Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 29

When the announcement of Shi Shuwu’s elimination rang out, Tang Wuyun’s eyes lit up instantly. She felt a brief surge of excitement, but her dominant emotion was disbelief.

Her earlier remarks had been so outrageous that they must have exposed her true intentions long ago. Shi Shuwu should have been more careful with her responses.

Tang Wuyun glanced sideways and saw Shi Shuwu slapping her own mouth.

Looking genuinely frustrated, Shi Shuwu said, “Oops, I spoke too quickly.”

Tang Wuyun blinked, finding it impossible to believe.

Shi Shuwu listened intently to the game-end announcement, noticing Tang Wuyun’s probing gaze. Her smiling eyes met the other woman’s.

“Impressive,” Shi Shuwu said. “You really can talk someone to death.”

Caught off guard by the compliment, Tang Wuyun couldn’t help but grin. “Mhm, I told you that already.”

Who doesn’t love hearing praise?

Led by staff members, the two women walked together toward their lodging from the previous night.

Throughout the journey, Tang Wuyun secretly studied Shi Shuwu, convinced that the other woman had deliberately thrown the game.

As they approached the dormitory entrance, Tang Wuyun shook her head, humming happily. I don’t understand, but whatever, I won!

But her joy vanished the moment she pushed open the hall doors.

“Aiyo, look who’s back! Isn’t that Lu Yaya, the MVP who wet the bed last night?”

Zhang Rui sat with her leg propped up, a malicious grin spreading across her face. To Tang Wuyun, she looked like a true demon king, utterly irredeemable.

Lu Ya’s voice also reached Tang Wuyun’s ears. The other girl wasn’t even looking at her, instead chatting face-to-face with Bai Jin.

Lu Ya dramatically raised both hands, gesturing with all ten fingers and eight more, her voice equally exaggerated. “I’m telling you! I’ve dated eighteen people!”

Bai Jin gasped, playing along perfectly. “Seriously?!”

Lu Ya nodded emphatically. “Mhm, mhm! Some were good, some were bad!”

Bai Jin praised her with theatrical flair. “You’re amazing!”

Their conversation was punctuated by the boisterous laughter of the crowd.

Tang Wuyun’s vision swam, her toes curling tightly against the soles of her shoes.

Even though some of the celebrities had already left, Tang Wuyun still felt overwhelmed by the crowd and the noise.

Pei Yinxi teased, “Our sworn sister is back?”

Shi Shuwu couldn’t suppress her smile as she stole a glance at Tang Wuyun, who had won the game but lost all her dignity.

Catching Shi Shuwu’s smile out of the corner of her eye, Tang Wuyun’s face flushed crimson, as if about to burst into flames. Her composure shattered completely.

I’m going to isolate everyone again! Everyone!!!

Resuming her usual expressionless facade, Tang Wuyun retreated behind Shi Shuwu, feeling utterly humiliated.

But Shi Shuwu wasn’t spared either.

Qiao Mian pointed to the screen that had shown her the entire exchange and asked with a teasing smile, “Honestly, Shuwu, did you throw the game for this girl?”

Ji Mingyin chimed in enthusiastically, “So cute! So cute!”

Even the expressionless Tang Wuyun blinked, her attention instantly snapping to Shi Shuwu. Oh no, I’m done for. I think it’s cute too.

Shi Shuwu shrugged. “I could tell something was off at the time, but it was just a slip of the tongue. I regretted it the moment the words left my mouth.”

As for why she had slipped up, Shi Shuwu didn’t feel like explaining.

No one could understand the turmoil she’d been in.

After listening to Tang Wuyun’s rambling for over ten minutes and witnessing her sacrifice so much—even admitting to wetting the bed—all for the sake of winning, Shi Shuwu had indeed felt a strong urge to throw the game for her. Her heart had been torn in two.

Moreover, she had been on the verge of losing patience. The longer she had to drag out the game to wear Tang Wuyun down, the more conflicted she became.

The moment Tang Wuyun broke down and uttered those uniquely targeted words, her mouth moved faster than her brain, instantly making the decision for her. Her conflicted heart ultimately sided with Tang Wuyun.

In this game where no one cared about winning or losing, most people were just looking for entertainment, eager to finish early and go home.

Only Tang Wuyun’s world had been shattered.

No one celebrated her victory, yet everyone scrutinized her humiliation frame by frame.

Yes, the screen was still replaying the clip of Tang Wuyun’s nonsensical rant.

Shi Zhimiao and Ji Mingyin, having just returned from their post-interview with the production team, had missed the “iconic” moment. The crowd enthusiastically insisted on watching it with them again.

