"I heard that during my absence, you all slacked off?"
An executive cautiously replied, "President Luo, those are just rumors. We've been wronged."
Luo Yao's calm yet icy voice continued, "I've also heard plenty of idle gossip."
She had no idea what had actually happened in the company while she was away, nor had she asked her assistants to report. Her demeanor was just a bluff to test these people.
Finally, one executive cracked under the pressure, feeling almost suffocated. Every meeting felt like walking to the execution grounds for them. Even if Luo Yao did nothing, her presence alone was oppressive.
"President Luo, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spread nonsense. Punish me—cut out my tongue if you must."
Luo Yao raised an eyebrow, surprised there was actually something to uncover. "What exactly did you say?"
The executive, a woman in her thirties, hesitated. Luo Corporation’s management was half female, which unfortunately came with the downside of too much gossip.
"I... I said you disappeared to make a baby with Young Master Lin. I’m sorry, wuwu..."
Luo Yao froze. She hadn’t expected that rumor.Lowering her head, she considered it. It was technically misinformation. She had gone out with A'Ran, and they had done things that could lead to a baby—but that wasn’t the purpose, and she couldn’t get pregnant anyway because of the medication she was taking.
"Hmm. Not entirely accurate, but close enough. Go out now and clarify that your statement was false. Say that A'Ran and I were actually... getting engaged."
"Engaged?!"
The executive blinked. "But... President Luo, hasn’t the whole internet known about this for a while?"
They were all confused. The two had already registered their marriage, so why hadn’t they held a wedding yet? And why was the proposal only happening now?
Was this some kind of "marry first, love later" trope?
But that didn’t make sense either—during their variety show appearances, they’d proven they were childhood sweethearts.
A cold glint flashed in Luo Yao’s eyes.
"I told you to clarify, not ask questions."
What, just because the whole internet knew, she couldn’t reinforce the message?
"Understood, President Luo."
The meeting ended in collective bewilderment. The moment it adjourned, Wang Fang immediately called Liu Meng.
"Wang-jie, what’s up?"
Liu Meng knew Wang Fang wouldn’t call without good reason.
"Assistant Liu, just now..." Wang Fang recounted the meeting’s events.
"What should I do now?"
Wang Fang deeply respected Liu Meng, especially when it came to deciphering Luo Yao’s intentions.
"Simple. Think—what does President Luo love most?"
"Scaring people."
A brief silence from Liu Meng’s end. "...I meant, what is she most invested in?"
Wang Fang pondered.
"Probably Young Master Lin?"
"Not ‘probably’—definitely. She loves him, and she loves flaunting it. She wants to claim him openly at every opportunity. So, play into that. Give her the emotional satisfaction."
Wang Fang had an epiphany. "Thank you, Assistant Liu. I know what to do now."
Liu Meng added, "One more thing—President Luo doesn’t like scaring people. If you think she’s just bluffing, you might already be in real danger."
Wang Fang stiffened. What did that mean?
After a moment, her pupils shrank in realization.
"So that’s how it is... I’ve survived this long purely on luck."
Grumbling, she got to work.
Under Luo Corporation’s official banner, she announced Young Master Lin and President Luo’s wedding date and repackaged clips from Lin Ran’s Douyin videos for a grand re-release.
The internet exploded—again.
[So What’s Even Real Anymore]: Wait, didn’t Young Master Lin just post this? Now Luo Corp’s official account is doing it too? Are they targeting single people like me on purpose?
[Happy-Go-Lucky Fool]: Holy hell, just when I’d forgotten about this, it comes back to sucker-punch me. Is being single a crime? If it is, arrest me—don’t torture me with this couple’s fluff.
[Lin-Luo Baby-Making Team]: Am I the only one melting? Their fairy-tale romance is everything. No shame—I’m a full-blown "Luo Descends Upon Lin" shipper.
[Escaped Parisian Karen]: Should they really be hogging public resources like this?
[Karen Slayer]: Oh look, another sewer rat. Who asked you? What ‘resources’ are they hogging?
Meanwhile, at Nuanyao Group, Lin Ran had just left when Zhang Xinyan rushed in with the news.
"President Wu, look at this!"
Wu Zhishang scanned the updates and froze.
"Should we... do something similar?" Zhang Xinyan asked. She’d completely revised her opinion of Lin Ran lately, even joining his fan club as a senior member.
"We’re here to work, not indulge in nonsense."
"Understood—"
"...But this is work-related. Post something. Just keep it low-key—don’t overshadow Luo Corporation."
"Got it."
Nuanyao Group followed suit, nearly copy-pasting Luo Corp’s announcement.
None of this had reached the two leads yet.
When Lin Ran arrived at Luo Corporation, he noticed everyone sneaking glances at him.
This was odd. He’d visited many times before—people knew him. Why the secrecy? And why was no one greeting him?
"Young Master Lin, you’re here?"
Security guard Old Liu approached, but before he could say more, a hulking figure cut him off.
Old Liu bristled. He’d been the first to befriend Lin Ran here—who dared disrespect him?
Then he met the man’s bone-chilling stare and gulped, instantly backing down.
"Old Liu, why’s everyone staring?"
This was Lin Ran’s first visit to Luo Corporation since returning to the capital—and his first during working hours. He couldn’t figure out the strange atmosphere.
Old Liu hesitated, now too afraid to get close.
"Young Master Lin... you don’t know? At our company, you’ve been labeled the ‘ruinous beauty.’"
"The what?"
"The one who..." Old Liu glanced around and whispered, "The seductive distraction leading President Luo astray."
Lin Ran frowned. "Where’d that come from?"
He wasn’t having it. Sure, he and Luo Yao were clingy, but they never interfered with her work.
Take last life, for example—without him, Luo Yao spent seven days in Shanghai.
This life, with him by her side? Still seven days in Shanghai, but she accomplished far more.
That was the difference. But of course, these people wouldn’t know.