Chapter 14

Transmigration Diary 14
Wait—would she think she liked Cefalina?
Wen Shiyu hesitated—braced—“Then I still like you?”
“No no—” fast correction. “I only want to study hard and improve every day!”
Su Yan looked like she thought Wen Shiyu shy to admit—sighed lightly.
Her hand finally pressed Wen Shiyu’s nape.
“Mm. Don’t like me—I’m not that great either.”
Wen Shiyu: “……” True. Kind of scary.
“You should focus on school.”
Su Yan talked like a dean—slightly calloused fingertips tracing Wen Shiyu’s nape.
First the soft hollow below the ear—then along the neck line—very slow—press and rub downward—
A long time without letting go.
Wen Shiyu could not help: “……Not done yet?”
Phone rang—broke the frozen lab air.
Wen Shiyu dug it out.
Text from Cefalina.
Wen Shiyu told Su Yan. “Cefalina asked what I’m doing.”
Su Yan: “Shouldn’t she know we’re at the lab?”
“Well……” Wen Shiyu worried again.
“Maybe…… she feels bad—wants me back early?”
Su Yan thought—nodded. “Fine. Stop here today.”
“We’ll use this one.”
“I’ll time decay on the drive back.”
They made more of the scent and drove back.
Midway Wen Shiyu slapped her thigh—remembered—left Cefalina’s necklace behind. Too far to return now.
Su Yan blank. “That collar—not hard to find.
I’ll have an identical new one sent to the school gate—won’t take long.”
Wen Shiyu: “But…… I already told Cefalina on the phone I’m coming right back.”
Su Yan shook her head.
“No—not yet. Scent’s still too strong.
First time—best nearly invisible—or she’ll suspect.”
Wen Shiyu was stuck in Su Yan’s car.
They circled outside for ages. Cefalina even called—Wen Shiyu mumbled almost there.
Finally Su Yan answered a call—the collar arrived.
Car slowly entered Saint Winsor.
Along the road girls’ eyes snapped to the black sedan.
Anyone who followed the top circle knew—student council president Su Yan’s car.
Wen Shiyu felt solid stares at once.
Uncomfortable—hand up to hide.
“Su Yan—where did you arrange pickup?”
Su Yan seemed puzzled—used to being the focus everywhere.
“Anywhere—they’ll cooperate. What?”
“Can we…… find somewhere empty?”
“……”
Su Yan had seen people flaunt riding with her—first time someone wanted to hide.
She looked at Wen Shiyu again.
“……Okay.”
The sedan left the main road.
As soon as they were gone whispers exploded.
“That was Su Yan’s car right? Definitely!”
“Her plate—I know it by heart.”
“Lucky—we saw the president’s car.”
“……Was someone in the passenger seat? Not Cefalina or Charlotte.”
“Who? She rarely drives anyone alone…… unless very close.”
“I thought I saw a profile…… like…… Wen Shiyu?”
“Wen Shiyu??”
“Please—you must be wrong?”
Su Yan shook the crowd—found a secluded side gate.
She got out for the collar—back in the car light was dim.
Su Yan opened the dust bag—gestured Wen Shiyu closer.
Wen Shiyu leaned over—tight space—Su Yan awkward.
Tried to loop the collar around her neck without touching nape much—nervous and clumsy—
“Uh?” Neck yanked tight—Wen Shiyu wanted to pull away.
“Don’t move.”
“No need—”
Su Yan held her neck to loosen—Wen Shiyu pulled back to do it herself.
In the tussle Wen Shiyu’s elbow hit the door control panel.
Click.
Passenger window slid down.
Cool evening wind—and outside, several passing classmates’ shocked faces.
The world went quiet.
The girl Cefalina had collared in public—now pressed in the seat by stern student council president Su Yan, almost restraining—
President holding a collar very like Cefalina’s gift—as if forcing it on……
Drama enough for several soap plots.
Classmates gaped, gasped, hands over mouths.
Wen Shiyu froze solid.
Su Yan blank too—finally remembered to raise the window.
Hum—glass rose. Silence inside and out.
Raising the window made it harder to explain??
Wen Shiyu undid the collar herself, weak: “Quick—go.”
Su Yan breathed deep—drove off at top speed.
——
Seeing Cefalina at last Wen Shiyu exhaled.
Cefalina was clearly angry.
Curled on the sofa in a small blanket—Charlotte with her—even when Wen Shiyu entered she ignored her.
Family economy still in Cefalina’s grip—Wen Shiyu approached ingratiatingly and sat at the other end of the sofa. “Cefalina…… anywhere uncomfortable?”
Cefalina pressed lips—finally looked—was going to say fine—saw something wrong at once.
“Wen Shiyu—where’s the choker I gave you?”
Wen Shiyu blank—tried:
“Uh…… pheromone collection—we took it off—forgot on the way out—”
Cefalina more puzzled. “Then what’s this new one??”
“……” Wen Shiyu stuck.
Done—backfired.
Charlotte propped chin, gold eyes thoughtful, watching.
Su Yan walked in.
Did not feel the mood—eyes on Cefalina, usual concern: “How do you feel? Still unwell?”
Pressed by Su Yan Cefalina swallowed anger—barely: “Still…… okay.”
Anyone could see she looked bad—eyes slightly red—had vomited, not recovered.
Wen Shiyu reached—held Cefalina’s hand on the sofa.
“It’s fine—I’m back.” Deliberate: “Hold like this—a while and you’ll be better.”
Cefalina: “……”
That “I’m seriously soothing you” face—she understood.
This was the hand-holding therapy she sold Su Yan and the others!
Four sat and talked. Later Su Yan saw low mood—left bedroom with Charlotte.
They gone Wen Shiyu leaned in, whisper: “……Kiss?”
“No.” Cefalina instant.
“But you’re miserable?” Wen Shiyu puzzled.
“Miserable—I still won’t let you kiss!” Cefalina glared away.
“……Why?”
“No why.”
Mouth said so—suddenly grabbed Wen Shiyu’s collar, brow tight—undid the new choker—threw it aside arrogant.
Paused—nose to Wen Shiyu’s neck—sniffed careful. “What smell is this?”
“What smell?” Wen Shiyu played dumb hard.
“Isn’t it…… my smell?”
“?” Cefalina closer—brow tighter.
Wen Shiyu glanced at the door.
Su Yan and Charlotte could return anytime. If Cefalina stayed bad Su Yan would suspect the lie about “soothing methods.”
And she would be with the trio often—few chances alone.
Better get Cefalina well fast.
“Or…… kiss after all?” Wen Shiyu tried again.
“I won’t! Get my collar back.”
“But it’s at the lab…… to fetch it we’d go back with Su Yan.” Wen Shiyu troubled.
“No—you can’t go.” Cefalina vetoed at once.
“Then how do I find it—”
“You should never have taken it off!” Cefalina furious—cheeks red from emotion—breath quick.
Wen Shiyu looked at her—maybe not pure tantrum—pseudocyesis mood unstable.
She stopped talking—leaned in—kissed Cefalina lightly.
“Mm……” Cefalina stiff—symbolic push—muffled protest: “Don’t…… I hate you—”
“Mm……” Cefalina stiff—symbolic push—muffled protest: “Don’t…… I hate you—”
But resistance went weak soon……