Chapter 081

After agreeing, Wu's Father immediately contacted his former company's HR department to submit his resignation and stopped showing up for work despite the company's objections.

He chose to follow Lin Ran's advice, cutting all ties with his previous employer cleanly and preparing to have a lawyer issue formal documentation.

To his surprise, the very next morning, his former boss reached out.

With Wu's Father standing firm, the boss could only reluctantly agree to his departure but insisted on a three-year non-compete clause in the construction industry. Wu's Father bluntly told him to take it up with his lawyer, leaving the boss fuming and cursing.

As for how the dispute between the company and Wu's Father was ultimately resolved, Lin Ran left it entirely to lawyer Xu Kai—though not without compensation.

Xu Kai worked for a fee, and Lin Ran had no intention of exploiting him. Knowing he’d need Xu Kai's services often in the future, Lin Ran began paying him properly starting from their last collaboration.

As for Xu Kai’s salary from the Luo Group, that was rightfully earned—Lin Ran had merely benefited from it before.

The same day, Wu Zhishang approached the university’s Principal Tang again and successfully recruited a number of civil engineering students. Even one professor volunteered to work for free. Lin Ran knew this had to be Principal Tang’s doing, given the project was for the university’s new library.

Wu's Father joined the new company as General Manager, Wu Zhishang as CEO, and Lin Ran remained the unseen owner behind the scenes.

By the third day, Wu's Father had already leveraged his network to connect with construction firms. The formation of "Nuanyao Real Estate" took a mere three days—less than two weeks including preliminary preparations—a speed nothing short of astonishing.

That afternoon, Lin Ran returned to the university as Nuanyao Real Estate’s representative to negotiate with Principal Tang. The so-called negotiation was little more than tea and casual conversation, and Principal Tang readily agreed to Lin Ran’s terms.

After all, the university was getting a new library without spending a dime—an undeniable win. Lin Ran’s requests were far from excessive: naming rights for the "Nuanyao Group," designated reading zones, and some promotional support. All perfectly reasonable.

Had it been any other company or organization donating, the demands would likely have been far more overreaching.

The only condition that caught Principal Tang off guard was Lin Ran’s request to be introduced to education bureau officials, along with a partial explanation of his motives.

After hearing him out, Principal Tang’s eyes widened. For the first time, he realized he’d underestimated Lin Ran. After a moment’s thought, he agreed.

A growing sense told him Lin Ran’s ambitions were vast.

But he didn’t pry further, trusting that a man like Lin Ran didn’t act without purpose.

To Principal Tang, Lin Ran now seemed almost like a golden goose—pride, admiration, and a sense of accomplishment swelling within him.

The more successful Lin Ran’s ventures, the greater the prestige for the university, and the more benefits it would reap. The two were mutually reinforcing. While Principal Tang was pragmatic, he wasn’t one to take without giving.

Soon, it was decided: construction on the library would begin after National Day.

The university already had the land, and as the administration held the rights to its use, approvals would face no obstacles.

The old library would be demolished once the new one was completed.

Nuanyao Real Estate’s inaugural project was a university library—no small feat for a fledgling company.

Though fully funded by the firm (effectively a donation), the project’s success would rapidly elevate the company’s reputation, drawing attention from all sectors the moment construction began.

The team showered Lin Ran with praise for his foresight—whether sincere or not, the flattery flowed freely. Money talked, after all.

If you were wealthy, even dogs wagged their tails, knowing you could offer them a better life.

But without it? Even your own flesh and blood might turn away. Such were the times.

With everything settled, Lin Ran finally exhaled. The past few days of nonstop hustle had left him exhausted.

Once the library broke ground, he could turn his focus to dismantling the Suran Group—this time, plunging it into outright bankruptcy.

The Lin family might appear untouchable now, but soon, he’d drag them to hell.

National Day was just days away, and the entire country buzzed with anticipation—marking the 75th anniversary of New China.

That night, Lin Ran’s phone buzzed with a message:

[Hey handsome, meet me tomorrow morning at the Pangu Hotel, Room 1801. Come alone~]

Lin Ran knew it was from Luo Wuyou. So, she was finally making her move.

Glancing at Luo Yao curled asleep beside him, soft as a kitten in his arms, his heart melted.

No matter how fierce or domineering she was in the outside world, in his embrace, she’d always be that little cat.

This time, let me do something for you.

The next morning, Luo Yao left early for work. After breakfast, Lin Ran prepared to head out when her call came.

“Ran, where are you?”

Lin Ran: “Still at the estate, about to check on some business. Why?”

Luo Yao paused. “...Alright. Be safe.”

“Always.”

Hanging up, Luo Yao stared at the message log on Lin Ran’s phone, her expression unreadable.

Ran… what are you planning?

That woman is dangerous. Or is this…

His Koenigsegg wrecked, Lin Ran drove a more subdued Maybach today.

At the Pangu Hotel, the valet’s face lit up upon seeing him.

“Boss, you’re back!”

Lin Ran smiled. “What’s your name?”

“Shen Jingbing. Just call me Xiao Shen. Let me escort you in.”

Lin Ran chuckled politely.

“Solid name. I might have work for you someday.”

“Anytime, boss!”

Lin Ran entered alone, his bodyguards instructed to stand down.

In the lobby, he spotted Ye Lingling but didn’t acknowledge her. She didn’t approach either—he’d already warned her: today, if seen, she was to act as if he were just another guest.

Outside Room 1801, Lin Ran froze. The place felt familiar.

Wasn’t this the same room Zhao Miaomiao and Lv Jian had used?

Seems this room’s seen its share of drama—and trash.

He knocked. The door swung open, unlocked.

Inside, the scene was chaos: a woman in leather lounged on the bed, while several men sprawled on the floor, grinning vacantly—drugged, clearly.

Luo Wuyou’s no spring chicken, but her tastes are… lively.

“Why’d you call me here?”

Luo Wuyou smirked, slinking off the bed with serpentine grace, a rope coiled in her hand. Lin Ran’s frown deepened.

No doubt about it—she’s Luo Yao’s aunt.

“For fun, of course.” Seduction seeped from her every pore, as innate as breathing.

"I'm not interested in you. If you called me here for nothing else, I'm leaving." With that, he turned to go.

Luo Wuyou panicked, darting in front of Lin Ran with a swift movement and kicking the door shut behind him.

"Playing hard to get? Seriously, what's wrong with me? How am I any less than Luo Yao? Why do you always avoid me like I’m some kind of plague?"