After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 40

On the way back to the hotel with Chi Yi, Xie Shaoyun received a call from her second sister. Xie Zangxing asked over the phone where Xie Shaoyun was at the moment.

Xie Shaoyun replied that she was on her way to drop someone off.

Xie Zangxing’s tone turned sharp as she pressed her about why she was out so late.

“What else would I be doing? Just helping Xie Qingcheng send a friend back to the hotel.”

Sensing an intense gaze fixed on the side of her face, Xie Shaoyun glanced into the rearview mirror and locked eyes with Chi Yi in the backseat.

At some point, Chi Yi had stopped her video conference. She was typing out an email with one hand.

In the shadows, Chi Yi’s dark eyes were deep, her lips slightly pursed as she lowered her head slightly. The glow from the screen cast a lonely, melancholic expression on her face one that could easily make Xie Shaoyun relent.

Xie Shaoyun felt a surge of irritation, realizing she had been led around all evening. This wasn’t right.

She deliberately looked away and put on her Bluetooth earpiece, focusing on the call.

Hearing that it was Xie Qingcheng’s arrangement, Xie Zangxing visibly relaxed, her tone shifting noticeably. She asked a few strange questions.

“Have you received any odd calls recently?”

Xie Shaoyun said no.

“Met any strange people?”

“No.” Xie Shaoyun asked, “What’s this really about?”

Xie Zangxing said, “It’s not about me. It’s about Damei.”

“You told her about me?”

Xie Zangxing said no and explained that a short video of Xie Shaoyun lecturing at Ningda University had gone viral a week ago.

After seeing it, Damei wanted to meet her.

Xie Shaoyun frowned slightly. She was certain that in the two years since waking up, she hadn’t been to Nan City or seen Damei again.

If Damei was looking for her, Xie Shaoyun could think of no other reason than being recognized.

The hotel where Chi Yi was staying was quite far, and since it was already late at night, there were few cars on the road.

The car was quiet. Chi Yi answered a call, but Xie Shaoyun could still feel the weight of her gaze if anything, it grew heavier.

Xie Zangxing said, “Next month is Grandma’s birthday. Damei and I will come to Sijiu City to see you. It’s because you resemble her late best friend your looks, name, and even the way you speak.”

The answer didn’t surprise Xie Shaoyun much. “Got it.”

“Don’t take it lightly,” Xie Zangxing warned. “Because her friend died suddenly, those close to her haven’t been able to accept it. Their mental states aren’t great.”

Xie Shaoyun responded indifferently with a soft “Mm.”

“That middle-aged woman we ran into at the hospital in Sri Lanka, and Chi Yi, when they saw you, they got emotional and mistook you for someone else. That’s why.”

“You’re worried they’ll come after me?”

Xie Zangxing fell silent for a moment. “Damei and I are in a relationship. As a psychologist, I explained your identity to her carefully, but she still chose not to believe me. Instead, she wants to meet you in person. Shaoyun, what do you think the others will do?”

“People with past psychological trauma, I’m worried they might project their emotions onto you, treating you as a substitute for the dead.”

Xie Shaoyun gazed at the vast night outside and sighed. “I understand,” she said. “I’ll be careful.”

After hanging up, she stared blankly at the windshield for a long time.

Perhaps her driving had slowed down abruptly, or maybe her expression had turned distant and heavy.

Chi Yi asked, “Is something wrong?”

Xie Shaoyun replied, “No.”

After a brief silence, Chi Yi didn’t continue the topic and instead asked her, “Do you want a lollipop?”

“No.” Xie Shaojun found it odd and asked, “Did you bring some?”

Chi Yi hummed in response and pulled out a handful from her bag.

“Well… I’ll take one then.”

Chi Yi smiled and agreed, then said softly, “You only eat lollipops when you’re in a bad mood. So, what happened? Can you tell me?”

Xie Shaojun didn’t answer.

Chi Yi’s work phone rang. She dismissed the call, got up from the back seat, leaned against the center console, and turned her head to place the lollipop in Xie Shaojun’s mouth.

At the traffic light intersection, the flickering lights cast alternating shadows.

Xie Shaojun abruptly hit the brakes, causing the car to lurch before stopping on the crosswalk.

Chi Yi stumbled and leaned against Xie Shaojun’s shoulder, still holding the lollipop. Xie Shaojun instinctively turned her face toward her.

