Chapter 48 – Lord of the Seas

In an instant, the cramp in Mu Ran’s left leg vanished. Excited, she kicked her leg, broke free from the man’s grasp, propped herself up with both hands, and sat up quickly. “I’m fine, you don’t need to massage me.”

Gu Beicheng was momentarily stunned by the woman’s agile movements. His hands were still resting on her leg, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a helpless smile. “Am I really so intolerable to look at?”

“What do you mean intolerable? We have no relation at all. It’d be so awkward if someone saw us.” Mu Ran had just noticed that meaningful look on Shao Ping’s face.

“Your leg’s alright now?”

Mu Ran felt a wave of warmth spread from her leg. She quickly curled up, hugging her knees with both arms, and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

The man said nothing. The smile at his lips gradually faded, a clear sign of dissatisfaction at her detachment. He sensed she didn’t dislike him, but simply didn’t want to get too involved.

But that wasn’t for her to decide. He was interested in her—perhaps even liked her.

With one leap, Gu Beicheng left the kang. From the corner of his eye, he saw a crowd standing outside. His brows knit in displeasure. Couldn’t Gao Minglang arrange something else for those people to do? Did they have to stand there and get in the way?

Outside, the chief director, Gao Minglang, who was a bundle of nerves, let out a huge sneeze. He quickly covered his mouth with both hands, fearing he’d make too much noise and disturb the big boss, Gu Beicheng.

“Everyone, let’s move to another room for now. Xiao Ran needs to rest. Let’s get on the kang and warm up as well,” Gao Minglang announced.

He knew perfectly well how Mu Ran’s leg was, but seeing how calm things seemed inside, and with the medical staff at the door, he figured there was no major problem.

“Director, is Sister Mu Ran…” Xu Nuo was worried something serious might happen to Mu Ran’s leg, and was desperate to check on her.

Gao Minglang shook his head, signaling everyone to rest in the next room.

“Oh, don’t worry, Sister Mu Ran will be fine. If something was wrong, would Mr. Cheng have been so calm just now, massaging her leg?” Shao Ping remarked.

Xu Nuo was silent for a moment, then nodded at Shao Ping. That did make sense.

“Massaging her leg?!”

“Massaging her leg!”

Gao Minglang and Bai Zehan spoke in unison, their expressions colorful as a kaleidoscope.

The CEO of Chengxing Group, Gu Beicheng, actually massaged the leg of a C-list, obscure actress?

Did Mu Ran bewitch the man somehow?

Bai Zehan’s face darkened. That little tramp really had a way—making President Gu, who’d never had a single scandal, lower himself to massage her leg.

A mix of irritation and jealousy churned in his heart. He shot a resentful glare at the tightly closed door, let out a cold snort, and turned to enter another room.

All the guests and staff, save for Mu Ran and Gu Beicheng, squeezed into one room. Luckily, it was spacious enough for twenty or thirty people.

“Liangzi, are there any live cameras in that room?” Gao Minglang called over the assistant director, Chen Liang, gesturing toward the room where Gu Beicheng was.

“Yes,” Chen Liang nodded.

“Good. Keep a close watch. Remember, don’t broadcast anything that shouldn’t be aired.”

Gao Minglang’s expression was deadly serious. Judging by the way Gu Beicheng looked at Mu Ran, he seemed to genuinely like her. They would have to serve these two ancestors well.

In the other room—

“Take your calcium tablets.”

The man opened the bottle the doctor had left behind, placed two tablets in his palm, and held them out to the woman.

Mu Ran turned her face away, her little ears burning red. “It’s not like my hands cramped.”

She reached out her small hand, signaling for him to put the tablets in her palm so she could take them herself.

“Be good. Take them for a few days and you’ll be fine. And make sure you’re covered at night. Catching a chill can bring on cramps too.”

Gu Beicheng glanced at her outstretched hand, pretended not to understand, and put his own hand on top, gripping hers tightly.

“What? You need to hold hands just to take medicine?”

The man raised an eyebrow in playful amusement, teasing her with indulgent affection.

“Of course not! I want to take them myself!”

Mu Ran grabbed his arm and gave it a hard tug, pulling him forward so that he toppled toward her.

She smiled triumphantly, grabbed the tablets from his palm with her other hand, popped them in her mouth, and crunched down. She couldn’t have looked more pleased.

“So cute.”

Gu Beicheng remained half-poised over her, not budging an inch no matter how she tried to push him away. He slowly lowered his head, a fresh breath of mint wafting over her.

Mu Ran’s eyes widened. Her heart raced with excitement, mixed with a tangle of complicated feelings.

She didn’t mind his closeness—in fact, she rather enjoyed it.

