Chapter 45 – Reversal

Yun Fu, drained of all strength, collapsed onto the snow, suppressing the shame and hatred in her eyes. "You're slandering me! I didn't have an abortion!" she cried, her tears streaming like pear blossoms in the rain, casting desperate glances at the others for help.

Qi Jun, Shao Ping, and the rest believed that Mu Ran's harshness toward Yun Fu was justified. They mingled in various circles and understood that, despite her innocent doll-like face, this woman was anything but simple.

"It seems there are quite a few who wish to ruin me, even destroy me," Mu Ran said, her sharp gaze filled with murderous intent as she shifted her attention from Yun Fu to Bai Zehan and the other two.

Bai Zehan, Gao Tiange, and Fu Jiaojiao exchanged tacit glances, deliberately looking elsewhere. It was clear they had no intention of confronting Mu Ran because of Yun Fu. On one hand, they were shocked by Mu Ran's icy aura; after all, each of them had been bested by her and knew her ruthless methods. On the other, they understood that siding with Yun Fu would bring them no benefit.

Yun Fu, though a second-tier actress with decent resources, owed her success solely to a famous director’s favor; she herself had no real background. Furthermore, the fact that she had an abortion in her freshman year might be overlooked by ordinary people, but for a female celebrity—a public figure—it carried significant consequences.

Moreover, the "abortion" incident could become a fuse. Yun Fu’s rivals or those she had suppressed would undoubtedly arrange for malicious fans and marketing accounts to dig up her scandals and seize the opportunity to advance.

Bai Zehan and the others, unwilling to waste effort for nothing, chose to stand by, just like Qi Jun and his group.

"Mu Ran, what gives you the right to slander me?" Yun Fu, seeing everyone indifferent, was overwhelmed by anger and grievance. She despised Mu Ran as much as Gao Tiange and Fu Jiaojiao, perhaps even more than anyone else.

Back in university, she endured Mu Ran only to persuade her to give up the scholarship. Mu Ran had been the goddess admired by all the boys, including the senior Yun Fu secretly liked.

No one expected that after entering the entertainment industry, Mu Ran’s reputation would plummet so dramatically.

Yun Fu admitted she had orchestrated numerous smear campaigns against Mu Ran, believing that the scandal-ridden minor star could never surpass her. Yet, Mu Ran unexpectedly joined the same variety show, and even received more live coverage than Yun Fu herself.

Then there was Qi Jun—a man Yun Fu greatly admired for his looks and background—only to have Mu Ran seize the opportunity. During their date on the deserted island in the second episode, Qi Jun spoke only of Mu Ran, fueling Yun Fu’s jealousy and resentment.

Intent on teaching that shameless, flirtatious woman a lesson, Yun Fu tampered with Mu Ran’s snowboard.

"You claim I slander you? Shameless," Mu Ran replied, lips curled in a cold smile, her eyes devoid of warmth as she stared at Yun Fu, whose arms were crossed and gaze fierce. Disappointment surged in Mu Ran’s heart.

Her own mercy had emboldened these women to overstep themselves.

"I didn’t have an abortion! I didn’t tamper with your snowboard! You’re the one who had an abortion! You twist the truth!" Yun Fu screamed, pointing at Mu Ran’s nose in a hysterical rage, wildly hurling accusations, oblivious to the biting chill that descended around her.

Shao Ping and the others were furious. Their mentor was nothing like that. During university, Mu Ran was either training herself or training him; how could she possibly have been selling drinks?

"Yun Fu! You’re lying! Mu Ran isn’t that kind of person," Xu Nuo declared, ignoring Ren Nanxi’s attempts to hold him back. He rolled up his sleeves and strode to Yun Fu, his face flushed with anger, unwilling to let anyone defame his idol.

Shao Ping joined him, "Exactly! My mentor isn’t that kind of person."

Yun Fu sneered, "Oh, Mu Ran, you must be talented indeed—every man speaks up for you. Mentor? Is that a mentor in bed?" Her words were venomous, her disdainful gaze flickering among the three.

The crowd’s attention shifted to the calm Mu Ran.

"Step back," Mu Ran commanded coldly, displeased as she looked at Shao Ping and Xu Nuo. As national athletes, they should not be making a scene here.

Ren Nanxi pulled the two boys aside, exasperated, "Do you know who you are? Use your brains—does Mu Ran need you to defend her?"

Xu Nuo and Shao Ping exchanged glances, bowed their heads, realizing they had acted rashly. They knew Mu Ran’s temperament and methods—she was someone who could "kill without blinking."

"Ah—" Yun Fu’s shrill scream rang out once more.

Mu Ran had seized Yun Fu’s hair, lifting her off the ground, then swiftly slammed her into the snow.

"Is it that everyone likes to slander me? Force me to act?" Mu Ran demanded.

