After Swapping Souls with My Rival Alpha - Chapter 6

The Chi family’s car stopped in the courtyard. Nie Yijun followed behind as they got out. She had known since college that Chi Mu’s family was wealthy, but it wasn’t until she stood in front of the villa that it truly sank in.

The villa had three floors and was located in a quiet government district, part of a neighborhood filled with other spacious, high-end homes. The greenery was beautifully maintained, with wide gaps between each property.

The courtyard was large too, filled with trees, flowers, and even a small leisure pavilion.

Nie Yijun followed Shi Ya inside. They passed through a fairly long foyer before stepping into a spacious living room. The interior was elegantly designed, refined yet grand. From where she stood, Nie Yijun could see the soaring ceiling that reached all the way to the third floor—it made the space feel open and bright.

Shi Ya set down her bag and, upon turning to see “Chi Mu” still following her, exploded in frustration.

“What are you doing trailing me?! Go upstairs, take a shower, and change your clothes! Gao-jie! Gao-jie!”

“Yes, yes!” A female Beta wearing an apron hurried over. “Madam, what is it?”

“Bring the first aid kit,” Shi Ya snapped, pointing at “Chi Mu.” “This little brat needs treatment.”

Housekeeper Aunt Gao took one look at “Chi Mu” and gasped. “Oh my! Xiao Mu, what happened to you… I’ll get it right away.”

“Upstairs. Shower!” Shi Ya barked at “Chi Mu.”

Nie Yijun looked up. Three floors. She had no idea which one was hers.

Aunt Gao soon returned with the first aid kit. She examined Nie Yijun’s face with a frown. “That must hurt like hell… We can’t put ointment on like this. You need to clean up first.”

Thinking quickly, Nie Yijun said, “Can you help me?”

“Of course I can help,” Aunt Gao said, reaching out but then hesitating. She retracted her hand. “But you still need to shower first.”

“Can you show me where it is?” Nie Yijun asked.

Aunt Gao nodded, picked up the kit, and led the way. Nie Yijun followed her upstairs—all the way to the third floor. The third floor felt like a different world, totally out of sync with the rest of the house. Just outside the landing was a massive gaming area, decked out with every kind of entertainment device imaginable. It hardly looked like a home.

They passed through the game room, and Nie Yijun saw a small private KTV. Next to it, a wine cellar filled an entire wall with bottles.

Aunt Gao stopped at the innermost door. “I’ll wait out here. After your shower, I’ll help with the ointment.”

The door had a fingerprint lock. Her own bedroom had a fingerprint lock—Chi Mu was clearly something else.

Nie Yijun pressed her right thumb to the scanner. Nothing. Then her index finger. Then middle. Ring. Finally, when she used her pinky, the lock beeped and opened.

Chi Mu’s brain really didn’t work like normal people.

The room inside was spacious, with a balcony, en suite bathroom, and walk-in closet.

Nie Yijun didn’t take time to admire the décor. She walked straight into the closet and, among Chi Mu’s colorful and chaotic wardrobe, found a simple white T-shirt and long pants. Then she headed into the bathroom.

There was both a tub and a shower. She opted for a quick rinse under the shower. As she pressed the body wash, she caught a light, fragrant scent—like crabapple blossoms. She sniffed the bottle. It wasn’t the body wash.

It must be… Chi Mu’s scent.

So her pheromones smelled like crabapple blossoms. So this was how they smelled to a normal nose…

Nie Yijun was quietly intrigued.

She emerged from the bathroom, towel drying her hair, and opened the bedroom door. “Come in,” she called to Aunt Gao.

“Oh no, I wouldn’t dare,” Aunt Gao said. “You never let anyone into your room.”

Nie Yijun paused, then simply reached out her hand. “I’ll take the first aid kit.”

“You don’t need help anymore?” Aunt Gao asked.

“No. Thank you.” Nie Yijun replied.

Aunt Gao handed her the kit. “Let me know what you’d like to eat, and I’ll cook it for you.”

“Anything’s fine,” Nie Yijun replied, closing the door.

She walked over to the desk and opened the kit. All the basics were there—swelling reduction, bruise cream. She sat at the mirror and started applying the ointment.

Her phone, left on a chair before her shower, began to buzz. A call from an unknown number.

“Hello?” she answered on speaker.

“You little sh*t! You finally picked up?!” The voice was both familiar and not.

“Who is this?”

“I’m your damn ancestor!”

“Dead already.” She hung up without hesitation.

Touching the bruises on her face, she felt a mild sting. Her pain tolerance had always been high. She thought of Chi Mu screaming earlier—so dramatic.

Looking at her unfamiliar face in the mirror still felt odd.

Then something clicked. She glanced at her phone. It rang again.

“Nie Yijun!” Chi Mu’s furious voice blasted through. “Get back to the hospital now!”

“For what?” Nie Yijun asked.

“For a meeting!” Chi Mu replied.

“And what do you expect me to do there? Don’t forget—you’re the real Dr. Nie right now.” Nie Yijun said.

Silence. Then Chi Mu’s voice dropped to a softer volume. “Then what do we do? I don’t want to be in this meeting. I don’t even know what it’s about!”

Nie Yijun picked up the phone and sank into the sofa. “Chi Mu, we need to cooperate.”

