After I Lost My Memory, I Was Coaxed into Marriage by a Yandere - Chapter 5

Xiao Yanyi ultimately could not bring herself to strike. Instead, she felt her mood brighten, and the irritation caused by the injury she received from her senior sister gradually faded into calm. She could tell Chi Wei was lying; she understood that Chi Wei had proposed that foolish idea to drive her away only out of guilt, choosing to leave herself to fend for her own survival.

“Xiao Chi, I have found a way to treat your eyes. Even so, do you still want us to part?”

Chi Wei’s hand suddenly gripped her wrist. “Really? If I could see, I could do so much more for you. I could go to the docks to move cargo and earn money to support you and Xiao Tan.”

To the docks to work as a laborer? Xiao Yanyi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Images flashed through her mind of those hands that once played the zither, brewed tea, held brushes, and painted. Now, those same hands spoke of carrying sacks for their sake.

“But you clearly said you did not like Xiao Tan or me,” she said, intentionally drawing out her words while her fingertip lightly tapped Chi Wei’s burning cheek. “Why would you go to the docks to support two unrelated people?”

“I,” Chi Wei’s face turned deep red instantly. As if her inner thoughts had been exposed, she bit her lower lip in frustration and spoke the truth. “I was worried that taking care of both of us alone would be too exhausting for you.”

Deep down, she did not want to be abandoned by Xiao Yanyi either.

“Oh, you are worried, but is it still because you do not like me?” Xiao Yanyi chuckled softly, her laughter carrying a trace of self-deprecating bitterness. “It makes sense. With my ugly appearance, I was never worthy of you anyway.”

“That is not true!” Chi Wei countered urgently, her fingers unconsciously clutching Xiao Yanyi’s sleeve. “I like you, and I like Xiao Tan. I want to live with both of you forever.” After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted all her courage and buried her face.

Xiao Yanyi felt as if a feather had lightly brushed her heart. She reached out to stroke Chi Wei’s damp, dark hair, which felt cool and smooth. “Alright, go and change out of those wet clothes first. Once you are finished, I will tell you more.”

Chi Wei nodded vigorously and fumbled to her feet, moving toward the wardrobe. Xiao Yanyi always claimed she was ugly, but Chi Wei did not care at all. All appearances are illusory; a person’s true beauty originates from within. Even if she had a wife as beautiful as a celestial being, if that woman’s heart were as venomous as a snake, she would never want her.

Her clothes were always neatly folded by Xiao Yanyi on the far right side of the cabinet, reachable with a simple stretch of her hand. Thinking of the conversation that had nearly been a confession, Chi Wei’s ears felt warm. She did not ask Xiao Yanyi to look away as she usually did.

The soaked outer garment fell to the floor, revealing the thin inner robe beneath. Xiao Yanyi leaned against the headboard and watched her. Her gaze moved from Chi Wei’s slender ankles to the pale, elegant curve of her back. Her shoulder blades shifted slightly with her movements, appearing like a pair of butterflies ready to take flight. When Chi Wei naturally shed the final layer of wet clothing, the dim candlelight outlined the smooth curve of her waist. Water droplets slid slowly down the small of her back.

Xiao Yanyi’s abdomen suddenly tightened. A familiar heat, identical to the previous night, surged without warning. It arrived with a fierce and direct intensity. Her breath hitched, and she turned her head away in a near panic, not daring to look further.

Because of her injury, she could not suppress the natural heat of her demon kin. Her fingernails dug deep into her palms, and droplets of crimson fluid seeped through her fingers. She tried to use the pain to suppress the sudden, untimely throbbing. She loathed these inherent traits of the demon race more than anything, yet she could never truly escape them. She had lost control once the night before; she would not allow herself to fail again.

As the night deepened, the sound of rain outside the window seemed to grow thicker. Xiao Yanyi took the tea handed to her by Xiao Tan and took a sip. The warm liquid slightly soothed the dryness in her throat.

She set down the teacup and spoke in a steady voice. “When I went to the bookstore in the county today to fetch water, I met a traveling doctor. After hearing about your condition, she said her master might have a way to heal your eyes.”

“Really?” The corners of Chi Wei’s mouth lifted, and her misty eyes suddenly brightened. “When can I meet her master?”

“In half a month.” Xiao Yanyi reached out and gently took Chi Wei’s cool fingers. “Her master is far away in Chicheng. In three days, we will pack our belongings and take a boat south. That person gave me some herbs that can be used for a medicinal bath; they will be beneficial for your eyes.”

Chi Wei murmured, a hint of hesitation mingling with her joy. “Half a month? Would that not cost a great deal of money?”

“Money was tight,” Xiao Yanyi said, her fingertips stroking the back of Chi Wei’s hand with a light, teasing tone. “But fortunately, my A-Chi and Xiao Tan earned thirty taels at the docks today, which happens to be exactly enough for the travel expenses.”

She paused, her voice becoming solemn. “Furthermore, no matter the cost, I will definitely heal your eyes. I want you to see me with your own eyes and remember me again.”

Chi Wei felt as if her heart were being soaked in warm water, becoming soft and swollen with emotion. Her nose felt stingy, and the white mist before her eyes blurred as tears began to well up. She opened her mouth, but her throat felt constricted. It took a long moment before she could force out a small, trembling voice. “Wife, thank you.”