Now face-to-face with Chi Yi, her lips slightly parted, her puppy-dog eyes wide with surprise almost as if she were smiling.

The multicolored lights spilled over her plump, crimson lips, making them look full and kissable.

For some reason, Chi Yi ignored Xie Shaojun’s request and seemed momentarily distracted.

The Pocky stick in her hand was raised but missed its mark, brushing against Xie Shaojun’s cheek instead.

Chi Yi immediately grabbed a tissue and wiped Xie Shaojun’s face. Then, as if her fingers had a mind of their own, they traced Xie Shaojun’s lips.

Once, twice, three times she followed the curve of her lips.

Xie Shaojun stared at Chi Yi’s fingers, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.

The blaring horns from the cars behind them snapped her back to reality, and she felt a surge of irritation, turning her head away to avoid the touch.

Chi Yi’s smile faded, but her fingers trailed down to Xie Shaojun’s earlobe.

Then lower.

“Chi Yi.” Xie Shaojun grabbed her hand. “Move your hand away.”

Chi Yi seemed lost in thought for a moment before replying, “Okay.”

True to her word, she withdrew her hand.

But the next second, she leaned down, pinned Xie Shaojun against the driver’s seat, and kissed her.

In all their past kisses, Chi Yi had never taken the initiative.

Because Xie Shaojun was always the one to push Chi Yi, the one who usually called the shots. against any available surface and do all sorts of wild things.

Kissing was never just a simple exchange of saliva.

Chi Yi would only press her lips to Xie Shaojun’s, then open her eyes during the unbearable moments to watch her.

But now, Xie Shaojun wasn’t responding at all. Chi Yi could only kiss her helplessly.

The light turned green. Xie Shaojun shifted gears and pressed the accelerator.

Chi Yi lost her balance and climbed off Xie Shaojun, settling back into the rear seat. She sat there for a long while before letting out a soft, breathy laugh.

The car left the overpass and drove another three kilometers before arriving at Chi Yi’s hotel.

Since stopping at the hotel entrance wasn’t allowed, Xie Shaojun drove into the underground garage. On the downward slope of the lane, they pulled up alongside Chi Yi’s driver’s Audi.

The situation wasn’t particularly awkward.

Xie Shaojun didn’t speak, and neither did Chi Yi.

They sat quietly in the car, parked in the spot.

After a while, Xie Shaojun’s phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up, this time, it was Qin Wan.

Qin Wan texted, saying she was drunk and asking Xie Shaojun to come pick her up.

Xie Shaojun had no intention of going herself.

Chi Yi propped herself up on her arm and leaned closer.

No longer cautious or restrained.

She stared at Xie Shaojun’s phone screen, unable to hold back, and asked coldly, “So, are you going?”

Xie Shaojun narrowed her eyes and replied in an equally indifferent tone, “I’m going.”

“It’s so late. Your second sister asked you to go home early.” Chi Yi called Xie Shaojun’s name and told her, “Go home.”

Xie Shaojun fell silent. It was unclear how much time had passed perhaps five minutes, before she calmed down and asked, “Chi Yi, do you still want to be with me?”

Chi Yi looked up and softly said, “Yes.”

“I won’t agree.”

Chi Yi’s expression became difficult to maintain. There were many things she wanted to say, but facing Xie Shaojun’s heartlessness, a flood of emotions surged within her resentment, confusion, and most of all, blame.

Xie Shaojun’s coldness and detachment made Chi Yi realize that perhaps Xie Shaojun had never truly liked her. Chi Yi felt suffocated.

She heard Xie Shaojun say, “My family is happy and fulfilled now. Every day of my life is joyful ”

“I have many friends around me.”

Chi Yi couldn’t help but retort, “Really?”

Xie Shaojun said yes.

Chi Yi believed Xie Shaojun was lying. The Xie Shaojun she saw didn’t seem happy at all.

“Before, you always had people around you. Today is Qixi Festival, yet you’re alone.”

Xie Shaojun lifted her eyelids slightly. “Just a coincidence.”

“You don’t have that happy smile on your face anymore.”

Xie Shaojun replied, “I’ve matured.”

Chi Yi asked, “Did you enjoy the hotpot tonight?”

