Body Swap and the Heart's Echo

Chapter 1

Elena Brightvale was just a struggling actress in Midland City, trying to make her mark in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. But everything changed one fateful day when she unexpectedly found herself in the body of a towering hulk of a man. Suddenly, her quiet life spiraled out of control.
Elena had barely adjusted to the idea of seeing muscles ripple where there should have been her own slender frame when bizarre events started to unfold around her. First there was the strange case of an obsessed stalker with dubious preferences that made her skin crawl. Then came the unexpected distress from a heavily pregnant colleague who seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown. And let’s not forget about the miserable assistant caught in the web of a tyrannical boss—who she discovered just might need a good old-fashioned beatdown… from her.
Elena couldn’t help but blurt out, “With all these bulging muscles, why couldn’t I at least look good in a dress? Why are they stuck on me?”
Amid this chaos, she discovered Roland Stoneheart, the massive man whose body she had invaded. He was none too happy about sharing his body with her, and the feeling was mutual.
“Get out of my body, will you?” he shouted, fists clenched, his frustration palpable in the air.
And then there was Lady Bea, the unfortunate soul who got tangled up in the circumstances. “What do you mean, I'm the creepy one? You've taken over my life! The pressure is too much! I might just jump out of the window!”
Meanwhile, Cedric Broadshield, the hapless assistant, chimed in with desperation. “Hero, please unleash my inner strength! Just hit my boss once for me! I can't handle it anymore!”
Elena, caught in a rollercoaster of absurd situations, lamented, “Why is it that the original occupants of their bodies are right here with me? This is way too awkward! What’s the point of being here if we can’t even switch roles properly?”
Ensnared in a series of mishaps, Elena had to navigate this new life filled with eccentric friends, unexpected responsibilities, and the looming threat of danger always lurking just beyond the surface. Could she figure out a way to communicate with Roland and the others? Or would this bizarre arrangement spell disaster for everyone involved?
As the chaos unfolded, Elena was left grappling with the strangest predicament of her life, one where she had to learn that the most absurd battles often came from the most unexpected alliances. In a world where body and identity clashed, she would have to find her own strength amidst the turmoil, and perhaps uncover new dreams she never thought possible.

Chapter 2

Elena Brightvale felt like her luck had hit rock bottom ever since that New Year’s Eve in The Great Square when a giant bird dropped its mess just inches from her.
First, her boyfriend of less than two months cheated on her and had the audacity to break up with her. Then, at an audition, she ran into the woman he left her for, who shamelessly snatched away the acting role she had been eagerly waiting for. And now—now she found herself inexplicably trapped in the body of a hulking man.
What in the world was happening? Somebody, please, give her a hint.
Elena was on the brink of panic. If it weren't for the group of burly men chasing after her intent on giving her a beating, she would have been curled up against a tree, sobbing her heart out—after all, she’d merely taken a quick nap. Why did she have to wake up as a muscle-bound giant?
This had to be a dream.
Fighting back tears, Elena dashed forward like a headless chicken, turning at every corner and squeezing through any opening she could find. Luckily, this body was surprisingly agile; after a short sprint, she managed to leave her pursuers behind, panting and hiding behind a pile of broken bricks.
After listening intently for a few moments and hearing nothing, she slumped to the ground, her breath coming in quick gasps. The cold air flooded her lungs, and gradually her racing heart began to slow, giving her the chance to take in her surroundings.
This place looked like a construction yard, but there weren't any workers around. It was mid-February, a time when many would still be enjoying the New Year holiday, maybe still off on break.
Wait a minute, she thought. How could she be so sure of the date? For all she knew, she might have been transported to another world altogether!
Elena dug into her pockets, pulling out everything she could find. Unsurprisingly, she had to face the reality of her new body in the process. She could clearly feel it—it was in excellent shape, more fit than any trainer at a gym. Those bulging muscles, which usually made her swoon, were now a part of her.
Oh, but wait—she had to keep reminding herself this was *not* her body. However, in this case, it felt like someone had taken a hundred years of bad luck and flung it her way.
The treasures in this unfamiliar body’s pockets were few: a phone, a wallet, and—strangely enough—an immaculate handkerchief.
A handkerchief? So, had she become a gay man, or what?
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she opened the wallet and rummaged through it. Thank goodness, there was an ID card. She held her phone up to her face, which still looked like the person on the ID. The name listed was Roland Stoneheart, a twenty-five-year-old who wasn’t originally from Midland City.
She quickly powered on the phone, but it had some sort of password, and she wasn’t prepared to crack it right now. Instead, she settled for glancing at the lock screen, which displayed the date and time.
February 20, 2017, 2:43 PM.
…Oh.
That was just half an hour after she had drifted off for her nap.
Earlier in the morning, her manager, Sister Margaret, had delivered some good news—she had secured an audition for a TV drama. The roles ranging from female lead to supporting characters would be decided from this audition, and she was to prepare for the coveted lead role. Margaret had already sent over the materials, but now, here she was... Where did everything go wrong?
Elena remembered feeling grateful to Sister Margaret for helping her get this opportunity. She knew all too well that chances like these were rare, and that if the company decided she wasn’t worth investing in, she'd be left scrambling for chances without the connections that could launch her career. After spending what felt like ages reviewing the materials, she planned to take a short break and gather her energy.
But who could have predicted that a simple nap would turn her world upside down?

