Chapter 42 — The Skiing Battlefield

"Director, can I have a direct competition with Mr. Cheng?"
Mu Ran turned, bypassing the crowd in front of her, and with a meaningful look, directed her question to Gao Minglang, the chief director who had been trying to interject.

Gao Minglang rose from his chair, wrapped in a thick but warm military coat, and thought to himself that Mu Ran, this living ancestor, was at least considerate enough to remember him.
"Of course you can, Xiao Ran. But let's follow the regular program process first."

He handed the tablet to Shao Ping, asking him to watch the replay of each guest's skiing performance and give a fair score.
"Give me a moment, let me check first." The youthful, handsome Shao Ping's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.

Even though it was just a variety show, every competition needed to be fair and just.
After all, everyone's score would determine their accommodation for the night.

"Director, is Coach Shao the only one scoring us?"
Gao Tiange frowned, her eyes full of calculation and dissatisfaction. She clasped her hands, her gaze shifting between Mu Ran and Shao Ping.

"What do you mean?"
Shao Ping's tone turned cold, his expression stony as he glanced at Gao Tiange. Did this woman doubt his competence? Or did she think he would show favoritism?

Gao Tiange ignored the boy's piercing gaze and met Mu Ran's calm face with a faint smile, her eyes dusted with pink shadow as if nothing were amiss.
Feigning goodwill, she chuckled, "I mean nothing by it. I just think it’s a bit unfair, but since this is the production team's arrangement, there’s nothing more I can say."

Mu Ran had to admit, Gao Tiange was a master at subtle manipulation. Despite her age, she was well-versed in such games.
Mu Ran turned away, detached, unconcerned with Gao Tiange’s provocations. Her mind was only on the upcoming contest with Gu Beicheng—she was eager to meet Nanyang.

She had to admit, she was a passionate fan of Nanyang.
In her previous life, she never had the chance to pursue what she loved. In this life, she was determined to earn everything herself.

"Ms. Gao, Coach Shao’s credentials are more than sufficient to judge your competition."
Gao Minglang's face darkened. Though straightforward, he was no fool; he could see exactly what this woman was trying to do.

"But Coach Shao and Mu Ran are very close. It’s hard to guarantee personal feelings won’t affect the scores."
Fu Jiaojiao’s sharp, resentful voice cut through the group.

Gao Tiange’s lips curled—her bait had worked.
"Right, Ms. Gao?"
Seeing no support, Fu Jiaojiao turned to Gao Tiange, whom she considered an ally.

Gao Tiange glanced at the grim, simmering Gao Minglang. Instead of replying, she simply smiled, her stance growing ambiguous.

"Enough! The director’s team will ensure fairness!"
Gao Minglang signaled for Chen Liang to open the audience voting channel, allowing both Shao Ping and the viewers to score the eight guests.

"Unbelievable," Qi Jun sneered. "With Mu Ran and Cheng Beigu’s skills, their rankings are obvious—no matter who scores, they’ll take first place. These two women are just being difficult. Mu Ran is a small-time celebrity with few fans, and Cheng Beigu is a nobody with none at all. If it comes down to audience votes, Gao Tiange, with her fanbase, is a surefire winner."

"Then bring in other professional skiers to judge."
A frosty male voice shattered the stalemate.

Everyone turned to the stoic, imposing, broad-shouldered Gu Beicheng.
He stood very close to Best Actor Bai Zehan, and the livestream frame caught them together—the contrast in their looks was striking and decisive. The once-reigning heartthrob Bai Zehan now seemed utterly eclipsed.

"Mr. Cheng, what do you mean?"
The cameraman favored Gu Beicheng with a close-up.

Gao Minglang hurried over, lowering his voice anxiously, "Mr. Cheng, where are we going to find other professional skiers in this snow village?"

"There are some."
Gu Beicheng casually glanced toward the far side of the ski field.
Everyone followed his gaze.

Three figures in ski suits—two men and a woman—were striding briskly toward the director’s team.
"Hi, everyone!"
As the trio approached and their faces became clear, the entire group was stunned. They really were professional skiers—world-class athletes, no less.

The man who greeted everyone was Ren Nanxi, champion of the Genting Winter Olympics men’s snowboard event, the youngest champion in the nation’s history.
Beside him was Zuo Yunxuan, a tall, striking woman, reigning champion of the freestyle skiing big air, known in the skiing world as Mu Mu’s successor.
Trailing behind was a languid man named Xu Nuo, famous as the nation’s "perpetual bronze medalist," runner-up in freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics and Shao Ping’s childhood friend.

