After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 37

Deep down, Chi Yi possessed an unyielding dominance that brooked no argument.

By laying her words out plainly, she pushed Xie Shaojun into a position where feigning ignorance was no longer an option.

Xie Shaojun let out a soft laugh but didn’t answer immediately.

The interplay of light and shadow flickered across the car window as raindrops dotted the glass, blurring the street scenes outside.

Suddenly, Xie Shaojun recalled the questions Chi Yi had repeatedly asked her that morning,proposing a visit to Xie Zangxing’s clinic, suggesting they drop by the home of business partner Xie Cheng, and casually mentioning Xie Shaojun’s condition.

All these seemingly unusual arrangements now had a reasonable explanation.

It was nothing short of painstaking thoughtfulness.

Xie Shaojun was grateful for Chi Yi’s thoroughness, consideration, and the restraint she had shown throughout the day.

Yet at the same time, Xie Shaojun realized this wasn’t a good thing.

For someone like her, an ordinary person easily swayed by emotions, she lacked Chi Yi’s unwavering conviction and couldn’t remain entirely unaffected.

A moment of tenderness, or the ease of waking up beside Chi Yi, could bring fleeting warmth, making her wonder whether staying together might be better than parting.

Once such thoughts surfaced, rationality became impossible.

And that was deeply unfair to Xie Shaojun.

From her rebirth until now, less than a month had passed since her memories returned. She was still mired in the emotional fallout of her past relationship or perhaps the trauma of her previous existence, when she discovered Chi Yi’s suicidal intentions.

Having once loved her deeply, no one could stand by and watch a former lover die before their eyes. So Xie Shaojun understood her own instinct to save Chi Yi.

But what came next, how to proceed, how to navigate their interactions. none of the preparations Xie Shaojun had made beforehand could withstand the reality of Chi Yi’s resurgent dominance.

Xie Shaojun no longer had the time to process the old relationship, nor the space to contemplate a new one.

For this reason, she fell silent, lifting her gaze to study Chi Yi’s expression.

The LED lights lining the bridge’s steel railings illuminated the driver’s seat brightly. Chi Yi focused on the road, her beautiful eyes devoid of any intense emotion. The lack of a response didn’t seem to bother her much.

She drove in silence, ignoring the ringing of her phone.

After exiting the overpass, the car overtook several heavy trucks at the same speed, their black exhaust fumes smearing the windshield and obscuring the dazzling nightscape beyond.

Watching Chi Yi’s wordless demeanor, Xie Shaojun suddenly raised her voice, breaking the silence:

“Chi Yi, how did you recognize me?”

“You forgot?” Despite her subdued mood, Chi Yi patiently explained, “That night at the cemetery, when we reunited. You introduced yourself inside the skull Tour Guide Xie Shaojun.”

The car passed through a traffic light, and fifty meters ahead at the next intersection lay the City Greenview complex where they had once lived.

Chi Yi slowed the car and signaled a turn.

The ramp leading to the underground garage was steep, the lighting dim. Xie Shaojun saw Chi Yi force a strained smile as she said, “It’s my fault for not recognizing you right away.”

An inexplicable urge to explain herself welled up abruptly in Xie Shaojun’s chest.

She turned her head away, avoiding Chi Yi’s expression.

“It’s not really your fault,” Xie Shaojun said after a quiet pause. “Before that night at the cemetery, I actually didn’t have any memories of my past life.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been foolish enough to reveal her identity so carelessly.

Chi Yi froze for a moment, instinctively mulling over those words. It occurred to her that perhaps Xie Shaojun hadn’t lost her memory at all, had that been the case, Xie Shaojun might never have slipped up in front of Chi Yi, never allowing her to discover that Xie Shaojun was still alive in this world.

Because of Xie Shaojun’s explanation, the faint trace of a smile in Chi Yi’s eyes vanished completely.

While reversing into the parking space, she forgot to pull the handbrake. The car’s rear abruptly slammed into the white wall behind them.

The taillights shattered with a loud crash, and several patches of black paint were scraped off the bumper.

“Haven’t you driven at all in the last two years? How can you fail at even basic safe driving?” Xie Shaojun looked up, still shaken.

