After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 54

Ye Junjun had arrived at the restaurant early. Since it wasn’t yet the agreed-upon time, her blind date hadn’t shown up. She kept glancing toward the elevator until she finally spotted the person she was waiting for.

Her eyes lit up, and she waved from her seat. Mu Lingwan noticed her and took a moment to recognize her before turning to Rong Qing. “Come with me to greet her. It’ll feel more natural that way.”

Rong Qing nodded, adjusting her hat lower as she followed.

“Xiao Qing.” Ye Junjun stood up and walked over, momentarily stunned by Rong Qing’s full disguise before realizing who it was. “And this must be… Miss Mu?”

Rong Qing nodded and extended a hand to her friend. “Hello.”

Ye Junjun was flustered. Even though she already knew Mu Lingwan was Rong Qing’s girlfriend, seeing her in person still felt surreal. She hastily shook Rong Qing’s hand. “Hello, hello! I—I didn’t expect you to come. There’s space here—why don’t you join us?”

At this point, the blind date didn’t matter anymore. The real star was right in front of her.

“No need.” Mu Lingwan smoothly separated their hands and said to Ye Junjun, “I’ve reserved a table nearby. It wouldn’t be convenient for her to stay here.”

Rong Qing tilted her head slightly in agreement. “Right, I’d just be in the way.”

“Is that really okay?” Ye Junjun asked nervously, afraid of offending the celebrity. After hesitating, she finally relented. “Alright then. Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Mu.”

Rong Qing gave Ye Junjun a long look before saying, “Good luck with your date.”

Ye Junjun blinked, then laughed. “Thanks.”

A server led Rong Qing to a table not far away. Meanwhile, Ye Junjun nudged Mu Lingwan’s shoulder excitedly. “Your girlfriend is so nice! She’s nothing like what people say online.”

Mu Lingwan lifted an eyebrow. “And what do they say online?”

“That Mu Lingwan has a terrible temper, acts like a diva, and snaps at people all the time. They say she needs two assistants wherever she goes and demands private spaces in public.”

Mu Lingwan crossed her arms. “All rumors.”

“Right.” Ye Junjun nodded seriously. “Your girlfriend seems really sweet. The fact that she came with you shows how much she cares.”

Mu Lingwan raised her chin slightly. “Of course.”

Ye Junjun gave her a strange look. There was something different about her friend—her demeanor, her expression. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about Mu Lingwan had changed.

It was odd, but she couldn’t explain why.

After sitting down, Rong Qing ordered some light snacks and a salad. She wasn’t feeling well—her head was spinning—and just making it here had taken a lot of effort. She had no appetite, so she sipped hot water instead.

From her seat, she watched Mu Lingwan and Ye Junjun chatting. Mu Lingwan occasionally spoke, her gaze lowered, and the atmosphere seemed relaxed.

Before long, a man in a suit walked in. Ye Junjun stood to greet him, and after exchanging a few words, they both took their seats.

Rong Qing blinked and pulled out her phone to text Mu Lingwan from a short distance away: Is this the blind date guy?

The phone vibrated slightly. Mu Lingwan glanced at the message from Rong Qing just as the man began introducing himself.

The man appeared to be around 25 or 26, dressed in a well-fitted suit that looked custom-tailored. He must have styled himself before coming—Mu Lingwan could even catch a faint whiff of hair gel. He was also wearing cologne, filling the dining table with a woody fragrance.

Mu Lingwan lifted her gaze to size him up, narrowing her eyes slightly before quickly replying to Rong Qing: Yes

“I just returned from studying abroad last month. Not some top student, just a regular university grad student. I originally planned to pursue a Ph.D., but my mom said no matter how much I study, I’d still have to come back and help with the family business, so she made me return sooner,” the man said casually, finishing his introduction to Ye Junjun before his eyes inevitably drifted toward Mu Lingwan.