This time, Xie Shaojun didn’t argue. She met Chi Yi’s gaze and said, “Yes, the most delicious hotpot I’ve had since waking up.”

Only Chi Yi could prepare tripe that tasted this good to Xie Shaojun. Tonight, Xie Shaojun admitted that eating with Chi Yi had been comfortable.

“Then, do you want to keep eating?”

Xie Shaojun curled her lips, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She thanked Chi Yi for the pleasant meal but said she didn’t want a next time.

“If possible, I hope this feeling fades quickly.”

Because whenever she felt happy, Xie Shaojun would always soften toward Chi Yi. She couldn’t bear to see Chi Yi forcing herself to adapt. In the end, it would only mean Xie Shaojun compromising for Chi Yi again, a cycle that would bring them back to square one, just as it had before. Happiness would vanish, leaving nothing behind.

Xie Shaojun could tell Chi Yi was trying to appear vulnerable, learning to mimic ordinary relationship tactics and doing it well. But at her core, she was still the same Chi Yi.

Chi Yi treated their conflict as a lovers’ quarrel, thinking that showing weakness could mend things. But the truth wasn’t so simple. Xie Shaojun had tried. No matter when, she would instinctively soften toward Chi Yi, unable to bear seeing her bend to accommodate her. Yet, she also couldn’t force herself to adapt to Chi Yi.

Xie Shaojun acknowledged her own imperfections. She called Chi Yi’s name, “Chi Yi.”

Chi Yi looked at her. “Hmm?”

“It’s my problem. Let’s not see each other anymore.”

Xie Shaojun spoke calmly, telling Chi Yi that she couldn’t be friends with her and wouldn’t accept a reconciliation. Tonight’s dinner and further conversation had proven that her boundaries were too weak she was too easily swayed.

She had wanted to try being ordinary friends with Chi Yi, to coexist peacefully and resolve the issue of her wandering soul. So, instinctively, she had wanted to talk about her own life, to explain where things had gone wrong, to dissect every cause and effect.

But they had already broken up. Chi Yi didn’t need to know where she had gone wrong, and Xie Shaojun no longer needed to correct her.

Just like after the short video was exposed, Jian Qing, Xie Guangqi, and Feng Cinian would all come looking for her,

She could coldly rebuff them, but when it came to Chi Yi, she was utterly helpless. The only thing she could do was reduce the number of their meetings, rather than remain friends and deepen their understanding of each other.

The two stared at each other for a long time before Xie Shaoyun said to Chi Yi, “Give me back my phone, okay?”

Chi Yi said no, but Xie Shaoyun didn’t seem too bothered. She grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the car, no longer willing to stay in the same space as Chi Yi.

Chi Yi quickened her pace, caught up, and returned the phone to Xie Shaoyun.

Standing by the car door, Chi Yi lowered her gaze and reluctantly bid Xie Shaoyun goodbye.

Then she turned and walked toward the elevator. A few seconds later, she suddenly spun around, took two swift steps, and forcefully grabbed Xie Shaoyun’s arm.

Chi Yi stared unwaveringly at Xie Shaoyun, her expression calm, and asked, “During the summer break of our freshman year, on July 23rd, you flew to Melbourne, took a taxi alone to the industrial park, and confessed to me. You said you liked me.”

“I told you I was too busy to date, that I might neglect your feelings, that I had many flaws, that I wasn’t as perfect as you thought.”

Chi Yi asked softly, “Do you remember how you responded?”

They got together because Xie Shaoyun confessed first.

It was her first time pursuing someone, and the object of her affection was Chi Yi, so the memory was etched deeply in Xie Shaoyun’s mind.

Xie Shaoyun said she remembered and repeated her words back to Chi Yi: “I said it was because I liked you.”

Chi Yi smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “Xie Shaoyun,” she said, her tone steady, “Did you ever truly like me?”

The night wind grew colder, lifting Chi Yi’s long hair. She seemed drenched in the icy breeze.

Xie Shaoyun didn’t know why Chi Yi was asking this, but she answered honestly, “I did.”

Xie Shaoyun felt that “liked” was an insufficient answer. She had loved Chi Yi.

Loved her for many years, even discarded her life and shattered her persona for this fictional character.

In truth, they were both fools,one mistakenly believing she needed to change herself, the other unwilling to try again.