Chapter 54 — A Thunderous Slap Across His Face

“Let’s go.” Bai Zehan watched Mu Ran and Gu Beicheng walking hand in hand, his mood stifled, anger with nowhere to vent.

Fu Jiaojiao, single-minded as ever, failed to notice the icy chill emanating from the man beside her. Instead, she clung tightly to his arm, nestling up to him like a delicate bird. “Zehan, it’s been so long since we slept together. Ever since that day at Mu Ran’s house, you and I…”

At the mention of “Mu Ran,” Bai Zehan felt a stabbing pain in his heart. He threw off Fu Jiaojiao’s hand and warned her darkly, “Don’t mention Mu Ran’s name.”

“Okay, okay, let’s just go then.”

After about ten minutes’ walk down from the snowy mountain, Bai Zehan and Fu Jiaojiao arrived at the snow hut.

Fu Jiaojiao clung to him like a shadow the entire way, irritating him to no end—he hated clingy women most of all!

At this moment, Bai Zehan’s mind conjured up Mu Ran’s beautiful, enchanting face again. That woman was supposed to be his—what right did Gu Beicheng have to steal her away!

“Zehan, sit down! What are you thinking?” Fu Jiaojiao sat on the wooden bed, her voice sultry, beckoning to the man who stood lost in thought.

Bai Zehan snapped out of it and took a quick look around the snow hut.

It wasn’t actually made of snow, just covered entirely by it on the outside. The tables and chairs inside, however, were sculpted from snow, while the partition walls between the inner room and kitchen were built from blocks of ice.

He’d never lived in such a primitive house before—thanks to the woman in front of him!

Fu Jiaojiao noticed the disdain in his eyes and pouted, glancing at him with watery, affectionate eyes. “Zehan, it’s my fault. I’ve dragged you into this.”

But inside, she cursed: This man is so slow! Hurry up and undress—let’s get into bed together! He really thinks he’s some young master!

Bai Zehan forced a smile, his tone gentle as he coaxed, “Jiaojiao, get into bed and cover up. There’s no heater here—you mustn’t catch a cold.”

His gentleness reminded Fu Jiaojiao of the time they secretly got together behind Mu Ran’s back—those days had been warm and sweet.

“Come to bed too, Zehan. If we hold each other, we won’t be cold.”

Bai Zehan’s demeanor shifted. He glanced sharply around, raising a finger to his lips to signal her not to speak carelessly.

“Don’t worry, Zehan. I just turned off the cameras.”

Bai Zehan sat on the bed and thoughtfully tucked the blanket around her. “Jiaojiao, I need to step out for a bit.”

Fu Jiaojiao gripped his arm anxiously, annoyed. “Where are you going so late?”

Bai Zehan frowned slightly, his gaze deep and inscrutable. “I’m going to ask the director’s team for a heater or another blanket—otherwise, I’m afraid we’ll freeze to death tonight!”

Her irritation vanished. She lifted the blanket, intending to go with him—she was afraid to stay alone in this hut, and worried Bai Zehan might abandon her.

Outside, the biting wind rattled the door, thudding again and again.

Bai Zehan bent and kissed her forehead, “Be good, Jiaojiao. It’s too cold outside. If you catch cold, I’ll feel terrible. I’ll go alone and be right back.”

Fu Jiaojiao melted once more under his tenderness. She nodded, burrowed under the covers, and wrapped herself tightly. “Come back soon.”

Bai Zehan smiled, turned, and left.

The foolish woman didn’t notice, as he turned away, the sharp, disdainful look in his eyes. It appeared he had no intention of coming back…

——

Gu Beicheng and Mu Ran’s villa was a bit farther away—about twenty minutes’ walk from the snowy mountain’s villa.

They entered the villa, greeted by a rush of warmth.

The first floor was a large living room and dining area, with no bedrooms. Compared to the villa on the mountain, this one was much smaller.

They removed their coats and went upstairs.

The second floor was small, with only two bedrooms—one for Mu Ran, one for Gu Beicheng.

“What are you doing?” Mu Ran’s whole body was tired; today’s exertion had been immense, and the fright of falling into the snow cave had left her both physically and mentally exhausted.

She was about to close her door when the man’s large hand suddenly pressed against it.

Gu Beicheng smiled faintly, a trace of bitterness flickering in his heart as he saw her wary face. “Ranran, why are you still so afraid of me?”

Mu Ran realized she was being overly jumpy. “Uh, of course I’m not afraid of you. I’m just really tired.”

Gu Beicheng opened the door, his hand gentle and affectionate as he stroked her head. “Be good. Does your leg still hurt?”

“No.”

