After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 32

The next day, when Director Wan came to announce that a new guest would be joining the show, everyone was stunned.

“I thought we weren’t allowing any more additions?” Xu Qing was the first to speak up, asking, “Why the sudden change of heart?”

Director Wan explained, “Xia Yiran is somewhat of a public figure, and she was initially signed under the show’s name. Even with the change in directors, it wouldn’t be right for the production team to outright reject her. Besides…”

She glanced at Mu Lingwan and continued, “Besides, Rong Qing didn’t seem to have any objections. Why not let her come as a guest, record one episode, and then leave? That way, both the artist and the audience get some closure.”

At these words, all eyes turned to Mu Lingwan. Rong Qing’s pupils trembled in disbelief—she couldn’t believe the person who had refused just yesterday had suddenly changed their mind.

“…Why?”

After breakfast, Rong Qing followed Mu Lingwan into the courtyard. Standing on the wide lawn, she frowned at the woman before her. “Yesterday, you said you wouldn’t let her join. Why the sudden change?”

Why had Mu Lingwan reversed her decision overnight?

Rong Qing couldn’t understand why Mu Lingwan would do this. She had thought Mu Lingwan understood her—after all, she had even asked if there was any bad bl00d between her and Xia Yiran. She had assumed Mu Lingwan cared.

Was Mu Lingwan just looking for publicity too?

The thought made Rong Qing’s heart ache. She had believed Mu Lingwan was different from the others, but it seemed she was just the same. Clenching the hem of her shirt tightly, she waited in silence for an answer.

Mu Lingwan brushed aside the wind-tousled strands of her hair and turned to look at Rong Qing. “You didn’t tell me the whole truth yesterday, did you?”

Rong Qing froze.

“I—”

“Yesterday, your dear captain sent me a message. She said if I didn’t let her join, she’d expose your secrets to everyone.” Mu Lingwan crossed her arms and studied the woman behind her. “I’m curious—what kind of shameful secret could she possibly be holding over you?”

Rong Qing’s eyes widened.

“Are you secretly married? Did you have an abortion? Or did you climb into some sugar daddy’s bed?” Mu Lingwan stepped closer, her breath brushing Rong Qing’s face. “None of that was in your profile. Did you hide it on purpose?”

“No! I—I don’t have any of those things! I just…” Rong Qing grew flustered, her face flushing red, but she couldn’t muster the courage to continue.

Mu Lingwan waited a few seconds, but when Rong Qing still didn’t speak, she sighed and turned away. “If you won’t tell me, I won’t force you. But once Xia Yiran joins, she’ll come after me sooner or later. If the truth comes out then…”

Panicked, Rong Qing grabbed Mu Lingwan’s arm and pressed closer. “No! Please!”

Mu Lingwan turned back. “What are you begging me for?”

Rong Qing’s eyes were frantic, her fingers gripping Mu Lingwan’s sleeve tightly. Her long lashes trembled slightly before she finally whispered, “Please… help me…”

She didn’t want her secret exposed. Right now, Mu Lingwan was the only one who could save her.

A thin layer of sweat coated Rong Qing’s palms. Mu Lingwan could feel the warmth of her hands—and the fear and resistance in her eyes. Gently, she reached out and cupped Rong Qing’s face, tilting it up to meet her gaze.

“You want my help? Then you need to tell me the whole truth first. Only then will I consider whether to help you and how.” Mu Lingwan rubbed Rong Qing’s lips with her thumb, her eyes flickering slightly as her tone grew serious.

With no other choice, Rong Qing reluctantly recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

“Actually, I…” Rong Qing frowned, taking a long moment to gather her thoughts before whispering, “I’m here to find my mother.”

Mu Lingwan: “?”

Years ago, Rong Qing’s father had left their hometown to work. When he returned several years later, he brought back a newborn baby—Rong Qing. Growing up, the story Rong Qing heard most often was that her mother had abandoned their poor family after giving birth and ran off with someone else.

The neighbors said it, her grandparents said it, and even when her father got drunk, he would grab her arm and shout, “Your mother ran off with another man!”

As for what her mother looked like, what her name was, or whether she had truly abandoned them, Rong Qing had no idea. The only clues came from her father’s drunken ramblings—that her mother was a beautiful woman he had met at a bar. She had been a singer there, while he was a waiter who waited outside every night to walk her home.

Later, they got together and had Rong Qing. But what happened afterward was something her father never spoke about when sober, and no matter how much Rong Qing asked, she couldn’t get answers.

After getting into university, Rong Qing left her hometown. She figured that if her mother was beautiful and could sing, she might have become a famous singer by now. So Rong Qing signed up for AG Entertainment’s trainee auditions. Despite having little talent for singing or dancing, her striking looks got her in.

“My father was furious when he found out. Once, when I called him, Xia Yiran overheard…” Rong Qing furrowed her brows slightly and whispered, “She started using that as leverage, making me run errands and clean for her. But really, there’s no other secret.”

