REBIRTH OF THE CELEBRITY : I BECAME A CLEANER

The red carpet was long, but her high heels never made it to the end. Su Rui’s last memory was the Golden Sphere Awards. She wore a silver haute couture gown, her smile elegant and precise, each step landing perfectly in front of the cameras. She was just about to give one final, dramatic look toward the flashing lights— Then, she slipped. A chorus of gasps. The world spun. Shutter clicks, panicked shouting, a crashing sound— And then— Darkness. When she opened her eyes again, a strong stench of disinfectant mixed with greasy smoke hit her nose so hard it nearly knocked her out again. She instinctively tried to sit up, but her whole body ached. Her waist felt like it had snapped. Before her vision even focused, a rough voice said, “You’re awake? You fainted in the staff corridor. We carried you back.” Staff? Who’s staff? She jerked her head down—she was wearing a loose-fitting set of blue-gray pajamas, the sleeves stained with detergent powder. At her feet sat a pair of faded plastic slippers. At the foot of the bed: a half-dry mop. She froze for three seconds, then yanked the blanket open in horror. “…Did you touch me?! Was I kidnapped?! Filmed?! Did you film me?!” A middle-aged woman nearby nearly spit out her pickled vegetables. “Lin-jie, are you crazy?! You’re too old to be acting like you’re in some idol drama!” “Lin what?” Su Rui’s face went pale. She jumped out of bed and rushed to the only mirror on the wall. And stared at a face completely unfamiliar—a middle-aged woman. Nasolabial folds. Eye bags. Drooping mouth corners. Hair in a tangled nest, with a few strands of gray. She nearly choked on her own breath. “Who is this… WHO IS THIS?!” “That’s you. Lin Yueying.” “Stomach acting up again? You’re acting real weird today.” “Screamed like a ghost first thing in the morning—scared the kitchen staff half to death.” Her coworkers chatted while sweeping the floor. She just stood there, like an actor who’d walked onto the wrong set. She looked down at the mop in her hand, then up at the cobwebs on the ceiling. She could barely catch her breath. She, Su Rui—the most cutthroat queen of the entertainment industry, with more bookings than anyone—had actually soul-swapped into… this? A janitor auntie? “So this is… what, a corporate reality show? Some public-service redemption prank?” she muttered, her lips twitching. No one replied. Only the calluses in her left palm seemed to mock her, stinging sharply with every grip. Leaning on the mop, she entered the office area. The building was spotless, the air fresh. Employees walked past briskly, not sparing her a single glance. Her eyes swept past the break room’s coffee machine— A flicker of recognition. She’d once filmed an endorsement here. Back then, one commercial line cost three million. Now… she was here to mop the floor. Fate really knew how to hit where it hurt. She tried to get to work. First swipe: slipped. Second crouch: couldn’t get back up. Third stroke: nearly pulled her back. But she had always been competitive. After ten minutes of effort, she began finding her rhythm— Even developed a personal technique: “left push, right spin cleans better.” “You really shouldn’t underestimate yourself,” she muttered. “Even mopping can be a career path.” A passing coworker whispered, “Lin-jie’s acting kinda weird today…” At lunch, she queued at the cafeteria, holding a tray of plain white rice and scrambled eggs—and managed to grab the last red-braised chicken leg. Sitting down, she felt a wave of absurdity hit her. The last time she ate from a tray like this was on set filming a rural art film. She took a bite—and was surprised. It was good. “Ugh… getting old,” she muttered. “So easy to please these days.” But just then, a sharp pain pierced her stomach, nearly making her choke. She frowned, rubbing her abdomen. What’s going on? Is there something wrong with this body? Something felt off, and she knew it. But she quickly shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. First, figure out how to get out of this absurd play.” That night, she returned to that shabby dorm room and stared at her reflection— A face that looked tired, worn, and utterly spiritless. She forced a smile. It came out looking like someone about to scold a kid. She sighed, pulled the worn blanket over herself, and lay down. “Well then… Su Rui, this time your role is: a 50-year-old janitor named Lin Yueying. And your only audience—is yourself.” Meanwhile, in Building A’s HQ— In the top-floor surveillance room, a man in a tailored suit stood watching the monitor, frowning at the replay. On screen, a middle-aged cleaning woman was carrying a bucket, mumbling to herself as she wiped the windows—occasionally striking odd poses and “practicing smiles” into the glass. A flicker of confusion crossed the man’s eyes. “She seems… off today.” His assistant whispered, “That’s Lin Yueying. She fainted in the corridor this morning. Seems recovered now, but maybe her mental state’s not quite right.” The man said nothing, just furrowed his brow slightly. He didn’t realize— The woman he was staring at wasn’t just a janitor. And she herself had no idea— That the past of this body she now lived in… was far heavier than she could ever imagine.