After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 2

Rong Qing had never experienced such a scene before. The largest event she’d ever attended was a fan meet-and-greet with about a hundred people, where one or two cameras might occasionally pan across the crowd. Never had she faced such an intense barrage of camera flashes.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, girls holding light-up signs reading “Mu Lingwan” began screaming excitedly, shouting at the top of their lungs: “Mu Lingwan! We love you!!! Ah!!!!”

Startled, Rong Qing turned toward the commotion, which only made the crowd scream even louder, their voices rising in waves.

Mu Lingwan adjusted her hat as she exited the vehicle and gently nudged Rong Qing, whispering, “Don’t freeze up. Smile at them, wave, and keep moving forward.”

Snapping back to reality, Rong Qing forced an awkward smile and waved before lifting the hem of her dress to ascend the stairs, with Mu Lingwan and Zhou Ying following closely behind.

Before the event, Zhou Ying had given her intensive training—how to walk, how to hold her dress, how to control her facial expressions. While Rong Qing had received similar instruction during her idol training days, Zhou Ying’s coaching was far more meticulous. It seemed she had studied Mu Lingwan’s physique and angles in detail, knowing exactly how she should smile for the best effect, which poses would make her legs appear longer, and even whether to lead with her left or right foot when climbing stairs.

But training was nothing compared to the real thing. Rong Qing’s heart pounded like a drum, her palms slick with sweat.

Fortunately, the staircase wasn’t long. At the top, Rong Qing turned sideways and struck a few poses as cameras clicked rapidly behind her. The flashes left her vision momentarily bleached white, everything a blur.

“That’s enough. Now go sign the board,” came Mu Lingwan’s quiet instruction. Rong Qing took the pen Zhou Ying handed her and wrote Mu Lingwan’s name on the wall behind them.

Just as Rong Qing sighed in relief, thinking she could finally leave, a familiar figure approached.

“Lingwan~”

A woman in a sapphire-blue silk gown walked over, linking arms with Rong Qing intimately. Her eyes crinkled into a charming smile as she said, “You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for ages.”

Rong Qing nearly jumped in surprise at the sight of the woman, her face flushing with excitement.

Xu Qing—China’s top female singer, whose every song topped the charts, whose concert tickets sold out instantly. Her latest single had trended immediately upon release, spawning countless covers. Most impressively, she was only 28, making her Rong Qing’s personal idol!

It might sound impolite, but Rong Qing had literally grown up listening to Xu Qing’s music!

Now her idol stood right before her. Rong Qing barely kept her composure. Xu Qing’s gown was stunning, showcasing her delicate collarbones and flawless skin. An almost invisible layer of tulle sparkled with tiny diamonds, and as she wrapped an arm around Rong Qing’s waist, she gave her backside a light, playful pat.

Rong Qing stiffened, eyes widening slightly as she met Xu Qing’s amused, crescent-eyed smile.

What was that?

Had she imagined that pat just now???

Aware they were still in full view of the cameras, Rong Qing quickly mirrored her smile, the two appearing as close as old friends.

Xu Qing held Rong Qing’s hand and after signing her name on the wall, led her into the inner venue. Waving goodbye to the cameras, she finally relaxed and leaned in close like a girlfriend, asking, “I heard you had a fall in the water recently? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Rong Qing replied politely with a smile. “I took some time off to recover, and now I’m completely back to normal.”

Xu Qing blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes before she quickly masked it, smiling warmly. “That’s good to hear. Let’s go take our seats—these heels are killing my feet.”

Rong Qing instinctively glanced back and saw Mu Lingwan standing in a corner, watching them. Noticing Rong Qing’s gaze, Mu Lingwan lowered her cap brim and said through the earpiece, “Xu Qing and I are friends. She knows a lot about me. Try to find an excuse to shake her off.”

Hearing Mu Lingwan’s voice in her ear, Rong Qing turned to look at the idol she had long admired. Steeling herself, she said to Xu Qing, “Um, sorry, but I need to use the restroom. You go ahead first.”

Xu Qing froze in place, watching as Rong Qing pulled her arm free and hurried off, lifting her dress as she ran.

Staring blankly at Rong Qing’s retreating figure, Xu Qing muttered in disbelief, “‘Sorry’? Since when Mu Lingwan says words like that?”

Rong Qing made her way to the restroom in her heels and stayed there for a good fifteen minutes before emerging. The venue was now packed with people, cameras rolling, and seats filled with A-list celebrities—every face familiar.

Only top-tier stars or breakout newcomers from hit shows made it to an event like this. A newly debuted, unknown girl group like AG would never normally be here.

Rong Qing was already regretting stepping in for Mu Lingwan on the red carpet. Her nerves weren’t cut out for this, and she was already thinking of backing out.

