After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 31

Mu Lingwan leaned back on the sofa, staring at the message on her phone. Both she and Rong Qing had changed their phone numbers and WeChat accounts, leaving only their Weibo and other public accounts untouched.

Though the message wasn’t signed or labeled, Mu Lingwan only needed to glance at the content to know exactly who it was from.

Some people appeared dignified and flawless on the surface, yet behind the scenes, they still played these kinds of games.

Mu Lingwan studied the words with amusement, thinking that if it were Rong Qing, she might have panicked by now. But who was Mu Lingwan? Someone like Xia Yiran, a mere newcomer, had never been worth her attention.

She was just curious about what Rong Qing’s so-called “secret” could be.

The sound of the bathroom door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. Mu Lingwan immediately turned off her phone screen and placed it face-down on the sofa, looking up as Rong Qing stepped out, drying her hair with a towel.

“I’m done,” Rong Qing said, rubbing her damp hair. “You can have someone clean it later. You should go wash up too.”

It was the first day of filming, and Director Wan’s approach was much gentler than before. Though the activities still revolved around couples’ interactions, everyone felt more at ease, both physically and mentally. Today had been a group outing—playing games on the beach, followed by a barbecue. By the time they returned, they were all covered in the smell of smoke and grease.

Mu Lingwan gave a soft hum in response, her gaze lingering on Rong Qing.

After months of body-swapping, Mu Lingwan no longer felt uncomfortable looking at her own appearance. In fact, she could even detect traces of Rong Qing in it. Like now—the way Rong Qing stood in front of the full-length mirror, drying her hair, her silhouette subtly different from Mu Lingwan’s own past reflection.

Rong Qing had a habit of starting from the top of her head when drying her hair. The wet strands dripped water down her shoulders and chest, exposing fair collarbones and skin. Her eyes, still misty from the steam, glistened, long black lashes fluttering as she lifted her arms, the movement tugging at her tank top to reveal a slender waist.

Mu Lingwan propped her chin on her hand and thought: Damn, I look good.

Rong Qing continued drying her hair in front of the mirror, acutely aware of Mu Lingwan’s intense stare from the sofa. A nervous flutter rose in her chest—had she done something wrong again?

She thought she’d performed well today…

But if she had, why was Mu Lingwan looking at her like that?

Unable to figure out her mistake, Rong Qing finished drying her hair with trembling hands. She didn’t even call for an assistant to clean the bathroom, opting to wipe it down herself, open the window to air it out, and wait for the steam to dissipate before stepping out again.

“Done?” Mu Lingwan glanced up.

“Yeah,” Rong Qing nodded. “It’s all cleaned up. You could’ve used the bathroom first—then I could’ve cleaned it after my shower.”

Mu Lingwan arched a brow. “If we came back together and I showered first, what would people think?”

“But…” Rong Qing hesitated. “We’re already together. No one would care who showers first.”

It wasn’t like work, where the boss had to take the elevator first. Between couples, who cared about shower order?

Hell, they might even end up showering together at some point.

Mu Lingwan crossed her legs, set down the magazine in her hand, and patted the spot beside her, saying to her, “Come sit here.”

Rong Qing looked at her in confusion but obediently walked over and sat on the edge of the sofa, leaving a small distance between them. Mu Lingwan didn’t seem to mind and stood up to retrieve a hairdryer from the nearby cabinet.

Rong Qing never imagined that Mu Lingwan would one day blow-dry her hair for her. She immediately stood up in alarm, saying, “No, no need, I—”

“Sit down,” Mu Lingwan said calmly as she untangled the hairdryer’s cord. “What’s the problem with me drying my own hair? My hair is in such good condition, yet you treat it so carelessly, just roughly towel-drying it a couple of times?”

Rong Qing froze for a moment before realizing this was a complaint about her rough living habits.

“…Sorry,” Rong Qing obediently sat back down. “I’m used to it, but I’ll change in the future.”

“It’s fine either way,” Mu Lingwan turned on the hairdryer and lifted Rong Qing’s soft, silky hair. “Who knows, we might switch back soon anyway.”

The sound of the hairdryer was too loud for Rong Qing to hear clearly, but she faintly caught the words “switch back” and nodded slightly.

The room was filled only with the whirring of the hairdryer. Mu Lingwan patiently stood beside Rong Qing, drying her hair strand by strand. Whether it was an illusion or not, she noticed that when she used to eat only one meal a day, her hair had been thin and dull. But now, after indulging in all sorts of food with Rong Qing, her hair had become much shinier.

Turns out eating properly really does make a difference. Vitamin supplements alone aren’t enough, Mu Lingwan mused quietly.

Rong Qing felt Mu Lingwan’s hands massaging her scalp, her fingers occasionally brushing against the tips of her ears and neck. Each touch sent a tingling sensation through her, making her whole body feel warm and comfortable.

Mu Lingwan’s hands seemed to possess some kind of magic—even the slightest touch made Rong Qing tremble.

Once her hair was finally dry, Mu Lingwan set the hairdryer aside and sat down next to Rong Qing. “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” she said.

