I Struggle to Survive in a Girl Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 31

Yi Zhuo opened the umbrella, carving out a small safe zone within the curtain of rain.

“Let’s go,” she called to the person beside her.

Wen Ling stepped under the umbrella, offering her a smile while naturally maintaining a slight distance between them.

Again just like this. Even though moments ago they had.

Whenever Wen Ling was in front of the camera no, whenever others were around she automatically kept her distance, as if none of those things had ever happened, as if they were merely teammates who had recently debuted.

Yi Zhuo’s eyes darkened slightly, and she shifted her arm holding the umbrella.

“Hold onto me.”

Wen Ling paused mid-step, glancing sideways with a trace of confusion in her clear eyes. Still, she complied without asking why, perhaps because pressing further would feel even more awkward, or maybe she simply found it troublesome.

“The family we’re staying with isn’t harmonious,” Wen Ling murmured as they walked, analyzing the scenario in a low voice. “The mother, Shirley, is weak-willed and has no say; the daughter, Nancy, is unexpectedly sharp and rebellious. Of course, the biggest issue lies with the father, Cole he’s hot-tempered and seems prone to domestic violence.”

She continued walking, occasionally exchanging a lighthearted joke or two, striking just the right balance. She was a capable leader; with her around, there was never an awkward silence or uncomfortable atmosphere.

“According to Yu Tingbai and the others, the townspeople vanished suddenly,” Yi Zhuo chimed in, gradually getting into the flow as they analyzed the photos their teammates had sent.

They followed the route on the map for a while until a warm, orange glow suddenly caught their eyes.

The guesthouse ahead was lit up, starkly conspicuous against the gloomy sky, like a deliberate summons.

Exchanging a glance, they simultaneously quickened their pace toward the light.

Yi Zhuo closed the umbrella, tossing it casually onto the stone steps by the entrance, then knocked on the door.

Soon, faint footsteps sounded from inside, and the door creaked open a crack, revealing half of a strikingly beautiful face.

A short-haired woman stood at the doorway, her gaze languid as if she had just woken up. Through the collar of her silk nightgown, faint red marks were visible on her neck.

Wen Ling instinctively touched her own neck.

Noticing the gesture, the woman smiled ambiguously.

Yi Zhuo frowned, her tone edged with displeasure. “What is it?”

A tug on her sleeve reminded her Wen Ling was cautioning her not to act impulsively while they were still filming.

Suppressing her irritation, Yi Zhuo resumed the role-play. “We’re lost ”

“Come in first,” the woman interrupted, her smile fading slightly as she stepped aside to let them in.

The interior was simple and tidy, with spotless furniture and floors, though the lighting was dim. A glass vase on the dining table held several pure white magnolia blossoms, the only bright spot in the muted tones.

The woman unhurriedly poured them two glasses of hot water, placing them on the black wooden coffee table, then called toward the upstairs.

“Beth, we have guests.”

A soft creaking sound came from the wooden staircase, and soon an elegant woman appeared in the living room, wearing a matching nightgown, her long hair tied up in a bun.

The woman introduced them, “I’m Christine, and this is Beth.”

Beth smiled and sat down intimately close to Christine. Faint red marks also traced her arms and collarbone, starkly visible against her fair skin.

“Hello.”

Yi Zhuo uncomfortably averted her gaze.

Wen Ling smiled openly and said, “Sorry to visit so early and disturb you and your wife.”

“Wife?”

Christine and Beth exchanged a glance, then simultaneously chuckled softly.

“She’s not my wife.”

Wen Ling was taken aback. “Then.”

“We’re bedmates.”

Yi Zhuo: ???

Christine shrugged, her expression nonchalant.

“This kind of arrangement is quite common nowadays, isn’t it?”

Christine’s tone was laden with implication. Noticing the change in the two women’s expressions, she curved her lips slightly and deliberately changed the subject.

She extended a slender, pale hand and said, “I’m the town’s psychic. Nice to meet you.”

A psychic?

That sounded suspicious.

Wen Ling hesitated for a moment but politely shook Christine’s hand out of courtesy. She intended to release it quickly, but the other woman suddenly tightened her grip, preventing her from pulling away.

“What are you doing?”

Yi Zhuo noticed something was wrong and instinctively reached out, but remembering they were still recording, she clenched her fingers and withdrew her hand.

Fortunately, Christine soon released her grip. She looked at Wen Ling and said, “Miss, we share many similar experiences. What a strange coincidence.”

Playing mysterious.

Yi Zhuo felt irritated. She couldn’t shake the feeling that every word Christine spoke was loaded with hidden meanings, each one hitting uncomfortably close to home, making her feel exposed.

“Indeed, accomplices guarding the same secret always unconsciously stand on the same front.”

As she said this, Christine’s eyes drifted, seemingly trying to gauge their reactions.

Yi Zhuo’s body stiffened slightly, while Wen Ling remained calm, showing no intention to probe further and choosing to continue with the scenario.

