After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 33

Once in the car, Xia Yiran’s mood remained buoyant. She kept glancing out the window eagerly. Although she was traveling alone to join the production—Ava’s assigned assistant wasn’t accompanying her, having just exchanged contact details and already on her way to the program team—even by herself, Xia Yiran didn’t feel awkward. She began envisioning how she should present herself upon arrival.

Ava had advised her to keep a low profile, so today she wore a natural makeup look and a khaki Dior office suit, deliberately showcasing her slender, fair legs. Every strand of her hair was meticulously arranged.

The director’s assistant glanced at the young, beautiful woman in the rearview mirror, taking in her polished appearance. Sensing the gaze, Xia Yiran looked up and met his eyes in the reflection.

The assistant quickly said, “Ms. Xia, the other guests are still completing tasks. You’ll need to wait backstage first and likely won’t join the group until this afternoon.”

Xia Yiran nodded, flashing a sweet smile. “Got it. Thank you, gege.”

The assistant blushed and hastily averted his eyes out the window. Xia Yiran chuckled softly before turning her attention back to chatting with her fans.

Upon arriving at the set, filming was already underway. The episode revolved around preparations and shopping to welcome a new guest. Everyone moved naturally and leisurely in front of the cameras. Xia Yiran only had time for a brief glimpse from outside before being called away to wait backstage.

“Waiting backstage” essentially meant sitting idly in the car. As a relatively unknown idol, though adored by many, she couldn’t compare to the established celebrities inside. She didn’t even have her own van, forced to stay in the same business vehicle that had picked her up, scrolling through her phone.

To preserve the element of surprise and freshness for the cast, the production team insisted Xia Yiran remain in the car without leaving. After lunch, she expected to join the group in the afternoon, but she ended up waiting another three hours. It wasn’t until nearly 4 p.m. that she was finally told she could step out.

By then, her initial excitement had long since faded, replaced by frustration—though she dared not show it. She followed the staff to the manor entrance.

“From here, you’ll need to go in alone,” a staff member said hurriedly as a makeup artist touched up Xia Yiran’s look. “The cameras will start following you now. Once inside, you’ll have to improvise, and also, the live broadcast will resume—”

“I know,” Xia Yiran snapped, cutting them off. She swatted the makeup artist’s hand away irritably. “Your brush is way too stiff. Stop dragging it across my face.”

The staff member’s expression darkened, and they didn’t finish their instructions, signaling the makeup artist to step back. Everyone retreated behind the cameras.

After composing herself, Xia Yiran lifted her chin, picked up her small suitcase, and strode toward the manor.

Meanwhile, after a full day of work, Rong Qing and the others had transformed the villa into a fresh, welcoming space. Jiang Jiang and Xu Qing spent the afternoon prepping ingredients in the kitchen. Tonight’s dinner was hot pot, and the table was laden with dishes.

Several people were sitting in the living room chatting while waiting for the new arrival. Ming Qiao was leisurely sipping a cup of coffee, while Shen Nian beside her peeled chestnuts for her. After spending so much time together, though they were only pretending to be a couple, their tacit understanding had become indistinguishable from that of real lovers.

Xu Qing and Mu Lingwan had teamed up for a round of gaming, while Rong Qing and Jiang Jiang were discussing whether a mandarin duck hotpot would be enough for seven people that evening.

Just then, the doorbell rang, drawing everyone’s attention to the entrance. Xu Qing was the first to ask, “Is our guest here?”

“Should be,” Shen Nian said as she stood up. “I’ll get the door.”

As she moved, the others naturally followed suit, setting aside what they were doing to greet the newcomer. Upon opening the door, they saw Xia Yiran standing there with her small suitcase by her feet.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Xia Yiran,” she greeted with a slight bow at the doorway.

Shen Nian, who had opened the door first, smiled warmly. “Don’t just stand there, come on in.”

Xia Yiran glanced over the group, her gaze lingering briefly on Mu Lingwan before calmly pulling her suitcase into the villa.

Jiang Jiang fetched slippers for her, Xu Qing helped with her luggage, and Ming Qiao stood nearby, gently inquiring if she had encountered traffic on the way. Meanwhile, Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan stood off to the side like emotionless decorations.

“No traffic, just a long ride—my back’s killing me,” Xia Yiran replied with a smile.

Her eyes then landed on Mu Lingwan, and she enthusiastically strode over to give her a big hug. “Xiao Qing! It’s been so long—you’ve gotten even more beautiful!”

Mu Lingwan smirked inwardly but maintained a cordial tone. “It really has been a while.”

Keeping her smile intact, Xia Yiran turned to Rong Qing beside her. “Teacher Mu, I’ve admired you for so long. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

Rong Qing’s expression was complex, but she nodded politely for the sake of her persona. “Hello.”

After introductions with the others, everyone warmly welcomed Xia Yiran, even showing her the specially prepared room upstairs.

Xu Qing carried her luggage up and opened the door with a flourish. “Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan picked out all the decorations. The flowers and teddy bear are from me, the photo wall art was arranged by Shen Nian and Ming Qiao, and we all pitched in for things like the rug.”