“Hmm?” Rong Qing looked up at her. Her face and ears were still flushed from the heat of the hairdryer, and her damp eyes met Mu Lingwan’s gaze, causing the latter to pause momentarily.

After silently admiring how gorgeous I am, Mu Lingwan cleared her throat lightly and adjusted her posture. “Xia Yiran… did you two have some kind of conflict in the past?”

Rong Qing didn’t expect Mu Lingwan to suddenly bring up that name. After a brief pause, she replied softly, “Probably… not…”

Probably not, because the word “conflict” implied a mutual dispute. Between Rong Qing and Xia Yiran, it had only ever been one-sided bullying—the term “conflict” was far too polite.

The AG girl group had a large number of members, divided into several teams. Rong Qing’s team alone had over a dozen members. The company fostered internal competition, pitting the teams against each other from the very beginning—comparing popularity, chart rankings, fanbases, and revenue-generating abilities.

Xia Yiran remained the team leader—young, beautiful, and full of energy, consistently ranking among the top in the entire group and perennially competing for the top three spots on the popularity charts. Within the team, she was practically the apex, and even the manager treated her differently from the others.

Rong Qing wasn’t particularly adept at social maneuvering. Even when encountering fans who adored her, she remained polite and reserved, unlike others who would actively solicit gifts. Rong Qing would even refuse expensive presents from fans, making her stand out in the group—so much so that she was ostracized from the moment she joined.

Cleaning the dance studio was routine. Occasionally, she’d also have to carry bags or fetch takeout for Xia Yiran and the others. Laundry, drying bedding, and cleaning the dorm were just the tip of the iceberg. If someone remembered, they’d order Rong Qing to do it, regardless of whether she refused.

Though they bullied her, in front of the cameras, they put on a show of camaraderie. Rong Qing found them so difficult to get along with that she avoided them whenever possible.

Just by looking at Rong Qing’s expression, Mu Lingwan could tell the two didn’t get along. If that weren’t the case, Xia Yiran wouldn’t have sent her such a message.

“I see,” Mu Lingwan nodded slowly and said to her, “Get some rest early. I’m going out to make a call.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

Mu Lingwan took her phone and stepped into the hallway, making sure no one was around before dialing the number from the message.

The call connected after just one ring. Xia Yiran eagerly said, “Hello?” but then fell silent, as if wary of saying too much.

“You were quite bold when threatening me. Now that I’ve called, why the sudden silence?” Mu Lingwan leaned against the railing on the second-floor corridor, her tone lazy.

Recognizing the familiar voice, Xia Yiran let out a quiet sigh of relief before sneering, “What kind of game are you playing? I heard it was you who blocked me from joining the show?”

Mu Lingwan narrowed her eyes slightly. “Seems you’ve got connections in the crew. How else would you know something like that?”

“Heh, if I want to know something, I’ll find out.” Xia Yiran couldn’t be bothered with small talk and spoke harshly, “If you still want to survive in this industry—if you don’t want Mu Lingwan to despise you—then let me into the show. I promise I won’t do anything to you once I’m in. I just want fame.”

“Everyone wants fame. What makes you think you deserve the opportunity?” Mu Lingwan asked.

“If you can climb the ranks and become a phoenix, hogging the trending searches every day, why can’t I?”” Xia Yiran said disdainfully, “What exactly am I lacking compared to you? I don’t know how Mu Lingwan took a liking to you, but if I were there, she’d never even glance your way.”

Mu Lingwan found it amusing. “You’re quite confident, aren’t you?”

Xia Yiran thought Rong Qing’s tone sounded strange—gone was her usual reticence and timidity, replaced instead by something almost mocking. But the thought flickered and vanished just as quickly.

No matter what Rong Qing’s personality was like or how much she might have changed, Xia Yiran’s priority right now was getting into the show.

A high-budget variety show like Love in Progress was usually beyond Xia Yiran’s reach. When the director first approached her, she’d been surprised. But after understanding his intentions, she realized—he just wanted to stir up drama for publicity. It could be her, or it could be anyone else.

Since they were all muddying the waters, why couldn’t she be the one to do it herself?

If even a nobody like Rong Qing could rise to the top, why couldn’t she?

Xia Yiran decided to take this unexpected opportunity. But the sudden change of directors threw her long-prepared plans into disarray. When she learned that the new director didn’t want her in the show, panic set in.

She absolutely had to get in—her entire shot at fame depended on this one chance!

“Anyway, if I don’t make it into the show this time, don’t think you’ll get off easy either,” Xia Yiran said coldly. “Rong Qing, you’d better think carefully before answering me.”

Though her tone was icy, Mu Lingwan could still hear the anxiety and unease beneath it.

Leaning against the wall, Mu Lingwan remained silent as the motion-activated light above her head flicked off with a soft whoosh, plunging the hallway into darkness. Only the faint moonlight by the window illuminated her face, casting shifting shadows across her profile.

“Fine, I’ll agree,” Mu Lingwan murmured, a faint smile curling at her lips. “I’ll get you into the show tomorrow.”