After Shi Zhimiao and Ji Mingyin returned, Shi Shuwu and Pei Yinxi also went for their interviews, leaving Tang Wuyun without the “wall” that had been supporting her.

The hall buzzed with cheerful laughter, the scene of camaraderie piercing Tang Wuyun’s eyes like daggers.

She couldn’t help but lash out, “Do you know what your laughter sounds like? It’s bullying!”

Her voice strained with suppressed rage only made the crowd laugh harder.

Powerless to resist, Tang Wuyun desperately wanted to yank out the production team’s internet cable.

In the end, it was the production team’s post-interview arrangement that saved Tang Wuyun. She immediately followed the staff to the interview without stopping.

After completing her interview, Shi Shuwu greeted everyone and went straight to the third floor. After running around with Tang Wuyun all day, she couldn’t stand her sweat-soaked state any longer and decided to take a shower and wash her hair first.

She slipped away as soon as her interview was done, instructing Lu Ya to keep an eye on Tang Wuyun to prevent her from disappearing again.

Meanwhile, considering Tang Wuyun’s dazed expression earlier, Shi Zhimiao urged her to sign the contract immediately. She feared Tang Wuyun might suddenly have another impulse and bolt.

With the internet in chaos, someone needed to keep a close watch on her to prevent any further reckless behavior.

Shi Zhimiao had already decided: she would use Ziyun, Tang Wuyun’s greatest fear, against her.

Tang Wuyun, who had been stopped by Lu Ya, had no intention of running away at all.

She smiled at Lu Ya. “Yaya, I’m really not going anywhere.”

Lu Ya crossed her arms and remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Tang Wuyun. Her serious expression was completely out of character.

Sensing this shift, Tang Wuyun paused as she unlocked her phone.

The phone had just been returned to her by a staff member. The production team was already packing up their equipment, no longer filming her, and the microphone had been removed.

Tang Wuyun’s heart skipped a beat. Without the camera’s restraint, Lu Ya immediately dropped her pretense of friendliness.

“Lu Ya Ya?” Tang Wuyun waved her hand in front of Lu Ya’s face.

Lu Ya’s brow furrowed deeply. She remained stubbornly with her arms crossed, refusing to acknowledge Tang Wuyun.

Left with no other choice, Tang Wuyun cautiously stepped to the left, attempting to leave. Lu Ya moved in tandem, precisely blocking her path, her face cold and silent, her eyes refusing to meet Tang Wuyun’s gaze.

I get it now, Tang Wuyun thought instantly. She wants to be coaxed.

Relief washed over Tang Wuyun, delighted by Lu Ya’s sudden change in attitude.

The fact that Lu Ya was no longer mocking her, but instead sulking and ignoring her, was clearly Lu Ya offering her an olive branch, waiting for an explanation.

Tang Wuyun quickly softened her voice, reaching out to grasp Lu Ya’s arm and give it a gentle shake. “I was wrong. Everything I said to you before was nonsense. None of it was true.”

Lu Ya twisted away from Tang Wuyun’s touch, the hurtful words echoing in her mind. Her lips involuntarily turned downward.

She couldn’t be like Pei Yinxi, completely ignoring such insults.

Tang Wuyun swiftly looped her arm around Lu Ya’s neck, pulling her closer and soothingly said, “How could I ever hate you? We’re best friends.”

A pang of emotion hit Lu Ya. She lowered her head, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye, and stubbornly shook off Tang Wuyun’s arm.

Her voice, fierce yet trembling with suppressed sobs, snapped, “Don’t talk to me!”

She immediately turned her back on Tang Wuyun.

In her original plan, she had envisioned herself listening to Tang Wuyun’s explanation with a cool, indifferent expression, then declaring with feigned nonchalance that she wouldn’t forgive her.

But her emotions had completely derailed, spiraling out of control.

Lu Ya scrubbed her eyes roughly with her sleeve, feeling humiliated yet unable to walk away.

From a distance, Bai Jin observed the tense situation. Seeing Tang Wuyun’s helpless demeanor, she sighed deeply.

Among the five of them, Lu Ya and Tang Wuyun had spent the most time together.

They used to share a private villa, but only Tang Wuyun and Lu Ya frequented it.

In Bai Jin’s own words, they were both “poor souls with nowhere else to go.”

“Miaomiao isn’t here yet?” Bai Jin interjected, breaking the awkward silence.

Tang Wuyun seized the lifeline, replying quickly, “Right, right, she should be here soon.”

