Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 35

Shi Shuwu carried a large box of newly unpacked items upstairs, passing Tang Wuyun, who stood nearby with a conflicted expression, before entering her bedroom.

“You don’t have anything here yet, so just use my things for now,” Shi Shuwu said.

Tang Wuyun hesitated before following her inside.

Shi Shuwu squatted beside the box, pulling out items one by one.

“I only have warm apricot-colored bedding sets. If you don’t like them, we can exchange them later, but use these for now.”

As she spoke, Shi Shuwu tossed the bedding set onto the bed and continued rummaging through the box.

“This is a humidifier. I already have one in my room, so I’ll give you this one.”

“And this, and this…”

Shi Shuwu chattered on, completely oblivious to Tang Wuyun’s hesitant, almost pleading expression.

Shi Shuwu glanced into the bathroom and, finding it completely empty, declared, “I have new towels, bath towels, and robes. I’ll go get them for you.”

With that, she hurried downstairs again, returning moments later with an armful of clothes and toiletries.

“Nightgowns and pajamas—all brand new,” Shi Shuwu announced.

Tang Wuyun watched, wide-eyed, as Shi Shuwu gradually filled the bedroom, even bringing an electronic clock for the bedside.

While Tang Wuyun marveled at Shi Shuwu’s thoughtfulness, she couldn’t help but wonder just how much stuff the woman had brought. Had she completely emptied her previous place?

Shi Shuwu kicked the empty suitcase out the door and turned back to inspect the room, checking for any forgotten items.

By then, Tang Wuyun had finished making her bed. She plopped down on it, crossed her legs, and surveyed the room. It actually looked quite cozy.

Tang Wuyun glanced up at Shi Shuwu, who was still standing in the doorway admiring her handiwork. Taking a deep breath, she finally said, “Shi Shuwu, I think…”

“You feel like something’s missing, right?” Shi Shuwu interrupted, her expression thoughtful.

Tang Wuyun: “……”

“Nothing’s missing. Stop thinking about it,” Tang Wuyun said, cutting off her train of thought, worried Shi Shuwu might bring even more things over.

She sighed softly. “Shi Shuwu, I think I should go back tonight.”

Go back?

Shi Shuwu’s expression tightened slightly, her confusion evident. Just moments ago, Tang Wuyun had insisted on staying here.

How could she change her mind so quickly?

Still, it didn’t matter where she stayed. Did she really need to make such a fuss about it?

Curious, Shi Shuwu asked, “Why?”

Tang Wuyun sighed dramatically and confessed, “I’m a scaredy-cat. I can’t sleep alone when it’s thundering and raining. I need Sister Pei and the others to keep me company.”

She pouted, showing no shame whatsoever.

After all, she was already in this state. Sleep was far more important than saving face.

Sensing Shi Shuwu might doubt her sincerity and think she was making excuses, Tang Wuyun added, “I didn’t fall asleep until morning today because I was so scared. Sister Pei woke up and stayed with me, and that’s when I finally dared to sleep.”

Shi Shuwu found this utterly baffling.

Why hadn’t Tang Wuyun ever mentioned her fear before?

It sounded more like some kind of psychological trauma. Was this some kind of lingering aftereffect?

Shi Shuwu couldn’t make sense of it, but she knew Tang Wuyun had overlooked one crucial point that deeply irked her.

She stated bluntly, “Am I not human?”

Shi Shuwu stared intently at Tang Wuyun, her gaze burning like a torch. Her eyes seemed to condemn Tang Wuyun, conveying her displeasure at being so casually dismissed.

Tang Wuyun’s expression was complex as she said in a tone that conveyed more than words could express, “But I might… be even more afraid of you.”

With Shi Shuwu added to the mix, wasn’t that just stacking buffs?

And Shi Shuwu sleeping with her? How absurd!

Their relationship was already ambiguous enough as it was.

Shi Shuwu’s expression froze for a moment. She frowned, then stepped into the room.

Tang Wuyun watched her approach with such aggressive momentum that her back tensed up.

Shi Shuwu leaned down, her face inches from Tang Wuyun’s, and warned in a deeply displeased tone, “If you ever confuse me with that person you mentioned again…”

The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.

