The group settled down as Uncle Fu arranged for a servant to prepare tea.

Lin Ran casually took a seat beside Luo Yao, his arm draped loosely around her waist, while she leaned naturally into his embrace.

"Just call me by my name. After all, you two aren’t married yet, so let’s keep things relaxed here. We’re all young—it’s not like I’ll bite," Lin Ran said.

Fang Buxia remained silent, casting a worried glance at Luo Yao.

You might not bite, but this woman seems like she might.

Though introverted, he wasn’t completely cut off from the world—he’d heard of Luo Yao.

And Chen Qingtian had mentioned Luo Yao’s aversion to men. Now, sitting across from this intimidating woman, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d make it out unscathed.

But seeing Luo Yao nestled so comfortably in Lin Ran’s arms, she hardly seemed like the cold, ruthless tycoon he’d imagined.

He let out a small sigh of relief.

"Alright, Lin… Brother Lin, I came today to thank you—for uncovering the truth, for helping us resolve the Yu family’s mess. Thank you… for letting me know I’m not tainted."

Chen Qingtian had already explained everything that happened back then. Without Lin Ran, the truth might have stayed buried forever.

The moment Fang Buxia realized he was still clean, it felt like ascending from hell to heaven.

The overwhelming gratitude of surviving such an ordeal had brought his appreciation for Lin Ran to its peak.

Lin Ran waved it off. "Even if your body were tainted, it wouldn’t matter. A clean heart means you’re always clean. And your body isn’t dirty either. Just make sure you treat my cousin well from now on."

Fang Buxia turned to Chen Qingtian, the only woman he’d ever loved.

"I will."

Suddenly, Luo Yao leaned close to Lin Ran’s ear and whispered, "Every part of you must stay pure, Ah Ran. You belong only to me."

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet. Fang Buxia felt the chill firsthand.

But with a gentle caress and a kiss from Lin Ran, the warmth returned just as quickly.

Fang Buxia shot Chen Qingtian a look that seemed to ask, Is this for real?

Chen Qingtian’s expression replied, Yep, it’s exactly that real.

Fang Buxia awkwardly cleared his throat. "Back at the hospital, when I saw you with Qingtian-jie, I… might have misunderstood something…"

Chen Qingtian’s eyes widened. "You came to see me? And hid instead of talking to me?"

Fang Buxia nodded. "It was the day you got drunk. The old man at the bar told me you were at the hospital. When I got there, I saw you… I’m sorry. I didn’t have the courage to face you then."

Chen Qingtian ruffled his hair affectionately. "No more hiding from me, got it?"

"Got it."

Lin Ran recalled that day too—the strange feeling of being watched when he escorted Chen Qingtian to the elevator. So it had been this kid.

My instincts really are sharp, he mused.

"No wonder I felt eyes on me that day. So it was you lurking in the shadows."

Fang Buxia nodded sheepishly.

Chen Qingtian interjected, "Cousin, little sister-in-law, I owe you both my thanks—sincerely. But I should warn you, the Yu and Ai families aren’t to be trifled with.

"If they come after you because of what you did for me, tell me immediately. I’ll face it with you."

Chen Qingtian might have a brash personality, but she was sharp-witted, fearless in love and action.

Lin Ran raised an eyebrow. "Face it with us? What’ll you do? Stand outside the Yu family’s gate and curse at them? That is your specialty."

Chen Qingtian blinked, then fired back, "Hey, my cursing skills are only an 80 out of 100. But if you join in, that’s 80 plus 80—120 points of pure verbal destruction!"

Crude as it sounded, she wasn’t wrong. The two of them were a force to reckon with when it came to wordplay.

And Lin Ran had known from the start that the Yu family wouldn’t let things slide.

He wasn’t the type to slap someone and walk away carefree.

No matter who the victim was, no matter how polite their smile, resentment always festered beneath.

"Don’t worry. If they dare show up, it’ll just give our dear readers some entertainment. The last few chapters with you two were pretty heavy—time for some laughs."

Sweetness and joy should coexist, with fewer knives and heartbreaks. Surely the readers would appreciate that.

Turning to Luo Yao, Lin Ran asked, "Yao Yao, you won’t let the Yu or Ai families bully me, right?"

Her fingers traced his jawline. "No one will ever lay a finger on my Ah Ran."

Chen Qingtian and Fang Buxia: "…"

Did they just drop a whole bag of dogfood on us?

Fine, Chen Qingtian admitted defeat.

She’d once dreamed of flaunting her own relationship in front of these two to return the favor.

Now, seeing them in action, she realized she could never match their level of… sweetness.

"Master Lin, what would you like for lunch?" Uncle Fu approached.

Why ask Lin Ran instead of Luo Yao? Because Luo Yao had no preferences—she ate anything.

Lin Ran, however, could specify exactly what he wanted.

"Hmm… lamb hot pot. And a whole fish—I need protein. The rest can be whatever."

Chen Qingtian shot her hand up. "Me! I want hot pot too!"

Lin Ran deadpanned, "Did I invite you to stay for lunch?"

Pouting, Chen Qingtian turned to Luo Yao. "Little sister-in-law, please? Pretty please? Buxia’s never had high-end imported ingredients before."

Luo Yao’s icy gaze swept over her. "Fine."

Lin Ran’s lip twitched. "You sure know who to beg."

The group chatted a while longer, and Fang Buxia found himself gradually loosening up under Lin Ran’s infectious personality.

Even during lunch in the extravagant dining room, his usual insecurities didn’t surface.

Is this the power of human connection?

After the meal, Lin Ran had Uncle Fu escort Chen Qingtian out. Letting them stay this long was already an exception—now it was time for daily routines.

Once Chen Qingtian and Fang Buxia left, Lin Ran and Luo Yao retreated to their bedroom to… aid digestion.

The bedroom soon echoed with their sweet nothings.

"Yao Yao, after such a high-calorie meal, we should… exercise a little."

"Is this exercise the proper kind?"

"You know the answer. Our great figures don’t maintain themselves, you know."

"Your figure is great. Mine’s not—I think I’ve gained weight again."

"That’s because I take good care of you. And where exactly have you gained? You’re perfectly proportioned."

"So… you like me like this?"

"You’re flawless now. Haven’t you noticed certain areas have… filled out since we’ve been together?"

The manor brimmed with their indecent banter, while outside, the skies over the capital grew ominously dark.