Chapter 3

Elena Brightvale was hit with a wave of excruciating pain, clutching her chest where the muscles felt unusually tense. Suddenly, she felt weak and disoriented. She realized that she had somehow swapped bodies with a burly man—he was in her body, and she was in his. Wasn't it strange that she could travel to this new form? There hadn't been any meteor showers or anything to suggest this kind of cosmic event. Why would she switch bodies with a stranger?
With a deep breath, Elena unlocked her phone again, trying to get past the lock screen. After several failed attempts, she finally succeeded using her birth date from her ID. She quickly dialed her own number, her heart pounding with anxiety as she listened to the ringing on the other end.
She tried again—the same result.
As an actress, it was vital for her to have her phone on at all times, ready for any news from her agency. Even during her naps, she kept her phone close by; there was no way she'd sleep through the ringing when it was this close to her bed… Of course, it was now “his” voice. What had happened?
Brushing off the dust from her clothes, Elena decided to head to her apartment. The GPS on her phone indicated that she was in Westmark. As the Midland City of the capital, it was bustling with development, but she had just woken up in a dilapidated part of town—it seemed to be the farthest corner of the area that was still waiting for development. This place felt nothing like the city center; the contrast was stark, and she would have never come to a place like this on her own.
Her home was nearly twenty kilometers away. The subway wasn’t far, and since it wasn’t rush hour, she decided to take the train back.
Before stepping out of her hideout, Elena cautiously scanned the area again, ensuring that the people who had been pursuing her were no longer nearby before venturing out.
“Who the hell are you?” a sudden voice startled her, causing her fit body to duck back behind a wall of bricks.
Then realization dawned.
That voice sounded way too close—almost like it was right in her ear…
“Stop playing dead. Answer me, or I’ll take you out.”
“…”
“What are you? Get out of my body.”
“…”
…It wasn't just in her ear—it was echoing in her mind!
Elena took a deep breath and cautiously replied inwardly, “Um... hello?”
This wasn’t a straightforward switch—it was more like she had hijacked his body and trapped him in a corner of his own consciousness.
Wait, what about her own body? It couldn't have just died without “him” being there to manage it, right?
The thought nearly brought her to tears. She had tried calling herself and there was no answer. More than half an hour had passed—was her body already cold?
“Damn it, where did that ghost come from? Get the hell out. If you don’t, I swear I’ll skin you alive.”
Elena: “Uh… how exactly do you plan to do that?”
The voice suddenly went quiet.
Seizing the opportunity before he resumed his tirade, she hurriedly explained, “I didn’t mean to take over your body. I honestly didn’t know what was happening! I just took a nap at home and then woke up like this. I’m a victim in this too…”
“Victim? You think I care about your sob story? This is my body, mine! How dare you take a dump on my consciousness! Just wait until I can move again—I will get my hands on you!”
“Shut up.” Elena snapped back, unable to hold her patience any longer.
Roland Stoneheart paused for a moment, then his rage flared again, “You better not—”
Not letting him finish, Elena shot back, “If you want to avoid being stuck in your own body forever, you'd better shut your mouth and stop complaining.”
Though Roland had a temper, he was not completely out of his mind. Since awakening, he had attempted to regain control of his limbs, but it felt like he was stuck in quicksand; he just couldn’t command his own body. He could see, hear, even feel the chill of the wind against his skin, yet he could not exert any control over his physical self. The sensation of impending madness lurked at the edges of his mind.
Since their conversation had begun, he had been grappling with this woman’s voice inside his head. It was clear that she had commandeered his body, and even with a simple brain, he understood the need to yield—otherwise, he might permanently lose control. There was nowhere for him to vent his frustration should he be trapped.
“What the hell is going on?” Roland finally asked, managing to calm down.
Elena could sense his shift in tone and felt a little relieved; in a tone slightly more sulky, she said, “I just told you, I don’t know. I was sleeping fine, and then suddenly I woke up in your body and before I could figure anything out, a bunch of guys were after me.”
That jogged Roland’s memory of what happened right before he lost consciousness. “What about the fight?”
“What fight?”
“I was in a brawl with Cedric Broadshield and his crew. Just as it started, someone knocked me out cold. When I came to, I was in this mess.”
Elena frowned, “Cedric Broadshield, you say?”
“Yeah! That jerk had the nerve to challenge me. I’m gonna take him down.”
Elena remained quiet.
“Why so quiet? I’m talking to you!”
She hurriedly responded, “When I woke up, I saw a bunch of buff guys about to beat me up, so…I panicked and ran!”
“What!” Roland bellowed. “You left my crew behind and ran away?”
“… Yes. There were too many of them, and I couldn’t tell who was with you and who was after you…”
Ignoring her protest, Roland howled in despair, “Damn it, my reputation is ruined in front of my crew! How will I show my face now? Cedric Broadshield is definitely gonna drag my name through the mud. I’m furious!”
Elena smirked, “And you think you'll have the chance to regain your reputation now?”

