After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 16

At ten o’clock, Xie Shaojun parked her car downstairs at Haimi Technology.

Secretary Wang stepped out of a business van in the adjacent parking spot, dressed in a work skirt with a few noticeable creases. As she approached, Xie Shaojun teased her, “Pulling another all nighter?”

Secretary Wang gave a bitter smile, glancing back to ensure the van was out of earshot before complaining, “It was brutal worked until 1 am. I kept thinking, when will our savior of the entire tech park, the boss’s wife, finally make up with CEO Chi?”

Xie Shaojun only smiled, refusing to engage with the remark, and handed Secretary Wang the coffee she had just bought.

Gossip about her impending divorce from Chi Yi wasn’t something Xie Shaojun should comment on it was neither polite nor appropriate.

The two chatted briefly at the company entrance. Secretary Wang mentioned that confidential documents had been leaked the day before, prompting a long-term foreign investor to pull out.

“Chi Yi’s going to have a tough time for a while,” Xie Shaojun remarked.

Secretary Wang nodded, eyeing the coffee in her hand before asking, “Just one cup?”

“Of course,” Xie Shaojun joked. “Or what, you planning to drink two by yourself?”

Inside the business van, Chi Yi didn’t look away until Xie Shaojun’s car disappeared from the tech park.

She arranged the documents Secretary Wang had handed her across her lap, paused in thought, then extended a hand.

“Coffee.”

Secretary Wang couldn’t help rolling her eyes as she surrendered the coffee.

Trying to lighten the mood, she offered, “Ms. Xie probably didn’t know you were here.”

Chi Yi accepted the explanation, but her cold expression remained unchanged.

As for why Xie Shaojun had come to retrieve her phone, why Chi Yi hadn’t appeared at the U.S. airport as promised but was instead waiting downstairs at the company, Chi Yi couldn’t explain it herself.

She didn’t consider deceiving Xie Shaojun as manipulative. In business, verbal promises without signed contracts weren’t binding. She still had the right to change her mind.

That’s what Chi Yi told herself.

Then, abruptly altering her plans, she instructed the driver to head to Shanmian County.

“Huh?” Secretary Wang was genuinely surprised this time, turning to Chi Yi. “But your schedule today”

Chi Yi had already opened her laptop, fully immersed in work. She shot Secretary Wang a disapproving glance with her peach-blossom eyes.

Secretary Wang inwardly groaned but dutifully reminded her under pressure, “Your next agenda is a week-long business negotiation in M Country regarding DER’s withdrawal. There’s still room to salvage the partnership, their sudden pullout seems suspicious.”

“Cancel it,” Chi Yi said flatly. “I don’t waste effort convincing people to stay. If they chose to withdraw, they’ll face the consequences. As for alternatives, we can explore partnerships with DER’s competitors.”

It was a routine work directive, but after speaking, Chi Yi’s expression flickered strangely. She froze for several seconds before coldly launching into an online meeting.

On Tuesday, Xie Guangqi withdrew his lawsuit against Dusk Studio. When Damei burst into the studio to excitedly share the good news, Xie Shaojun was inking Zhu Sicheng’s arm.

Her hand slipped, and Zhu Sicheng yelped, his buzzcut glistening with sweat as he glared at Damei. “Damn it that hurts! Who the hell are you, shouting like that? And Xie Shaojun, are you trying to kill me?”

Xie Shaojun lazily pressed the tattoo gun against his muscular arm, her red lips parting as she drawled, “Then shut up if you don’t want more pain.”

Zhu Sicheng: “F*ck me ”

“Can’t you ex-cons have a little decency? What the hell are you cursing about? Filthy language out of your mouth every other word.” Once Damei recognized the tattooed figure on the bed as Zhu Sicheng, that damn troublemaker, she couldn’t help but snap at him: “Have you forgotten who paid off your loan sharks and got you this job? Is this how you talk in front of your benefactor?”

