Return to before death

"Ranran." Zong Zhengqing suddenly spoke up, ignoring Yu Xiao's hostile gaze and walking straight to Yan Ran's side. "You promised me you'd come home with me."

Yan Ran had indeed promised him that she would go back to the Zong family with him, but that meant going back to pack her things and then leaving the Zong family completely. The way he said it completely changed the meaning of his words.

As expected, Yu Xiao glared at Yan Ran with a look of utter disappointment upon hearing this. How could she be so forgetful? He had hurt her so many times, yet she still chose to forgive him?

If it were her, she'd go up and beat him up, the kind of beating him up every time she sees him!

Don't you know that forgiving him again and again will only embolden him and make him unrepentant? A person's bad habits begin with indulgence.

"Ranran." Seeing that Yan Ran did not speak, Zong Zhengqing couldn't help but urge her.

He couldn't let this opportunity, which he had fought so hard for, slip away like this! He had a feeling that if he missed this chance, he would never have another one.

"Xiaoxiao, I'm just going back to the Zong family to pack my things, it's not what you think." Yan Ran turned to Yu Xiao and explained, a smile blooming on her face that shone even brighter in the sunlight. "Don't worry about me, I'll be right back. He wouldn't dare do anything to me."

Yan Ran knew what Yu Xiao was worried about, so she gently patted her hand to let her know not to worry.

The Zong family isn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair; do you think they could eat her up? Obviously, that's impossible.

"Alright then." Sure enough, Yu Xiao was relieved after receiving Yan Ran's assurance, but she still glared fiercely at Zong Zhengqing, her eyes full of vigilance. "If Ranran comes back and I find that not a single hair is missing, I will definitely not let you off the hook!"

Zong Zhengqing subconsciously took a step back, casually raising his eyebrows and looking at Yu Xiao with displeasure.

How could someone as kind-hearted as Yan Ran have such a best friend? This question had always puzzled him, but in the end, he said nothing.

What if he offends her with his first words, and she then refuses to let Yan Ran return to the Zong family with him? Wouldn't that be a case of losing more than he gains?

Judging from the current situation, Yan Ran seems to care a lot about Yu Xiao. He is confident that if Yu Xiao were to speak up, she would definitely not go with him again.

So now he can offend anyone, but he can't afford to offend Yu Xiao.

Yan Ran repeatedly assured Yu Xiao before letting her leave, but her gaze remained fixed on Zong Zhengqing the entire time, clearly indicating her distrust of him.

Only after Yan Ran got into the car and disappeared from her sight did she look away and remember her own affairs.

Yu Xiao hurriedly ran home, cursing Zong Zhengqing under her breath.

This person is not only a scumbag, but also loves to ruin other people's good things.

First he delayed Yan Ran, and now he's delaying her again. Both of them involve time. How come I never noticed before that Zong Zhengqing had this quirk—he likes to waste other people's time?

Hasn't he ever heard the saying, "Time is money"? I wonder how much money he could have made with all that time he wasted.

Zong Zhengqing, who was driving, sneezed three times before stopping. He rubbed his nose, wondering what had happened.

Yan Ran, sitting in the passenger seat, unconsciously smiled.

Judging from Zong Zhengqing's reaction, Yu Xiao must have been cursing him behind his back, otherwise why would he sneeze?

"Ranran, there's no point in us continuing to make trouble like this. It'll only make us a laughing stock in front of outsiders. I know you still care about me. Come back. I've been waiting for you."

Zong Zhengqing secretly glanced at Yan Ran and found that she was in an unexpectedly good mood. He then began to verbally attack her again, trying to salvage their relationship.

If he had said that before, she would have made up with him long ago. But this time, she seemed determined, and no matter how much he pleaded, she showed no sign of changing her mind.

But he was still unwilling to give up, and he wouldn't give up until the very end.

"Zhengqing, Zong Zhengqing, this is really pointless. I've said so much, but why can't you listen? It's impossible for us anymore, you know that?"

Yan Ran's face instantly fell, and a hint of impatience appeared in her beautiful eyes.

She wasn't willing to go back to the Zong family with him to listen to his nonsense; she wasn't that idle.

Putting aside the fact that there's still a lot to sort out before she can return to journalism, there are still many unanswered questions surrounding Zhang Xinyi's case that she hasn't had time to address yet.

If she had known that Zong Zhengqing was just trying to spout this nonsense, she would never have agreed.

Zong Zhengqing's face turned pale. He calmed himself down and focused on driving.

After a long while, the sound floated out of his mouth, so softly that it seemed as if it might dissipate at any moment.

"Yan Ran, have you ever loved me?"

His tone lacked its usual gentleness and became more serious.

He just wanted to hear her answer.

Yan Ran was slightly stunned when she heard his words. She seriously thought about it in her heart. She didn't expect that a single image would make her heart ache, but she eventually returned to calm.

"I loved you, but it was only a passionate love in the past. I don't love you anymore."

In the end, she gave this answer, without any concealment or deception, truly revealing the most authentic side of her heart.

Her heart told her that this was the right way to answer Zong Zhengqing's question.

Zong Zhengqing fell silent after hearing the answer. He didn't know when it started, but he had grown further and further away from the woman in front of him.

Perhaps it was from the first taste of the sweetness of profit, or perhaps it was from the first taste of the fruits of sin.

But he knew in his heart that he loved this woman.

The two did not speak to each other again on the way.

Yan Ran lowered her eyes, her long, curled eyelashes casting a shadow on her face.

Zong Zhengqing was focused on driving, but if you looked closely, you could see that his eyes were lifeless, which was not what he appeared to be.

The journey wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at their destination. However, the two of them started to drift off into their own thoughts shortly after getting in the car and starting to talk.

"We've arrived." Zong Zhengqing called softly to Yan Ran, who was still lost in thought, his eyes regaining their usual gentleness and tenderness.

He had already made up his mind. No matter what the final outcome was, as long as he knew he loved this woman and wanted to protect her in his own way, that was enough.

Seeing her every day has perhaps become a luxury.

He chuckled helplessly. There's a saying that's really true: you only realize how important something is when you lose it.

Otherwise, he might never have known Yan Ran's place in his heart.

"Okay, I understand," Yan Ran replied, naturally unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and walked out.

Zong Zhengqing was a little stunned by their fluid and natural movements. Had the two of them developed this habit of being so natural over the years?

Yan Ran stood at the car door, waiting for a long time, but Zong Zhengqing did not come out.

She turned around and gently tapped on the glass window, which then slowly rolled down, revealing Zong Zhengqing's puzzled eyes.

"Aren't you going in? You'll wait here until I'm done packing and then take me home?"

Looking at this familiar clan, she was filled with emotion.