“Sorry,” the man said, looking at Mu Lingwan. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before. Ah, don’t misunderstand—I mean, you look familiar. Maybe from TV?”

Mu Lingwan glanced up at him and removed her hat. “I’m a celebrity. It’s normal you’ve seen me.”

The moment she took off her hat, the man’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Ah! I remember now—you’re Mu Lingwan’s girlfriend, right?”

Mu Lingwan stared at him. “Do I not have a name?”

The man flushed awkwardly, clearly unable to recall Rong Qing’s name. Ye Junjun quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “You’ve got a sharp eye! This is Rong Qing, my former roommate. She’s here to keep me company today. Hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all, not at all.” The man’s cheeks reddened as he smiled at Mu Lingwan. “It’s an honor to share a table with Miss Rong. Please, order whatever you’d like—dinner’s on me.”

Mu Lingwan kept her eyes fixed on him, silent.

Another buzz from her phone. Mu Lingwan opened it to see Rong Qing’s reply: What do you think of him?

Leaning back in her chair, Mu Lingwan listened to the man’s witty, charming conversation. Ye Junjun seemed thoroughly pleased, laughing brightly. After a moment’s thought, Mu Lingwan replied: He’s not a good match

Just as Rong Qing frowned at the message, about to ask why, another text followed: He’s gay

Pfft—

Rong Qing nearly spat out her water, quickly looking over at Ye Junjun’s table. The man was the picture of grace—well-mannered, engaging Ye Junjun in polite conversation, even handing her a napkin with practiced ease. Even the way he cut his steak was refined.

Rong Qing hastily typed back: No way? He seems totally normal.

Mu Lingwan replied: Do you trust me or him?

Mu Lingwan: I’ve met enough people to know who’s who. He’s hiding it well, but I can tell at a glance.

Rong Qing tensed: What do we do? Junjun’s going to get tricked! You have to help me!

Mu Lingwan: Want me to ruin this blind date?

Rong Qing: “Hmm, there’s no need to rush things now. Just drop more hints to Junjun. She’s a very simple girl—if you don’t tell her directly, she might never figure it out on her own.”

Mu Lingwan: “Alright.”

As she put down her phone, she heard the man already chatting with Ye Junjun about his experiences abroad. After listening for a moment, Mu Lingwan interjected, “Mr. Shi, did you never date anyone while overseas?”

The man paused slightly, turning to look at Mu Lingwan as he replied, “No, I was solely focused on my studies and daily life abroad. I never had a girlfriend.”

Ye Junjun also asked curiously, “Not even one? Honestly, it’s pretty normal to have an ex these days. Who doesn’t?”

The man grew serious and earnest as he addressed Ye Junjun, “I promise you, I never dated anyone overseas. I can swear to that.”

A pang of guilt struck Ye Junjun, worried she might have misunderstood him. She hurriedly explained, “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that! I was just joking. If I offended you, I’m really sorry—”

Mu Lingwan cut her off and asked the man again, “I believe you’re telling the truth.”

The man visibly relaxed, though he couldn’t quite place why this woman named ‘Rong Qing’ intimidated him so much—as if she could see right through him. Hearing her words now, he loosened up entirely and waved it off magnanimously. “It’s fine. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”

“But just because you never had a girlfriend doesn’t mean you never had a boyfriend, right?” Mu Lingwan remained lazily sprawled in her seat, smiling faintly as she met his gaze. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Shi?”

The man froze for a long moment, his expression slowly crumbling. He knew this blind date had failed yet again…

Meanwhile, unlike Mu Lingwan’s lively scene, Rong Qing sat alone at her table. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone approaching. At first, she assumed it was just another diner, but as the figure drew closer, she realized something was off.

She looked up to see Ming Qiao standing before her, then casually taking a seat across from her.

“What a coincidence, running into you here,” Ming Qiao said, her posture blocking Rong Qing’s view of Mu Lingwan’s table. Though curious, Rong Qing found her attention drawn to the woman in front of her.

