Chapter 61: They've Swapped Back?!

The assistant director clenched his teeth. "But I've already made an appointment with someone else."

Director Xu looked at him in silence. "That's your problem, not mine. I've already agreed with Xu Yunzhu, and I'm not changing."

"But this one is a young heiress, different from Xie Zhiyuan. She comes with her own investment." The assistant director held up five fingers. "This amount."

"Five hundred thousand?"

He hastily denied, "No, it's five million."

Director Xu stroked his chin, considering. That was enough to tempt him.

"What's her name?"

The assistant director lowered his voice mysteriously. "Xu Mu Ning, she's not from the industry. She wants to debut through our show—five million for just one episode. Director Xu, why not take it? We’d be fools not to."

Director Xu pondered for a few seconds before nodding. "Alright, I’ll make arrangements for the second episode. You don’t need to get involved. I’ve invited a special guest who’ll guarantee our ratings will skyrocket."

The assistant director was a bit doubtful. It hadn’t been easy to get Pei Jin, and now there was someone else who could make the ratings explode?

Seeing that Director Xu wasn’t going to say more, he didn’t bother asking. Next week would reveal everything anyway.

He had to go hand out the rewards.

Since Yan Fei Xing’s group won, they earned the right to bring one item of their choice on the next episode, anything, even cash, as long as it didn’t exceed a thousand units.

Anything else, as long as it wasn’t dangerous, could be brought—even food—but only one item.

All their belongings from this episode were confiscated, granting them a day to improvise.

For the next episode, everything would be taken away.

Pei Qiao Nian didn't concern himself with any of this.

As an observer, he didn’t have to participate in the warm interactions between guests at night, meaning all his time was free.

But the weather did not cooperate.

He had barely left the villa when a torrential rain started to fall.

Lightning flickered across the clouds.

Gao, the personal assistant, had parked the car not far away.

Pei Qiao Nian had just gotten in when thunder crashed outside and rain poured down in sheets. Gao sat in the driver’s seat. "Miss Xu, we’re heading out."

Pei Qiao Nian answered softly, "Mm," then closed his eyes to rest.

Gao: "..."

Sometimes, he truly felt that Xu Yunzhu was his real boss—their mannerisms and habits were so alike it was uncanny.

Neither said a word for the whole ride.

Until they reached the hotel.

Gao got out and held up an umbrella for Pei Qiao Nian. "Miss Xu, President Pei is waiting for you in room 6888 on the top floor."

Pei Qiao Nian glanced at the hotel—a five-star establishment, over ten thousand a night.

Well, that was acceptable.

The last hotel had been far too inferior.

His fair, slender fingers took the umbrella, and he strode inside.

The journey was unhindered.

He took the room card and easily opened the door to room 6888.

Inside, darkness reigned. He reached for the switch on the wall but found the lights wouldn’t turn on.

Fortunately, this body was good in the dark. With the lightning and thunder outside, he quickly noticed a figure curled up beside the nightstand.

"Xu Yunzhu?" he called.

After closing the door, he walked toward the curled figure.

Hearing his voice, Xu Yunzhu lifted her head from the darkness. Pei Qiao Nian’s body suffered from night blindness; she couldn’t see a thing. Her voice quivered with tears. "Pei Qiao Nian, where are you? The power’s out, and it’s thundering outside."

Pei Qiao Nian stood still. Lightning from the floor-to-ceiling windows was enough to illuminate the space.

He could see Xu Yunzhu trembling, glancing around helplessly.

He turned on his phone’s flashlight, shining it in her direction. "I’m here."

That small beam of light was like a lifeline to Xu Yunzhu. She quickly groped her way toward him, and only after touching his warmth did she cling to him, drawing comfort.

Pei Qiao Nian tried to push her away, uncomfortable. "Xu Yunzhu, let go!"

The familiar scent of ebony and incense lingered at his nose, but somehow it felt strange. Why couldn’t it calm him, but instead made his heartbeat erratic?

"Don’t. I’m scared. Let me hold you for just a little. When I’m not scared anymore, I’ll let go."

As she finished, thunder rumbled again outside.

Xu Yunzhu shrank, holding him even tighter.

Pei Qiao Nian frowned slightly. "You’re still afraid of thunderstorms?"

Xu Yunzhu’s voice was muffled. "Yes. I hate rainy days. I hate thunder."

Seeing that she wouldn’t let go, Pei Qiao Nian sighed softly. "I’ll call the front desk."

During this, Xu Yunzhu stayed attached like an ornament, pressed close to him. His initial discomfort slowly faded into habit, and he even had the mood to scroll through his phone.

Xu Yunzhu’s phone was dead, so she peered over his shoulder to watch, distracting herself from her fear.

Their heads nestled together.

Xu Yunzhu noticed the trending topic about Ning Qinghuan had dropped to sixth place and asked, puzzled, "Didn’t you like her? Are you targeting her to get her attention?"

Pei Qiao Nian turned his head, his lips nearly brushing her cheek, and he pulled back a bit. "I’m using your body now. What good would it do to get her attention?"

Xu Yunzhu blinked, her phoenix eyes slightly naive. "Then this—"

Pei Qiao Nian sneered, "I just find her annoying. Is that not allowed?"

Xu Yunzhu: "..."

This guy seems to find everyone annoying.

She chuckled awkwardly, wanting to say he’d regret it someday.

But Pei Qiao Nian cut her off first. "I have a question. Why do you think I like Ning Qinghuan? Or are you secretly investigating me?"

Xu Yunzhu denied it without hesitation, "How could I! I wouldn’t dare."

Pei Qiao Nian leaned in, and Xu Yunzhu let go, no longer daring to hold him, even retreating in fear.

The thunder outside was nothing compared to the person before her.

He kept sneering. "Very few people know I even know Ning Qinghuan, not even those close to me. Yet you assume I like her. Xu Yunzhu, care to explain?"

Xu Yunzhu felt sweat bead on her forehead. Goodness, she should never have brought it up.

How could she explain that it was all from a book? That everyone here was a character, and she knew their fates?

Just then, the lights flickered on.

Xu Yunzhu scrambled to her feet, "I’m going to shower—it’s so hot!"

She darted into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Pei Qiao Nian sneered, sitting on the bed to wait for her.

Ever since their bodies swapped, strange things had begun to happen around him.

After half an hour, a voice called out from inside, "Pei Qiao Nian… could you bring me my underwear? I ran too fast and forgot it."

Pei Qiao Nian: "..."

He rummaged through her luggage, finding a pair of men’s briefs.

He walked to the bathroom door and knocked. "Open up."

Xu Yunzhu cracked the door, her voice faint. "Thank you."

Pei Qiao Nian simply waited by the door.

Xu Yunzhu thought he’d left, so when she opened the door, she bumped right into him. Thunder crashed outside, making her slip, and as she grabbed him, she pulled Pei Qiao Nian down with her.

Both stared wide-eyed. Their lips touched, warm and tinged with a faint taste of blood.

Pei Qiao Nian pushed her away abruptly.

Xu Yunzhu landed hard. "Ouch, my butt—it hurts."

Pei Qiao Nian stared in disbelief at his own broad palm, and in the full-length mirror beside him, he could see his handsome, radiant face. Turning, he saw the slender figure before him rubbing her backside with a plaintive cry.

The thunder outside faded.

Had they switched back?!