"Yao Yao, you're a woman—you shouldn't be in the kitchen. Just tell me what you want to eat."
"Ran, are you saying I'm too clumsy?" Luo Yao pouted, looking hurt.
"Who said that? I love my wife's cooking the most."
"Good, then I'll make something for you again tomorrow."
"Sure, I’ll eat every last bite. If I leave even a scrap, may my whole family perish."
Time flew by, and soon it was midnight. Lin Ran was clutching his stomach, sweating from pain. Luo Yao quickly noticed something was wrong.
"Ran, what’s happening?"
"I’m… fine," Lin Ran gritted out through clenched teeth.
Luo Yao wasn’t stupid—she could hear the tremor in his voice. She immediately called for their private doctor.
Yi Siyin wasn’t at the estate today, so another junior from the Yi family stepped in. After a quick examination, his brow furrowed."Miss, this is a bit complicated. He needs to go to the hospital for a full check-up. I suspect it might be gastric bleeding or intestinal cramps."
"What? That serious?"
Not daring to waste time, Luo Yao arranged for Lin Ran to be rushed to the hospital.
At the hospital, Lin Ran underwent a series of tests, with Luo Yao following every step—even into the examination room.
Given the current circumstances, she couldn’t afford to leave his side for safety reasons.
The results came back immediately, bypassing the usual wait.
The hospital director, Yi Buhao—older brother of Yi Siyin and a scion of the Yi medical family—rushed over from home upon hearing the news. If anything happened to Lin Ran, none of them would be spared.
The elderly director scrutinized the report, his expression tightening.
"Young Master Lin must have eaten something unclean. It’s nothing too serious—just intestinal cramps. I’ll prescribe some medicine, and he’ll feel better soon."
Relieved that Lin Ran wasn’t in grave danger, Luo Yao’s guilt immediately took over.
"This must be because of the food I made. It’s all my fault."
Uncle Fu, standing nearby, tried to console her. "Miss, the director said he’ll be fine. Don’t blame yourself."
"Mm… Tomorrow, I’ll definitely make something edible for Ran."
Uncle Fu: "…"
After decades of life, he finally understood what it meant to be speechless.
"Miss, Young Master Lin already appreciates your effort."
Luo Yao stubbornly insisted, "No, I have to prove myself. If I can’t even cook properly, how can I say I love Ran?"
Uncle Fu sighed inwardly. Young Master Lin, you have my sympathy.
By the time they returned to the estate, it was nearly dawn.
"Sweetheart, it’s my fault—I ate too much during the day, and that’s why my stomach cramped up."
"Ran… No, it’s my fault." Luo Yao’s voice was heavy with regret.
Lin Ran quickly reassured her, "What did you do wrong? You just love me too much. I get it."
"Ran, don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll make something you can actually eat."
Lin Ran smiled warmly, thinking, As long as it’s edible, that’s enough.
The next day, Luo Yao skipped work to tend to Lin Ran, who was still weak.
At noon, with no one daring to object this time, she marched back into the kitchen.
"Everyone, out! I’m taking charge today."
Once the chefs had scrambled out, Luo Yao reviewed the eggplant recipe she’d studied on her phone.
This is salt, right? And this is soy sauce… Wait, why is my soy sauce white? Okay, now turn on the stove…
After her efforts, the kitchen remained intact this time, and the dish she brought out was recognizably eggplant.
"Ran, try this. I think… this time it’s a success."
Lin Ran gave her an adoring smile and took a bite.
"Hmm…"
It wasn’t exactly bad, but there was a strange aftertaste he couldn’t place.
"Ran, how is it?"
"It’s great, Yao Yao. You did well."
That afternoon, Lin Ran was back in the hospital—this time for food poisoning.
Luckily, it wasn’t severe, and he only needed observation.
Seeing Luo Yao’s dejected expression, Lin Ran quickly comforted her.
"Sweetheart, I know a way you can make something delicious and safe."
"What is it?" Luo Yao’s eyes lit up with hope.
"Make congee! It’s simple—just boil ingredients in water. But timing is key. If it’s not cooked long enough, it won’t be ready. Do you know why my congee tastes so good? Because while it cooks, I whisper ‘I love you’ a thousand times. By the time I’m done, the congee is perfect."
Luo Yao’s face brightened. She’d finally uncovered the secret.
"So that’s how it works! Ran, wait for me—I’ll make it tonight!"
"Actually, there’s no rush—"
"No, I’m doing it now." Her determination was unshakable.
Lin Ran could only sigh. She was fixated on mastering cooking, and he needed to find a way out.
Luo Yao turned to Uncle Fu.
"Assign everyone available to guard Ran. I’ll be back soon."
"Understood, Miss."
After Luo Yao left, Uncle Fu looked at Lin Ran with a helpless smile.
"Young Master Lin, don’t blame Miss Luo. She truly loves you."
"Of course I know that. I’m not blaming Yao Yao—I’m just frustrated with my stomach for being so weak, acting up after just a little food."
While Lin Ran was chatting with Uncle Fu, his scoundrel father, Lin Tianba, was also hospitalized.
At noon, bank representatives confronted Lin Tianba, demanding he settle all outstanding loans within a month while placing his current funds under continuous supervision.
Lin Tianba knew the bank was trying to discard him like a used tool—they didn’t even care about breaching their contract now.
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
"Mr. Lin, there’s no other way. If you refuse, we’ll have no choice but to sue, petitioning the court to freeze your assets and enforce liquidation. As for the penalty fees, our bank is willing to cover them."
Lin Tianba felt as if his entire world had collapsed.
After decades of relentless effort, he never imagined it would come to this.
Everything had started the moment Lin Ran left home. If not for that rebellious son’s reckless actions, how could the Lin family have fallen so far?
First, the demand for 300 million in dividends, then the sale of shares, followed by spreading negative rumors about their real estate, and finally repurchasing the shares at rock-bottom prices. Now, the bank was calling in the loans.
Every step had been meticulously aimed at him.
"Bank Manager, can’t you give me more time?"
Lin Tianba still dreamed of fleeing, but it was impossible now—at least not until the financial oversight was lifted.
Running away was easy, but what then?
"Mr. Lin, don’t you understand? You’ve reaped what you sowed. If Lin Ran still acknowledged you as his father, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. After all, Suran Group is now an industry dark horse. But unfortunately, as Lawyer Xu Kai has already stated, you and Mr. Lin Ran have severed all father-son ties."