After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 39

On the first day after wrapping up work, Xu Qing and Jiang Jiang prepared to leave. Before departing, they hugged Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan reluctantly.

“You must come to my concert when you have time! I’ll save front row seats for you!” Xu Qing said with red-rimmed eyes.

Rong Qing chuckled and comforted her, “Alright, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again. Why are your eyes all red?”

Xu Qing hugged Rong Qing tightly and said, “I’ll miss you, sweetheart~”

Mu Lingwan shot her a displeased look and remarked, “Your sweetheart is waiting for you over there. If you keep hugging her like this, you’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.”

“Nonsense! Our Jiang Jiang has such a gentle temper—she’d never make me sleep on the couch,” Xu Qing retorted, though she did let go. Patting Rong Qing’s shoulder, she added, “We’ll get going now. Your assistant should be here soon to pick you up, right?”

“Yeah, she said she’d arrive soon,” Rong Qing replied with a soft smile.

After bidding farewell to the reluctant Xu Qing and Jiang Jiang, Shen Nian also prepared to leave. She wore a pale blue dress and carried a small palm-sized bag slung diagonally across her shoulder. Sitting obediently on the sofa, she watched Rong Qing for a moment before standing up and walking over.

“Sister Mu, I’ll be leaving too,” Shen Nian said, pulling something out of her tiny bag—a small pendant shaped like a ginkgo leaf.

“This is a necklace I designed myself. I’d like to give it to you,” Shen Nian said, placing the cool pendant in Rong Qing’s palm. Her dark, bright eyes gazed at Rong Qing as she leaned in and whispered, “I hope that the next time we meet, you’ll like me.”

Before Rong Qing could react, Shen Nian grabbed her hat and left the villa. Rong Qing stood there, clutching the ginkgo leaf in her hand, feeling torn. She glanced sideways at Mu Lingwan.

“Why are you looking at me?” Mu Lingwan crossed her arms and said calmly, “It wasn’t given to me.”

Rong Qing knew Mu Lingwan must have overheard Shen Nian’s words. The once-cool pendant now felt scorching in her hand, like a hot potato she didn’t know how to handle.

“…You take it,” Rong Qing said softly, extending her hand toward Mu Lingwan. “After all, it wasn’t really meant for me.”

But Mu Lingwan turned away in disdain and headed upstairs, casually remarking, “If you don’t like it, just throw it away.”

Watching Mu Lingwan’s retreating figure, Rong Qing stood still for a moment before tucking the pendant into her pocket. She decided she’d find a jewelry box for it later—it was still a heartfelt gift from Shen Nian, after all.

Not long after lunch, Zhou Ying finally arrived.

She walked in carrying a large bouquet of lilies and handed it to Rong Qing with a smile. “Congratulations on wrapping up filming.”

Rong Qing accepted the flowers, flattered.

Though she knew the bouquet was meant for the real Mu Lingwan, it was the first time she had ever received such a grand floral arrangement. Her mood instantly brightened, and she smiled warmly. “Thank you.”

Mu Lingwan stood nearby, watching coldly. “Why are you so late?”

The filming had wrapped up the day before, so Zhou Ying should have come to pick them up last night—just like Ming Qiao, who had left immediately. But Zhou Ying had called to say she was delayed and asked them to stay one more night with the production team.

“Fine, stay if you must,” Mu Lingwan thought, though Zhou Ying’s overly enthusiastic smile was grating on her nerves, making her unable to resist snapping a few words.

Zhou Ying, accustomed to this, smoothed her hair and waited until most of the staff had left before whispering to the two of them, “Yesterday, I went to invite a master for you. It took some time, but now let’s head home.”

A master?

Rong Qing, holding the bouquet of lilies, was momentarily stunned. She glanced at Mu Lingwan and saw her eyes widen in surprise. Noticing Rong Qing’s gaze, Mu Lingwan slightly lifted her chin and signaled, “Let’s go see what this ‘master’ is all about.”

Zhou Ying had driven alone. Mu Lingwan and Rong Qing each opened a back door and settled in, leaving the remaining items at the villa for the two junior assistants to send to the company by taxi. Their rank was still too low to accompany them home.

“How are those two girls doing?” Zhou Ying asked casually as she drove.

“They’re alright, though sometimes they’re a bit slow and need reminders,” Mu Lingwan replied, resting her head on one hand as she gazed out the window at the familiar scenery. She had spent over half a month here and knew the area inside out—where the potholes were, which patches of grass were likely to hide ‘landmines.’

Zhou Ying chuckled. “They’re fresh graduates, after all. They lack experience, but isn’t that exactly what you wanted—someone obedient who gets things done?”

Mu Lingwan neither confirmed nor denied it.

Zhou Ying then glanced at Rong Qing in the rearview mirror, still holding the flowers, and smiled. “Miss Rong, you’ve worked hard too. I was watching the livestream the whole time, worried you might slip up, but everything went smoothly. You did really well.”

Flattered, Rong Qing smiled back. “Thank you. Lingwan helped me out a lot—there were a few times I almost gave myself away.”

“But you handled it perfectly, so natural that sometimes even the camera couldn’t tell you apart from Mu Lingwan. Watching the stream, I kept thinking you two had switched back.”

Rong Qing laughed. “Thank you for the praise, Sister Zhou Ying.”

Listening to their mutual flattery, Mu Lingwan couldn’t help but turn her head slightly to look at Rong Qing beside her.