After firing off those words, Damei stormed out. Zhu Sicheng hung his head low. Though a grown man in his thirties, he showed no fear in front of Damei, but under Xie Shaojun’s gaze, his neck flushed red with shame as he lowered his eyes.

Xie Shaojun found this amusing and explained, “Don’t take it to heart. Damei doesn’t know you were the victim in Jian Qing’s mess.”

This only made Zhu Sicheng even more speechless. After a moment of silence, he spat out a curse, then muttered, “Jian Qing isn’t worth my anger. I just… I feel ashamed toward you.”

“Honestly, you’re like a damn bodhisattva. Jian Qing’s mess had nothing to do with you, yet you stepped in to save my family. My whole family sees you as our savior.”

Xie Shaojun picked up the tattoo gun and teased him, “Alright, enough. Even if you flatter me to the heavens today, I’m not giving you this one for free.”

Zhu Sicheng laughed and cursed, “You stingy bastard.”

He shifted positions to let Xie Shaojun work on the shading.

“By the way, are you really not coming to my wedding tomorrow?”

Xie Shaojun didn’t even think before refusing. “Too busy. Not worth the hassle.”

“Shanmian County isn’t like it used to be. There’s a new seaside park now, lots of tourists come.” Zhu Sicheng pressed on. “Back when I first got out of prison, I ran into your sister-in-law there. The tide was receding, and the whole sandbar was exposed. It was something else.”

Xie Shaojun paused, suddenly reminded of something Chi Yi had once recited to her while helping her study:

“The fate between two people is like the ebb and flow of the tide. At high tide, the waves rage violently; at low tide, the water clears, and the sky stretches endlessly.”

Xie Shaojun had asked Chi Yi back then, If there’s no fate left, should we still look at the sea?

Under the lamplight, Chi Yi had lowered her beautiful eyes, thought seriously, and replied, In the days of Mazu, there was a ritual, when bidding farewell to the world, one would go to the sea and say goodbye to the blue sky and the ocean.

For some reason, Xie Shaojun felt a sudden stirring in her heart.

“If it weren’t for you paying off my family’s loan sharks back then, I might’ve rotted in prison. My mom’s wanted to thank you in person for ages.”

“Does your mom know Jian Qing drove your brother to suicide?”

“She knows, but that doesn’t change how grateful we are to you.” Zhu Sicheng’s expression darkened. “That bitch had nothing to do with you. Even we understand basic decency.”

“So, you’ll come?” Zhu Sicheng looked up at Xie Shaojun, his invitation earnest.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Shaojun finally agreed.

The next day, the wedding was a modest affair a simple canopy set up in the countryside, following old-fashioned traditions. The ceremony was lively and warm, filled with close friends and family.

Xie Shaojun had brought a hefty red envelope, expecting nothing more than a banquet.

But early in the morning, Zhu Sicheng’s mother took her hand and seated her in the place of honor in the main hall, insisting that Zhu Sicheng and his bride kneel and serve her tea.

Xie Shaojun quickly protested, “Auntie, if I drink this tea, what kind of position would that put me in, historically speaking?”

She shot Zhu Sicheng a look. “Bro Cheng, you didn’t warn me this ceremony would humiliate me like this.”

“As the benefactor of the Zhu family, you deserve this. From now on, my son is your son, and my daughter is your daughter.”

Xie Shaojun wished she could kick him: “Keep dreaming.”

Zhu Sicheng stood by, grinning foolishly. In the end, he didn’t kowtow, but he and the bride each served Xie Shaojun a cup of tea.

After spending a night in the countryside, Zhu Sicheng took Xie Shaojun to Shanmian County the next morning to see the ocean.

The car stopped two kilometers away.

The path to the coast was a narrow brick alleyway, flanked by densely packed buildings that made it impossible for vehicles to pass. They had to get out and walk.

