After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 39.2

Chang Fei forced a laugh and affectionately linked arms with Xie Qingcheng. Though she was clearly interested in Xie Shaojun, she didn’t want to make it too obvious. Still, she really wanted to pursue her, if only her own messy family situation wasn’t holding her back.

By the time they reached the private dining room, Chang Fei was still grumbling about how Xie Qingcheng had lost her cool too quickly. If only they had stayed hidden in the room for a few more minutes, they could’ve gotten more details about the “stray cat” who had latched onto Xie Shaojun.

But when the two of them stormed into the room with full momentum, they discovered that the so-called “stray cat” was none other than Chi Yi.

Chang Fei’s carefully prepared expression froze for a moment, and she stood awkwardly at the door. Xie Qingcheng nudged her, and only then did she force a smile and step inside.

“Sis.” “Chang Fei-jie.”

Xie Shaojun nearly jumped out of her chair in surprise as she watched the two walk in.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Group dinner,” Xie Qingcheng explained their reason for being there.

Chi Yi fished a piece of tripe from the spicy broth, rinsed it in the mild broth to remove the chili oil, and then dropped it into Xie Shaojun’s bowl.

She looked up and calmly greeted the two as they approached. Then, taking the initiative, she asked Xie Shaojun, “Done eating?”

Xie Shaojun shook her head.

Chi Yi motioned for her to continue before setting down her chopsticks and calling a waiter to pour tea for Chang Fei and Xie Qingcheng.

Since they all knew each other, a few polite exchanges kept the conversation from turning awkward.

Xie Qingcheng and Chi Yi were on good terms, so she spoke casually. “For a second, I thought it was one of my sister’s exes. How did you end up with her?”

“She invited me to dinner,” Chi Yi replied. After a brief pause, her tone cooled slightly as she asked, “Has Xie Shaojun dated a lot of people?”

Xie Qingcheng thought for a moment. “Not that exaggerated. At most, she’s always been popular with girls.”

Midway through chewing her tripe, Xie Shaojun glanced up, worried Chi Yi might say something misleading. Chi Yi met her gaze.

After a brief two-second exchange, Xie Shaojun was sure Chi Yi understood, because her lashes lowered slightly. Xie Qingcheng pressed further, asking why Xie Shaojun had invited Chi Yi to dinner.

“We just happened to run into each other.”

Chi Yi spoke up, her tone seemingly devoid of strong emotion, her voice flat. With a grievance only Xie Shaojun could understand, she told Xie Qingcheng: “Haimi might change its logo design company for the second half of the year. Xie Shaojun’s business partner wants to collaborate with me. We ran into each other earlier, and she invited me to dinner to discuss it.”

This statement was half-truth, half-lie, but it wasn’t entirely deceitful. Qin Wan had indeed expressed strong interest in partnering with Haimi. However, the matter wasn’t significant enough to require Chi Yi’s personal involvement.

After Chi Yi explained with her usual composure, Xie Shaojun relaxed, but Chi Yi’s brows furrowed instead.

Seeing her aggrieved expression, Xie Shaojun found it amusing and blinked at her playfully.

Xie Qingcheng chuckled after hearing this: “Then what’s there to consider? My sister’s matters are my matters.”

“Alright then,” Chi Yi agreed with Xie Qingcheng’s sentiment. She locked eyes with Xie Shaojun, her tone serious, as if hinting at something: “If she ever faces difficulties and makes a request, I’ll always consider it.”

Xie Shaojun couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Chi Yi’s words. Her willingness to help without any airs made Xie Shaojun think of the system’s previous hint, if she didn’t want to keep experiencing soul detachment, she needed to find clues through Chi Yi and figure out what was really going on. Seeking Chi Yi’s help was the most straightforward solution.

The more frequent her soul detachments became, the weaker Xie Shaojun felt. Last time, Xie Qingcheng had already voiced the family’s concerns. Moreover, the detachments were becoming unpredictable.

Before, they lasted at most half a day to a full day, occurring infrequently and following a pattern. She would only lose consciousness and detach if she accidentally made physical contact with someone with strong life energy, happening no more than once or twice a month.

Since not everyone possessed strong life energy, Xie Shaojun could usually trace the cause of her detachments by identifying individuals she had encountered that day with exceptional presence, aura, or luck, she could roughly locate her body.

But these patterns had failed after meeting Chi Yi. The last two times, Xie Shaojun hadn’t even been in contact with Chi Yi, yet she repeatedly possessed a skull, something that had never happened before. Fortunately, she had been at home during those episodes. If she had collapsed outside without being promptly found, who knew what might have happened?

