After Swapping Bodies with the Movie Queen, She Ended Up with Me (GL) - Chapter 59

Rong Qing’s headache lasted nearly the entire day, only subsiding slightly by evening.

Throughout the day, Mu Lingwan kept flitting around in front of her wearing that butterfly hairband. Every time Rong Qing recalled what she had said that morning, her face would flush uncontrollably. She found Mu Lingwan… strange.

Strangely shameless.

When night fell, Zhou Ying arrived with some gifts.

“Here, these are crabs airlifted in today—still alive,” Zhou Ying said, placing a basket of seafood on the kitchen island. She glanced uncertainly between the two of them, unable to tell them apart for a moment.

“I’ll steam them all for you,” Zhou Ying said to Rong Qing. “Is your head still hurting?”

Mu Lingwan replied, “No.”

Rong Qing said, “Yes.”

Zhou Ying blinked, feeling her observational skills were deteriorating. The two were becoming more and more alike—almost indistinguishable.

“If your head hurts, rest properly,” Zhou Ying said, deciding not to bother distinguishing between them anymore. After all, the advice applied to both, and they had no secrets between them now. She went over their recent work schedules while busily scrubbing each crab clean and placing a slice of ginger on their undersides.

“By the way, Teacher Xu Qing called me today,” Zhou Ying said as she covered the pot. “She asked if you two had any upcoming plans and reserved seats for you at her concert.”

Rong Qing, who had been eyeing the crabs eagerly, perked up at the mention of Xu Qing’s concert. “Can I go?”

“Of course,” Zhou Ying said with a smile. “There aren’t any shoots scheduled soon. If you want to go, I can arrange it for you.”

Rong Qing immediately turned to Mu Lingwan. Since they were now inseparable, if she wanted to attend the concert, Mu Lingwan would naturally have to come along.

Catching Rong Qing’s signal, Mu Lingwan opened the fridge and took out some fruit. “If it’s not too far, I can go with you.”

Rong Qing was overjoyed and immediately jumped up to call Xu Qing.

Once Rong Qing had left, Zhou Ying walked over and sighed. “You really spoil her, don’t you?”

Mu Lingwan weighed the coconut in her hand and glanced at Zhou Ying. “What else can I do?”

Zhou Ying shrugged, then, making sure no one else was around, lowered her voice. “Be careful when you two go out. Drive safely, and don’t stop midway or go anywhere alone.”

“What’s wrong?” Mu Lingwan asked. “Did you find something?”

“Not exactly, but there are some irregularities in the company’s finances,” Zhou Ying said seriously. “You know your mother usually handles the accounts, but she’s been overseas most of the time lately, so someone else has been managing them. I checked a couple of days ago, and the cash flow seems off—expenses for promotions are way too high.”

“Promotions?”

“Yeah,” Zhou Ying nodded. “But promotional spending has always been messy. There’s a lot of discretionary spending and advertising investments, so it’s complicated. I’m not directly in charge of that department, so I’ll need help verifying. It’ll probably take another two weeks to get concrete answers.”

Mu Lingwan nodded. “Go investigate once you have a lead.”

Zhou Ying nodded earnestly.

She immediately noticed the black butterfly hair tie atop Mu Lingwan’s head. “Huh,” she said, “I’ve never seen this hair accessory before. It’s quite pretty—is it new?”

At Zhou Ying’s question, Mu Lingwan instinctively straightened her posture and flicked the high ponytail she’d styled that day. “Does it look good?” she asked.

“It does,” Zhou Ying replied with a smile. “It suits you well.”

Mu Lingwan was inwardly delighted, though she maintained a composed expression on her face. With a light glance, she said, “Someone gave it to me.”

For several days in a row, Mu Lingwan abandoned her usual loose hairstyle in favor of a high ponytail, swishing that glossy black tail around the house. Even on the day of Xu Qing’s concert, she still wore the butterfly hair tie Rong Qing had gifted her.

Rong Qing thought to herself that the gift had truly been the right choice—just look at how much Mu Lingwan liked it. It seemed women of any status loved beauty.

