His head still spinning, he lifted his gaze to survey his surroundings and was stunned by the opulent bedroom before him. Every luxury imaginable—plush furnishings, state-of-the-art appliances—adorned the expansive space.
Muttering to himself, he thought, *It's like living in a palace.* A whiff of his own scent made him grimace. "This smell… Did my predecessor drink himself to death?" he mumbled.
He rose slowly and made his way to the bathroom, only to freeze at the sight of his reflection. "Damn it," he cursed under his breath, shocked by the unfamiliar face staring back. Gone was the rugged handsomeness of his former self; in its place was a delicate, almost ethereal beauty. His new features—slim face, round eyes, a sharp yet petite nose, soft pink lips, silky black hair parted neatly, and sword-like eyebrows framing translucent skin that flushed at the slightest touch—were strikingly feminine. *What kind of body have I been reincarnated into?* he thought, horrified.
Traumatized by his reflection, he quickly washed up, dressed in fresh clothes from the closet, and left the bedroom. Moving through the grand hall to the main door, he opened it and was dazzled by the sight before him, his eyes sparkling like diamonds.
Xiuying stood outside, visibly impatient. The moment she saw his face, she froze, her thoughts racing: *No matter how many times I see him, I can't look away.* Her intense gaze made him uneasy, though he, too, was momentarily captivated by her beauty. Clearing his throat with an "ahem," he snapped her back to reality. She hurriedly entered, placing documents on the table.
The dizziness had faded, but a sudden, piercing pain shot through him, as if something stabbed his very soul. Clutching his head, he collapsed onto the sofa. Xiuying, alarmed, rushed to his side. "Junhao, what's wrong? Are you okay? Don't tell me you're still drunk!" she asked, her voice a mix of worry and frustration.
A hoarse cry escaped his lips before he blacked out. When he came to, memories of his predecessor flooded his mind, chaotic but merging with his own. He found himself in a hospital room, the faint scent of medicine and disinfectant lingering in the air. Xiuying was asleep beside his bed, her serene expression captivating him. Gently, he reached out to touch her cheek, stirring her awake. She sat up, blushing as she wiped a trace of drool from her mouth.
"Good morning," Chaithanya teased lightly.
"Good morning? Why did you pass out? Did you start drinking again?" Xiuying snapped, leaning close to sniff for alcohol. Her proximity to the beautiful Chinese woman he'd never dreamed of meeting so intimately sent a flush across his face, his body heating up.
"Why's your face so red? Do you have a fever?" Xiuying asked, her delicate hand touching his forehead. His warmth wasn't from illness but from the chaos of hormones surging within him. Embarrassed, he felt his face burn like "a monkey's red ass." Pointing to the mask on his face, he asked in a low, sheepish voice, "Why am I wearing a regular face mask in the hospital?"
She shot him a pointed look. "Do you think you're just anyone?" Her words reminded him of his new reality: he was now an A-list superstar in China. She'd concealed his identity to avoid a media frenzy.
Once he was awake, Xiuying summoned the doctor to arrange his discharge. She offered to call his driver, but Chaithanya declined, suggesting they take a cab to the mansion instead. Surprised, she hesitated—Junhao, the man he now was, had always been too proud to use "commoner" transport, opting for sports cars over cabs or public transit. But she nodded absently, booking a cab on her phone. Within minutes, it arrived, and they boarded, giving a nearby address to avoid suspicion about his identity. She texted his personal driver to meet them.
"This car's too nice for a cab," Chaithanya murmured, settling comfortably into the seat.
"What was that?" Xiuying asked, catching his whisper.
"Nothing," he replied quickly, shaking his head and turning to his phone. She shrugged and resumed tapping on her own device.
Minutes later, they arrived at their destination. After paying the fare, they stepped out and walked a short distance to where a sleek sports car waited under a tree's shade—Junhao's car, now his. They climbed in and drove toward the mansion.
A sleek sports car approached the mansion gate, and the security team promptly opened it, greeting everyone respectfully. Xiuying nodded in acknowledgment, while Chaithanya, to everyone's surprise, responded with a polite greeting, devoid of any arrogance. The staff stood stunned as Chaithanya smiled warmly and strolled into the mansion, with a still-dazed Xiuying following slowly behind.
Xiuying couldn't fathom why she was encountering one surprise after another today. Chaithanya settled onto the sofa, picked up the files, and glanced at her, snapping his fingers sharply. The sound jolted her from her daze, and she shook her head slightly before approaching him.
A pin-drop silence enveloped the mansion. Noticing her hesitant expression, Chaithanya regarded her with amusement and said, "If you have something on your mind, speak."
"You seemed normal yesterday, but today you're acting like a different person. What's changed?" Xiuying asked, pausing briefly.
Chaithanya shook his head and replied, "Until yesterday, you only saw what I chose to show the world. From today onward, you'll see the real me."
Xiuying's eyes widened at his words. Though they sounded simple, she sensed a profound meaning beneath them.
Dismissing her thoughts, she began explaining the files. "This is an invitation from the renowned show *Speak from the Heart*, and this is a contract from a local clothing brand. They want you as their brand ambassador."
"How much are they offering for the endorsement?" Chaithanya asked, reviewing the contract.
Xiuying hesitated briefly before answering, "They're offering a total of 500,000 RMB. They'll pay 200,000 RMB upon signing the contract, with the remaining amount disbursed after the official announcement of you as their brand ambassador through the media."
"Only 500,000 RMB for an A-list actor like me?" Chaithanya frowned slightly but quickly relaxed, continuing to listen to her explanation.