Chapter 140—Gu Beicheng! It hurts!

Mu Ran remained silent, her sharp gaze devoid of any emotion as she stared at the sour, crumpled expression on Li Sancai’s face.

"It wasn't her, it was someone else. You don't need to worry; the company will handle it. Just rest easy and wait for your year-end bonus."

Upon hearing the woman's reply, Li Gang felt her heart settle. She nodded, momentarily distracted, thinking that Li Sancai wasn't exactly cut out to be an undercover agent anyway. She lacked the looks, the intelligence, and the emotional quotient for it.

"You’re quite the hypocrite."

Mu Ran offered Li Gang a lazy smile. She couldn't fathom how, in just a short span of time, this aggressive woman who had been so hostile toward her had suddenly changed her tune. Not long ago, Li Gang had been favoring Li Sancai; now, she looked at her with nothing but disdain.

"Me? A hypocrite?"

Li Gang had merely softened her opinion of Mu Ran. After their brief time together, she realized Mu Ran wasn't the pushover or the incompetent fool she had previously imagined.

"Take Li Sancai and go. The planning department has already arranged the livestream. Take your studio's artists and go over the competition rules."

The streaming account was set up, and the broadcast was about to begin.

After the two women left, Mu Ran walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, arms wrapped around herself, following the man’s gaze outside. "Gu Beicheng, do you have something to say to me?"

It wasn't an illusion. Every time she spoke to this man, her heart, usually calm and steady, would begin to beat violently, beyond her control. Mu Ran tilted her head slightly, her bright, fox-like eyes fixed on his handsome features.

The man lowered his gaze, his long lashes fluttering. He turned slightly and reached out, resting his hand on her bare back. "Have you remembered?"

"Remembered what?" Mu Ran asked, puzzled.

Gu Beicheng turned his tall frame, stepped forward, and placed his hands on her waist. Sensing her body stiffen, he didn't move further, but offered a faint smile, a trace of unease flickering in his dark eyes. "Remembered things about Bai Zehan."

Mu Ran shook her head and leaned back, deliberately creating a bit of distance between them. "I haven't remembered anything. Fragments of memories appear in my mind from time to time, but they aren't coherent."

Gu Beicheng said nothing, his eyes still cast downward, his sharp gaze locked onto that fair, exquisite face, which carried an enchanting aura. Seeing his silence, Mu Ran remained in her position, unsure of what to say.

After a long moment, a clear light flashed in Gu Beicheng’s eyes. His expression was cold, yet not icy, and his attitude toward Mu Ran was loving but not stifling.

"Let’s go. It’s time for the stream."

Gu Beicheng tightened his arm slightly, pulling Mu Ran into his embrace. The woman in his arms didn't struggle, appearing as obedient as ever. Gu Beicheng’s lips curled upward, and his naturally aloof aura softened significantly.

"Gu Beicheng, let go. My head hurts." Mu Ran frowned, biting her lip. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, yet she didn't push him away. Gu Beicheng’s embrace was warm, and she craved his scent—a longing that bubbled up from the depths of her heart.

"Your head hurts?"

Gu Beicheng hurriedly released the soft, compliant woman. He grasped her shoulders, his thick brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth drooping, his eyes filled with worry. He had assumed Gu Yan’s hypnosis hadn't fully taken hold because she was able to recall snippets of her past, but he had been wrong.

Ranran was suffering. It seemed that whenever she approached him—or had any intimate contact—her brain, controlled and hypnotized by Gu Yan, would erupt in agonizing pain.

"It's fine. When there's time, let me see Gu Yan."

Mu Ran’s tone was cold, yet carried a firmness that brooked no refusal. Gu Beicheng could sense that Mu Ran’s attitude toward Gu Yan was filled with hatred and resentment. His Ranran was clever and strong-willed; she hadn't been completely broken by the hypnosis. But that didn't mean she wasn't in pain.

Gu Beicheng forced himself to take a step back, creating a significant distance between them. He looked into her vacant, bewildered eyes with tenderness. "We cannot have any excessive contact from now on."

"Why?" Mu Ran’s voice had a lingering lilt, sounding both aggrieved and seductively tender, enough to make one’s heart ache.