Since Chi Yi had offered her help, Xie Shaojun had no reason to refuse.

However, she hadn’t yet figured out how to phrase her request and remained motionless, her chopsticks untouched.

“Are we still eating hotpot?” Chi Yi asked.

Xie Qingcheng and Chang Fei, assuming the question was directed at them, replied that they had already eaten a round and drunk quite a bit. They declined the hotpot, explaining they had only come over to say hello.

Chang Fei had only met Chi Yi a few times and wasn’t particularly familiar with her. But given Chi Yi’s formidable reputation as the CEO of Haimi Tech, she forced a smile and trailed behind Xie Qingcheng, only to realize she couldn’t interject in their conversation. So, she turned to chat with Xie Shaojun instead.

“Your sister mentioned you fainted again a few days ago?” Chang Fei studied Xie Shaojun with concern. “What’s going on? The frequency’s been so high lately. Did the doctors have any solutions?”

Xie Shaojun didn’t even lift her eyelids, responding with a nonchalant “Mhm.” She brushed it off as an old issue, nothing to worry about.

Chi Yi, who had been discussing loans with Xie Qingcheng, paused mid-conversation upon hearing this. Her gaze settled on Chang Fei. “Xie Shaojun is sick?”

“My sister has been experiencing aftereffects since waking up from the car accident occasional fainting spells, but this month the episodes have become more frequent,” Xie Qingcheng explained quietly to Chi Yi.

Chi Yi gave a soft acknowledgment, while on the other side, Chang Fei brought up the incident last year when Xie Shaojun had collapsed on the sofa in their company lobby.

“Luckily, I happened to pass by, who knows who might have taken her otherwise.”

Chang Fei spoke with lingering fear as she recalled the time Xie Shaojun had fainted.

Xie Shaojun looked up and noticed Chi Yi watching her. Their eyes met briefly.

Chi Yi frowned. “Your fainting spells.”

She paused before continuing, “Are they serious?”

Xie Shaoyun smiled: “It’s not serious.”

“Liar.” Xie Qingcheng poured Xie Shaoyun a cup of herbal tea, placed it by her hand, and glared at her, clearly displeased that she wasn’t taking her health seriously.

Xie Shaoyun sighed helplessly and called out, “Sis.”

“At least let me save face. Can’t I even say polite words?”

Xie Qingcheng ignored her, turning instead to Chi Yi. “The whole family has been worried sick about her condition. Last week, she suddenly collapsed without warning, I was terrified she might never wake up.”

Chi Yi’s expression darkened, her gaze fixed silently on Xie Shaoyun, who averted her eyes without a word.

About ten minutes later, Chang Fei received a phone call and excused herself, saying she had to return to the private room next door. She was hosting tonight and couldn’t leave midway.

Xie Qingcheng, on the other hand, was more relaxed. She had already informed her superiors, and since Chi Yi was here, with some banking regulatory matters to discuss, Xie Qingcheng told Chang Fei to go ahead.

With no further interruptions, Xie Shaoyun continued eating her hotpot. Occasionally, Chi Yi would blanch a piece of tripe and drop it into her bowl.

No one in the world could prepare tripe as perfectly as Chi Yi, just the right texture and Xie Shaoyun ate every last piece.

All in all, the meal wasn’t boring at all.

Ten minutes later, as their business discussion wrapped up, Xie Qingcheng asked Chi Yi, “I heard you recently went through a breakup.”

Chi Yi instinctively glanced at Xie Shaoyun before replying, “Who told you that?”

“My dad.” Xie Qingcheng studied Chi Yi. “Last time you visited, you said you wouldn’t be coming back to Sijiu City. He thought you seemed heartbroken.”

Xie Qingcheng knew Chi Yi wasn’t one to go back on her word, so she found it odd that she had returned to Sijiu City in less than a week.

Chi Yi didn’t answer.

Xie Qingcheng pressed, “Did you win them back?”

Chi Yi shook her head, then, whether intentionally or not looked at Xie Shaoyun again. “I’m trying.”

Xie Shaoyun silently took a sip of orange juice.

“Are you serious?”

Chi Yi nodded.

“Is this really the right time?” Xie Qingcheng’s expression turned serious as she advised, “I heard Lawrence is taking legal action because you suddenly halted the equity sale. You’re already shuttling between Paris and the southern city every day, how do you even have time to fly to Sijiu City for romance in the middle of such a hectic period?”

Chi Yi acknowledged the first part of Xie Qingcheng’s words, saying the Lawrence situation was being handled and should be resolved next month.

But she didn’t address the matter of her love life.

