Love was never fair—who came first didn’t matter. What mattered was who stayed by your side in the end.
You know what they say?
The one who isn’t loved is the real third wheel.
Sitting at the makeshift table in the middle of the locked room, Lin Ran picked up a stack of documents and began reading.
When he reached the last page, his entire heart trembled.
It was an ordinary photo—Lin Ran smiling brightly, likely taken the first time he met Luo Yao, the angle capturing the moment perfectly.
Back then, Lin Ran had no idea why Luo Yao sought him out. He only felt flustered that such a stunning beauty would approach him.
Who could’ve guessed her first words would be a proposal?
Lin Ran assumed she was joking, so his smile was shy, tinged with youthful awkwardness.
Thinking back to that meeting, Lin Ran hadn’t disliked Luo Yao. On the contrary, he admired her. That’s why he’d let her down gently.A woman that beautiful—whether her feelings were genuine or not—deserved respect for the courage to confess.
It wasn’t until later, when he realized Luo Yao was dead serious, that Lin Ran began distancing himself.
This woman was unhinged, harboring a pathological obsession that terrified him.
But the more he ran, the tighter she chased, until their relationship collapsed into outright confinement.
The photo itself was unremarkable, but the blurred water stains dotting its surface made Lin Ran’s pulse race.
He knew—each drop was a tear Luo Yao shed, grieving over a love unreturned as she faced this image again and again.
How much pain had she endured?
He was such a fool.
Flipping the photo over, he found scribbled on the blank back: [One day, he’ll love you.]
His heart ached.
Breathing became difficult.
Lin Ran finally shattered. He’d never felt pain like this—pain for Luo Yao.
Love could be sweet, and so it could hurt.
Lin Ran admitted it—he was falling.
Even if it destroyed him, he’d never let Luo Yao suffer again. Right now, he needed to see her—immediately.
He bolted out, frantic, interrogating the assistants.
“Luo Yao—where is she? I need to see her now.”
Sister Wang from the assistant team startled at the sight of Lin Ran’s bloodshot eyes, tension gripping her.
If anything happened to Lin Ran here, CEO Luo would take it out on them.
“CEO Luo is in the 36th-floor conference room… Wait! Young Master Lin, you can’t go in—she’s in a meeting!”
Lin Ran ignored her. His only thought was Luo Yao. Rationality was slipping away.
The elevator ascended to the 88th floor. Lin Ran charged inside, each passing floor feeling like an eternity.
So this was the torment of love—every second stretched into years.
Finally, after what seemed like lifetimes, the doors opened. Lin Ran rushed out just as Luo Yao emerged from the conference room.
“A-Ran?”
Seeing him drenched in tears, Luo Yao tensed instantly.
Her elegant figure blurred in Lin Ran’s vision, but he knew—this hazy silhouette was his Luo Yao.
“Luo… Yao, I… I…” He pulled her into a crushing embrace, voice breaking.
“Why… why would you be so foolish? Was loving me ever worth it?”
Luo Yao, held impossibly tight, curled her lips into a soft smile. “Because it’s you, A-Ran. So yes, it was.”
They stood blocking the conference room doorway, trapping executives who’d just wrapped up their meeting.
“Luo Yao, I’m sorry… I’m so sorry I took this long…” Lin Ran murmured the same incomprehensible words again and again.
Pressed against him, Luo Yao suddenly saw the world in vivid color.ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
When Lin Ran finally looked up, he noticed the crowd of stunned executives frozen in the doorway, unsure whether to exit or retreat.
Meeting his gaze, they scratched their heads, glanced around, some even studying the ceiling as if debating a renovation.
This time, Lin Ran felt no shame—no repeat of the video call embarrassment.
He didn’t need Luo Yao’s confirmation to know: no matter when or where, she’d never reject his love.
Right there, in front of everyone, he force-fed them a spoonful of romance.
When the kiss ended, Luo Yao hooked her arms around his neck. “Carry me back.”
Lin Ran obeyed, sweeping her up in a princess carry. Luo Yao’s icy glare swept over the executives, plunging the room into mortuary silence.
Only after Lin Ran vanished did the chatter resume—though the topic had shifted entirely.
“I’d always heard Young Master Lin was handsome, but seeing him in person…”
“Didn’t we already see him in that video conference?”
“You call that blurry glimpse ‘seeing’? Though I heard he often brings CEO Luo lunch.”
“I ran into him once, but didn’t dare speak. As a woman, I value my life too much.”
“Did you see CEO Luo’s expression just now? Like a smitten schoolgirl.”
“I always assumed the CEO’s ‘little puppy’ was the submissive one. Guess I was wrong.”
“CEO Luo actually snuggling in someone’s arms? My worldview’s shattered.”
“Young Master Lin’s a legend.”
“The harder Young Master Lin works, the easier our lives get.”
Back on the 88th floor, Luo Yao noticed Lin Ran still hadn’t set her down.
“A-Ran, what’s wrong? Did someone upset you?”
Lin Ran: “Yes.”
“Who?”
“You.”
Lin Ran: “You’ve bullied me. You never even said you love me.”
Nestled in his arms, Luo Yao’s eyes reflected only him.
“I love you. Do you love me?”
Lin Ran met her gaze, unwavering. “Luo Yao, I love you. You can ask me anytime—I’ll always confirm it.”
The words hit like a .50-caliber bullet, obliterating her heart.
“Good… I’ll keep asking. After all, I’m keeping you forever.”
Lin Ran nearly wept. She remembered every promise he’d ever made.