Chapter 0213

"Suran Group is just a small legacy my mother left behind—meaningless to me, really. If I wanted it to collapse, it wouldn’t last till tomorrow."

"Because my wife is Luo Yao."

The sheer audacity of that statement.

Arrogant? Absolutely. But he had every right to be.

Everyone: "..."

Since when could someone be this shameless about riding on their spouse’s coattails?

And then it hit them—this young student had once orchestrated his own father’s downfall, leaving him with nothing.

The memory of that scene was still fresh in their minds.

Lin Ran’s icy gaze swept across the room. "No price hikes. Who agrees? Who objects?"

Gulps were heard all around as hands shot up in unison.

"I support keeping prices stable."

"Exactly, ordinary people already struggle to afford homes. Raising prices would push them over the edge."

"Young Master Lin’s foresight is truly remarkable."

Amid the flattery, the matter was settled.

Lin Ran then called Wu's Father forward and announced to the rest,

"Next order of business: This gentleman is the general manager of Nuanyao Real Estate. Any future projects can be coordinated through them."

His second statement was a killing blow.

Many shareholders could no longer stay seated.

Blocking price hikes was a shared loss they could tolerate, but collaborating with Nuanyao Real Estate cut into their personal profits—those lucrative backdoor deals on projects, procurement, and contracts.

Lin Ran ignored their discomfort.

"I know what you’re thinking. Forget about leeching off the group from now on."

A young shareholder hesitantly raised his hand. "Young Master Lin, isn’t this a bit... extreme?"

Lin Ran narrowed his eyes. Finally, a sacrificial lamb.

"You’re expelled from the board."

"What?"

Lin Ran stood. "I said you’re out. Do I need to repeat it?"

His voice was calm, but the other shareholders bowed their heads, terrified of being next.

"If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving. And take down that damn portrait on the wall—I’m not dead yet. No need for memorials, damn it!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Lin Ran stormed out of Suran Group.

His arrogance, dominance, and ruthlessness left the room in stunned silence.

One shareholder whispered, "Since when did Young Master Lin become like this?"

Another sighed, "He’s like a monk holding an umbrella—utterly lawless."

Qu Te Niang shot him a look. "Obviously. Even Lin Tianba only lasted two rounds against him before ending up penniless. We’re no match for Young Master Lin’s methods."

The shareholders fell quiet.

Suran Group’s waters ran too deep to navigate safely.

Downstairs, Lin Ran exhaled heavily.

"Damn, acting all high and mighty is exhausting. Old Wu, you’ll handle things from here."

Wu's Father shook his head. "No trouble at all. I’m just here to follow your lead."

"Lin Ran, look over there."

Lin Ran turned—what a sight.

Shen Jingbing was sprawled on the ground, twitching dramatically, holding up five fingers to the police.

"Fifty grand. He beat me up—everyone here saw it. No money? I’ll keep convulsing."

Zhuang Bifan protested, "I didn’t! I never touched him!"

Shen Jingbing glanced at the crowd, who all nodded in unison.

"Yes, you did."

And just like that, Zhuang Bifan was hauled away for questioning.

"Gotta admit, Shen Jingbing’s got skills."

"Who could argue?"

"Oh, right."

Lin Ran suddenly remembered something and pulled out his phone, logging into various platforms.

His official verification was complete, so he went ahead and verified his accounts on Douyin, Weibo, and others.

He selected a few flattering photos, added a caption, and posted:

[Photo][Photo][Photo]: Another day being pampered by my CEO wife.

The internet instantly erupted in collective despair.

[Can you STOP flexing already?]

[Look at you, getting all worked up.]

[Is it just me, or does Lin Ran have zero shame?]

[The domineering CEO Luo Yao + the shamelessly doting Lin Ran—what a power couple.]

[Wait, this is Lin Ran’s REAL account? Holy hell, he’s actually this good-looking?]

[Who called Lin Ran shameless? He’s a gem! Lin Ran, if you don’t go live soon, I’m gonna curse you out.]

[Try it. Enjoy your lawsuit.]

[Start streaming! I’ll donate—I’ll be your sugar mama!]

...

Meanwhile, Luo Yao personally visited Luo Corporation’s PR department.

Beyond legal affairs, there was a small but formidable team dedicated to controlling online narratives, monitoring trends, and suppressing unfavorable coverage.

Her visit stemmed from yesterday’s online backlash.

After her decisive victory, no one dared accuse Lin Ran of abandonment anymore, but the debate over whether Liu Ruxue was framed still simmered.

Thanks to Luo Corporation’s aggressive PR, open discussion was stifled, though whispers persisted.

"CEO Luo, the situation is under control. Young Master Lin just posted updates across platforms."

Luo Yao’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What did he say?"

The staff member replied, "On Douyin, he shared a daily life post captioned ‘Loving Luo Yao.’ On Weibo, he posted three photos with the text ‘Another day under my wife’s protection...’"

Luo Yao’s smile widened, her heart fluttering like a hooked fish.

"Liu Ruxue’s mentions have nearly vanished. The focus is entirely on you and Lin Ran now. Though some netizens are demanding he start livestreaming."

Luo Yao couldn’t care less. All she wanted was to rush to Lin Ran and cling to him.

The longing was unbearable—as if she’d die without seeing him immediately.

So, once again, she left Luo Corporation during work hours.

In the car, Liu Meng turned to her. "CEO Luo, we’ve confirmed that ‘Strong Warmth’ is Zhang Xiaonuan. How should we handle her?"

Luo Yao’s closed eyes snapped open.

"Interesting."

She rarely targeted ordinary people, but when it came to Lin Ran, rationality often took a backseat.

Zhang Xiaonuan stood out among the women around Lin Ran.

Unlike Liu Ruxue’s materialism, Huo Haini’s hypocrisy, Chen Qingtian’s emotional games, or Zhang Xinyan’s naivety, she was resilient, kind-hearted, and principled.

Perhaps even more so than Luo Yao herself.

That kind of woman was dangerously appealing to men.

"Give her a warning. If she dares approach Lin Ran again... eliminate her."

Liu Meng shuddered, feeling the murderous intent.

Moral of the story: Never cross Luo Yao. And never, ever fall for Lin Ran.