“Hmm, and your sense of taste…” Gu Beicheng’s deep eyes locked onto her face, concern etched on his sharply handsome features. “When the show ends, I’ll find you the best doctor…”

Those words struck Mu Ran’s sore spot—her loss of taste was her weakness. Was he disgusted by her?

Bang—

She slammed the door shut.

Gu Beicheng stepped back. “Ranran, listen—open the door.”

After a moment, a muffled, stubborn voice came from inside, “No need, I’m fine right now.”

Taste wasn’t so easily restored. Most of the money she’d earned these past two years had been spent trying to cure it, but…

Her sense of taste couldn’t be healed. But it didn’t matter—without it, she had no craving for food, which was a blessing for a performer who needed to keep her figure.

Mu Ran pressed against the door, quietly listening for sounds outside.

A minute later, the man’s footsteps retreated, growing fainter until the door to the neighboring room opened and closed.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief, her mood complicated as she returned to her bed.

She didn’t know how to face Gu Beicheng—their relationship was so ambiguous…

To call them lovers, he had confessed to her, but hadn’t formally made their relationship clear.

To call them friends, what they’d done in the snow cave earlier had been anything but innocent…

“Forget it, I won’t think about it.”

She had no wish to waste her life on romance.

Her priority was to establish herself quickly in the entertainment world.

Honestly, Mu Ran regretted rejecting Gu Beicheng’s invitation to join Chengxing in the snow cave!

She lay in bed, slapping her cheeks in frustration.

Ding ding ding—

Her phone rang persistently, but Mu Ran ignored it.

“Nothing good, I bet!”

Even as a minor celebrity, ranked at the very bottom, she’d managed to offend either top actors or second-tier sweethearts in this variety show. Surely, a horde was cursing her on Weibo.

She slowly closed her eyes, waiting for the storm to pass.

Mu Ran didn’t regret what she’d done to Yun Fu and the others. If they didn’t provoke her, she’d leave them alone. No matter how much she wanted fame and a comeback, she wouldn’t let herself be bullied.

Ding ding ding—

The phone rang like a death knell.

Mu Ran picked it up—the caller was Bai Zehan.

“Speak,” she answered coldly.

“Mu Ran, I’m near your villa right now. There are things I want to tell you face-to-face. I want to apologize—please don’t hang up…”

“I won’t accept your apology. I don’t want to talk to you.”

An apology? The mortal grudge from a past life—could such a thing be resolved with a mere apology?

Mu Ran would not accept it! In this life, she would make Bai Zehan wish he were dead!

“Mu Ran! Please! Don’t hang up—don’t you want to know why I approached you?”

Mu Ran arched her brows—so this scumbag had ulterior motives in approaching her.

Bai Zehan stood outside, shivering in the cold, his hand stiff around his phone, waiting for her reply, inwardly cursing Mu Ran as a wretched woman. Given the chance, he would torment her to death.

“Are you cursing me?” After a long silence, her voice came with a laugh, piercing his heart.

Bai Zehan nearly dropped his phone. Why was Mu Ran so sinister now, like a ghost demanding his life? “No, are you coming down?”

“I am. Wait for me.”

Mu Ran was curious to see what tricks this man would pull!

She tossed the phone aside and went to wash up.

Twenty minutes later—

Ding—

“Mu Ran, why aren’t you down yet?” Bai Zehan’s trembling voice was laced with anger—he was furious enough to want to strangle her.

“Oh, if you hadn’t called, I would’ve forgotten you were outside.”

She hung up, then leisurely got out of bed, peeled off her face mask, slowly washed up, sat at her dressing table to apply skincare, humming a little tune, “Freeze you, freeze you.”

Another ten minutes passed.

Finally, she dressed and came downstairs.

“Why are you standing in front of the door?”

Mu Ran pushed Bai Zehan aside with distaste, then wiped her hands as if she’d touched something dirty.

“Won’t you let me in?” Bai Zehan’s voice was weak, his body visibly stiff from the cold.

A gust of frigid wind blew in. Mu Ran turned and closed the villa door.

“Do you deserve it? Say what you need to say and get lost!”

The temperature at night in the snowy village was terribly low. Standing outside, facing the person she despised most, Mu Ran felt extremely irritated.

Bai Zehan saw her hugging her shoulders, shivering, and pretended to be deeply concerned: “Mu Ran, can I hug you? I haven’t held you in so long. You look cold—let me hold you…”

“Are you asking for a beating?” Mu Ran gritted her teeth. If it weren’t for the cold, she would’ve slapped him already.

Shameless scumbag!

“Yes, I admit it, I approached you with an agenda. But I truly love you. I… I’m with other women to get better resources, for our future, for a better life—I hope you’ll understand and come back to me. Gu Beicheng isn’t someone you can handle. He’s dangerous!”

“How am I dangerous?”