After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 42

In mid-August, Xie Shaoyun had been swamped with an overwhelming workload.

Qin Wan had somehow secured a slew of high end fashion design projects from unknown sources, causing the studio’s workload to multiply several times over. As a result, Xie Shaoyun had been pulling late nights every evening.

After finally wrapping up the theme logo design for Lancy Media’s supermodel showcase, she decided to leave work early the next day since she had a business trip to Nan City for an exhibition.

Just as she was heading downstairs, Qin Wan happened to return from a client meeting.

“Xiao Xie, wait up!”

Xie Shaoyun swiftly pressed the elevator close button. Watching Qin Wan, her relentless taskmaster hurry toward her, she lifted her eyelids with an unimpressed expression and said flatly, “I need a break.”

“Don’t push me too hard. If you keep forcing me to work, it’ll backfire.”

Qin Wan was left speechless, helplessly watching the elevator doors slide shut. She nearly lunged for Xie Shaoyun’s bag strap, as if trying to drag her back out.

“Xie Shaoyun no, Boss Xie, listen to me. No matter how tough it gets, working for yourself is always worth it. It’s all for the studio’s growth! We need to push forward, stay motivated ”

Qin Wan’s voice was cut off as the elevator doors sealed shut. Xie Shaoyun showed no mercy.

She was already plenty motivated, what more did they want from her?

Back when Chi Yi used to nag her about ambition, Xie Shaoyun hadn’t felt this irritable. At most, she’d found Chi Yi a little long-winded.

Because after all the lecturing, no matter how busy she was, Chi Yi would always make time to lean in and ask, “Is this okay?” “Can you handle it?” “Do you need me to help?”

When Xie Shaoyun got tired, she could just lower her head and kiss Chi Yi those soft, fragrant lips, the faint trace of infatuation in her eyes.

In stark contrast, Qin Wan’s version of “motivation” was pure labor exploitation.

She figured Qin Wan ought to thank Chi Yi. If not for her recent bad mood, Xie Shaoyun would’ve probably quit within a day.

Back when she was a tattoo artist, she’d take months off to travel abroad, balancing work and leisure while seeking inspiration.

Originally, that was supposed to be her work rhythm now too starting a studio just to be a hands-off boss, which was why she’d invited Qin Wan to join. The main purpose was to host her own art exhibitions while taking on some side projects.

But judging by the current trajectory, it wouldn’t be long before they expanded into a full-fledged company.

Truthfully, Xie Shaoyun had no interest in scaling up like this.

Arriving at the underground parking garage, her G-Class sat in its designated spot. But instead, Xie Shaoyun walked over to the opposite parking space.

Earlier, she’d discussed with Xie Qingcheng about heading to East Sixth Street that afternoon to pick out a birthday gift for their grandmother.

Xie Shaoyun ended up driving Xie Qingcheng’s spare, low-key Beetle. The cramped interior made it hard to stretch her legs.

She called Xie Qingcheng, informing her that she’d be setting off soon and would arrive in half an hour. She also took the opportunity to complain about the car.

“If you’re short on cash, I can lend you some,” Xie Shaoyun suggested. “Just get a new car.”

“No way. Mom brought you back from Sri Lanka so you’d settle down. Instead of wasting money, you should hurry up and buy an apartment.”

Xie Shaoyun chuckled, deflecting. “Buying a car is fine, but I don’t have enough for a place.”

“I’ll give you my small apartment,” Xie Qingcheng refused to let her off the hook.

She insisted the location was great.

“It’s close to your office. Sure, it’s small, but once you get a partner, Xie Zangxing and I can chip in to help you upgrade to a bigger place. You’re almost thirty ”

“Why live alone outside when everything’s already at home?” Xie Shaoyun rejected the idea without hesitation.

Xie Qingcheng cut her off directly: “You can’t stay single forever. Mom is planning to set you up on blind dates.”

“If there’s someone who doesn’t make you lose your soul, and you get along well, then settle down if it feels right.”

“After you were discharged from the hospital, you didn’t buy a house, didn’t date, and just stayed in places like Sri Lanka for half a year at a time. Sis always felt like you weren’t planning to stay in the capital. Years ago, Mom and Dad offered you a house, but you refused. Xie Zangxing wanted to split the cost of a riverside villa in Wanshan with you at half price, and you turned it down without a second thought. Why?”

Xie Shaoyun was silent for a moment, unsure how to answer the question.

After some thought, she said, “Fine, keep the small one for yourself. I’ll buy a new one. Renovations are a hassle, I’d prefer something move-in ready, simpler.”

