After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 34.2

She turned to catch up with Chi Yi and confirmed the next item on the schedule.

“The stock transfer is scheduled for 12:00 local time. You’ll need to take the 7:00 PM flight to Alaska.”

For some reason, Xie Shaoyun noticed that Secretary Wang’s expression darkened when she said this.

Chi Yi walked ahead, stepping into the elevator first. She waited inside for Secretary Wang to enter before pressing the floor button.

Xie Shaoyun couldn’t see Chi Yi’s expression from her vantage point.

But she heard Chi Yi ask, “Is the Alaskan cruise ship ready?”

Secretary Wang’s breathing became strained, and she didn’t even answer Chi Yi verbally, she just nodded with a sorrowful expression.

Over the course of the morning, through Chi Yi’s two consecutive conversations, Xie Shaoyun began to sense that something was off.

The reason for this unease became clear when Chi Yi’s car was stopped by a crowd outside the industrial park.

The car door opened, and Xie Shaoyun followed Chi Yi out. Among the people blocking their way, she caught sight of her father, Xie Cheng.

There was also Chi Jia, Chi Yi’s aunt and the second-largest shareholder of Haimi.

And many others Xie Shaoyun didn’t recognize Chairman Li, Chairman Wang, Chairman Huang, and the like.

Strangely enough, Xie Shaojun could see from the skull’s perspective that the group of people wore expressions of anxiety, as if each of them was eager to say something to Chi Yi.

However, Chi Yi didn’t have much time for them. Dressed in a business suit for her commute, she looked entirely different from how she appeared at home. Tall and fair-skinned, her beauty was of the striking, coldly elegant variety, and her poised demeanor made her stand out among the crowd. With her eyes lowered and silent, she exuded an undeniable presence.

As a result, none of the high-ranking executives blocking her path dared to speak up immediately. They exchanged glances, hesitating and shifting the responsibility among themselves.

After a few seconds, Chi Jia was the first to break the silence.

“Chi Yi, may I ask you a few questions?”

Chi Yi replied indifferently, “Go ahead.”

“Why did you transfer Haimi’s shares to a third party? Have you considered the consequences of doing this?”

Chi Yi remained silent.

Frowning, Chi Jia continued, “As a joint-stock company, you certainly have the right to transfer your own shares to others. But by handing them over to a third party, the board of directors retains veto power, which means your transfer contract is invalid.”

Chi Jia’s words were the main reason this group had sought out Chi Yi today. Haimi was a company Chi Yi had built from the ground up, weathering financial crises, competitive technological suppression, and even the theft of core research achievements.

Through every challenge, Chi Yi had remained unshaken, overcoming obstacles and steering the company toward greater success. No one wanted her to step down or transfer her shares to someone else. Unable to understand her decision, they hoped she would reconsider.

Xie Shaojun finally heard Xie Cheng’s voice. Instead of urging Chi Yi about the shares, he brought up another topic: “President Chi, I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to dinner at our home. The flight from Four-Nine City to Nan City only takes two hours.”

Xie Cheng extended the invitation: “Our Xiao Er would like to speak with you again.”

Chi Yi politely declined Xie Cheng’s offer, saying she would visit when she had the time though, of course, this was merely a courteous deflection.

Then she turned slightly and addressed Chi Jia with her usual composure: “Apologies, Auntie. I have a lunch appointment today and shouldn’t keep anyone waiting. If you have any further questions, you can come to the office this afternoon to discuss them.”

With that, she got into the car. Once the door closed, Secretary Wang asked Chi Yi, “Should we cancel your afternoon flight?”

Chi Yi gave her a puzzled look, and Secretary Wang averted her gaze, saying nothing more.

Xie Shaojun could feel the weakness of her soul as she lay against Chi Yi’s neck. Though she had many questions, she found herself drifting into unconsciousness this time.

When she awoke, Chi Yi had just returned from her lunch meeting, having drunk quite a bit. The pleasant scent of freesia on her was now masked by the aroma of wine.

Xie Shaojun stared blankly at the curve of Chi Yi’s jaw for a brief moment. The truth was, upon seeing her again, whether witnessing Chi Yi in pain or as she was now. Xie Shaojun barely recognized her.

She didn’t understand when Chi Yi had learned to drink alcohol, something she had once despised, nor did she know why Chi Yi had lied to her aunt.

Chi Yi was never the type to be socially accommodating. More often than not, she was proud and disdained unnecessary pleasantries, walking away without hesitation when she chose to. No one could sway her yet today, she had lied. Chi Yi did not return to the office that afternoon.

