Chapter 55—A Visitor in the Dead of Night

A chillingly cold voice came from behind, making Mo Ran instinctively turn around. Her once cold and composed expression softened instantly upon seeing the man’s face.

“Why did you come out?” she asked, walking toward Gu Beicheng and grabbing his large hand.

Gu Beicheng was momentarily stunned by her sudden display of affection, but quickly recovered, draping the thick down coat he carried over her shoulders. “I just came downstairs to get a glass of water. You’re dressed too lightly, so I brought you a coat.”

“Thank you.”

Bai Zehan’s brows knitted tightly, his jaw clenched. These two clearly didn’t care about his presence at all, flirting and exchanging glances right in front of him. Disgusting!

“I have something to discuss with Mo Ran. President Gu, if you don’t mind, would you please give us some privacy?” Bai Zehan could hardly restrain himself from tearing their tightly joined hands apart.

“Oh? Bai Zehan, tell me—what is it that you find so frightening about me?” Gu Beicheng’s lips curled into a mockery of a smile, his deep, fathomless eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on the seething man before him.

A shiver ran down Bai Zehan’s spine, and he suddenly felt as though he was inching toward an abyss.

Wasn’t Gu Beicheng terrifying enough as he was now?

Without replying, Bai Zehan turned to look at Mo Ran, who was smiling sweetly. That wretched woman—she must be seducing Gu Beicheng just to spite him!

“President Gu, you’re efficient and decisive. Everyone in the company fears you,” Bai Zehan forced out, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “Since you won’t leave, I’ll speak plainly. Mo Ran, I know you’re only with President Gu to get back at me… Right now, you’re the only one in my heart. Come back to me, please. I’ll give you everything you want.”

Mo Ran let out a derisive laugh, releasing Gu Beicheng’s hand as she strode toward Bai Zehan.

In her previous life, Bai Zehan had been a miser—even after they married, he’d never stopped guarding against her.

Her birthday…

Her illnesses…

In Bai Zehan’s eyes, a cup of hot water was the most valuable and sincere gift he could offer her.

All those years, he’d never done anything for her. Even after their marriage, she’d continued living in the apartment he’d rented for her.

Mo Ran had never known happiness during all that time with him.

Now, to her, Bai Zehan was worth less than nothing.

“Mo Ran, have you forgiven me?” Bai Zehan’s hopeful gaze awaited the moment the foolish woman would return to him and abandon Gu Beicheng.

She stopped, leaving an arm’s length between them.

“Tell me, what was your true purpose in approaching me?”

“I…” Bai Zehan hadn’t expected her to be so cold-hearted. Had she forgotten the good times they once shared?

Mo Ran arched her lips. “You won’t say?”

“Mo Ran, yes, I approached you with a motive, but I love you!”

“Love your sister! Cheating scum!” Mo Ran’s patience snapped. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

“I have no time or interest in your endless nonsense. Get lost!”

Fury radiated from Mo Ran, the cold, menacing aura she exuded even more intimidating than Gu Beicheng’s.

“No, I won’t leave!” Bai Zehan’s venomous gaze locked onto her back, and when he saw her take Gu Beicheng’s hand once more, anger nearly overwhelmed him.

Mo Ran snorted indifferently—let the scumbag freeze to death here, she thought. It would save her the trouble of plotting his demise in the future.

She looked up at Gu Beicheng’s gentle face, her cheeks flushed as she coquettishly asked, “Bei Bei, will you give me anything I want?”

“Yes,” he replied.

Gu Beicheng was particularly fond of Mo Ran’s mischievous side. He held her soft hand in one of his, drawing her close with the other.

“I am yours—everything I have is yours.”

“I want shares in Chengxing Pictures. Will you give them to me?”

As she spoke, Mo Ran felt a twinge of uncertainty. She didn’t actually want shares in Chengxing Pictures, but she could never forget how, in her previous life, Bai Zehan had sent her to Gu Beicheng’s bed for those very shares.

“Shares? If you want them, the entire Chengxing Pictures is yours.”

Hearing such heartfelt words, a wave of emotion washed over Mo Ran. She rose on tiptoes, tugged his shoulder down, and planted a kiss on his lips.

“You wretched woman, Mo Ran!” Bai Zehan, seeing this, was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. He closed his eyes and fainted on the spot.

Without a backward glance, Mo Ran pulled Gu Beicheng inside.

“Aren’t you going to check on him? He might freeze to death out there,” Gu Beicheng’s hoarse voice brimmed with indulgence, testing whether she still cared for Bai Zehan.

“He’s faking it. If he freezes, it’s his own fault. Let’s go upstairs and sleep.”

“With me?”

Standing on the stairs, Mo Ran’s wide eyes stared at him, her lips parted slightly with disbelief. “Are you kidding? Each to their own room.”

