Lin Ran pretended to look worried. "Seems like we're trapped here."
Luo Yao looked up into Lin Ran's eyes. "Are you scared, Ah Ran?"
"With Yao Yao by my side, I wouldn't fear even mountains of blades or seas of fire."
[Damn, why is it Lin Ran? And... this is brutal, meow meow meow! You guys are really chasing me down to kill me, meow meow meow!]
Lin Ran only heard Little Black's voice but couldn't see where it was coming from. He glanced around the space and noticed a statue standing there.
Lin Ran's eyes widened.
This was beyond absurd.
He recognized it instantly—it was a statue of Little Black.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
"What's the matter?" Luo Yao asked, noticing Lin Ran's strange behavior.Lin Ran's voice trembled with shock. "Tell me, what exactly is the treasure of your Luo family?"
Luo Yao also spotted the statue. It felt familiar, but she couldn't place where she'd seen it before.
"Maybe it has something to do with this statue."
She had a strong feeling that she shared a deep connection with the owner of this statue—as if all the happiness she had now was tied to it.
"Could it be... the Luo family's treasure is just a cat?" Luo Yao murmured.
Suddenly, the walls rumbled violently again, causing Luo Yao and Lin Ran to stagger.
[Little Black: Damn, why is it shaking again? Guess we really shouldn’t open doors carelessly. Every time we do, destruction follows.]
[Lin Ran: Stop hiding. Get out here and tell me how to leave.]
[Little Black: No way! Luo Yao’s with you—she’ll slaughter me, meow meow meow! She’s ruthless!]
Lin Ran was speechless. His little demon had clearly traumatized Little Black beyond repair.
[Lin Ran: I swear on my father’s life—if Luo Yao harms you, Lin Tianba will never leave prison.]
[Little Black: ...]
The ground shook again, tilting Lin Ran and Luo Yao violently. Then—
Little Black’s statue collapsed, sliding straight toward Luo Yao.
The statue wasn’t enormous, but it was heavy enough that the momentum alone could seriously injure someone.
"Watch out!"
Lin Ran yanked Luo Yao aside just as a flash of white light blinded them.
When Lin Ran opened his eyes, he was stunned.
Where was this?
He tried to sit up but winced from the sharp pain in his chest—probably from being hit by the statue.
[Little Black: Meow meow meow, Lin Ran, you’re unbelievable. Always making trouble for me.]
Lin Ran sat up and looked around. The place felt familiar.
Then it hit him. He glanced at the bed—Little Black was perched in front of him, staring with resentful eyes.
[Lin Ran: Where is this? Where’s Luo Yao?]
[Little Black: Luo Yao, Luo Yao—is that all you care about? Do you even realize you almost died?]
[Lin Ran: I asked you, where’s Luo Yao?]
[Little Black: Fine, fine. Luo Yao’s safe, okay? You saved her, but you got hurt. Right now, you’re lying in a hospital.]
Lin Ran’s face darkened. [This is a hospital? This is clearly my dorm.]
Little Black nimbly leaped off the bed. [Congratulations, you’re right! Since we’re here, might as well settle in, my dear Lin Ran.]
[Lin Ran: So… we time-traveled?]
The realization froze him. He had promised Luo Yao he’d never disappear in front of her again.
[Lin Ran: What the hell did you do? Why time-travel? Do you have any idea I promised Yao Yao I wouldn’t vanish like this?]
Little Black smirked in an eerily human way. [You underestimate me. Relax—traveling backward creates the illusion of disappearing, but we went forward. No visual effects.]
Lin Ran calmed slightly but then remembered something. "My injuries?"
[Little Black: Don’t worry. Even though we came in a hurry, I healed most of your wounds. You’ll just feel some pain now. But honestly, this is your fault for barging in without giving me time to prepare.]
Lin Ran scoffed. Seriously? Now it’s my fault?
"Then let’s go back now."
[Little Black: If we go back now, you’ll still be unconscious. You’re badly hurt—might as well stay here for a couple of days.]
Lin Ran gave it a look of utter disbelief. "Then why not send me back after I’ve recovered?"
[Little Black: ...Well… I could. But since we’re already here, are you sure you want to leave? Even if we go back, what happened still happened. Luo Yao won’t forget you got hurt.]
Lin Ran fell silent. Little Black had a point. As he took in the familiar dorm, another thought struck him.
[Your powers improved? I thought we could only stay for twelve hours at a time.]
[Little Black: You should thank your lucky stars you passed out in my home. My abilities are stronger there.]
Mention of Little Black’s home made Lin Ran thoughtful again.
[Lin Ran: Will you tell me now?]
[Little Black: Tell you what?]
[Lin Ran: Your goal. And your connection to Luo Yao. Why is your home in the Luo family’s dragon vein?]
Little Black hesitated, its eyes flickering with something unreadable.
[Lin Ran, I need to ask you a favor. When you go back, can you beg Luo Yao to leave the dragon vein untouched? It’s crucial for me—I can’t survive without a home.]
Lin Ran felt like he almost understood, but not quite.
Little Black continued: [As for the answers you want… I’ll show you. But words won’t do it justice. Once we return, I’ll let you see my past. Deal?]
Lin Ran took a deep breath and nodded.
He was worried about Luo Yao. And his injuries.
[Relax. When we go back, I’ll set the time right when you wake up. Pain-free and fresh as a daisy.]
[Lin Ran: Gee, thanks.]
From their conversation, Lin Ran learned this was his freshman year of college.
Freshman year?
He checked the date—September 10th.
Then it clicked. He stood up, testing his movements. His chest still ached, but he could function.
Lin Ran opened Wu Zhishang’s closet and rummaged inside.
[Little Black: What are you looking for? I didn’t bring you back to steal.]
"Found it." Lin Ran pulled out a backpack, grabbed Little Black, and stuffed it inside.
[Little Black: Rude as hell—]