Chi Yi lowered her gaze to meet hers, readily admitting that her skills were indeed rusty. After parking the car properly, she calmly called to report the damage.

Her peach-blossom eyes slightly downcast, Chi Yi unbuckled her seatbelt. Just before getting out of the car, she asked, as if casually, “If I go to Sijiu City next time, can you drive instead?”

Xie Shaojun refused without hesitation. “That wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“What wouldn’t be appropriate?” Chi Yi pressed, picking up the skull. Their eyes met or rather, Xie Shaojun averted her gaze.

In a low voice, she said, “Nothing about it would be appropriate.”

Perhaps those words struck Chi Yi like a cold splash of water. She seemed unaccustomed to such a distant dynamic, unsure of what she was even saying as she stared into the skull’s hollow eyes with a hint of emotion.

Forcing it to meet her gaze, Chi Yi’s tone cooled. “You weren’t like this before.”

“Is it because of Qin Wan? Three years ago, as the operations director of Zhiyue Art Studio, she attended your solo exhibition. She admired your talent greatly, must have liked you a lot. So much that she turned down a high salary from her former employer to work tirelessly for you.”

Chi Yi enunciated each word as she asked Xie Shaojun, “She liked you that much. Did you already agree to be with her?”

Xie Shaojun studied Chi Yi’s tense jawline, the soft curve of her profile cast in the dim yellow light outside the elevator, frosty and cold.

As she looked, Xie Shaojun suddenly felt something strange.

Strange that Chi Yi would ask such a question. Strange that she herself even wanted to explain.

It was as if their current dynamic had reverted to before their divorce, when Chi Yi had the right to interfere with Xie Shaojun’s social life, and Xie Shaojun would explain and apologize repeatedly.

Xie Shaojun quietly watched Chi Yi until she fell silent, then answered, “Chi Yi, don’t do this.”

After all the love and hate, the life-and-death turmoil between them, this face-to-face confrontation was the first real step toward confronting each other.

Xie Shaojun abruptly snapped out of her thoughts, realizing that Chi Yi’s innate dominance was rolling toward her like a storm, locking her in a standoff.

She met that gaze with equal intensity.

Suddenly, Chi Yi tilted her head and let out a soft “Hmm,” dropping the subject.

The elevator doors opened just then, revealing a child playing with a ball inside.

Chi Yi gently cradled Xie Shaojun in her palm until the child was safely home, then stepped back into the elevator.

Alone now, Chi Yi reached out and lightly touched Xie Shaojun’s smooth, bare skull. The sharpness in her eyes faded as she found a way to step back from the tension. “Xie Shaojun,” she said softly, “we’re home.”

Xie Shaojun froze, then rolled slightly in Chi Yi’s palm.

For some reason, the tension in Chi Yi’s jaw eased slightly. She walked out of the elevator with composure, calling Xie Shaojun’s name as she added, “Next time, I won’t ask questions you don’t want to answer.”

Xie Shaojun fell silent once more.

Using her fingerprint to unlock the door, Chi Yi bent down to change her shoes.

The skull pendant hung suspended in the air, dangling from her neck, allowing Xie Shaojun to survey what had once been their home. The arrangement of items in the entryway gave her a faint sense of familiarity.

On June 1, 2023, Children’s Day, Damei had custom-made a batch of promotional gifts for clients, a pair of little yellow duck slippers.

Xie Shaojun had been handed a pair after work and later tossed them into the shoe cabinet, forgetting about them. Even when she left this home, those duck slippers remained carelessly tucked away in the deepest corner of the cabinet, left behind by their absent-minded owner.

Now, they were sealed in a transparent storage bag, placed exactly where they had been, untouched.

After changing into her slippers, Chi Yi straightened up. The surroundings were too dark, so Xie Shaojun urged her to turn on the lights.

Chi Yi said, “The entryway light is broken.”

Xie Shaojun didn’t ask why Chi Yi hadn’t fixed it.

Instead, Chi Yi volunteered the information, the bulb had short-circuited the night Xie Shaojun moved out, and it had remained broken ever since, left in its faulty state.

