Chapter 0425

Lin Ran turned his head and happened to meet Luo Yao’s burning gaze.

"Yao Yao."

"Hmm?"

Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman before him—Luo Yao, who hadn’t yet been with him—Lin Ran wasn’t sure if his sudden advance would make her dislike him. So, he chose to take a step back.

"Can I kiss you?"

Luo Yao’s eyes instantly lit up. She leaned her breathtakingly gorgeous face closer and said, "Help yourself."

Lin Ran’s face slowly enlarged in her pupils. This was her first kiss, and she wasn’t very familiar with it, so she chose what she believed was the most correct way.

To love someone is to possess every part of them.

She wanted Lin Ran’s blood to flow into her body. Lost in the thought, she instinctively acted on it.

Before Lin Ran could react, he felt a sharp pain on his lips, followed by the metallic taste of blood. Luo Yao had bitten him—hard.

When the kiss ended, Luo Yao did something that left Lin Ran stunned.

She extended her tongue and licked the blood from the corner of his lips, her entire demeanor exuding a delicate yet bewitching allure.

With such an adorable and beautiful face, she was doing something so wild.

The contrast sent a strange thrill through Lin Ran’s heart.

Why did Luo Yao’s bloodthirsty look not frighten him at all? Instead, it was oddly… cute?

"Yao Yao, kissing isn’t like this. I think it’s necessary for me to teach you what a real ‘love’s kiss’ should be like."

Luo Yao didn’t quite understand his words.

Wasn’t loving someone deeply about possessing every part of them? What was wrong with her sucking the blood from his wound?

Lin Ran gently pressed his lips to hers again. Luo Yao caught the scent of blood and was about to deepen the bite when she suddenly felt a warm, wet sensation in her mouth.

Her eyes widened in surprise as Lin Ran guided her through the proper way. Slowly, Luo Yao lost herself in the moment.

So… this was how it felt.

It was as if she had found the key to some mysterious desire, and she eagerly sought more. Lin Ran was more than willing to teach her—after all, the experience now would benefit his future self. What was a little injury in comparison?

"Yao Yao, no more… My lips are ruined. Let’s take a break."

Lin Ran never expected that this "practice session" would last half the night.

It was already past midnight. They had spent hours just kissing, without discussing or doing anything else.

Ridiculous.

The worst part was that the little demon showed no signs of stopping. She seemed to love it—no, she was eager to keep learning.

By now, Lin Ran’s lips were a mess—bruised, torn, and swollen.

Luo Yao gazed at his lips, her heart aching with guilt. She almost couldn’t bear to face him.

"Ran, does it hurt?"

What a stupid question. Of course it hurt!

"It hurts, but I like it. Because this pain was given to me by Yao Yao. This is the real Yao Yao."

Compared to the pain Luo Yao would endure in her heart over the next three years, what did a little suffering on his lips matter?

An indescribable desire surged in Luo Yao’s chest. She tilted her head and sank her teeth into Lin Ran’s shoulder.

"You promised I could bite you anytime. I’m happy right now, so I want to bite. You won’t blame me, will you?"

Lin Ran’s face twitched from the sudden pain, but he forced a smile. "Of course not. That’s my promise to you."

Time passed quietly as the two lay together, talking softly, no longer doing anything reckless.

Eventually, Luo Yao nestled into Lin Ran’s arms, drowsy.

Lin Ran whispered gently in her ear, "Sleep. When you wake up in the morning, I’ll still be here."

Luo Yao nodded and buried her face in his chest.

It was September, and the rooftop garden was temperature-controlled, so neither felt cold.

Watching Luo Yao sleep so peacefully in his arms, Lin Ran even began to doubt—did she really have insomnia?

He didn’t know that Luo Yao could only sleep soundly when she was with him.

Before long, Lin Ran drifted off as well.

---

In the hospital, Luo Yao stood silently by the bed, her expression unreadable as she stared at Lin Ran.

A long time passed before someone finally entered the room—Yi Buhao.

"When will Ran wake up?"

Yi Buhao replied, "Young Master Lin was hit pretty hard. He has fractured ribs and internal bleeding. But don’t worry, we’ve provided the best treatment. I estimate he’ll wake up in two days at the earliest, or a week at the latest."

Luo Yao gave a slight nod. After Yi Buhao left, she sat by the bed, holding Lin Ran’s hand against her cheek.

"Ran… maybe I really should have listened to you."

If she hadn’t returned to the Luo family—or if she had dealt with Luo Wushuang before going back—none of this would have happened. Her Ran wouldn’t be lying here injured.

She couldn’t help but blame her own curiosity about the Dragon Vein treasure, a place that had always held an inexplicable allure for her.

Who would have thought it only contained a single statue? Was this really the Luo family’s so-called treasure?

What did it even represent?

She remembered hearing a cat’s meow just as Lin Ran pushed her out of the way and was struck by the statue. Then, the exit door had opened.

She had carried Lin Ran out, boarded a manned submersible, and rushed him to the hospital without hesitation.

The surgery had lasted an entire day, only just concluding.

A knock sounded at the door, and Uncle Fu entered.

"Young Miss, the Luo family members have filled the entire floor, kneeling."

"Let them kneel. They’ll stay like that until Ran wakes up. No food, no water. If they starve to death, that’s their own misfortune."

Uncle Fu nodded. He knew this punishment wasn’t too severe for the Luo family.

The real horror would come later.

"After Ran wakes up, cripple every last one of them. Since they love being useless parasites, let them live the rest of their lives that way."

Uncle Fu inhaled sharply but said nothing. The young miss intended to erase the Luo family from history entirely.

Then again, spending the rest of their lives being waited on hand and foot—wasn’t that a kind of happiness?

"And Luo Wushuang?"

At the mention of that name, Luo Yao’s eyes narrowed.

"That instigator… If not for him, Ran wouldn’t be hurt. Throw him into the crocodile pond."

"Should I do it, or will you?"

"I’ll do it myself—after Ran wakes up."

"Understood." Uncle Fu turned to leave but hesitated, glancing back at Luo Yao’s hollow expression. He couldn’t help but advise,

"Young Miss, you should rest. If Young Master Lin were awake, he wouldn’t want to see you like this."

It was already the dead of night, nearly dawn, yet Luo Yao hadn’t slept at all, keeping vigil by Lin Ran’s side.

Luo Yao remained silent. Uncle Fu didn’t press further and quietly exited the room.

Pushing any more would be overstepping.

Luo Yao rested her head beside Lin Ran, clutching his hand as she murmured,

"Ran… I can only sleep when you’re with me."

Suddenly, she noticed Lin Ran’s lips twitch.