Chapter 87 — The Murder Mystery Script: “Who Is the One I Love?” (Part 6)

"What?" Mu Ran straightened up, her cherry lips slightly parted. "You want me to start livestreaming? You..."

The man chuckled softly, once again placing the woman's hand at his lips and kissing it.

"That's right. Every time you livestream, I'll send you gifts."

Mu Ran's eyelids twitched, her mouth involuntarily pulled into a faint grimace. After a moment, she let out a laugh and withdrew her hand from his grasp.

"So the top fan in my livestream is you?!"

From the day Mu Ran started streaming, there had been a wealthy top supporter showering her with gifts—ranging from balloons and gold coin tips to carnival planes and cruise ships. She had often pleaded with this top fan in her stream, asking him not to send any more gifts, but he remained steadfast in his generosity, never heeding her advice. Yet this mysterious benefactor never commented, never asked for her contact details, never sent private messages. Mu Ran had always wondered what sort of person he was.

Now, the truth was clear!

The top fan was Gu Beicheng, CEO of Chengxing Group—her current boyfriend!

"Bei Bei, really, you could just transfer money to me. The livestream platform takes a cut from gifts."

Mu Ran squinted, grinning, her words revealing a set of flawless white teeth, looking every bit the little money-grubber.

Gu Beicheng: "..."

He had thought she'd dislike being flattered with money.

Who would have guessed...

"I didn't know. I'll transfer it directly from now on."

Mu Ran welcomed it. "Mm, make it a big one."

Gu Beicheng smiled calmly. His large hand cupped her small head, gently stroking her soft, curly hair twice. Then, he lowered his head, picked up his phone from the drawer, unlocked it, and opened WeChat.

Mu Ran watched his movements.

Gu Beicheng tapped open the pinned chat—his contact was Mu Ran herself. The note he gave her was: "My darling Ran Ran." The chat background was a photo secretly taken by paparazzi during the Qin family's eldest son's birthday party on the cruise.

The next second, Gu Beicheng clicked "Transfer Money."

He entered 1...

Mu Ran watched, stunned, as he added zero after zero—counting silently: one, two, three, four, five, six zeros!

A million!

Gu Beicheng was about to transfer her a million.

"Stop, stop!" Mu Ran frowned, preventing him from entering the password.

Gu Beicheng looked up, puzzled, his deep black eyes tinged with confusion. His voice was gentle. "What's wrong?"

"Don't. I don't want it."

Gu Beicheng persisted, entered the password, and the transfer succeeded.

"Take it. I’m busy and can’t go shopping with you. Buy whatever you like. I’m going abroad this Saturday—the ski competition will be postponed. When I return, I’ll take you to see Nanyang. We’ll compete together, alright?"

He gently stroked Mu Ran’s pouting, rosy lips.

If not for the cameraman standing nearby, he would have long given in to his desire and kissed her.

"But..." Mu Ran didn’t want this. She earned her own money; she needed no man’s support. She had only been joking.

Who could have known the man would take her so seriously!

He actually meant it!

"Be good, baby." Gu Beicheng insisted. Unable to win against him, Mu Ran had to accept.

"Send me a message on WeChat, saying 'Given willingly.'"

Gu Beicheng raised his thick brows, pinched her serious, expressionless little face.

"What, afraid I’ll take it back?"

Mu Ran nodded, not the least bit shy. "Mm!"

Gu Beicheng shook his head, resigned, and obediently sent the message.

"Players, let’s continue the storyline, um..."

Deputy director Chen Liang, at some point, was leaning on the doorframe, looking troubled as he urged the couple lost in each other inside the office.

He glanced at the cameraman, who was facing the wall in silent reflection, feeling immense sympathy. "Hey! Come on! Resume recording!"

The cameraman, relieved, gestured gratefully to Chen Liang at the door. "Alright!"

"Oh, Teacher Cheng, there are two visitors!"

Chen Liang suddenly remembered the main reason he had come to find Gu Beicheng.

"Who?"

Gu Beicheng sat upright, Mu Ran beside him straightened as well, sitting properly across from him.

Mu Ran looked suspiciously at Chen Liang, wondering who in the entertainment industry would come to visit Gu Beicheng.

"Director Gu and Director Yan."

Hearing those names, Gu Beicheng’s aura cooled. The cameraman and Chen Liang shivered in unison.

"Director Gu and Director Yan? Gu Xiao and Yan Yimou?" Mu Ran whispered.

Gu Beicheng nodded.

"Let them wait outside. When we finish, they can see me."

At this moment, he transformed into the company president—his voice not cold, but laced with command and authority, so different from his gentle tone with Mu Ran.

Gu Beicheng was every bit the leader, his every move making Chen Liang and the cameraman tremble.

"Alright, alright. Let’s continue recording the show," Chen Liang signaled the cameraman and hurried away.

Broadcast room, Gao Minglang’s studio—

Gu Xiao and Yan Yimou sat on a long sofa, eyes narrowed, lips curled in amusement, watching the broadcast screen ahead.

