Uncle Fu never expected Granny Wang to change so suddenly, and he was immediately overjoyed.
"I wanted to ask about An Jian, but I also just wanted to talk to you, Dahua. After all these years, do you really not plan to forgive me? I admit I was wrong back then, but you never gave me a chance."
Granny Wang had repeatedly said she didn’t blame him, but she never explicitly said she forgave him, which made Uncle Fu feel miserable.
Truthfully, Uncle Fu had always claimed to others that he was at fault, but deep down, he never truly believed he was wrong.
After all, he wasn’t the one who had walked away first.
But as a man, he couldn’t let others think his woman was the one at fault, so he willingly took the blame.
On the other end of the phone, Granny Wang fell silent for a moment, recalling what Lin Ran had said to her earlier. She sighed softly.
"Actually, I never blamed you. I was just angry—angry that you weren’t brave enough back then. At the train station, I wanted so badly to step forward, but I had already taken ninety-nine steps for you. Why couldn’t you take just one for me? If you had been more decisive back then, maybe I would have gone with you."
Tears instantly streamed down Uncle Fu’s face. So, after all these years, he truly had no right to complain.
"Dahua, I’m sorry."Uncle Fu completely broke down—broken by love.
He had spent decades without this love, and he deserved every second of it.
"There’s no need to apologize. If we’re being honest, I was at fault too. When it comes to love, there’s no right or wrong, isn’t that true?"
Granny Wang’s words were timeless, applicable to any era.
"You’re right. Neither of us was wrong. There’s only regret. Dahua, promise me… let’s not let this regret continue any longer."
After a long silence, a single word came from the other end of the line.
"Okay."
Then, Granny Wang told Uncle Fu what Lin Ran had said to her earlier. Uncle Fu’s gratitude toward Lin Ran surged like an endless river.
After hanging up, Uncle Fu, for the first time in his life, knocked on the master bedroom door for his own sake.
Luo Yao was dressed in adorable pajamas, her head resting on Lin Ran’s stomach. Lin Ran, also in pajamas, gently combed his fingers through her silky hair.
"You said there was a surprise. What is it?"
Luo Yao flashed a mischievous smile and pointed toward the sofa in the bedroom.
Lin Ran froze in shock.
A bunny girl outfit?
"Ah-Ran, which color do you like? I’ll wear it for you later."
Lin Ran gulped. Just imagining the scene was enough to make his nose bleed.
"I… I like… all of them."
No, he needed to calm down. Otherwise, he might just drop dead on the spot.
Hearing the knock, Lin Ran chuckled.
"Must be time for dinner. Shall we go?"
Luo Yao buried her face into Lin Ran’s warm chest, shaking her head and nuzzling against him.
"No, I don’t want to go. I just want to stay here with Ah-Ran."
Seeing the adorable figure in his arms, Lin Ran’s lips curled into a blissful smile.
Only after Luo Yao had finished rubbing against him did Lin Ran finally say,
"Come in."
Uncle Fu entered the room with his head lowered.
"Young Master Lin, Miss, dinner is ready."
"Got it."
Noticing that Uncle Fu hadn’t left, Lin Ran raised an eyebrow.
"What? Did Granny Wang forgive you?"
Uncle Fu bowed deeply.
Lin Ran quickly sidestepped. "Don’t do that. Just say what you need to say. You’re scaring me."
Uncle Fu: "Thank you. If not for you, I might never have seen Dahua again."
One of life’s greatest pains is unrequited love. But even worse is when the one you love is right beside you, yet you can’t even see them.
"Well, looks like your life is spared. Since that’s the case, treat Granny Wang well. She’s suffered a lot all these years."
Lin Ran didn’t think Granny Wang was entirely right, but he knew she had suffered.
He also didn’t believe Uncle Fu was entirely wrong—just that he hadn’t been brave enough.
Of course, his own past was far worse than theirs.
The wounds he had once inflicted on Luo Yao were carved as deep as knife scars.
Uncle Fu glanced at Luo Yao, who then said, "What Ah-Ran said is what I think too. You don’t have to commit seppuku anymore."
After so many days, finally hearing Luo Yao’s "spare his life," Uncle Fu let out a deep sigh of relief.
He knew his young mistress never joked about such things.
Given her personality, it was entirely possible she’d actually lend him a dagger if he asked.
Thankfully…
Granny Wang’s forgiveness today was all thanks to Lin Ran. Though Young Master Lin never said it outright, his actions spoke for him.
He really was the type to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
Thinking this, Uncle Fu cast a grateful look at Lin Ran.
And this gratitude was completely sincere.
"Young Miss, Young Master Lin, I’ll take my leave now. The meal is already prepared in the dining hall."
Luo Yao sprawled lazily over Lin Ran, not wanting to move at all. She loved this feeling.
"Ah-Ran, do you realize you just won over an old man’s heart? But if you dare waste your time on that old man, he’ll be a dead old man."
Lin Ran: "…Do you even hear yourself?"
"All my energy is spent on you. So now, can our esteemed Princess Yao please go eat?"
She still needed to eat—her stomach wasn’t in the best shape.
"I’ll only go if my husband carries me."
"…"
Lin Ran stood up, gently draping Luo Yao’s slender arms over his shoulders before carefully lifting her, making sure she was in the most comfortable position possible.
Luo Yao curled up in his arms like a kitten.
Once they stepped out of the bedroom, Uncle Fu was instantly hit with a wave of affection, feeling like he’d been force-fed dog food out of nowhere.
As Lin Ran carried his wife toward the dining room, he suddenly remembered the time he was drunk and Luo Yao had princess-carried him into the bedroom.
Back then, he’d been surprised at how strong she was.
Now, this incredibly powerful woman was nestled in his arms, docile as could be.
The thought filled Lin Ran with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction—or perhaps pride.
When they reached the dining room, the two continued like this while eating, drawing knowing smiles from all the servants.
"If Young Master Lin works hard enough and makes Miss happy, maybe she’ll give us all bonuses."
"Honestly, we don’t even need Miss’s approval. Young Master Lin’s word holds more weight in this household than hers, doesn’t it?"
"Trying to butter up Young Master Lin? Are you insane? Do you want Miss to kill you?"
"Miss and Young Master Lin are such a perfect, loving couple."
Just then, Uncle Fu cleared his throat lightly. Though they were far enough from the dining table, gossiping about their employers was unacceptable.
Unless they wanted to get fired.
All the servants immediately shut their mouths.
Once Lin Ran and Luo Yao had nearly finished eating, something unexpected happened—Uncle Fu approached the table and said something shocking.
"Young Master Lin, Miss, there’s something I’d like to say."
Lin Ran had been about to take Luo Yao to the study for some… experimentation when he heard Uncle Fu’s words.