Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 46

Despite claiming not to believe it, Tang Wuyun couldn’t resist her curiosity about what Ke Huashuang looked like. She pulled out her phone and deliberately searched for Ke Huashuang’s photos right in front of Lu Ya.

Lu Ya remained silent.

Tang Wuyun had started teasing her the moment Pei Yinxi hung up.

Tang Wuyun felt perfectly justified in her search. The photos of Ke Huashuang online were limited; there was only one full-face shot, while most were side profiles. She also found several performance videos.

After looking at the photos, Tang Wuyun couldn’t hide her excitement. She grabbed Lu Ya’s arm and shook it. “Wow, wow, wow, Lu Yaya! This woman is so beautiful! She has such an elegant aura!”

Lu Ya’s face darkened further with each word.

She snatched the phone away. “What are you looking at? You’re not allowed to see!”

“Hey!” Tang Wuyun reached out to grab it back. “I only got one glance! Let me look again—I didn’t even get a good look at her face.”

Lu Ya hid the phone behind her back. “Why do you need to remember her face? Isn’t Shi Shuwu enough for you?”

Without another word to Tang Wuyun, she turned her back and secretly watched the performance videos.

In the videos, Ke Huashuang’s eyes sparkled with light, her smile was gentle and radiant, and her bow movements were graceful and composed, making it impossible not to want to watch her again and again.

Lu Ya stared blankly at her phone, her heart aching more with each passing moment.

She’s just too perfect, she thought.

Tang Wuyun tugged at her arm. “Everyone appreciates beauty. If it were Shi Shuwu, she’d be captivated too.”

Lu Ya’s face tightened slightly. She exited the video, cleared the background apps, and handed the phone back to Tang Wuyun.

Her voice heavy with dejection, she murmured, “She’s undeniably beautiful… and undeniably alluring.”

But the sheer perfection made her feel inadequate. How could I ever measure up to someone like her? she wondered. Even standing next to her, Lu Ya felt so nervous she’d be speechless.

If her online crush really was this woman, Lu Ya knew she’d be too intimidated to even meet in person. She’d definitely back down.

Lu Ya lowered her head, her voice barely audible. “I’m not good enough for her.”

Before she could sink into despair, a sharp slap landed on the back of her head.

Tang Wuyun snapped, “What nonsense about ‘not good enough’? Just tell me if you like her. If you do, I’ll kidnap her for you myself!”

She punctuated her words with another playful slap.

This feels really good.

Lu Ya: “……”

She pouted, her voice tinged with grievance. “But I only like the girl who dumped me, even though she lied to me.”

Halfway through her sentence, her eyes welled up again, her voice choked with emotion.

Tang Wuyun’s expression stiffened slightly. She had assumed Lu Ya wasn’t that attached, seeing how well she had been these past few days, even picking fights with her.

Now, hearing Lu Ya on the verge of tears, she realized the girl had been bottling up her feelings all along.

Tang Wuyun cleared her throat. “Then why don’t you just call her out and ask who she is?”

Lu Ya’s face twisted with conflict. After a moment’s hesitation, she shook her head, her voice full of hurt. “No! It’s her fault for constantly asking about you and Shi Shuwu. I don’t want to say anything.”

Besides, she didn’t dare ask for reconciliation again. Her reason for blocking the girl had been flimsy at best, and she feared being scolded.

Tang Wuyun choked back a sigh.

So the root of the problem still lies with me and Shi Shuwu.

Seeing Lu Ya’s distress, Tang Wuyun decided against asking to see the girl’s photo again, afraid of triggering another tearful outburst.

For dinner, Tang Wuyun made Lu Ya’s favorite dishes, promising to resume their low-calorie meals another time.

Lu Ya seemed to be in a good mood during dinner, which pleased Tang Wuyun.

The only thing Tang Wuyun wasn’t happy about was Shi Shuwu’s absence.

By the time Shi Shuwu woke up, it was already the next morning.

She was roused by a phone call.

“Who is it?” Shi Shuwu mumbled groggily, her eyes still closed, her tone brusque.

A deep voice answered, “Who do you think it is?”

