Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 52

Ke Huashuang had explained her reasons clearly, but Shi Shuwu still hoped she would stay.

She uttered an irresistible plea: “You’re already here.”

Ke Huashuang: “……”

For a fleeting moment, her resolve wavered, but she quickly shook her head firmly.

Shi Shuwu sighed softly, finally giving up on persuading her.

Tang Wuyun watched Shi Shuwu, who had been glued to Ke Huashuang’s side since her arrival, and a wave of sadness washed over her. During their last recording, Shi Shuwu had clung to her constantly.

She pouted. If Shuwu isn’t sticking to me, I’m not happy.

Earlier, she had smiled at Shi Shuwu, but Shi Shuwu hadn’t reacted at all.

The sulky Tang Wuyun secretly kicked Lu Ya twice.

Lu Ya, equally distracted, responded with a silent elbow jab.

The two sulky girls continued their covert back-and-forth until they heard Ji Yanyin’s goofy “Hehe” from behind them. They froze and turned their heads in unison.

Noticing their attention, Ji Yanyin grinned again. “Hehe.”

Lu Ya tilted her head. “?”

What’s so funny?

Tang Wuyun froze, glancing at Lu Ya. Realizing something, her eyes widened as she demanded, “What kind of fan are you, exactly?”

Ji Yanyin clasped her hands together, her voice light and cheerful. “Of course, I’m a group stan and a CP shipper!”

Knowing Ji Yanyin’s indiscriminate affection, Tang Wuyun couldn’t help but ask, “Which CP are you shipping?”

Hearing this, Lu Ya recoiled from Tang Wuyun in disgust, taking several steps sideways until she was standing behind Luo Xiting.

Luo Xiting, who had been explaining the game rules to the staff, noticed the commotion. Hearing Tang Wuyun’s question, she turned to look at the three women with amusement.

Ji Yanyin gave Tang Wuyun a peculiar look. “Do I really need to answer that?” she countered, glancing in Shi Shuwu’s direction.

Tang Wuyun felt a wave of relief. “Oh, I misunderstood,” she said dismissively, waving her hand. “As long as you’re not shipping anything weird, it’s fine.”

I thought she was shipping me with Lu Ya! That would be awkward and terrifying.

Ji Yanyin stared blankly.

She glanced at Lu Ya, then at Shi Shuwu, instantly understanding why Tang Wuyun had been giving her such a complicated look.

Ji Yanyin felt a lump form in her throat and couldn’t help but emphasize, “I’m very loyal to my ships!”

Tang Wuyun continued looking at Shi Shuwu, giving a perfunctory nod. “Mhm, mhm, you’re definitely not polyamorous.”

Luo Xiting smiled brightly at Lu Ya, who was secretly rolling her eyes, and leaned in to whisper, “She’s so narcissistic. I didn’t notice her caring about this during the last show recording.”

Lu Ya covered her mouth and whispered back, “She cares way too much.”

Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Shi Shuwu.

Luo Xiting, having tasted the sweet melon, beamed with satisfaction. She turned to share it with Qiao Mian, who was tinkering with game props.

“Wow… wait… I didn’t know that… and then what happened? So cute! Aww… it’s really true!”

Qiao Mian’s emotional value was through the roof.

Tang Wuyun: “……”

The rest of the group, secretly eavesdropping while trying to understand the game rules: “……”

After being stared at repeatedly by the group, Shi Shuwu finally couldn’t stand it any longer. She walked over from the director’s side.

“What are you all talking about?” Shi Shuwu naturally approached Tang Wuyun and asked.

Tang Wuyun’s eyes glazed over as she blurted out, “…Talking about life, talking about living.”

“Huh?” Shi Shuwu blinked, her expression puzzled. “What life? Whose life?”

Tang Wuyun paused, giving Shi Shuwu a meaningful look.

She replied softly, “Mine.”

Shi Shuwu tilted her head, her confusion deepening. “?”

The others: “!”

We’re shipping it!

Did she just admit it?! Is Tang Wuyun done acting?!

Ji Yanyin: “!”