Xie Qingcheng immediately agreed to help her look.

This made Xie Shaoyun wonder if her sister was being overly eager. Their family already had an ultra-luxurious villa with an open-air bathroom, and just 600 meters from their doorstep was a private beach. With such great conditions, why would she move out? Xie Shaoyun suspected Xie Qingcheng was deliberately trying to push her away.

But after probing a bit, she realized that wasn’t the case. Xie Shaoyun thought for a moment, glanced at the dashboard, and realized she was already 27, maybe it was time to start dating and settle down.

After hanging up, Xie Qingcheng sent over several property listings. There were too many pictures, and Xie Shaoyun, overwhelmed by choice, tossed her phone aside, deciding to look later.

Her parking spot happened to be diagonally to the right of her original one. She hadn’t paid much attention at first, but as she drove out, she noticed a woman with shoulder-length hair and sunglasses, wearing a fitted white dress and red high heels.

She wasn’t particularly tall, but her skin was so fair it seemed to glow.

What caught Xie Shaoyun’s attention was that the woman was standing right on her parking spot, holding a large bouquet of roses while her assistant held a phone to her ear.

After listening briefly, the woman frowned deeply, her forehead creasing slightly.

“What?”

The office building housed small studios and private companies, and at 3 or 4 p.m., with no one off work yet, the parking lot was nearly empty.

In the quiet space, the woman’s voice rose sharply: “How could you mess this up?”

“I told you days ago, just bring her out so I can meet her. What are you hesitating for?”

“Where did you get those resources of yours? You know better than I do. If you can’t even handle this small task, I can take back all the resources I promised you right now.”

The woman took off her sunglasses and tossed both the roses and the glasses into her assistant’s arms.

As she turned her face slightly, Xie Shaoyun, who had just pulled out, tilted her head and locked eyes with the woman’s suddenly reddened ones.

It took Xie Shaoyun a few seconds to recognize who this was… Jian Qing, that lunatic.

Years had passed, and Jian Qing had become even more stylish, her features sharper than before, whether from makeup or cosmetic procedures, it was hard to tell.

Honestly, she had looked better with her earlier, more innocent vibe. Now, she gave off a somewhat bewitching aura, but her petite frame and doll-like face couldn’t quite carry such bold features.

Still, she was attractive more womanly than before.

Xie Shaoyun watched as Jian Qing strode over in her red heels, stopping at the passenger-side door. She rapped sharply on the window three heavy knocks, “thud, thud, thud” her fingers trembling slightly by the third.

Xie Shaoyun glanced at her and rolled down the window.

Jian Qing was even ruder than before, staring at Xie Shaoyun unabashedly, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Her gaze was haughty, but for some reason, after sizing her up, it suddenly turned hesitant.

Her voice was dry, as if on the verge of tears, as she asked, “Who are you?”

She was putting on quite the act, but Xie Shaoyun had long been immune to Jian Qing’s delicate white-flower performance.

The initial flush of emotion might have been genuine, but now it was all an act.

Xie Shaoyun showed no expression, nor was she surprised. Xie Zangxing had warned her in advance, her short video had gone viral, and she might be sought out by “Xie Shaoyun’s” old acquaintances.

Truthfully, running into them wasn’t a big deal. Xie Shaoyun worried she might soften toward Chi Yi, but she had no such concerns about anyone else.

Without a trace of discomfort on her face, Xie Shaoyun replied politely yet distantly, “Miss, shouldn’t you introduce yourself before asking for someone else’s name?”

Jian Qing had been wildly successful in the fashion industry these past few years, even the editor-in-chief of Vogue was under her influence.

Apart from bowing to major investors, even A-list celebrities rushed to introduce themselves first when they saw her.

So when faced with such an impolite demand for an introduction, Jian Qing’s assistant immediately stepped forward, ready to reprimand Xie Shaoyun.

But Jian Qing stopped her with a single glance, taking the bouquet from her assistant’s arms into her own hands.

She asked Xie Shaoyun a second time, “Who are you?”

Xie Shaoyun raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

Jian Qing’s expression remained unchanged, her smile still soft though no longer the fragile, pitiable kind. With her sharpened features, her face now carried an edge, exuding a more bewitching allure.

“Hello,” Jian Qing said. “I’m Jian Qing. I saw you in that short video the other day and really wanted to meet you. Can I call you jie?”

“Oh,” Xie Shaoyun replied lazily. “Anything else?”

Jian Qing froze for a good two seconds, unsure how to respond. Moreover, Xie Shaoyun’s way of speaking was so much like her that Jian Qing’s mind was in chaos. She desperately wanted to splash cold water on her face to calm down but was afraid Xie Shaoyun would slip away.