Tonight was Xu Qing’s concert, and she had called Rong Qing in the afternoon, urging her to leave early to avoid the crowds and enter smoothly before the rush.

Mu Lingwan scoffed at the idea.

“With how few fans she has, she’s worried about crowds?” Mu Lingwan remarked disdainfully while driving. “If she sells even half the tickets, it’d already be a sign of her popularity.”

Rong Qing chuckled from the passenger seat, holding the bouquet prepared for Xu Qing. She tilted her head to look at Mu Lingwan. “I thought you and Xu Qing were close? Why do you sound so dismissive of her?”

“Being close doesn’t mean I can’t find her annoying,” Mu Lingwan said. “She’s not the most tactful, and her temper is short. When she first started, she offended people left and right. If I hadn’t cleaned up her messes, she wouldn’t have gotten this far.”

Rong Qing wasn’t sure if that was entirely true, but considering Xu Qing’s personality, she did seem like someone who wasn’t particularly adept at social maneuvering.

In that way, she was a bit like Rong Qing herself.

“Is it only the clever ones who thrive in this industry?” Rong Qing asked.

“Not necessarily.”

Mu Lingwan kept her eyes on the road. “The ones who rise fastest fall into two categories: those with exceptional talent—top-tier looks or skills—and those who abandon all principles. The latter are often sharp and pragmatic, willing to do anything to climb. Beyond those, there’s also the exceptionally lucky, who sail through without ever facing the struggles of the other two.”

But luck wasn’t a constant.

People like Xu Qing, who managed to coast smoothly all the way, were rare.

Rong Qing nodded, though she only half-understood. “Well, I’m fine as I am. Drifting along without ambition doesn’t seem so bad.”

Mu Lingwan glanced at her briefly at a red light, smiling without comment.

Soon, they arrived at the sports center. It was only three in the afternoon, and aside from staff and patrolling officers, there weren’t many fans around. After parking, Rong Qing called Xu Qing.

“Hey, where are you guys?” Xu Qing’s loud voice came through the phone.

“We’re already in the parking lot,” Rong Qing replied, looking around. It was her first time at this massive sports center, and she couldn’t even spot the entrance.

“Already here?” Xu Qing’s voice was cheerful as she hugged her phone and said to Rong Qing, “I’m in the middle of makeup and can’t get away. How about this—I’ll send someone to pick you up. Wait for them in the parking lot.”

After hanging up, Mu Lingwan asked, “Is she busy?”

“Yeah, she said she’s doing her makeup and can’t leave, so she’s sending someone else to get us.” Rong Qing pocketed her phone and picked up the bouquet. “I’ll wait outside the car so the staff won’t miss us.”

“I’ll come with you.” Mu Lingwan unbuckled her seatbelt, put on her mask and hat, and stepped out of the car.

Several cars passed by them one after another. Rong Qing looked around and soon spotted someone in a khaki leather jacket jogging toward them.

The woman wore black-framed glasses and had a high ponytail that radiated energy. When she saw Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan, she immediately waved and hurried over.

As she got closer, Rong Qing gasped in surprise. “Jiang Jiang?!”

Jiang Jiang grinned as she jogged up. “Why are you two standing out here? Aren’t you cold?”

“Not at all.” Rong Qing smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and handed the bouquet to Jiang Jiang. “This is for Xu Qing. Wishing her a sold-out concert!”

Jiang Jiang cradled the heavy bouquet, delighted by the sunflowers and wheat stalks inside, and quickly led them through the staff entrance.

“The venue’s still being set up, so it might be a bit chaotic. Bear with us,” she said, guiding them forward. “Your seats are in the front row of the VIP section. If that’s too close, we can move you somewhere else.”

“There are other options?” Rong Qing asked.

“Of course!” Jiang Jiang laughed. “We reserved plenty of VIP seats for friends. Just let me know if you want to switch. Xu Qing will be pretty busy today.”

“We understand. It is her concert, after all.”

Mu Lingwan trailed behind, observing Jiang Jiang’s simple outfit—white sneakers, jeans, a khaki leather jacket over a white hoodie—looking no different than usual.

Had Xu Qing not told Jiang Jiang about the confession planned for tonight?

