Chapter 65 — Gu Xiao Visits Mu Ran's Bedroom

Mu Ran glanced at the overly dramatic man, nodded, and rose to look for An Lan.

She didn't quite understand what the bald man meant when he said, “I’ve finally waited for you,” but she guessed he must know something about reincarnation.

“Miss Mu, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Lin Chong. You can just call me Chongzi from now on.”

The bald man called out to her, scratching his shiny head a bit awkwardly.

Mu Ran stopped, her cherry-red lips curving slightly. “Brother Lin, will your hair ever grow back?”

Lin Chong froze for a few seconds. Did his hairstyle not look cool enough?

“And when you’re around me, try not to wear all black. Otherwise, you look far too much like a gangster.”

Lin Chong hadn't expected Mu Ran to address him as “Brother Lin.” A bashful smile appeared on his otherwise decent face, and he scratched his head again. “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.”

“By the way, sister, I don’t care about the salary. Just pay me the going rate.”

This was Lin Chong’s first time working as a bodyguard—he didn’t know what the standard pay was. It didn’t matter anyway; he wasn’t short on money. As long as he could stay by Mu Ran’s side, that was enough.

Mu Ran turned, her gentle gaze falling on the slightly simple man. She mused to herself: appearances can be deceiving. He certainly looked the part of a thug, but after half a day together, he seemed rather genuine.

She held up one slender finger. “The standard rate for a bodyguard is ten thousand a month. I’ll give you twenty. When I need you, I’ll call; otherwise, your time is your own.”

Lin Chong was so moved he was on the verge of grabbing Mu Ran’s hand to shout his thanks. “You’re so generous, sister! You’re not wealthy yet, but I have faith in you! The show you’re about to join—‘Immersive Script Shark’—will definitely take your career and love life to the next level!”

“How do you know I’m joining that show?” Mu Ran was astonished. Was this man truly so capable?

Lin Chong held up his phone, pointing at the screen. “Weibo. Your studio posted it...”

Mu Ran: “...”

“Xiao Ran, let me see what your facial tattoo looks like?”

Inside the private room, An Lan had been chatting happily with the shirtless man. Hearing Mu Ran’s voice from outside, she hurried to open the door.

Mu Ran spread her arms to embrace the woman running toward her. Her gentle face softened even more as she ruffled An Lan’s messy hair, sighing, “How old are you now? Still so reckless! No one would believe you’re my agent.”

An Lan collapsed into her arms, breathing in Mu Ran’s fresh and alluring scent. Tilting her face up, she scrutinized Mu Ran’s features, muttering stubbornly, “Who says an agent has to be all businesslike and stern? With my laid-back style, I can still make a superstar!”

“Whoa, Xiao Ran, where’s your tattoo? I can’t see it! But your scar is gone!”

Mu Ran caught An Lan’s hand as she reached for her face. “Brother Lin is very skilled. You’ll see the marvel of this tattoo in time.”

An Lan glanced at the grinning bald man behind them, gave a thumbs-up, and praised, “Awesome job, big brother!”

Lin Chong smiled sheepishly and waved in response.

“Miss An, I look forward to working with you!”

“What do you mean?” An Lan was puzzled.

Mu Ran smiled faintly, pulled An Lan to stand before Lin Chong, and spoke formally, “Lanlan, Brother Lin Chong will be my bodyguard from now on.”

An Lan scrutinized Lin Chong from head to toe, rubbing her chin, her eyes narrowed in a cryptic manner.

Lin Chong began to sweat nervously, glancing at Mu Ran for some hint about what this woman was thinking.

Suddenly, An Lan leaped in front of Lin Chong, grabbed his shoulders, and then pounded his chest with her small fists. “Solid! Perfect for protecting my Xiao Ran!”

“Miss An, don’t worry. I take my work very seriously.”

Mu Ran and An Lan didn’t linger at the tattoo studio. After exchanging contact information with Lin Chong, they returned to Biting Garden.

“An Lan! Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer my calls? I really need you!”

An Lan had just entered Mu Ran’s courtyard when Milance, fuming with anger, called out to her from behind.

“My phone was on silent. What do you want now?”

Milance grabbed her unwilling hand. “Lanlan, please, I’m begging you! Take a few more sets of photos for my models! We’re good friends—you can’t abandon me now!”

“Didn’t I just take three sets for you? Isn’t that enough? My rates are high! Besides, I have important things to do now.”

An Lan shook off his hand, her shrewd eyes darting as she pretended to refuse.

Milance clutched his head in desperation, grumbling, “Fine! For the whole year—an entire year—I won’t charge Mu Ran for her styling!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

A triumphant smile spread across An Lan’s face. She waved carelessly at Mu Ran, who was watching from the side. “Xiao Ran, I’ll be off taking photos for Milance’s models. I’ll find you later. If you’re bored, just start a livestream and chat with your fans. Remember—be relatable!”

