Chapter 80 — Three Sworn Brothers

Gu Beicheng brought Mu Ran to the parking garage of a private hospital.

“What are we doing here? Where is this place?” Mu Ran had originally planned to visit potential company locations with An Lan and Lin Chong after the hand model competition, but Gu Beicheng’s sudden appearance had completely disrupted her day.

“A hospital,” Gu Beicheng replied as he sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel. His handsome face turned slightly toward her, black eyes filled with a gentle smile as he glanced at the woman beside him.

One large hand gripped the wheel, while the other held Mu Ran’s small hand, which rested on her lap. “I’m taking you to get your sense of taste checked.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Ran fell silent, her lips pressed tightly together. Instinctively, her other hand brushed the peach blossom tattoo at her temple. She turned her face away, gazing out the window, refusing to speak.

After a moment, she let out a soft whimper. “Honestly, I have no hope for my sense of taste.”

She had sought countless doctors, but up until her death in her previous life, she had never been able to taste the blood in her mouth.

Though she appeared calm on the surface, her small hand clung tightly to his. “Let’s not go. It won’t get better.”

Catching the fleeting sadness in her eyes, Gu Beicheng’s heart ached. His gaze darkened.

“Trust me, this doctor will cure you,” he assured her softly, thoughts drifting to the man in question. His own eyes grew cold and decisive, the air around him chilling in an instant.

“I heard from Lanlan that you and this doctor don’t get along. You don’t have to ask someone you dislike for my sake,” Mu Ran said quietly, sensing that the relationship between Gu Beicheng and the doctor was more than just bad—it was mutual aversion.

“It’s nothing. For you, I’m willing to do anything.”

Though his words sounded syrupy, they brimmed with genuine affection and indulgence, which warmed her heart with a touch of gratitude.

She felt lucky—to have been granted another life, to meet this man who stood on a pedestal, and even to be with him.

“Ranran, believe me, one day you’ll be the happiest woman in the capital. Don’t be afraid of me. Everything I do is to protect you, because I love you.”

Turning to her, Gu Beicheng met her gentle gaze with unwavering sincerity. She could see there wasn’t a trace of distraction in those dark eyes—only a love so deep it bordered on humility.

“Beibei…” Mu Ran cupped the hand he had laid on her thigh, lifting it slightly to plant a burning kiss on his knuckles. “I believe you. But whatever I do, I hope you won’t interfere or hold me back. I’m not as fragile as you think.”

“Alright,” he replied with a low, contented hum.

They got out of the car, and Gu Beicheng opened the door for her with polished, gentlemanly grace.

“Gu Beicheng, are you sick or something? Twenty minutes ago, you told me you’d already parked at the hospital! Do you have any idea how valuable my time is?” A crisp, cool voice rang out from behind a nearby pillar.

Mu Ran, led by Gu Beicheng, turned to see a man in a white coat approaching with an air of languid indifference.

The man wasn’t as ruggedly handsome as Gu Beicheng, nor did he possess Zhou Muyang’s delicate beauty.

His features were as refined and fair as a woman’s, yet, like Gu Beicheng, his build was strong and upright.

“I thought you weren’t seeing patients today, Mu San,” Gu Beicheng said with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, his gaze tinged with contempt and an icy, abyssal chill.

“Don’t call me Mu San! Can’t you use my real name in public? Do I have no dignity?” the man retorted, quickening his pace.

He stopped before them, jaw clenched, and spoke through gritted teeth. He glanced down at Mu Ran, expressionless and restrained. “You want me to treat her?”

“Yes.” Gu Beicheng nodded, also glancing at Mu Ran, but his own eyes were full of tender affection.

“She’s much better than that bald foreign woman you used to date,” Mu Lang remarked, draping a long, fair hand over Gu Beicheng’s shoulder. His whole demeanor exuded a calm, understated charm, though his familiarity with Gu Beicheng lent an oddly roguish air.

“If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything,” Gu Beicheng replied, brushing his hand off, radiating cold indifference.

Mu Ran regarded the two men coolly, lips curving in a faint smile. She thought to herself that Gu Beicheng and Mu Lang were a perfect match—one liked to provoke, the other to endure.

It seemed Gu Beicheng simply disliked this man.

They were probably friends, after all.

“Come on, let’s not stand around. To my office—I’ll give this young lady a proper examination,” Mu Lang said, slipping rimless glasses onto his nose. He smiled lightly and joined them in the elevator.

Inside, an awkward silence descended.

Suddenly, Mu Lang produced a small spray bottle and proceeded to disinfect his hands, especially the one that had touched Gu Beicheng’s shoulder, spritzing it several times.

Standing beside Gu Beicheng, Mu Ran watched Mu Lang’s every move from the corner of her eye. She stifled a laugh and whispered, “He really can’t stand you.”