Mu Lingwan blinked, guessing Xu Qing wanted it to be a surprise, so she kept quiet.

Backstage was packed to the brim with costumes and people. After some effort, Jiang Jiang finally led Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan to Xu Qing’s dressing room. Xu Qing was sporting bold stage makeup, her hair dyed in vibrant colors, resembling a rooster.

Rong Qing was stunned. She’d never seen Xu Qing like this and didn’t know what to say.

“You’re here!” Xu Qing stood up warmly, spreading her arms for a big hug.

Overjoyed, Rong Qing was about to return the embrace when she caught Mu Lingwan’s dagger-like glare shooting her way. Frozen awkwardly, she forced a smile. “Congratulations! We didn’t bring much, just these flowers. Hope you like them.”

Xu Qing glanced at the bouquet in Jiang Jiang’s arms and patted Rong Qing’s shoulder. “If my wife likes them, then I do too.”

Jiang Jiang’s face instantly turned red. She put down the flowers and said, “I’ll go check the outer area,” before quickly leaving the lounge.

Watching Jiang Jiang depart, Mu Lingwan elbowed Xu Qing.

“Ouch!” Xu Qing winced in pain. “What was that for?”

Mu Lingwan looked at her and asked, “You didn’t tell her you were planning to confess at the concert?”

Xu Qing paused, giving Mu Lingwan a puzzled look. “How did you know?”

“Of course, my wife told me,” Mu Lingwan declared shamelessly. Seeing Xu Qing about to turn and look at Rong Qing, she quickly added, “Aren’t you afraid the surprise might turn into a shock if you don’t tell her?”

“No,” Xu Qing said cheerfully. “Jiang Jiang and I have known each other for so many years, and today is her birthday. I just want to give her a proper status and a surprise.”

Mu Lingwan shrugged. “Well, then I wish you smooth sailing and all the best.”

Xu Qing beamed and eagerly suggested whether they should invite the two of them on stage during the intermission for some fun, but Mu Lingwan firmly declined.

After spending over two hours backstage, Rong Qing, who was seeing the concert backstage for the first time, found everything fascinating. She wandered around, watching as the sky outside grew darker and the crowd swelled. By 6 p.m., when the gates opened, the stands were nearly full—a sea of people.

“Wow, so many people!” Rong Qing whispered in awe.

She had once dreamed of attending Xu Qing’s concert but never had the time or money. By the time she could afford it, Xu Qing had stopped performing. Never did she imagine her first time seeing Xu Qing live would be from such a close distance.

This must be what it feels like to successfully meet your idol!

Mu Lingwan stood beside her and gave a quiet “Mm,” playing along.

Once night fully fell, the concert was about to begin. Mu Lingwan and Rong Qing had to stay backstage until the show started to avoid being seen by regular fans. Only when all the lights focused on the stage did Jiang Jiang quietly escort them to their seats in the inner section.

Shortly after they sat down, the deafening sound system cranked up several notches. Rong Qing, holding the free glow sticks provided for the concert, joined the roaring crowd as the stage slowly rose amid smoke and cheers.

Mu Lingwan sat beside Rong Qing, standing out starkly among the wildly enthusiastic fans (including Rong Qing), as if they were from two different worlds.

It was also the first time Mu Lingwan realized how loud Rong Qing could scream—her voice cracked from excitement, and she even took off her mask. If it weren’t inappropriate, Mu Lingwan suspected Rong Qing might have rushed onto the stage.

Xu Qing changed stage outfits one after another, performing hit songs that ranged from soulful ballads to high-energy anthems, captivating the hearts of tens of thousands.

During the intermission segment, Xu Qing stood under the spotlight, scanning the crowd. Her gaze lingered briefly on Mu Lingwan and Rong Qing before she raised an eyebrow and spoke into the microphone, “Today is a special day. My friends, my colleagues, and the people I love—and who love me—are all gathered here.”

Rong Qing’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Gripping Mu Lingwan’s sleeve, she whispered eagerly, “Is she going to confess?! Is it happening now?!”

Mu Lingwan glanced at her, then intertwined their fingers, holding Rong Qing’s hand tightly.