As Xie Shaojun stepped on the slightly damp, moss-covered ground, a vague mental map of the area suddenly surfaced in her mind. Ahead, there should be a shop selling cigarettes, alcohol, and fruit candies. To the left was a jelly noodle stall… and further down the street, near the intersection, there should be a middle-aged man in ethnic clothing selling hand-pulled sugar.

At first, Xie Shaojun thought her late-stage brain cancer must be making her delusional. But after walking twenty meters, she indeed saw a nostalgic-looking tobacco and liquor shop though it looked even more worn than she remembered.

The middle-aged sugar vendor had turned into an elderly man with white hair.

Xie Shaojun stood frozen in a daze until Zhu Sicheng called her name several times, snapping her out of it.

“I think… I’ve been here before,” she murmured.

“When?” Zhu Sicheng asked.

Xie Shaojun thought for a moment but couldn’t recall any specific memories. “Maybe I’m mistaken,” she conceded.

Perhaps her illness had truly taken its toll,she was experiencing an eerie sense of familiarity with a place she’d never visited.

Zhu Sicheng chuckled dismissively and eagerly explained, “This place used to be just a rundown street for troublemakers. Further left was an arcade, and to the right, there was a big adult movie theater. At the end of the street, by the sea, there used to be an orphanage over a decade ago.”

Xie Shaojun’s mind conjured vivid images of everything Zhu Sicheng described.

Then he continued, “But the coastal park here was built thanks to the children from that orphanage.”

Zhu Sicheng told her that the orphanage had actually been a front for child trafficking. After the police cracked the case, the abducted children were returned to their families. One of the girls, after growing up, bought the land and developed it.

At this point, Xie Shaojun suddenly understood why the place felt so familiar. She summoned the system and asked it to recite the transmigration novel’s plot again.

Zhu Sicheng abruptly stopped talking and froze in place.

Following his gaze, Xie Shaojun narrowed her eyes slightly.

At the intersection ahead, under the eaves, stood two people. Zhu Sicheng was glaring hatefully at Jian Qing, but Xie Shaojun’s first glance landed on Chi Yi, who stood beside her.

Snapping out of it, Xie Shaojun didn’t ask the system to continue reading the orphanage’s address.

[Just a day ago, Chi Yi said she was going on a business trip to the U.S. So she can lie after all.]

Xie Shaojun smirked.

[Is it possible Chi Yi came here to investigate ] The system cut itself off, reminding her: [The plot is irreversible.]

[Yeah, I know.]

Xie Shaojun remained outwardly calm, observing Chi Yi and Jian Qing, the novel’s official couple from a detached, mission-oriented perspective.

The coastal weather was unpredictable; a downpour could arrive in an instant.

An assistant hurried over with an umbrella, which Chi Yi took and opened with a graceful turn. Her slender figure was wrapped in an ankle-length dress, the pale green outfit making her exposed skin glow like porcelain.

The drizzle was continuous, shrouding the ripples in the pond with a hazy mist, blending seamlessly with the scenery like a graceful and aloof lady strolling leisurely in a painting, exuding an air of elegance and quiet beauty.

Those around her seemed unable to blend into the same scene. Even Jian Qing, her official partner, standing beside her, appeared as plain as a maid in comparison.

Chi Yi draped her coat over her elbow, and when her assistant reached out to take it, she sidestepped.

Jian Qing smiled warmly at the assistant and said, “I’ll do it,” then bent slightly to step under Chi Yi’s umbrella.

Xie Shaoyun quickly averted her gaze and half-dragged, half-pulled Zhu Sicheng to stand beneath the eaves, hidden from their line of sight, to take shelter from the rain.

The moss underfoot was slippery. Xie Shaoyun leaned lazily against a pillar, watching Zhu Sicheng.

His eyes were fixed on Jian Qing, his expression fierce, veins bulging on the back of his hands as if he might charge at any moment and beat her to death.

The hatred for his brother’s death, the hatred for being framed and imprisoned, layers of fury made Zhu Sicheng’s fingers tremble as he pulled out a cigarette and clamped it between his lips.