Hearing this, Mu Lingwan studied Rong Qing more closely. She remembered their first meeting—Rong Qing had been working odd jobs on set, even acting as a stunt double for a pregnant actress in a water scene.

“Are you… short on money?” Mu Lingwan couldn’t help but ask.

“I am, a little.” Rong Qing admitted. “My father worked as a laborer and his health has never been good. My grandparents are getting old too. So I thought, if I can find her, great. If not, I’ll just go back home and live with my family.”

Mu Lingwan tilted her chin up slightly with a thoughtful hum. After a long pause, she said, “This doesn’t sound like much of a leverage point. Why would Xia Yiran have such a hold over you?”

Rong Qing blinked in surprise. “Not… much?”

“Not just ‘not much’—it’s practically insignificant.” Mu Lingwan reached out, pinching Rong Qing’s cheeks as she looked down at her. “Wanting fame, searching for your mother in this industry—these are perfectly normal desires. How is that leverage? Real leverage is far worse than this.”

Rong Qing frowned. “How much worse?”

Mu Lingwan blinked slowly, a mysterious glint in her eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Seeing that expression, Rong Qing couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry—not for herself, but for Xia Yiran. Coming to this show… would she be alright?

Xia Yiran was overjoyed when she received the call from the production team. Clutching her phone, she stood up and repeatedly bowed, saying, “Thank you, thank you so much! I’m already nearby and can join the crew tomorrow.”

The director’s assistant on the other end replied in a businesslike tone, “Alright, a crew vehicle will pick you up from your hotel. We’ll call you then. Just bring your luggage and essentials when you join—no need to be nervous, Ms. Xia.”

“I’m not nervous at all, I’m thrilled!” Xia Yiran’s eyes curved into happy crescents. After a brief hesitation, she asked, “By the way, will I get to interact with Ms. Mu Lingwan when I join?”

“Ah? Well, if circumstances permit, that should be possible.”

“That’s wonderful. Thank you so much!”

“You’re too kind, Ms. Xia. We’ll contact you again tomorrow morning.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Xia Yiran excitedly pumped her fist in the air and spun around twice before remembering to call her agent with the good news. Agent Ava was surprised—she had thought Xia Yiran’s chances of joining were practically zero. Initially signed due to her complicated relationship with Rong Qing, which could stir audience interest, Xia Yiran seemed unnecessary after the director and show’s style changed.

Yet now, things had taken an unexpected turn—for better or worse.

Hearing Xia Yiran’s elation, Ava didn’t want to dampen her spirits. Calmly, she said, “Congratulations, Yiran.”

Xia Yiran gushed into the phone, “I’ll definitely give my best performance once I join!”

Ava nodded to herself and advised, “Stay out of trouble on set. Director Wan dislikes uncooperative or scheming artists. If you perform well, you might even land roles in her future idol dramas—this could open doors for you in the industry. Don’t miss this opportunity.”

Xia Yiran understood perfectly. Though idol dramas often drew criticism, they were an inevitable path for young, attractive actresses like her. Even veteran stars in their thirties or forties often circled back to such roles.

If Director Wan took notice of her, she could become the next Shen Nian—the rising starlet of the moment.

After a few more reminders, Ava ended the call. Still at the office, she couldn’t supervise Xia Yiran closely, and with no dedicated assistant, she’d have to arrange temporary support for tomorrow’s shoot before joining later once her current work was done.

Xia Yiran spent the next hour spreading the news—to roommates, teammates, family, even the neighborhood security guards soon knew she’d be joining the hit variety show.

An hour later, lying in bed while checking who she might have missed, she noticed yesterday’s unanswered message to Rong Qing.

“At least she knows her place,” Xia Yiran muttered into her pillow. “If you’d always been this obedient, I might have let you off the hook. But alas… you just had to be Mu Lingwan’s girlfriend.”

“Guess I’ll have to play rough with you then~”

Xia Yiran smiled with her eyes curving into crescents, rolling over on the hotel bed to lazily snap a suggestive selfie with her phone raised. She posted it on her social media with a caption—I finally get to meet the woman I admire most~

Within a minute of posting, she received a flood of likes and comments. Delighted, Xia Yiran was already fantasizing about how to build a good relationship with Mu Lingwan when joining the production team the next day.

If nothing else, given her looks and charm, Mu Lingwan would surely pay her extra attention—unless she was blind.

As for Rong Qing? She could just stay out of the way!

Xia Yiran spent the entire night buzzing with excitement, receiving numerous congratulatory messages. Though these well-wishers were tinged with varying degrees of envy, what did it matter?

She didn’t care.

Early the next morning, a van bearing the “Heartbeat Moment” logo pulled up at the hotel entrance. Xia Yiran emerged wearing oversized sunglasses and dragging a petite suitcase. The assistant director of the production team immediately approached her.

“Ms. Xia, I’m here from the production team to pick you up,” the assistant said, opening the car door. “Please get in—we’re heading to the set now.”