“It’s you?” Rong Qing stared in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“I was out shopping with someone and happened to see you in the restaurant, so I came over to say hello.” Ming Qiao propped her chin on one hand, smiling at Rong Qing.

Glancing past her, Rong Qing spotted two women entering the restaurant, arms laden with shopping bags. They settled by the window and waved cheerfully when they noticed Rong Qing looking.

“One of them is an investor for my new film, and the other is the daughter of the censorship bureau’s director,” Ming Qiao explained, waving back before turning to Rong Qing. “I heard your new drama’s finished filming too. Why not join us for a chat? It might help smooth things over with the censors.”

Rong Qing frowned slightly, covering her mouth as she coughed twice.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ming Qiao’s eyes. After a brief pause, she asked, “I heard you were sick—you’re still not better?”

News of Mu Lingwan’s hospitalization had spread both within and outside their circles, so Ming Qiao was well aware. Seeing Rong Qing bundled up and coughing incessantly now, her concern deepened, and she quickly poured her a glass of water.

“What did the doctor say?” Ming Qiao placed the water in front of her and added, “Since you’re sick, why didn’t you stay home instead of running out?”

Rong Qing coughed for a long time before catching her breath enough to look up. “You should probably keep your distance. If I pass this illness to you, who knows what your fans would say about me.”

Ming Qiao studied her deeply, then propped her chin on her hand with a smile. “If I could share your burden by taking the sickness from you, I’d be happy to.”

The words sent Rong Qing into another coughing fit that lasted over a minute, her face flushing red before she finally managed to suppress it. She hastily took a sip of water and said weakly, “Our relationship isn’t that close, is it?”

“Isn’t it?” Ming Qiao crossed her legs and gazed at her for a long moment before sighing. “After all these years, there’s no need for us to be at odds the moment we meet. I’d actually like to reconcile.”

Reconcile?

Rong Qing studied the woman before her. Others might not know, but how could she forget?

She remembered every word Mu Lingwan had said to her in the car back then. Though their time together had been brief, Rong Qing could tell Mu Lingwan was genuinely kind—she must have treated Ming Qiao just as well in the past.

So why had Ming Qiao done what she did?

Had leaving Mu Lingwan truly benefited her?

Rong Qing didn’t know. But she understood she wasn’t Mu Lingwan—having never experienced her pain, she couldn’t make judgments on her behalf. So Rong Qing simply hugged her cup tighter and turned to look out the window.

“Your friends are waiting for you,” Rong Qing said. “Don’t keep them waiting too long.”

“It’s fine. They’ll understand.”

“They might, but my girlfriend won’t.” Rong Qing gave her a helpless glance. “Miss Ming, I’m on a date with my girlfriend. Isn’t your presence here inappropriate?”

Ming Qiao’s eyes flickered momentarily, shock flashing through them before her expression smoothed back into calm composure.

“Is that so?” Ming Qiao straightened and looked at her. “You and that Rong Qing are really together?”

Rong Qing’s heart skipped a beat, avoiding her gaze. “What else would we be?”

Ming Qiao smiled but didn’t expose her.

An uneasy feeling settled in Rong Qing’s chest. Ming Qiao always seemed calculating—her thoughts and actions never showed on her face. She might even sit sipping coffee while watching you walk straight into her traps.

Rong Qing couldn’t get along with such people. She didn’t like them.

Looking past Ming Qiao’s shoulder toward Mu Lingwan’s table, she noticed the man had already left. Mu Lingwan had her hand on Ye Junjun’s shoulder, whispering something before standing to lead her over—only to freeze upon seeing Ming Qiao seated with Rong Qing.

Mu Lingwan clearly hesitated. Noticing her pause, Ye Junjun turned. “What’s wrong?”

Frowning, Mu Lingwan strode quickly toward them.