Shi Shuwu pressed a palm against Tang Wuyun’s forehead and shoved her backward, sending her sprawling.

Yes, she thought, I really want to find that imposter who’s been bullying Tang Wuyun and beat them senseless right now. I’m so frustrated!

Tang Wuyun pushed herself back up to a sitting position, propping herself up on her elbows.

Clutching her forehead, she watched Shi Shuwu walk over to the window curtains and explained defensively, “I wasn’t confusing you. It’s just… the thought of waking up to your face in this dreadful weather… it sends chills down my spine no matter how I look at it.”

“Isn’t that just a perfect recreation of the scene?” Shi Shuwu scoffed. “Then you should look at me even more.”

Tang Wuyun tilted her head. “Huh?”

What does that mean?

Shi Shuwu patiently explained, “You know about desensitization therapy, right?”

She added, “I really don’t want you giving me that weird look every now and then.”

After all this back-and-forth, it was hard to tell who was more aggrieved.

My face? What kind of look do I give?

Is it really that strange or unpleasant to see?

Well, I haven’t worked in a while, so I’ve been letting myself go.

Still, Tang Wuyun found Shi Shuwu’s reasoning sound.

With this excuse, the scales in her heart finally tipped toward staying.

I can openly look at Shi Shuwu…

Tang Wuyun slapped her cheeks, quickly reining in her wandering thoughts.

Shi Shuwu pulled back the curtains and pushed open the window, beckoning Tang Wuyun over. “See? There’s no rain or thunder tonight at all.”

So there’s nothing to be afraid of.

It was rather ironic, really. Tang Wuyun hated stormy weather, yet she never bothered to check the forecast beforehand.

Tang Wuyun didn’t move. Half-reclining on the bed, she could see the bright, clear moon outside the window.

A starry night with a sparse moon.

Even the heavens seem to want me to stay.

At least, that’s how Tang Wuyun interpreted it. She figured she should take the hint and not be ungrateful.

Tang Wuyun quickly found an excuse for herself.

“It’s getting late, so I might as well stay here tonight.”

Having made her decision, Tang Wuyun relaxed completely.

She sat up and began pondering how to explain her absence to Pei Yinxi.

“Speaking of which,” she muttered, “even though I offered to help you clean up, why hasn’t Sister Pei asked if I want to go home for dinner after all this time?”

Tang Wuyun rubbed her stomach and reached for her charging phone on the bedside table.

Shi Shuwu spoke up, “I’ve ordered dinner. It should be here soon.”

Tang Wuyun nodded without looking up from her phone screen, where she was typing a message. “I’ll rest for a bit first.”

Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she quickly sent the message:

Tang Wuyun: Sister Pei, why don’t you ever care about me?

She added a pitiful-looking emoji.

Then she continued:

Tang Wuyun: I haven’t been home all this time. Aren’t you worried I might starve out here?

Tang Wuyun: You never pay attention to me. Sigh, whatever. I’ve already ordered food.

Tang Wuyun: Hmph! You’re not even replying. I’m angry, so I’ve decided not to come home tonight!

She ended the one-sided conversation with an emoji of someone dragging a suitcase away from home.

Pei Yinxi, who couldn’t care less about Tang Wuyun, was now meticulously scrutinizing the livestream footage frame by frame with the other three, searching for any hint of abnormality in Tang Wuyun’s behavior.

After hours of speculation, they had arrived at numerous unreliable conclusions.

“Play this segment again,” Pei Yinxi said, pointing to a clip of Tang Wuyun frowning on the screen, her expression clearly displeased.

Bai Jin observed, “Miaomiao hadn’t appeared yet. Tang Wuyun asked who the final member was, and only after confirming it was Lu Lin did she react this way.”

Lu Ya added, “She looked genuinely disgusted. She couldn’t even hide her aversion during the livestream.”

They pointed to the audience comments, which were mocking Tang Wuyun, suggesting she must know Lu Lin was up to no good, hence her reaction.

Pei Yinxi wrote Lu Lin’s name next to Qiu Mo’s on the whiteboard, then added a question mark.

“I have a feeling these two might share some connection,” she said.

