Which three?" Luo Yao asked curiously.

"First, love Luo Yao. Second, ruin the Lin family. Third, be a good-for-nothing."

"Out of these three, the second is already in progress, the third is my current lifestyle, and the first… I’ll need a lifetime to prove whether I can achieve it."

"A’Ran, you—" Luo Yao, usually so icy, nearly teared up at his words.

Only Lin Ran could stir her emotions like this.

Lin Ran: "You’re all I have left. You’re the only reason I’m alive. If you die one day, I’ll follow you—I’ll find you even in the afterlife."

"Because, alive or dead, you belong to me."

The moment he said it, Lin Ran himself was stunned.

Had he just spoken those words?

What the hell—he’d practically echoed Luo Yao’s usual lines.

Was he turning into her?

Luo Yao was also stunned. After a long pause, her heart swelled with an almost unbearable ache. She pinched Lin Ran hard.

"Hiss—" Lin Ran sucked in a sharp breath. Without looking, he knew his waist would be bruised purple.

"You said it yourself—alive or dead, you won’t leave me."

Lin Ran: "I did. But can we negotiate? Next time you want to pinch me, give me a heads-up so I can brace myself."

"You have a problem with that?"

"...No."

Once the couple finally stopped drowning everyone in their affection, Liu Meng stepped forward to report the day’s schedule.

"President Luo, the assistant team’s morning meeting is at 8:30, followed by the management meeting at 9:00. At 10:30, you have negotiations with President Ma of Tianxing regarding the collaboration project. At 2 PM, the contract signing with Huasheng Group—"

Normally, Liu Meng would have gone over these details in the car, but today, with Lin Ran present, Luo Yao had been too preoccupied with her husband to focus on work. Liu Meng had tactfully waited.

"Understood. Go ahead and make the arrangements."

As Liu Meng walked away, one of the bodyguards shot Lin Ran a sharp glance and stealthily moved closer.

"What are you doing?"

Wang Bao noticed the bodyguard’s odd behavior and barked a warning the moment the man reached for Lin Ran’s waist.

Startled, the bodyguard quickly withdrew his hand. "I wasn’t doing anything!"

Wang Bao narrowed his eyes. Luo Yao coldly ordered, "Take him away. Get answers."

"Yes."

Lin Ran and Luo Yao exchanged a glance before heading upstairs, neither mentioning the incident again.

Wang Bao immediately carried out the order. The bodyguard was taken away and subjected to intense interrogation, but no useful information was extracted. In the end, he was locked in a room.