Chapter 67 – Don’t Be Nervous, Be Good

Mu Ran swiftly wrapped her arms around the man's neck, a hint of delight sparkling in her beautiful eyes. "Gu Beicheng?"

He responded with a low "Mm," holding her as he sat down on the bed.

"You reek of tobacco," she frowned, letting her hands slip from around his neck, only to clutch at his suit jacket.

He leaned in closer, his cool and sharp scent intensifying. "Just got back from Shen Mubai's."

"What are you doing?" Mu Ran braced her hands against his chest, refusing to let Gu Beicheng come any closer.

She had just bathed, with nothing on but a bath towel wrapped around her. The slightest movement, and that piece of white fabric would slip away with ease.

Gu Beicheng certainly noticed the towel.

"I'm only turning on the light. Don't be nervous, be good," he murmured, releasing one arm wrapped around her, reaching for the bedside lamp.

In the warm, golden glow, the pair were bathed in ambiguous intimacy, the air thick with a sense of passion.

Curled up in his arms, Mu Ran clutched her towel tightly, her luminous eyes shining. She blinked, her long lashes fluttering, tugging at his heartstrings.

"Ranran, I've missed you," he whispered, lowering his head to bury his handsome face in the hollow of her neck. His voice was deep and hoarse, rough with longing. "Ranran, the doctor has been found. Soon, you'll be able to taste food again."

Her heart trembled. From his raspy voice, she heard the fatigue—he must have spent a great deal of time and energy on this. He hadn't contacted her for days.

She sighed softly, one hand gripping the corners of her towel, the other tenderly covering his face. "Thank you, Beibei. You must be exhausted."

"For you, it's worth it, no matter how tired I am." He felt her gentle warmth and the heat of her skin.

"Why didn't you contact me these days, Ranran?" he asked.

She stiffened, coughed lightly, withdrew her hand from his face, puffed her cheeks, and turned her flushed face away. "If you won't reach out first, I won't bother looking for you!"

Gu Beicheng was momentarily speechless, unsure how to reply to this stubborn little woman.

As he gazed at her, lost for a moment, she suddenly tilted her face up, her red lips pressing softly to his.

Just as he recovered from his daze, the soft touch vanished.

"I want more," he said.

Mu Ran smirked, "That's all you get."

Gu Beicheng laughed heartily, delighted by her playful side.

He reached out, gently caressing her face with his large hand, the corners of his lips lifting in a faint smile. But as his slender fingers traced the raised mark at the end of her eyebrow, his smile faltered.

"It's beautifully done."

She sensed the tenderness in his touch, but her smile was tinged with bitterness. "You're lying. How could it be beautiful? You can't even see what the pattern is!"

How could Gu Beicheng know what was at the end of her brow? The peach blossom only appeared when her temperature was high.

"Why can't I see it? Isn't it a peach blossom?" he asked, puzzled. The blush-pink flower was so clear, how could he not notice?

Mu Ran stood up, moving carefully due to the towel, and approached the dressing mirror. "How could that be?"

Had Lin Chong, that swindler, lied to her?

She stared into the mirror.

On her delicate face bloomed a vivid peach blossom.

At this moment, Mu Ran was pure enchantment—a fairy of peach blossoms descended to the mortal world.

"See, I wasn't lying," he said, his gaze filled with interest and deepening affection, tinged with desire.

Mu Ran patted her flushed cheek with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

She stamped her foot. It must be because seeing Gu Beicheng had made her blush and her body heat up, revealing the peach blossom.

"Is it beautiful?" she turned, bathed in the dim light, wearing only the towel, her smooth shoulders and long legs laid bare before him.

"Beautiful," he replied hoarsely. Yet, in the next instant, his demeanor turned cold and hard.

"Ranran, I didn't protect you well." His lips pressed into a tight line, his dark eyes filled with guilt and regret. Though his face was expressionless, a cold, forbidding aura enveloped him.

"Ning Yi was taken to the police station. I've bailed him out for now—he's with me. How you wish to deal with him is up to you. Whatever makes you happy." Gu Beicheng stood, his navy shirt enhancing his mysterious air. His tall frame shrouded her delicate figure, his severity softening into tenderness.

"If not for him, your face would never have been hurt," he said, his hand lovingly tracing her eyebrow.

"Beibei, taking the law into your own hands is wrong. Let the police handle him," she replied.

He chuckled softly, "As you wish. Now put on some clothes, don't tempt me anymore."

