Chapter 0293

Liu Meng shot a fierce glance at the assistants, who all immediately lowered their heads and returned to work.

Lin Ran also noticed the unusual behavior of the assistant team.

"Yao Yao, your employees seem to have been force-fed a mouthful of dog food."

Luo Yao: "Oh? Then let’s reward them with an extra 100,000 yuan bonus this month."

Every member of the assistant team instantly looked up in their direction.

"Long live President Luo!"

"A thousand years to Young Master Lin!"

"President Luo and Young Master Lin are truly a match made in heaven."

"Young Master Lin really loves President Luo so much—just look at that tender gaze. He even personally prepares warm herbal drinks for her. What a dreamy husband! He’s definitely President Luo’s strongest support."

"President Luo is Young Master Lin’s support too. She’s rich, gorgeous, and loves him so much. If I were Young Master Lin, I’d be head over heels for her."

Hearing the assistants’ flattery, Luo Yao’s lips gradually curled into a beautiful smile, and she seemed to float on air.

"Then… let’s make it another 100,000."

"Wow, President Luo is my goddess! I wish you and Young Master Lin a lifetime of happiness!"

Inner monologue: "Young Master Lin, keep showing off, please. If we complain, may our whole families perish."

Lin Ran was stunned by Luo Yao’s move. Compared to her, were his own employees even treated like humans?

He’d only rewarded them once before.

Sigh, no comparison. Absolutely no comparison.

Luo Yao just naturally exuded that domineering aura.

"Ah Ran, I still have some work to finish. Can you wait for me?"

"Can I stay here with you? If I wait somewhere else, I won’t be able to see you."

Luo Yao’s heart fluttered. No matter how long she and Lin Ran had been together, he could always stir her emotions.

Logically, people who spend a lot of time together eventually settle into a calmer, more mundane dynamic.

But they somehow maintained this passion and sweetness—something completely unscientific.

"Fine, stay here and watch me."

Lin Ran sat beside Luo Yao, propping his chin on his hand as he gazed adoringly at her beautiful profile.

This time, not a single assistant found him cringeworthy. Instead, they all thought it was perfectly reasonable.

"As long as Young Master Lin performs well, employee bonuses will swell."

"If his love is strong and true, even the CEO might take maternity leave."

Luo Yao basked in Lin Ran’s affectionate gaze while leading her team through their intense work.

Every now and then, an assistant would report something or deliver documents.

Her focus alternated between her computer and the files, but her peripheral vision never left Lin Ran.

After what felt like an eternity, even Luo Yao finally let out a relieved sigh.

"Alright, done."

Lin Ran pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed Luo Yao’s face, even though she wasn’t sweating at all.

"What do you want for lunch? I’ll cook for you."

Luo Yao: "No need to trouble yourself. Let the chef handle it."

Just then, an assistant muttered under her breath, "If Young Master Lin is making a love-filled lunch for President Luo, will there be any for us?"

Liu Meng shot her a glare, thinking, "Are you trying to get yourself fired?"

Lin Ran: "Sorry, but I only cook for Yao Yao. What you eat or how well you eat is none of my business."

...???

The assistant muttered again, "Alright then. The boss’s husband really loves President Luo too much. Us mere workers will just have to eat dirt. So envious of President Luo."

Without even looking, Luo Yao said, "Liu Meng, let them order dishes. The estate chef will prepare them."

Liu Meng: "Understood."

At this point, the entire assistant team stared at the muttering colleague in shock.

This reverse-butter-up tactic was next-level. Note taken, note taken.

To be fair, they did have decent work meals.

But how could those compare to gourmet dishes prepared by the estate’s professional chefs?

After all, even the most ordinary ingredient here might have been flown in from overseas.

"Flattery done right means feasting day and night."

"Long live President Luo!"

Lin Ran prepared a lavish lunch for Luo Yao. Though she was used to being pampered, she still felt a pang of guilt over his effort.

What to do when he’s tired? Of course, he needed to relax.

So after lunch, Luo Yao didn’t return to work immediately. Instead, she and Lin Ran spent some time exploring the meaning of life together.

"Yao Yao, should I ask Uncle Fu to pack our luggage?"

"What luggage?"

"Aren’t we going to Shanghai? We can’t go empty-handed, right?"

Lin Ran remembered clearly—in their past life, Luo Yao’s trip to Shanghai had lasted seven days.

Why did he remember so well?

Because those seven days, he’d spent in confinement.

Afraid he’d run away, Luo Yao had ordered Uncle Fu to watch him around the clock, withholding the keys. He’d spent seven days and nights in chains.

Of course, it was only confinement—Luo Yao had never mistreated him in daily life.

"No need to bring anything. Shanghai has everything."

Lin Ran: "Nothing at all?"

Luo Yao suddenly blinked at him.

"Ah Ran, I built an estate for you in Shanghai. You can move in directly—no need to bring a single thing."

Lin Ran: "......"

Even after two lifetimes, he’d never known about this.

"Huh? An entire… estate? Like the one we’re in now?"

"Similar in size, but different in style."

"Alright, I’ll have to take a good look when I get there."

Lin Ran distinctly recalled that Luo Yao had never mentioned this in their past life, and he’d never visited the Shanghai estate either.

Realizing they’d be gone for nearly a week, he said, "Before we leave, I’d like to visit Uncle Fu’s grandson at the hospital this afternoon. The child’s surgery is coming up soon."

Luo Yao gave him a strange look, scrutinizing him up and down.

"You don’t have a thing for kids, do you? That child actually occupies your thoughts?"

Lin Ran’s face darkened. Even after all this time, Luo Yao’s mental leaps could still floor him.

"I do not."

Luo Yao laughed. "Just teasing. Go ahead. The child has already been transferred to the Yi Family’s hospital."

Lin Ran nodded. He’d known about this for a while.

Luo Yao might seem cold—because she genuinely was.

Her help for Wang Anjian was purely out of respect for Uncle Fu’s years of loyal service.

Call her sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, but if she were displeased, that softness could instantly turn nuclear.

Lin Ran understood that even without Luo Yao’s intervention, Uncle Fu had the means to secure better medical care for Wang Anjian.

The child had recently begun pre-surgery preparations, and Granny Wang had been granted special leave by Uncle Fu to care for him.

This time, however, Lin Ran didn’t bring Uncle Fu along for the visit.

Elderly matters were best left to the elderly.

The reason he wanted to see Wang Anjian was that he always felt an inexplicable pull toward the child—a desire to be close to him.

Wang Anjian was staying in the same VIP ward Lin Ran had once occupied, completely free of charge.