After Swapping Souls with My Rival Alpha - Chapter 12

Chi Mu’s shout startled the person in front of her, dressed in bluish-green surgical scrubs. A female Omega standing there turned around and held a finger to the side of her mask, signaling her to be quiet.

Chi Mu froze, breathing slightly heavily, and realized she was in an operating room.

Looking down, she noticed she, too, was wearing bluish-green surgical scrubs.

The unpleasant scent of pheromones confirmed it: she had returned to Nie Yijun’s body.

Thankfully, she wasn’t the lead surgeon.

The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy. On the screen in front of her, the surgical table was shown in real-time, and the overwhelming smell of blood made Chi Mu feel nauseous.

She had no idea what was going on, yet fear gripped her. Lowering her head, she closed her eyes and fought the urge to vomit.

Then, a thought struck her. She opened her eyes again. She’s here, so Nie Yijun must have entered her body too—Zhao Tongtong!

Chi Mu patted her pockets, but her phone wasn’t there. She glanced at the operating room. The double doors were tightly closed. Even without being a doctor, she knew those doors couldn’t be opened casually during surgery—the operating room had to remain sterile.

But Zhao Tongtong was in the car. Nie Yijun might have complicated her relationships with Zhou Anxue, but Zhao Tongtong couldn’t be affected.

No matter how many Omegas who wanted to date—or were already in relationships—Nie Yijun had disrupted, she had endured it. But Zhao Tongtong couldn’t be messed with!

Chi Mu stared at the doors, wishing her soul could just pass through them.

In a blink, Nie Yijun’s vision shifted. The operating room disappeared, replaced by the interior of a car. The dizziness she had felt earlier in the OR had already hinted at this. In an instant, she was Chi Mu again.

“Of course! How many times you want to watch, I’ll dance that many times for you,” a soft, gentle voice whispered beside her. Fingers were lightly massaging her temples. The scent of lilac flower made Nie Yijun feel slightly uneasy.

She turned her head. The Omega was not particularly beautiful, but clean and delicate—less irritating than Zhou Anxue had been.

Not that Nie Yijun was completely comfortable being so close to someone. She leaned toward the car window. “No need.”

Zhao Tongtong withdrew her hand and smiled. “My place is small, don’t mind it.”

“Mm,” Nie Yijun replied, not really listening.

Her attention returned to the surgical footage. The surgery had started in the afternoon and had already gone on for more than ten hours. She had missed the critical final moments.

What a pity—she didn’t know when she’d get such a chance again.

She had performed many Alpha gland grafts, but had never done one on an Omega.

Sigh.

“Sis, why are you sighing?”

Her arm was suddenly embraced. Nie Yijun stiffened, glancing outside—the car wasn’t heading toward the Chi family residence. “Where are we going?” she asked.

“Hui Shan Community,” Zhao Tongtong replied. “Almost there.”

“Where’s that?”

“My home,” Zhao Tongtong said.

Oh, so she was being dropped off first.

Nie Yijun thought this, but the car drove straight into the community and stopped in a vacant spot. Zhao Tongtong opened her door. “This is fine. Thanks, okay?”

“You’re welcome.” The driver turned back. “If you’re satisfied, please give me a five-star review. Have a pleasant day.”

Before Nie Yijun could respond, the driver got out, opened the trunk, took out a folding bicycle, and rode away.

Zhao Tongtong opened the passenger door. “Out.”

Only then did Nie Yijun feel a sense of impending danger—Chi Mu was planning to spend the night at an Omega’s home.

She pulled out Chi Mu’s phone and dialed her own number. She had left it outside before entering the OR. She didn’t know if the surgery was finished, and even if it was, there was no guarantee Chi Mu would find it. But in this situation, Nie Yijun had no choice but to call herself. No matter what, she had to reach Chi Mu. She didn’t know how this Omega would respond, but she didn’t want to ruin Chi Mu’s network of relationships.

As expected, no one answered.

The Omega stood outside, smiling at her. Sitting in the car without getting out made the scene awkward.

Nie Yijun had no choice but to get out and follow the Omega inside.

“You rented this house for me, yet you’ve never actually been here,” Zhao Tongtong said as she switched on the lights. “Since it’s your first time, feel free to take a look around.”

Nie Yijun stepped inside. The house was simply decorated, slightly larger than her one-bedroom apartment.

Chi Mu had claimed she wasn’t involved with Omegas but helped this Omega rent a home. Their relationship had to be somewhat special—at least closer than with Zhou Anxue.

Nie Yijun marveled at how Chi Mu managed to maintain such unusual intimacy with so many Omegas.

“Have some water first,” Zhao Tongtong handed her a glass. “I’ll change clothes inside. Won’t take long.”

“Mm,” Nie Yijun nodded, then froze. “Change clothes?”

“Of course! I can’t dance in jeans,” Zhao Tongtong tapped her thighs.

“Dance?” Nie Yijun was even more confused.

Zhao Tongtong took a step closer. “Sis, did you drink a little too much?”

Startled, Nie Yijun instinctively took a step back and nodded. “Mm, a bit dizzy.”

“Then sit down quickly.” Zhao Tongtong guided her onto a chair and winked. “You said watching me dance could cure all worries, right? Then sit and enjoy.”

“Wait,” Nie Yijun stood. “Not tonight. I’m dizzy.”

“Not watching? Fine, then maybe tonight you can snuggle with me. The bed’s big.”

“I’ll go home first,” Nie Yijun wanted to escape immediately. “I’ll come back when I feel better.”

“Ah?” Zhao Tongtong looked disappointed.

Nie Yijun brushed past her. Zhao Tongtong sighed. “How are you leaving? You’ll need a ride, right? Wait here for a driver.”

