Exchange of Movie Queens - Chapter 15

Endure.

Still have to endure.

“I need to think about what you could possibly offer me in exchange?” Xi Mo stood up and silently poured herself a glass of water, casually remarking, “Your body? Sorry, but your body is already in my hands. Didn’t you just admire it up close in video mode, blushing all the while?”

Ruan Yesheng: “…”

After a pause, Ruan Yesheng replied in a calm, unhurried tone, analyzing with a smile: “For example, you could ‘claim’ me, make me agree to your demands, and let me exercise the rights of your body on your behalf. If you tell me to go east, I can’t go west. If you tell me to act better, I certainly can’t embarrass you. If you tell me to smash the screenwriter’s ridiculous brain, I definitely can’t go after the director instead. And if you want me to hit the director, then I won’t go for the producer.”

“I’d rather smash your brain.”

“Then you can pick up a brick right now and slam it hard against your own forehead.”

After holding back for so long, Xi Mo’s expression finally showed traces of suppressed irritation. She felt like Ruan Yesheng had been skillfully dodging the issue the entire time, playing verbal games with her.

But without the original owner’s permission, she truly couldn’t act on her own. Most people fought tooth and nail to break into the industry, but there were always exceptions—those who, for various reasons, couldn’t participate for the time being or simply didn’t want to. Right now, she and Ruan Yesheng were in a state of mutual physical restraint. Under these conditions, she didn’t want to unilaterally apply for a role only for Ruan Yesheng to retaliate by doing something similar with her body without permission.

As a public figure, she cared deeply about her image and couldn’t afford to let Ruan Yesheng mishandle it in the slightest.

More importantly, though she was prideful by nature, she wasn’t the type to act recklessly. The principle of mutual respect was something she had always strictly adhered to. If the other party truly refused, there was nothing she could do about it.

Xi Mo had no choice but to soften her tone slightly. “I’m well aware of the upcoming schedule. The filming is about to start, and there’ll be a wave of promotions soon. When the time comes, you’ll have to go to the set in my place. The location is far, the scenes are demanding, and this project is my main focus for this period. So for the foreseeable future, you’ll practically be living on set. The only way to handle things smoothly is if I go with you. I have to join the crew alongside you.”

If she didn’t, she’d have no chance to meet Ruan Yesheng at all.

Now that Ruan Yesheng had taken over everything from her past, she was being isolated like a high-priority protection target. In her current position, Xi Mo couldn’t possibly get close.

Moreover, the image she had cultivated for the public was that of a solitary figure—living alone, keeping friendships shallow, maintaining only simple, detached relationships. This very trait had once made her seem eccentric in the industry. In the past, online forums like Tianya would often expose the scandalous private lives of celebrities. Though she had many detractors, no one had ever managed to dig up dirt on her in that regard.

Because she rarely interacted with others, she seemed cautious to the point of rejecting the outside world. She never privately socialized or went out with anyone, nor had any friends ever been invited to her home. Her private life was almost cold and isolated—forget about being scandalous, she couldn’t even manage to stir up a rumor if she tried. Similarly, no matter how hard the paparazzi dug, they couldn’t uncover even a hint of scandal about her. There was simply no trace to follow—how could they possibly dig anything up?

Without scandals, how could she stay relevant?

Where was the prestige of a major celebrity?

Take Shen Qingbie, for example—every time she had a heavyweight new project, she would stir up dating rumors, fueling the hype and letting the hype fuel her. But Xi Mo had nothing. Back then, her company was practically tearing its hair out over this, even begging on their knees for her to agree to a staged scandal.

In the end, it came to nothing.

She remained the image of someone with an extremely closed-off private life. Yet, precisely because of this, her reputation as an unattainable flower only grew stronger. Her fans became even more fanatically obsessed with her, worshipping her like a goddess and fiercely protecting her from any tarnish. If a scandal ever did break out, the person involved would probably be torn apart by her fans and labeled as utterly unworthy.

Eventually, the company weighed the pros and cons and decided this image wasn’t so bad after all, so they let her continue down this path.

While netizens were busy digging into others, they also analyzed Xi Mo’s persona. Some believed it was a personality flaw—what people called “putting on airs.” Others speculated she must have some dark history that made her distrustful of others. When no scandals could be unearthed, they turned their efforts toward uncovering her past.

Now, this carefully cultivated image was causing Xi Mo trouble. Her former life had been so reclusive, but now that she had transformed into Ruan Yesheng, smoothly and naturally getting close to “herself” without raising suspicion was proving difficult. She wondered if this counted as shooting herself in the foot in some twisted way.