“Please tell me, what exactly happened in this town?”

But it was already too late. As her wristwatch screen lit up, Wen Ling’s life points suddenly began flashing, followed by a line of text: [Use 25 life points to exchange for “Christine’s Assistance”?]

Below were two options: Yes, No.

Yi Zhuo’s pupils contracted sharply. She tried to stop her: “Wen Ling.”

After inexplicably losing life points last night, they had been extremely cautious. Before setting out, they had agreed to explore on their own first and avoid asking the townspeople directly for now. Why would Wen Ling still.

With only three days total and just half a day passed, using a quarter of their life points for assistance of unknown value was far too risky.

Yet Wen Ling didn’t hesitate, directly selecting “Yes.”

Her life points instantly dropped from 95 to 70.

[Congratulations, you have obtained “Christine’s Assistance.”]

[Christine’s Assistance: As a psychic, Christine will answer one question truthfully.]

[Note: “Christine’s Assistance” can only be obtained once per team and must be used within five minutes after acquisition. Please use it promptly.]

Though aware it was all an illusion, Yi Zhuo couldn’t suppress her irritation upon seeing the number “70” on the screen.

Wen Ling said, “Answer my previous question, and I’ll use an assistance card.”

Kristin chuckled, “Then you’ve come to the right person.”

Yi Zhuo was taken aback.

Wen Ling showed no surprise. Having studied metaphysics and supernatural lore, she knew that a spiritualist character like Kristin was likely the primary source of information.

That’s why she decided to take the risk, betting that her boldness would yield useful intel.

“Go check the post office,” Kristin said, meeting her gaze. “Young people these days don’t read newspapers, but they often hold many truths including what you’re looking for.”

Post office.

The two exchanged a glance, immediately locking onto the keyword.

“Thank you,” Wen Ling nodded calmly. Instead of heading straight to the post office, she made another request.

“Forgive my boldness, but I’d like to take a look around your home.”

As she spoke, Wen Ling braced herself for another health point drop, yet the watch on her wrist remained unchanged.

Kristin shrugged, “Be my guest.”

While the two searched the room, Kristin and Bess remained on the sofa, laughing and flirting without a care for the outsiders present. Their laughter drifted over, mingling with the rain outside.

“Nothing on the first floor,” Yi Zhuo murmured, glancing at the couple nestled together nearby.

Wen Ling nodded and followed her upstairs.

After passing two bedrooms, they finally made a discovery.

“What… is this?”

The room before them was spacious, its walls lined with dozens of oil paintings arranged in a neat circle. Each painting depicted a beautiful woman some pure and innocent, others enchantingly alluring, each with distinct features and temperaments.

Beneath every painting stood a waist-high display shelf, reminiscent of museum exhibit stands. The objects on them were covered with white cloth, their shapes barely discernible.

In the gloomy overcast light, the shadows in the folds of the cloth resembled eerie, twisted cracks, casting a chilling atmosphere over the room.

“Stay here by the door. Don’t come in.”

With those words, Yi Zhuo stepped into the room first.

Wen Ling knew she was worried about her health points depleting too quickly an early exit would mean fewer scenes later so she obediently stayed put.

Yi Zhuo circled the room once but found nothing unusual.

Pausing briefly, she approached the shelf nearest to the door.

Up close, she realized the object beneath the cloth appeared spherical.

So, it must be…

Yi Zhuo reached out and lifted the white cloth.

As expected, a skull lay beneath. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to stare back at her, with long auburn hair attached to the back of the cranium.

Cautiously, she extended a hand and lightly touched the skull.

The screen on her wrist remained dark no change in her health points.

Relieved, she picked up the skull and held it up for closer inspection.

Wen Ling also came closer. She glanced at the skull in Yi Zhuo’s hand, then at the oil painting corresponding to the spot where the skull had been. The girl in the painting wore a charming smile, her chestnut-red long hair curled and styled into an elegant updo.

The conclusion was obvious.

Wen Ling said, “Her head is here.”

Yi Zhuo had already guessed as much and hadn’t felt particularly affected by it, but upon hearing Wen Ling’s words, she couldn’t help but break out in goosebumps.

Wen Ling looked around and added with precision, “Their heads should all be here.”

Couldn’t she have phrased it a little more delicately?

Yi Zhuo’s lips twitched. Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, she heard soft footsteps approaching from the doorway.

Christine appeared outside the door. She gracefully brushed back her long hair and looked over with a faint, ambiguous smile.

“What are you two doing?”

Wen Ling didn’t answer directly. Instead, she remarked, “You have quite unique tastes.”

Christine chuckled softly and walked over unhurriedly, taking the skull from Yi Zhuo’s hands and placing it back in its original position. She gently stroked the pale, stark-white skull, her gaze tender, as if looking at a lover.

“Precious things deserve to be cherished.”

