Chapter 65: Moved by You | Repaying Debts of Kindness

The taxi pulled up in front of the Central Tower in the heart of Modu. Lin Ran paid by scanning the code. Ye Fanzhi was still slumbering on his shoulder. After a whole afternoon spent grilling barbecue for friends and family, carrying Lin Ran on her back all the way, and then rushing to the hospital, she was truly exhausted. Lin Ran couldn’t bear to wake her.

Well then, it’s my turn to spoil you now.

Lin Ran gently scooped her up, one arm under her knees, the other around her slender waist, and carefully carried Ye Fanzhi out of the car. The moment his foot touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through him, but he ignored it and strode straight into the elevator. She was light—Lin Ran found himself marveling at how much strength must have burst forth from her small frame to carry a man his size, all one meter eighty-three of him, for so long.

In his life, only two women had ever carried Lin Ran: his mother, and Ye Fanzhi.

He took her upstairs to the presidential suite, gently laid her on the luxurious king-sized bed, and pulled the covers over her. Lin Ran knelt by the bedside, carefully studying Ye Fanzhi as she slept.

“Her eyelashes are so long.”

“Was this face sculpted by the Creator’s own hands? So exquisite.”

“Such a straight nose, such tempting lips.”

Whatever sweet dream she was having, Ye Fanzhi’s lips curled into a smile, and she muttered something softly.

Lin Ran leaned in to listen. It sounded like, “Li’s crab roe buns are so delicious~”

He recalled her social media post from that morning: “Modu, your big sister is back! Dying for Li’s crab roe buns.”

He chuckled to himself—such a little glutton, dreaming of food even in her sleep.

Name: Lin Ran

Wealth: 133 million

From today, I am a billionaire too.

“Well, since you helped me earn a hundred million, tomorrow I’ll make your wish for crab roe buns come true.”

Mua~

He planted a stealthy kiss on Ye Fanzhi’s forehead, limped out to the bathroom for a shower, and then went to rest in another room.

The next morning, at six, the alarm woke Lin Ran. He hadn’t risen so early in ages. After a quick wash, he headed downstairs. It was raining, a fine drizzle soaking the Bund.

He took a taxi to Ye Fanzhi’s neighborhood, searching until he finally found Li’s Crab Roe Bun shop—a shabby little place, but these were always the ones with the true old flavors. Lin Ran wanted to see for himself what delicacy haunted Ye Fanzhi’s dreams.

The door was closed. He checked the time—six thirty. Still not open? Did they not want business? Ten more minutes passed, and still nothing.

Knock knock knock—

Lin Ran rapped on the shutter.

With a clatter, the metal door rolled up, and a bleary-eyed uncle peered out at him. “Who is it? What’s with all the knocking?”

“I’d like to buy some buns.”

“First time here, huh? Everyone knows we’re closed on Sundays. Come back tomorrow.”

He moved to pull the shutter down, but Lin Ran blocked him. “I came a long way. Could you possibly make some for me?”

With that, Lin Ran scanned and paid five hundred yuan upfront.

The owner squinted. “What’s this supposed to mean?”

Lin Ran replied, “Just asking you to work a little overtime, make a few buns.”

The owner scowled. “So you think money can buy anything?”

Lin Ran scanned and paid another thousand.

The owner protested, “You’re too much. I’ve been making buns for over thirty years—never once worked on a Sunday. If I break that rule for you, it’s unfair to my regulars. Fifteen hundred, right? I’ll transfer it back. I’m a man of principle.”

Hearing the word “principle,” Lin Ran relaxed.

But the next second: [Alipay received 5,000 yuan]

What!!!

“Don’t think I’m someone who can be swayed by money. I just can’t stand the arrogance of you rich folks…” The owner jabbed a finger at Lin Ran. “Say it! What kind of buns do you want?”

Lin Ran smiled. “Every flavor you have. Make plenty. I need to send them frozen express back to Shudu.”

“Wife! Come out and knead the dough!”

…

In the presidential suite, on the king-sized bed.

Ye Fanzhi awoke, having slept deeply all night. She sat up and stretched, only to realize she wasn’t at home. Startled, she checked her clothes—everything was intact.

The suite felt familiar, like the one Lin had booked. How did she end up here? She remembered falling asleep in the taxi last night; Lin must have helped her up. She trusted his character, and having found herself untouched, felt reassured.

After a simple wash, she walked out, calling out, but no one answered. She pushed open door after door—still no sign of anyone.

She dialed Lin Ran.

Ring ring—he answered.

“Lin, where are you?”

“Downstairs. I’ll be back soon.”

Ye Fanzhi looked out at the rain through the floor-to-ceiling windows, frowning. “It’s pouring, and your foot has such a deep cut. Why did you go out? What if you get an infection?”

“Calm down, calm down—I’m in the elevator, I’ll hang up now.”

Soon after, the door to the suite opened and Lin Ran hobbled in, dripping wet.

“Why on earth did you go out in this downpour?” Ye Fanzhi scolded, striding over, but then tenderly dried his hair with a waiting towel. “Look at you—soaked through. How’s your foot?”

“I’m fine, not that fragile—” He winced as he took off his shoe, the tight edge scraping his wound.