Ruan Yesheng listened silently without a word.

Xi Mo emphasized, “Ruan Yesheng, I don’t want to argue with you anymore. I’m telling you now—I have to see you. From now on, I need to stay by your side every day and maintain contact with you.”

Ruan Yesheng laughed. “The way you say that makes it sound like you’ve fallen for me and can’t bear to be apart.”

Xi Mo: “…”

Hold it in.

Just hold it in.

On the other end of the line, Ruan Yesheng seemed to be asking deliberately, “Alright. But why are you so insistent on staying by my side?”

Xi Mo countered coldly, “Don’t tell me you don’t want to stay by my side either?”

Ruan Yesheng: “…”

Though this retort was entirely on a different track, addressing a completely different question and having nothing to do with the cautious warmth hidden in her heart, its ambiguity made her pulse race as if she had misunderstood. Her heart pounded wildly.

She knew it was a misinterpretation.

For a fleeting moment, she wished—against all odds—that this misunderstanding could somehow become the truth.

Unaware of the convoluted thoughts swirling in Ruan Yesheng’s mind, Xi Mo said calmly, “I analyzed what happened between us at the hotel back then. We both passed out in the same place, meaning we were the closest to each other at the time. And from what I remember, we were practically embracing.”

Ruan Yesheng burst out laughing. “Right, right—zero meters apart.”

Hearing that laugh, Xi Mo’s face tensed even more as she solemnly continued, “Perhaps someone… or something entered at that time. We don’t know the details yet, but I think this body swap might have distance requirements. If we’re separated far apart and barely interact in the future, do you think there’s any chance of switching back? You’ll be at a distant filming location while I’m at home, thousands of miles apart. How do you suppose we’ll switch back? Waiting for a lightning strike from the sky? I don’t believe you haven’t considered this.”

After a pause, Ruan Yesheng smiled and said, “I admit, I have indeed considered this. I also hope… to stay by your side.”

She added with mixed emotions, “After all, that would be more conducive to us switching back.”

Xi Mo stated, “So you agree with my analysis and accept my request to audition for the same production.”

“I agree with your analysis,” Ruan Yesheng said softly, then jokingly suggested, “You could be my personal assistant. Fetching water, feeding me meals, attending to my every need on set.”

Xi Mo scoffed, “It’s not bedtime yet, but you’re already dreaming.”

After laughing, Ruan Yesheng abruptly pierced through the unspoken tension: “You want to do this not just to find a way to switch back, but because you don’t trust me.”

An awkward, bone-chilling silence suddenly fell between them.

Ruan Yesheng continued, “You don’t trust me to take good care of your body. You need to see your own body every day—to keep me within your sight—before you can feel at ease. You haven’t slept well recently, have you?”

After a long silence, Xi Mo admitted bluntly, “I don’t trust anyone.”

Following this, no further response came from Xi Mo. Moments later, Ruan Yesheng felt the vibration of another phone—the one she’d been carrying during the incident at the hotel, which Xi Mo had returned to her. Though slightly damaged, she still used it.

Seeing the screen light up, her expression stiffened as she opened a message from an unsaved number. To others, it would appear unfamiliar, but she knew it all too well.

The message was brief: “20:21, XFH25081459, deceased.”

Ruan Yesheng stared blankly at the message. The hands of her watch now pointed to 20:22.

Dead one minute ago.

Her fingers turned icy as she silently deleted the message without replying. Every piece of data in her phone—accounts used, browsing history—was meticulously erased, just like this message.

“Ruan Yesheng,” Xi Mo’s voice came through.

Forcing a smile, Ruan Yesheng replied, “Yes, I’m here.”

Her voice softened, carrying a barely perceptible tremor. “Alright, I agree. You can use my identity and stay with me on set.”

Xi Mo remained silent.

Ruan Yesheng continued, “It’s 8:30 now. You said you haven’t had dinner, so let’s end here. Go eat before your stomach acts up. As for Director Lin, I’ll arrange things as you asked. Wait for the audition call.”

The delicate phone call finally came to an end. Xi Mo set down her phone and gazed at the brilliantly lit night outside, suddenly feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Ruan Yesheng stood up and quickly dialed a number on her original phone.

After a brief wait, someone answered on the other end.

“I need to talk to you,” Ruan Yesheng said.

The person on the other end chuckled softly. “Alright.”