She then frantically pointed at Lu Ya’s retreating figure, clasped her hands together, and gave Bai Jin a pleading look.

Bai Jin, who had originally intended to intervene, gritted her teeth. She had been annoyed by Tang Wuyun’s complete lack of fear toward her, and now she was being asked to help comfort Lu Ya.

Bai Jin closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Resigned, she waved her hand. “Go find Miaomiao. Yaya and I need to go back and change.”

Lu Ya had mostly composed herself. She turned slightly, her voice firm despite its nasal tone. “No. Miaomiao said she needs to keep an eye on her.”

Otherwise, Tang Wuyun might run off, and they wouldn’t be able to contact her.

Tang Wuyun quickly assured them, “I absolutely won’t run off. I’ll go find Miaomiao right now. Don’t worry, there are so many people here. Where could I possibly go?”

Lu Ya remained silent, clearly unconvinced by Tang Wuyun’s promise.

Bai Jin glanced between the two before decisively siding with Lu Ya.

The three stood frozen in place, Tang Wuyun too afraid to leave, forced to wait awkwardly.

Fortunately, Shi Zhimiao arrived quickly.

“Why are you all here?” Shi Zhimiao asked, opening the folder and handing it to Tang Wuyun. She glanced around at the other three. “Where’s Xixi?”

Lu Ya shook her head. “I don’t know. She’s probably in the main hall.”

Shi Zhimiao nodded slowly, her gaze pausing on Lu Ya’s reddened eyes before immediately shifting to Tang Wuyun’s face.

Tang Wuyun lowered her head and casually flipped through the contract. She had initially planned to sign it immediately, but after reading the contents, her hand froze mid-signature.

The benefits were so generous they felt like a hot potato in her hands.

She had priority selection of all resources, the right to reject company assignments outright, and an absurdly high profit-sharing arrangement.

Her only requirement was to clock in on time daily and avoid disappearing without notice.

This might be the most unprofitable deal Shi Zhimiao had ever made for the company.

“Miaomiao, this is way too generous—it’s practically giving you free benefits,” Tang Wuyun said, pushing the contract back.

Shi Zhimiao nodded slowly, recognizing the determination in Tang Wuyun’s expression. She didn’t press the matter further and quickly produced a backup contract.

Tang Wuyun accepted it with a puzzled look, opening it to review carefully. Her furrowed brow gradually relaxed as she read.

While this contract was still favorable to her, it wasn’t nearly as outrageous as the first one. In addition to the daily clock-in requirement, she couldn’t reject reasonable assignments from her manager and had standard performance targets.

Compared to the absurd first contract, Tang Wuyun signed this one without hesitation.

Glancing around at the noisy environment, she couldn’t help but smile. It was her first time signing a contract in such a chaotic setting.

Turns out, every place is just a makeshift operation.

Shi Zhimiao, having completed her mission, raised an eyebrow.

The group walked back together.

After retrieving their phones, the guests in the lobby didn’t linger.

The variety show filming had concluded, and though the production team offered lunch, most guests lacked the time and left after packing up.

Tang Wuyun bumped into Qiao Mian, who was pushing her luggage, accompanied by her assistant.

Qiao Mian waved goodbye. “I’m heading out first. Got work to do. See you back home!”

Zhang Rui hurried over. “Let’s go together.”

The four exchanged polite waves. “See you!”

Zhang Rui gave Tang Wuyun a pointed look, gesturing at her phone. “Add her back,” she said impatiently. “Sister Xiting’s already left and asked me to remind you.”

As for explanations, they could wait until Tang Wuyun’s attitude was confirmed to be okay. Then they could discuss things slowly over text.

Tang Wuyun immediately waved her phone in reassurance. “Got it, got it!”

After seeing them off, Tang Wuyun began looking around.

Shi Zhimiao asked deliberately, “Looking for Shi Shuwu?”

“No…” Tang Wuyun instinctively waved her hand, then pressed her lips together, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Bai Jin’s gaze followed Tang Wuyun’s as she scanned the area. He shrugged. “She probably left too. I didn’t see her.”

Tang Wuyun opened her mouth, her throat suddenly dry.

She’s gone…

The other three watched as Tang Wuyun’s entire demeanor visibly slumped.

The trio exchanged awkward glances.

No use teasing her. She’s genuinely smitten.

Shi Zhimiao, ever empathetic, offered kindly, “Want me to give you Shi Shuwu’s contact info? You can add her back and find a chance to ask her out.”

Tang Wuyun waved her hand dismissively, stubbornly insisting, “What are you talking about? I was just looking for Sister Pei.”

