Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 20

Tang Wuyun’s response caught Shi Shuwu completely off guard.

Given her behavior earlier today, Shi Shuwu had expected Tang Wuyun to continue avoiding her like the plague.

But she wasn’t naive enough to think Tang Wuyun’s words were sincere.

Shi Shuwu sneered inwardly, maintaining an impassive expression as she nodded readily. “Sure, let’s just head back and rest then.”

Without giving Tang Wuyun a chance to reconsider, she turned and added casually, “I’ll also organize and submit our first exploration mission. Our group should have the highest exploration progress, considering we fed the other three teams so much false information.”

Her nonchalant demeanor completely threw Tang Wuyun off balance.

Tang Wuyun followed Shi Shuwu for several steps, her footsteps heavy.

Both knew the words were empty, but now it was a battle of wills to see who would crack first.

At worst, I’ll just…

Tang Wuyun gritted her teeth and stomped her foot. At worst, my ass!

She couldn’t win this stubborn standoff. She conceded defeat.

“Ahem, well, if Sister Pei finds out we skipped Sun Moon Lake and went straight back, it’ll definitely ruin everything.”

“Besides, the rules don’t say two people can’t use one card,” Tang Wuyun said, closing her eyes in resignation, now filled with regret.

Why did I have to make things difficult for Shi Shuwu?

Shi Shuwu casually turned around, raised an eyebrow, and nodded. “Oh, I know. I just wanted to see how thick your skin really is—whether you genuinely wanted to get something for nothing and take advantage of me.”

With that, she deliberately avoided looking at Tang Wuyun’s expression and strode toward their destination.

Tang Wuyun, furious, clenched her fists and flailed wildly behind Shi Shuwu before finally catching up.

Hearing Tang Wuyun’s breathing grow heavy with anger, Shi Shuwu couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

For the rest of the time, Shi Shuwu accompanied Tang Wuyun on her point-earning missions, claiming they needed to keep an eye on each other to prevent either of them from being assimilated without the other noticing.

“After completing the mission, we’ll find Sister Pei and Jin Jin. If our theory holds true, sticking with them now is the safest option, since the assimilation ability can only be used once every two hours.”

By the time two hours had passed, it would already be time to rest and use the Time Freeze Card. The next assimilation opportunity wouldn’t arise until tomorrow morning.

Shi Shuwu nodded. “Alright, you’ll stick with me tomorrow.”

Tang Wuyun secretly pursed her lips.

They had already been together all day, and now she had to spend another day with Shi Shuwu? In the past, she would have been ecstatic.

But now, she felt deeply uncomfortable. Being around Shi Shuwu for too long made her skin crawl.

Shi Shuwu gave her a strained smile. “What? You don’t want to?”

Tang Wuyun: “That’s right, I don’t.”

Shi Shuwu’s expression stiffened slightly. She had noticed Tang Wuyun’s aversion to being with her. “Then forget it…”

Before she could finish, Tang Wuyun interrupted.

“Why should I follow you?” Tang Wuyun muttered, her voice awkward.

Then, lacking confidence, she retorted, “Why can’t you just stick with me?”

Shi Shuwu: “……”

She had no response and no desire to argue.

The more comfortable their online interactions had been, the more strained their real-life interactions now felt.

Tang Wuyun actually wanted to return to their earlier conversation. She wanted to ask if she really did go back with Shi Shuwu, would they actually sleep together?

Could such a good thing really be true?

What was Shi Shuwu really thinking?

Tang Wuyun completed the mission with a head full of questions, but ultimately lacked the courage to ask Shi Shuwu directly.

By the time they found Pei Yinxi and Bai Jin again, it was already eight in the evening. A new addition to their group was Shi Zhimiao, who immediately turned a cold shoulder to Tang Wuyun.

“Did you finish your mission?” Pei Yinxi asked, clearly still fixated on the “unfair” prop.

Shi Shuwu nodded briefly, offering no further explanation.

Shi Zhimiao’s focus, however, was elsewhere. “You’re still sticking together?” she asked. How clingy can you get? Tang Wuyun’s claims of disliking Shi Shuwu were clearly nonsense.

Tang Wuyun’s lips twitched, and she glared resentfully at Bai Jin, who had pushed her forward. “Good question. Why are we together again, Jin Jin? What do you say?”