Shi Shuwu frowned, her mind sluggish. She struggled to open her eyes, glanced at her phone, and saw who was calling.

“Sis?” she said, closing her eyes again, her tone sharp. “It’s only eight in the morning. What do you want?”

Ke Huashuang had been acting strangely these past few days, calling her constantly and making snide remarks about Tang Wuyun.

Shi Shuwu had never seen her sister so concerned about her love life before.

Though, to be fair, she had never dated anyone before.

Shi Shuwu rubbed her eyes, her brow furrowed in a sour expression.

Ke Huashuang’s voice was even harsher than hers. “Are you back in that dump of an apartment? Is Tang Wuyun staying there with you?”

Shi Shuwu was puzzled. “Why are you being so aggressive?”

What had Tang Wuyun done to provoke her sister?

Was it wrong to like her younger sister?

Shi Shuwu mentally defended Tang Wuyun.

Ke Huashuang’s voice turned icy. “Don’t change the subject. Mom told me—are you two living together?”

Shi Shuwu used the same evasive tactics she used with Shi Jiarong. “No, we’re just landlord and tenant. It’s not just us here; Luo Zhuo’s here too, and Lu Ya is staying with Tang Wuyun.”

The breathing on the other end of the line grew noticeably heavier.

“Shi Shuwu, you’re living with Lu Ya too?”

The intensity in her sister’s voice jolted Shi Shuwu awake.

Thinking Ke Huashuang had lost her mind and was questioning her character, Shi Shuwu retorted, “Living with Lu Ya? What are you implying? Do you think I’d…?”

“How could you even think that about me?”

On the other end, Ke Huashuang was silent.

Furious, Shi Shuwu climbed out of bed, checked her phone—the call was still connected—and shouted, “Sis?”

“Hm?” Ke Huashuang sounded like she was just snapping out of a daze.

Shi Shuwu walked to the bathroom, phone in hand. “Why are you calling me so early?”

Instead of answering, Ke Huashuang asked, “Lu Ya and Tang Wuyun are both at your place, right?”

Then, as if talking to herself, she muttered, “So they really are together. Their relationship must be even closer than I thought.”

Shi Shuwu didn’t hesitate. “Yes, they’re both here. Their relationship is really close, like sisters.”

Ke Huashuang let out a cold scoff, her voice dark as she spat out Tang Wuyun’s name, as if she wanted to chew it to pieces.

Shi Shuwu was speechless.

This behavior was completely out of character, a stark contrast to her sister’s usual gentle demeanor.

She cautiously asked, “Sis, aren’t you being a little too harsh on Tang Wuyun?”

To her surprise, Ke Huashuang responded with a series of cold laughs. “Too harsh? Maybe you should ask who’s being harsh on whom first.”

Ke Huashuang snorted. “Shouldn’t I be harsh on her?”

Shi Shuwu pressed her lips together, realizing for the first time just how bitter her sister could be.

Her tone grew sharp. “I’m twenty-six years old! Dating is perfectly normal, right?”

She wasn’t some sixteen-year-old girl.

Besides, she had already explained to Ke Huashuang that the rumors about Tang Wuyun were all misunderstandings.

She couldn’t understand why Ke Huashuang was so hostile.

But Ke Huashuang was adamant. “Fine, but not Tang Wuyun! I won’t let you hang out with her!” The last sentence was delivered with such venom, her teeth practically grinding together.

Shi Shuwu frowned, protesting, “Sis!”

How could she be so unreasonable?

“Calling Mom won’t help,” Ke Huashuang said, unmoved.

Ke Huashuang, who had just been inexplicably dumped, was furious. Her voice dripped with menace as she threatened, “Wait for me at the apartment. I’m flying over right now. Don’t even think about running away with them.”

This sounded like she was ordering them to stay put and wait to be slaughtered.

Shi Shuwu closed her eyes, her head throbbing. She sighed helplessly, “We’re leaving this afternoon to film a week-long variety show. Coming here won’t do you any good.”

Silence fell on the other end of the line, leaving Shi Shuwu wondering what Ke Huashuang was thinking.