“He’s a neat freak—hopelessly delicate,” Gu Beicheng muttered, casting a scathing look backward.

In Mu Lang’s office, Mu Ran sat in front of him, following his instructions for the examination.

“Miss Mu, you look a lot like someone I know,” Mu Lang said, frowning as he studied her face, his long fingers stroking his chin. “Beicheng, doesn’t she remind you of…”

Gu Beicheng’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped between them, pushing Mu Lang away from Mu Ran. “Just do the exam.”

Mu Lang looked up, bewildered, and shrugged. “She looks just like my aunt.”

“Why not say I look like your mother?” Mu Ran replied coldly, rising to leave. Gu Beicheng’s circle of friends was truly ridiculous—first Qin Yu said she looked like Lady Feng Si of the Qin family, now this Mu San claimed she resembled his aunt.

“Well, a bit like my mother, but more like my aunt. If my aunt’s daughter hadn’t been found, I’d definitely have brought you home,” Mu Lang said with a raised brow, then sat on the sofa nearby.

“Your aunt isn’t Feng Si, is she?” Mu Ran asked.

Mu Lang glanced at Gu Beicheng, puzzled by his darkening expression. “Yes, that’s right. Since you’re Gu Beicheng’s girlfriend, you must know the Qin family. Qin Ranran has been found.”

A smile of joy flitted across his lips as he spoke. The Qin and Mu families each had only one girl—she had finally been found.

But in the next moment, his expression clouded. He sighed deeply. “Ah…”

He was about to say more when Gu Beicheng cut him off. “Mu San, I asked you to treat her, not to chatter about trivialities.”

Gu Beicheng’s frustration radiated toward Mu Lang, but Mu Lang seemed unfazed, immune to his violent temper.

“Her sense of taste isn’t a major issue. She’s neglected her health for years—constant dieting, vitamin deficiency. I’ll prescribe her some medicine,” Mu Lang said, stretching his long legs as his gaze moved from Gu Beicheng to Mu Ran.

“Miss Mu, you need to pay attention to your diet. Your figure may matter, but your health is more important. Get plenty of sleep, rest well, avoid spicy or irritating foods. Give it some time and you’ll recover.”

Mu Ran nodded politely, but inwardly she scoffed. Every doctor she’d seen before had told her it was a neurological problem—almost impossible to cure.

This man, who seemed serious but was actually quite unreliable, insisted it was nothing major. Who would believe it? He was clearly just here to comfort her at Gu Beicheng’s request.

“Miss Mu, you don’t believe me, do you?” Mu Lang caught the skepticism and disdain in her eyes. “I’m certain it’s not a neurological issue. It’s partly your unhealthy lifestyle, and partly psychological.”

“Ranran, be good—let’s try the medicine first,” Gu Beicheng said, sitting beside her and gently encircling her waist, kneading it softly before kissing the top of her head.

Mu Ran looked up at him and smiled. “Alright.”

No matter the outcome, she didn’t want to let his goodwill go to waste.

Meanwhile, Mu Lang watched the affectionate pair, arms crossed, a wry smile on his lips. After a moment of witnessing their display, he said, “Miss Mu, do you have time in a few days to come to my house for a meal?”

“Me? Dinner at your house?” Mu Ran blinked, her thick lashes fluttering, a hint of surprise crossing her cold, beautiful face.

Since her rebirth, she’d yet to encounter any truly normal people.

“Yes, you.” Mu Lang ignored Gu Beicheng’s icy, warning glare, narrowed his eyes, and nodded at her, hands in his pockets.

“How about you make me your honorary sister? I already have two brothers—why not three? With the three of us to protect you, you could rule the capital. What do you say, Miss Mu?”

Mu Ran patted Gu Beicheng’s chest, which heaved with suppressed fury. She looked at Mu Lang with a forced smile. “Are you alright?”

Her eyes glinted dangerously. “Even without anyone’s protection, I can stand tall in the capital.”

“Impressive!” Mu Lang applauded, then stepped in front of Gu Beicheng and jabbed him in the shoulder, laughing heartily. “From now on, Mu Ran is my family’s little sister. You’d better treat her well.”

Gu Beicheng glanced disdainfully at his hand. “The Mu and Qin families are shameless beyond compare.”

“Hey! Beicheng, don’t lump me in with your feud with Qin Yu. The three brothers of the Mu family are still your friends.”

Gu Beicheng sneered, his gaze cold and unfamiliar. “Are we that close?”

Mu Lang peeked at Mu Ran, who was calmly checking her phone, and sighed deeply. “You’re still angry about what happened back then.”

“No. But don’t ever defend the Qin family in front of me again, or you know my temper.”

Mu Lang’s demeanor turned serious. “Is it because of Miss Mu?”

“Yes.”