The two continued kissing, but Wen Ran suddenly said, “Wait,” and ran off.
He returned with a sketchbook and pencil, sitting at the far end of the bed. As he sketched Luo Xiao, he murmured:
“You’ve seen Titanic, right? How Jack drew Rose… I finally understand that feeling.”
Luo Xiao watched, resting his arms behind his head, letting the flowers cover his chest, and followed Wen Ran’s movements with his eyes.
When Wen Ran finished, Luo Xiao went downstairs for a vase and arranged the flowers. Wen Ran sent a photo in the group chat: [Phone, iPad… now also a laptop]
Lu Wenwen immediately asked: “What laptop? For typing or writing?”
Wen Ran sent a screenshot from the official website. Lu Wenwen: “!!!”, attaching a GIF of bowing repeatedly.
Others chimed in: “What? A laptop too? Daddy’s paying?”
“Covering face, screaming.jpg”
Wen Ran: “Decide on specs and send me the list. Luo Xiao and I have free time during the day to hit the Apple Store.”
The chat exploded with responses: “You! Is! My! God!” and endless bowing emojis.
Wen Ran laughed: “You’re all so predictable.” Probably forgot how high he’d raised his butt yesterday.
Downstairs, Luo Xiao filled the glass vase with water, arranged the flowers, and snapped a photo to send along with Wen Ran’s painting of him, captioning: “Little happiness, nailed it.”
Luo Feng replied a few minutes later: “….”, followed by a flat-mouthed emoji and a “drawing sword” GIF.
Luo Xiao chuckled: “Did Yun Jing sneak these emojis from somewhere?”
Luo Feng’s voice message: “He’s my assistant. The people belong to me.”
The phrasing “people belong to me” made Luo Xiao raise an eyebrow but he didn’t dwell on it.
Luo Feng asked about plans for the day, mentioning that Ju Yaxin and Luo Zhenting weren’t in City C last night—they seemed to have followed Wen Ran’s mom to neighboring City D.
Luo Xiao replied via voice: “They didn’t come back? I thought it was a day trip.”
“Let Wen Ran ask… uh, ask Mom,” Luo Feng said naturally.
Mom? Luo Xiao’s lips twitched slightly.
Wen Ran dialed Wen Pingping immediately. After a long ring, she answered:
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, your dad and I went to City D to see an old friend.”
“Her sister’s husband was cheating, so they were fighting—quite the scene.”
“And we brought Yaxin to the countryside here to enjoy a rustic meal and see how my other friend outwits her 85-year-old mother-in-law. They’ll be here two days before heading back.”
Wen Ran: “…”
Luo Xiao, listening: “…”
Wen Ran: “Mom, you’re even more abstract than I am.”
Wen Pingping laughed loudly: “It’s all because of you. You brought your mother-in-law to catch a cheater, so I had to entertain them in a more interesting way.”
“Alright, I have to go—they’re about to fight again.”
“Wait!” Wen Ran called.
“Mom! Weren’t you talking about the wedding?”
“My husband and I already got the certificate. Where are we in the process?”
Wen Pingping paused, asked quietly to someone nearby: “Your daughter-in-law wants to know the process.”
A moment later, she said:
“I’ve talked with Luo Xiao’s parents. There’s no real process. They have money, we have money—houses and cars, whatever you want. Whoever pays doesn’t matter.”
“Yaxin’s mom also said she’ll give you a blank check. Fill in whatever amount you like.”
“I’ll transfer you some money later too—you and Luo Xiao can spend it on the flowers, and if it’s not enough, I’ll send more.”
Her voice faded a little, as if speaking to someone nearby: “Anything else? Probably not. The wedding’s definitely later, nothing major these two days… They’ve already got the certificate, the rice is cooked.”
She hung up.
Wen Ran stared: “…………”
He looked at Luo Xiao with a serious expression, trying to save face and explain: “My abstractness… probably inherited from my mom.”
Luo Xiao raised a hand, signaling him to wait, and called Ju Yaxin. But Ju Yaxin didn’t pick up; she just hung up.
Next, he called Luo Zhenting, who answered quickly but immediately said: “Can’t talk now—I’m in the role of the righteous friend of the bride. Things are about to explode over here, I need to help your mom intervene.”
True to his role as a director, he didn’t forget the essentials: “Anyway, congrats on getting the certificate—officially married now.”
“My mom and I have been talking with your mom, Wen Pingping. Both sides are well-off; no special demands for the wedding.”
“I’ll have your mom send you a check…”
Suddenly, his voice shot up: “Quick! That guy’s running!”
Even switching to English: “Damn!!”
The call ended.
Luo Xiao: “……”
Wen Ran: “……”
They glanced at each other. Wen Ran tried to save face again: “Some things—like a juicy scandal—are just irresistible.”
Even the richest man in Asia couldn’t resist a good spectacle.
“Not bad,” Luo Xiao said, putting down his phone. “Spices up the dull monotony of middle-aged life.”
They laughed together. Clearly, they weren’t the only ones who clicked.
Setting aside Ju Yaxin and the others, Wen Ran and Luo Xiao grabbed the car keys to head out.
Wen Ran said as they walked: “I’m really in the mood to paint today. Might even sell quite a few works in the future.”
“Won’t earn as much as our parents, but enough for us…”
Meanwhile, in a residential area in City D:
The cheating husband realized he was in trouble and ran. Luo Zhenting, tall and fit from years of training, chased in front, shouting: “Stop!!”
The cheating man panicked: Who the hell is this guy chasing me?
Ju Yaxin lagged behind, calling out: “Hubby~! You’re too handsome~~!”
Two bodyguards followed, communicating through Bluetooth earpieces.
A-bodyguard: “Status?”
B-bodyguard: “Called Xiao Luo—he said let them have fun!”
Suddenly, A-bodyguard accelerated like a leopard, grabbed the cheating man, twisted his arms behind his back, and pinned him expertly.
Cheating man cursed: Who are you guys? Do I know you!?
Then he went silent. Approaching, two tall men in suits and sunglasses appeared, expressionless, like killers in an action movie.
Cheating man: “…”.
Already obedient.jpg
Nearby, panting, Wen Pingping was tapped on the shoulder and asked: “Who are those two in suits and sunglasses? Local? What do they do? Own a house? A car?”
She went on babbling about having several recent college graduates in hand… balabala
While Wen Pingping, Ju Yaxin, and Luo Zhenting watched the cheating man being captured, a few middle-aged women nearby surveyed the tall, imposing bodyguards.
Aunt A: “What’s his name? Job? Annual salary? 200k? Own a house? Car?”
Aunt B, waving her phone: “See if any of these young ladies catch your eye…”
Aunt C, inspecting from head to toe: “He’s handsome, but loves showing off. Sunglasses in broad daylight? Really?”
Two bodyguards with $30k/month salaries: “…”.