Chapter 4

Elena Brightvale's sarcastic remark jolted Roland Stoneheart awake. Now was not the time to fret about his "reputation"—the priority was to quickly address their current bizarre predicament.
"Do you have any idea how to handle this?" Roland asked urgently.
Elena grimaced. "I'm at a loss, honestly."
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, she leaned against a brick wall, looking thoroughly defeated. Maybe it was because she wasn't in her own body, but she didn’t care to worry about the dirt beneath her.
How could anyone have any clarity about such a nonsensical situation? Should they call the police? Yeah, right. The cops would probably think she was mental. Even if they believed her story, a doctor would likely diagnose her with split personality disorder.
"Damn it! I’ve never done anything wrong, so why is this mess happening to me? It's Cedric Broadshield who deserves the bad luck!" Roland cursed angrily.
Elena winced at his crude language. She quickly reminded herself, "Hold on, cursing won’t solve anything."
Taking a deep breath to suppress her anxiety, she suggested to Roland, "Let’s calm down and sort this through step by step. We might find some clues."
Compared to the now powerless Roland, Elena's ability to move freely offered some hope. His frustration faded slightly as he thought about her suggestion. "Okay, where do we start?"
"Let's talk about when you fainted." Elena replied. "When did you come to?"
Roland shrugged nonchalantly. "Just now. I woke up and couldn’t move my legs, so I started shouting."
Elena frowned slightly. From his account and her own experience, she realized he must have been knocked out just before she arrived—then chased soon after. Although she hadn’t checked the time, it felt like it lasted around fifteen minutes before Roland regained consciousness.
"Before that, did anything strange happen? Like finding a jade bracelet or a weird rock?" she probed further.
Roland shook his head vehemently. "No way! I don’t pick up strange stuff. I’m not some scavenger."
Elena thought to herself that she hadn’t found anything either… so she pressed on, "Have you offended anyone practicing the old ways or any sorcerers?"
Roland squinted skeptically. "Are there really monks like in the stories?"
Elena shrugged. "I don’t know, but I’m just throwing out ideas."
Roland groaned, "How many more questions are you going to ask? I just want my body back. Dammit! I’ve trained hard for three years to get like this, and now, I’m walking around like a wimp because of you. I could go blind from embarrassment!"
Elena buried her face in her hands. "Can you stop saying 'I' all the time? And frankly, I was a woman to begin with—there's no way I'm suddenly changing how I walk just because you say so!"
"I like referring to myself, what’s it to you?” Roland snapped, his patience fraying. "Damn it, when you ran away earlier, Cedric must have seen me looking ridiculous. Who knows what lies he’ll spread about me?"
Elena raised an eyebrow. “…Are you seriously jealous of Cedric?"
Roland exploded, "What? No way! Cedric and I are enemies. How could I ever like him? That's disgusting."
"Okay, okay, my mistake," Elena quickly apologized. Considering his tendency to carry a handkerchief, to mention that Cedric often, and his sculpted physique, her misinterpretation of his feelings wasn’t totally unfounded.
"I—"
Roland's voice suddenly trailed off, the last words caught in his throat as silence enveloped them.
Elena felt her heart race. "Roland! Roland, are you there?"
She anxiously awaited his response, but he had disappeared completely, as if he had become a ghost. No matter how loudly she called him, he didn’t come back.