The bouquet of vibrant lilies in her arms filled the car with their fresh, sweet fragrance. The sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated Rong Qing’s delicate features, her gentle eyes and soft smile.

Studying her face, Mu Lingwan wondered: Do I ever look like that?

It looked… surprisingly tender.

But Mu Lingwan knew the word “gentle” had never suited her. Even in acting, she couldn’t pull off such a demeanor. Yet, watching Rong Qing’s soft, warm smile now, she felt an inexplicable flutter in her chest.

She quickly turned back to the window, but in its reflection, she boldly and carefully studied Rong Qing’s eyes.

Why have I been acting so strange lately?

It was almost like… she was falling in love.

After a two-hour drive, Zhou Ying finally brought them to the villa nestled halfway up the mountainside.

Stepping out of the car, Mu Lingwan felt an instant ease at the sight of her familiar home. It had been a while since she’d been back, and standing at the doorstep now, even the air here seemed fresher than anywhere else.

Rong Qing stepped out from another door, still holding that heavy bouquet of flowers in her arms. Mu Lingwan glanced back at her, tilting her head slightly as she said, “Fingerprint lock. Open it.”

Rong Qing paused briefly before understanding, quickly walking over to press her thumb against the fingerprint scanner by the door.

Mu Lingwan crossed her arms and corrected, “It’s the index finger.”

Rong Qing hurriedly switched to her index finger.

With two beeps, the door unlocked. Rong Qing turned back with a delighted look, only for Mu Lingwan to chuckle and say, “Why are you looking at me? This is your home.”

Rong Qing’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “It’s your home too.”

Zhou Ying approached from behind and, seeing the two blocking the doorway, remarked, “We should register Lingwan’s fingerprint later. Now that you’re officially a couple, living together is perfectly normal. Even if you’re photographed, it won’t be an issue.”

“Mm,” Mu Lingwan nodded.

This was precisely why they had joined the dating show—to normalize their relationship in the public eye. By openly displaying affection on the program, their cohabitation would raise no eyebrows, and any photos could simply be framed as proof of their closeness.

Inside, the spacious foyer was decorated in pure black tones. Despite Mu Lingwan’s absence, the villa had been regularly cleaned. After changing, they entered the living room, where Mu Lingwan’s gaze immediately fell on the strange assortment of items cluttering her home.

Paper offerings and incense burners were one thing, but the garden shrub draped in red ribbons was another—what even was that? It looked downright eerie.

Mu Lingwan’s brows furrowed. She had always despised such things, and the sight filled her with discomfort, as if the entire decor had taken on an unsettling aura. A deep unease settled in her chest.

“What is all this?” she demanded, peeling a red talisman from a nearby cabinet before turning to Zhou Ying with displeasure. “You know I hate this stuff.”

“Ah—” Zhou Ying hesitated before quickly responding, “I’ll have it cleaned up right away.”

“Yes, get rid of it quickly,” Mu Lingwan said, crumpling the talisman in her hand and tossing it into the living room trash bin.

Rong Qing watched the exchange, puzzled, and glanced at Zhou Ying. Meeting her gaze, Zhou Ying forced a strained smile, took the flowers from her arms, and quietly urged her to go upstairs and rest.

The guest room on the second floor had been Rong Qing’s living space and remained so now. She opened the window, breathing deeply of the fresh air as she gazed into the distance.

It was good to be back.

No cameras, no unfamiliar crew members—here, Rong Qing was simply herself, not “Professor Mu” or “Sister Mu.” She could do as she pleased.

Taking the opportunity, she began reorganizing her closet. With the temperature dropping, she needed to pull out her winter clothes—maybe a wash would make them wearable again.

Before long, commotion rose from the first floor. Drying her hair, Rong Qing stepped out and saw several robed figures downstairs. Zhou Ying led the group of three or four through the living room before heading into the garden.

Were they… performing a ritual?

Rong Qing was extremely curious the first time she saw a Taoist priest performing rituals. When she couldn’t see clearly from the second floor, she turned to head back to the guest bedroom for a better view—only to bump into Mu Lingwan, who had just stepped out.

“Ah, sorry!” The towel in Rong Qing’s hand fell to the floor, landing right on Mu Lingwan’s foot.

Mu Lingwan bent down to pick it up and, noticing Rong Qing’s freshly showered appearance, asked in puzzlement, “What are you doing? Even drying your hair brings you out into the hallway?”

Rong Qing smiled. “Nothing.”

Mu Lingwan draped the towel over her head and began gently drying her hair through the soft fabric, her low voice drifting down from above. “If I don’t dry my hair properly, I get headaches easily.”

Rong Qing secretly lifted her gaze, peeking at her from beneath the towel, then nodded in understanding.

Mu Lingwan dried her hair meticulously, from the crown of her head all the way down to the base of her ears. Rong Qing wasn’t used to someone drying her hair like this, and it reminded her of how Mu Lingwan had also blow-dried her hair for her back on the show.

This person… was actually this caring?

Rong Qing’s lashes fluttered slightly as she rubbed her palms together, feeling an odd itch in her chest.

“Earlier, a Taoist priest came,” Rong Qing said, thinking the current atmosphere was perfect for casual conversation. Tilting her head back slightly, she squinted up at Mu Lingwan and added, “He’s probably in the courtyard now.”