“How?” Chi Mu asked.

“We don’t know how long this swap will last. At the very least, until we switch back, let’s not screw up each other’s lives. Agreed?” Nie Yijun said.

“Of course… Wait, are you saying I should go to the meeting?!” Chi Mu asked.

“Not should. You are me now.” Nie Yijun answered.

“Don’t get smart with me! What meeting is it even? I don’t know crap!” Chi Mu replied.

“I’ve already prepared everything. It’s on my computer. You’ll understand it.” Nie Yijun said.

“I won’t understand it!” Chi Mu answered.

“Yes, you will.” Nie Yijun replied.

“Like hell I will!” Chi Mu blurted.

Nie Yijun smiled faintly. “I don’t believe the Chi Mu who used to fight me for first place can’t handle it—unless…”

Chi Mu opened the laptop. “Unless what?”

“Your brain’s gone mush.” Nie Yijun said.

“You’re the one with a mushy brain!” Chi Mu slammed the mouse. “Nie Yijun, say that again and I swear I’ll ruin your meeting!”

Nie Yijun wisely shut her mouth.

“Password!” Chi Mu yelled.

“20058978987459,” Nie Yijun replied.

“Are you nuts? Why is your password so long and complicated?!” Chi Mu asked.

“It’s still better than someone using their pinky fingerprint as a lock code.” Nie Yijun answered.

“What did you say?” Chi Mu shot up from her chair. “You went in my room?!”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Who gave you permission?!”

“I am you now.”

Chi Mu narrowed her eyes. “Leave my room right now.”

Nie Yijun didn’t budge. She rubbed her nose. “Chi Mu, we’re a team now. You help me, I’ll help you.”

Silence on the other end, just the sound of frantic mouse clicking.

“Come to the hospital,” Chi Mu said at last, sounding calmer. “Let’s talk this out. I really can’t do this meeting alone.”

“Fine. But your mom grounded me, and it sounded like I’m not allowed out. Any chance you can handle her?”

Chi Mu instantly felt better. She reclined in her chair, smug. “If Mom says something, it’s law. I can’t help you there. But… you could sneak out. Just hurry. The meeting’s in two hours.”

Nie Yijun opened the door. The third floor was quiet—clearly Chi Mu’s territory.

Sneaking out? Was that seriously how Chi Mu lived at home?

She crept downstairs. No one was in sight. She headed for the entrance.

Beep beep. The front door unlocked.

Nie Yijun froze and instinctively looked for a hiding spot—but it was too late. A woman walked in.

Nie Yijun’s eyes widened. The name “Chi Mu” nearly slipped out. The woman looked exactly like her.

But she wasn’t Chi Mu. Her legs beneath the short skirt were prosthetics.

The woman eyed Nie Yijun’s bruised face. “Got beat up?”

“Yeah,” Nie Yijun replied simply, too stunned to say more.

The woman approached. Her height was slightly shorter—probably due to the prosthetics—but Nie Yijun caught the scent of magnolia from her.

She looked up at Nie Yijun with a cold expression identical to Chi Mu’s. “You deserve to be this much of a mess,” she said flatly, then stepped inside with a mechanical clunk.

Nie Yijun turned to watch her. Her walk was clunky, but her posture was perfectly straight.

Same face. Completely different person.

Nie Yijun made it to the hospital in record time. She pushed open her office door and found Chi Mu snoozing in her chair.

She gently tapped Chi Mu’s side.

“OW!” Chi Mu sat up. “That hurt! Nie Yijun, are you nuts?!”

“Focus,” Nie Yijun pushed the chair aside, opened a file on the computer, and said, “Just present this plan during the meeting. For the rest, wear this earpiece—I’ll guide you.”

Chi Mu grumbled, rubbing her ribs.

Nie Yijun looked at her. “At least try to stick to the script, yeah?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“Great.” Nie Yijun handed her an earpiece and covered it with her hair. “Once this is over, we’ll talk cooperation.”

With no better option, Chi Mu reluctantly agreed. She reviewed the plan once. Then it was time.

Nie Yijun walked her to the conference room.

“I’ll wait in the office,” Nie Yijun said.

“Can’t you wait outside?” Chi Mu asked.

“I’m technically an outsider now—I’m not allowed here. Go on, sit on the left side of the table.”

Chi Mu clutched the laptop and entered the meeting room. It was already full of people in white coats.

Suddenly, she felt nervous. She wanted to run.

“Dr. Nie,” a male doctor called. She looked up. It was the same man who’d asked about her prep earlier. He patted the seat beside him. “Come sit.”

Chi Mu’s first instinct was to stay far away. Something about this guy screamed two-faced. She hated it. But with all eyes on her, she feigned calm and walked over.

“What happened to your face, Dr. Nie?” someone asked.

“Got mugged,” she replied.

“Dr. Nie got mugged?” the man said with amusement.

Chi Mu squinted at the name on his badge: Attending Physician: Dai Yin.

“Of course,” Chi Mu flashed a smile. “I’m too good-looking. It was bound to happen.”

“Ahem!” Nie Yijun coughed in her earpiece. “Stick to the point.”

Chi Mu rolled her eyes. She’d just been defending her honor! And that’s what she got for it?