Chapter 099

Lin Ran looked at Luo Yao's full set of equipment and swallowed hard. This was the first time he had seen such things in real life.

"Wife... let's go inside first," Lin Ran said, feeling his body begin to change, the heat growing more intense by the second.

Seeing Luo Yao's heroic and spirited appearance, he suddenly scooped her up into his arms. Luo Yao's expression shifted slightly before she realized why Lin Ran was acting this way.

The drug was taking effect.

Before Luo Wuyou died, he had at least done one good deed—he deserved a thumbs-up for that.

The warehouse door slowly closed behind them as Uncle Fu and the bodyguards waited outside. Gradually, night fell.

By the next morning, the warehouse door finally creaked open again, and the two of them emerged.

The people outside had long been yawning, but since it was the weekend, they no longer needed to stick close to Lin Ran for protection. Everyone headed back to rest.

Lin Ran generously spared Wang Bao once again, and Wang Bao was naturally grateful.

But sparing him didn’t mean there wouldn’t be consequences—Wang Bao was docked a year’s bonus as punishment, though he had no complaints.

Back at the estate, Lin Ran immediately downed a tonic before collapsing onto his familiar bed, marveling at how potent the drug had been.

Even Luo Yao was overwhelmed by exhaustion, craving rest like never before.

This was more draining than her time in that dark, cold-blooded, and violent place she had once endured.

Just as Lin Ran and Luo Yao fell asleep in each other’s arms, the Lin family underwent earth-shattering changes.

For now, the Lin family was still living in a warehouse converted by the company. Though it had been given a basic renovation, it was still essentially a storage room—damp, dim, and barely touched by sunlight, with a cramped space of just over ten square meters.

Lin Tianba, despite being the company’s boss, had no authority to freely dip into corporate funds, and the shareholders would never allow it.

On top of that, the "Linyuan Shengjing" project had turned into a dump, plunging Suran Group into a hidden crisis. The only reason it hadn’t collapsed yet was because there was still some money left in the accounts.

Homebuyers had begun protesting outside the company, waving signs and causing a scene in the business district. Concerned citizens flooded the hotline with complaints.

Authorities stepped in, ordering Suran Group to resolve the issue within a month—or face legal action.

If it came to that, the company’s accounts would be frozen again.

With loan repayments due soon, Lin Tianba was so stressed that blisters formed on his lips.

Worst of all, he still owed money to Brother Dao.

Bank loans could be delayed—the worst outcome would be forced liquidation to repay debts. But owing Brother Dao? He didn’t dare drag his feet on that.

Lin Jian and Liu Yuemei were equally anxious.

"Husband, what are we going to do now?"

Lin Tianba sighed. "No choice—we have to find a way to pay Brother Dao first."

Liu Yuemei fretted, "Brother Dao is just a private lender. Worst case, we go to court. But if we don’t pay the bank, the whole company could be at risk!"

Lin Tianba looked at her like she was an idiot. "How have I never noticed how naive you are? Not paying Brother Dao is the real disaster. Getting hauled off to ‘teach English’ would be the least of your worries."

Liu Yuemei shuddered. "Then what do we do? I don’t want to ‘teach English.’"

Lin Tianba reassured her, "I’ll figure out a way to pull some funds from the company to pay Brother Dao. Don’t worry."

Liu Yuemei relaxed slightly—only for a deeper dread to settle in.

"But husband, even if we pay Brother Dao, what about after? You always said a starved camel is still bigger than a horse!"

Lin Tianba was already irritated. Some things were impossible to explain to a woman, and Liu Yuemei’s endless nagging only made it worse.

"What to do? What to do? Is that all you can ask? If I had a solution, I wouldn’t be hiding here like a coward!"

Right now, Lin Tianba wasn’t just avoiding the furious homeowners—he was dodging the company shareholders too.

At that moment, Lin Jian hesitantly spoke up.

"Maybe… Ruxue has good news. Brother loves her so much—he’ll definitely lend us money. After all, he’s still part of the Lin family."

"Yes, yes! Let’s ask Xiao Ran for money. I’m his mother—I’ll go talk to him."

Lin Tianba frowned. "But last time, you two had a huge fight."

Liu Yuemei waved it off. "Blood runs thicker than water. Besides, I didn’t do anything that bad."

Lin Tianba didn’t argue, but he knew the truth—if not for Luo Yao, Lin Ran would’ve been dragged back last time.

Luo Yao…

That’s right. Luo Yao must be keeping Lin Ran as her plaything. For a company like Suran Group, if Luo Yao lifted a finger, not only could she solve this crisis, but she could even elevate the company further.

Lin Ran was his son—if Luo Yao was keeping him, shouldn’t she contribute something?

But Lin Tianba didn’t dare approach Luo Yao directly. He knew her temper well enough.

If Luo Yao got angry, ten Suran Groups could vanish in an instant.

This required a careful approach—and the key still lay with Lin Ran.

In the end, the solution to this crisis depended entirely on Lin Ran.

Whether it was Lin Ran’s own money or Luo Yao’s intervention, either could save them.

Damn it. Did he really have to beg that unfilial son?

"How’s Ruxue handling things?"

Lin Jian said, "I’ll call and ask."

After a brief conversation, Lin Jian’s frown deepened.

"Ruxue says Brother is still angry and refuses to see her."

Lin Tianba gritted his teeth. "Ask her where Lin Ran usually goes. I’ll go myself." He had realized—relying on others was useless. As his father, he had to step up.

This time, if Lin Ran would just kneel and apologize, Lin Tianba might reluctantly allow him back into the family.

After hanging up, Lin Jian said, "Ruxue says she’ll come here first, then we’ll go find Brother together."

Lin Tianba thought for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Going together might be better."

Soon, Liu Ruxue arrived. She had known the Lin family was living poorly, but the reality still shocked her—this place was no better than a pigsty.

Not that she was wrong. Without maids to clean, the Lin family had fallen into a cycle of eating and sleeping, with no one bothering to tidy up.

Before, the company’s janitors and employees had helped out, but with the crisis, even their salaries were uncertain—no one was volunteering for unpaid labor anymore.

Since Liu Ruxue had failed to get anything from Lin Ran, even Lin Jian was starting to resent her, though he hid it well.

"Let’s go," Lin Tianba said, noticing Liu Ruxue’s disgust. He didn’t comment, but inwardly, he was annoyed.

Liu Ruxue used to love staying with the Lin family. Now, without the big house, even his niece looked down on them.

People really couldn’t afford to be poor. Without money, even love faded—and family ties slowly dissolved.