Exchange of Movie Queens - Chapter 6

Ruan Yesheng sat primly on the edge of the hospital bed.

Xi Mo sat stiffly in a chair beside it.

Nearly ten minutes had passed without either uttering a single word. They simply stared at each other, the atmosphere thick with tension. The only thing they shared was the mutual urge to grind their teeth in frustration.

At least the other was currently wearing her own face and skin—otherwise, even this grudging tolerance would vanish, leaving nothing but sheer irritation.

Xi Mo seethed inwardly but revealed nothing outwardly. If the enemy didn’t move, neither would she.

She was the grandmaster of pretense, maintaining her usual aloof and elegant demeanor. Her cold, penetrating gaze could chill someone to the bone and send their heart racing—though not in a good way.

Finally, Ruan Yesheng broke the silence. Though her voice carried Xi Mo’s naturally cool tone, her inflection was as soft and coquettish as ever. “I’ll skip the unnecessary words. As absurd as it is, the fact remains—we’ve switched bodies.”

Xi Mo’s expression remained rigid.

I’m neither blind nor stupid—of course I know we switched bodies! Isn’t it obvious? Did you really have to rub it in my face? And what do you mean ‘skip the unnecessary words’? You just wasted breath stating the obvious!

Ruan Yesheng studied Xi Mo’s lack of reaction before asking, “Xi Mo, how are you feeling right now?”

Xi Mo’s lips barely moved. “Nauseous.”

Disgustingly nauseous.

Ruan Yesheng: “…”

She stood and considerately poured Xi Mo a glass of water.

Xi Mo accepted it but didn’t drink, setting it aside instead.

Unfazed by her attitude, Ruan Yesheng clasped her hands elegantly over her knees and smiled. “Do you like my body?”

Xi Mo: “…”

Ruan Yesheng’s smile deepened, her gaze flickering suggestively downward. “Ah, didn’t you say on the phone that you stripped in the bathroom to check? You even mentioned my chest was badly burned—almost to the point of needing surgical removal. Now that you’ve seen it, don’t you have any thoughts?”

Xi Mo: “…”

Undeterred, Ruan Yesheng pressed on with spring-like cheerfulness. “Is it because of the burns? Do you think my body is ugly? Be honest—I won’t mind.”

Xi Mo: “…”

I just think you’re the most insufferable person in existence!

Xi Mo replied flatly, “If you want to know, ask the nurses. They changed your clothes—I’m sure they’ll give you an objective review. They’ll tell you exactly how beautiful you are.”

“So you didn’t look at all?” Ruan Yesheng arched a brow.

Xi Mo remained indifferent. “I have no interest in other people’s bodies. I just want mine back.”

Ruan Yesheng clicked her tongue lightly. “So my chest wasn’t ruined after all. You lied to me earlier—my poor heart couldn’t take it.”

Her gaze slid over languidly as she gestured toward the body that now belonged to Xi Mo. “Ah, my apologies—your poor heart.”

Xi Mo: “…”

With more pressing matters at hand, Xi Mo refused to indulge her nonsense any further. Cutting straight to the point, she asked, “Do you remember what happened during the hotel fire? My memory’s hazy—I only recall something outside the bathroom.”

The light in Ruan Yesheng’s eyes gradually dimmed. After a moment of contemplation, she replied, “I don’t remember very clearly either. I just know something came in from outside, and when I woke up, I was already in the hospital.”

Xi Mo frowned and said thoughtfully, “I think the key lies in that moment. Perhaps something entered then, and something else happened afterward, leading to our bodies being swapped. I want to go check out that hotel. Random guesses won’t get us anywhere.”

Perhaps it was the first time Xi Mo had spoken to her with such apparent seriousness, which took Ruan Yesheng by surprise for a moment.

For some reason, her mood inexplicably lifted, and she nodded. “I’d like to go see it too. But the area has been cordoned off for now, so we can’t go yet. We’ll have to wait for the right opportunity.”

“So,” Xi Mo’s gaze grew even colder, “before that opportunity comes, and before our bodies are switched back, I hope you can properly play my role.”

The corners of Ruan Yesheng’s lips curled up as she chuckled softly.

Xi Mo continued, “Since we’re both in this industry, you should know what’s most important for an artist.”

Ruan Yesheng feigned innocence and asked, “Of course I know. The most important thing in the entertainment industry is, hmm… isn’t it just cozying up to the powerful and playing by the unspoken rules?”

Xi Mo: “…”

She really couldn’t muster any more anger.

Seeing Xi Mo barely holding back yet still maintaining that deadpan expression, Ruan Yesheng found it amusing. Strangely, that face was her own—she had always been confident in her looks, but now that Xi Mo was in control, it had truly turned into a lifeless mask.