After leaving Christine’s place, Yi Zhuo couldn’t shake off a lingering unease.

It wasn’t because of the eerie skulls, but rather because of the suggestive undertones in Christine’s words when she introduced Beth.

“Such things are quite common nowadays, aren’t they?”

As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance in Yi Zhuo’s direction.

Later, she even went so far as to describe Yi Zhuo and Wen Ling as “accomplices guarding the same secret.”

It was as if she already knew the nature of their relationship.

At first, Yi Zhuo even suspected that the production crew might have hidden cameras somewhere in the bedroom, but upon further reflection, she dismissed the idea.

She was now a popular idol group member, no longer the obscure nobody she once was. No one would dare so blatantly invade her and her teammate’s privacy. Besides, that morning, she and Wen Ling had been in the bathroom, there was no chance of being recorded.

So why would Christine, whom they had just met, say something so loaded with implication?

Could it be that she truly possessed some kind of psychic ability?

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Yi Zhuo’s mind drifted completely away from the plot.

“What’s on your mind?”

A clear, cool voice sounded beside her, like the soothing flow of a mountain spring, easing her restless heart.

Wen Ling walked alongside her, calmly looking over.

Yi Zhuo pressed her lips together but eventually voiced her doubts.

“That Christine mentioned something about accomplices doesn’t that seem off to you?”

Wen Ling asked, “Do you think she’s the deceased?”

Hadn’t she made it obvious enough? Why was this person still fixated on the plot?

Wen Ling was intelligent; she couldn’t possibly have missed the implications in Christine’s words. That left only one explanation Wen Ling simply didn’t care about the insinuation. To her, this relationship might not matter at all.

A wave of irritation washed over Yi Zhuo.

She replied, “That’s not what I meant.”

She paused, intending to brush it off with a casual “never mind,” as she usually would. But seeing the person beside her maintaining the usual safe distance, she suddenly changed her mind.

Wen Ling was always like this, living in her own world with a self-consistent yet unconventional way of thinking. She rarely bothered to understand others, hated complications, and aside from music and team matters, she remained indifferent to most things.

It was captivating, but at times, utterly infuriating.

Wen Ling was still analyzing the plot: “Although Christine’s behavior is bizarre and the origin of the skeletons remains unexplained, I actually think that despite Christine and Beth claiming to be bedmates, there are genuine feelings between them.”

Yi Zhuo asked, “Why do you say that?”

Wen Ling blinked and replied, “Intuition.”

Did Christine and Beth’s emotional state have anything to do with the plot?

Yi Zhuo pondered for a while but couldn’t find an answer, so she set it aside for the moment and brought up another matter.

“Your health points have been depleted too much. If there are any situations that require testing later, let me handle them.”

Wen Ling nodded.

Yi Zhuo asked her, “Are you done analyzing the plot?”

Wen Ling said, “Yes.”

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhuo’s eyes darkened. She suddenly reached out and turned off the microphone on Wen Ling’s chest, then turned off her own.

Wen Ling looked up at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

This was a habit they’d developed since their debut days. Whenever this happened, it meant the other person had something to say that they didn’t want recorded.

“Captain, I’m not very happy right now.”

After a brief pause, Yi Zhuo spoke the words she had rehearsed in her mind for a long time.

“I want to know, is this something you don’t care about either?”

Wen Ling shook her head decisively. “No.”

A faint smile curled at the corner of Yi Zhuo’s lips. She didn’t ask why, because she knew that even if she did, Wen Ling would only give her a few perfunctory lines, like “Because you’re an important teammate to me” or “You’re my partner.” She didn’t want to hear that.

Dealing with someone like Wen Ling, being too subtle could easily lead to getting tangled up in her logic. It was better to state her request directly. If Wen Ling truly meant it when she said she cared, then she wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

So Yi Zhuo said, “Then say something to make me happy, okay?”

After speaking, she held her breath slightly, nervously awaiting the other’s response.

Wen Ling hadn’t expected her to break the usual script. She froze for a moment before hesitantly suggesting, “Then, how about we call it even for all those times you owe me?”

Yi Zhuo: “…”

She and Wen Ling had an unspoken agreement in bed one turn each, taking turns even in the order, completely fair. But Yi Zhuo’s desire to dominate was too strong, and sometimes she broke the rules, owing Wen Ling who knows how many turns.

She had to admit, the offer was incredibly tempting. But the captain was so good to her, and Yi Zhuo didn’t want her to think she was only after her body, so she feigned restraint and stayed silent.

Wen Ling, thinking she wasn’t satisfied, sweetened the deal: “And then, next time, and the time after that, you can go first. How about that?”

As she spoke, she watched those beautiful, narrow eyes closely and finally caught a glimpse of a hidden smile within them.

Yi Zhuo concealed the gleam in her eyes and played hard to get, saying, “Actually, all of this.”

“I’ll wear the lingerie you like, the one with the bunny tail.”

“Is exactly what I wanted.”