Their arrival was an unexpected boon for the production team.
Gao Minglang hurried over to shake hands with each of them. Having these three heavyweights would surely make this episode a sensation.

"Why are you here? Weren’t you all training in the capital?"
Shao Ping’s voice trembled with excitement. Seeing his three teammates, his heart leapt. These weren’t just any proud athletes—they almost never took part in commercial endorsements or variety shows.
How had Cheng Beigu managed to invite all three at once?

"Mr. Cheng called us in for backup, so we rushed over non-stop."
Ren Nanxi waved energetically at Gu Beicheng at the back, looking as excited as if he’d just met his idol.
Xu Nuo and Zuo Yunxuan also greeted Gu Beicheng warmly, though less effusively than Ren Nanxi. But when they saw the woman behind Gu Beicheng, they exchanged glances, a spark of delight flickering in their eyes.

"She’s here too?" Zuo Yunxuan’s tone lifted, a smile playing at her lips.
Xu Nuo nodded.
"You knew she’d be here before you came?" Zuo Yunxuan steadied her racing heart, her sharp features regaining their composure.
"When I took leave to visit the hospital a few days ago, I caught a glimpse of this show and saw they were all here."
Zuo Yunxuan nodded in understanding. No wonder the usually aloof Xu Nuo would actually ask to join her and Ren Nanxi this time.

"Well then, Best Actress Gao, Miss Fu, now there are four professional athletes. Surely you can’t claim it’s unfair anymore?"
Qi Jun tucked away the autograph cards signed by Ren Nanxi’s trio and grinned gleefully at the two women.

Gao Tiange and Fu Jiaojiao were so furious their jaws clenched, eyes almost spitting fire.
No one had expected Cheng Beigu to have such wide connections. Who was he, to be able to summon three world-class athletes?

Gao Minglang took charge in time. "Now, let’s have our four athletes score the eight guests."

Ten minutes later, Gao Minglang announced the final results.

Cheng Beigu: 95
Mu Ran: 90
Song Xiao: 89
Qi Jun: 88
Gao Tiange: 88
Bai Zehan: 88
Yun Fu: 87
Fu Jiaojiao: 80

"Congratulations to Xiao Ran and Mr. Cheng. As the couple’s group with the highest total score, you’ve won the chance to spend the night in the snow village villa. Mr. Song and Ms. Gao’s group, as well as Mr. Bai and Yun Fu’s group, will be staying at the farmhouse. Sorry, Qi Jun and Fu Jiaojiao, but you’ll have to sleep in the snow hut tonight."

Qi Jun shot Fu Jiaojiao a reproachful look—she had said earlier that Sister Ran shouldn’t bite off more than she could chew, but clearly, it was Fu Jiaojiao herself who was out of her depth.

"Now that tonight’s accommodations are set, if there are no objections, Xiao Ran and Mr. Cheng will proceed to their competition." Gao Minglang smiled, and with the arrival of three world champions, viewership in the livestream soared past ten million.
The live comments overflowed with praise—

"Didn’t expect such a big surprise!"
"Exactly! Four world-class athletes plus Cheng Beigu and Mu Ran—it’s a skiing bloodbath!"
"Look at how Ren Nanxi and the others are looking at Mu Ran…"
"Whoa, is Mu Ran a legend? Why do those three look at her with such reverence?"
"Are you blind? They’re clearly looking at Cheng Beigu."
"Not gonna lie, seeing Gao Tiange and Fu Jiaojiao eat crow is pretty satisfying."
"Could Mu Ran actually be Mu Mu?"
"Are you crazy? Who is Mu Mu? She’s a freestyle skiing world champion, not some C-list actress like Mu Ran."
"Right? How could a national hero of an athlete be a scandal-ridden star?"

"Mu Ran, here are your skis."
Yun Fu handed over the skis and poles to the woman preparing to take on the big air slope.

Mu Ran accepted them with a polite, distant smile. "Thank you."

Just as Mu Ran and Gu Beicheng were about to board the cable lift, they were called back.
"Mu Ran, good luck!"
Ren Nanxi, Shao Ping, Zuo Yunxuan, and Xu Nuo all waved at her, grinning.

Even the usually reserved and taciturn Xu Nuo offered her a warm, sunny smile. "Mu Ran, stay safe."
Mu Ran’s usually placid eyes softened instantly at the sight of these four young athletes. She waved back, then turned away with effortless grace.

"Do you know them?"
Gu Beicheng’s deep, searching eyes lingered on her gentle, confident face.