Chapter 0185

On the way back in the car, Lin Ran spoke with a hint of grievance.

"Darling, I was planning to propose to you in front of the whole world today, but those disgusting people ruined it."

Luo Yao was taken aback. "Haven’t we already registered our marriage? And last time at Wangfeng Mountain..."

"That was just exchanging rings, not an official proposal. And I promised you a wedding."

"Confessions, proposals, rings, weddings, holidays, birthdays—everything other girls have, you’ll have too."

Luo Yao nestled into Lin Ran’s arms, her eyes misty.

"All I’ve ever wanted is you. The formalities don’t matter to me."

Lin Ran let out a relieved sigh.

"Well then, I’ll just—"

"But if you break your promises, I’ll make you bite the edge of a table and smash your head until your teeth fall out. Then you’ll never dare lie to me again."

Lin Ran swallowed the rest of his words.

"Guess I have no choice but to propose and give you that wedding. Let me think about how to—"

Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of explosions suddenly rang out.

Just as the two were lost in their sweet moment, their car passed over a bridge.

The executive sedan was blasted off the ground, flipping several times before coming to a stop.

A shadowy figure stood on the bridge, watching the wreckage.

The bodyguards stared in disbelief before rushing toward the scene.

"Young Master Lin! Miss Luo!"

Wang Bao moved to help, only for two bodyguards to press their hands against his chest.

"You two—?"

"Sorry, Captain. We’re traitors."

Only then did Wang Bao notice two figures on the bridge—Little Tong and a person clad in black.

The black-clad figure leaped down and strode toward Wang Bao.

"Surprised? I’m back. Let’s see just how unkillable Luo Yao really is."

The voice was distorted, making it impossible to discern gender or age.

"See clearly now?"

The black-clad figure froze.

That was Luo Yao’s voice.

But hadn’t she just been blown to pieces in the explosion?

Unless… the intel was wrong? Luo Yao was never in that car?

She turned to Little Tong, whose expression remained eerily calm, and realized—she’d been played.

Spinning around, she came face-to-face with the last person she wanted to see.

Lin Ran and Luo Yao stood behind her, their gazes locked onto the black-clad figure.

Luo Yao’s voice was icy, like a demon emerging from hell.

"You’re really that stupid, huh? Did it never occur to you how conveniently you kept escaping that place?"

The black-clad figure—Luo Wuyou—stammered, "How… How did you know it was me?"

Meanwhile, the two traitorous bodyguards exchanged glances and tried to flee, only to be swiftly subdued.

Little Tong’s movements were rarely known, and even he hadn’t expected two bodyguards to actually betray them.

"Luo Wuyou, you think you’re clever? Too bad… Now, who’s backing you? Tell me, and I’ll make it quick. This time, you won’t get lucky again."

Luo Wuyou felt the encroaching presence of the bodyguards and the deathly chill in Luo Yao’s stare.

The air reeked of doom.

"So this was another one of your traps. You wanted to lure out my allies. But do you really think I’d talk?"

Luo Yao never wasted words on the stubborn.

In a flash, she lunged forward.

Luo Wuyou knew it was life or death. No more holding back.

She drew her dagger—her weapon of choice—and thrust it straight for Luo Yao’s heart.

But Luo Yao was already in front of her, hand pressed against Luo Wuyou’s head at point-blank range.

Bang!

Withdrawing her hand, Luo Yao looked down at Luo Wuyou’s fallen body with disdain.

"Times have changed, and here you are still playing with knives. Who do you think you are?"

"Take Luo Wuyou to the Luo family estate. Let the old man see his daughter… or rather, touch her one last time."

"Yes, Miss."

Luo Wuyou died never imagining her final confrontation with Luo Yao wouldn’t be a life-or-death struggle—but an instant, brutal end.

Luo Yao suddenly collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest.

Lin Ran panicked, rushing to her side.

"Yao… Yao! Quick, call a doctor!"

Tears streamed down his face as he saw the blood staining her clothes.

"No… no! You promised you’d stay with me forever…"

His world shattered in that moment. Never had he felt such terror, such helplessness.

"Luo Yao, can you hear me? You liar! You said no one could hurt you! How could you— Doctor! Where’s the damn doctor?!"

Unable to bear his anguish, Luo Yao quietly opened one eye.

"Lin Ran…"

"Yao?!"

"It’s fake. The blood’s fake. Don’t panic—just keep pretending to cry."

Lin Ran’s mind blanked for a second before he caught on.

"Yao Yao... I... sobs."

He finally understood why Luo Yao, who could have instantly killed Luo Wuyou, chose to engage in close combat instead.

It was all to create the illusion of being injured.

It had truly terrified him.

Lin Ran wasn’t pretending to cry—he was genuinely crying, overwhelmed by fear.

A grown man, usually too reserved to show his emotions, now had the perfect excuse to let it all out under Luo Yao’s orders. What a brilliant actor he was!

After "pretending" to cry for a while, Lin Ran carried Luo Yao into the car and drove toward the estate. Meanwhile, specialists from several hospitals in the capital were also en route.

The convoy resumed its journey, and the wreckage of the exploded vehicle was swiftly dealt with.

However, all of this was being observed through a pair of binoculars from a distant tower.

The black-clad man lowered the binoculars and stood in silence for a long, long time before slowly removing his hood.

"Little girl, we meet again."

What puzzled him the most was Little Tong.

Now it seemed those two bodyguards had genuinely been turned by her, carrying out the bomb installation as he had planned.

Except Little Tong was working with Luo Yao, which was why Luo Yao never boarded that car.

He couldn’t understand—how could Little Tong betray him after consuming the substance he’d given her?

He had considered the possibility of her faking her betrayal, but he never imagined someone would willingly throw their life away.

Suddenly, he remembered something—the last bite of bread Little Tong had taken.

It had been in a blind spot of the surveillance.

Damn it, he’d been fooled.

But did they really think this was enough?

With Luo Yao severely injured, this was the perfect opportunity.

"If you die, so be it. If you refuse to go quietly, I’ll help you along."

The black-clad man stripped off his outerwear and issued orders to the men behind him.

"Assemble. We’re heading to Dongtian Estate."

Little girl, did you really think your uncle wouldn’t have a backup plan?

Back at the estate, Luo Yao immediately sprang back to life, clinging to Lin Ran and refusing to let go.

"Ah Ran, I’m sorry for making you worry."

Lin Ran’s eyes were still red—the agony of near-loss had shattered him, but the joy of having her back filled him with relief.

"Next time, don’t you dare lie to me again."

Luo Yao: "Fine. If I lie to you again, may my whole family perish."

Lin Ran burst into laughter.

"Oh, you—how dare you copy my lines!"