After Swapping Souls with My Rival Alpha - Chapter 1

SCREECH—

A harsh screech split through the air as the red Rolls-Royce slammed to a sudden stop in the middle of the road.

“Ahhh!”

Qi Shu’er lurched forward from the momentum, only to be yanked back by her seatbelt. She clutched her chest, face pale with shock.

“Chi Mu! You nearly scared me to death!”

In the driver’s seat sat a tall Alpha woman with a high ponytail, dressed in a black tube top that showed off her toned stomach and matching black hotpants. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Who did you just say is coming?”

“What?” Qi Shu’er was still recovering from the abrupt stop. “Who?”

“The reunion,” Chi Mu turned sharply to look at her. “Who’s showing up?”

Qi Shu’er blinked, confused by the intensity. “Nie Yijun. It was mentioned in the group chat ages ago. You didn’t see?”

“Hell no.”

Chi Mu released the brake, floored the gas, and made a hard U-turn at the next intersection.

Qi Shu’er knocked on the window in exasperation. “What are you doing?”

“Going home!” Chi Mu said flatly.

“You’re kidding. You already agreed to go—told the class rep yourself in the group chat! You said it so casually too. Nie Yijun replied right after you. Don’t tell me you didn’t even notice?”

Chi Mu didn’t answer. She just chewed her gum and blew an angry bubble in response.

She rarely checked group chats unless someone directly @-mentioned her. Even then, she’d glance at the message, respond, and exit immediately. Annoying stuff.

“We graduated seven years ago,” Qi Shu’er said, applying mascara while leaning back. “Let the past stay in the past. Besides, Nie Yijun’s doing amazing now. Totally different from back in school. More friends means more connections. You should let bygones be bygones.”

She capped her mascara and fluttered her lashes. “How do I look?”

Chi Mu gave her a glance and nodded toward her. “Your lower lashes. Right side.”

“Huh?”

Qi Shu’er checked her mirror—sure enough, her lower lashes were too light. She opened the mascara again and muttered, “Fine, your family background doesn’t require networking, but don’t forget—it’s our class rep’s 30th birthday today. At least show some face for him.”

“He’s thirty? Why’s he a year older than us?” Chi Mu smacked the steering wheel.

“He repeated a year, you spoiled brat. Did you even pay attention to anyone in school besides Nie Yijun?”

Chi Mu didn’t respond. She just did another U-turn and drove back toward the venue.

Nie Yijun.

Just hearing the name was enough to kill Chi Mu’s mood for three days. It had been seven years, but it still had that effect.

The woman was cursed, seriously.

As they passed a mall, Chi Mu suddenly pulled over and unbuckled her seatbelt.

“Where are you going?” Qi Shu’er asked.

“Buying a gift for the class rep.” Chi Mu got out, leaving Qi Shu’er sighing in the car.

The class rep had announced his birthday back when he first suggested the reunion. But of course, Chi Mu hadn’t read it—probably thought it was just a casual get-together. That woman only cared about chasing Omegas. Everything else? Total disinterest.

Then a thought struck Qi Shu’er. With Chi Mu’s personality, maybe…

Ten minutes later, Chi Mu returned, carrying a black gift box.

Qi Shu’er took one look at the logo and gasped. Big spender, as always.

Chi Mu got in, tossed the gift box toward the backseat—missed—and didn’t bother to fix it before starting the engine again.

Qi Shu’er groaned, picked up the box, gently dusted it off, and set it carefully on the seat. “You know, buying something this expensive… did you even think about whether the class rep will accept it?”

“It’s cheap,” Chi Mu replied. “I picked the cheapest one.”

“Sure, sure.”

Qi Shu’er tilted her head at her. “Mumu, tell me something—you really don’t know how famous Nie Yijun is now, do you?”

“Famous?” Chi Mu raised an eyebrow. “What, she ditched med school to become a celebrity? With that personality?”

“No,” Qi Shu’er grinned, seeing right through her ignorance. “She published a groundbreaking thesis on Alpha healing and self-regeneration last year. She has been interviewed multiple times. Even during her PhD

at Oxford, she was constantly featured in the press—called a once-in-a-generation medical genius.”

“And she’s beautiful too! She wasn’t much of a looker in college, sure, kind of frumpy, but have you seen her recently? She’s got real presence now. You really should put the past behind you. I feel proud just having a classmate like her—oh crap!”

Chi Mu suddenly jerked the wheel and slammed the brakes. The car screeched to a stop by the curb. Qi Shu’er, once again saved by her seatbelt, wisely zipped her lips and mimed locking them shut.
________________________________________

The reunion was held at Green Rhyme, a high-end private club Chi Mu frequented. In fact, she had picked the location herself. Her class had always been tight-knit, hosting a reunion every year—always at this very venue.

Chi Mu stepped out in her black ankle boots, all long legs and confidence. She tossed her keys to the valet, who greeted her with a cheerful, “Welcome, Director Chi!”

Qi Shu’er couldn’t help but snort with laughter. Everyone here loved tacking “Director” onto people’s names—didn’t matter if you were a spoiled rich kid or not.

Chi Mu shot her a look. Qi Shu’er immediately shut up and fluttered her lashes innocently.

