Chapter 0448

Lin Ran remembered that time when he traveled back to the manor—Luo Yao was rushing back, severely injured. So this was how she got hurt.

At that moment, his heart ached unbearably; he wished he could have taken the pain instead.

Now, it hurt even more. Despite her grave injuries, Luo Yao had pushed herself to return just to confirm his safety...

Seeing the proud look in Little Black's eyes, Lin Ran sincerely uttered those two words: "Thank you! This time, I mean it."

A flash of white light later, Lin Ran found himself back at Villa No. 1, as if nothing had happened.

[Little Black: Since you're thanking me so sincerely, I’ll accept it graciously. Well then, see you next time.]

As Little Black turned to leave, Lin Ran quickly stopped it.

[Lin Ran: Wait! Even if you saved me, the third time-travel was forced on me. That doesn’t count as my wish.]

Lin Ran was grateful to Little Black, but that didn’t mean he was naive. He hadn’t forgotten Little Black’s earlier sophistry.

[Little Black: Then what do you want?]

[Lin Ran: You still owe me one wish.]

Little Black sighed, its lively eyes losing all their spark and energy.

[Fine, you’re impossible. What’s your last wish?]

[Lin Ran: My last wish is to get three more wishes.]

Without another word, Little Black leaped away. [You’re literally the four words from the Tao Te Ching—pushing your luck.]

Lin Ran scratched his head, watching the direction Little Black vanished. "We were having a decent conversation—why’d it suddenly run off?"

Still, this time, he was genuinely thankful to Little Black.

Especially that sudden time-travel in the Dragon Vein’s treasure, which allowed him to give Luo Yao a moment of real warmth, a glimmer of hope in their hardship.

Without Little Black, Lin Ran couldn’t bear to imagine how much suffering Luo Yao would have endured these three years.

If Luo Yao had reached her breaking point, she wouldn’t have simply given up—she’d have killed him first, then herself.

That was Luo Yao.

So, in a way, this time-travel had saved both their lives.

But he’d need to find a way to deal with Luo Yao’s immediate urge to slaughter Little Black upon sight.

Also, Little Black’s connection with Wang Anjian was now clear—Wang Anjian was Little Black’s second master, the one who had once shaved its head.

Huh? Wait, why was Little Black’s fur perfectly intact when it appeared earlier?

Oh right, it had time-manipulation abilities. If it could make seeds grow rapidly, regrowing its fur was no issue.

Makes sense.

"Ran, what’s on your mind?" Luo Yao suddenly appeared, interrupting Lin Ran’s thoughts.

Looking at his beloved beside him, Lin Ran cherished their bond even more.

The two of them had come so far—it hadn’t been easy.

"Thinking of you. My mind is filled with nothing but you."

Luo Yao gently wrapped her arms around Lin Ran from behind. "Ran’s getting better at saying what I like to hear."

"Yao, can I ask you something? Do you like cats?"

"No."

"What if it’s a cat that saved your life?"

"No."

Lin Ran: ...

"What if it’s a cat that saved both you and me?"

"No."

Well, that conversation was dead.

Lin Ran had planned to tell Luo Yao about Little Black saving her, hoping she’d at least tolerate its existence. But now?

She wasn’t even giving him a chance to explain.

Maybe, to Luo Yao, even a life-saving cat was still just a cat—one that deserved to die.

This was tough.

Noticing Lin Ran’s expression, Luo Yao asked, "Ran, do you like cats?"

Lin Ran almost nodded, but then he sensed an overwhelming murderous intent—as if showing the slightest fondness would get him killed on the spot.

"Do I... like them? No, I hate cats."

Only then did Luo Yao smile happily, while Lin Ran wanted to slap himself.

He’d caved to save his own skin.

Oh well. Once he fully understood Little Black’s past, he’d talk to Luo Yao properly.

If reconciliation was impossible, he’d have to abandon the idea of the two "individuals" ever getting along.

"I knew it. Ran would never like anyone or anything else—only me."

Lin Ran nodded. "Only Luo Yao and love are worth cherishing."

Outside, Little Black, who hadn’t gone far, immediately vomited. "Ugh... Is love really this disgusting? Ugh... What am I even protecting? Ugh..."

"Ran, you... moved me." Luo Yao rested her head lightly against Lin Ran’s ear. "But remember—if I ever find out you like something else, I’ll kill anyone in my way. Human or cat, whoever you like won’t live long."

Well, that crushed any remaining resistance in Lin Ran. He sensed something off about Luo Yao right now.

"Yao, I love only you. So I’d never let you get hurt."

A hint of triumph flickered in Luo Yao’s eyes.

Scaring Ran might make him fearful, but it was worth it.

By Ran’s side—there could only be her.

Ten minutes earlier, Luo Yao had been on a call with Liu Meng. Samsung Group had been making frequent moves lately. After reconciling with Luo Corporation and with new leadership bringing fresh possibilities, Samsung had successfully stabilized the market.

It was then that Liu Meng made some unusually bold demands—surprisingly, Park Gukgi agreed without hesitation.

This behavior was odd, so Liu Meng reported it to Luo Yao.

Luo Yao also found it strange. Park Gukgi seemed to be deliberately currying favor with Luo Corporation, accepting terms without negotiation.

In her words, Park Gukgi acted like... a simp.

Their conclusion? "Don’t get it. Let’s wait and see."

After hanging up, Luo Yao returned to the living room to find Lin Ran—when suddenly, a white light flashed.

At first, she froze. Then she saw a vaguely familiar black shadow.

Holding her breath, Luo Yao scrutinized it carefully—this was the first time she got a clear look at that black creature.

Countless images flashed through her mind.

The black thing in Lin Ran’s arms when they first stargazed as kids—back then, it was too dark to see clearly, but now she realized it was probably that damned cat.

It had been in Ran’s embrace?

That spot belonged to her alone.

Frowning, more memories surfaced.

The one she stabbed to death, the one thrown from the car on the bridge, the one Lin Ran brought out from the print shop, the one that appeared suddenly in the valley...

All those black shadows overlapped. Luo Yao was stunned.

Were all those cats... the same one?

A sense of crisis surged. Luo Yao hadn’t expected something to steal Lin Ran’s attention right under her nose. It infuriated her.

Maybe the cat was special. Maybe it had helped her before. But that didn’t give it the right to claim Ran.

A crimson glint flashed in Luo Yao’s eyes—she wanted that cat dead.

But not in front of Lin Ran. She wouldn’t slaughter his "friend" before his eyes.

Still, Lin Ran’s earlier words—"Only Luo Yao and love are worth cherishing"—instantly brought her back to reason.

Maybe... killing wasn’t absolutely necessary.

That cat might not even matter much in Ran’s heart.