Ye Fanzhi immediately knelt to help him, grumbling, “Not fragile, huh? Then why are you in pain? Couldn’t you just have rested? Why must you go out in such heavy rain?”

Lin Ran looked down at her by his foot. “I went out to get you Li’s crab roe buns.”

She froze, lifting her head.

Lin Ran produced a bag of buns from behind his back.

“You fell asleep last night. I carried you to bed, and you started talking in your sleep about wanting crab roe buns. So I went to get them—didn’t expect the rain, though.”

He braved the rain, injured as he was, just to buy buns for her because she’d mentioned wanting them in her sleep?

If last night’s drone show was romance, then this little bag of buns was pure heartfelt emotion.

It was as if her heart skipped a beat.

“Come, let’s eat before they get cold.” Lin Ran brought the buns to the table.

“I… I’ll just wash my hands first.”

In the bathroom, staring at her reflection, the image of Lin Ran limping through the rain for her flashed in her mind. An inexplicable smile of happiness crept onto her face.

She returned to the table and sat down with Lin Ran to eat the buns.

“Mmm, these are really good. No wonder you crave them even in your dreams.”

“I’ve been eating them since I was a child, but it’s a shame—they’re closed on Sundays…” As she spoke, something occurred to her. She checked the time: it was indeed Sunday. She took another bite, then puzzled, looked across at Lin Ran. “They don’t open on Sundays. How did you get these?”

“Easy,” Lin Ran replied. “I told them Ye Fanzhi wanted them, and they made them.”

“I’m not that influential. In all my years, I’ve never had their buns on a Sunday.”

“I paid extra. They agreed, and I had some frozen for you to send back to Shudu. Next time you want them, just heat them up.”

Ye Fanzhi bit her lip. “Lin... why are you so good to me?”

Lin Ran beamed. “Because we’re friends.”

An open and honest strategy: we’re friends.

The best strategy: we’re friends. Helping a friend is only right.

It was unassailable.

“Mmm.” Ye Fanzhi nodded and placed a bun in Lin Ran’s bowl. “You should eat more.”

“I’ve had plenty already—I ate several on the way, haha~”

“Aren’t they delicious?”

“They’re amazing. I’ll have another.”

“Good~”

The rain passed, the sun shone over the Bund, its golden rays spilling into the presidential suite, where the two of them sat at breakfast, laughing together.

Afterward, Lin Ran lounged on the sofa, rubbing his full belly. Ye Fanzhi brought over some medicine and sat beside him. “Let’s change your bandage.”

“I can do it myself.”

“You’ll just mess up and make it worse. Put your foot up.”

She patted her lap.

Lin Ran hesitated, then placed his right foot on her smooth, delicate thigh, watching as she unwrapped the medicine and gauze.

“Ow—”

“Sorry, did that hurt?”

“No, I did it on purpose.”

“If you keep teasing me, I’ll stop helping.”

“I’ll behave.”

Ye Fanzhi smiled and carefully dressed his wound.

“Rest here. I’m heading home. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t move around, or you’ll make it bleed again.”

“Got it.”

“Bye~”

She waved, left the suite, took the elevator down from the soaring tower, smiled to herself, and caught a cab home.

Her father was pruning flowers in the courtyard. When he saw her, he asked, “Why didn’t you come home last night?”

“I slept at Lin Ran’s.”

“What?”

“Don’t overthink it. Lin Ran’s suite has plenty of rooms. I was so tired I just fell asleep.”

“I see.” Her father knew her straightforward character—she never beat around the bush. What she said was always the truth.

“Sweetheart, I’ve thought it through. Everyone has their own path, and I can’t force you to do what you don’t like. You wanted to teach in Guizhou, right? I’ll talk to the board, have them find someone else, and you can go. Happy?”

“I’m not going.”

“You kept saying you wanted to teach in Guizhou—now you’re not?”

“And you kept saying you didn’t have a private stash, but where did the money come from to buy that Black Swan cake yesterday?”

Her father was caught off guard.

Ye Fanzhi then remembered something. “Dad, Lin Ran spent a million on me—such a huge favor. How am I ever going to repay him?”

“Yes, that’s a big debt. Not easy to pay back.”

“Dad~ I can’t do it alone. Can you help me?”

“I’m your father, I have to help. But how?”

Ye Fanzhi twirled her hair. “Why don’t you be a consultant for ‘Black: Erlang Shen’ and repay the debt for me?”

“What!? You want me to consult for ‘Black: Erlang Shen’?”

“Mmm~”

“No way, absolutely not! That game is a dark fantasy take on Journey to the West—nothing like the original.”

At that moment, her mother emerged from the kitchen. “You’re home, dear. What do you want for lunch? Your father and I will go shopping.”

Ye Fanzhi sighed theatrically. “I can’t eat—I owe such a big favor, I can’t even sleep. You two eat; I’ll go to my room and think about how to repay the debt. Sigh! Sigh! Sigh sigh sigh!”

She exaggerated her sighs for effect.

“Fine, fine, I’ll be the consultant.”

Their precious daughter was his only weakness—her father had no choice but to give in.

“Thank you~ Hee hee hee~” Ye Fanzhi grinned.

“For lunch, I want your braised pork, Dad.”

“Alright, I’ll go buy what I need.”