After the Soul Swap Between Love Rival AO - Chapter 21

The following weekend was the program’s designated free time for the participants. The crew would no longer follow and film each guest individually, giving them more freedom in their activities.

What Cheng Luanxin looked forward to most, of course, was going grocery shopping with Du Zhiruo.

She couldn’t sleep at all that morning and kept bombarding Song Qiuchi with messages:

“Song Qiuchi! Good morning! Are you awake yet?”

“Has Zhi Ruo told you when we’re going shopping?”

“Did you check the guide? What should we buy?”

“Why aren’t you up yet?”

Song Qiuchi was used to doing yoga in the morning. With her headphones on, listening to the guided meditation, the quiet early hours were repeatedly interrupted by the constant buzzing of her phone, distracting her.

Du Zhiruo was grinding coffee beans and couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the growing impatience on Song Qiuchi’s face. “Aren’t you going to check your messages?”

Without even thinking, Song Qiuchi knew it was Cheng Luanxin. She sighed and picked up her phone, replying: “As far as I know, most stores don’t open before seven.”

Cheng Luanxin giggled from her bed: “Just getting prepared early!”

Du Zhiruo stirred coconut milk into the freshly brewed coffee and handed a cup to Song Qiuchi, casually asking, “Is it something work-related?”

Song Qiuchi shook her head. “Nothing urgent.”

Du Zhiruo didn’t press further. Instead, she said, “On Monday, we’ll be going to Mengshan together. After knowing each other for so long, this is actually the first time we’re traveling together.”

Song Qiuchi nodded along. “Same here. I haven’t really traveled much with people my age.”

Du Zhiruo smiled. “Speaking of which, I have traveled with Qiuchi before.”

Song Qiuchi was taken aback. “Really?”

Du Zhiruo: “Yeah. You know our families are close. After middle school graduation, both our families went to Xining Island for a vacation together.”

Only then did Song Qiuchi remember—there had indeed been such a trip. But it had been more of a family outing, and she hadn’t interacted much with Du Zhiruo during it. If Du Zhiruo hadn’t brought it up, she wouldn’t have even recalled that Du Zhiruo had been there.

“I see,” Song Qiuchi nodded in acknowledgment.

Du Zhiruo studied her quietly for a moment before laughing. “Aren’t you even a little curious?”

Truthfully, Song Qiuchi wasn’t particularly curious, but since Du Zhiruo had asked, she feigned interest. “Where did you guys go?”

Du Zhiruo answered honestly, “To be honest, it was so long ago I don’t remember much. I just wanted to see your reaction—to see how special Qiuchi is to you.”

Song Qiuchi: “…”

Song Qiuchi: “She’s not that special.”

Du Zhiruo shook her head. “I watched your date yesterday. The atmosphere really was different—that ambiguous ‘more than friends, less than lovers’ vibe. So I’m curious, why did the two of you join this dating show? Neither of you seems like the type to chase clout. If there are feelings, why didn’t you get together privately?”

Song Qiuchi wasn’t sure how to explain the complications, so she turned the question back on Du Zhiruo. “Then why did you join the show?”

Du Zhiruo smiled. “I don’t mind telling you—our industry hasn’t been doing well lately. For the past two years, I’ve only been able to book low-tier commercial gigs, barely making any money. Maybe because my image is decent, my agency wants me to break into acting, so they pushed me onto this show to get some exposure.”

Song Qiuchi thought for a moment. “So, you’re not actually interested in dating?”

Du Zhiruo chuckled. “That’s what I thought before coming. After all, very few couples from these shows actually work out. I just didn’t expect to meet you.”

Du Zhiruo had spoken so bluntly that Song Qiuchi could no longer pretend not to understand. She replied tactfully, “My situation is similar to yours—assigned by the agency, with no plans for romance at the moment.”

Du Zhiruo was accustomed to Song Qiuchi’s rejections and nodded knowingly before asking, “What about Qiuchi? With her fame, she doesn’t need a show like this to boost her popularity, does she? Why is she here?”

Song Qiuchi had indeed come voluntarily for Du Zhiruo, but things had changed so quickly. In just a week, the urgency she once felt to decipher her feelings for Du Zhiruo had faded, replaced instead by a weariness whenever she faced her.

“I don’t know what she’s thinking. We haven’t discussed it.”

Du Zhiruo smiled. “Since you two aren’t dating, I’ll be direct. You know I came here with a mission—for career development, I need to find the right person to create a CP with. Initially, I thought we had a good rapport and wanted to see if you’d be open to collaborating. But your stance is clear, so I won’t push further. That said, I might engage more with Qiuchi moving forward. I hope you don’t mind.”