Bai Jin smiled and immediately took the bait. “Obviously because you were secretly following them the whole way. Sister Pei and I couldn’t stand it, so we pushed you over.”

“You’re welcome.”

Shi Shuwu looked surprised. “So you were secretly following me the whole time?”

Tang Wuyun immediately retorted, “I didn’t…”

Bai Jin cut her off, even louder, “Yes, she was clinging to a tree, spying the whole time! Watch the replay later if you don’t believe me.”

With a pointed gesture, she indicated the follow-cam.

The follow-cam operator gave a thumbs-up in perfect coordination.

Hilarious! They recorded everything!

Tang Wuyun: “……”

She was furious, feeling like the whole world was against her.

Shi Shuwu chuckled softly, her mood inexplicably lifted.

Pei Yinxi, focused solely on the game, didn’t join in teasing Tang Wuyun. Instead, she asked Shi Shuwu pointedly, “Did you find anything?”

Shi Shuwu feigned hesitation, her face twisting in a show of internal conflict, as if weighing whether to speak. After a few seconds, she nodded, adopting an expression of reckless trust in Pei Yinxi, and beckoned her closer.

Pei Yinxi’s eyes flickered slightly as she leaned in.

Shi Shuwu leaned in close, whispering “secrets” into her ear.

Tang Wuyun thought to herself, Shi Shuwu is such a good actress too.

Shi Zhimiao narrowed her eyes. “Why can’t we all hear?”

Shi Shuwu cleared her throat. “Tang Wuyun said you couldn’t be trusted and told me to only tell Sister Pei.”

Tang Wuyun: ???

Who said that? Who?

When did I ever say that?

Just because you can’t come up with a better excuse, you’re throwing me under the bus, aren’t you?

Bai Jin protested, “Why am I untrustworthy? Why is Sister Pei trustworthy?”

I’ve been following Pei Yinxi this whole time. If even that big villain Sister Pei is trustworthy, why wouldn’t I be?

Shi Shuwu casually replied, “Oh, that’s just Tang Wuyun’s personal bias. She thinks Sister Pei is trustworthy.”

Shi Shuwu knew Tang Wuyun well. Tang Wuyun had a massive crush on Pei Yinxi, constantly praising her during their conversations, saying how kind and wonderful Pei Yinxi was to her.

Though the excuse was a bit flimsy, it was still an excuse.

What Shi Shuwu hadn’t anticipated was how convincing this excuse would prove to be.

Bai Jin and Shi Zhimiao accepted it without question. Only Pei Yinxi remained thoughtful, though she didn’t seem particularly suspicious.

Years ago, Tang Wuyun had been a complete “sister’s girl,” constantly calling Pei Yinxi “Sister Pei” alongside Lu Ya, much to everyone’s annoyance.

Tang Wuyun: “……”

Don’t I have any dignity left?

She secretly glared at Shi Shuwu, the master of blame-shifting.

Tang Wuyun, fearing Shi Shuwu would continue arguing, grabbed Pei Yinxi by the arm and tried to leave.

“Let’s go, let’s go! It’s almost break time. Yaya and the others are already resting. We should go too.”

Only then did she remember to ask, “By the way, have you all finished your missions?”

The three nodded. Completing the missions and earning a hundred points hadn’t been difficult.

As the group of five walked toward their lodging, Shi Zhimiao suddenly announced, “Oh, by the way, the production team’s official account has been flooded.”

The others looked bewildered. “What?”

Shi Zhimiao sighed. “The abrupt broadcast cut-off angered viewers. They’re not buying it, and the official account has been completely overrun.”

Netizens were furious, having their gossip session cut short.

Tang Wuyun shrugged. “So what?”

Shi Zhimiao explained, “There will be a live broadcast tonight. Artists who want to cooperate can participate. Those who don’t can simply rest.”

Tang Wuyun clicked her tongue. “Then I’ll go rest—”

“Except you,” Shi Zhimiao interrupted. “You have to be on camera.”

Shi Shuwu couldn’t suppress her laughter.

She lowered her head, halfway through her schadenfreude, when Shi Zhimiao added, “You too.”

Shi Shuwu: “……”