Once the cigarette burned out, he asked Xie Shaoyun, “How long has Jian Qing been back in the country?”

Xie Shaoyun sighed. “Ten days ago.”

“Brother Cheng, it’s not my place to say this, but don’t act recklessly. Think about your wife, you can’t go back inside.”

Amid the swirling smoke, Zhu Sicheng’s wolf-like eyes remained silent for a long time.

“The person standing next to Jian Qing is your wife, right?”

Xie Shaoyun replied, “We’re in the process of getting a divorce.”

Zhu Sicheng crushed the cigarette butt violently into the dirt, his fingers cracking with tension. He stood up, ready to confront Jian Qing. “That bitch ruined your relationship.”

Xie Shaoyun stopped him, her voice calm. “No. Jian Qing doesn’t have that kind of power.”

Their divorce was due to incompatibility destined to happen.

Zhu Sicheng didn’t believe her. In this world, aside from Xie Shaoyun, only he truly understood what kind of woman Jian Qing was.

Four years ago, after Zhu Maomao’s suicide, Jian Qing had sent Zhu Sicheng provocative messages, inciting his rage until he beat her until her kidneys ruptured. For causing severe bodily harm, Zhu Sicheng was sentenced to four years in prison.

Later, due to good behavior, his sentence was reduced, and he was released. But he returned to find his family drowning in debt, his mother had borrowed three million in high-interest loans to reduce his sentence, secretly giving the money to Jian Qing in hopes of a settlement. Yet Jian Qing took the money and never mentioned reconciliation.

Desperate, Zhu Sicheng went to the Xie family that day with a sharp knife strapped to his waist.

It was Xie Shaoyun who stopped him.

And from that day on, Xie Shaoyun began skipping classes frequently. She partnered with Damei, investing her skills in the Dusk Studio.

After graduation, instead of pursuing a master’s degree, she became a tattoo artist, much to her family’s disdain. just to pay off Zhu Sicheng’s debts.

Zhu Sicheng’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “Does your family still not know what kind of person Jian Qing is?”

“No,” Xie Shaoyun replied, her eyes curving into a smile.

“Fuck this,” Zhu Sicheng cursed, unable to hold back. He slammed his fist into the ground, then tore his gaze away, afraid that another glance would drive him to kill Jian Qing on the spot.

Xie Shaoyun handed him a tissue, and Zhu Sicheng took it, roughly wiping the blood from his knuckles.

“Why haven’t you told them?”

“I did. It’s useless.” The plot was irreversible.

Xie Shaojun didn’t share the last part of her thoughts with Zhu Sicheng. She could alter minor plot points, like getting into Nan University or occasionally acting out of character by being sensible. But she couldn’t dismantle the pure, kind-hearted persona of the female lead, Jian Qing.

So even if she spoke the whole truth, the main characters in the story wouldn’t believe her. Moreover, the system would distort her words into censored “beep-beep-beep” static.

The rain finally stopped half an hour later. Zhu Sicheng looked at Xie Shaojun with pity in his eyes. He even considered exposing Jian Qing’s true nature himself, but no one would believe a convicted criminal.

His eyes reddened with suppressed frustration, and he cursed bitterly, “Everyone just expects you to suffer.”

Xie Shaojun patted his shoulder, her eyelids crinkling with deep laugh lines. “I don’t feel wronged,” she told him. “Because I’m not like them.”

She was a task-taker, fundamentally different from everyone else in this world. So, in essence, she no longer felt any grievance.

If she treated role-playing as just another job, then this was her final assignment. After this, she would retire honorably and be reborn.

After returning from Shanmian County, Xie Shaojun grabbed her suitcase and skipped work to travel.

Damei asked where she’d run off to this time.

Xie Shaojun, having just secured her visa on arrival, took off her sunglasses and said, “To see the ocean.”

The waters she saw in Alaska’s glaciers were deep blue, New Zealand’s seas were azure, and the Maldives’ waters were sharply divided into two distinct shades of blue by the vegetation, sand, and reefs.