Song Qiuchi listened quietly, her eyes downcast, her emotions tangled.

In her memory, Du Zhiruo had been someone with a personality similar to hers—clear, principled, and straightforward, unafraid to argue passionately over minor details. But the Du Zhiruo before her now was no longer that person.

She even felt a pang of sympathy for Cheng Luanxin. If Cheng Luanxin knew Du Zhiruo’s actions weren’t out of affection but merely to test her, she would surely be heartbroken.

Song Qiuchi offered a gentle warning: “Qiuchi might not necessarily cooperate either.”

“Mm, I know,” Du Zhiruo nodded. “Qiuchi’s status isn’t what it used to be, and with her being in a major agency now, she’ll have more considerations. I understand.”

She sighed softly. “Luanxin, we’ve all grown up.”

Song Qiuchi glanced at her, wanting to say something but ultimately choosing silence.

Cheng Luanxin, oblivious to what had transpired between Song Qiuchi and Du Zhiruo, was eagerly looking forward to grocery shopping with Du Zhiruo. She stood before the mirror, torn between dressing up meticulously and worrying that making Song Qiuchi’s face too striking would steal her own spotlight. In the end, she settled for a modest look and left the house in high spirits.

The three met downstairs by the van. From a distance, Du Zhiruo smiled and waved at Cheng Luanxin. “Qiuchi!”

Cheng Luanxin was overjoyed but tried to play it cool. “Good morning.”

Du Zhiruo walked up naturally, warmly saying, “I thought we’d have to wait a bit longer. Hope we didn’t interrupt anything important?”

Cheng Luanxin chuckled sheepishly. “Oh, come on, what could I possibly be busy with?”

Noticing Song Qiuchi’s exasperated look, she quickly corrected herself, “I mean, I’m here to focus on the show. Other work can wait.”

Du Zhiruo nodded. “Since you’re here, take the chance to relax. Filming must be exhausting for actors—is variety work a bit easier for you?”

Cheng Luanxin had no idea how grueling on-set work was. Most of her job was done from home, with occasional studio visits. Variety shows were already quite taxing for her.

She put on an air of indifference and said, “They’re all about the same, I suppose. Different types of work, after all. No job is truly easy.”

Du Zhiruo smiled. “That’s true. Nothing comes without effort. Shall we get on the bus?”

“Sure.” Cheng Luanxin followed Du Zhiruo’s lead and couldn’t resist flashing a smug, triumphant look at Song Qiuchi as she passed by.

Song Qiuchi: “…”

The three of them sat side by side in the back row, with Cheng Luanxin in the middle, giving the impression of having an arm around each of them.

Except Cheng Luanxin wasn’t particularly keen on embracing Song Qiuchi.

Noticing the absence of the usual production crew and staff, Cheng Luanxin felt oddly out of place. She nudged Song Qiuchi with her elbow. “Hey, with no one following us, how are we supposed to use the rose tokens? Do we just pay directly?”

Song Qiuchi glanced at her. “Annie mentioned yesterday that we’d pay out of pocket first and get reimbursed with receipts afterward. Weren’t you listening?”

Cheng Luanxin widened her eyes. “She really said that? I don’t remember that at all.”

Song Qiuchi thought to herself that it wasn’t surprising, given how distracted Cheng Luanxin had been. “She did.”

“She really did,” Du Zhiruo chimed in, leaning closer to Cheng Luanxin with a sweet, crescent-eyed smile. “So, we’ll be counting on you today.”

Cheng Luanxin immediately pledged her loyalty. “No problem at all. Whatever you need, just go ahead and use it.”

Du Zhiruo said, “I won’t be buying much—just a hiking backpack, hiking shoes, a thermal water bottle, a raincoat, and a sun hat. What about you two? What are you planning to get?”

Cheng Luanxin, who had spent the night excitedly compiling an extensive list—down to mosquito repellent, knee pads, headlamps, flashlights, and whistles—looked almost as if she were preparing for an expedition. Hearing Du Zhiruo’s modest plans made her feel a bit embarrassed. “I’m preparing about the same as you.”

Du Zhiruo added, “I heard the mountains are very humid, and the bedding in the lodges never really dries out. I was thinking of bringing my own, but I’m worried it won’t fit.”

Without hesitation, Cheng Luanxin declared, “That’s no problem! If you can’t carry it, I’ll help you out!”

Du Zhiruo widened her eyes. “That’s so kind of you.”

Cheng Luanxin, completely oblivious to the actual scale of this undertaking, was about to make an even grander promise when her phone buzzed.

She opened WeChat to find a glaring message from Song Qiuchi:

“Cheng Luanxin, have you licked enough boots yet?”