Shi Zhimiao finally noticed the names on the whiteboard.

“Qiu Mo?” she asked, puzzled.

Lu Ya briefly explained the situation.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Shi Zhimiao said, “He’s definitely no saint, but it won’t be easy to get him locked up. Let me think of a way.”

The three of them were speechless.

Wait… you’re just going to casually agree with Tang Wuyun’s wild claims?

Pei Yinxi chuckled softly, repeating her earlier question, “Has he committed any crimes?”

Shi Zhimiao nodded, her smile relaxed. “There’s plenty we can find on the surface, and even more dirt hidden beneath.”

Bai Jin waved her hand in front of the screen, cutting off Shi Zhimiao’s impending CEO-like declaration.

“Let’s not focus on how to get him arrested yet. First, let’s figure out why Wuyun hates them so much.”

Lu Ya chimed in, “I’ve been wanting to say this for a while: what if we think of our world as a novel?”

Bai Jin froze, a spark of insight flashing through her mind.

“That’s it! When we mentioned it being a novel, Wuyun didn’t deny it. She even nodded!”

She stood up, grabbed the marker from Pei Yinxi’s hand, and circled the word “possessed” on the whiteboard.

“If this is a novel, then the person who possessed Wuyun’s body would be the protagonist, right? And the protagonist has a script to follow. Maybe that script… Bai Jin drew a line connecting the circle to the names Lu Lin and Qiu Mo, then continued, “…is connected to them!”

“Didn’t Wuyun mention during her explanation that the culprit would flirt with men? These two might be involved, and there could be others as well,” Shi Zhimiao suggested.

Shi Zhimiao nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll have someone investigate which people Wuyun cursed the most vehemently during her breakdown.”

Pei Yinxi raised a question. “But if Wuyun was replaced by this person, how would she know about these individuals?”

Bai Jin’s pen paused mid-stroke. After a moment of contemplation, she solemnly wrote two words: “Rebirth.”

Lu Ya chuckled. “Your theory was already disproven two hours ago.”

If it were rebirth, Tang Wuyun would have simply needed to tell them about some future event and wait for it to happen to prove her claims.

Pei Yinxi added, “Besides, if it were rebirth, her memories would have stopped at the moment of her replacement. She wouldn’t have seen what happened afterward.”

Bai Jin scratched her head. “I meant that after Wuyun was replaced, she remained conscious, forced to watch everything…”

Bai Jin trailed off, unable to continue.

Lu Ya pursed her lips. “That would be utterly devastating.”

Pei Yinxi fell silent for a few seconds before suddenly speaking up. “Still, something’s off. Her initial attitude toward Shi Shuwu doesn’t make sense, and neither do the things she suddenly became afraid of.”

“She’s afraid of being alone, afraid of thunder and rain, and she refuses to go back to where she used to live.”

“Thunder and rain, thunder and rain,” Lu Ya murmured, frowning. She quickly grabbed her phone and began searching for something.

Bai Jin leaned closer and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I found it!” Lu Ya exclaimed, quickly pulling up the search results to show them. “The day Wuyun publicly came out, a typhoon hit the city she was in—it was a stormy, rainy day!”

“The area where I was at the time wasn’t affected by the typhoon, but now I realize something’s off.”

Pei Yinxi took the phone and examined the information repeatedly.

She murmured, “But why would she be so afraid of being alone…?”

“Could it be because she was trapped alone? Is that why she’s so terrified?”

Shi Zhimiao summarized their discussion. “Perhaps. She was trapped alone in her apartment while the typhoon made landfall.”

Bai Jin ran her hands through her hair in frustration. “But that doesn’t make sense! Typhoons only last a few days, and it shouldn’t have been hard for her to leave. She hadn’t been replaced yet.”

Besides, even if she was trapped indoors for a few days, it shouldn’t have left such a deep shadow on her.

The atmosphere grew tense again. Pei Yinxi rubbed her temples wearily when suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned to look at Lu Ya.

“What is it?”

Lu Ya bit her lip, then opened her mouth. “There’s one more point we’ve overlooked.”

Bai Jin immediately asked, “What is it?”

