Lin Ran stayed by the bedside, his eyes never leaving Luo Yao for even a moment.
He carefully lifted Luo Yao, scooped a spoonful of herbal medicine, and gently brought it to her lips, trying to get her to drink.
But Luo Yao showed no sign of swallowing, and the medicine trickled down the corner of her mouth.
Frowning, Lin Ran grew increasingly anxious until an idea suddenly struck him.
He took a sip of the medicine himself and then passed it to Luo Yao.
The gesture was filled with tenderness, his only wish being for her to recover quickly.
As if responding to his care, Luo Yao slowly opened her eyes—just as her lips brushed against Lin Ran’s, delivering a face-to-face "critical hit."
Lin Ran’s face flushed instantly. Though embarrassed, his heart swelled with joy.
"Ran…"
Luo Yao’s voice, weak yet melodious, reached his ears.
Overjoyed, Lin Ran stammered, "Yao Yao, how are you feeling? I—ah, I was just giving you medicine. You’re injured."
His words tumbled out in a rush, his eyes brimming with concern.
Luo Yao murmured, "Ran, I didn’t mean to get hurt. I’m sorry."
A hint of guilt flickered in her gaze. She never wanted him to worry.
Lin Ran had once told her—she wasn’t allowed to get hurt.
His heart clenched as a surge of emotions flooded the softest part of him.
Seeing the apology in her eyes, he was both moved and heartbroken.
Luo Yao had changed so much—from the fearless girl she once was to someone softer, gentler. The transformation made him wonder if it was all an act.
"Yao Yao, never apologize. Remember what you once told me? If you die, I’ll follow you."
Lin Ran gripped her hand tightly, his gaze unwavering, as if pledging that no matter what, he’d never leave her side.
Touched, Luo Yao studied the man before her.
It all felt surreal, like a dream. To test reality, she pinched him hard.
Lin Ran hissed in pain.
"It’s real, all of it. Yao Yao, is something bothering you?"
He bore the sting, eager to share her burdens.
Luo Yao hesitated, her eyes darting away as if debating whether to speak.
After a long pause, she finally whispered,
"Your tracker… it went offline for a while."
Unease laced her voice.
Lin Ran froze. Had she fallen ill from worry over this?
Guilt gnawed at him—he hadn’t realized such a small thing would distress her so deeply.
"Was that why you—? Maybe there was no signal where I was."
"Impossible. The estate’s network is top-tier globally. Even if you hid in a well, the signal wouldn’t drop. And those satellites tracking you? I launched them myself."
Her tone was firm, brimming with confidence in the estate’s security.
Lin Ran’s eyes widened in shock.
"Holy—you launched satellites just for me? Damn, who am I to deserve this? My wife’s incredible."
"But I really don’t know what happened. Maybe the tracker malfunctioned? Want to check it?"
He sounded helpless, equally puzzled.
Luo Yao stayed silent, searching his eyes for any trace of deception.
After a long moment, she concluded he was telling the truth—which only deepened her confusion.
The tracker couldn’t fail. It was cutting-edge, with multiple safeguards.
Even if it did, the microphone and phone wouldn’t lose signal simultaneously. The issue had to lie with Lin Ran.
Could he have a signal jammer? No—that would’ve triggered an alert to her.
Baffled, she settled on blaming a signal fluctuation, though the explanation felt flimsy.
"Yao Yao, remember your promise? That we’d face everything together. You broke it."
Lin Ran’s voice carried a hint of hurt. He didn’t know how she’d gotten injured, but it stung that she’d shut him out.
She always bore burdens alone, but he longed to stand by her—not as someone shielded, but as her support.
"Ran… I’m sor—" Luo Yao lowered her head, guilt weighing on her.
"Don’t. I’m not blaming you. I just want you to know—if there’s danger, I want to face it with you. Even if I can’t help, I’ll stand behind you, watching you move forward or back."
His gaze was earnest, his voice tender.
"Don’t forget the vow we made."
Luo Yao felt her heart pulse erratically, each beat synced to Lin Ran’s presence.
His words were kindling, igniting a warmth in her chest, wrapping her in security.
"I remember. But Ran… I didn’t like your tone earlier. That commanding attitude? Unacceptable."
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she feigned anger.
Lin Ran’s spine tingled with dread. He knew what was coming.
"So…?" he ventured cautiously.
Luo Yao smirked. "So, I’ll teach you a lesson. Like this."
Without warning, she sank her teeth into his shoulder. The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, but she didn’t mind—it was his.
There’d been times she’d ached to claim him, to ensure he’d never vanish again.
Now, she reveled in biting him, burying her face in his chest, breathing him in.
It anchored her, made his presence undeniable.
Her greatest fear? Lin Ran fleeing, disappearing without a trace.
But now, he clung to her, loved her. And she adored it.
"Yao Yao, who hurt you?"
After a pause, she replied, "Technically… it was an eagle."
"An eagle strong enough to injure you?"
Luo Yao nodded. "A lethal one."
Lin Ran frowned. Had he encountered such a creature before?
"Ran… I want food. The kind you make."
"Huh? Oh—right! I’ll cook. Stay in bed and rest, okay?"
A smile curled Luo Yao’s lips—pure contentment.
"Okay. I’ll listen to you."