Yun Fu lay sprawled, defeated, yet her venomous, unwilling gaze remained fixed on Mu Ran above. "I’m not wrong! You are a whore!"

"Enough, Yun Fu!" Gao Minglang shouted harshly, rising angrily from the broadcast monitor, his eyes filled with loathing and disappointment.

"Director! Even you side with her!" Yun Fu snarled, struggling to her feet, her hands pressed into the snow. Fu Jiaojiao had been right: Mu Ran was an expert at seducing men.

Gao Minglang regretted inviting Yun Fu and Fu Jiaojiao onto the show; one was more troublesome than the other.

"Yun Fu, do you not know what you’ve done? Do you think Mu Ran is picking on you for no reason?" Gao Minglang didn’t say it outright, wanting to give Yun Fu a chance to apologize.

"You’re slandering me too! Director! How many times has Mu Ran slept with you for you to be so devoted? And Cheng Beigu! Qi Jun! Don’t you find her filthy?"

"Bang—" A loud crash.

Yun Fu, screaming at the top of her lungs, was abruptly silenced as a kick sent her flying. Her front teeth struck a rock on the ground; blood flowed freely.

Fu Jiaojiao, watching from the sidelines, instinctively covered her mouth in shock.

"Don’t let that disgusting mouth utter the name Cheng Beigu," Mu Ran said, slowly withdrawing her foot.

In the corner, Gu Beicheng gazed tenderly at Mu Ran, who was standing up for him, his affection undiminished.

Gao Minglang continued, "If you remain stubborn, let everyone see the video!"

In all his years as a director, he’d never encountered such a ruthless woman. He’d noticed online viewers repeatedly posting, "Yun Fu is truly vicious."

Initially, he dismissed it, but as more viewers claimed "Yun Fu framed Mu Ran," Gao Minglang had Chen Liang review all surveillance footage from before Mu Ran’s competition.

Upon seeing Yun Fu tampering with Mu Ran’s snowboard, Gao Minglang was horrified. No wonder Mu Ran’s board detached on landing.

Yun Fu’s actions could be called intentional harm.

"Yun Fu, you’re so cruel. Do you know how dangerous it was for Mu Ran just now?" Qi Jun demanded.

Yun Fu smirked, "She didn’t die, did she?"

"Smack—"

A slap landed suddenly on Yun Fu’s hateful face.

"If she had died, I’d make you wish you were dead!" Zuoyun Xuan declared.

"Yun Xuan, does your hand hurt? That woman’s skin is thick," Shao Ping said, gently kneading her reddened palm, his gaze toward Yun Fu filled with greater disgust.

Zuoyun Xuan glanced at her hand held by the boy, a faint blush on her cool, heroic face. She cleared her throat, "It's fine. I just can't stand how she treated Mu Ran."

Yun Fu held her face, slumped on the ground, incredulous as she looked at everyone around her. "Impossible, impossible—there’s no way it was recorded."

"It shouldn’t have been possible, but the cameraman was feeling unwell and accidentally turned the camera toward your location while coughing," Chen Liang explained coldly. This show was about to be ruined by Yun Fu—he wished he could slap her himself.

"Mu Ran, we’ll call the police. We won’t cover up for anyone, nor let anyone be bullied or wronged," Gao Minglang said earnestly, his words meant for Mu Ran, but also for Gu Beicheng, who stood apart from the crowd.

Mu Ran smiled calmly and handed Gao Minglang a USB drive. "Don’t worry, play what's on this for everyone."

"Mu Ran, what is this? Should we return to the guesthouse and show it to the others?" Gao Minglang felt guilty toward the steadfast woman. Mu Ran had never provoked anyone, always the target of slander and injury.

Mu Ran smiled lightly, signaling the director not to blame himself. "No, play it here for everyone."

"Even the live audience?"

"Yes. Let everyone see for themselves who was the one Yun Fu claimed had an abortion in their freshman year, who worked at bars, who sold herself."

Since Yun Fu was bold enough to provoke her, Mu Ran would make sure this reckless woman was utterly ruined.

Yun Fu slandered her, so Mu Ran would repay in full.

Gao Minglang did not refuse. He turned to the cameraman and streamed the contents of the USB drive for everyone.

The live comments—

"Mu Ran must be the most tragic female celebrity..."

"If Mu Ran hadn’t been lucky, falling from that height, she’d have been crippled!"

"Show us! I don’t believe Yun Fu!"

"Has anyone noticed that all four athletes respect Mu Ran?"

"Could Mu Ran really be Mu Mu?"

"Damn! Yun Fu is such a bitch!"

"Exactly!"

"Eye-burning!"

"The one who had an abortion in her freshman year, worked at bars, sold herself—it’s clearly Yun Fu!"

"Twisting the truth!"