With My Ability To Swap, I Will Never End Up In A Love Triangle Mess - Chapter 38

Luo Xinyu was troubled.

For some reason, her newly close friend had gone silent, and Chen Xi hadn’t visited her body in days. It felt like she’d been thrown back into her old, lonely life.

The memories of painting together, sharing chocolate croissants, and secretly badmouthing Chen Xi behind his back—all of it flashed before her eyes like a dream.

“I guess I really have no use to them anymore…”

They’d promised to come today, but evening had already fallen, and she still hadn’t felt that familiar sensation of her body moving on its own, of conversations happening in her mind.

She held a chocolate croissant in her hand, originally planning to share it with Chen Xi when he arrived. But now, it seemed she’d be eating it alone.

She tore off a piece of the crispy tip and dipped it in chocolate sauce.

Why?

Why does something that used to taste so delicious now feel like chewing wax?

Remembering how Xia Xi had eagerly devoured the croissant the first time he’d visited, Luo Xinyu forced a small smile. Then, mimicking his habit, she pressed her lips to the pointed end and took a delicate bite.

Huh. It’s actually pretty good this way~

“Miss, you should eat something.”

After enduring the young lady’s temper a few times, the little maid had learned to behave properly.

In fact, because of Luo Xinyu’s gentle nature, she’d grown even more attentive.

“I’m not hungry…”

Seated in her wheelchair, Luo Xinyu shook her head and absentmindedly traced her fingers over the very first drawing she’d made.

A little boy with a long tail… Only you could come up with something so whimsical, huh?

She turned her gaze to her glowing phone, where the screensaver displayed a cherry blossom tree, petals drifting slowly downward.

“If cherry blossoms fall at five centimeters per second… then how fast is my longing to see you?”

“But Miss, you haven’t eaten all day—”

The maid tried to persuade her.

Just a few days ago, the young lady had been fine. But since yesterday, she’d barely eaten, stopped playing the piano, and just lay in bed staring blankly at nothing.

“I want to go outside.”

“Huh? Do you want to go to the living room, Miss?”

The maid was taken aback, assuming Luo Xinyu just wanted to leave her room for a change of scenery.

“No. I want to go outside. I want to see the world.”

When was the last time I left the house?

Probably back in middle school. Back then, she couldn’t stand the loneliness and kept trying to sneak out.

But every time she made it to the bustling streets, watching all the ordinary people walking freely on their own two legs, she’d felt like an outcast.

Her wheelchair had felt like a cage. Amid the noise and crowds, she couldn’t go anywhere, didn’t dare to. In the end, she’d always stop at the traffic light near the villa, watching pedestrians stride confidently across the white lines to the other side.

“But… what about Master’s orders…?”

Luo Xinyu’s past escapes had left her father, Luo Jingcheng, both heartbroken and exasperated.

Every time she disappeared, he’d panic, terrified that some trafficker might snatch his daughter away.

But without fail, he’d find her frozen at the crosswalk, as if she could never bring herself to take that step onto the road.

So he’d ordered the head maid to lock the villa gates—no one was to open them without his permission. He’d rather keep Luo Xinyu a caged songbird than watch her fall with broken wings.

“It’s fine. I’ll explain it to him myself. I’m an adult now. Wanting to see the outside world isn’t too much to ask, is it?”

The little maid had to admit her mistress had a point.

No one should be cooped up inside forever.

She quickly called the head maid, who relayed Luo Xinyu’s request.

The head maid was thorough. She double—no, triple—checked with Luo Xinyu before calling the master to report the situation.

To everyone’s surprise, Luo Jingcheng agreed immediately.

He’d been worried his precious daughter was slipping into depression and had been agonizing over what to do. Now, she was asking to go outside? This was a blessing!

Guiding her wheelchair onto the street, Luo Xinyu was accompanied by four black-suited bodyguards lurking in the shadows and her ever-attentive little maid.

Since it was evening, the streets were mostly empty.

At this hour, the only lively places were the night markets in the food district, where crowds would gather later.

“The streets have really changed… Just like in the pictures online.”

Luo Xinyu remembered the scene from her first escape.

Back then, there hadn’t been many tall buildings—just small storefronts and street vendors.

But now, skyscrapers towered everywhere, grand and imposing. Of course, the small shops were still there, their goods even more varied than before.

The only real difference was the absence of street stalls at night.

Her wheelchair rolled to a stop at a crosswalk. Staring at the wide road ahead, Luo Xinyu suddenly felt a weight lift from her chest.

Something that had once seemed terrifying now felt utterly ordinary.

She guided her wheelchair forward, crossing the street for the very first time.

“Chen Xi, you’re making progress… And so am I~”

The thought made her laugh, her mood lifting instantly.

“Let’s go home.”