“I,” Nie Yijun opened her mouth, but her phone rang. Her own number flashed on the screen. Her eyes lit up.

“I’ll take this.” She opened the door and hurriedly answered.

“Nie Yijun!” Chi Mu’s voice was urgent. “What’s happening? Why are we switched back again?”

“I don’t know. How are things on your end? Is the surgery over? Was it successful?”

“It’s over. I don’t know if it succeeded,” Chi Mu touched her chest, the bloody scene on the operating table still vivid in her mind. “It should be fine, I think, judging by their reactions. Where are you now?”

“Your Omega’s home. I just stepped out.” Nie Yijun entered the elevator, pressed the close button, and noticed the Omega waiting outside.

“Don’t leave!” Chi Mu shouted. “Go back, go back!”

Just as the elevator doors began to close, Nie Yijun slid her hand between them, and they swung open again automatically.

“You’re staying at Zhao Tongtong’s place tonight. Don’t be too forward. Actually, forget it—just don’t speak to her. Say you’re not feeling well, stay quiet, spend the night, and leave tomorrow,” Chi Mu instructed over the phone.

Seeing the elevator doors open and close again, Zhao Tongtong smiled at ‘Chi Mu.’ “Not leaving, huh?”

Hearing her voice, Chi Mu relaxed slightly; her tone seemed okay, which meant Nie Yijun probably hadn’t offended Zhao Tongtong.

“Nie Yijun,” Chi Mu said, “she’s more important than Zhou Anxue. Do me this favor. Whatever you need from me on your end, I’ll handle it for now.”

Nie Yijun stepped out of the elevator. “We’ll talk on WeChat.”

She followed Zhao Tongtong back inside. Nie Yijun lowered her head and searched for her own WeChat on Chi Mu’s phone but couldn’t find it.

There was a friend request, though. She opened it—and realized Chi Mu had added Zhao Tongtong using Nie Yijun’s WeChat account.

So, she had been removed.

–Ask Director Fang about the surgery.

“Sister, this is a pajama set I bought too big for me. Here, try it on.” Zhao Tongtong handed her a blue nightgown.

“Thanks.”

“You go shower first.” Zhao Tongtong pointed inside. “That’s the bathroom.”

Nie Yijun went in to shower, leaving her phone on the sink, waiting for a reply from Chi Mu. By the time she finished, there was still no message.

Stepping out, Zhao Tongtong was at the door, scanning her from head to toe. “The clothes fit pretty well. I changed the sheets to a clean set of four. You go sleep first.”

“It’s not appropriate for an Alpha and Omega to share a bed,” Nie Yijun said. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“The sofa’s a bit small.”

“I’ll manage.” Nie Yijun lay down. The sofa was slightly short, so she had to bend her legs a little, but she didn’t mind.

Zhao Tongtong watched her and sighed softly. She understood why an Alpha and Omega shouldn’t share a bed and knew Chi Mu wouldn’t sleep with her. To Chi Mu, she was always just a comfort.

Turning back, Zhao Tongtong went into the bathroom.

Nie Yijun lay on the sofa staring at the chat window. Her eyelids grew heavy. The surgery had started after two in the afternoon, and she had been in the operating room for over ten hours—she was tired—but she didn’t want to sleep without hearing news of the surgery.

Director Fang’s procedure was impressive. Nie Yijun hadn’t dared blink—first removing the gland from the back of the neck, then opening the chest for the graft, the most difficult step—and she hadn’t even witnessed the final closure.

She called Chi Mu again. The call rang until almost being automatically disconnected before it was picked up.

“Hello.” Chi Mu’s voice sounded hoarse.

“Did you ask Director Fang?”

“No,” Chi Mu’s voice was weak. “Tomorrow.”

Nie Yijun sensed something was off. “What’s wrong?”

“My stomach hurts.”

“That’s impossible. Your stomach’s always fine.”

Chi Mu paused, wanting to yell at Nie Yijun but too weak. “I faint at the sight of blood.”

“You,” Nie Yijun sat up on the sofa. “You study medicine and faint at blood?”

“What I study is none of your business. I don’t want to argue. I’ll ask tomorrow. By the way, where am I now?”

“Second Hospital of Tianhu City.”

Chi Mu, having left the hospital and vomited, felt much better. She looked at the hotel location Nie Yijun sent—right across the street.

She was too tired to move, her stomach empty, her body drained. Glancing at the streetlights, she cursed under her breath.

What the hell was happening? Why was she back in Nie Yijun’s body again?

Chi Mu sent Nie Yijun a message:

–Come over tomorrow!

Chi Mu didn’t exactly faint from blood, given her frequent bumps and scrapes. It was the mental shock of seeing the surgery that hit her so hard.

All night she dreamt of blood—everywhere. It surrounded her, accompanied by heart-wrenching screams. She tried to escape, but no matter what, she couldn’t. Her breath came in ragged gasps.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

The vibrating phone on her bedside table emitted a harsh, muffled hum. Chi Mu shivered and opened her eyes.

She knew she was dreaming, yet being conscious of it and still trapped terrified her even more.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Chi Mu grabbed her phone. It was her own number.

“Hello.” She switched on the room light, drenched in sweat.

“I’m outside the door. Open up,” Nie Yijun said.

Chi Mu’s mind scrambled. She looked at her phone—it was already 10:10 a.m.

She got up and opened the door. Nie Yijun, wearing yesterday’s clothes, darted into the room and slammed the door behind her.

“You really are fast,” Chi Mu muttered. Turning to walk further in, she felt an arm grab her. Spinning around, the back of her head was pressed down, and her own face was lunging toward her once again.