The wall lamp was dim. After speaking, Chi Yi strode into the living room and flicked on the lights.

As the space brightened, Xie Shaojun finally noticed that not just the entryway, but the placement of every item seemed identical to the way it had been on the day she left two years ago.

The types of flowers in the vase on the dining table, the fruit basket on the coffee table, even the few fresh fruits that seemed preserved in time,

Time couldn’t be preserved it was simply the owner stubbornly restoring every object in the room to the state it had been in on the last night Xie Shaojun was still here.

The only difference was a newly laid thin rug on the jagged wooden floor, carrying a faint odor.

Truthfully, summer wasn’t the season for laying down rugs.

Chi Yi opened the windows to air out the smell. Her phone, left on the sofa, rang just then. She walked over and answered it.

The housekeeper informed Chi Yi that the rugs for the living room and bedroom had arrived that afternoon, but due to time constraints, they had only been roughly laid out. Some edges along the walls still needed trimming.

Chi Yi replied, “Got it.”

After arranging a time for the housekeeper to come by the next day, she hung up.

Chi Yi then told Xie Shaojun she was going to take a shower.

She asked if Xie Shaojun was okay with that.

Xie Shaojun didn’t know how to respond, so she gave a cold “Hmm.” Chi Yi didn’t seem bothered. She took Xie Shaojun off and placed her on the bathroom counter.

“Can I wait in the living room?” Xie Shaojun requested.

Chi Yi pretended not to hear, offering an absurd excuse: “If you’re alone in the living room, I’m afraid you’ll get stolen.”

“City Garden has the best security in all of South City, and your door was custom-made in Germany,” Xie Shaojun retorted bluntly.

Chi Yi looked at her innocently. “Are you shy?”

Without waiting for an answer, she draped a camisole scented with freesia soap over Xie Shaojun.

Then, swiftly opening the bathroom door, she left no room for Xie Shaojun to protest.

Xie Shaojun remained outside the steamy shower partition, the sound of cascading water filling her ears.

When Chi Yi raised her arms, her breathing grew slow and wistful in the air. Xie Shaojun felt her own heart pound violently.

She couldn’t stay here any longer, Xie Shaojun thought.

Ten minutes later, Chi Yi finished her shower and changed into a deep green, loosely tied sleep robe that accentuated her maturity. The robe hung open to the valley of her décolletage, her long hair dripping wet, soaking the fabric completely.

Standing by the mirror, she blew dry her hair while using her free hand to lift the camisole, bending down to call Xie Shaojun’s name.

“Xie Shaojun” had probably been in the bathroom for too long, her voice turning sultry. When she called Xie Shaojun’s name, it seemed to carry a warmth that made Xie Shaojun extremely annoyed.

The first time, Xie Shaojun ignored her, not even opening her eyes.

So Chi Yi called again, and again, undeterred.

“Chi Yi, we need to talk.”

Xie Shaojun couldn’t tolerate Miss Chi’s unconscious seduction any longer, so she spoke up.

Her tone was calm, stripped of the adult pretense of composure and shallow feigned ignorance, as if none of that suited them now.

Even though she sincerely wished Chi Yi would stop bringing up the past.

But in life, the hardest thing to wash away is the traces left behind. Across life and death, and the intensity of past emotions, to plug one’s ears and avoid mentioning the divorce, pretending the past didn’t exist, acting as if nothing had happened and trying to interact as they had when they were in love two years ago it was all just strange.

If this continued, both Chi Yi and herself would inevitably fall back into old patterns.

Chi Yi’s gaze remained fixed on Xie Shaojun. Her hair was half-dry, the hairdryer placed on the counter.

Under the flickering light, the shrewdness, sharpness, and dominance in Chi Yi’s eyes slowly faded.

She let her hair fall over her chest, her expression suddenly turning innocent. Instead of pressing Xie Shaojun about what they needed to discuss, she asked an irrelevant question: “Are you hungry?”

Xie Shaojun replied, “A soul doesn’t feel hunger.”

“I see.” Chi Yi lowered her eyes, showing no sign of insistence. “The housekeeper made some Western food. Can you wait for me to finish eating?”