Every ocean in the world had a different hue. The ebb and flow of tides, watched long enough, could wear a person down, smoothing even the most turbulent memories into a placid lake.

Xie Shaojourneyed from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern, until the system reminded her that time was running out.

Only then did she board a flight back home.

On the day she returned to the studio to end her leave, Damei squinted at her and snarked, “Well, well, if it isn’t our chocolate-skinned beauty. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

Xie Shaojun lobbed a mango at her.

“Three months, and my skin’s already lightened back,” she retorted. “What’s there to gloat about?”

This trip had visibly lifted her spirits. She worked with renewed vigor, as if blessed by some divine inspiration in Dubai industrious as a little sun.

Damei marveled, “Xiao Xie, you better take good care of those money-making hands of yours.”

Every time she heard that, Xie Shaojun couldn’t help but correct her: “Hire another tattoo artist already.”

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, got it?”

Damei shot back, “Are you just any basket? You’re the money tree I’m willing to stake my life on.”

That Wednesday, Jian Qing dropped by the studio for a visit. With a sweet smile, she told Xie Shaojun that she’d already explained the tattoo incident to Xie Guangqi and Feng Xiaoqing, it had nothing to do with Xie Shaojun.

Xie Shaojun couldn’t care less whether it did or didn’t.

As she worked, she chatted idly with her client.

Jian Qing stood awkwardly for a long moment before mustering another topic: “Auntie wants you to come home for dinner.”

Xie Shaojun replied, “Even a dog learns to stay away after being beaten enough. What more a person? Besides, I really don’t want to eat with you.”

Jian Qing hadn’t expected Xie Shaojun to be so firm this time. Her lips quivered as she whispered, “Don’t be like this…”

Xie Shaojun adjusted the client’s clothing and began explaining post-care instructions for the skin.

After the client left with thanks, Xie Shaojun took off her gloves and went to wash her hands.

The weather had turned chilly, and the receptionist had thoughtfully prepared a tube of hand cream in the washroom. Xie Shaojun dabbed a bit on her fingers.

Turning around, she noticed Jian Qing staring intently at her hands. Xie Shaojun raised an eyebrow but didn’t stop her.

Dragging over a chair, she sat down, crossing her legs casually. “This is just who I am. Didn’t Professor Xie ever tell you? I’m inherently vicious.”

Jian Qing crouched down beside Xie Shaojun’s feet, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Xie Shaojun had grown much thinner, her frame so frail it seemed a gust of wind could knock her over. Yet her eyes were bright wide, puppy-like, brimming with a lazy, carefree vitality.

Jian Qing stared silently for a long while without saying a word.

Xie Shaojun smiled and asked, “I’ve never asked, what do you want from me?”

For the first time, Xie Shaojun smiled at Jian Qing with ease, her voice laced with a bewitching charm.

Jian Qing had countless rehearsed responses in her mind, but none of them made it past her lips. Unable to resist the temptation, she blurted out her true thoughts.

“I want everything you have.”

Xie Shaojun’s eyes curved into crescents as she picked up the tattoo gun from the table and tapped it lightly on Jian Qing’s shoulder. “Soon enough, it’ll all be yours,” she said breezily.

Jian Qing froze. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is ” Xie Shaojun deepened her smile, putting the tattoo gun away.

Then she picked up a cup of cold tea and splashed it in Jian Qing’s face, watching as the liquid drenched her instantly.

Standing up, Xie Shaojun whispered to her, “Everything you’ve taken was just what I didn’t want anymore.”

The room fell into complete silence for three seconds.

Xie Shaojun asked her system, [Do I look like the villainess now?]

The system replied after a pause, [Turn around and see for yourself.]

Xie Shaojun turned as instructed and saw Chi Yi frowning at the doorway.

Their eyes met. Xie Shaojun only hesitated for a second before calmly saying to Jian Qing, “I need to talk to my wife. Would you mind stepping out?”