After barely ten minutes outside, she was already heading back. The maid had no idea what her mistress was thinking, but she could tell the young lady’s spirits had improved.

Maybe she’d just needed some fresh air after being cooped up for so long?

“Ahem, you may leave now. I’d like to stay in the garden alone for a while.”

Those words hadn’t come from Luo Xinyu.

Inside her mind, she was freaking out.

He didn’t break his promise! He came after all! He didn’t abandon me, didn’t decide I was useless—I was just overthinking things!

“Well, well, look who finally left the house~”

The moment Xia Xi arrived, he realized they were in a garden, the villa looming ahead.

Putting two and two together, he immediately understood what Luo Xinyu had done.

“Waaah! It’s all your fault! Waaah!”

“Huh? Why are you crying? What happened?”

Xia Xi was baffled. Normally, the young lady would greet him with a smile. But today, she’d burst into tears the second he showed up. Just how badly had he messed up?

“N-nothing…”

No matter how he asked, she refused to explain, just quietly sobbing to herself.

Xia Xi scratched his head, completely lost.

He wasn’t exactly smooth with words, so he just waited awkwardly.

Then, glancing up at the starry sky, he got an idea.

“Hey, Xinyu… Did I ever tell you I’m a poet?”

At his question, Luo Xinyu steadied her breathing, then shook her head (metaphorically, since he was in control).

He’d never mentioned being a poet. And based on what Liu Yiyi had said about Chen Xi’s writing, she highly doubted he could compose decent poetry.

Sure, Dragon Clan was well-written, but Liu Yiyi had also been possessed by Chen Xi. Her words carried more weight.

“Heh. Well, listen up.”

Sorry, Su Shi.

“How rare the moon, so round and clear! With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky…

…Though miles apart, we’ll share this beauty serene.”

Sure, Xia Xi didn’t have wine, but he did have a chocolate croissant. Close enough, right?

As long as it cheered Luo Xinyu up.

This was one of Su Shi’s most famous masterpieces—a guaranteed heart-stealer.

And sure enough, the quiet sobbing in his mind stopped, replaced by stunned silence.

Xia Xi didn’t rush her. He just leaned back in the wheelchair, admiring the stars.

He hadn’t even planned to visit Luo Xinyu today. After spending the afternoon scrambling around in Liu Yiyi’s body, he was exhausted.

But the thought of breaking his promise—knowing how eagerly the young lady waited for him—had gnawed at him. So he’d decided to drop by late at night.

And just as he’d guessed, Luo Xinyu had been so upset she’d left the house. That was a first!

“Is… is this a confession…?”

In her mind, Luo Xinyu’s emotions were a tangled mess.

She could tell this was an exquisite poem about missing loved ones. But in this context, directed at her… it was hard not to interpret it as Xia Xi seeing her as family, yearning to meet her in person.

And if they weren’t related by blood…

Well, that only left one possibility.

The fact that Xia Xi could casually recite something so beautiful shattered all the preconceptions she’d gotten from Liu Yiyi. Now she was certain—Chen Xi had to be the real author of Dragon Clan!

“Um… I’m okay now. Should we go back inside?”

After silently overanalyzing everything, Luo Xinyu finally spoke up.

But Xia Xi wasn’t done yet.

With a mischievous grin (using Luo Xinyu’s voice, no less), he suddenly stood up from the wheelchair.

Wait.

MY BODY CAN STAND?!

Luo Xinyu’s mind went blank.

While Xia Xi had been stargazing, her affection had somehow hit 80, unlocking partial exchange permissions.

Perfect timing. Since she’d been feeling down, why not let her borrow his legs for a while?

“Alright, alright. It’s late—you should rest. I’ve got stuff to do on my end, so I’ll leave these legs with you for now. Just don’t let anyone notice, okay?”

He paused, then added:

“Oh, and I mean for you to control them. Actually experiencing it yourself is totally different from just being puppeteered. Anyway, see you later, Xinyu~”

Before she could respond, Xia Xi returned to his own body.

Leaving Luo Xinyu standing there, dumbfounded.

He’d checked earlier—the bodyguards and maid weren’t watching. She should be fine for one night.

Tentatively, Luo Xinyu took a few steps. The sensation of her feet pressing against solid ground sent another wave of emotion crashing over her.

Chen Xi is so good to me! These must be his own legs… He’d rather suffer being unable to walk himself, just to make me happy… He really—I can’t—!

And I actually doubted him… Luo Xinyu, you’re the worst!

Waaah! Having legs feels AMAZING!!!

Under the bright moonlight, the usually elegant and demure young lady sprinted across the garden like a wild animal, jumping and twirling until she collapsed, breathless, back into her wheelchair.

All the gloom from her earlier suspicions had vanished, replaced by an irrepressible blush and joy.

Her gentle, beautiful eyes sparkled as they reflected the starry sky above.