After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 49

049

The interior decor was a bit odd, white leather sectional sofas, a circular rug pressed beneath the coffee table.

There was no bed in the room, the ceiling light had been removed, leaving only the faint glow of a wall lamp in the corner.

Jian Qingyi sat down on the sofa.

Xie Shaojun slipped out of Jian Qingyi’s pocket and tumbled onto a soft cushion.

There were no mirrors in the living room, and everything around Xie Shaojun seemed infinitely magnified in length, width, and height. Her vision was limited, but the one thing that felt familiar was that Jian Qingyi’s home decor was an exact replica of Xie Shaojun’s childhood bedroom.

Having mentally prepared herself in advance, Xie Shaojun wasn’t too surprised to find herself here. Calmly, she searched for a reflective surface, but soon Jian Qingyi picked her up.

From Jian Qingyi’s pupils, Xie Shaojun saw a doll with braided hair, palm-sized, dressed in a pink princess dress, with a lace-trimmed handbag slung diagonally across its right shoulder.

The doll had brown braids, an adorable plastic face, and oversized, glassy eyes that were startlingly large. The fabric on its shoulders was pilled from frequent handling.

Jian Qingyi seemed to really like this doll. She stared at it for a few seconds before pressing her face against it.

Xie Shaojun was a little disgusted, but since it was just a toy, she didn’t bother revealing herself by making noise. During those brief seconds of eye contact, she accepted the fact that she had possessed a doll for the night.

The lace on the doll’s dress had yellowed, Xie Shaojun mentally scoffed at it.

Qin Wan voiced Xie Shaojun’s thoughts:

“It’s falling apart. Let me throw it away for you.”

Jian Qingyi refused. “You’re meddling too much. If I throw it away, my sister would never agree to win me another one just like it.”

Qin Wan fell silent.

Jian Qingyi called her name.

“Qin Wan.”

Qin Wan replied, “Hmm?”

Jian Qingyi undid the doll’s braids and began redoing them, speaking as if it were nothing: “Do you think there’s a chance my sister is still alive?”

Qin Wan found the idea absurd. “Don’t joke about things like that.”

Once the doll’s braids were done, Jian Qingyi held it up for a closer look and smiled in satisfaction.

She said to Qin Wan, “Chi Yi went shopping with Madam Chi last month. The land Chi Dong started developing last week was given by Chi Yi. A month ago, Haimi was about to be sold to Lawrence. It felt like Chi Yi was arranging her final affairs. But in just half a month, she suddenly changed her mind and started treating Xie Haoyun differently. Why?”

“Does she also see Xie as a replacement?” Qin Wan asked.

Without hesitation, Jian Qingyi replied, “No.”

She didn’t elaborate further. Qin Wan handed her a glass of honey water and changed the subject. “Do you want me to stay with you tonight?”

“Not at home. Next time.”

Jian Qingyi then told Qin Wan, “Later, help me investigate everything about Xie Shaojun, her daily routines, habits, artistic style, hobbies, and her entire life history.”

Qin Wan paused and studied Jian Qingyi for a moment. “After all this time, you still like her that much?”

“It must have been quite interesting,” Jian Qing said. “Kind yet cruel, making me think of her endlessly, feeling my heart ache at every moment, my adrenaline surging. Even knowing she deliberately faked her death to spite me, I just can’t forget her. But none of it matters now… she isn’t dead.”

“Xiao Xie isn’t your sister,” Qin Wan repeated her stance, telling Jian Qing that they had known each other for years and understood each other inside out.

“If she had become someone else, I would have noticed.”

Jian Qing neither agreed nor disagreed and didn’t pursue the topic further, exchanging a few more words with Qin Wan before letting it drop.

Qin Wan took a phone call and said she had to leave.

Jian Qing walked her to the entrance. Standing by the door, Qin Wan lifted her lips in a smirk as she looked at Chi Yi. “After making me do so much, shouldn’t you give me some compensation?”

Jian Qing pulled Qin Wan into an embrace. From an angle Qin Wan couldn’t see, there wasn’t much warmth in her eyes. They clung to each other, sharing a deep, lingering French kiss that lasted three minutes.

Watching this scene, Xie Shaojun actually felt quite disgusted.

“Jian Qing, I lo.”

“Do you want to be abandoned like Lu Xi too?” Jian Qing stroked the corner of Qin Wan’s eye, told her it was late, and advised her to drive safely before shutting the door.

After Qin Wan left, Jian Qing dug out the investigator’s number and issued a series of orders.

The subject of the investigation, Xie Shaojun herself, was currently in Jian Qing’s pocket.

Ten minutes later, the investigator called back.

“She’s unconscious.”

The investigator said, “At Central Hospital.”

Hearing it was Central Hospital and specifically the neurology department, Jian Qing’s voice abruptly sharpened. “A sudden collapse, was it an accident or some illness?”

The other person said they didn’t know.

“Then find out,” Jian Qing’s tone turned colder. “Find a way to bribe the attending physician. Get her a full-body examination, draw blood samples, and run a DNA test against Xie Guangqi.”