Xi Mo said sternly, “I care deeply about my public image. It concerns me personally, my company, and has long-term implications. Since you’re going to play me, I’d appreciate it if you took it seriously and considered every move carefully from now on.”

“I know,” Ruan Yesheng met her eyes. “Don’t worry.”

Xi Mo wasn’t as carefree. Seeing her own eyes staring intently back at her—completely different from looking in a mirror—she couldn’t help but shudder inwardly.

Why was this so disgusting? She could barely stand it.

Ruan Yesheng raised a finger, leaned in, and waved it in front of Xi Mo. “I do have the self-discipline of an actor. Please take good care of my image too, and don’t let others notice anything, okay, Best Actress?”

“Move it,” Xi Mo said coldly.

Ruan Yesheng sat back on the edge of the hospital bed. “Honestly, I thought you might come over and strangle me.”

Xi Mo replied indifferently, “I don’t have time for that. I have more important things to do.”

(Actually, I really do want to strangle you, but since it’s my own body, I’ll hold back for now!)

(Actually, I really do want to strangle this body of yours, but since I’m currently inhabiting it, strangling you would mean hurting myself—so I’ll hold back for now!)

Ruan Yesheng tilted her head and smiled. “Ah, Xi Mo, you really haven’t changed—calm in the face of danger, always keeping the bigger picture in mind.”

(Internally scoffing: What a show-off.)

“Let me ask you something,” Xi Mo glanced at her. “Answer honestly.”

“What?” Ruan Yesheng looked up.

Xi Mo’s gaze was icy, with a hint of barely concealed fury. “Did you undress and check my body for injuries? Where did it get hurt?”

Ruan Yesheng covered her mouth with her hand, making a meaningful expression.

Xi Mo’s gaze cut into her like a knife.

Ruan Yesheng replied ambiguously, “You should ask the nurse about that directly.”

Seeing Ruan Yesheng’s reaction, Xi Mo couldn’t be sure whether she had actually looked or not, and it irritated her to no end. If she had, Xi Mo wanted nothing more than to strangle Ruan Yesheng on the spot. But if she hadn’t checked, Xi Mo had no way of knowing whether her body had suffered any injuries. After all, she held herself to extremely high standards—even the slightest blemish on her skin could put her in a foul mood for an entire day.

After stewing in discomfort for a while, she finally suppressed her frustration and handed Ruan Yesheng the phone she had been using earlier.

Ruan Yesheng saw that it was her own phone, and a faint trace of tension flickered across her face before she reached out to take it.

Xi Mo said coolly, “I didn’t look at anything inside. I have no interest in other people’s privacy, and I expect others to respect mine as well. If something shouldn’t be seen, then it shouldn’t be seen.”

Ruan Yesheng didn’t open the phone. Since Xi Mo said she hadn’t looked, she knew it must be true, so she tucked it away with relief. “Thanks. Make sure to get a new one later—just keep the same number.”

Xi Mo didn’t respond.

It was already evening, the sun gradually sinking below the horizon. The cool hues of twilight painted the hospital room’s curtains, dazzling yet carrying a hint of chill.

For a moment, the room was as quiet as a dream.

“Xi Mo.” Ruan Yesheng called her name softly.

Xi Mo’s skin prickled with goosebumps again. “What?”

“I’m hungry.”

Xi Mo: “…”

This woman was unbelievable!

Suppressing her irritation, Xi Mo bit out four words: “Then go eat.”

Ruan Yesheng spread her hands innocently, her eyes glimmering. “Lu Qingming and the nursing assistants have all left. I have no food. And you know I can’t exactly go out like this.”

Seeing her own face being used to play pitiful, Xi Mo wanted nothing more than to swat her like a mosquito.

Ruan Yesheng added, “Of course, if you don’t mind reporters swarming in to take pictures, I can go buy food myself. Want me to bring you anything?”

She blinked. “Oh, I wonder what tomorrow’s headlines will be? ‘National Goddess Xi Mo Ventures Out Alone for Food During Hospital Stay, Mobbed by Fans and Paparazzi—Is She Disfigured or Brain-Damaged?’”

Xi Mo gritted her teeth and sneered. “Heh.”

She turned sharply and headed for the door.

Ruan Yesheng’s voice drifted after her, faint and teasing: “Xi Mo, I feel like seafood for dinner.”

Xi Mo: “…”

I’m allergic to seafood—are you trying to kill me?!

She spun around, her tone icy and authoritative. “Get back in bed. You’ll eat whatever I buy.”

Ruan Yesheng fell silent, sitting primly while deliberately playing innocent with Xi Mo’s face. “Oh.”

Suppressing the veins threatening to pop on her forehead, Xi Mo straightened her posture and strode out the door with regal indifference.