“Got it!”

Mu Ran went inside and made herself a cup of coffee. Drinking coffee was as tasteless as water to her, but the aroma could at least lift her spirits a little.

“Darlings, I’m back! Let’s keep chatting!”

With her coffee finished, Mu Ran started a livestream on her phone.

In moments, over a hundred thousand viewers flooded in, and the comments began to fly.

[Are you alright, Xiao Ran?]
[So energetic—even after being attacked and disfigured, you’re still livestreaming!]
[Of course she’s livestreaming—gotta earn money!]
[Here come the haters!]
[Xiao Ran, what happened to the wound on your face?]
[My gosh, where did you go just now? Was it something miraculous?]
[Money talks—obviously she got cosmetic surgery...]

Seeing a surge of haters in her chatroom, Mu Ran remained unfazed. Her tone was light, her expression calm. Her slender fingers unconsciously brushed her peach blossom tattoo. “No surgery. My wounds just healed quickly. I’m in good health—that’s all.”

[Xiao Ran, you have to be careful. Crazy stalkers are dangerous!]
[Most stalkers are downright creepy!]
[Xiao Ran, you should move!]
[Xiao Ran, do you want us to track down this ‘Little Xuanyuan’?]

“I’m not considering moving for now. I just hired a bodyguard, so don’t worry. Thank you for your concern—I’ll handle my own affairs.”

[Mu Mu, can we see your training videos?]
[I want to see them too! They’re nowhere to be found online!]
[Right, our country does a great job protecting athletes’ privacy!]
[Xiao Ran, show us, please!]

Mu Ran got up, phone in hand, and walked upstairs. “I don’t have any training videos on my phone. I’ll fetch my laptop and show you.”

Her willingness to accommodate every request warmed the viewers’ hearts. They truly felt she regarded them as friends.

Seeing some comments questioning why she lived in such a luxurious house, Mu Ran simply turned the camera around, giving everyone a tour of the villa. “This is a rental. I don’t have the money to buy a place like this.”

[Enough already! Why can’t a former world champion live well?]
[Exactly! Why act so righteous all the time? Ridiculous!]
[Even if a world champion bought this villa, so what? They’ve earned it!]
[Why are there so many jealous people nowadays!]

Mu Ran entered her bedroom and opened the door. Her gentle expression grew cold, her face becoming icy as she fixed her gaze on the languid man sprawled on her bed. “Director Gu, breaking and entering is a crime.”

“Oh? Miss Mu, what are you doing here? If I remember right, this villa belongs to Young Master Qin. I’m just entering a friend’s house—hardly a crime.”

Mu Ran cast a frigid glance at the photo album in Gu Xiao’s hand—the one she kept on her bedside table. Her lips curled into a chilly smile. “Are you blind? That’s my photo album you’re holding, and you still pretend you didn’t know I lived here? I’m the tenant.”

Gu Xiao sat up slowly, leaning against the headboard, his long, narrow eyes brimming with mischief as he gazed at the wary woman at the door. A mocking smile played on his lips. “Oh? And?”

“Get out.”

Mu Ran was blunt, her tone frosty. This man was just as shameless as the first time she’d met him.

“Miss Mu, are you afraid to enter your own room?”

With a look that said “Do you think I’m scared of you?” he didn’t move, his gaze provocative and his demeanor openly taunting.

“Should I call the police?”

Mu Ran strode into the room, placing her still-streaming phone on the table. Her voice was glacial, her eyes indifferent as she looked at Gu Xiao.

“You carry a trace of Gu Beicheng in you.”

Dressed in a black shirt and matching trousers, Gu Xiao rose without a care and sat across from her, his long gaze full of possessiveness. He adjusted his rimless glasses on his straight nose. “I’m curious—what’s your magic? Why is Gu Beicheng so devoted to you? Oh, and Qin’s second young master as well…”

Mu Ran crossed her arms, her face expressionless as she parted her red lips. “Don’t you know how disgusting it is to deliberately act cool and handsome?”

Gu Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words.

Did he really need to put on an act to be handsome?

What was wrong with this woman’s eyes?

He took a deep breath, smirked in silence, and propped himself up on the bed, rising casually to approach Mu Ran. Grasping her small hand resting on the table, he let his eyes linger lingeringly on her brow. “A tattoo? That’s some fine work—most people wouldn’t notice.”

Just as he reached to touch her eyebrow, Mu Ran shoved him hard in the chest. “Stay away from me—don’t infect me with your kidney deficiency!”

Gu Xiao let out a cold laugh, glanced at the reddening back of his hand, his gaze growing sharper. “Did you know that Ning Yi—that company of Little Xuanyuan’s—was acquired by Chengxing Group and the Qin family? Looks like you’re not just seducing my brother, but you’re having an affair with the Qin family’s second young master, too?”