Xie Shaojun found it amusing. This little white lotus Jian Qing had grown even more meticulous over the years.

Her tone was far more assertive than before, likely because she now held some measure of power. After this string of commands, the investigator meekly agreed.

By this time, the clock had struck ten.

Jian Qing finished her shower, and her phone rang again.

The plush toy was on the sofa. Jian Qing sat down, placed it on her lap, and put the call on speaker.

Her hair was still wet as she toweled it dry, asking in surprise, “Chi Yi?”

Chi Yi hummed in acknowledgment, getting straight to business. “Are you at the show? Can we talk?”

Jian Qing replied, “I’m at home. What is it?”

Chi Yi really did seem to be here for business, her tone neutral as she said, “Tonight, Old Man Sui handed over Sui Electronics’ operations to you. I find that quite curious.”

Jian Qing’s hand paused mid-motion. “Sui Yang and I are about to get married. It’s a normal transfer of authority from Old Man Sui. Is that explanation enough for you, President Chi?”

“You’re reacting rather strongly,” Chi Yi said calmly. “I didn’t ask for an explanation. The shady things you’ve done, I’d rather not hear about them.”

Jian Qing was left speechless. She tossed aside the pillow she was holding. “You”

“Then why did you call?”

“I want to ask you something. Two years ago, Haimei Tech had a core research document on lithography machines stolen,” Chi Yi said. “Recently, the police extracted information from the apprehended thief that there was a backup USB drive of that data, sold to an anonymous woman.”

Jian Qing frowned, though her tone carried a hint of amusement as she replied, “You suspect me?”

Chi Yi simply smiled. “Was it you?”

“No.”

Chi Yi didn’t give a definitive answer either. She stated matter-of-factly, “You’ve always been in the fashion industry. The twists and turns of business rules might not be your forte, but Old Man Sui values you and entrusted you with the electronics division. After you took control, Lawrence invested heavily in Sui Corporation’s next 8nm chip development, But that’s technology from two years ago. Doesn’t it feel outdated? Do you remember what Xie Shaojun said about you before she died?”

Jian Qing’s expression gradually darkened. Chi Yi’s voice, icy and resolute, came through the phone: “Always stealing things others don’t want.”

Jian Qing’s face twisted with anger, and she raised her voice to snap at Chi Yi, “If you’re so capable and know everything, why didn’t you avenge Xie Shaojun when you heard the contents of Zhu Sicheng’s recording pen?”

Jian Qing continued, “Chi Yi, as the founder of Haimei Tech, even the top investors in the country show you respect when they hear your name, the true golden child. If you had acted two years ago, I wouldn’t be alive today. But after obtaining that recording pen, you only blacklisted me for a single day. Why did you lift the ban afterward?”

“Just like the question I asked you at the fashion show today, why haven’t you touched me? Don’t you hate me?”

Chi Yi laughed silently, offering no explanation. She told Jian Qing she was hanging up.

Then, just as Jian Qing was seething with rage, Chi Yi casually added, “Are you sure nothing strange happened tonight?”

Jian Qing found Chi Yi’s behavior tonight utterly bizarre.

Chi Yi continued nonchalantly, “Seeing you still awake at ten o’clock, I’m a little concerned for your health. I hope you go to sleep and take good care of Xie Shaojun’s kidneys.”

Jian Qing retorted, “If it weren’t for your call, I’d already be asleep.”

Chi Yi’s phone call had revealed a great deal of information, reminding Xie Shaojun of the last words Chi Yi had spoken during her out of body experience Chi Yi knew Xie Shaojun was a tasker.

And then there were Jian Qing’s questions during the call.

Given Chi Yi’s ruthless personality, if she had that recording pen in her possession, she wouldn’t have let Jian Qing off the hook. Yet she hadn’t acted. Xie Shaojun pondered this for a while but couldn’t make sense of it.

She decided not to dwell on it for now and resolved to ask Chi Yi directly once she returned from this out-of-body experience.

The plush doll was picked up by Jian Qing and taken to the bedroom.

Jian Qing was preparing to sleep. Her hair wasn’t very long, just reaching her shoulders, so it had already half-dried during her earlier conversation with Chi Yi.

There was no bed in the house, only a tatami mat layered with several soft cushions and a small pillow. Jian Qing didn’t have a habit of sleeping with plush dolls, but Xie Shaojun was still brought into the bedroom and placed on the desk.

A dim desk lamp cast a faint glow. Jian Qing pulled out a small white pill bottle from the drawer, swallowed three pills, and soon fell asleep.

Xie Shaojun remained on the desk, unable to sleep, her mind restless.

Ten minutes later, Jian Qing’s phone on the desk vibrated faintly.

It was a string of Morse code. The WeChat contact was labeled “Chi Yi.”

The message was deleted within ten seconds.

Xie Shaojun bounced a couple of times on the phone screen, leaning in closer to take a look.

“Is it you?” Chi Yi asked.