Rong Qing froze for a moment before turning to look at her in the dim light.

“I think everyone probably knows that there’s someone I’ve loved for many years.”

On stage, Xu Qing gazed at her tens of thousands of fans under the soft background music, her eyes eventually landing on Jiang Jiang standing in the corner. The spotlight operator deliberately focused the light on Jiang Jiang, making it impossible for her to escape.

“Today is my beloved’s birthday,” Xu Qing said with a smile directed at her. “I want to take this special occasion, in front of all my loving fans, to say something to her.”

Rong Qing turned her head to look at the stage, while Mu Lingwan leaned slightly closer.

Xu Qing declared: “Jiang Jiang, I love you!”

Mu Lingwan whispered: “…I love you.”

Rong Qing felt her ears ringing, her palms breaking out in a light sweat, yet Mu Lingwan held her hand tightly.

She heard the cheers and screams of the fans around her and watched as Jiang Jiang was ushered onto the stage, embracing Xu Qing under the gaze of thousands.

Some around them cursed, while others shouted blessings.

Only Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan remained seated side by side, fingers tightly intertwined.

Xu Qing’s heartfelt confession at the concert instantly became a trending topic. Although some fans couldn’t accept that their favorite singer had a lover—even going so far as to confess to Jiang Jiang at a paid concert, feeling like they were part of some play—the majority still blessed Xu Qing, wishing her and Jiang Jiang eternal happiness.

As Rong Qing and Mu Lingwan sat together in the car, they could faintly hear the song Xu Qing was still singing at the venue.

Leaving early was somewhat regrettable, but Rong Qing had to consider Mu Lingwan’s fame and avoid being recognized, so they had no choice but to depart ahead of time.

“Did you have a good time today?” Mu Lingwan asked from the driver’s seat, making small talk.

“Huh?” Rong Qing glanced up at her before lowering her head again. “Yeah.”

Actually, she had enjoyed it quite a bit.

Not just because Xu Qing sang beautifully, nor because she was happy to see her friends together. Rong Qing remembered the words Mu Lingwan had whispered under Xu Qing’s declaration of love.

So soft.

But Rong Qing had heard them.

“Should we… head back?” Rong Qing asked, looking out the window.

Mu Lingwan nodded, taking the chance to leave before the crowd poured out—otherwise, they’d be stuck in post-concert traffic.

The two drove in silence. Halfway home, Xu Qing texted to ask if they had gotten back safely. Rong Qing called her instead, exchanging a few brief words before hanging up.

The late autumn wind was chilly. Rong Qing watched the sparse cars and pedestrians outside, the streetlights casting a dim yellow glow.

When they arrived home, Mu Lingwan parked in the garage. Just as Rong Qing was about to unbuckle her seatbelt and get out, Mu Lingwan pressed down on her hand.

“Huh?” Rong Qing looked up at her in confusion.

Before she could react, she heard a soft click—Mu Lingwan had undone her own seatbelt and leaned in, kissing her while still holding her hand.

Rong Qing stiffened, her eyes wide as she stared at the person now inches away. She completely forgot that Mu Lingwan was still kissing her, and when she slightly parted her lips, Mu Lingwan took advantage, their tongues tangling tightly together.

“Mmm…”

Rong Qing tried to push her away, but Mu Lingwan gripped her wrist. The woman above her seemed to chuckle softly before pressing Rong Qing back into the seat, kissing her without restraint.

The tip of her tongue tingled from being sucked, and Rong Qing’s breathing quickened uncontrollably. She instinctively reached up to wrap her arms around Mu Lingwan’s shoulders, feeling the soft brush of her ponytail against her wrist.

As if infected by the same feverish energy, both their bodies burned with unbearable heat.

The delicate wings of the black butterfly hair accessory faintly grazed Rong Qing’s fingertips. The thought that Mu Lingwan was wearing something she had gifted made her heartbeat accelerate wildly.

