After I Lost My Memory, I Was Coaxed into Marriage by a Yandere - Chapter 11

The white gauze dress slid from her shoulders, pooling at Xiao Yanyi’s feet.

She raised her hands to untie the laces of her inner garment with slow, rhythmic movements. The skin of her neck and shoulders was as delicate as porcelain. The line of her waist flowed smoothly down from her spine, tapering into a slender curve that seemed as though it could be completely encircled by a single hand.

The edge of the bath barrel concealed half of her lower back, yet this only served to spark Chi Wei’s boundless imagination. Chi Wei instinctively held her breath.

Xiao Yanyi’s hand suddenly paused mid-undress. She tilted her head slightly, though it was unclear if she was checking the water or if she had sensed something. Just as she was about to turn and step into the barrel, Chi Wei dared not look any longer. Her heart hammered like a drum, and she feared that even those outside the cabin might hear its frantic beat.

After a long while, the sound of splashing water rose, intermittent and soft. Was Xiao Yanyi playing in the water? Chi Wei lay on the bed with her limbs stiff. Only after her heartbeat gradually steadied did she dare to open her eyes a tiny crack.

What she saw made the blood in her entire body freeze.

On the far side of the tub, Xiao Yanyi’s slender arm rested on the rim. Her head leaned against it with her eyes closed as if she were taking a short nap. The rising steam framed her profile like a painting; it was clearly a beautiful scene of a lady bathing.

However, when Chi Wei’s gaze shifted to the other end of the barrel, the breath caught in her throat, leaving her nearly suffocating.

A section of a pale pinkish-white snake tail tip rested lazily outside the rim, tapping the surface of the water every now and then. With each movement, the hot water slopped over the side, trickling down the outer wooden wall. The scene suggested that what occupied the barrel was not a pair of human legs, but several meters of a serpentine body with nowhere else to go.

Xiao Tan’s silent mouthing of “snake demon” earlier now exploded in her brain like a clap of thunder. She had not been mistaken. Even through the hazy shadows of the thin gauze curtains, Chi Wei was absolutely certain: Xiao Yanyi was a snake demon.

Furthermore, she had to be a powerful demon with immense cultivation; how else could she have sliced that man-eating sea monster into pieces with a mere flick of two fingers in the air?

Amidst her shock, Xiao Yanyi, who had been resting with her eyes shut, suddenly furrowed her brows. As if enduring great agony, she turned her head and spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood was a shimmering scarlet-gold.

Was she injured?

Chi Wei watched intently, only to see Xiao Yanyi slightly lift her face. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the gauze curtains, looking directly toward the bed. Terrified, Chi Wei immediately squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath.

The first look had been enchanting. The second look was soul-shattering.

Chi Wei did not dare open her eyes again. Her mind instinctively turned to thoughts of escape. Xiao Yanyi claimed to be a daughter of a wealthy family and that Chi Wei was her family servant. How could a high-born lady be a demon?

At this moment, she missed Taoist Xin Rong desperately. Recalling the night Xin Rong had suddenly fallen silent, Xiao Yanyi had claimed the Taoist had simply drunk too much; but looking back, Chi Wei realized there had been no scent of alcohol on the table at all. Had she been murdered by Xiao Tan and her snake demon Wife?

Chi Wei’s eyelids flickered behind her closed lashes. Then she wondered if Xiao Tan was also a little snake demon. However, remembering how the girl had begged Xiao Yanyi to save people, she did not seem like an evil demon.

Never mind. Regardless, it was best to find an opportunity to flee as quickly as possible. Whether Xiao Yanyi was good or evil, she had hidden the truth. If she did not have ulterior motives, why go to such lengths to deceive her?

As her mind whirled in confusion, she heard Xiao Yanyi appearing unwell. The woman seemed to be carrying an old injury; after coughing up blood and letting out a few suppressed coughs, she slowly rose from the tub and walked to the bed.

Unlike previous nights where she would climb over Chi Wei to sleep on the inside, Xiao Yanyi lay directly into Chi Wei’s arms. A wave of faint fragrance drifted into Chi Wei’s nostrils, and she kept reminding herself mentally: “Xiao Yanyi is a demon! Xiao Yanyi is a snake demon! Help me!”

Yet, another part of her recalled how well Xiao Yanyi had cared for her, making her feel that the woman would not harm her. The warm, soft body pressed against her, and the hot breath brushing past her neck sent waves of tingling numbness through her entire body.

“A-Chi, are you asleep?” A strand of Xiao Yanyi’s hair fell against Chi Wei’s neck. It tickled intensely, and she wanted to scratch it but dared not reveal she was awake. She was afraid of having her essence sucked dry by the demon.

Her cheek suddenly felt warm as Xiao Yanyi planted a light kiss on her face.

“As long as I can cure you, I would willingly give my life in exchange.”

The voice was steeped in an unerasable sorrow, causing Chi Wei’s heart to ache suddenly. In the end, Chi Wei did not open her eyes. She did not know how to face the fact that Xiao Yanyi was a demon, but she no longer seemed quite so afraid of her.

Her mind was a mess. Thinking that the soft form in her arms was transformed from a giant snake made it impossible to sleep. Only when the breathing of the person in her arms became steady did Chi Wei slowly open her eyes. Xiao Yanyi seemed to have something on her mind; even in sleep, her face bore a look of melancholy.

The night at sea was cold, and tonight, she was completely unclothed. The soft, warm body was pressed against her without any barrier, making the sensation far too vivid. Chi Wei felt her face burning and her throat tightening. She would only suffer more if she continued to lie there.

She wanted to get up for some water and gently pushed the sleeping woman. The other’s slender shoulder was exposed outside the quilt, and where her palm touched, the skin was startlingly cold. Having no choice, Chi Wei began to slide outward quietly.

