As Lin Ran chatted idly with Luo Yao, he felt his eyelids growing heavier and his head drooping lower.
"Sleep now," Lin Ran murmured, closing his eyes. "But don’t leave. Stay here with me."
Luo Yao agreed softly, "Alright."
I’ll stay by your side…
…for a lifetime.
Lin Ran drifted into peaceful slumber, while Luo Yao watched him quietly, reluctant to let him leave her lap.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad if Lin Ran just stayed like this, sleeping beside her forever.
Then, with a subtle movement, Luo Yao’s arm shifted—and a cold dagger pressed against Lin Ran’s throat.
A single thought from her, and his life would be hers to take.
But after what felt like an eternity, Luo Yao withdrew the blade. She couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t bear it.She could have ensured Lin Ran felt no pain, sending him swiftly to the underworld.
But she couldn’t stand the thought of him never seeing her again.
Nor could she bear losing the way he smiled and called her "wife," the way he fed her, the sweet nothings he whispered in her ear.
And now, it seemed, Luo Yao preferred Lin Ran alive—vibrant, real.
What Lin Ran didn’t know was how many times he had teetered on the edge of death in his sleep.
Only Luo Yao understood the impulse—and the certainty that she would never act on it.
Otherwise, Lin Ran would have been long gone.
If he had survived even when he avoided her like the plague, there was no way he’d meet his end now.
After a long period of adjustment, Lin Ran finally felt acclimated to the local climate.
The next morning, he contacted Abu to pick them up.
They set out from Tibet, bypassing Yamdrok Lake without stopping and skipping the exploration of the Karola Glacier, heading straight for a location 250 kilometers near Shigatse.
About 250 kilometers from Shigatse stood a snow-capped mountain. The British had first summited it, and the most recent ascent had been by an international team in 2006.
"Are you taking me to climb a mountain, Ah Ran?"
Lin Ran shook his head. "We’re not here for adventure. I just wanted to show you the purity of this white."
Though technically a tourist site, the place was deserted that day. Lin Ran led Luo Yao straight to the foot of the mountain.
Looking up, they saw the towering, snow-covered peak. Looking down, they saw the person they loved most.
The only flaw in this moment was the biting cold.
The sky was blue, the snow was white, and their hearts were full.
It was then that Luo Yao noticed something odd—their entourage of bodyguards had dwindled.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the roar of an engine broke the silence. The helicopter Lin Ran had arranged finally arrived.
"Yao Yao, this time, let’s ride while they fly it, okay?"
"Alright."
They boarded the helicopter, and as it ascended, the vast landscape unfolded beneath them.
The Himalayas, the world’s most famous mountain range, were a dream for countless adventurers.
Lin Ran had the trailing helicopter document everything.
When they reached the mountainside, Lin Ran signaled for a stop.
Luo Yao then noticed, in the dimming light, a cluster of black dots against the white snow—clearly, people were waiting there.
The helicopter hovered overhead as Lin Ran helped Luo Yao descend the ladder.
On the ground, they found Wang Bao and the rest of the bodyguard team, bundled up like bears.
"Ah Ran, what’s all this?"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sudden explosions drew Luo Yao’s gaze upward as colorful sparks shot into the sky, bursting into dazzling brilliance.
Words blazed across the snowy mountain in the darkness:
[Time may stretch long, but I’ll be here for the rest of your days. Happy Birthday—Lin Ran.]
Luo Yao stared in disbelief.
Someone actually remembered her birthday.
How long had it been since she last celebrated?
The last time was…
She pushed the thought away. The Lin Ran before her now was everything she could ask for. Whether he stayed or not, he was her Ah Ran.
But there was more.
Countless points of light gathered—a masterpiece of drones. For this moment, Lin Ran had spent over a million.
To ensure perfection, he had even transported two signal boosters to compensate for the weak reception.
Meanwhile, Wang Bao captured everything with professional recording equipment.
Lin Ran released Luo Yao’s hand, stepped forward, and turned to spread his arms—then suddenly, he was airborne.
To an outsider, it might have looked like ascension to the heavens. In reality, a helicopter was hoisting him up.
Behind him, the drones formed an increasingly clear image—a lifelike silhouette of Luo Yao and Lin Ran together.
"Yao Yao, enjoy the birthday gift I’ve prepared for you."
Luo Yao, eyes fixed ahead, was momentarily stunned by his words.
The drones shifted again, spelling out new words:
[Marry the best Yao Yao—Lin Ran.]
This was Lin Ran’s proposal.
He had proposed once before at Wangfeng Mountain, but it had felt rushed. He had never been satisfied with it.
Luo Yao touched the ring on her finger, watching Lin Ran’s animated figure in the sky. She felt submerged in pure happiness, tears streaming unbidden down her cheeks.
So, Ah Ran had remembered his promise after all.
Suddenly, the drones transformed again—this time into a solitary image of Luo Yao, her expression rendered in stunning detail.
The drone version of Luo Yao extended a hand, and Lin Ran "landed" perfectly on its palm.
Through the wireless mic, Lin Ran shouted:
"Luo Yao, marry me. I never want to escape your grasp."
Luo Yao burst into laughter. Lin Ran looked ridiculous—and she adored him for it.
This childish display filled her with nothing but warmth.
Little Tong handed her the mic. "Miss, you can respond now."
"Will you let me have my way?"
"Not just that—I’ll spoil you rotten."
Held steady by the helicopter, Lin Ran gazed at Luo Yao from a hundred meters away.
"So, when will you marry me?"
Lin Ran knew she meant the wedding. Once, Luo Yao had dismissed ceremonies as meaningless.
Seemed someone had been a little dishonest.
Lin Ran replied, "September 10th."