After My Death, Everyone Repented (Transmigration) - Chapter 56

Chi Yi arrived at a time that was neither too early nor too late before the workday had ended.

After the two separated, Xie Shaojun spent a full hour working. It was rare to see her so quiet. Chi Yi had the driver bring up her laptop, pulled up a chair, and sat beside Xie Shaojun. Side by side, they worked together.

Xie Shaojun was revising a logo design draft brought in by her assistant, while Chi Yi tapped away at her keyboard, occasionally murmuring a few words.

Comparatively, Chi Yi was more efficient at multitasking. Every now and then, she would glance at Xie Shaojun, confirming she was still there before continuing her work with a sense of reassurance.

It was unclear how many times Chi Yi had stolen glances before Xie Shaojun finally caught her. Xie Shaojun arched an eyebrow and teased, “Oh, Chi Yi, you’ve been peeking at me.”

Normally, after a full day of intense, heads-down work, Xie Shaojun wouldn’t be in the mood to talk. But now, her tone carried a natural lilt.

Chi Yi lowered her eyes and hummed in acknowledgment. She admitted she had been looking, but not stealing glances. She had been looking openly.

Xie Shaojun, as if she had caught Chi Yi red-handed and was ready to hold her accountable, pulled a financial report from a stack of untouched folders and tossed it to Chi Yi. “Qin Wan was managing the studio before. There are a few discrepancies in the accounts help me check them.”

Her tone was casual, as if they had slipped back into their married life two years ago, when Xie Shaojun would unhesitatingly ask Chi Yi to wash the dishes in the kitchen.

Chi Yi instinctively took the folder and shamelessly prolonged this cozy moment. Not only did she help Xie Shaojun review the studio’s confidential documents and point out the issues, but she also cunningly refrained from reminding Xie Shaojun that, given their current dynamic pursuer and pursued they shouldn’t be this intimate.

According to social relationship guides, the pursuit phase was defined as a process of closing the distance between two people. The pursuer was the more submissive party, no sleeping together, no peeking at private documents, no interfering with the other’s decisions… and so on.

Chi Yi thought about everything they had done together that morning and smiled faintly.

She didn’t understand Xie Shaojun, nor did she understand herself, why she was so happy yet so deeply entangled.

That afternoon, because of Chi Yi’s presence, Xie Shaojun didn’t get much work done.

An hour later, the takeout Xie Shaojun’s assistant had ordered arrived. The assistant knocked and entered, placing the coffee on the desk. Spotting a folder that had fallen on the floor, she picked it up and placed it back upright.

“Ms. Xie, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Xie Shaojun looked up. The assistant was grinning suggestively, her eyes darting toward Chi Yi. Xie Shaojun tossed her pen onto the desk.

“You’ve already seen for yourself!”

She told the assistant to get to the point or scram.

The assistant was young and loved gossip. While confirming with Xie Shaojun that Bulgari’s legal team would be coming in the afternoon to terminate their contract and checking the meeting time, she kept sneaking glances at Chi Yi’s refined, restrained beauty.

She was so distracted that Xie Shaojun had to call her name twice before she responded.

“Try to schedule it earlier,” Xie Shaojun said, eyeing the assistant, who seemed utterly bewitched by Chi Yi. Her smile faded as she walked over and stood in front of the assistant, asking with a half-smile, “Is she that good-looking? Can’t take your eyes off her? Your efficiency is slipping. Praying to the gods won’t help consider your pay docked.”

The assistant quickly averted her gaze and absentmindedly asked, “Gods?”

Xie Shaojun didn’t bother explaining who the “gods” were.

However, Chi Yi understood. A faint smile touched the corners of her lips as she walked to the window, opened it, and stood in the cold breeze to cool the heat on her face. She gave a soft hum of agreement, accepting Xie Shaoyun’s point.

“Worshipping me won’t help,” she said. “An inefficient assistant would be fired during the probation period.”

Their back-and-forth left the assistant visibly flustered. Realizing her mistake, she didn’t dare joke around with Xie Shaoyun anymore and quickly handed over the afternoon’s design drafts for review.

“You didn’t drive to the office this morning. Would you like me to drive you?”

“It’s raining outside. Having a car would be much more convenient,” the assistant emphasized.

Xie Shaoyun clicked her tongue and turned to find Chi Yi, who had a knack for attracting attention also looking at her. “Have you eaten?” she asked.

“Didn’t have time. I took a red-eye flight with a layover and only had a glass of orange juice in the cabin this morning.”

Xie Shaoyun muttered, “You’ve really fallen to the point of skipping breakfast now.”

Chi Yi chuckled but said nothing, her gaze lingering on Xie Shaoyun.