She grabbed Lu Ya, who was closest to her, and restrainedly shook her arm, the corners of her lips uncontrollably curling upward. She tried to suppress her excitement, but it shone brightly in her sparkling eyes.

Under the intense gazes of several pairs of burning eyes, Shi Shuwu narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off. Tang Wuyun must have said something extraordinary before she arrived.

Combined with Ji Yanyin’s gaze, which seemed to bore a hole through her, Shi Shuwu quickly deduced the conclusion: high as they were, they were likely discussing Tang Wuyun and her “life.”

“Tsk, we’re here to play games, not talk about life,” Luo Xiting teased, pulling the person beside her toward the center.

She hooked Lu Ya on her left arm and Qiao Mian on her right, with an excited Ji Yanyin beside Lu Ya.

Lu Ya: “……”

Brought to the center, Lu Ya felt a surge of panic. She forced her eyes to go blank, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Ke Huashuang.

Shortly after Lu Ya retreated behind Luo Xiting, she had sensed Ke Huashuang’s expression growing increasingly grim, her face now taut with tension.

The signals Ke Huashuang was sending were unmistakable—so obvious that even Lu Ya, who usually avoided noticing such things, could feel the sourness radiating from her.

Shi Shuwu, having scanned the expressions of everyone present, immediately picked up on the strange tension between the two women. She narrowed her eyes, secretly observing Lu Ya and her sister.

Meanwhile, Tang Wuyun, having finally gotten a chance to let loose in front of the cameras, was eagerly anticipating Shi Shuwu being left out.

Tang Wuyun frowned, glancing at Shi Shuwu several times. When she realized Shi Shuwu wasn’t paying any attention to her, she clenched her jaw and began to sulk silently, her face stiff.

The program was typical, but it was exhausting. The nine participants ate, drank, and played games until Bai Jin finally arrived at the recording site, barely enough time to tally the scores.

Based on the points, Shi Shuwu was far in the lead, ranking first, while Qiao Mian, whose gaming skills were abysmal, came in last.

Lu Ya, who had been filming another drama, hadn’t played too badly despite her distraction, and she ended up taking the train with Tang Wuyun.

Bai Jin, who had been fixated on them, flew by plane, much to the satisfaction of Tang Wuyun and Lu Ya.

Just as the transportation arrangements were finalized and everyone was about to depart, Bai Jin, who had been sitting aside eating and drinking her fill, suddenly raised her hand to the director. “Director, can I take the train instead?”

Shi Shuwu’s half-opened mouth snapped shut. She and the others turned to stare at Bai Jin, who had just stolen her line, feeling a pang of frustration.

Lu Ya and Tang Wuyun shared the same frustration.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, the director replied, “You’ll have to convince the train group to switch with you.”

Without hesitation, Bai Jin turned to Zhang Ting, who was sitting beside her. Like Ji Yanyin, he was a newcomer to the entertainment industry, having also participated in the previous recording.

Bai Jin smiled, her expression relaxed and her voice smug. “Deal’s a deal, we’re swapping.”

Zhang Ting nodded enthusiastically, patting himself reassuringly. “You got it! You got it!”

Trading a high-speed train for a plane, especially after secretly forming an alliance with Bai Jin from the start of the show, guaranteed ample screen time. Why wouldn’t he seize the opportunity? Only a fool would choose otherwise.

Seeing the successful exchange, the other participants suddenly perked up. Several guests who had already reached the door quietly retreated back into the room.

Lu Ya reacted the fastest. She had already noticed Shi Shuwu’s slight disappointment and had a plan in mind.

Before anyone else could even begin to formulate a proposal, Lu Ya swiftly approached Shi Shuwu, grabbed her arm, and shook it vigorously. Her eyes sparkling, she declared, “I want to fly!”

Shi Shuwu blinked in surprise, then her face lit up with delight.

Wait, what? Oh! Right!

She smiled warmly, realizing she had subconsciously assumed Lu Ya and Tang Wuyun would stick together, completely overlooking the possibility of swapping with Lu Ya.

In the distance, Ke Huashuang watched her younger sister being tugged by her girlfriend. She pressed a hand to her aching heart.

