Chapter 33—Mu Ran Calls Gu Beicheng "Husband"

All the guests stood motionless in front of the rustic inn, staring at the chief director, Gao Minglang, whose face radiated unabashed delight. Wasn’t this show funded by Star City Pictures? Why had they chosen such a shabby rural brick house?

“Director? Is our production budget really that tight? Don’t tell me we’ll be spending the night in this rundown place?” Qi Jun sidled up to Gao Minglang, blocking his path, his face full of disdain.

Gao Minglang brushed the man aside and raised his walkie-talkie, signaling for everyone to stop dawdling outside. “Come in, everyone! Get warm—it's freezing out here.”

“Director, this house doesn’t leak air from all sides, does it? I’m not even wearing that much,” Fu Jiaojiao couldn’t wait any longer. She brushed past Gao Minglang and was the first to step inside.

She took in the decor with a sweep of her gaze. Although the room itself felt warm, outside was a world of snow and ice, and the window panes looked as fragile as paper, ready to shatter at a touch. How was she supposed to sleep here tonight?

Only after welcoming the remaining guests did Gao Minglang finally have a chance to glance around the house himself. The door was wooden, the ceiling was plastered with newspaper, and the first thing that caught the eye upon entering was a traditional rural hearth.

A smile played at his lips as he beckoned everyone further inside, excitement in his voice. “Let’s all get up on the heated brick bed and relax. This is the most luxurious house in the entire snow village. It took the production team a lot of effort to rent it. Rest assured, you’ll spend a memorable two days and one night here. I promise it will be an unforgettable trip.”

“That’s right. While our show primarily focuses on romance, we’re also committed to letting our guests appreciate different landscapes and experience varied local customs,” added the assistant director, Chen Liang, explaining the choice of the snow village as the setting.

“We chose this place because many outstanding skiers have trained here and brought great honor to our country. Later, we’ll be joined by Shao Ping, the former world freestyle skiing runner-up, who will teach everyone some skiing techniques.”

In the live comments:

“Isn’t Cheng Beigu a ski coach?”
“Are you kidding? Cheng Beigu only coaches Mu Ran!”
“Shao Ping is so handsome! All muscle!”
“Shao Ping only follows Mu Ran!”
“I’m out of the loop! What’s the deal between Shao Ping and Mu Ran?”
“How could a world runner-up be interested in Mu Ran?”
“Did the production run out of funds? Why only invite a runner-up?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong—are champions too busy?”
“There are lots of world champions, like Nanyang, Mu Mu...”
“World champions probably don’t have time for variety shows...”

“Don’t worry, everyone. Because our snow village is so remote, Shao Ping is still on his way. In the meantime, let’s play some games,” Gao Minglang said as he handed each male guest a pair of noise-canceling headphones and each female guest a hint card.

“Let’s start our first segment—‘A Thousand Words for You.’ Our couples were already decided in the last episode on Huangdao. So, for each of the four pairs, the female guest will say what’s on her card, and the male guest, wearing headphones, must guess what she’s saying by reading her lips. The winners get to enjoy local delicacies for lunch. The losers will have to cook for themselves.”

Gao Minglang settled at the far end of the heated brick bed, watching helplessly as the guests hesitated. “Take off your shoes, everyone! Come on up, it’s nice and warm.”

Qi Jun was the first to kick off his shoes and flop down. “Wow! Director, you weren’t lying—it’s really warm, almost too hot!”

“So dramatic,” Mu Ran shot him a glare, bent down to remove her snow boots, and climbed up. The moment she settled in, a look of surprise flickered across her face. How could this thing be so warm? Almost scalding, in fact.

“Do you feel it’s hot too?” Gu Beicheng, catching her slight expression, let a pampering smile curve his lips. He sat down beside her, glancing her way now and then.

Mu Ran’s fair cheeks flushed instantly. She muttered stubbornly, “It’s not hot. I’ve just never seen a rural heated bed before. It’s fascinating.”

The kang took up a third of the room. The rest of the guests soon climbed up to sit as well, except for Fu Jiaojiao, who, hindered by her skirt, sat on the edge.