At the word “wife,” Xiao Yanyi’s fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly. This was the first time Chi Wei had ever called her that. Chi Wei was oblivious, focused only on pouring out her heartfelt gratitude. “Regardless of whether these eyes can ultimately be healed, I will never forget your kindness in this life. In the future, no matter if you want me to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of fire, I will do as you ask.”

In Wuxiang State, marriages were recognized regardless of gender, and it was common for couples to call each other “wife.” Hearing that title now, Xiao Yanyi felt a strange, tingling sensation in her chest. She should have returned the sentiment, but the words hovered at the tip of her tongue and never quite made it out.

She simply held Chi Wei’s hand tighter. Her voice was soft enough to melt into the night. “There is no need for mountains of swords. A-Chi, I only need you to stay by my side forever. That is enough. Promise me, you will never leave me, alright?”

By the window, Xiao Tan silently retracted her gaze. Watching the couple become increasingly affectionate, she curled her lip. “Idiot, you are about to board a pirate ship and you do not even know it. You are talking about mountains of swords and seas of fire.”

Unfortunately, the person involved was completely unaware. Xiao Tan gave Chi Wei one last deep, unreadable look before turning and quietly returning to her own room.

The following day, after the storm of the previous night, the sky remained somewhat gloomy. The two adults and the child finished breakfast. Having heard the news of the trip south, Xiao Tan volunteered to go out and help buy the necessary supplies. Chi Wei could not let a child go shopping alone, so she tidied herself up and went along.

They would be on a boat for many days, so they needed to prepare motion sickness medicine as well as herbs for common colds. The thirty taels earned the day before were kept by Xiao Tan. As she walked, Chi Wei thought that although money was not abundant, they finally had some income, and she should buy a gift for Xiao Yanyi.

“Let us get a new set of clothes for you and A-Yan,” she said.

Xiao Tan’s eyes lit up. “Good idea! What about you? What style do you want?”

Chi Wei waved her hand with a soft smile. “There is no need. I still have many clothes in my trunk. We will just buy for the two of you.”

Xiao Tan did not stand on ceremony. After all, she had contributed to those thirty taels. Besides, Chi Wei really did have many clothes; Xiao Yanyi had bought her countless beautiful outfits that she simply could not see.

The two found a tailor shop that looked clean and respectable, and the proprietress greeted them warmly. After measuring Xiao Tan, Chi Wei hit a snag when it came to choosing fabric for Xiao Yanyi. She had never seen what Xiao Yanyi wore, so how could she know what style she liked?

As she hesitated, Xiao Tan emerged from the back room in a new yellow robe. Seeing Chi Wei’s indecision, she interjected, “Just pick black. It suits her.”

The owner said diplomatically, “Black? For a young lady to wear a black skirt might seem a bit gloomy.”

Though Chi Wei had never seen Xiao Yanyi’s face, a faint image lived in her heart. To her, Xiao Yanyi was like a lotus blooming in the morning mist, covered in dew, pure and bright. “Let us choose white. I feel that white suits her better.”

“That works too. Though not as fitting as black, white is not bad,” Xiao Tan said, casually browsing the ready-made clothes on the rack while wondering if she should get a few more for herself.

As she spoke, her gaze drifted outside. She suddenly caught sight of a Taoist priest at the corner of the street, gesturing with a compass. Xiao Tan’s expression changed instantly. Without finishing her sentence, she turned and ducked into the back courtyard of the tailor shop.

The proprietress did not notice anything strange and simply asked Chi Wei with a smile, “Does the lady know her wife’s measurements?”

Chi Wei froze. The memory of that night surfaced, the moment when her mind was in chaos and she had reached out to hold Xiao Yanyi’s waist. Through the thin fabric, she had felt a silhouette that was both full and slender. Her ears turned slightly warm, and she lowered her eyes. “Just a bit looser than my own size will do. Thank you, ma’am.”

As soon as Chi Wei finished speaking, a clear female voice rang out beside her, causing her heart to jump. “Hey, girl. You are surrounded so tightly by demonic energy; have you encountered something unclean?” The voice was powerful, each word ringing clear.

“Something unclean?” Chi Wei immediately thought of the headless female ghost from the other night, but she kept her composure. “Who are you?”

“Oh, you cannot see me?” The person’s tone rose before she laughed heartily. “My name is Xin Rong. I am a Taoist priest who knows a bit about the mystic arts. The demonic energy on you is so thick it cannot be hidden. Have you truly not encountered anything strange?” Her voice was loud and full of energy, making Chi Wei’s ears ring. Chi Wei could not help but rub her ears.

“I believe not,” Chi Wei replied vaguely, thinking the woman might be a fraud. She turned to call Xiao Tan so they could go home.

However, a shadow flickered, and the person blocked her path again, her voice growing urgent. “Wait, do not leave! I am no fraud. I hunt demons only to accumulate merit; I do not charge a single cent!”

Chi Wei paused. “You do not charge anything?” Since they would still be living in their house after returning from the doctor, it would not hurt to have someone take a look if it was free. At most, she would just provide a simple meal.

“Yes! Not a single copper coin,” Xin Rong replied firmly. After making the promise, she leaned in close to Chi Wei’s ear and said seriously, “Actually, I came to this small fishing village to hunt a powerful demon. Your situation is a small matter. Since you are blind, I am just doing a good deed to help out.”

Surprised by such good fortune, Chi Wei raised her eyebrows and slowly turned to face Xin Rong with a polite bow. “It is a long story. It does seem like there is something unclean in my home. Would the Taoist priest be willing to come with me? You will see for yourself once we arrive.”