The interior of Green Rhyme was lavish, all elegant lighting and intricate decor. Qi Shu’er was dazzled every time she came.

The private room was on the top floor. Chi Mu stood at the door, debating what expression to wear when she saw her nemesis.

Cool?

Intimidating?

No—today was the class rep’s birthday. Don’t ruin the mood.

“Go on in,” Qi Shu’er said, pushing the doors open with dramatic flair.

BANG.

The noise turned every head in the room toward the entrance.

The private lounge was spacious: a bar, a billiards table, a karaoke and chill zone. People were standing and sitting all over.

“Well, well, look who’s here! The beautiful Chi Mu and the adorable Qi Shu’er!”

At the bar, a man stood up and walked over. The birthday boy—class rep himself.

“Happy birthday,” Chi Mu handed him the gift box, flashing her signature social smile. “Welcome to your thirties.”

“Thanks.”

He glanced at the box, clearly recognizing the logo, and blinked before accepting it.

Qi Shu’er handed him a smaller box. “Mine too! It’s not as fancy as Mumu’s, but don’t be picky, okay?”

“I’m just glad you both came,” he smiled. “Make yourselves comfortable, Chi Mu—you know this place better than I do. Oh, by the way…”

He paused.

“Nie Yijun’s coming. You two aren’t going to start a fight the second you see each other, are you?”

“Of course not!”

Qi Shu’er slung an arm around Chi Mu’s shoulders. “We’re old classmates! It’s been years. If Mumu still held a grudge, she wouldn’t have come today—right, Mumu?”

Chi Mu gritted her teeth and jabbed a finger into Qi Shu’er’s side. Qi Shu’er giggled.

“Good, good,” the class rep sighed. “It wasn’t easy getting her to come. Invited her last year, she said she was busy. Guess my birthday gives her just enough reason.”

Chi Mu said nothing. She could behave—as long as Nie Yijun didn’t provoke her. She could play nice. Go in, eat cake, leave. If Nie Yijun showed up at the next reunion, she wouldn’t be there.

Qi Shu’er pulled her around the room to greet everyone. Chi Mu was the center of attention, as always—gorgeous, rich, magnetic. Everyone wanted to be close to her.

Chi Mu basked in the attention.

“Your outfit’s incredible today! Are those DE’s latest boots?”

A female Omega in a yellow miniskirt stared at her boots.

The Omega’s face was plain, no strong features. Chi Mu leaned in slightly. The scent on her was familiar—green bamboo.

She racked her brain but couldn’t place it. Must’ve been years since she’d smelled that particular pheromone.

“Zhang Yao,” Qi Shu’er whispered.

Ah. Chi Mu smiled. “Yeah, they’re DE’s new release. You haven’t been to the past few reunions, right?”

Zhang Yao sighed. “Yeah. I didn’t go to grad school. Got assigned to a small hospital back home. Been swamped. But this year, I heard Nie Yijun would be here—I had to come. She’s amazing.”

Chi Mu’s smile didn’t waver, but in her head, she’d already punched Zhang Yao three times.

Zhang Yao’s comment triggered a wave of admiration from nearby classmates.

“I’m still doing my PhD, and Nie Yijun’s already working post-doc! Unreal. She’s built different.”

Chi Mu glanced at him—she remembered him. He had a mole on his chin, very distinct. But his words weren’t worth responding to.

Chi Mu pulled out her Green Rhyme membership card and handed it to a server.

“Twenty bottles of Mo Fei Ta. And order a tiered cake. Put it on my tab.”

“Of course, Miss Chi,” the server replied.

“Chi Mu, you’re seriously loaded.”

A woman in a sky-blue off-shoulder dress approached. An Omega.

Two deep dimples appeared when she smiled. Chi Mu recognized her—Lan Ting. Back in college, she’d tried to flirt with her… or maybe it was the other way around. A pretty face, for sure.

She hadn’t attended the last few reunions. But here she was today.

“Twenty bottles?” Lan Ting walked over with a sway in her hips. Her voice was soft, teasing. “That’s like two years of my salary.”

“Really? Then drink up tonight,” Chi Mu’s eyes trailed over her defined collarbones. “Haven’t seen you in years—your figure’s only gotten better.”

Lan Ting leaned against the doorframe, arms folded just under her chest, pushing her curves into full view.

Chi Mu, a veteran of flirty banter, immediately saw through the ploy. Trying hard, huh?

Back in college, she couldn’t win Lan Ting over, only to watch her fawn over Nie Yijun—and get rejected.

Now she was pulling this again?

“Married?” Lan Ting asked.

Faced with a good-looking Omega clearly trying to provoke her, Chi Mu wasn’t about to let it go.

She stepped closer, bent down, whispered by her ear, “Nope. Haven’t met an Omega I like. Lan Ting… your scent is still just as intoxicating.”

Lan Ting’s ears turned bright red.

Chi Mu chuckled. And here I thought she’d be harder to tease.

So why hadn’t it worked back in college?

“Chi Mu, you—”

Lan Ting blushed furiously, about to say something, when suddenly a server entered with someone behind them.

Her eyes lit up.

“Nie Yijun!”