You should know that when someone takes things seriously, they’ve already lost.
Lin Ran might yearn for familial love, but after being hurt, he no longer dares to hope for it.
As for friendship—does Lin Ran have friends? Of course.
Wu Zhishang, Uncle Fu, even Little Black—they’re all his friends. They matter, but never as much as Luo Yao, nor as much as himself.
Luo Yao was overjoyed, her happiness radiating from within. "The way you protected me just now was so manly. I loved it… But next time, promise you’ll protect yourself first."
"No, I can’t do that. I won’t stand by and watch my Yao Yao get hurt. You’re my bottom line—no one touches you, or they’ll answer to me."
Luo Yao wrapped her arms around Lin Ran, admitting she was completely won over by his sweet words. She adored this feeling.
"Ah Ran, we need to get ready to return to the capital."
"Sure, I’ve had enough of this place anyway."
From the driver’s seat, Uncle Fu glanced at the rearview mirror and smiled like a doting parent, finally letting out a sigh of relief.Lin Ran sighed. They’d only been here about a week, yet every single day had been intense.
Physically, mentally, event-wise—everything had been explosive.
Chen Qingtian, still at the Lu Family estate, was picked up by a car sent by Uncle Fu, leaving only the security team and Liu Meng behind.
Liu Meng still had unfinished business, and the security team stayed to protect her—after all, with so many people around, it wasn’t safe for her alone.
At the same time, at the Huake Institute’s Shanghai branch, Chen Buhui listened to the voice on the phone, her expression darkening.
"You promised me Luo Corporation wouldn’t win the bid. Why did you go back on your word?"
She couldn’t hold back her accusation any longer.
"What could I do? It was a decision from above, and it seems someone from your own Chen Family was involved. Should I have let the project stall? And have you seen the news? Do you really not understand why Luo Corporation was chosen?"
"The news? What news?" Chen Buhui frowned in confusion.
"Just look it up yourself. It’s too complicated to explain."
After hanging up, Chen Buhui’s brows furrowed deeper.
"Liu, what’s the news today?"
"Liu?"
No one answered after several calls, and her expression turned even uglier.
"Young people these days have no respect. Don’t you know you should answer when your elder speaks?"
She turned to confront Liu, only to find her assistant staring at her phone in shock.
"Huh? Oh—yes, yes! It’s about the Lu Family… the Lu Family…"
"What about the Lu Family?!" Chen Buhui snatched the phone and froze.
A long silence followed.
"Luo Yao… what a ruthless woman. She’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. This has to be her doing."
Assistant Liu frowned deeply, unable to understand Chen Buhui’s hostility toward Luo Yao.
Weren’t the Li and Wang Families exposed for their own crimes? How could Luo Yao be blamed for that?
At the same moment, the entire nation was bombarded with explosive headlines:
[Explosion at Lu Family Estate: 32 Dead, Over 100 Injured]
[Fire Breaks Out at Lu Family Estate]
[Lu Family Announces Strategic Partnership with Luo Corporation]
[South China Consortium Withdraws from Tech City Bid]
[Shanghai’s Three Great Families Become History]
The moment these stories broke, everyone from eighty-year-old grandmothers to toddlers heard about them.
Many even speculated that Luo Yao was behind it all.
Influencers and analysts weighed in, and their conclusions sent shockwaves across the country.
In just a few days, Luo Yao had uprooted the three families that had dominated Shanghai for generations.
The Li Family—now sewing uniforms in prison. The Wang Family—absorbed. The Lu Family—absorbed, but not without heavy losses.
Netizens who’d once received legal notices from Luo Yao suddenly felt lucky.
With power like hers, she could’ve crushed them—yet she’d spared them. What mercy!
Only a handful knew the truth, but it didn’t stop the rumors and wild theories.
In the car, Lin Ran and Luo Yao held each other tightly, savoring the relief of survival.
"Ah Ran, living really is wonderful."
"Of course it is. Life is the only thing that feels real."
After everything they’d been through, Luo Yao had gained a new perspective.
Some people long for life, others for love.
Some crave freedom, others—death.
Lin Ran’s phone rang. Seeing Chen Qingtian’s name, he frowned.
"What’s wrong?"
"Cousin, check the news. The internet isn’t being kind to your wife right now."
After hanging up, Lin Ran scrolled through his phone. Every video was about Luo Yao or the Lu Family.
If it wasn’t those, it was the Wang or Li Families.
The comments were a mixed bag:
[BlindHater]: Luo Yao is terrifying. She’ll do anything to get her way. I bet she’s behind all this—why hasn’t the government arrested her yet?
[BananaLover]: These headlines are insane. A poor guy like me shouldn’t be witnessing such brutal corporate warfare. Luo Yao is ruthless.
[JusticeSeeker]: What’s wrong with you people? The Li and Wang Families are guilty as sin. Even if Luo Yao was involved, they deserved it. And the Lu Family? The authorities haven’t even spoken—why are you panicking? Want another lawsuit?
Lin Ran sighed in relief. At least some netizens were rational.
"Yao Yao, you’ve really made an impression. Half the country is scared of you now."
"Ah Ran, you said you weren’t afraid of me."
Lin Ran paused. Her first concern was whether he’d be afraid?
"Of course I’m not. You’re adorable. They don’t know how amazing you are—just spouting nonsense. Sounds like they’ve got a death wish."
As they talked, the Huake Institute announced the bid results.
Unsurprisingly, Luo Corporation won.
The South China Consortium withdrew without hesitation.
With the three great families gone in days, who wouldn’t be scared?
The consortium was made up of multiple companies—individually, none stood a chance against Luo Yao.
Even together, they were no match.
Luo Yao didn’t even need to lift a finger—Liu Meng could handle them all.