"So this is Beicheng’s little girlfriend?" Yan Yimou stared at the screen for a long time, then his eyelids drooped and he turned to Gu Xiao beside him, whose expression was full of implication.

Gu Xiao lowered the arm he had rested on the sofa back, propped both elbows on his knees, hands supporting his face, speaking with lazy ease. "Yes, an unknown actress, relying on tabloid gossip."

Yan Yimou’s expression soured—dark as coal. Yan Yimou was the most renowned and esteemed veteran director in the entertainment industry. When the nation’s film scene was still dormant, he was already immersed in filmmaking. Any actress who starred in his film would surely win international awards. Female stars scrambled to work with him, even for minor roles, knowing it would bring them fame.

But Yan Yimou was notoriously picky in casting, especially disdainful of scandal-ridden or poorly reputed actresses. Now, his attitude toward Mu Ran was just like that.

"Director Yan, this murder mystery show is getting good feedback—it’s produced by Chengxing. The actors here are quite skilled," Chief Director Gao Minglang brought over two cups of fine tea, placing them on the table before the two directors.

"Yes, Director Gao, I read your script. It’s different from typical murder mystery formats—very innovative, and the actors are quite good. As for Mu Ran, though, she’s barely passable."

Yan Yimou sipped his tea, steam swirling around his shrewd, narrowed eyes.

Director Gao’s heart skipped a beat—did Yan Yimou not know about President Gu’s relationship with Mu Ran?

Yan Yimou was a master at reading people.

"I am well aware of her connection to Beicheng."

Gao Minglang bowed slightly, unsure what to say.

"Go on with your work. Gu Xiao and I will wait here for Beicheng."

Yan Yimou relented, and Gao Minglang breathed easier, replying with a quick "Alright!" before turning away.

Yan Yimou watched Gao Minglang’s departing figure, then turned to Gu Xiao, catching an impish and devilish glint in his eyes.

Yan Yimou shook his head and sighed.

Gu Xiao was his student; Gu Beicheng, his close friend. The two brothers had never gotten along—though to be precise, Gu Xiao was always stirring up trouble. Yan Yimou had suffered years caught between them.

"How’s your new film coming? Have you settled on the female lead?"

Yan Yimou slapped Gu Xiao’s crossed leg.

Gu Xiao uncrossed his leg, replying softly, "The script is almost done. This time, I’m not relying on Chengxing for sponsorship. The male lead is confirmed, but the female lead..."

Yan Yimou frowned, following Gu Xiao’s gaze to the broadcast screen, where Mu Ran and Gu Beicheng were acting together in the office.

His tone cooled, voice deepening. "Don’t tell me you want this little star as your female lead!"

Gu Xiao replied lazily, "Why not?"

Yan Yimou: "..."

This guy was scheming against his brother again!

Gu Xiao clearly intended to start with Mu Ran.

"Gu Xiao, no. How you deal with your brother, I can’t control, but you cannot treat filmmaking as a joke! Do you understand?"

Yan Yimou, anger rising, pointed at Mu Ran’s coldly beautiful face on the screen. "She looks fine, but what use is that? Your film needs to reach a new level!"

"Reputation! Quality! It’s not just about a good script—the casting is even more crucial!"

Gu Xiao paid no heed to the angry man beside him.

"I watched last week’s episode—her acting was decent."

That statement thoroughly enraged Yan Yimou.

He stood up, blocking Gu Xiao’s relaxed gaze, finger pointing at his nose.

"I said no, and that’s final! Gu Xiao, I’m your teacher! Would I harm you? Even if Mu Ran acts well, so what! Her reputation is poor, she has no background, she’ll only ruin your movie!"

"Ah Xiao, listen to your teacher. You’ve been preparing this film for years, aiming for awards. You need a female lead who can elevate you! That person isn’t Mu Ran!"

Gu Xiao snorted, recrossing his legs.

"Teacher, please sit. Let’s see first—here’s the script for Mu Ran’s role, take a look."

Yan Yimou didn’t want to accept the script, but Gu Xiao was clearly serious this time.

Yan Yimou sighed, stretched out his leg, kicked Gu Xiao’s crossed leg. "Fine."

One wore a relaxed expression, the other a grave one.

In Jiang Luoyu’s office—

Jiang Luoyu (as Gu Beicheng) took out his phone and showed his WeChat QR code.

Jiang Qingyue (as Mu Ran) scanned it.

"Ping—"

Jiang Qingyue’s brows rose as she saw the add-friend screen on her phone.

She now had this man as a WeChat contact!

Jiang Luoyu’s (Gu Beicheng’s) WeChat was the same as the top fan "Xijing Lone Wolf" Chen Jinsheng in Jiang Qingyue’s livestream.

"Teacher Jiang, do you know Chen Jinsheng?"

Jiang Luoyu (Gu Beicheng) looked puzzled, his voice clear and crisp. "Who is he? I don’t know."

Jiang Qingyue (Mu Ran) thought he was acting, so she played a voice message from Chen Jinsheng.

"Although your voices are generally different, the timbre is still similar."