Shi Shuwu paused mid-squeeze of her toothpaste, a growing sense of unease creeping over her.

As her paranoia mounted, Ke Huashuang finally spoke, “Is it that show from before? All three of you are filming, right?”

Shi Shuwu hesitated before answering, “Yeah… What do you want?”

Ke Huashuang chuckled softly, “Nothing.”

Shi Shuwu: “……”

A chilling premonition settled over her.

But Ke Huashuang hung up abruptly, not even waiting for another question.

Shi Shuwu sank into deep self-doubt. When had her sister become such a siscon? Was her sister’s dating life really that upsetting?

And she and Tang Wuyun hadn’t even started dating yet!

Something felt deeply wrong.

Shi Shuwu sighed inwardly, lowered her head to fill a glass with water, and began brushing her teeth. It was still early, and she wanted to check if Tang Wuyun was awake. She hadn’t seen her in ages and missed their chats.

After quickly washing up, Shi Shuwu emerged from the bathroom and walked to the window. She drew back the curtains, intending to open it for some fresh air, but her gaze froze when she noticed raindrops clinging to the glass.

It was raining.

Shi Shuwu hurriedly opened the window to peer outside. The sky was dark and overcast, but the rain wasn’t heavy.

She closed the window and swiftly headed to Tang Wuyun’s room.

Pausing at Tang Wuyun’s door, Shi Shuwu gave a polite knock. A moment later, Tang Wuyun’s confused voice called out from within.

Shi Shuwu’s expression darkened. Tang Wuyun wasn’t asleep after all.

She decisively pushed open the door, her worry softening slightly at the sight of Tang Wuyun’s dazed, sleepy state.

Had she just woken up, or had she fallen asleep moments ago?

Shi Shuwu closed the door and approached the bed.

Half-awake, Tang Wuyun propped herself up slightly, staring blankly as Shi Shuwu sat down beside her.

“Shi Shuwu?” she murmured softly. “What are you doing here so suddenly? Am I still dreaming?”

Shi Shuwu looked at her with concern. “You weren’t asleep?”

Tang Wuyun blinked, confused. “Huh? I was asleep. I just woke up when I heard you knocking.”

Shi Shuwu’s voice carried a hint of self-reproach. “It’s raining outside. I only just noticed.”

Tang Wuyun blinked again, slowly turning her head toward the window obscured by the curtains. Having heard neither thunder nor rain, she had no idea it was raining.

But after a moment of rapid mental calculation, Tang Wuyun decided she should probably tell a lie.

Tang Wuyun lowered her head, burying half her face in the blanket. “Mmm… I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep well.”

Her soft voice betrayed neither guilt nor resentment.

Shi Shuwu sighed softly and placed her phone on the bedside table.

“It’s still early. Go back to sleep. I’ll stay with you.”

With practiced ease, Shi Shuwu lifted the blanket. Tang Wuyun showed no resistance, nor any embarrassment. Instead, she visibly scooted over to make room.

As Shi Shuwu lay down beside her, Tang Wuyun deliberately nestled closer, boldly pressing her forehead against Shi Shuwu’s shoulder.

Shi Shuwu patted her reassuringly. “Go back to sleep.”

The moment the words left her lips, her phone rang again.

Frowning, Shi Shuwu turned to grab it.

Seeing Ke Huashuang’s name again, Shi Shuwu glanced at Tang Wuyun, whose large eyes were fixed intently on her, and decisively hung up.

She typed a reply: What is it? I’m sleeping.

But you’re already awake? Ke Huashuang replied.

Shi Shuwu paused, then deliberately typed: I’m keeping Tang Wuyun company. She didn’t sleep well.

Hah, very good 🙂 Ke Huashuang responded.

Sis, don’t be like that. I really like Tang Wuyun. You wouldn’t understand this feeling, Shi Shuwu typed.

What feeling? What feeling could there possibly be? Tell me, what feeling? Ke Huashuang demanded.

Shi Shuwu fell silent, finding Ke Huashuang’s tone increasingly aggressive.

You’ll understand when you fall in love, Shi Shuwu finally replied.