Rong Qing’s coughing worsened at the sight of Mu Lingwan approaching, as if she might cough up a lung. Ming Qiao too sensed the tension, turning to see Mu Lingwan’s dark expression as she closed the distance between them.

“Miss Rong, hello.” Ming Qiao showed no intention of avoiding them, still seated without getting up, waving at the newcomers. “What a coincidence running into you here.”

“Why are you here?” Mu Lingwan asked her.

“Meeting friends.” Ming Qiao gestured for Rong Qing to look in that direction.

Mu Lingwan glanced up and saw two familiar figures—one was Ming Qiao’s biggest investor, a 39-year-old capitalist who had long pursued her, though Ming Qiao always kept him at arm’s length. The other was the daughter of the censorship bureau chief, a spoiled only child doted on by her parents and a devoted fan of Ming Qiao. She always pulled strings to fast-track Ming Qiao’s projects.

What an unfortunate coincidence, running into these two today.

Mu Lingwan narrowed her eyes slightly, already guessing Ming Qiao’s recent plans. She must be preparing a new film and cozying up to these two to steal the spotlight at any moment.

She glanced back at Ming Qiao with a knowing look—truly a product of her own mentorship, using the same old tricks.

“What a coincidence, we’re also meeting friends.” Mu Lingwan said to Ming Qiao, “We have some private matters to discuss. Would you mind giving us some space?”

Ming Qiao raised an eyebrow but didn’t linger. She stood up, steadying herself against the table, and said to Rong Qing, “Take care of yourself. I’ll visit when I have time.”

Rong Qing shivered instinctively and glanced at Mu Lingwan, whose expression remained neutral. Only after Ming Qiao had left did Mu Lingwan turn to Ye Junjun standing behind her and say, “Sit.”

Ye Junjun, still starstruck from seeing Ming Qiao, had completely forgotten about her failed blind date. As she sat down, she stared after Ming Qiao and asked, “Xiao Qing, was that really Ming Qiao? She’s so beautiful—even prettier than on TV!”

Mu Lingwan didn’t appreciate that.

Rong Qing coughed pointedly, signaling Ye Junjun not to praise Ming Qiao in front of Mu Lingwan. Only then did Ye Junjun remember their rivalry and quickly backtracked, “But on closer look, she’s not that stunning. Teacher Mu is definitely the most beautiful, both in person and on screen.”

Mu Lingwan’s expression softened slightly as she gave Ye Junjun a sidelong glance. “Obviously.”

But Ye Junjun couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Teacher Mu, what did Ming Qiao want with you? Were you two talking?”

That was exactly what Mu Lingwan wanted to know.

Rong Qing took a sip of water to soothe her itchy throat. “We barely spoke. You arrived right after we exchanged greetings.” She then looked at the two sitting across from her and asked, “How did the blind date go? That guy…”

“He’s gay. After breaking up with his ex-boyfriend, he returned home, and now his family wants him to marry a woman to inherit the family business. That’s why he agreed to meet me.” Ye Junjun sighed. “Same-s3x marriage is legal now, so why do people still cling to these outdated ideas about inheritance?”

“Did he tell you that himself?”

“Sort of.”

Ye Junjun glanced at Mu Lingwan. “Xiao Qing secretly told me. Otherwise, I’d never have guessed.”

She simply couldn’t fathom how a man dressed in an impeccable suit, exuding elegance, considerate towards women, smelling delightful and impeccably groomed, could possibly not be interested in women. Although the man had promptly apologized after being exposed, Ye Junjun realized that without her friend’s warning, she might have actually ended up dating someone like him.

“Isn’t this just marriage fraud?” Ye Junjun angrily exclaimed. “All men are scum.”

Rong Qing felt her generalization was a bit too broad and tried to console her with a wry smile, “It’s alright, if this one didn’t work out, we’ll find another. Have you told your parents about this? They should know.”

“I’ll tell them when I get home today,” Ye Junjun said resolutely.

