Chapter 0266

Just moments ago, she had been stunned at the sight of Nuanyao Group’s towering building. She never expected that in just two short months, Wu Zhishang’s company would already occupy an entire skyscraper.

If she could just reconcile with Wu Zhishang, all of this would one day be hers.

Now was the perfect opportunity to prove herself.

The title of "Madam CEO" was one Zhao Miaomiao was determined to claim.

In the past, the only reason Wu Zhishang had despised her was because of that meddlesome Lin Ran.

As long as Lin Ran was out of the picture, she was confident that the emotional foundation she shared with Wu Zhishang would win him back.

She needed money—and the emotional validation only Wu Zhishang could provide. Lv Jian was just a close friend, incapable of giving her that kind of feeling.

But Zhao Miaomiao waited… and waited… and waited. After what felt like an eternity, Wu Zhishang still hadn’t appeared.

Furious, she stormed straight into Nuanyao Group—only to be immediately thrown out by security.

Heartbroken, Zhao Miaomiao sobbed.

"Wu Zhishang, even after I humbled myself and waited for you, you still refuse to forgive me? You heartless bastard!"

Of course, Wu Zhishang never heard a word of it.

Meanwhile, at the estate, Lin Ran stretched lazily.

"Making PowerPoints is exhausting. Those poor souls really have it rough—thank goodness I don’t have to do this kind of thing every day."

Just as he was about to lounge back on the recliner, someone reported:

"Young Master Lin, Uncle Fu has returned. He’s waiting downstairs."

Lin Ran opened his eyes and stepped out of the bedroom.

His first words upon seeing Uncle Fu:

"You didn’t off yourself? I take it Granny Wang forgave you."

Uncle Fu chuckled awkwardly. "Young Master, you jest. Granny Wang hasn’t forgiven me yet—she just hasn’t rejected my attempts to make amends. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her."

Lin Ran glanced at Uncle Fu’s silver hair and couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

"Your 'rest of your life'… isn’t exactly a long time, is it?"

Uncle Fu froze, feeling a sharp pang in his chest.

"I may be old, but my heart is still young! Even if I only had one day left to live, I’d pour all my love into Dahua."

Lin Ran pretended to gag.

"Ugh… 'Pour all my love into Dahua even with one day left'… gag."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, each understanding the other’s feelings.

In their past life, after Uncle Fu had collected Lin Ran’s corpse, he had gone on to enjoy his golden years—but Lin Ran had noticed the regret lingering in the old man’s eyes.

Now he knew why.

In this life, because of Lin Ran’s changes, Uncle Fu had crossed paths with Granny Wang again, giving him a chance to make up for that regret.

Lin Ran had always respected and been grateful to Uncle Fu.

Now, he also felt a twinge of sympathy.

"Alright, alright. Even if you spend your remaining days loving Granny Wang, how much can an old geezer like you really offer? Since you’re back, get to work—help me format this document."

Uncle Fu stared blankly at the USB drive Lin Ran handed him.

"Young Master, what’s this?"

"Nothing much. Just a hundred-page PowerPoint I prepared for the Lin family."

"Such trivial tasks should be left to the staff. You should be spending time with Miss Luo Yao. Don’t end up like me, drowning in regret. I hate myself for not giving up everything for Dahua back then. Looking back now, I realize I was just too cowardly."

"And Dahua… she was so much braver than me."

For a woman to stand firm in the face of endless judgment and gossip, holding onto what she believed in—that alone was something most women could never do.

Losing her son in old age, then watching her grandson battle a severe illness… how much courage did it take to endure all that?

This guilt had wrapped around Uncle Fu’s heart like vines, and now his future was dedicated to "atonement."

"Don’t worry. This time, I won’t let myself regret anything. With Luo Yao, I’m serious."

If Uncle Fu carried regrets, so did Lin Ran.

If not for Little Black giving him a second chance, he’d be in a far worse state than Uncle Fu now.

In his past life, how many nights had his spirit wandered in the dead of night, drowning in sorrow?

That agonizing "if only" feeling was something he could never forget.

"'This time'?" Uncle Fu frowned in confusion.

"By the way, where’s Granny Wang?" Lin Ran swiftly changed the subject.

"Miss Luo Yao arranged for the Yi Family to help transfer An Jian to another hospital. Granny Wang went with them. She insisted I thank Miss Luo Yao properly."

Lin Ran scoffed. "So, I’m just a decoration now?"

Well, fine. If it meant the little one would recover, he could live with being a prop.

"Young Master, leave this document to the assistant team. Professionals should handle professional work."

Lin Ran froze.

So he was just an idiot who hadn’t even thought to use the resources right in front of him.

"…Fine."

Uncle Fu handed the file to Luo Yao’s assistant team, then resumed chatting with Lin Ran.

Uncle Fu couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning Wang Dahua, occasionally bringing up Wang Anjian.

Lin Ran couldn’t go two without gushing about Luo Yao.

The two of them, young and old, shamelessly rambled on in front of the entire villa staff.

Before long, Luo Yao finished her meeting and spotted Lin Ran downstairs with Uncle Fu. Coldly, she called out:

"Ah Ran, come here. Don’t stand too close to a heartless man."

Uncle Fu / Lin Ran: "???"

Lin Ran shot Uncle Fu a mocking look. "See? In everyone’s eyes, you’re just a scummy old man. If you can’t prove otherwise, you might as well not live."

After all, Luo Yao had once declared: Heartless men should off themselves.

Obediently, Lin Ran trotted over to Luo Yao’s side.

"Ah Ran, if you want to live, you’d better never betray me."

Lin Ran grinned. "Don’t worry, Yao Yao. Even if I only had one day left to live, I’d pour all my love into you."

Uncle Fu, standing nearby, nearly choked.

Plagiarizing me right to my face? Shameless!

Luo Yao, however, was delighted by Lin Ran’s words.

"Ah Ran, you’ve been so smooth-tongued lately. Sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming."

"So tell me… are you really being sincere?"

Gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Lin Ran understood—Luo Yao craved reassurance.

With a soft smile, he replied, "Can’t you tell? I’m your Ah Ran, and yours alone. Besides, I’ve been poisoned—I need some intimate detoxing."

He kissed her deeply, and Luo Yao responded with equal fervor. The villa staff all averted their eyes.

Uncle Fu quietly stepped behind them, resuming his role as the ever-professional butler.

When the two finally parted and noticed Uncle Fu’s beaming "proud parent" expression, they frowned in unison.

Lin Ran: "Uncle Fu, why are you staring at us like that? Trying to take notes?"

Luo Yao: "Why are you still alive?"

Uncle Fu scratched his head awkwardly.

"Miss, I’m not a heartless man. What happened back then was a misunderstanding—Young Master Lin can vouch for me."

Lin Ran shrugged. "As much as I’d love to defend you… I can’t."