She really liked his scent.

“Are you a player?” The question slipped out before she could stop herself. In her eyes, his every move was so practiced that he must have used them on many women before.

Gu Beicheng’s expression suddenly turned cold and intense, an intimidating sharpness flickering in his gaze. A player?

“No.” He lost all interest, released her hand, and sat up.

Mu Ran felt a faint discomfort in her heart. She pouted, her tone light and indifferent. “Why such a big reaction? Is admitting you’re a player that hard?”

Gu Beicheng’s dark eyes bore into her face, his expression speaking volumes as the flirtatious atmosphere in the room quietly faded. He noticed her edge away from him, putting more distance between them.

He hadn’t expected her to think he was a player. All these years, he’d never touched a woman, always considering them more trouble than they were worth.

Finally, he’d found a woman he was interested in—maybe even liked—only to be taken for a womanizer.

“I’m not. I never was, I’m not now, and I never will be.”

“Alright, alright. You really can’t take a joke—you get angry for nothing!” Mu Ran huffed in annoyance.

“I’m not angry.”

The banter between them—her willfulness, his indulgence—was just like that of a real couple.

On the livestream—

“How do you capture a man like Cheng Beigu?”

“Isn’t Cheng Beigu a player?”

“Judging by his face, Cheng Beigu must be a hopeless romantic.”

“A hopeless romantic? Save me!”

“Mu Ran isn’t worthy of Cheng Beigu!”

“They’re so sweet. Can the livestream follow them all the time?”

“Director, there’s a problem with Yun Fu,” Chen Liang said, handing his phone to Gao Minglang with a grim expression. It looked serious.

“What is it?” Gao Minglang, puzzled, stepped out of the room with Chen Liang. Wasn’t Yun Fu already taken to the police station? What could have happened?

The issue was Yun Fu’s fault to begin with. He’d just checked his phone and seen a wave of online condemnation directed at her.

“You don’t know! Less than an hour after Yun Fu got to the police station, she was bailed out.”

Gao Minglang took a cigarette from his pocket, clenched it between his teeth, but didn’t light it. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the door to Gu Beicheng’s room.

“She was bailed out. What’s that got to do with us?”

“Yun Fu’s agency says if she’s not allowed back on the show, then the whole production can just shut down.”

Gao Minglang gave a cold snort, snapped the cigarette in half, and thought whoever said that was seriously overestimating themselves.

“Do you know who’s backing Yun Fu?”

Chen Liang hesitated, glancing at Gu Beicheng’s room. “It’s… one of Chengxing Pictures’ shareholders.”

Gao Minglang arched a brow. A shareholder of Chengxing Pictures?

That person must be a fool.

Chen Liang added, “Director, this shareholder is quite old. He definitely hasn’t watched our show, so he doesn’t know the big boss from Chengxing is here…”

“Tell Yun Fu’s people that it’s impossible for her to rejoin the team.” Gao Minglang tossed the broken cigarette aside and went back into the room.

Chen Liang stood there, looking after Gao Minglang with admiration. No wonder he’d followed Director Gao for five years—so domineering!

As soon as Gao Minglang entered, Fu Jiaojiao pulled him aside. He eyed her, his smile edged with warning. “What is it, Jiaojiao?”

“Director, what exactly is the relationship between Mu Ran and Shao Ping and the others? They seem awfully close.” Fu Jiaojiao feigned composure, but her jealousy and irritation were hard to hide.

“There’s nothing between them.” Gao Minglang didn’t want to say more and waved her off.

“There must be. Wasn’t she in national team training before?”

He glanced at her arm blocking his way. “You already overheard, so why ask?”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping—the assistant director just talks too loud. So, what’s her connection with Mu Mu?” Fu Jiaojiao had heard Shao Ping and the others mention Mu Mu’s name repeatedly.

“What business is it of yours what relationship they have? Jiaojiao, let me give you some advice—don’t stir up trouble. Maybe I’ll invite you to join my next show.” Gao Minglang brushed her hand away in disgust, thinking: Of all people, I’d never pick this troublemaker!

Upon hearing that, the woman’s face lit up. “Director, have you noticed Mu Ran is impersonating Mu Mu?”

“When did Xiao Ran ever pretend to be a world champion? Why are you so eager to pin labels on people? Stay if you want, leave if you don’t!” Gao Minglang had no time to argue with her.

“Alright, everyone, let’s move on with the show. Soon, we’ll be heading to the snow mountain in Snow Village. It’s still a competition: eight guests, four couples, each team in pairs. Shao Ping and his group, split into two teams yourselves. Whichever team reaches the villa halfway up the mountain first wins a luxury dinner.”