Chapter 5

Elena Brightvale felt a knot of dread tightening in her stomach. Was their shared existence in one body just a fleeting moment, and now he had completely vanished? Or had he already taken over her body?
In a panic, she pulled out her phone and dialed herself again. The phone rang several times, but no one picked up. Undeterred, she tried again, and again—still no answer.
So it appeared that Roland Stoneheart hadn’t taken residence in her body… so where was he? If he was gone, her hopes of returning to her own body were dwindling.
Sweat dripped down Elena's back as the anxiety bubbled over. Finally, she made up her mind to revisit the thoughts that Roland had interrupted—she had to head home and check things out.
With determination, she crept out from her hiding place, sneaking her way toward the exit. Maybe because Roland had just brought it up, she couldn't help but be conscious of her posture while walking. After covering about ten yards, she thought to herself that, considering her current build, she did walk rather awkwardly.
Recalling the way men carried themselves, she adjusted her stride as she moved. After all, she wasn’t a true man. At first, she could only imitate some stereotypes, and a genuine walk should align with one’s character. For instance, Roland Stoneheart—the textbook rogue—walked with a strut, shoulders swinging, chest out, and chin raised high in perpetual defiance.
After about a hundred yards, she finally started to feel it. She joked internally that at least she was gaining some acting experience, although the main prerequisite was figuring out how to get back to her own body. Having been a woman her whole life, suddenly being pushed into the role of a man was mind-boggling.
Just as she stepped out of a narrow alley, a group burst into view. Before she could retreat, they spotted her. The leader, a burly man, shouted angrily, “Roland Stoneheart, you’re fast for a coward! Stop right there!”
Yeah, and whoever stops is a complete fool.
Elena turned on her heel and took off running.
The hefty man shouted after her, his voice booming, “Roland Stoneheart, don’t you dare run! Face me like a man!”
Elena panted heavily, not in the mood for games.
“Stop!”
Amid the clamor, a familiar voice boomed in her head like thunder, startling her into almost losing her balance.
“Roland Stoneheart, you’re still here!” she thought in surprise.
“Don’t panic, just get in there and fight!” Roland Stoneheart yelled, his irritation palpable.
Elena, running for her life, mentally shot back, “I am panicking, and no, I’m not fighting!”
“You’re nothing but a scaredy-cat!”
She nodded, responding internally, “Yep, you got it.”
Roland’s voice fell silent, leaving her anxiously asking, “Roland, are you still there?”
“Where else would I be?” he replied impatiently.
“I thought you just went radio silent for ten minutes!” she exclaimed.
“Now that you mention it… yeah, that did happen.” Roland recalled—his sudden blackout and then regaining consciousness just as she was being chased. Watching Cedric Broadshield, his perennial rival, pursue him like a hound on his heels, filled him with ire, but there he was helpless, unable to move a muscle and merely watching Cedric revel in his small victory, driving him up the wall.
Now, Elena didn’t have the luxury of pondering Roland’s odd state; she was too anxious. “Can you at least point me in the right direction? I’m not familiar with this area, and I don't want to run into a dead-end.”
“Then stop running and stand your ground—fight them!” Roland shouted.
Elena snapped, “Are you crazy? It’s just me against all of them. Stopping to fight is just asking for trouble!”
“Dying in battle is better than running like a dog; I can’t stand it!” Roland thundered back, his frustration boiling over.

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