Xie Shaojun glanced at her but said nothing.

The foie gras and steak were still sizzling on low heat. Chi Yi walked to the kitchen and turned off the gas.

Plating the food and setting it on the table, she took out two sets of cutlery, arranged them neatly, then removed Xie Shaojun from around her neck and placed her by the opposite plate.

“Try it,” Chi Yi said, as if speaking to an ordinary person, her expression unchanging as she addressed a skull pendant. “The foie gras is quite good.”

Xie Shaojun silently surveyed the food each dish something she had once loved.

Outside, rain poured down in torrents.

The muffled thunder beyond the darkness seemed ready to split the house apart. Chi Yi acted as if she couldn’t hear the storm, the clink of her knife and fork against the porcelain plate barely audible.

Before long, she finished eating, having taken only a few bites of the foie gras.

“Was it not good?” Xie Shaojun asked.

“Mhm.” Chi Yi smiled at her, though there was no real warmth in her eyes. She said the housekeeper had left the foie gras on the heat too long, leaving a bitter, astringent taste.

“Good thing you didn’t eat it,” Chi Yi remarked, then locked eyes with Xie Shaojun and told her, “I’m done.”

Chi Yi walked around the table and headed upstairs.

The study was a more formal place for serious discussions. Chi Yi pushed the door open and stepped inside.

On the central wall, the clock had been removed, replaced by a rather menacing painting, Xie Shaojun’s Mirror, which had been displayed in her tattoo studio a few years ago.

“It doesn’t really match your study,” Xie Shaojun couldn’t help but comment.

“Not at all. It’s the most fitting piece here.” Chi Yi seemed quite pleased. She mentioned there were many of Xie Shaojun’s tattoo sketches at home, mostly of coiling snakes and roaring lions, and asked if Xie Shaojun wanted to see them.

Xie Shaojun shook her head, giving Chi Yi a strange look. “How did my paintings end up with you?”

“I bought them from someone else.”

Chi Yi explained to Xie Shaojun: “After you passed away, Twilight Studio couldn’t find a skilled tattoo artist to hold the fort, and we lost many clients. Damei refused to sell the studio to anyone else, so she sold her own property to keep your business afloat.”

“But later, half of the tattoo artists left the studio collectively. Damei had no choice but to follow your last wishes and sell your manuscripts.”

The mass departure of the tattoo artists meant the studio could no longer guarantee their livelihoods.

Xie Shaojun fell silent for a moment. “So, you helped Damei through the crisis?”

“No,” Chi Yi replied. “Damei would never sell me anything of yours. I bought them from a group of Koreans who had auctioned off your paintings and mass-produced the designs for local clients.”

Xie Shaojun didn’t know what to say.

“How much did you spend?”

“Several million,” Chi Yi answered.

Xie Shaojun couldn’t help but glare at her, criticizing her extravagance. “You shouldn’t have bought them.”

After all, the total earnings from all the tattoos Xie Shaojun had ever done wouldn’t amount to that much.

Chi Yi curled her lips into a smile. “It’s not a big sum. I could buy many more paintings like these.”

“Are you flaunting your wealth?”

Clearly, that wasn’t Chi Yi’s intention. Xie Shaojun quietly told her, “Forget it. The money’s already spent. Honestly, the paintings displayed in my tattoo studio weren’t worth much their lines were rough, and only exceptionally skilled tattoo artists could bring out the beauty in those landscapes, animals, and plants. Next time, don’t do this. If you really want traditional paintings to decorate your rooms, you should go to a gallery and pick out properly framed, more refined artworks.”

“It wasn’t a waste,” Chi Yi said, her smile widening. She seemed delighted by Xie Shaojun’s concern and explained that the millions were well spent. After acquiring ownership of the paintings, she sued all the Korean tattoo artists who had plagiarized and mass-produced the designs.

“So, the compensation alone was enough to cover the cost of those paintings.” Chi Yi never failed to annoy Xie Shaojun in her own way.

Xie Shaojun couldn’t help but laugh. “Well done.”

