Chapter 0444

Where is the most comfortable place in the morning?

It’s the bed that hasn’t lost its warmth yet—the place where countless people are late because of it.

Lin Ran didn’t feel like getting up at all, nor did he want Luo Yao to rise either.

He thought it would be lovely for the two of them to just lie in bed, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

"Darling, let’s stay a little longer," Lin Ran murmured, holding Luo Yao’s hand and rubbing it against his cheek.

"Ran, you need to eat on time. How about I lie with you again after breakfast?" Luo Yao replied softly.

Lin Ran nodded. "Okay, but I want my wife to help me get dressed."

This was something Luo Yao was more than happy to do. As she dressed him, she recalled the time she had helped him change outfits—how unpredictable he had been back then, and how much she had adored that side of him.

Once dressed, they left the bedroom.

Starting today, Lin Ran would no longer eat in bed. Though his injuries were serious, they weren’t so severe that he couldn’t make it to the dining table.

The main reason he hadn’t been getting up was because Luo Yao had been taking such meticulous care of him, attending to his every need without letting him lift a finger.

But now, with Luo Yao by his side at all times, that rule was broken.

Luo Yao supported Lin Ran as they made their way to the dining room, where the chef had prepared a meal tailored to aid his recovery.

She fed him herself.

Just then, Uncle Fu came in to deliver a message.

Even if Lin Ran wasn’t going out, that didn’t mean others wouldn’t come to him.

"Young Miss, Young Master Lin, Miss Chen Qingtian is here. Shall I let her in?"

Luo Yao frowned. She had put aside her work just to be with Lin Ran, and now, on their first day of rest, someone was already interrupting them.

Lin Ran furrowed his brows as well. Very few people knew about his injuries—Chen Qingtian included.

If she saw him like this, wouldn’t that mean the Chen family would find out? And wouldn’t that mean the whole world would know?

Well… that might be an exaggeration. His cousin could be tight-lipped when she wanted to be.

Besides, she was already here. Could they really turn her away?

Luo Yao looked at Lin Ran, who in turn glanced at Uncle Fu. The old man stared blankly into the air before hesitantly asking, "So… should I send her away… or let her in?"

"Let her in," Lin Ran finally said.

Chen Qingtian drove herself in, marveling at the vastness of the estate as she made her way from the gates to the main villa.

She was no stranger to Dongtian Manor—having filmed short dramas here and even celebrated New Year’s Eve on the grounds—but every visit still left her in awe.

Entering the villa, she handed a gift to Uncle Fu. "Happy New Year, Uncle Fu! This is for you."

Uncle Fu: "..." The New Year celebrations were long over.

Chen Qingtian followed him to the dining room.

"Oh, you’re having breakfast? Perfect timing—I haven’t eaten yet. Uncle Fu, could you prepare a portion for me too?"

Wow. She really didn’t hold back.

Uncle Fu glanced at Lin Ran, who gave a slight nod, before replying, "Of course."

Chen Qingtian took a seat across from them and immediately noticed Lin Ran’s condition.

"Cousin, are you injured?"

Lin Ran looked at her in surprise. "I’m shocked you spoke to me first."

Chen Qingtian’s face flushed with embarrassment. Lin Ran had teased her about this before.

"Ah, don’t dwell on the details! I wanted to visit during the New Year, but there were so many rumors flying around, and Grandma told me not to bother you two. That’s why I delayed. But since I saw you were already live-streaming again, I figured it was safe to drop by today."

She turned to Luo Yao. "How are you feeling, sister-in-law? When you were unconscious, it felt like the sky had fallen."

Luo Yao gave a soft "Mm," signaling that she was fine. Chen Qingtian knew this was just her nature and didn’t press further. As long as she was okay, that was all that mattered.

"Cousin, are you hurt too?" Chen Qingtian asked again.

"I am. Wounded by love," Lin Ran said, his gaze never leaving Luo Yao, who felt a wave of warmth envelop her.

His injuries had been sustained while saving her.

Chen Qingtian felt like she’d just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food—but she had no proof.

"Ahem! Ahem!" She coughed exaggeratedly, but the couple remained unfazed.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

"Ahem, ahem, ahem—"

"Miss Chen, no need to keep coughing. Your breakfast is ready," Uncle Fu interjected.

"Oh! Thank you, Uncle Fu. I won’t hold back then."

Chen Qingtian dug in, watching the lovebirds across from her with a mix of envy and determination.

One day, when she had a man of her own, she’d flaunt their affection just like this—no, even more extravagantly. She’d rub it in their faces nonstop.

That day… couldn’t come soon enough, right?

"Cousin, did you just come here to mooch off our food?" Lin Ran teased.

Chen Qingtian paused mid-chew, swallowing before retorting, "I came to visit you and sister-in-law, to thank Uncle Fu, and also to discuss the film company."

Lin Ran looked puzzled. "Thank Uncle Fu for what?"

Chen Qingtian smiled brightly. "For helping me investigate that matter. If not for him, I wouldn’t have known the truth might be completely different. Today, I wanted to ask Uncle Fu how we could confirm the details from back then."

Seeing Lin Ran’s confusion, Uncle Fu explained, "Young Master Lin, it’s about that case you asked me to look into for Miss Chen."

"Oh! Right, right—that guy named Fang… Fang Buxia, wasn’t it?"

Lin Ran had known about it but had momentarily forgotten. Uncle Fu had mentioned it to him before.

At the mention of "Fang Buxia," Chen Qingtian’s expression flickered.

Sometimes, she wondered if that night had been a hallucination. But through Uncle Fu’s investigation, she’d learned that the man she’d drunkenly encountered back then was indeed Fang Buxia.

Yet, when he saw her injured, he had turned and fled.

Disgusting.

Uncle Fu pulled out a simple business card from his pocket and handed it to Chen Qingtian. It bore only a phone number and a surname.

"This matter is quite old, so it won’t be easy to investigate. But don’t worry—this is the contact of an old friend of mine who works as a detective. If even he can’t uncover anything, then I’m afraid there’s nothing more to be done."

Chen Qingtian accepted it gratefully.

"Thank you, Uncle Fu."

She tucked the card away like a treasured possession.

A real detective! She’d never dealt with one before.

With that settled, she moved on to the film company.

If Luo Yao had still been unconscious, she wouldn’t have brought it up. But now that her sister-in-law was full of energy, she felt no hesitation.

"Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Once the film company is established, I’ll make sure to poach all the pretty girls from Nuanyao Group—"

Luo Yao nodded, spoon-feeding Lin Ran his porridge as she replied, "Mm. Let’s launch it by the end of the month. No need to wait too long."