Chapter 68 — Scripted Murder Reality Show "Republican Era Marriage Grievances"

A confident smile curled at the corners of Mu Ran’s lips as she raised her brows triumphantly at the man, saying, “Of course I’m confident.” She drew closer, her delicate hands winding around the tie at his chest, flirtatious and alluring. Her upturned, beautiful eyes carried a unique charm, while her pink lips were small and glistening.

Gu Beicheng’s broad hand caught Mu Ran’s mischievous fingers, his head lowered slightly, the thick ends of his brows tinged with an uncontainable desire and affection. He parted his thin lips, his voice rough and teasing, “Be good, don’t tempt me.”

“I’m not tempting you,” she replied.

Their exchange, word for word, fueled the simmering intimacy in the room.

The blush at the tip of Mu Ran’s brows deepened, blooming like plum blossoms.

Gu Beicheng exhaled deeply, took her hand, and pressed it to his lips for several seconds before letting go, his gaze lingering.

“I have to go,” he said.

Mu Ran’s head, which had been bowed in shyness, quickly lifted. She gazed up at him, her delicate brows furrowing, lips pouting as her soft, fair hands clung to his large palm. “Go? So early?”

Perhaps sensing the reluctance in her tone, Gu Beicheng chuckled softly, his aura gentler than ever. He reached out, wrapping Mu Ran in his arms, his voice raspy, “It’s not early. You should rest soon—you’re joining the crew tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“How do you know everything?” Mu Ran buried her little face in his chest, nestling closer, her soft cheeks rubbing against him.

“Want to stay at my place?” he asked, reading the subtext in her words. He held her shoulders and gently pushed her back, creating a space between them.

His warm, callused palm cupped her face, a smile spreading across his handsome features. “Want me to sleep with you?”

“I meant you could sleep in the guest room tonight—it’s past midnight, and it’d be inconvenient for you to head home now,” Mu Ran said, lowering her head and speaking quietly.

“So that’s it? I thought you were inviting me to hold you while you slept.” Gu Beicheng turned, preparing to leave, but the lingering curve of his lips and meaningful glance betrayed his hope for another plea.

“Go, then, as if I desperately want you to stay,” Mu Ran said, contradicting her own feelings, cursing him in her heart for being such a scoundrel.

Suddenly, a gentle drizzle began to fall outside, breaking the night’s calm.

A hint of joy flashed across Mu Ran’s cold, beautiful face. “Bei Bei, it’s raining outside. It’s not safe to leave so late, so…”

“So what?” Gu Beicheng turned, staring at her reddened cheeks, struggling to restrain his desire. He didn’t want to leave, but she was too alluring; he feared losing control and frightening her.

Mu Ran stepped forward abruptly, her arms wrapping tightly around his strong, slender waist. “Stay!”

“Ran Ran?” The woman’s fresh scent enveloped Gu Beicheng’s nose. He lowered his head, his chin resting atop hers, closed his eyes, and greedily breathed in her fragrance.

“All right,” he answered.

Mu Ran, satisfied, closed her eyes and immersed herself in the tenderness radiating from Gu Beicheng.

——

The next morning, 7 a.m.

Mu Ran, still drowsy from sleep, reached out for the man beside her, only to grasp empty air.

She instantly awoke, sitting up and staring at the spot to her left, where someone had clearly slept last night. She stared blankly for a moment, then parted her lips. “Bei Bei?”

Where had Gu Beicheng gone?

Perhaps it was the irritation of waking up combined with his sudden departure, but Mu Ran’s face darkened in annoyance.

“Get up, Xiao Ran, stop calling. Brother Gu had work at the company—he left at six.” An Lan yawned, opened the door, and lazily explained from the threshold.

Seeing Mu Ran sitting on the bed, her alluring shoulders exposed, An Lan raised her brows with an ambiguous expression. “Wow, you two are moving fast, Mrs. Gu!”

“Get lost!” Mu Ran hurled a pillow at An Lan.

Indeed, she had slept in the same bed as Gu Beicheng last night, but nothing had happened.

As the rain grew heavier last night, she was trapped in a nightmare, struggling in pain, until a warm embrace wrapped around her.

Mu Ran knew it was Gu Beicheng’s arms.

After that, she slept peacefully and soundly.

“Hurry and get ready—Lin Chong’s been waiting downstairs for half an hour! Don’t be late. I’ve got things to do, so I’m heading out.” An Lan placed the pillow on the sofa, her sleepiness evident, and briefed Mu Ran on the work arrangements before leaving in haste.

“You’re going back to sleep, aren’t you?” Mu Ran rose, heading toward the dressing room, teasing An Lan as she was about to exit.

An Lan turned back helplessly. “Yes, I didn’t sleep all night. Blame that idiot Gu Xiao! I’m leaving, Xiao Ran. Call me if you need anything!”