Lu Ya lowered her head, her voice somber. “Suicide. I think she might have tried to kill herself to avoid being replaced.”

The room fell into complete silence.

They had all noticed the word “suicide” when Tang Wuyun mentioned it earlier.

They hadn’t overlooked it; rather, they had deliberately avoided considering the possibility, choosing not to bring it up.

Pei Yinxi exhaled and wrote the word “suicide” on the whiteboard.

Bai Jin’s face tightened. “I don’t agree with this theory. If she had killed herself, how do you explain her still being alive now?”

Lu Ya countered, “Isn’t it always the case in novels? The protagonist only transmigrates after the original owner dies.”

The two continued to analyze the topic.

Pei Yinxi didn’t join their discussion. Feeling restless, she got up and walked onto the balcony for some fresh air. As her gaze fell upon the bright moon hanging in the sky, something clicked in her memory, and her pupils widened sharply.

She quickly turned back into the living room, where the livestream video was still playing on the TV screen, now rewound to the beginning and replaying.

Bai Jin, who had just had her pen snatched away, stared blankly at Pei Yinxi. “Sister Pei?”

“What’s going on?”

Pei Yinxi pressed her lips together, her eyes slightly moist. She gritted her teeth. “Time!”

“Wuyun might be trapped in a specific time period.”

She had said she hadn’t seen the moon in a long time.

Time was what had trapped her.

Pei Yinxi took a deep breath, slowly composing herself. Knowing everyone was confused, she explained again, “She might be trapped in a typhoon, for a very, very long time.”

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I think this is very likely.”

Bai Jin’s expression turned grave. She pointed to the program currently playing. “I remember this show mentioned that time flows differently inside Ephemeral Manor compared to the outside world.”

“So Wuyun’s house and the outside…”

Bai Jin trailed off, unable to finish the thought. The implication was terrifying, sending a chill down her spine.

Pei Yinxi glanced at the screen, where Shi Zhimiao looked utterly shocked. “A’Miao, could you ask the production team for the footage from this episode? I only need the part where Wuyun found me and Jin Jin on the first day at the manor.”

Pei Yinxiang wanted to confirm she hadn’t misremembered—to ensure Tang Wuyun had indeed said she hadn’t seen the moon in a long time.

Tang Wuyun’s statement had always felt off to Pei Yinxi, and she needed to verify her suspicions.

Shi Zhimiao nodded quickly. “No problem. I’ll have them send it to me right away.”

While waiting, the group resumed their analysis. After dismissing numerous other hypotheses, this was the most plausible conclusion they had reached.

Lu Ya suddenly pointed to the word “reincarnation.” “I think… this might be it.”

Bai Jin chuckled. “Why the sudden agreement with me?”

Pei Yinxi turned to Lu Ya.

Lu Ya couldn’t shake the thought that Tang Wuyun might have attempted suicide more than once. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, “What if she’s been reincarnated multiple times?”

What if Tang Wuyun had tried to kill herself more than once?

Tears began streaming down Lu Ya’s face before she could finish the thought. She had cried countless times that afternoon.

Bai Jin’s eyes also reddened. She forced a weak smile. “Don’t speculate like that. Each guess is worse than the last.”

Hearing the catch in Bai Jin’s voice, Pei Yinxi handed her a tissue.

Shi Zhimiao suddenly said, “Seven days.”

Tang Wuyun’s earlier statement that she would be replaced in seven days had sparked a new theory in Shi Zhimiao’s mind.

Pei Yinxi instantly understood her meaning. “If everything you’ve said is true, then I think I’ve reached a conclusion.”

“Wuyun was trapped here for seven days, repeatedly reliving the same cycle. She might have even killed herself, only to be reborn again.”

This explained her fear of being alone, her terror of thunderstorms, and why she hadn’t seen the moon in so long.

Since Shi Zhimiao wasn’t physically present, their emotions had little impact on her. She remained the calmest of the group, analyzing the situation rationally.

“It’s a plausible theory,” she said, “but there are still some inconsistencies that don’t quite fit.” Still, after ruling out various other possibilities, this was the most coherent explanation.

Lu Ya sniffled, muttering, “We should have just made her tell us everything that day.”

