After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 42

Over the past week, Mu Lingwan had conducted an intensive crash course for Rong Qing. In addition to strictly managing Rong Qing’s diet, she also gave her several hours of acting lessons every morning and afternoon.

A week later, Rong Qing had lost nine pounds. Her eyes sparkled with excitement—all the hardship she endured this week had paid off!

Mu Lingwan found Rong Qing’s astonished expression amusing. “If you gain weight quickly, you can lose it just as fast. From now on, just stick to the diet plan I’ve set for you, and you’ll maintain this weight.”

Rong Qing still couldn’t believe it. “When I was at AG, I also lost weight rapidly, but the results were never this good.”

“You probably had to sing and dance there, right? Eating too little would make you faint easily.”

“Yeah, that’s true. So we ate three normal meals a day—just cleaner and simpler, mostly boiled vegetables.”

Mu Lingwan took out a measuring tape and beckoned Rong Qing over. Obediently, Rong Qing walked up, raised her arms, and puffed out her chest, letting Mu Lingwan measure her waist.

“This measurement is perfect. You’ll look much better on camera now.” Mu Lingwan put away the tape and coaxed her with a smile. “You’ve worked hard this week, so today, I’ll reward you with 100 grams of boiled shrimp. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the set for the official screen test.”

Rong Qing was overjoyed. She immediately rushed to the kitchen to boil water, ready to cook the frozen shrimp from the fridge. It had been so long since she’d had a proper, delicious meal.

Early the next morning, Zhou Ying arrived. The moment she saw Rong Qing, her eyes lit up. She circled around her, scrutinizing her. “You must’ve lost ten pounds, right? You look so much more refreshed—like your old self again.”

Rong Qing was baffled. “Are your eyes digital scales? How can you tell? I don’t feel any different.”

Zhou Ying wagged her finger. “No, it’s obvious. The lines of your jaw are much smoother, the extra fat on your arms is gone, and you just look more energetic.”

Rong Qing glanced back at Mu Lingwan, seeking confirmation. Mu Lingwan chuckled softly and nodded before asking Zhou Ying, “Is everything ready on set?”

“Yep,” Zhou Ying replied. “While you were taking Rong Qing to variety shows, the director finished shooting all the supporting roles’ scenes. The remaining ones are all yours—I mean, Rong Qing’s. If everything goes smoothly, it should take about a month.”

A month?

“That’s a bit long. Has the script been submitted for review? What about the previously shot footage?”

“Everything’s been submitted. The censorship is stricter now, but all the completed footage has passed review without issues. Once it’s fully approved, we can start negotiating release dates with major platforms.”

“Then let’s try to wrap up filming as soon as possible. I’m worried Ming Qiao’s team is also rushing their production. We can’t fall behind them.”

“I’ve heard some rumors—Ming Qiao also filmed a female-led drama and submitted it for review. Not sure if they’ve finished shooting or if they’re like us, halfway through.”

“Do we know their budget?”

“About the same as ours.”

“Alright, we need to pick up the pace.” Mu Lingwan mused, “How are the negotiations with the major streaming platforms going?”

“With your drama, who would worry about no one competing for it?” Zhou Ying blinked at her and said, “Of course it’s an auction—whoever offers the highest price gets it.”

Rong Qing stood nearby, listening in confusion, but she managed to grasp the gist: Mu Lingwan’s drama was going head-to-head with Ming Qiao’s similar project, perfectly aligning with their online feud, both overt and covert.

So celebrities really do have arch-nemeses. Yet, on variety shows, Mu Lingwan never seemed to harbor much hatred toward her.

How strange.

“Alright, it’s about time. Let’s get in the car—most of the crew should already be on set,” Zhou Ying ushered the two into the vehicle and then explained to Rong Qing during the ride: “Today is just a screen test to help you get used to camera positioning and the atmosphere. Practicing at home a hundred times can’t compare to actually performing in front of the lens once.”

Rong Qing nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Ying added, “I’ve already spoken to the crew. I told them you had an accident and filmed a variety show afterward, so your performance might not be at its usual level. They all understood. Just give it your best shot.”

Again, Rong Qing nodded eagerly.

Just as Zhou Ying was about to continue, Mu Lingwan frowned and interrupted, “Enough, let’s drive. I’ve already gone over all this with her at home. No need to repeat it.”

Zhou Ying glanced between the two in the rearview mirror, smiling as she fastened her seatbelt. “My bad. Let’s get going then!”

After driving for over half an hour, the towering skyscrapers faded away, replaced by endless golden wheat fields. It was peak autumn, and the weather complemented the scenery perfectly. The view outside the small car window looked like a beautiful oil painting.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Rong Qing murmured, leaning against the window as she gazed at the vast golden fields swaying in the wind, reminiscent of the song Wind Blowing Through the Wheat.

Mu Lingwan, reclining in her seat while scrolling through her phone, lifted her head at the comment and took in the picturesque view outside. Noticing Rong Qing’s awestruck expression, she said, “If you like it, I can bring you here for a proper visit when we have time.”

Rong Qing turned to her. “Really?”

“Why not?” Mu Lingwan put away her phone and explained, “Just wear a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, dress plainly, and no one will recognize you.”

“Is that how you usually go out?”

“Pretty much. People are busy—they won’t scrutinize you. Even if you’re recognized, just smile and greet them. No need to panic.”

If nothing else, the public security here was reliable enough that nothing unexpected would happen.

Mu Lingwan’s words piqued Rong Qing’s curiosity. She had no idea what the daily life of a top-tier celebrity was like—whether it was similar to ordinary people’s.

