Lin Ran pondered Luo Yao's words, wondering what kind of pact existed between them.
Noticing Lin Ran's expression, Luo Yao felt a pang of disappointment and let out a soft sigh.
It seemed she still hadn’t gotten back the Ah Ran she once knew.
But it didn’t matter. She could wait, even if it took a lifetime—she didn’t care.
Besides, things were already much better now, weren’t they?
Yet Ah Ran was so infuriating.
Why could he only remember fragments but not what came after?
The more Luo Yao thought about it, the angrier she became. Taking a step back would only invite frustration, and holding it in would breed resentment.
She leaned on Lin Ran’s shoulder and bit down without hesitation.
"You promised—this spot is mine. Whenever I want, I can bite it."Lin Ran endured the pain, truly at his wit's end.
A childhood promise, and Luo Yao remembered it crystal clear.
There was something else that baffled Lin Ran.
"Aren’t you the least bit curious why I’ve looked exactly the same all these years?"
Luo Yao blinked at him in confusion.
"Why should I be? You’re Ah Ran. No matter what, you’ll always be Ah Ran. I just want you to be an Ah Ran who won’t suddenly disappear."
What Luo Yao feared most was Lin Ran vanishing again, just like before—right before her eyes.
Lin Ran sighed inwardly.
Luo Yao’s way of thinking really was different from most people.
Her possessiveness toward him could defy logic itself.
Next time he saw Little Black, he’d have to pry more useful information out of him.
His phone rang—it was Wu Zhishang calling. Lin Ran glanced at Luo Yao.
As expected, Luo Yao looked displeased, but she didn’t stop him.
Only after sensing her silent permission did Lin Ran answer.
"Lin, guess what? Shen Jingbing’s in trouble again. This time it’s hilarious—he’s accused of spreading rumors…"
An hour earlier, at Capital University’s library.
Liu Ruxue didn’t usually come here, but these days, she was terrified, avoiding someone like the plague.
She didn’t dare return to her dorm at night either, so she had invited Huo Haini to chat in the library.
Though Huo Haini still hung out with Liu Ruxue on the surface, deep down, she had long lost respect for her.
Inside the old library, Huo Haini spoke first.
"Ruxue, what’s wrong? Why are you wearing a scarf?"
Liu Ruxue lifted the scarf slightly, revealing a bruised and swollen face.
The library gave her a sense of safety—there were people around.
"I ran into a madman who keeps harassing me."
"Ruxue, why don’t you report him?" Huo Haini suggested.
Liu Ruxue shook her head.
"I did. It’s useless. Every time, he just gets fined or detained, then forced to apologize before they let him go. I don’t understand how the police can be so incompetent—it’s pure negligence."
Huo Haini fell into thought.
No one would hate another person for no reason—there had to be more to it.
Just then, a student sat down beside them, only asking for permission after settling in.
"Excuse me, beautiful classmate, mind if I sit here?"
Huo Haini saw a guy in a baseball cap and immediately scooted over.
Shen Jingbing took the seat, locking eyes with Liu Ruxue, who stared back in shock.
"There are so many people here—what do you think you’re doing?"
Before Huo Haini could even speak to Shen Jingbing, she noticed Liu Ruxue’s reaction and frowned.
"Ruxue, do you know him?"
"He’s the madman I was talking about."
After explaining, Liu Ruxue turned back to Shen Jingbing. "What will it take for you to leave me alone? And with so many witnesses, I doubt you’d dare hit me here."
"Ruxue, what are you saying? I only came because I love you."
"Love… me?" Liu Ruxue’s brain short-circuited.
Shen Jingbing then poured his coffee over his own head.
"Ah! Ruxue, what was that for? All I did was ask why you went to a hotel with another guy, and you throw coffee at me? After everything I’ve done for you, where did I go wrong? Didn’t you say you loved me most?"
Liu Ruxue’s eyes widened—she hadn’t expected Shen Jingbing to frame her like this.
The library was supposed to be quiet, but Shen Jingbing’s outburst drew stares. Once the other students caught his words, whispers spread.
"Liu Ruxue? Hah! The campus belle? More like a joke! With a reputation like hers, she still dares to play the heartbreaker?"
"Liu Ruxue went to a hotel with someone? Who was it?"
"Probably a dog. Having a ‘belle’ like her at Capital U is downright shameful."
"I used to have a crush on her. What was I thinking?"
At that moment, a timid-looking guy approached them, visibly distressed.
"Ruxue, is what he said true? Did you really go to a hotel with someone?"
This was You Qingnan, Liu Ruxue’s most devoted admirer.
The last time Liu Ruxue got drunk at a bar and couldn’t pay the bill, it was this very admirer who bailed her out.
Seeing him arrive, Liu Ruxue felt slightly relieved.
At least there was someone to take the heat.
"No, it’s not true. I’ve never been to a hotel with anyone."
Shen Jingbing immediately pulled out a photo.
"I knew you’d deny it, so I had someone take pictures."
The photo showed Liu Ruxue outside Pangu Hotel, standing close to Lin Jian.
Originally, Liu Ritian and Liu Yuemei were also in the shot, but Shen Jingbing had them edited out, leaving only Liu Ruxue and Lin Jian.
Their poses were intimate. Though Lin Jian’s face was unclear, it was obvious he was a man.
Liu Ruxue lunged for the phone, but Shen Jingbing yanked it back.
"Liu Ruxue, trying to destroy evidence?"
Liu Ruxue stammered, "I—I wasn’t! You’re lying! That was my aunt’s auction dinner. The guy is my cousin. Stop making things up!"
Shen Jingbing smirked. "So you admit the photo’s real? You did go to a hotel with someone?"
"It’s fake! You’re lying!"
Liu Ruxue meant the photo was doctored—it couldn’t count as real.
Shen Jingbing pressed on. "I remember something else funny from that day. Who was the naked girl in my sports car?"
"You stripped just to seduce me, and now you’re playing innocent?"
Liu Ruxue recoiled. "What are you talking about? What car?"
Shen Jingbing pulled up a surveillance video on his phone.