Their shared taste lingered between lips and teeth as Mu Lingwan nibbled Rong Qing’s soft, warm mouth, gazing down at her flushed face, rapid breathing, and the tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

Rong Qing wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, too embarrassed to meet Mu Lingwan’s gaze as her entire body trembled slightly.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the concert,” Mu Lingwan murmured, playing with the strands of hair cascading over Rong Qing’s shoulders. “Between Xu Qing and me, who do you think is prettier?”

Rong Qing stared into Mu Lingwan’s eyes, her own pulse racing so fast it frightened her.

Why was she being asked this?

Gripping her own clothes tightly, Rong Qing tried to avert her gaze but found her chin caught and turned back. Mu Lingwan’s lips were now a deep red—Rong Qing could imagine her own lips looked similarly flushed.

“Why… ask me this?” Rong Qing dared not look at her.

Mu Lingwan lowered her head again, gently biting Rong Qing’s lips. “Because I heard you shouting ‘Xu Qing, I love you.'”

Blushing furiously, Rong Qing defended, “Other fans were shouting that too!”

“Others are others. You’re you.” Mu Lingwan tightened her grip around Rong Qing’s waist. “You especially can’t say that.”

“Why?” Rong Qing asked, cheeks burning as she looked up.

Mu Lingwan paused before pressing firmly against Rong Qing’s waist, pulling her closer.

“Because I don’t like hearing it.” No sooner had she spoken than she captured Rong Qing’s lips again—this time not just her mouth but trailing kisses down her neck as well.

Rong Qing’s face burned crimson, yet inexplicably, Mu Lingwan’s words filled her with joy. Tentatively, she asked, “Are you… jealous?”

Mu Lingwan responded by sinking her teeth sharply into Rong Qing’s shoulder.

“Ow!” Rong Qing yelped, hitting Mu Lingwan’s back in protest. “Don’t bite me…”

Tears welling in her eyes, she added, “This is your body too.”

Mu Lingwan laughed. “So you admit you’re mine now?”

Before Rong Qing could retort, Mu Lingwan pushed her back into the passenger seat. With a press of some button, the seat reclined smoothly, carrying them both backward until the backrest lowered completely.

As Rong Qing gasped in surprise, Mu Lingwan leaned over her, slipping a hand beneath her shirt to caress the sensitive curve of her waist…

The next morning, Rong Qing woke to find their bodies had switched back.

Rong Qing: “?”

Sitting up in bed, she blinked at her surroundings—this was her own room. Mu Lingwan was nowhere to be seen. Rummaging through the closet, she pulled on a nightgown before slipping into shoes and heading downstairs.

“You’re awake?”

Mu Lingwan turned at the sound, currently frying eggs in the kitchen. She wore a gray apron, her high ponytail secured with the black butterfly hair accessory Rong Qing had given her—though it suited Mu Lingwan’s original body far better.

Rong Qing looked at her in confusion: “We… why?”

“Oh.” Mu Lingwan brought out breakfast and placed it on the dining table, saying to her: “We were photographed by paparazzi yesterday.”

Rong Qing: “!!!!”

She sprang up instantly, only to be pushed back down by Mu Lingwan.

“Don’t worry, the paparazzi only caught us kissing in the car. They must have been staking out our place for a while, finally catching us coming home yesterday.” Mu Lingwan blinked at her and said, “Besides, we didn’t actually do it in the car in the end—we waited until we got home.”

Rong Qing still remembered that incident. If she hadn’t resisted desperately, Mu Lingwan might have really wanted to have car s3x with her.

Even after entering the house, they started kissing in the dark hallway, groping their way until they tumbled onto the living room sofa. After finishing once, Mu Lingwan, full of energy, dragged Rong Qing to the bathroom where they did it again.

By the time they made it to bed, they had no idea what time it was.

Just thinking about it made Rong Qing’s face turn deathly pale. She worriedly said, “If someone had caught that on camera, I’d never be able to show my face again!”

Mu Lingwan blinked, suppressing a smile as she stroked Rong Qing’s soft cheek and leaned down. “Actually, I think it’s kind of nice this way.”

Rong Qing: “?”

Mu Lingwan said, “This way, we’d know by the next day whether we got caught on camera or not.”

Rong Qing stared at her in disbelief.

This woman—she’s definitely got something wrong with her!