This was too much. Seeing her girlfriend doting on her younger sister filled Ke Huashuang with overwhelming jealousy. She felt like she had come here today just to torture herself.

A mix of envy, jealousy, and disappointment churned within her. Ke Huashuang took a deep breath, desperately suppressing the possessiveness burning in her eyes. She tried to maintain a calm gaze, but ultimately closed her eyes to prevent herself from staring rudely at Lu Ya.

After exchanging a brief greeting with He Xian, she quietly slipped away from the corner where the others hadn’t noticed her.

Having successfully made the exchange with Shi Shuwu, Lu Ya instinctively looked for Ke Huashuang, who had been with the production crew. But after scanning the crowd, she couldn’t find her.

Noticing the panic on Lu Ya’s face, Shi Shuwu paused, about to call for Tang Wuyun.

She thought for a moment, then kindly offered, “Sister was here just a minute ago. She’s probably gone back now.”

Lu Ya froze, momentarily forgetting to deny that she was looking for Ke Huashuang. She turned to Shi Shuwu, asking, “…Gone back?”

Shi Shuwu nodded, explaining truthfully, “Sister was worried her presence might make you feel pressured, so she left.”

Lu Ya opened her mouth, her throat tightening. She looked helplessly at Tang Wuyun, who was approaching Shi Shuwu.

Tang Wuyun had clearly overheard Shi Shuwu’s words. She had originally come to express her dissatisfaction at being ignored.

Glancing at the half-closed door of the conference hall, she strode behind Lu Ya without a word and switched off her microphone.

Her voice was decisive: “Go after her!”

She even gave Lu Ya a gentle push, as if afraid she wouldn’t understand.

Lu Ya pressed her lips together, her gaze gradually hardening. She turned and hurried away.

The session had just ended, and most attendees were already leaving, so few noticed Lu Ya’s departure. With Lu Ya taking the lead, the other guests followed suit.

Shi Shuwu gaped in astonishment. “That was… that easy?”

In the two or three days her sister had been here, Shi Shuwu had tried to persuade Lu Ya several times, but to no avail. Yet Lu Ya had only needed a push from Tang Wuyun to…?!

Tang Wuyun tilted her head and smiled. “Because she’s desperate and terrified right now.”

She had merely helped Lu Ya make the decision to pursue. What Lu Ya said or did next was entirely her own affair. But given how quickly Lu Ya had rushed out, the outcome seemed obvious.

Bai Jin’s voice drifted eerily from beside them, “Oh? That’s quite the analysis.”

Tang Wuyun’s back stiffened. She forced a dry laugh and turned to face Bai Jin.

Bai Jin stared at Tang Wuyun with a cold, forced smile, her gaze hostile.

It was obvious Tang Wuyun had recommended her!

The resentment radiating from Bai Jin, thick with the stench of office politics, was overwhelming. Tang Wuyun’s mind raced, a faint suspicion forming that she might have been wrongly accused.

Her eyes widened as she blurted out, “Jin Jin, don’t look at me like that! Lu Yaya asked you to come and save the day!”

Bai Jin scoffed, “Do you think I’m stupid? Would Yaya even think of me right now?”

Hadn’t Lu Yaya ignored her after the game, rushing off to chase after her girlfriend without even a word?

Tang Wuyun’s face darkened as she realized she had indeed been wrongly accused.

Shi Shuwu, standing nearby, couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter.

Tang Wuyun silently turned to glare at her, her already foul mood souring further.

With a huff, she shot Bai Jin a nasty look. “You’re such an idiot.”

Then, turning to Shi Shuwu, she added with another cold snort, “And you’re no genius either.”

All they ever thought about was games and their sisters, completely forgetting about the ambiguous romantic interest she was currently involved with.

Tang Wuyun stormed off in a huff, leaving the two women to exchange bewildered glances.

Shi Shuwu frowned. “What did I even do to her?”

She hadn’t done anything today, had she?

Bai Jin blinked, equally puzzled. “Did I say something wrong?”

Hearing their confusion, Tang Wuyun, who had already taken a few steps away, stalked back with a rigid expression.

Under their watchful eyes, she let out a loud “Hmph!”

Then, she turned and stormed off again.