Gu Beicheng’s throat bobbed. He hadn't expected such a reaction from her. If this had been the un-hypnotized Mu Ran, he would have found it normal—she was his little darling, after all—but now, she was under Gu Yan’s control, compelled to distance herself from him.

He blinked slowly, his expression serious. "Ranran, do you have fragments of memories about us in your mind?"

Mu Ran grabbed his hand. She was quiet for two seconds, a flash of brilliance crossing her bright, fox-like eyes. She gripped his large hand with both of hers and curved her lips slightly. "No."

Every action she took followed her heart, even if the strange, eerie voice in her head constantly tormented her.

Gu Beicheng was lost in complex thoughts, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands. He unconsciously swallowed. "Does your head not hurt?"

"It hurts." Her voice was soft and sweet, like a tiny hook tugging at his heartstrings.

Gu Beicheng’s cheeks burned. He cupped her small face with his other hand, his rough fingers gently brushing against her skin. "Be good, Ranran. We must keep some distance. Your head will hurt; you can’t bear it." He knew the feeling all too well; he had suffered even more when he was under hypnosis. If not for a turning point that had strengthened his will, he might have been Gu Yan’s puppet for the rest of his life.

"I’m not afraid of the pain!"

"I don't want to!"

Sensing his deliberate avoidance, Mu Ran felt as though something precious was slipping away, something she couldn't grasp no matter how hard she tried.

She huffed indignantly. "I don't want that! Gu Beicheng! Come here!"

She let go of his hand and grabbed his tie, using a clever tug to pull him toward her. She used enough force that the man, caught off guard, stumbled forward.

"Ranran!"

Gu Beicheng reacted instantly, gripping her waist to steady himself. His heart trembled; he was terrified of crushing this delicate woman, who was so soft and petite. "Ranran, is it hurting again?"

Gu Beicheng looked down and noticed the visible change in her condition. The peach-blossom mark on her forehead was dotted with cold sweat. His eyes darkened, and his mood turned gloomy. His voice turned cold. "Ranran, be obedient. I will make Gu Yan break the hypnosis. Be good. I am always by your side, but we cannot have excessive physical contact."

"I won't!"

"Listen to me!"

Mu Ran endured the sharp stabs in her head, the corners of her eyes turning red as tears welled up. "Are you snapping at me?"

"I'm not." Gu Beicheng frowned. He hadn't been snapping at her—how could he bear to? He was merely lamenting his failure to protect her, while his hatred and fury toward Gu Yan deepened. He wasn't targeting her.

"Fine, no contact then! Why be so fierce about it!"

Mu Ran felt deeply wronged. She hadn't realized that her state of mind had shifted 180 degrees in just a few minutes. When dealing with business, she was decisive, stern, and even ruthless. But when facing Gu Beicheng—the man the voice in her head warned her never to love—she couldn't stop herself from wanting to be near him, even acting like a spoiled child. And when he was fierce with her, she was devastated.

"Ranran, where are you going?" The man followed her footsteps out of the office.

"To work, obviously. Stay away from me. I get a headache when you're too close."

Mu Ran’s expression was dark and blank, her mood abysmal. Every employee who passed her shivered, feeling a strange chill. They exchanged glances, whispering to one another, guessing that the big boss was fighting with her boyfriend, Gu Beicheng. They hadn't expected Mu to be so cute when she was angry.

Upon reaching the studio, Mu Ran pushed through the crowd and saw two devices set up. She looked at the planning manager with displeasure. "Why are there two streaming phones?"

The manager glanced nervously at An Lan, who was busy briefing the artists. "Director Mu, this was arranged by Director An. She suggested you should also host a stream, as you haven't done one in a long time."

Mu Ran kept her face stern, pacing back and forth in the studio with her arms crossed. Every time she passed by, she received "admiring" gazes from the young male artists. The sight of her proud figure and the exposed, smooth skin of her back was enough to mesmerize any normal man.

But everyone dared only to look for a second, because following right behind her was a man with the killing intent of the Grim Reaper. His cold, piercing gaze felt as though it could drag someone straight to hell.