Why waste time guessing?

Bai Jin sighed. “She would never tell us something like that directly. She’d just brush it off. We should be grateful she even gave us a general idea of what happened.”

Across the screen, Shi Zhimiao lowered her head and began writing down all the possible scenarios they had deduced.

The three of them heard her suddenly sigh.

Pei Yinxi: “What’s wrong?”

Shi Zhimiao forced a smile. “Regarding what Guan Yue said about Shi Shuwu disliking her, I actually have a few ideas, but I need to talk to her personally. So…”

Reminded, Lu Ya finally remembered to look for Tang Wuyun.

Checking the time, she realized, “It’s past nine at night, and that girl still isn’t back!”

Bai Jin’s smile turned gossipy. “Ooh…”

Staying out all night, huh?

With two people in that ambiguous pre-relationship phase living together, it was hard not to let the imagination run wild…

Remembering the protagonist they’d neglected for most of the day, Pei Yinxi finally checked her phone for messages.

After reading the message, Pei Yinxi was speechless.

Lu Ya, who had also seen the message, rubbed her tear-stained eyes.

Her voice turned icy. “She seems… awfully pleased?”

Bai Jin: “Yeah, there’s a smugness practically dripping from every word.”

Shi Zhimiao asked, puzzled, “What’s going on?”

Pei Yinxi shook her head helplessly. “Oh, her? Once she went to Shi Shuwu’s place, she didn’t want to come back. They’re living together now.”

Shi Zhimiao: “……”

Tang Wuyun really managed to find love.

Bai Jin whispered, “Maybe we shouldn’t call her back today.”

We’re not that insensitive.

There’s no need to rush.

Shi Zhimiao nodded. “I’m flying back home today. I’ll arrive tomorrow at noon. Let’s talk in person then.”

Bai Jin froze. But I have work tomorrow!

Oh well, I can catch up after work.

Pei Yinxi: “Pack up your things. Let’s leave it at that for now. We’ll have dinner.”

With that, she lowered her head to reply to Tang Wuyun’s earlier message.

Pei Yinxi: It’s getting late. Just stay there tonight. Remember to come back for dinner tomorrow.

Pei Yinxi: You can bring Shi Shuwu along too.

Meanwhile, Tang Wuyun, who was currently enjoying a delicious dinner with Shi Shuwu, hadn’t even checked her phone.

The topic they were discussing was actually quite similar to what Pei Yinxi and the others had been talking about.

Shi Shuwu felt her worldview completely shattered. “You’re saying this world is a novel, right?”

Tang Wuyun casually nodded while peeling a crawfish. “Mhm. Do you believe it? It’s okay if you don’t.”

She hadn’t expected anyone to believe her anyway. She’d just mentioned it on a whim. Since no one took her seriously, she figured it would make a good conversation starter with Shi Shuwu, saving her the trouble of finding topics to talk about.

Shi Shuwu said, “I believe you.”

She asked earnestly, “But where did the person who possessed your body go? Why were you released?”

Tang Wuyun froze.

“You… believe me?”

Damn it, this is just too weird.

She felt like Shi Shuwu was teasing her.

Shi Shuwu put down her chopsticks, her brow furrowed in deep seriousness. “Because I couldn’t find the imposter who took my place.”

She was furious that she couldn’t find them.

Shi Shuwu refused to admit her own investigative skills were lacking. She was convinced the other party was cheating, and Tang Wuyun’s explanation perfectly aligned with her suspicions.

Tang Wuyun choked, glancing at Shi Shuwu. “…Anyone you can’t beat is a cheater, right?”

Shi Shuwu used to say that all the time when they played games together.

Shi Shuwu didn’t want to discuss that. She steered the conversation back on track. “Never mind that. Keep talking. I’m really interested in what you’re telling me.”

Tang Wuyun shook her head. “That’s all there is. I still don’t know how I got back.”

Shi Shuwu didn’t believe her. Tang Wuyun was clearly holding back a lot.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Did you tell your teammates about this?”

Tang Wuyun: “I did, but they didn’t believe me.”