With that, she hurried upstairs, muttering to herself, “Sister Pei must still be here. I’m still here, so she must be too. I’ll go find her upstairs.”

The three left standing in the living room exchanged awkward glances.

This cover-up attempt is way too obvious, they thought.

Shi Zhimiao glanced at Lu Ya, who hadn’t said a word, and gently patted her head.

“Why don’t you two go freshen up?” she said warmly. “I’ve made a reservation at a nice restaurant. Let’s head out once you’re ready.”

The two girls nodded obediently. Shi Zhimiao watched them climb the stairs to the second floor, noticing Lu Ya pausing midway to fix her hair, a subtle pout of annoyance on her face from the wind messing up her hairstyle.

Shi Zhimiao sighed inwardly.

Still as exasperating as Tang Wuyun, she thought.

Third floor.

Tang Wuyun indeed found Pei Yinxi in her room.

Pei Yinxi had just finished showering and was sitting cross-legged on the bed, reapplying her makeup.

“Sister Pei!”

“Hmm,” Pei Yinxi replied without pausing her movements.

Tang Wuyun sidled up to the edge of the bed and sat down.

“Sister Pei, are you leaving today?”

Pei Yinxi’s hand froze mid-motion. She turned to look at Tang Wuyun. “What? Are you going to miss me?”

Tang Wuyun fidgeted, tugging at Pei Yinxi’s sleeve and whispering, “I want to go with you.”

Pei Yinxi nodded absently, twisting open her lipstick. “You want to come with me?” she asked casually.

What’s there to ask? Tang Wuyun thought. We’re leaving together anyway. I haven’t even explained properly yet. There’s no way she’d let me go so easily.

Tang Wuyun shook her head hesitantly, then steeled herself and blurted out, “I want to live with you. Wherever you go, I want to come too.”

Pei Yinxi froze, genuinely stunned.

Did I hear that right? she wondered.

“You mean you want to live at my place?”

Tang Wuyun nodded and shook her head. “No, I mean wherever you live, I’ll live too. I want to be with you.”

She would rather die than go back to that house she used to live in. Never!

The mere thought of her old home sent shivers down Tang Wuyun’s spine, her heart pounding with panic.

She couldn’t even bear to look at it anymore, terrified of the nightmares that would follow.

Nor could she bear to live alone now. The solitude was unbearable.

Pei Yinxi had never imagined Tang Wuyun would not only stop disappearing on her but would swing to the opposite extreme, clinging to her every moment.

She had never been this dependent before.

The tension on Tang Wuyun’s face was palpable, tinged with a hint of fear. Pei Yinxi’s heart sank, making it impossible to refuse.

Though she couldn’t understand why Tang Wuyun was acting this way, she suspected it had something to do with what had happened earlier.

Pei Yinxi gazed at Tang Wuyun with concern, sighed softly, and nodded. “Alright, but when we get back, you need to explain everything that happened earlier, every detail.”

Tang Wuyun hesitated for a moment, then finally agreed.

“I promise I’ll tell you everything, just believe me.”

Pei Yinxi smiled. “If you tell me, I’ll believe you.”

Tang Wuyun’s lips curved into a smile as well.

I hope so.

With this major worry resolved, Tang Wuyun felt a wave of relief wash over her.

“Then, Sister Pei, I’ll go take a shower and change. Wait for me here, please wait for me!”

Pei Yinxi chuckled at her.

She was worried Tang Wuyun might suddenly run off, while Tang Wuyun was afraid she would abandon her.

“No rush. Let’s freshen up first, then grab lunch.”

Tang Wuyun nodded vigorously. “Okay, okay.”

She crouched down by her suitcase. Though she had stayed next door last night, her luggage remained here.

Grabbing a set of clothes, she headed for the bathroom. But as she reached the door, something suddenly occurred to her, and she paused, her hand still on the handle.

She turned to Pei Yinxi. “Sister Pei, I’m going next door.”

“Go ahead,” Pei Yinxi waved without looking up, continuing to apply makeup in front of the mirror.

Tang Wuyun, clutching her clothes, scurried next door. She pushed the door open without hesitation, her gaze sweeping across the empty room.

Shi Shuwu was nowhere to be seen, and there was no sound coming from the bathroom.

Tang Wuyun’s heart sank.

She lowered her head, kicking at the floor tiles with her shoe.

Finally, she patted her chest lightly.

Forget it.

She turned and pulled open the bathroom door. Since I’m already here, I might as well shower here.

Before the door was even halfway open, Shi Shuwu’s startled voice rang out: “What’s wrong with you?! Don’t you know how to knock?”