“Let’s officially begin the first round. First up: Gao Tiange and Song Xiao. Teacher Gao, please look at your hint card. Teacher Song, put on your headphones. Teacher Gao, please slowly pronounce the words on your card.”

Gao Tiange hesitated, her brow furrowed, clearly uneasy. Her eyes darted, and she coughed lightly. “I like you. Do you like me?”

The man opposite, wearing headphones, watched her lips, repeated her words softly, then resolutely shook his head. “No, I don’t.”

“Teacher Song, you only need to repeat what Teacher Gao just said, not answer it,” Gao Minglang chuckled. This amateur had a knack for humor—despite the game being a bit old-fashioned, with these guests, the show was sure to shine.

“Gao Tiange and Song Xiao’s team failed the challenge. Next up: Yun Fu and Teacher Bai.”

Yun Fu glanced at her hint card, then looked helplessly at Bai Zehan, her eyes pleading as if to say, “This one’s tough.”

“Teacher Bai, how are you doing up here in the northeast?” she said.

Bai Zehan flashed an “OK” sign, then smiled at the director, full of confidence. “She said, ‘Teacher Bai, how are you doing up here in the northeast?’”

“Congratulations, Yun Fu and Teacher Bai, you have earned a serving of northeastern dipping vegetables.”

“Teacher Bai, I didn’t know you could speak with a northeastern accent!” Qi Jun gave the man a thumbs-up—he was a big fan of the local customs here, having dated several girlfriends from the northeast.

Bai Zehan shook his head modestly. “I shot a film here before. The more you film, the more you see.”

Qi Jun’s smile faded at that, and he shot Bai Zehan a withering look. “Show-off. Lame.”

“Next up: Qi Jun and Fu Jiaojiao.”

Fu Jiaojiao: “I have you.”

She was secretly delighted. This phrase was the simplest—victory was in the bag!

Qi Jun pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. “I’m greasy?”

Was this woman messing with him? Greasy? He was a fresh-faced idol, far from greasy.

Qi Jun took off his headphones and looked doubtfully at Gao Minglang. “I’m greasy?”

“Qi Jun and Fu Jiaojiao’s team failed. Qi Jun, it was ‘I have you,’ not ‘I’m greasy.’”

Everyone burst out laughing—Qi Jun always brought the jokes.

Qi Jun scratched his head awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Fu Jiaojiao. Sure enough, she was glaring at him in exasperation, as if she wanted to devour him.

He could only give her a helpless shrug.

“Last up: Xiao Ran and Teacher Cheng. Xiao Ran, please say what’s on your card.”

Mu Ran glanced at her card, then shot a chilly look at Gao Minglang. “Director, are you sure you want me to say this?”

“Yes!” Gao Minglang nodded eagerly, his heart pounding. Hurry up—Mu Ran and President Gu causing a stir together would send the live audience soaring!

Mu Ran forced a stiff smile and ground her teeth. “Honey, let’s go home and eat.”

The moment the words left her mouth, both the set and the livestream exploded.

Was Mu Ran out of her mind?

Was this woman so lovesick she’d lost her senses?

Gu Beicheng’s deep eyes softened with a sudden warmth. He leaned in until his breath brushed her hair, his already magnetic voice laced with laughter. “What did you just call me?”

Mu Ran wilted under his gaze, her head drooping, unable to look at him.

Wasn’t he wearing the headphones? How did it feel as if he could hear her? The ambiguous look in his eyes was intimidating.

“Honey, let’s go home and eat,” Mu Ran repeated, almost against her will.

Gu Beicheng answered, “Director Gao, what Mu Ran just said was, ‘Honey, let’s go home and sleep, shall we?’”

“No, that’s not what I said. I said, ‘Honey...’” Mu Ran stopped herself just in time, nearly falling into his verbal trap.

“I know, sweetheart,” Gu Beicheng said, completely unabashed, ruffling her hair with a tenderness no one had seen from him before.

Gao Minglang shivered inwardly at this sudden display of affection. Was this really the domineering, all-powerful president of Star City Group?

Truly, when a man falls in love, he becomes alarmingly different.

If Mu Ran really did become the president’s wife, then he, Gao Minglang, would have played matchmaker—and future sponsorships for their variety shows would be the least of his worries.