Chapter 0497

All of this was captured by the phone camera lying on the ground. On the other end of the video, Chen Qingtian covered her mouth in disbelief.

Watching Fang Buxia’s fearless expression, she suddenly felt that her once gentle "little puppy" had turned into a ferocious beast.

Yet, she cried.

Because it seemed she no longer had the power to save Fang Buxia.

"Yu Chengqun, I beg you, let him go."

Yu Chengqun sneered, "In your dreams!"

Outside the door, Lin Ran sighed.

"Open it."

The door swung open, revealing Yu Chengqun, who was just about to strike.

The moment he saw Lin Ran, his entire body froze.

"Lin Ran?"

His face was still bruised and swollen, his body covered in injuries—all courtesy of Lin Ran’s men.

Lin Ran stepped into the room and glanced at Fang Buxia. "At least you’ve got some backbone."

If Fang Buxia had been completely spineless, Lin Ran might not have bothered saving him at all.

Fang Buxia was equally stunned to see Lin Ran, but hope flickered in his heart.

He… might actually be saved.

On the video call, Chen Qingtian panicked when she spotted Lin Ran. "Cousin, please save Xiaxia!"

Lin Ran picked up the phone from the floor and ended the call.

By now, Yu Chengqun’s men had been subdued, and Fang Buxia was freed.

"Take Chen Qingtian’s little puppy away," Lin Ran ordered. Two of his underlings immediately carried Fang Buxia out.

Lin Ran stepped closer to Yu Chengqun. "Do you know the two kinds of people I despise the most? One is those who act like Lin Jian…"

Yu Chengqun gritted his teeth. "And the other?"

"The other is Lin Jian himself. And you—you’re the former."

Lin Ran believed that if Yu Chengqun wasn’t taught a lesson, countless innocent people would suffer in the future.

He wasn’t exactly a saint himself, but at least he didn’t commit such atrocities.

"Beat him up first. We’ll talk later."

Abu only needed three minutes before Yu Chengqun passed out from the pain—repeatedly.

Each time he woke, it was only to be knocked unconscious again by the agony.

When Yu Chengqun regained consciousness once more, Lin Ran finally spoke. "That’s enough."

He called over a few subordinates. "Keep an eye on him. No food or water unless I say so."

"Yes, boss."

Lin Ran considered the situation—the Yu family and Luo Yao were rivals. Keeping Yu Chengqun around might prove useful.

"Lin Ran, you can’t lock me up! Do you even know who I am?"

Lin Ran didn’t bother turning back.

A fool like this… Being born into the Yu family was both his luck and his curse.

After leaving the room and getting into his car, Lin Ran finally called Chen Qingtian.

"Cousin, you owe me again."

On the other end, Chen Qingtian fell silent for a moment. "What I owe you and your wife… I’ll never repay it in this lifetime."

Hanging up, Lin Ran headed straight back to the estate to pack the soup he’d prepared.

No matter how chaotic the outside world was, nothing would stop him from nurturing his wife’s health.

By the time he arrived at Luo Corporation, it was already past lunch hour.

Lin Ran regretted his decision deeply—he should’ve just ignored Fang Buxia.

And in his heart, he cursed Chen Qingtian eight hundred times.

Even if Fang Buxia died, all Chen Qingtian would lose was a fling. But if his wife’s stomach ached because her meal was late? Unforgivable.

Entering the office, he found Luo Yao still working.

Seeing her man, she smiled.

Of course, she already knew everything Lin Ran had done today.

Whenever they weren’t together, she made sure to check his whereabouts and messages at least twice a day—morning and afternoon.

She wasn’t jealous that Lin Ran had saved Fang Buxia.

Perhaps when it came to true love, even she could show mercy.

Still, she pouted playfully. "A-Ran, if you’d come any later, I would’ve starved to death."

Hearing his wife’s complaint, Lin Ran cursed Chen Qingtian again in his heart.

"Blame Chen Qingtian and Fang Buxia for wasting my time."

He unpacked the lunchbox. "I made a new stomach-nourishing soup today. Drink up."

Luo Yao brought the bowl to her nose and inhaled.

It smelled like happiness.

"Okay, I’ll finish every drop."

As Lin Ran laid out the rest of the dishes, he fed her while recounting the day’s events. Luo Yao pretended to listen intently.

When he finished, her gaze turned thoughtful.

Lin Ran had mentioned Fang Buxia’s ordeal but conveniently skipped the Yu family gossip.

Though she knew he was helping her by stirring trouble for the Yus, his deliberate omission still annoyed her.

Lin Ran took a sip of water. "Oh, and here’s something funny—you know Chang Lüfù from the Yu family? What a… talented woman."

Luo Yao’s smile returned, and she ate with renewed appetite.

By the time Lin Ran finished his story, her meal was done.

Nothing made food taste better than juicy gossip.

Suddenly, she paused, touching her stomach. Her expression turned pitiful.

"A-Ran, I think I’m still gaining weight."

Lin Ran shrugged. He thought Luo Yao’s increased appetite lately was a good thing—a little weight gain was natural.

Besides, when she complained about being "fat," it was only relative to her previous figure.

In reality, she probably hadn’t even reached the standard weight.

"It’s fine. I’ll love you even more if you put on a bit more. It’s all thanks to me, anyway."

Luo Yao hugged him gently. "A-Ran, make me some diet meals from now on."

"Not a chance. You’re not allowed to diet until you hit standard weight."

Luo Yao beamed.

Meanwhile, at the Lüfu Chess Club, Yu Paoyan was throwing a tantrum.

"You bastards! Let me out! I’m your family head!"

The guards remained silent as Yu Paoyan ranted.

Chang Lüfù emerged from the lounge. "Dad, stop shouting. It’s pointless."

Yu Paoyan fell silent for a moment, studying her. "Let’s talk in the lounge."

The guards didn’t stop them—after all, they’d already planted surveillance devices in the room. Whatever was said, Yu Taiduo would hear it.

Meanwhile, Ai Renqi still lay unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Inside the lounge, Chang Lüfù lowered her voice. "Dad, they took our phones. We need to find a way to contact someone outside for help."

Instead of answering, Yu Paoyan narrowed his eyes. "Why did you sleep with Ai Renqi? Are you really that desperate?"

Chang Lüfù stiffened. Of all things to focus on at a time like this…

"It was just a fling. You’re the only one I’m serious about."

...

At Yu Taiduo’s residence, he stared at the surveillance feed in shock, doubting his own ears.

But as the conversation continued, his fury grew.

"Ah—!"

What kind of monster had he married?

Disgusting.

Absolutely fucking disgusting.