Gu Beicheng laughed heartily, his tall frame leaning lazily against the stairs as he gazed up at her. “Everything I just said was from the heart.”

“And my kiss was sincere too. Be good, go to sleep, I’m exhausted.”

With that, Mo Ran averted her face, avoiding his tender gaze, and dashed upstairs into her room as though sprinting a hundred meters.

“She said her kiss was sincere?” Gu Beicheng murmured, his long legs following her up the stairs.

Tonight, he thought, might be the happiest night he’d ever known.

Half an hour later—

Mo Ran and Gu Beicheng had both drifted into dreamland.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

A knocking sounded at the villa’s door. Still groggy, Mo Ran assumed Bai Zehan was back to cause more trouble. She ignored it, pulling the covers over her head.

But the knocking persisted, grating on her nerves. That damned Bai Zehan—she felt like killing him!

“Stop knocking!” she shouted, fuming as she threw on a robe and stumbled sleepily downstairs.

“Mo Ran?” Gu Beicheng appeared from his room, calling out to her on the stairs.

“Go back to bed. I’ll see what Bai Zehan wants this time.”

“I’ll go with you.”

There was no way he’d let her face Bai Zehan alone—not with how relentless the man was.

“Teacher Cheng, Mo Ran, open up!” came a voice from outside.

“Teacher Song?”

“Song Xiao?”

Mo Ran hurried downstairs to open the door, only to be shocked by the sight that greeted her.

She quickly ushered the man inside.

“Bei Bei, get Teacher Song a cup of hot water, quick.”

President Gu shook his head in resignation but dutifully fetched the man some water.

Song Xiao was dressed too lightly—a military coat over pajamas, and, most absurdly, slippers on his feet.

“Teacher Song, what happened to you?” Mo Ran asked, looking him up and down, worried at how pitiful and frozen he appeared.

She turned to Gu Beicheng, who only shrugged, clueless, and then pulled her closer, half embracing her. “Stay back—he’s carrying the cold.”

Cradling his cup, Song Xiao glanced at the couple and shook his head. If he hadn’t been forced, he’d never have wanted to be a third wheel.

“Don’t even mention it. Gao Tiange is terrifying,” he groaned, shuddering at the memory of nearly being overpowered by that woman on the kang bed at the farmhouse.

Mo Ran raised her brows. “Gao Tiange? What did she do to you?”

Song Xiao said nothing but straightened his posture, as if that said enough.

Mo Ran pointed out the red marks on his chest and the bite marks on his neck to Gu Beicheng, chuckling in understanding. “What did you say to her?”

Hadn’t Gao Tiange always disliked Teacher Song? Why the sudden change of heart?

Song Xiao hugged his coat tighter, curling up on the sofa. “Nothing, really. Just some small talk. I mentioned I own three Michelin-starred restaurants and two five-star hotels.”

Gu Beicheng laughed softly. “She was very restrained not to devour you on the spot.”

Mo Ran joined in the laughter.

“Stay here tonight, Teacher Song,” she offered, genuinely feeling sorry for him.

Gu Beicheng squeezed her shoulder, his deep gaze falling on her as if to say: But where will I sleep?

Mo Ran winked playfully, jerking her chin toward Song Xiao: Of course, you’ll share a room with him.

“I really didn’t want to disturb you two, I’m sorry. I tried to find Qi Jun, but that kid sleeps like the dead—knocked forever, no answer.”

“It’s fine, Teacher Song. There’s room.”

Noticing Gu Beicheng’s dark expression and plummeting mood, Mo Ran realized the CEO of Chengxing Group probably didn’t want to share a bed with another man.

She gritted her teeth and relented, “Fine, fine, you can sleep in my room.”

Gu Beicheng said nothing, merely beckoned Song Xiao upstairs.

Once on the second floor, his demeanor softened, and he even smiled at Song Xiao. “Teacher Song, you can have the room inside.”

“Great, I’m lucky. By the way, I think Teacher Bai came looking for you earlier—you must not have heard him knocking.”

Song Xiao spoke carelessly, oblivious to the couple’s reactions.

Mo Ran arched an eyebrow at Gu Beicheng, thinking, I knew he was faking it.

“Maybe it was too cold in the snow house for him.”

Song Xiao nodded to her. “Probably. I saw him heading toward the farmhouse just now…”

“Let him be. Goodnight, Teacher Song.”

Mo Ran and Gu Beicheng returned to her room.

“Teacher Song said Bai Zehan went to the farmhouse. Who do you think he’ll look for?”

“Gao Tiange.”

“Exactly. Gao Tiange failed to force herself on Song Xiao—she must be frustrated. Then Bai Zehan shows up… sparks will fly!”