The guest room was cozy and inviting. Xia Yiran gasped in delight, her eyes sparkling. “Wow, this is gorgeous! All for me?”

Ming Qiao blinked, glancing subtly at Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan. She found it intriguing how cold the two had been since Xia Yiran’s arrival.

Xu Qing and Jiang Jiang continued giving the tour, while Shen Nian—being an actress—couldn’t help but notice something off. It was clear to her that Xia Yiran’s entire demeanor reeked of performance.

Casting a final look at the trio by the doorway, Shen Nian quietly slipped out as well.

“You guys…just going to watch the show?” Shen Nian asked them quietly.

Mu Lingwan ignored her, while Rong Qing gave an awkward chuckle and explained, “I feel like I can’t really get a word in.”

Ming Qiao was much more straightforward, leaning casually against the doorframe as she said, “Watching her perform is exhausting. I need a break.”

Shen Nian shook her head helplessly, casting a sympathetic glance at Xu Qing and Jiang Jiang, who remained completely oblivious. The two were still playing along with Xia Yiran’s act—whether they genuinely didn’t notice or were just humoring her, she couldn’t tell.

At dinner, everyone gathered around the hot pot. Xia Yiran sat beside Mu Lingwan, acting as if she had known them forever. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious, almost like three couples hosting a guest.

After the meal, chores were divided. Since Xu Qing and the others had prepared the ingredients, the rest were left with washing dishes and tidying up.

Mu Lingwan mopped the floor, Ming Qiao and Shen Nian washed dishes, while Rong Qing cleared the table and chairs.

“Let me help, Teacher Mu,” Xia Yiran said, stepping forward to take a chair from Rong Qing and neatly arranging it.

Rong Qing stiffened slightly at Xia Yiran’s practiced movements, but since she had already done it, she could only murmur a quiet “Thank you.”

Xia Yiran beamed, leaning in closer. “Teacher Mu, I’ve actually always been your fan. Could I get your autograph? And maybe a photo together—just the two of us?”

At this, Mu Lingwan lifted her head, resting her mop handle against the floor as she shot a long, deep look in their direction.

Rong Qing felt awkward. In the past, Xia Yiran had only ever bossed her around. This was the first time she had ever smiled at her so ingratiatingly. So even the proud “AG Goddess” could make such an expression.

“I—uh, well…” Rong Qing nervously glanced at Mu Lingwan, who lazily raised an eyebrow before resuming her mopping, seemingly indifferent—though secretly, her ears were perked up.

Under Xia Yiran’s expectant gaze, Rong Qing had no choice but to relent. “Alright.”

After signing and taking the photo, Xia Yiran even added her as a friend and requested a mutual follow on Weibo. The rest was manageable, but her Weibo account was currently managed by Zhou Ying. Even if she could log into Mu Lingwan’s account, she’d need her permission first.

Just as Rong Qing hesitated over how to handle the situation, Mu Lingwan finished her task and said, “I’m done here. Didn’t you say you wanted pineapple? Let’s go to the fruit shop and grab some.”

Rong Qing felt as if Mu Lingwan had just saved her life. She immediately grabbed her jacket, slipped past Xia Yiran, and hurried out with her.

Walking along the dimly lit street, Rong Qing whispered an apology. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t refuse.”

Mu Lingwan glanced back at the trailing cameraman and sighed, then took Rong Qing’s hand. Seizing the moment while Rong Qing was still dazed, she said, “Let’s get the fruit first. I want pineapple and strawberries.”

Rong Qing felt the warmth of their intertwined hands. The night breeze lifted their long hair, and her heartbeat thrummed like the chirping of crickets.

“Okay,” Rong Qing replied, squeezing Mu Lingwan’s hand tightly as they walked forward together.

Xia Yiran stood by the villa’s floor-to-ceiling window, watching the two hand-in-hand figures leave the manor with darkened eyes. Her hands clenched at her sides, her face alternating between flushed and pale.

Returning to her room, Xia Yiran yanked the pillows and duvet covers off the bed and threw them onto the floor. The mere thought that these had been prepared by Rong Qing made her seethe. She even stomped on them a couple of times.

The camera on the bedside table flickered with a faint red light, but it went unnoticed by Xia Yiran.

“What kind of joke is this? Who does Rong Qing think she is?” Xia Yiran ground her heel into the pillow as if it were Rong Qing’s face, sneering, “In the group, she wasn’t even fit to tie my shoes, and now I have to smile and play nice with her here? What a joke!”

After venting her rage, Xia Yiran finally wore herself out and curled up on the sofa to call her assistant. When told there were no clean bedding sets available for purchase, she exploded into a two-minute-long tirade before snapping, “If you can’t find any, you might as well drop dead,” and hanging up.

Once she had calmed down, Xia Yiran began scheming again on how to win over the other guests.

“I’ll make breakfast for everyone tomorrow,” she thought smugly. “They’ll all adore me for sure.”