"Who's tempting you?" Mu Ran muttered, shuffling toward the wardrobe. "No peeking!"

Gu Beicheng fixed his eyes on her smooth, pale back for a long moment, then cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the window.

A few minutes later—

Mu Ran emerged from the dressing room in a white silk nightgown.

"Do you know that Gu Xiao broke into my house not long ago?"

Gu Beicheng's eyes lingered briefly on her collarbone before meeting her gaze.

"He won't dare again," he said coolly. At the mention of Gu Xiao, his tone turned icy.

[At that very moment, in a certain villa, Gu Xiao—soaked in ice water—sneezed several times.]

"Whatever happens between you brothers, don't drag me into it. Otherwise, I won't see you again, and Gu Xiao's injury won't just be a simple fracture."

Gu Beicheng strode toward her, his face hard, but then he looped a long arm around her and patted her back. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone disturb you again."

He kissed her hair softly, lifting her chin with his hand. "Did you feel wronged?"

"Mm," Mu Ran admitted without pretense.

"Beibei, you don't have to protect me all the time. If I'm always sheltered, how can I ever grow strong?"

Gu Beicheng admired her resilience and stubbornness.

Yet he sensed she had not fully opened her heart to him. He wasn't even sure she truly wanted to be with him.

"Ranran, you..." he began, but before he could finish, his lips were sealed by the softness he'd longed for.

Stunned for a moment, he then held her tightly, returning her passion.

They tumbled onto the bed, bodies entwined, the air thick with intimacy and desire.

After five minutes of heated embraces, Gu Beicheng finally released her.

"Ranran, don't push me away, don't resist me..."

Mu Ran blinked her dazed eyes, her lips moist and red as she kissed his eyelid. "Am I not being clear enough?"

—

"Ranran, shall I arrange a few bodyguards for you?" he asked, holding her against the headboard, his long fingers playing with her hair. "I'm worried there are still people out there..."

"No need. I've hired a bodyguard myself—he's very skilled."

Gu Beicheng's expression darkened. His Ranran was actually praising another man?

He flicked her hand away with a cold snort, his meaning obvious.

Mu Ran smiled, taking his hand. "Jealous over a bodyguard? How adorable."

She kneaded his cold, handsome face, then pointed to her heart. "Silly, you're the only one here now."

Gu Beicheng nodded, content.

"Come with me to the study," Mu Ran said, rising and tugging him along.

"Ranran, is your bodyguard really reliable? Isn't he a tattoo artist?" Gu Beicheng asked seriously as they entered the study.

"How did you know that?"

They stopped at the desk, Mu Ran searching his eyes, trying to read his heart.

"Did you forget about An Lan?"

Mu Ran pouted. "Why does An Lan tell you everything? My studio has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Gu Beicheng feigned indifference, "Of course not."

"It better stay that way." She bent down, retrieving a stack of documents from the drawer and handing them to him. "Beibei, help me see which of these companies and properties are most worth investing in."

In recent days, she had compiled detailed information on all the companies and sites poised to rise in the next three years. But she wasn't an investment expert—Gu Beicheng was. It was the perfect opportunity to make use of him.

He skimmed the documents, raising a brow. "You did all this yourself?"

"Mm-hmm." Mu Ran nodded. "But my funds are limited. I want to invest in the project with the highest return."

"These are all promising, but the investments required are too large for you. However, this piece of land is good—it's going to become a commercial district."

He pulled out one file and handed it to her.

Mu Ran glanced at it, then looked up sharply. "No, that's City Star's property. I won't compete with you."

"How do you know that land belongs to City Star?" he asked. The acquisition was still an internal secret.

Mu Ran froze, feeling awkward, her gaze evasive. She was reborn—she knew that a year from now, City Star Group would acquire it. But now wasn't a year later!

She regretted blurting it out, forcing a laugh. "Just a wild guess."

He clearly didn't believe her, but didn't press the matter.

"You could start your own entertainment company, so you won't be distracted or struggle with industries you're unfamiliar with."

She pondered for a moment, her eyes lighting up as she grabbed his sleeve. "That's right! Why didn't I think of that?"

Three years from now, several rising stars and established names who hadn't yet come into the limelight would emerge. She knew exactly who they were. If she signed them now and nurtured their individual talents, her film company could stand shoulder to shoulder with City Star within three years.

"If my company surpasses City Star Films, will you be angry?"

Gu Beicheng smiled. "You're certainly confident."