For some reason, Chi Yi suddenly picked Xie Shaojun up and held her in her palm. Her lips drew close, as if she wanted to kiss her. Xie Shaojun’s laughter abruptly stopped.

Chi Yi gazed into her eyes and called her name. “Xie Shaojun.”

Unable to move the skull, Xie Shaojun suppressed her smile and responded with a hum.

Amid the pouring rain, Xie Shaojun thought she heard Chi Yi part her lips slightly and say with utmost seriousness, “Let’s start over.”

She didn’t even add a tentative “okay?” at the end. Of course, Xie Shaojun refused.

But before she could answer, a dizzying sensation of her soul being pulled away overwhelmed her.

When she regained consciousness, she was in the hospital.

“What brings you here to visit my younger sister?”

“You flatter me. It’s hardly a visit,” the visitor said. “There’s something I’d like to ask Teacher Xie for help with.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Xie Qingcheng flatly refused. “She’s unwell. She’s been unconscious for three days now and still hasn’t woken up.”

“Given our families’ long-standing friendship, could you put in a word for me?”

The other person said, “This time, our show is an internationally renowned model showcase, and the logo design is extremely important. We initially entrusted the task to Teacher BJ’s studio, but unfortunately, the design concept didn’t align with the theme. Please, if it weren’t urgent, we wouldn’t dare disturb Teacher Xie during her rest.”

Xie Qingcheng wasn’t in the best mood, silently criticizing the wealthy businessman for his lack of tact bothering someone who was hospitalized.

Still, she couldn’t outright scold him, so she perfunctorily handed him a business card.

“Xie Shaoyun handles her own work. I can’t make decisions for her. If you’re genuinely interested in this collaboration, here go through the studio’s formal process.”

Xie Qingcheng gave him Qin Wan’s business card, brushed him off with a few words, and saw him to the door.

Turning back, she saw Xie Shaoyun propped up against the headboard, sipping warm water through a straw cup.

Xie Qingcheng walked over and snatched the cup from her.

“Stop drinking.”

Xie Shaoyun didn’t even lift her eyes, so she didn’t notice Xie Qingcheng was still on the phone. She called out, “Sis, why are you so stingy? My mouth is parched, and you won’t even let me have a sip of water.”

“Just now, I heard you mention Qin Wan. Did she come to see me? Call her in to pour me some water.”

Xie Qingcheng raised her hand as if to hit her, but Xie Shaoyun dodged, only to see Xie Qingcheng dab her lips with a damp cotton swab.

“Yes, it’s my younger sister,” Xie Qingcheng said into the phone. “She just woke up.”

“She’s fine now. Thanks for your concern.”

“Alright, see you later.”

Only after Xie Qingcheng hung up did Xie Shaoyun casually ask, “Who was that?”

“Are you asking about the person who was just in the room, or the one on the phone?”

“Both,” Xie Shaoyun replied.

“The call was from Chi Yi.”

Xie Qingcheng muttered, “She mentioned discussing a collaboration with Dad in a few days. Seems like President Xie’s business is booming lately, even someone as busy as Chi Yi is rushing to work with him.”

Xie Shaoyun’s eyelid twitched. “Dad’s impressive. What about the one who was just here?”

“The deputy director of Lancy Media. They’re hosting a high-profile model show in Nan City and want to commission you for the logo design.”

Without hesitation, Xie Shaoyun said, “Not interested.”

Xie Qingcheng gave her a strange look. “Why not? It’s an international showcase. I heard Qin Wan’s been eyeing big-brand logo designs lately. Taking this job would boost your studio’s reputation by ninety percent.”

“I’m busy next month,” Xie Shaoyun said.

“Fine. I already referred them to Qin Wan she’ll probably turn it down for you.” Xie Qingcheng didn’t press further about the studio’s affairs. She ruffled Xie Shaoyun’s messy, sleep-tangled curls and sighed with affection. “When will you get better? I’m really afraid one day I’ll wake up and find you won’t.”

Xie Shaoyun told her sister to shut up, then, seeing Xie Qingcheng’s dejected expression, fished a candy from the bedside table and pressed it into her hand. Quietly, she said, “I’ll, think of something.”