The moment she moved, the weight on her legs changed abruptly. The warm, soft sensation of legs turned into a cool, hard touch. The quilt was pushed up by something large.

By the dim light outside the curtains, she saw a thick, pinkish-white snake tail coiled several times on the bed. It wound around her ankles and calves, slithering up to her thighs. Finally, it tightened around her legs, and the tip of the tail dropped.

Chi Wei’s face turned bright red. She shifted her waist slightly, trying to avoid the place where the tail tip had landed, a most embarrassing spot. However, because the tail had her legs pinned, her shifting was useless; the sensation only grew stranger.

Afraid of waking the other, Chi Wei dared not move again. She was not ready to discuss the topic of being a demon while a naked Xiao Yanyi had her wrapped in a snake tail. Looking down again, she noticed Xiao Yanyi’s face was flushed unnaturally. She touched the back of her hand to the woman’s forehead; it was burning hot. Remembering that Xiao Yanyi was sensitive to the cold, she pulled the quilt up to cover the exposed shoulders.

Despite Chi Wei’s extremely light movements, she still disturbed the person in her arms. Xiao Yanyi let out a low moan and unconsciously nuzzled against her, finding a more snug position. The restless tip of the tail followed suit, sliding down three inches to a safer position. As the moon set, Chi Wei eventually drifted into a groggy sleep amidst her shock and inner conflict.

When she woke, the softness in her arms was long gone, but the ache in her waist and legs reminded her that the events of the Wife turning into a snake demon were not a dream. Perhaps because she had been held so tightly by Xiao Yanyi, her entire right leg was still somewhat numb.

“You are finally awake. Did you sleep well last night?”

As soon as she sat up, Chi Wei saw Xiao Yanyi walking toward the bed. She did not forget that she was supposed to be blind, so she gave a stiff smile and supported herself on the bedframe to rise. “Yes, wonderfully.”

Xiao Yanyi took her arm, guiding her toward the table. Unlike the usual simple meals, breakfast today was exceptionally lavish, featuring fish, meat, and even a bowl of fruit on the side.

Xiao Tan came in hopping and humming an unknown song, looking exceptionally cheerful. “Wow! So much good food!” She tore off a piece of flatbread as soon as she entered, mumbling with her mouth full, “The captain said many people were injured. We are docking for an hour at noon today to buy some medicine.”

Xiao Yanyi gave Chi Wei a brief, silent glance and handed her a bowl of plain porridge. Chi Wei’s hands were shaking significantly; afraid that the more she said, the more mistakes she would make, she dared not speak. Having her sight restored while having to pretend to be blind was difficult enough as it was.

“Why have you two gone mute? Is there anything you want to buy? We can go for a stroll together once we dock. I am going stir-crazy on this ship.”

If they docked for an hour, Chi Wei might be able to take the opportunity to escape. Regardless of whether Xiao Yanyi was a good or bad demon, the fact remained that she had deceived her. Chi Wei lowered her eyes, calculating silently.

“Not going? Fine then. Luo Han gave me two storybooks; I can just read on the ship.” Having begged Xiao Yanyi to save someone yesterday, Xiao Tan did not feel right making further demands.

Xiao Yanyi ate her porridge in silence, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“I actually have a few things I would like to buy,” Chi Wei said with a hint of urgency. If no one left the ship, how could she escape?

“What do you want to buy?” The two spoke at once, though their tones were vastly different. Xiao Yanyi’s voice was indifferent, while Xiao Tan’s was full of curiosity.

With both gazes fixed on her, Chi Wei’s hand holding the bowl trembled imperceptibly. “I want, I want to pick out a dress for my Wife. Last time, when Xiao Tan got lost, I had intended to buy her one, but there was a misunderstanding and I never did.”

“There is no need. I have many clothes,” Xiao Yanyi said, looking at her steadily.

“But my Wife has done so much for me, and I want to do something for you in return. If you do not like the idea, then never mind.” She set down the porridge bowl, her eyes downcast, unable to hide her disappointment.

“The time is too short; I fear there will be no time for measurements and tailoring,” Xiao Yanyi said with a low chuckle. For some reason, Chi Wei felt as if she were mocking herself.

“Oh, it is fine! I can ask Luo Han to stay for two extra days to rest and regroup,” Xiao Tan said. Before she could finish, she received a cold glare from Xiao Yanyi and quickly lowered her head to eat, not daring to speak again.

“Are there not ready-made clothes to buy? It would be good to go and pick some,” Chi Wei said softly. “I always thought that on the day my eyes are healed, if I could see my Wife wearing a red dress, it would surely be beautiful.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yanyi paused her stirring of the porridge. “You like red?”

Chi Wei nodded. “I have always felt that a person as brilliant as my Wife should be paired with red.”

In the end, the three of them went ashore. When Xiao Yanyi stepped out of her room, the people on the ship avoided her, lowering their heads and holding their breath to let her pass. It was a mix of respect and fear of her power. Only Luo Han was bold enough to ask if she had any requests. Upon learning they were going to buy clothes, he pointed them in a certain direction.

Chi Wei saw everything, and her heart felt complicated. Others treated Xiao Yanyi like a goddess, yet she was focused only on escape.

With these complex emotions, Xiao Yanyi soon led her to a silk manor. A red dress of exquisite craftsmanship was hanging in the shop. It was made of soft gauze with intricate lotus patterns woven into the fabric. The dress was indeed beautiful, and Chi Wei felt that if Xiao Yanyi wore it, it would add a heart-stopping allure and nobility to her already stunning beauty.

But she was destined not to see it.

Xiao Yanyi took the red dress and walked slowly toward the back room to try it on. Before entering, she paused and turned back toward Chi Wei, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile. “A-Chi, wait for me outside. I will be ready soon.”