Shi Shuwu nodded thoughtfully, then picked up her chopsticks and placed a chicken wing on Tang Wuyun’s plate.

“Eat first. I’m going to the restroom.”

Tang Wuyun happily picked up a chicken wing. “Go ahead, go ahead.”

Meanwhile, Pei Yinxi, who was preparing dinner, saw Shi Shuwu’s sudden message. She was slightly surprised, but it was also entirely expected.

Tang Wuyun had indeed told Shi Shuwu, though she had confessed sooner than Pei Yinxi had anticipated. She had thought Tang Wuyun would only reveal her fantastical experiences after they were together.

Shi Shuwu was very curious: Did Tang Wuyun say anything else?

Pei Yinxi: No, but we’ve made some deductions today.

After consulting with the other three, Pei Yinxi sent their deductions to Shi Shuwu, reminding her to go out for dinner with Tang Wuyun tomorrow.

After reading the message, Shi Shuwu felt her brain overloading.

She was deeply impressed by Pei Yinxi and the others’ bold speculations.

She couldn’t fathom how they had arrived at these conclusions.

Shi Shuwu didn’t believe they would joke about such a serious matter, so she trusted their deductions.

It was just… utterly unbelievable.

When Shi Shuwu emerged from the bathroom, she still felt dazed.

She stared blankly at Tang Wuyun, who was happily eating at the table, a pang of bitterness in her heart. If all those things were true, it was truly remarkable that Tang Wuyun could maintain such a cheerful demeanor.

Tang Wuyun noticed Shi Shuwu standing motionless and waved her over. “What are you doing standing there?”

Shi Shuwu hurried over, her gaze softening as she fixed it on Tang Wuyun.

Tang Wuyun felt inexplicably uneasy and swallowed nervously. Being stared at with such “affectionate” eyes by Shi Shuwu made her deeply uncomfortable.

“What… what are you doing?” Tang Wuyun asked weakly.

Shi Shuwu reached out and patted Tang Wuyun’s head, suddenly adopting a maternal tone. “Eat more. You’ve gotten so thin.”

Tang Wuyun stared blankly.

Tang Wuyun, her face lined with exasperation, brushed Shi Shuwu’s hand away. “No respect for seniority,” she muttered, clearly annoyed. “I’m the older one here.”

A faint smile played at the corner of Shi Shuwu’s lips as she sat down beside Tang Wuyun. She pushed aside the dishes, propped her elbow on the table, and rested her cheek in her hand.

“Didn’t you say you get scared when you’re alone?”

Tang Wuyun blinked, wondering why Shi Shuwu was bringing this up again.

“Well… it’s not really a big deal.”

For some reason, she had the feeling Shi Shuwu was plotting something mischievous.

Shi Shuwu reached out and gave Tang Wuyun a hearty pat on the back. “Don’t be shy! If you’re scared, you’re scared. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Tang Wuyun touched her back expressionlessly.

She was indeed a little embarrassed, but did Shi Shuwu have to point it out?

Shi Shuwu patted her head again and said softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll sleep with you tonight.”

Although Tang Wuyun had heard Shi Shuwu say she would keep her company before dinner, she now sensed something was clearly off. This time, “keep her company” seemed to mean sharing a room and a bed.

Tang Wuyun’s heart pounded with alarm.

Shocked by Shi Shuwu’s outrageous statement, she blurted out without thinking, “Did you drink too much in the bathroom? Are you high or something?”

Shi Shuwu tugged roughly at her hair several times.

“You ungrateful brat! I’m just worried about you.” She admitted she had ulterior motives, but her primary concern was genuinely for Tang Wuyun’s well-being.

Feeling her hair becoming a tangled mess, Tang Wuyun grabbed Shi Shuwu’s hand to stop her from further ruining it.

“You’re trying to take advantage of me!” she accused indignantly.

Shi Shuwu didn’t blush in the slightest. She continued to argue, “Don’t twist my words. I’m letting you take advantage of me. Besides, if you look at me more often, we can work on your desensitization therapy, right?”

Tang Wuyun choked on Shi Shuwu’s words.

Everyone knew she had a crush on Shi Shuwu, so at first glance, it seemed like she was the one getting the better deal.