Chapter 0193

Luo Yao was willing to help Brother Dao only because she needed someone like him to handle certain tasks for her—a fact Brother Dao had always been well aware of. These tasks included investigating matters that couldn’t be openly discussed or tracking down people who were difficult to find.

Luo Yao gave him a cold glance.

"Where are they?"

Brother Dao pointed toward a highly concealed room. Luo Yao instructed Liu Meng and Brother Dao to stand guard outside while she entered alone.

Inside the dark room, three bodyguards were locked up. The moment Luo Yao stepped in, their eyes widened in terror.

"Betraying me? How bold."

Every bodyguard by Lin Ran’s side had been personally selected and trained by Luo Yao.

But just the day before, she had discovered that Lin Ran’s whereabouts had been leaked. She had captured the culprit, while the other two had been swayed by Little Tong’s influence.

This was also why she had left the manor alone early that morning—she didn’t want Lin Ran to witness the bloody aftermath.

The bodyguard who had exposed Lin Ran’s movements tried to defend himself: "Miss, we didn’t betray you. I only mentioned that Young Master Lin was going to the hospital for a check-up!"

"Betraying Ah Ran is the same as betraying me."

The bodyguard still clung to a sliver of hope.

"But… I was acting for the Luo family’s sake. Second Master is, after all, your own uncle."

Luo Yao’s eyes gradually darkened, a familiar sensation spreading through her entire body.

"Do you think you’re being funny?"

At the sight of her expression, the three bodyguards broke into a cold sweat. Having served in the manor for years, they knew exactly what that look meant.

Soon, the sealed room echoed with screams.

By the time Luo Yao emerged again, her clothes were drenched in crimson, and the three bodyguards inside had become nothing more than a footnote in history.

"I’ll go clean up. You two handle the mess inside."

After washing off in her private lounge, Liu Meng brought her a fresh set of clothes.

When Luo Yao reappeared in the entertainment district, Brother Dao had already tidied up the remnants.

"Boss, what should we do about those enemies of Young Master Lin?"

A playful tone laced his words.

"If Ah Ran wants to play, let him. The moment he’s done, hand them over to me."

"Understood, Boss."

Only after Luo Yao left did Brother Dao finally exhale in relief.

He hadn’t interacted with her often, but every encounter left him feeling the weight of death looming over him.

He muttered to himself, "She’s the one person in the entire Blue Star no one dares to cross."

When Luo Yao returned to Luo Corporation, she was met with a sight that ignited her killing intent.

"Take her out."

"Right away, President Luo." Liu Meng complied, recognizing the murderous glint in Luo Yao’s eyes.

Half an hour earlier, Lin Ran had hung up Luo Wushuang’s call, pocketed his phone, and headed out with his bodyguards.

Naturally, he was looking for Luo Yao.

They had been apart for hours, and if he didn’t see her soon, Lin Ran felt like he would die.

Besides, they had an agreement—if they weren’t at the manor, they had to stay together.

Though it sometimes felt like being caged, Lin Ran never resisted. He couldn’t bear the thought of making Luo Yao even slightly unhappy.

Soon, Lin Ran pulled up in front of Luo Corporation’s building. But when he glanced up, he was met with an unexpected sight—Huo Haini, whom he hadn’t seen in ages, was standing there as if waiting for him.

"Lin Ran, where’s Miss Luo?"

Huo Haini had been wanting to approach Lin Ran for a while, but every time, he was with Luo Yao, making her too afraid to get close.

Today, by sheer coincidence, she had finally caught him alone.

"What’s it to you?"

"Lin Ran, what a coincidence! Let’s chat, shall we?"

Lin Ran couldn’t fathom Huo Haini’s thought process. Had she already forgotten how he’d kicked her out of his car last time?

"What now? Another one of your outrageous declarations?"

Huo Haini gazed at Lin Ran, mesmerized by how manly, handsome, and wealthy he was.

He was exactly the kind of boyfriend she had always dreamed of.

"Lin Ran, I like you. I’ve liked you for so long. Back when you were chasing Liu Ruxue, I was jealous of her, so I acted like I hated you. But now that you don’t like her anymore, why not make me your girlfriend?"

Huo Haini felt her previous confession hadn’t been convincing enough, so today, with Luo Yao absent, she decided to try again.

After all, Lin Ran was the wealthiest man she could ever hope to get close to—Chairman of Suran Group, owner of Nuanyao Group.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you know I’m married?"

Huo Haini was well aware of Lin Ran’s situation. She had been at the school event too, and she thought his grand gesture was incredibly romantic.

But why did Luo Yao have to be the one on that stage instead of her?

"Lin Ran, you could divorce Luo Yao and be with me instead. I wouldn’t hold it against you. Once we’re married, you can focus on your career while I manage the household and your assets. I could even bear your children. Doesn’t that sound perfect?"

Huo Haini was convinced Lin Ran no longer loved Liu Ruxue, but she refused to believe he loved Luo Yao either.

That woman was downright unhinged. Any sane man would steer clear of her—who could possibly love someone like that?

Lin Ran must have only acted that way out of fear.

What she didn’t know was that Lin Ran was anything but normal.

"Huo Haini, you and Liu Ruxue really are cut from the same cloth—both love playing the other woman. Too bad I’ve got no taste for green tea. Why don’t you go find some stray dogs on the street? After all, humans don’t eat garbage."

As he spoke, Lin Ran pondered how best to teach Huo Haini a lesson.

Sometimes, she was even more insufferable than Liu Ruxue.

Huo Haini: "Lin Ran, even if you insult me, I don’t care. Admit it—you don’t love Luo Yao. As for Liu Ruxue, she only ever saw you as a backup plan, a pathetic simp. But with me, you’d always be my number one. I’d never take advantage of you like they did. I’d only ever cherish you."

Lin Ran was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of delusional fairy-tale logic was this?

Where did she get such confidence? Did someone hand it to her?

Just then, Liu Ruxue’s voice rang out from behind Huo Haini.

"Nini, I never thought you’d stoop this low."

Lin Ran froze for a second before signaling his bodyguards to bring him a chair.

This was going to be good.

Huo Haini stiffened but quickly regained her composure.

Turning around, she retorted, "What about me? What kind of person am I?"

Liu Ruxue stared at her in disbelief.

Life at school had become unbearable for her—everywhere she went, people pointed fingers, and some even lashed out physically.

Her family had vanished without a trace, ignoring all her calls.

With nowhere else to go, she had rented a place off-campus. Today, she had come hoping to catch Lin Ran by chance, to ask if he had been the one behind those videos at the school event—and why he had done it.

But instead, she had walked into this scene.