Even if Morse code was seen by Jian Qing, it wouldn’t necessarily be deciphered, because this was a game the two of them had played together back in the day.

During their senior year of high school, when they were attending extra classes, Xie Shaojun had been curious about Morse code.

She casually asked Chi Yi if she knew it.

Chi Yi honestly replied that she didn’t, but the next month when they met again, Chi Yi said she had learned it. She demonstrated to Xie Shaojun multiple times how to communicate using Morse code, even modifying it with encryption.

Because Chi Yi had taught her, Xie Shaojun hadn’t forgotten much of it.

The ragdoll’s limbs were stuffed with cotton, making its body very light. It took Xie Shaojun five minutes to clumsily tap out an “Mhm.”

Then, with great effort, she withdrew the message.

Chi Yi replied quickly: “Because I don’t know which of Jian Qing’s mansions she’s staying at, I’m currently narrowing it down. It might take a little more time.”

Xie Shaojun found it exhausting to tap out and withdraw messages, so she didn’t reply to every one. She watched as Chi Yi’s messages kept pouring in.

Saying that traffic wasn’t too bad today, the drive had been smooth all the way.

Jian Qing owned over a dozen properties in the southern city, but after preliminary checks, it seemed she was staying in the western district tonight.

“Do you want to sleep?”

Xie Shaojun hopped a few times on the input field before replying: “No.”

Chi Yi responded: “Hang in there a little longer.”

“I’ll take you home.”

A long while later, Xie Shaojun finally replied: “Mhm.”

The car sped smoothly along the elevated highway. Chi Yi no longer drove at a leisurely pace for the first time, she pushed the speed up to 80 km/h on the overpass.

The wind rushed against her face. Xie Qingcheng’s voice came through the phone: “It’s fine. It’s probably because she ran into Jian Qing today and had a soul displacement. She might be back by tomorrow.”

Chi Yi thought in silence, she couldn’t accept leaving Xie Shaojun’s return to chance or random luck.

So she had to find Xie Shaojun immediately.

About half an hour later, someone knocked on the door. At first, Xie Shaojun thought it was Chi Yi, but then she reconsidered, Chi Yi wouldn’t do anything that could leave Jian Qing with leverage.

After over a dozen knocks, the person outside didn’t give up. The doorbell rang incessantly for about five minutes until Jian Qing finally woke up completely. Pressing her lips together, she slipped on her slippers and walked out with a dark expression.

Standing outside was Lu Xi.

Since Xie Shaojun wasn’t by Jian Qing’s side, she could only vaguely hear their unpleasant conversation.

Lu Xi stood at the doorway, saying many words of reconciliation.

Jian Qing wasn’t very patient, and her mood wasn’t great to begin with. She called her assistant, then had security come up.

“Why are you treating me like this?”

Jian Qing said, “I’ve always been this kind of person.”

“Was the breakup settlement not enough?”

“Don’t look at me with that expression.” Jian Qing delivered another blow that Lu Xi found hard to accept: “Do you know why Chen Jun agreed so readily when you asked for a divorce? Because I seduced him.”

Jian Qing smiled sweetly. “He wanted to sleep with me, but the truth is, I despise men. So I kicked him to the curb.”

Lu Xi couldn’t stop herself from raising a hand to slap Jian Qing. Jian Qing leaned back, scoffing. “You think you’re worthy? Only she has the right to hit me. You… just a stand-in. Get lost!”

With that, Jian Qing crossed her arms and directed the security guards, who had arrived promptly, to throw Lu Xi out.

“Miss, please leave.”

As the guards dragged her away, Lu Xi glared at Jian Qing with bloodshot eyes. “You forced me into this.”

Xie Shaoyun heard Lu Xi say, “Jian Qing, I’ll make you regret this for the rest of your life.”

Jian Qing scoffed, looking at her mockingly. “So many people have died for me. If I had to regret every single one, I’d be damned for eternity.”

Xie Shaoyun couldn’t bear to listen any longer, utterly repulsed by every wicked deed Jian Qing had committed. Yet, despite herself, she still felt a shameful surge of empathy and righteous fury at Jian Qing’s cruelty, enough to want her locked up and judged in prison.

Jian Qing went to the walk-in closet to change. When she came out, she stayed in the living room to make a phone call.

She said to the person on the other end, “I took three sleeping pills but got woken up. Can’t sleep now. I’ll come over find me someone good in bed.”

Xie Shaoyun tilted her head, gazing out the window.

Jian Qing lived on the eighth floor. The window was open, and a dark figure plummeted past it. Xie Shaoyun heard a loud crash.

At first, she thought it was just some heavy object falling. But five minutes later, the piercing wails of police cars and ambulances “wee-oo,” “wee-oo”—filled the air.

Three minutes later, Jian Qing’s door was knocked open.

A police officer stood outside and said, “Hello, Miss Jian.”

“At 22:59, a fatal fall occurred on the rooftop. According to security, the deceased, Lu Xi, had an altercation with you before walking to the rooftop and falling to her death. We need you to come with us for questioning.”