After venting about that despicable man, Mu Lingwan no longer wanted to stay in the restaurant. The sight of Ming Qiao in the distance irritated her to no end, and even sharing the same air made her uncomfortable. She was the first to suggest leaving and finding another place to eat.

Ye Junjun also didn’t want to stay in the restaurant. She had already decided to add this innocent establishment to her blacklist, vowing never to return even if she were starving. Hearing Mu Lingwan’s suggestion, she eagerly volunteered to treat them and took them to another garden restaurant.

By the time Ming Qiao had a moment to glance back, Rong Qing’s table had already been replaced by other diners. Her eyes flickered briefly before she composed herself and continued chatting amiably with the two people in front of her.

The meeting with the master took place a week later, on a weekend. Mu Lingwan used the excuse of running errands to accompany Zhou Ying to the seemingly respectable Taoist temple.

The same Taoist priest in red robes greeted them and ushered them into a back room, personally serving them tea before sitting across from Mu Lingwan.

“A soul out of place—I’ve heard of your situation, benefactor,” the old priest said, squinting at Mu Lingwan with a mystical air. “This matter is quite complex. You must recount it to me in detail.”

Mu Lingwan, suppressing her impatience, recounted the events of the past few months. The old priest stroked his beard thoughtfully after listening.

Whether it was psychological or not, Mu Lingwan couldn’t shake the feeling that his words and actions were overly mystical, making her tempted to report his temple on the spot.

After wasting the entire morning at the temple, Mu Lingwan, under the old priest’s guidance, lit three incense sticks, praying for a smooth resolution to her predicament. The old priest warmly saw them off, even bowing deeply as they left.

Returning to the incense burner, the old priest frowned slightly as he observed the three sticks Mu Lingwan had lit—the left one the longest, the middle the shortest, and the right one medium in length.

His disciple, noticing this, quickly flipped through an illustrated guide on his phone and whispered, “Master, this is… an ominous incense reading. That benefactor just now—”

The old priest shot him a glare, stepped forward, and adjusted the middle stick to match the height of the right one. Pointing at the three sticks, he said, “Now it’s an incense for warding off calamity, isn’t it? Young people these days shouldn’t be so superstitious. Even if it were ominous, isn’t your master here to handle it?”

The disciple scratched his head, glanced at the incense, and hurried after his master.

At this moment, Mu Lingwan was still walking along the mountain’s stone path with Zhou Ying. She sniffed the scent on her coat, noticing a lingering odor of burnt talisman paper soaked in holy water.

How peculiar.

“Alright, stop looking so disgusted,” Zhou Ying said, crossing her arms. “This master is quite renowned. If I hadn’t paid extra, we wouldn’t even have gotten to see him.”

Mu Lingwan initially wanted to say she didn’t believe in such things, but then remembered she’d already come all this way. There was no point in criticizing herself now, so she simply kept quiet.

Zhou Ying looked at her expression and asked, “Did you remember what the master just told you?”

“I did,” Mu Lingwan replied. “The master said there are ill-intentioned people around me. He told me to go back and find the medicinal catalyst, then sleep facing south for three days. What else was there?”

“Spend more intimate time with Rong Qing.”

“…”

Mu Lingwan rubbed her temples. “What exactly does ‘more intimate’ mean?”

Zhou Ying glanced at her. “Just continue whatever you used to do with her.”

Mu Lingwan’s face flushed slightly. Ever since Zhou Ying had learned her secret, she always seemed to enjoy teasing her about Rong Qing.

Does this woman even remember who signs her paycheck?

“Never mind,” Mu Lingwan said irritably, waving her off. “Go handle your own business. I’ll figure things out with Rong Qing myself.”

Zhou Ying watched as Mu Lingwan strode to her car, got in, and sped off in a huff. Sighing in resignation, she picked up her phone and sent a message in the company group chat:

“Anyone free this afternoon, gather at the office. I’m calling a meeting.”