Wang Bao cautiously surveyed his surroundings but found nothing unusual.
Arriving at the dean's office, Yi Buhao was already attending to his second patient of the day—his rule was to see only three patients daily.
And Lin Ran was the third.
Lin Ran knocked on the door and saw only one woman inside consulting with Yi Buhao, who smiled and gestured for Lin Ran to wait.
Frowning, Lin Ran felt the woman looked familiar.
"Brother Wang, go check out that woman. What’s her deal?"
Wang Bao immediately barged in, prompting Yi Buhao to exclaim, "Hey! What are you doing? I’m treating a patient here!"
Wang Bao approached the woman and noticed she wore a mask, one arm hidden in the loose folds of her skirt, her chest flat as a board.
Sensing she might pull out something dangerous at any moment, Wang Bao shot Lin Ran a warning glance.
Just as tension filled the air, Lin Ran spoke up."Brother Wang, step outside." He had recognized the woman.
Wang Bao could see something off in her eyes—a flicker of fear.
"Young Master Lin, I should stay here."
"No, leave now."
Not daring to disobey, Wang Bao retreated to the doorway, standing guard without moving an inch.
Dean Yi Buhao glanced between Lin Ran and the woman.
"Young Master Lin, shall I attend to you first?"
Lin Ran shook his head. "No rush. Continue with her."
Yi Buhao nodded, thinking to himself, Young Master Lin is quite considerate.
"Ms. Bi, the wound on your hand has mostly healed, but there’s a risk of infection in your chest area. I recommend—"
Before the dean could finish, the woman turned to Lin Ran.
Slowly, she removed her mask with one hand and opened her mouth—a horrifying sight, her tongue missing.
Lin Ran: "Bi Yaolian?"
The woman nodded.
"Ah, I remember you. Bi Yaolian. My second uncle’s wife, Bi Yaolian. The Luo family’s Bi Yaolian. The foul-mouthed Bi Yaolian."
Bi Yaolian found Lin Ran’s tone odd. She stood and began walking toward him, triggering alarm bells for Wang Bao outside.
Lin Ran raised a hand to stop her.
"Freeze. Don’t take another step, or I won’t be polite."
Bi Yaolian thought, This guy’s sharp. She halted.
Lin Ran gave her a once-over.
Slowly, Bi Yaolian raised both hands to show she meant no harm.
One hand was missing its palm.
With the other, she held up her phone to Lin Ran, displaying a message:
[Lin Ran, today’s me is tomorrow’s you.]
Lin Ran scoffed.
"And?"
Seeing his disbelief, Bi Yaolian knew the shock factor wasn’t enough. She tore off her outer garment with her remaining hand, revealing nothing beneath.
Lin Ran averted his gaze from her chest.
Bi Yaolian handed him the phone. The screen read:
[This was all Luo Yao’s doing. Terrifying, isn’t it?]
Lin Ran thought, My wife isn’t terrifying. She’s the warmest, most adorable woman in the world.
You just lost a hand, a tongue, and two lumps of flesh. Stop playing the victim.
Suddenly, Lin Ran realized something serious.
Bi Yaolian had clearly come for him, and she knew his schedule—this was unsettling.
Her husband, Luo Wushuang, must have orchestrated it.
"Get out if you’re done. Don’t waste my time. After my checkup, I’m going home to my wife."
Lin Ran returned the phone. Head bowed, Bi Yaolian left.
Unnoticed, Lin Ran slipped a note hidden beneath the phone into his pocket.
"Young Master Lin, you know that patient? She’s your aunt?"
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Lin Ran: "She’s a dog."
Yi Buhao choked on his words, realizing he’d overstepped.
"Young Master Lin, let me examine you."
After the checkup, Lin Ran fixed Yi Buhao with a stare.
"Give me Bi Yaolian’s medical records."
"Young Master Lin, that’s against protocol."
"When I tear this hospital down, you’ll learn what protocol is."
Yi Buhao wiped sweat from his brow. "Understood."
Lin Tianba’s threats had been empty, but Yi Buhao knew Lin Ran meant every word.
Leaving the dean’s office, Lin Ran’s mind swirled with suspicion.
Who leaked my schedule?
This world was full of dangers—and coincidences.
Back on the first floor, a figure crouched in a corner, sobbing, caught his eye.
Lin Ran approached and stood beside her, smirking at the paper in her hands.
Noticing the shadow, Liu Yuemei looked up and froze at the sight of Lin Ran eyeing her document.
"You… Xiao Ran, what are you doing here?"
Lin Ran knew her weakness. Conflict was avoidable—for now.
"Well, well. The older you get, the wilder you play. Catching all kinds of fun diseases, huh? Hilarious!"
"Xiao Ran, Mom begs you—don’t tell anyone, okay?"
Lin Ran’s smile vanished.
Liu Yuemei quickly corrected herself.
"Xiao Ran, I’m begging you. Don’t tell anyone."
Lin Ran coldly asked, "Who are you?"
Liu Yuemei stiffened, recalling the last time Lin Ran had forced her to her knees upstairs.
"I… I’m… a… homewrecker." The last word was barely a whisper.
"I! CAN’T! HEAR YOU!"
Trembling under his glare, Liu Yuemei realized she’d grown afraid of Lin Ran.
He wasn’t the helpless child she once bullied.
"I! AM! A! HOMEWRECKER!"
The crowded first floor turned to stare.
Damn, homewreckers are bold these days, they thought.
Lin Ran grinned.
"From now on, shout it every time you see me. Or you’ll regret it."
He walked away, genuinely pleased.
Now, he looked forward to how Lin Tianba would deal with Liu Yuemei.
Once Lin Ran was gone, Liu Yuemei collapsed back into a crouch, tears falling silently.
What did I do to deserve this?
Lin Ran knew her secret. Would Lin Tianba find out?
Maybe… she should eliminate Lin Ran?
No—Lin Ran still controlled the Lin family fortune. She needed that money back.
It’s mine.
After getting it, she could make Lin Ran disappear.
The thought startled even her.
A phone notification snapped her out of it. Reading the message, Liu Yuemei broke down.
[I’m sick. Can I skip it?]
[Brother Dao: You don't have the right to bargain. Get over there now—the boss loves this timing, you hear me?]Follow current novᴇls on ɴovᴇl(F)ɪre.ɴet
Despite her discomfort, Liu Yuemei went to the agreed-upon location.