Xie Qingcheng assumed she was at least somewhat receptive to advice. “Your last marriage left you shattered for years. I thought you’d have learned something, but here you are, still so lovestruck… Forget it, let’s not talk about this.”

“Let’s focus on the present. How could you possibly have time for a relationship right now? No one would tolerate a partner who’s constantly busy like a machine, working nonstop. Do you really think they’re sincere?”

Xie Qingcheng didn’t notice the cold indifference in Chi Yi’s eyes and continued in a know-it-all tone, her words pouring out rapidly. “Don’t let love cloud your judgment. Anyone who claims to love you is just after your money or your looks.”

Chi Yi disliked others questioning Xie Shaoyun’s feelings for her and cut Xie Qingcheng off. “She’s different. She doesn’t lack those things.”

Xie Qingcheng laughed at Chi Yi’s naivety. “Not lacking doesn’t mean not wanting. If she’s with you, and it’s not for money or looks, then what? Your gentleness? Your ability to be there for her day in and day out, living a quiet, steady life? You can’t give her that.”

Her gaze seemed to say it plainly, Chi Yi simply wasn’t capable.

Xie Shaojun couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed her chair back, raising her eyelids disdainfully at her sister. “With all that talk, you should go to Times Square and do stand-up comedy. A woman in her thirties, still single, with not a single steady partner in sight zero dating experience, how dare you lecture others with such eloquence? If you’re so full and idle, why not go give motivational speeches instead?”

After Xie Shaojun’s rapid-fire retort, Xie Qingcheng was momentarily speechless. With a forced smile, she set down her thermos and moved to hit Xie Shaojun, who nimbly dodged.

“Sorry you had to see that, Chi Yi,” Xie Qingcheng said with a cold laugh at Xie Shaojun before turning to Chi Yi. “My sister’s mouth is the only unlikable thing about her. The rest is at least presentable.”

Chi Yi, uncooperative, replied, “Nothing unpresentable about her. Her lips are quite likable too.”

Xie Shaojun felt something was off about that remark. She instinctively glanced at Chi Yi and noticed her peach-blossom eyes slightly widened, unmistakably amused.

She hadn’t planned to engage, but Chi Yi was staring at her lips, smiling.

Irritated, Xie Shaojun curled her lips and asked, “How exactly are my lips likable? Since you’re so articulate, explain in detail.”

Under her gaze, Chi Yi’s lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushing. She gave Xie Shaojun’s lips a few disapproving looks, until even Xie Shaojun’s lips burned under her stare.

Then, in a soft voice, Chi Yi said, “I won’t say.”

“These things, I don’t like telling others.”

Xie Qingcheng returned from a phone call and noticed the odd tension between them. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Chi Yi answered calmly.

“It’s getting late,” Xie Qingcheng said, asking Xie Shaojun if she had driven. Xie Shaojun nodded, mentioning that Chi Yi had ridden with her earlier.

“I’m staying at the old house tonight,” Xie Qingcheng said, implying she’d go back with Xie Shaojun.

Xie Shaojun, eager to avoid further time with Chi Yi, immediately agreed.

“What about you?” Xie Shaojun asked Chi Yi coolly. “Should I call you a driver?”

Chi Yi lowered her lashes, composed. “The driver’s off duty. I’ll take a cab.”

“Then I’ll call one for you. Xie Qingcheng gets chatty when drunk, I’ll take her home first.”

“It’s fine. I can call one myself.” Chi Yi, polite and measured, insisted she could manage, not wanting to trouble Xie Shaojun.

But when the bill came, Xie Shaojun realized Chi Yi had already quietly paid it earlier.

Narrowing her eyes, Xie Shaojun watched Chi Yi’s slow retreating figure and suddenly felt like a scumbag. Without thinking, she called out to her.

Chi Yi turned. “Hmm?”

“Maybe don’t take a cab. It’s late I’ll drive you.”

Chi Yi paused. “Okay.”

She didn’t even give Xie Shaojun a chance to reconsider, walking over to Xie Qingcheng instead. “Did you drive today?”

Confused, Xie Qingcheng nodded.

Chi Yi continued, “What about tomorrow?”

“Driving back tonight would make your morning commute easier.”

Xie Qingcheng blinked. “Good point. Drinking muddles things, I have a meeting at the Big Four banks tomorrow morning. I’ll need the car.”

“Want me to call a designated driver for you?” Chi Yi offered.

Touched by Chi Yi’s rare thoughtfulness, Xie Qingcheng thanked her gratefully.

She said to Xie Shaojun, “Little sister, please see Chi Yi off for me. I’ll get a designated driver to take me back.”

Xie Shaojun: “…”