Taking a deep breath, she considered faking a stomachache to leave early. Surely no one would blame her for that?

Before she could decide, someone behind her spoke up. “Miss Mu, long time no see. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Rong Qing’s heart skipped a beat—another acquaintance?

Thankfully, everyone here was a public figure, so Rong Qing should recognize them all. She turned to see a young woman in a wine-red cocktail dress stepping out of the restroom. She looked like a mixed-race star—and indeed, she was.

Shen Nian, the rising starlet whose dramas had been back-to-back hits. In just a few years, she’d climbed to A-list status with stellar scripts, now rivaling Mu Lingwan for resources. Some even said she’d replace Mu Lingwan as the next top-tier star, and their fans were constantly at odds.

So… a rival?

Rong Qing studied the stunning woman before her. Meeting her gaze with Mu Lingwan’s usual confidence, Shen Nian smiled and stepped closer. “Miss Mu, why are you looking at me like that? You haven’t reached out lately—have you lost interest in me?”

Rong Qing’s eyes widened slightly.

First Xu Qing, now Shen Nian—what was Mu Lingwan’s deal?

Was she some kind of playgirl???

Rong Qing was utterly shocked. She knew this industry was messy, with many people engaging in ambiguous relationships or dating for mutual clout, but she never imagined she’d find herself caught in the whirlpool of it all.

Watching Shen Nian’s watery, coquettish eyes, Rong Qing felt goosebumps rise all over her body and took a frightened step back.

Shen Nian seemed surprised by her reaction. She reached out, grabbing Rong Qing’s arm, her delicate brows furrowing in a pitiful expression. “Who was the one kissing you in the car the other day? Was she better than me?”

Rong Qing yanked her hand back in alarm. “Sorry, I need to return to my seat,” she stammered.

Shen Nian didn’t seem angered by the rejection. Instead, she watched Rong Qing’s retreating figure with narrowed eyes, arms crossed as she enunciated slowly, “S-o-r-r-y?”

Well, wasn’t this interesting?

After two consecutive awkward encounters, Rong Qing quickly found her seat in the front row and sat down in a fluster, clutching her handbag tightly while smoothing her disheveled hair.

She had been genuinely terrified just now—not only was she impersonating Mu Lingwan, but she had also stumbled upon two of her affairs. How was she supposed to face Mu Lingwan after this?

One was an ambiguous entanglement with a female singer best friend, and the other was a questionable relationship with her sworn rival, the innocent-looking “little white flower.”

Who knew how many more women Mu Lingwan had hidden away? Rong Qing sat there, heart pounding, eyeing everyone suspiciously, convinced they all looked like fish in Mu Lingwan’s vast dating pond.

“Where did you go?”

Suddenly, her own voice crackled through the earpiece. Rong Qing jolted, looking up to see Mu Lingwan standing near the emergency exit, her dark, gleaming eyes fixed on her with clear displeasure.

“I…” Rong Qing wanted to explain what had just happened, but she feared exposing Mu Lingwan’s secrets might get her silenced permanently. Instead, she whispered weakly, “I went to the restroom. My stomach… it was bothering me.”

Mu Lingwan studied Rong Qing from afar, noting her pale complexion before murmuring, “Hold on a little longer. Once the event officially starts, we only need to stay for half an hour before we can leave.”

Rong Qing gave a small nod.

Leaning against the wall, Mu Lingwan observed the crowd under the bright stage lights—perfect for photos. Some were already snapping shots with telephoto lenses. She considered warning Rong Qing but ultimately decided against it.

Whatever. No matter how she looked, people would blow it up online anyway. Even if she were photographed looking like a monster, someone would Photoshop her into a goddess. She wasn’t worried.

For once, she didn’t have to sit through a major event like this, and the freedom felt surprisingly good.

After years in the spotlight, she had started envying the anonymity of ordinary life. If they couldn’t switch back, maybe this was her chance to retire early.

It wasn’t like she needed the money.

Just as Mu Lingwan was contemplating whether to buy a house in Australia or the Americas, someone emerged from the emergency exit.

She glanced over—a young woman in an elegant blue gown stepped through the door. Beautiful, with delicate, rounded features, she looked about Rong Qing’s age—fresh and pretty.

Who was this?

Mu Lingwan glanced at her and, realizing she didn’t recognize the woman, averted her gaze.

Anyone coming up through the emergency exit clearly wasn’t invited via the red carpet—probably someone who’d pulled strings to sneak in and grab a seat. Mu Lingwan had seen plenty of such people before, so this was nothing new.

“Rong Qing?”

Just as Mu Lingwan decided not to dwell on the young woman any longer, the other party widened her eyes in shock, staring straight at her.

Mu Lingwan’s heart sank.

This was bad—someone who knew Rong Qing.