Tang Wuyun’s eyes lit up. She blinked innocently, feigning ignorance. “You’re still here?”

Shi Shuwu, still shaken, pressed a hand to her chest repeatedly.

She glared at Tang Wuyun and yanked off her headphones.

“Why didn’t you knock?” she repeated.

Good thing I was just touching up my makeup.

Tang Wuyun suddenly chuckled.

Shi Shuwu frowned. “What’s so funny?”

Is me being startled that amusing?

Tang Wuyun quickly waved her hands. “My bad, my bad! I just assumed you’d already left.”

With that, she lifted the clothes in her hand to show Shi Shuwu.

Her eyes crinkled with a smile. “I came here to take a bath.”

I knew it, she thought. Shi Shuwu wouldn’t have come all this way just to leave so quickly.

Shi Shuwu hadn’t even accepted her apology yet!

Tang Wuyun conveniently ignored her earlier declaration that they “couldn’t be friends.”

Shi Shuwu pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on Tang Wuyun.

If Tang Wuyun wasn’t leaving, how could she possibly bring herself to leave either?

After a two-second silence, she cleared her throat.

“The bathroom’s free, right? I’ll go outside.”

She lowered her head and began gathering her things.

Tang Wuyun stood beside her, watching quietly, her heart filled with complex emotions.

In just two days, her perception of Shi Shuwu had completely transformed.

As long as she didn’t dwell on the past, she found that interacting with the Shi Shuwu before her no longer felt unbearably awkward.

A new, complicated feeling was stirring within her.

Her subconscious instinct was to flee, yet she couldn’t bear to leave.

Leaning against the doorframe, Tang Wuyun’s gaze drifted into a daze as she watched Shi Shuwu.

Shi Shuwu couldn’t help but glance back at Tang Wuyun, her eyes filled with confusion.

Why was Tang Wuyun staring at her in a daze?

After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Huh?” Tang Wuyun instinctively straightened up, the sound of her voice snapping her out of her reverie.

Shi Shuwu patiently repeated, “I asked what you were thinking about.”

“I…” Tang Wuyun lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. Her thoughts swirled in her mind before she finally sighed and said bluntly, “It’s about the question we discussed this morning.”

She smiled. “I still really want to say that line.”

Shi Shuwu’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it?”

Tang Wuyun’s smile softened, her sincere voice tinged with deep nostalgia and wistfulness. “It’s just that the current you feels even more like the real you.”

Not just like her—it was her, speaking with the same directness.

Tang Wuyun gently scratched her burning chest. Perhaps she finally understood the source of the emotions that kept surfacing.

She liked Shi Shuwu—liked the Shi Shuwu before her, and liked, liked, liked the Sister Pei she used to know.

A wave of nostalgia washed over her.

Shi Shuwu saw such a gentle and tender expression on Tang Wuyun’s face for the first time, yet the feeling it conveyed defied description, leaving her with a pang of sadness.

“You’re right,” Shi Shuwu said, breaking the strange atmosphere. “The current me is still me.” She added firmly, “I still believe the person you met before wasn’t me. I’m certain of it.”

Tang Wuyun nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

She continued, “I think so too.”

“But I can’t figure out who that person was,” Tang Wuyun said, her head drooping slightly as she murmured, “Even if I knew, there’s nothing I could do.”

How could an ordinary person like her possibly contend with such an enigmatic, otherworldly entity?

Shi Shuwu opened her mouth to speak, but Tang Wuyun’s aura felt overwhelmingly bleak.

Realizing she was radiating negative energy, Tang Wuyun quickly straightened up. She cleared her throat, raised her voice slightly, and forced a smile. “Speaking of which,” she asked, “doesn’t telling you all this make me sound mentally unstable?”

Shi Shuwu gazed deeply at Tang Wuyun, feeling helpless at her sudden change of topic.

I can’t help her at all, she thought. Not even a little.

Regaining her composure, Shi Shuwu smiled and answered Tang Wuyun’s question, “It’s fine. I don’t really think that.”

Tang Wuyun tilted her head, her expression blank. “What does ‘not really think that’ mean?”

Either you think it or you don’t.

Shi Shuwu picked up her phone from the sink, unlocked it, found their chat history, and held it up for Tang Wuyun to see.

“Actually, I thought you were sick even before you told me all this.”

Tang Wuyun: “……”

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday I’d find a doctor for you? You should see one.”

Tang Wuyun: “……”

“Don’t worry, she’s my family doctor. She said she’d be happy to examine you.”

Tang Wuyun: “……”