“Our lives are actually pretty mundane,” Mu Lingwan chatted casually. “When there’s work, we work. When there isn’t, we stay home. Occasionally, we travel or sightsee, but most of the time, we just stay indoors.”

Rong Qing blinked slowly and nodded in understanding.

Seeing them chatting, Zhou Ying chimed in, “Actually, it varies from person to person. Some celebrities love dating—they can’t stand being single and always need companionship. Others love throwing parties—some host them 30 days a month. No idea where they get all that energy.”

Once gossip was mentioned, Zhou Ying couldn’t stop herself and began telling Rong Qing about how Mu Lingwan had moved three times.

“The first place was in a wealthy neighborhood. The neighbor was a nouveau riche who threw pool parties every night—not just noisy, but they barely wore any clothes. Eventually, they started stripping and standing in a row completely naked. It was seriously eye-searing.”

“The second time, she ended up next to that male celebrity who got blacklisted. Every day, she could hear him beating his wife and kids, even though he pretended to be the perfect family man in public. Mu Lingwan alone called the police on him twice, but nothing came of it. It wasn’t until the guy got caught for drugs that the truth came out.”

“The third time was even worse. Across from her lived a 90-year-old man with his first, second, third, fourth, and fifth wives lined up from left to right. Next to Mu Lingwan’s place were the sixth, seventh, and eighth wives. Every day was as lively as a marketplace. You have no idea—I had to watch a family drama unfold daily just coming over. There were over a dozen kids, and when the old man was hospitalized, they were all fighting over inheritance.”

Rong Qing’s eyes widened. She had never heard anything so wild. Sitting up straight, she gripped the front seat in disbelief. “Really? Then… then those wives didn’t fight each other?”

“Isn’t that normal for the rich? The first wife doesn’t make a fuss as long as her son inherits most of the fortune. The rest of the money gets divided among the concubines. Otherwise, if things really went south, she’d be left with nothing, right?”

“Really?” Rong Qing blinked. “People would actually do that for money?”

Zhou Ying nodded. “You probably don’t get it. I can’t name the old man, but he’s definitely on the national rich list. His assets alone are worth billions. The youngest wife is only in her thirties and has been with him for over a decade. Rumor has it she was a minor celebrity back then, but without connections or resources, she ended up as a hostess. Now she has a daughter, and the old man just wired her tens of millions.”

“That much?”

“That’s not even the craziest part. They say if she gives him a son, he’ll throw in another hundred million!”

Mu Lingwan, hearing Zhou Ying getting more and more carried away, quickly cut in. “Stop spreading rumors. If the wrong person hears this, you’ll end up in court.”

Zhou Ying chuckled, hands on the steering wheel. “Rong Qing’s not an outsider. I’m just telling her—she doesn’t even know who it is.”

Rong Qing nodded eagerly. “Right, right! I’m just treating it as gossip. I have no idea who Sister Zhou Ying’s talking about.”

Mu Lingwan shook her head and crossed her arms. “Once we get there, drop the topic. It’s not good if someone overhears.”

So Zhou Ying and Rong Qing scrambled to squeeze in as much gossip as possible before arriving. Only after parking at the set did Mu Lingwan lead the now-silent pair inside.

The shooting location was a studio in the suburbs, frequently used for filming, so there were plenty of crew members around.

This wasn’t Rong Qing’s first time here. She tilted her head up, squinting against the sunlight at the intricately carved buildings in the distance. This was a traditional-style mansion, perfect for filming period dramas about wealthy families—something akin to the residences of nobility. Not far off, she could even see the artificial imperial palace.

The weather was nice today, and all the outdoor locations were packed with film crews. Even some unknown minor celebrities came to shoot short dramas, while small-time internet influencers also started taking on acting gigs. Nearly three different groups were filming at the same spot.

“There are so many people,” Rong Qing remarked, adjusting her hat as she noticed the crowd had grown significantly since her last visit. “Aren’t they worried about accidentally capturing others in their shots? What if someone else gets in the frame?”

“That’s just how it is for lesser-known actors—they have to squeeze in with other crews. If someone gets caught in the shot, they’ll just edit them out in post-production. There’s no other way around it,” Zhou Ying replied, walking beside her.

Rong Qing sighed. “That sounds tough.”

She had debuted as a trainee, and AG was a fairly large company with its own well-established system for training idols. So, Rong Qing had never experienced that kind of struggle. As long as she put in the required practice, her manager wouldn’t give her any trouble.

Zhou Ying chuckled. “Everyone goes through it when they’re starting out. Ling Wan used to fight for shooting spots too.”

Rong Qing looked puzzled. “But didn’t she debut as a child?”

“She did, but she never gained much fame back then. And since she was young, she could only play minor roles—daughters, little sisters, or background characters.” Once Zhou Ying started talking, she couldn’t stop. “I remember she was just a teenager when another actress kept barging into her shots. At first, they were just filming separately, but then that actress started deliberately stepping into Ling Wan’s frame. When Ling Wan confronted her, the actress snapped at her, saying she’d been in the industry for so long and was still just a nobody.”

Rong Qing’s eyes widened in shock. “Really? What happened after that?”

“Ling Wan burst into tears on the spot. For days afterward, she couldn’t focus on filming, and the director scolded her, saying if she couldn’t adjust her attitude, she might as well quit—there were plenty of people who could replace her.”

Mu Ling Wan’s expression darkened the more she listened. She turned sharply to Zhou Ying and snapped, “How much longer are you going to keep talking?”

Zhou Ying blinked, quickly changing the subject. “Oh, we’ve arrived at the set! Come on, let me introduce you to everyone!”