Mu Ran nodded, though a question lingered in her mind: what was the situation between Gu Xiao and An Lan?

Half an hour later—

Mu Ran emerged in a fitted rose-colored gown, her long, curled hair cascading over her chest.

Her makeup was flawless today, every movement exuding charm.

“Miss Mu, you look stunning today!” Lin Chong, standing at the bottom of the stairs, was so captivated that he stood frozen before the sofa.

“Hey! Miss Mu, hurry! We’re almost late!” Mu Ran smiled faintly, watching Lin Chong dash out to start the car and quickened her own pace.

After they departed, Lin Chong chatted with Mu Ran the whole way.

“Miss Mu, I’ll wait for you at the show’s set. If you need anything, just call me—I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Mu Ran glanced at Lin Chong as he drove, her lips curling. “You’re slipping into your role quickly.”

Lin Chong grinned, scratching his bald head with one hand. “I just worry I’ll mess up and you’ll fire me!”

Mu Ran said nothing, turning to look out the window.

She felt certain this man had an ulterior motive for wanting to stay by her side.

Ten minutes later—

They arrived at the recording site of “Immersive Script Shark.”

It was an old, run-down building from the outside, but inside it was a hidden world.

The entire structure was decorated in various themes: city streets, locked rooms, ancient forest villages—everything imaginable.

Mu Ran led Lin Chong straight to the fifteenth floor, where the first scene for the show was being filmed.

“Xiao Ran! Long time no see!” A voice, slightly rugged but cheerful, called out.

Mu Ran turned to face the middle-aged man walking toward her, surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes. “Director Gao?”

“Haha, surprised? It’s me!” Gao Minglang hurriedly called his assistant director, Chen Liang, to pour Mu Ran a glass of water. “Liangzi, quick, get Xiao Ran some water.”

“Director, don’t tell me this variety show is also funded by Chengxing?” Mu Ran took a sip, glancing around. Many faces were familiar—they were all staff from “Travel Love.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t originally the show’s director. It was supposed to be someone else—well, anyway, I was called in at the last minute. I saw you were among the guests and was thrilled!”

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Gao Minglang, the show began preparations for recording.

Because Mu Ran arrived late, she had no time to get acquainted with the other guests.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Ran. The guests this time are all great…” Chen Liang led Mu Ran to the script murder table, explaining as he went.

“Thank you, Director Chen.” Mu Ran understood his meaning—after all, the last batch of guests on “Travel Love” had left the production team with quite the shadow.

The show officially began recording—

Seated at the white table were Mu Ran, Xu Yunshu, Wei Xingran, and Lan Yanzhi.

Xu Yunshu was the most prominent among them, once a powerhouse actress in the entertainment industry.

But after a series of baseless scandals, she was forced into obscurity.

Wei Xingran and Lan Yanzhi were both debuting from talent competitions; their status was equal, each still relatively unknown.

The four introduced themselves briefly to the cameras before silence fell.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Hua Rujin, your DM for ‘Immersive Script Shark’!” A magnetic, pleasant male voice rang out, and the next moment, a handsome man in a Republic-era suit entered with a smile.

“Dear audience, honored guests, hello! I am Hua Rujin, and I’ll be your DM for the next four episodes of the immersive script murder variety show! Now, let’s officially begin our script murder game!”

Seated at the far left, Mu Ran gazed intently at Hua Rujin, her eyes reflecting a special emotion.

Hua Rujin was a professionally trained host, winner of the Capital’s Hosting Competition gold medal.

In less than three years, he would become the most outstanding male host in the capital.

Don’t ask how Mu Ran knew these things—she had been reborn.

Perhaps her company could sign Hua Rujin!

Hua Rujin: “Please open the script placed on the table. The roles have been randomly assigned. Once you open the script, you are already the character in the story.”

Hua Rujin: “This story is called ‘Republican Marriage Grievance.’ As the name suggests, it takes place during the Republic era. The warlord Song Chaoyang of Fengcheng took a third concubine on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, but she mysteriously died on their wedding night. I hope everyone can immerse themselves in their roles and find the true culprit.”

Hua Rujin: “The murderer is hidden among the roles played by you guests.”

The four guests opened their scripts and skimmed through them.

Mu Ran was the first to close her script, a subtle smile on her lips as she looked at Hua Rujin. “Is this a horror romance script?”

“Huh? Really? So many pages? I haven’t finished yet, Sister Mu Ran—you really speed-read!” Wei Xingran, dizzy from the ten-plus pages in hand, marveled at how Mu Ran had already grasped the story while she herself had only turned a few pages. “There really is a difference between people.”

Hua Rujin smiled, recognizing some guests as script murder novices, and offered a thoughtful explanation: “This script’s theme is horror romance. Each of your scripts is filled with details—easy to remember. Based on environmental clues and important content in your script, find the real culprit! And remember, the murderer can’t reveal themselves!”