Chapter 0428

The driver waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it, forget it. Just hurry up and leave. Running into you twice is really my rotten luck."

"Bro, I hope we meet again next time. Meeting you is such a blessing for me!"

The driver sighed. "Can’t you pick on someone else for a change?"

"I wish you @#�0�6!..."

After exchanging blessings twice, Lin Ran got out of the car and took a deep breath, relieved that the driver had been surprisingly easygoing.

This time, they had exchanged WeChat, and Lin Ran promised to transfer the money as soon as he had it.

Sometimes, even having a black card was useless—what really mattered was having cash in your pocket or a balance on your phone.

You couldn’t exactly swipe a black card to buy a bottle of water, could you?

Lin Ran figured he’d ask Luo Yao for some money once he saw her, at least enough to pay back the driver.

After all, he was bound to live off her sooner or later. Asking his wife for money wasn’t embarrassing.

He called Luo Yao, who was in a meeting but said it would end soon, telling him to wait in her office.

Before long, an assistant found him. "Mr. Lin, please follow me."

Lin Ran entered the elevator, which soon arrived at the 88th floor.

Stepping out, he found the floor eerily quiet.

At this point, Luo Yao’s assistant team hadn’t started working here yet—it was only later, for convenience, that she had them relocated.

The entire floor was deserted, save for a single CEO’s office.

"Mr. Lin, President Luo asked you to wait for her inside. She’ll be here shortly."

The assistant couldn’t hide her curiosity. She never expected Luo Yao to allow a man into this office.

Wasn’t Luo Yao supposed to despise men? Or was she secretly a flirt beneath that cold exterior?

Lin Ran nodded and walked in, while the assistant left.

Watching her go, Lin Ran narrowed his eyes.

He recognized her—she was from the Luo family. He remembered her name was Luo Dimei.

It seemed that, at this point, Luo Yao hadn’t completely purged the Luo family from Luo Corporation.

But Lin Ran was confident it wouldn’t be long before Luo Dimei was out of a job here.

Bored while waiting, Lin Ran suddenly grew curious about what Luo Yao’s secret room looked like now.

Almost as if possessed, he walked over to the bookshelf and triggered the hidden mechanism.

The entrance to the secret room opened without a hitch, revealing its contents at a glance—everything inside was related to Lin Ran.

But at this stage, the records were sparse, especially the photos—there weren’t any.

After a careful look, Lin Ran stepped back out without disturbing anything.

Returning to the office, he sat in Luo Yao’s chair and glanced around the desk, but didn’t see the small vial.

He wondered where Luo Yao had hidden it. Everything felt surreal, and Lin Ran closed his eyes to think.

One question had crossed his mind repeatedly.

Why was Little Black so protective of him?

He often gave Little Black trouble, teasing it for no reason—not out of boredom, but to deliberately bridge the distance between them.

Lin Ran could sense that the truth was getting closer.

What was the connection between Little Black and Luo Yao? Why was he the lucky one who could turn back time?

From Lin Ran’s understanding, Little Black should have deeper ties to Luo Yao.

Was it because Luo Yao wanted to kill it on sight? Was Little Black scared?

Just as Lin Ran’s thoughts spiraled without resolution, the office door opened.

"Ah Ran."

Luo Yao threw herself into his arms. She had been restless during the entire meeting.

Ever since parting with Lin Ran that morning, she had regretted it.

She feared he had lied to her, that he wouldn’t come back, that he might vanish without warning.

Lin Ran gently stroked her back—this version of Luo Yao was noticeably thinner.

"I’m here."

Feeling his presence, her heart finally settled.

Lin Ran could make Luo Yao’s heart race, but he could also steady it.

For the rest of the day, the two stayed glued together, as if making up for past mistakes.

Compensating for the warmth he owed her, filling the love she had missed.

Time flew, and by 2 PM, neither of them had grown tired of each other.

Turns out, being with the one you love never gets old.

"Ah Ran, let’s go… home." Luo Yao wrapped up her work—the first time she had ever left early.

Lin Ran nodded, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, I need to pick up my car. And I have a gift for you—I have to get that too."

Luo Yao tilted her head. "A gift for me? What is it?"

Lin Ran smirked. "A secret."

Luo Yao leaving early stunned everyone at Luo Corporation.

As the CEO, leaving early wasn’t unusual—she could skip work entirely if she wanted.

But for a workaholic like Luo Yao to leave early? Her subordinates couldn’t help but speculate, though none dared to voice it.

Downstairs, Lin Ran saw Luo Yao into her car before realizing he didn’t have one himself.

He walked to the curb and hailed a taxi.

"Damn it, I forgot to ask Yao Yao for money." He smacked his forehead as soon as he got in.

The driver sighed. "Meeting you is such a blessing."

Lin Ran blinked, then grinned at the familiar face behind the wheel. "I wish you @#�0�6%... Take me to XX Print Shop."

Hearing the destination, the driver paused before silently starting the car.

Might as well do a good deed—he was heading there anyway.

Soon, they arrived. Lin Ran got out, and the driver followed.

"Bro, it’s just the fare. I’ll pay you—no need to follow me."

The driver waved him off. "You’re my last ride today. I’m here to pick up my wife—she works here."

Lin Ran sighed in relief. If the driver demanded payment now, he’d be broke.

Wait… he could just call Luo Yao for money. Why was he so slow?

Entering the print shop, he asked, "Boss, are my photos ready?"

"Yep. That’ll be ten bucks."

Lin Ran froze, scratching his head awkwardly.

The driver scoffed. "He’s broke."

The shop owner blinked. "Honey, you’re here."

The driver nodded, while Lin Ran’s jaw dropped—this guy was Wang Anjian’s dad?!

Sure enough, Wang Anjian came running out. "Daddy, daddy, daddy! Look, the big brother lent me his cat to play with!"

The driver affectionately ruffled Wang Anjian’s hair, then froze at the sight of the little black cat in his hands.

Wang Anjian turned and spotted Lin Ran, eyes widening.

"Brother, you came back for the cat? He’s naughty! I tried to give him a haircut, but he wouldn’t stay still."

Lin Ran was speechless.

[Little Black: Waaahhhh!!!]

Seeing Little Black’s once sleek fur now mangled like a dog had chewed it, with a rope tied around its neck, Lin Ran nearly burst out laughing.

"Don’t worry. A bad cat deserves a troublemaker like you."

He took Little Black back, and the cat wept as if reborn.

[Little Black: Lin Ran, I think you’re the best. I was blind before! You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. I’m such a trash cat, waaahhh! I’ll never insult you again, waaahhh!]