In front of the gate stood a tall stand, from which the lush green leaves of a spider plant cascaded, lending a touch of vibrant life to the otherwise vintage railings around it.

This was a spacious tea house with an intimate ambiance, featuring winding paths paved with uneven cobblestones that mimicked a meandering stream. Despite its vast area, the tea house only housed three tea tables, each separated by screens, all of which were currently occupied.

Chi Yi was a woman steeped in wealth and luxury. The moment she entered, the staff quickly recognized her.

“Miss Chi, this way, please.”

Chi Yi nodded, signaling for the attendant to lead the way. Her nude high heels clicked silently against the fish-scale-patterned floor.

Noticing how her every step exuded an almost unnervingly consistent elegance, the attendant grew slightly self-conscious and softened their own footsteps.

Their destination was the last tea table. Along the fifty-two-step journey, one table recognized Chi Yi and stood up to greet her politely.

Chi Yi merely offered a nod and a faint smile before continuing on her way.

Rounding the corner to the final table, Chi Yi stepped inside, where the others had been waiting for some time.

The steam from the tea curled upward, yet neither of the two seated had touched their cups or exchanged a word.

Chi Yi cast them a fleeting glance. “I’m late.”

The apology was hollow, devoid of any genuine remorse for her tardiness.

She took her seat at the eastern side of the table, directly opposite Xie Guangqi, with Jian Qing to her left.

Xie Guangqi’s severe presbyopia made his eyelids droop, forcing him to squint at others. His hair had turned entirely white. Once known for sitting ramrod straight at the tea table, he now hunched slightly, his posture stooped.

Jian Qing didn’t touch the tea house’s offerings, she had brought her own thermos, filled with a health tonic floating with goji berries and ginseng.

A server approached with a long-spouted teapot to pour for the three at the table.

Jian Qing recoiled, her expression darkening instantly.

This delicate white lotus, much to Xie Shaojun’s surprise, didn’t even feign a smile. Instead, she glared at the bewildered, apologetic server and snapped, “Don’t you know my kidneys are more important than my life?”

Xie Shaojun watched impassively as Jian Qing theatrically sipped her health tea. After shooing the server away, Jian Qing launched into an explanation of her newly discovered kidney-nourishing recipe, clearly hoping to ingratiate herself.

Yet despite her lengthy monologue, Chi Yi paid her no attention. Eventually, Jian Qing fell silent, abandoning her kidney talk, though the look she shot Chi Yi carried a barely concealed resentment.

This time, unlike at the cemetery, Jian Qing played the role of the pitiful white lotus. In a pleading tone, she asked, “Chi Yi, what will it take for you to agree not to demolish it?”

Chi Yi arched a brow and met her gaze leisurely. “That depends on how you choose to speak to me.”

The tea house was deathly quiet. Chi Yi showed no trace of sentimentality.

Setting down her cup, she adopted the demeanor of a negotiator, unhurried yet exuding an overwhelming pressure, her expression unreadable.

Xie Shaojun was forced to piece together the reason for their gathering.

Xie Guangqi and Jian Qing had sought out Chi Yi because, three months prior, she had struck a high-profile deal with a renowned hospital in the southern district, acquiring 5,000 acres of land surrounding the Bihai Garden Villas.

Chi Yi had partnered with the city government to develop the land into a cancer hospital. Given the project’s scale and its semi-public welfare nature, it was the city’s most significant undertaking this year. As a result, both the issuance of documents and the demolition process had proceeded with remarkable speed.

The houses slated for demolition were all part of a villa district built in the 1990s. Many of the walls had aged, and the developer’s offered compensation was quite reasonable by current market standards.

As a result, almost no homeowners objected to the demolition except for Xie Guangqi’s family, who stubbornly refused. Because of this, last month, when Feng Cinian went abroad to visit their daughter, Xie Guangqi didn’t even accompany her.

“We will absolutely not agree to the demolition,” Xie Guangqi said firmly, his tone as domineering as ever, as if Chi Yi were still at his beck and call, just like when Xie Shaojun was around.

Chi Yi gave him a strange look and called his name: “Mr. Xie.”

She adjusted her watch and said, “I have a flight to Alaska at seven this evening, so time is limited. Please keep your words concise to save time. Also…”

She paused, her gaze cold and mocking as she stared into Xie Guangqi’s murky eyes. “Up until now, you still haven’t realized, without Xie Shaojun, you are nothing to me.”