The Xie Shaoyun in the short video and the one in person were two completely different impressions.

Originally, Jian Qing had thought of replacing her current bed companion with a lookalike after discovering someone who bore a striking resemblance to Xie Shaoyun. But seeing her in person was a shock the woman in the car window was almost identical to Xie Shaoyun herself, without heavy makeup or deliberate styling.

Her manner of speaking, even her scolding tone it was all too similar.

Because the resemblance was uncanny, Jian Qing’s expression shifted like a spilled palette of colors.

Xie Shaoyun enjoyed the spectacle for several seconds. When Xie Qingcheng’s call came through for the third time, she leisurely opened her purse, pulled out a one-yuan bill from her wallet, and imbued with a hint of the car’s lingering fragrance leaned out the window to tuck it into the V-neck of Jian Qing’s cinched dress.

The gesture was reminiscent of tipping a cabaret singer. With a dismissive yet polite smirk, Xie Shaoyun said, “Since you called me jie , is this enough? Don’t do it again. Miss Jian, you look older than me it’s offensive.”

She stepped on the gas, the exhaust deliberately blasting Jian Qing in the face.

The assistant was stunned, clutching Jian Qing’s handbag as she rushed forward. “Jie, are you okay?”

“She, she, she ” The assistant wanted to ask, Who does she think she is, daring to humiliate someone like this?

But Jian Qing’s expression darkened. She snatched the bouquet of roses and smashed it onto her assistant’s head.

The assistant stumbled back with a cry of pain.

Jian Qing didn’t even glance at her. Instead, she plucked the bill from her chest, smoothed it out in her palm, and stared at the spot where Xie Shaoyun had disappeared.

Her entire face twisted into a sinister smile.

A moment later, she said to her assistant, “Help me look into her background, starting with Xie Haoyun’s identity. I want all her information.”

–

Xie Shaoyun drove to the Banking Regulatory Commission to pick up Xie Qingcheng. The two of them visited an antique market and, in a quaint shop filled with the aroma of tea, selected a white-glazed porcelain vase from the Qing Dynasty for their grandmother.

When Xie Shaoyun swiped her card, she didn’t even blink.

Xie Qingcheng clicked her tongue in admiration. “Business must be booming lately.”

“Sold a painting,” Xie Shaoyun replied with a smile. “Just a little extra cash.”

Xie Qingcheng pressed her several times about the price, but Xie Shaoyun kept her lips sealed.

It was a piece she had been quite satisfied with four years ago, and this time, at an exhibition in Paris, it had fetched a high price twenty million.

It was the most expensive painting Xie Shaoyun had ever sold.

Money should be kept discreet. If Xie Qingcheng found out how much the painting had sold for, Xie Shaoyun would probably end up footing the bill for Xie Cangxing’s future wedding expenses.

As Xie Qingcheng continued probing, Xie Shaoyun had no intention of telling her.

Naturally, she changed the subject. “Last time we had hotpot, you texted me at three in the morning saying you had something to ask me.”

Xie Qingcheng looked utterly confused, unable to recall. “What text?”

“Must’ve been drunk rambling then,” Xie Shaoyun offered as an explanation.

That night at three in the morning, after Xie Shaoyun had finished showering, Xie Qingcheng had sent her a text asking if she had gotten home safely and mentioned having something to ask.

Xie Shaoyun had called back to ask what it was, but Xie Qingcheng didn’t answer. Instead, she sent another text saying it was nothing.

After thinking hard, Xie Qingcheng insisted, “No, I don’t think so.”

“It was late. Chi Yi came over to discuss work. That woman seems like she doesn’t need sleep at all, she finalized the loan details we were supposed to negotiate in one night. When would I have had time to text you?”

Xie Qingcheng added, “Do you really think I’m like Xie Cangxing, with nothing better to do than monitor your curfew?”

Xie Shaoyun froze for a moment before lowering her eyes and asking, “Chi Yi was at your place that night?”

“Yeah. Who knows what got into her, insisting on talking about work.” Xie Qingcheng chuckled, then added, “Seems like she’s in love. Did you know, little sis?”

The painting was bought by your wife, afraid you’d go hungry. The text was your wife’s desperate attempt to reach out, worried you’d be deceived by Qin Wan or run into the lunatic Jian you despise. Yet she feared you’d resent her meddling in your life. Asking if you ever liked her… was because she was on the verge of tears. For her, it was heart-wrenching. Promise Mom you’ll figure it out soon. I’ll try to write more tomorrow.