She had just returned from abroad, and with the tight layover, there had been no time for a proper meal.

Xie Shaoyun pressed further, “Is your driver here too?”

“Yes. Secretary Wang is also here.”

“Next time, don’t do this. Eat first before coming over,” Xie Shaoyun chided.

Chi Yi agreed, then added, “It’s been too long. I missed you a little.”

“How many times are you going to say that?”

Xie Shaoyun sighed helplessly under Chi Yi’s candid stare, then glanced at the assistant still lingering in the room, a silent reminder that they weren’t alone.

Chi Yi seemed to consider this before turning her composed gaze to the assistant, who was clearly shipping them. After a moment, she frowned slightly and pressed her lips together. “If you need training, my secretary is downstairs. You can learn from her.”

The assistant froze under Chi Yi’s emotionless scrutiny. Only when Xie Shaoyun dismissed her did she stumble out, visibly shaken.

Once they were alone, Chi Yi hesitated before explaining, “As your assistant, she’ll handle many tasks on your behalf. This time, it was just you. But if she stumbles upon a client’s confidential matters next time, her behavior is entirely unprofessional. She should know what’s appropriate to ask and what isn’t. Secretary Wang, for example, has plenty of experience in this regard”

Her voice softened as she stole a few more glances at Xie Shaoyun, ensuring she wasn’t upset before adding, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t interfere in your affairs.”

After a pause, she stated matter-of-factly, “Most people probably wouldn’t be able to adapt to someone like me.”

Chi Yi didn’t feel insecure about it. By nature, people could be divided into two types.

One was like Chi Yi, strict with herself, goal-oriented, valuing efficiency over emotional impulses, capable of absolute rationality in most situations.

The other was like Xie Shaoyun, free-spirited, unbothered by trivialities, not needing to excel at everything, and immensely tolerant of those around her.

Chi Yi had become the first type by nature, and there was no changing that. But because she met Xie Shaoyun, she found an exception to her own standards. Only by adapting and accepting could they fall in love, marry, and withstand societal pressures.

Even if, in this lifetime, she might only ever adapt to one person’s carefree nature.

Chi Yi stepped closer to Xie Shaoyun, lowering her eyes as she pressed a thumb gently against Xie Shaoyun’s soft lips. “Don’t be angry,” she murmured.

“I’m not angry.”

Xie Shaojun opened her eyes: “I used to dislike you interfering with my social circle because, although most of your advice was reasonable, you hadn’t been part of it. That meant you had no right to judge whether someone’s behavior was acceptable or not. But just now, what you said was absolutely right.”

“Because you’ve stepped into it now.” Xie Shaojun curled her lips into a smile, and Chi Yi’s fingers slid into her mouth.

Both of them froze for a moment. Xie Shaojun tilted her head, catching only half of Chi Yi’s profile. Her cold, pale skin shimmered under the light as if dusted with powder. Directly in Xie Shaojun’s line of sight was a slender neck, dotted with faint purple marks.

Chi Yi’s other hand rested on the long table behind her. Her long lashes trembled irregularly against her eyelids.

Xie Shaojun narrowed her eyes, silently cursing to herself.

After staring at her for a long while, she finally spoke: “Chi Yi.”

“Hmm.” Chi Yi responded, trying to pull her finger back.

Xie Shaojun pinched her earlobe, and Chi Yi stiffened again.

“Your heart is beating so fast.”

Xie Shaojun leaned in, her words slightly muffled by Chi Yi’s finger still in her mouth. The sound was wet and indistinct as she murmured, “Is it because you want to flirt with me?”

Chi Yi felt a burning heat rise between her fingers and hastily withdrew them.

Her heart pounded like a drum. They had done far more intimate things before, yet none had felt as awkward as this moment, leaving them both at a loss.

So she rested her chin on Xie Shaojun’s shoulder, lips parting twice as she caught her breath before clumsily changing the subject. “I booked a private room at a restaurant on the pedestrian street across the way.”

“The pedestrian street is pretty crowded,” Chi Yi said slowly, “but if we go through the underground garage, we shouldn’t run into strangers. Come have dinner with me?”

Xie Shaojun didn’t respond. Chi Yi glanced at the coffee on the table and softened her voice. “The dishes are already ordered, there’s that salted crab with golden sand you like…”

She spoke without looking at Xie Shaojun.

For some reason, Xie Shaojun lifted Chi Yi’s chin, pressed their lips together, and kissed her for a long time.

It wasn’t that she particularly needed to kiss Chi Yi repeatedly, but the moment their lips met, Chi Yi reached out and brushed her fingers over Xie Shaojun’s hand, intertwining them. A smile flickered easily in her eyes.

So Xie Shaojun deepened the kiss.

On the nicest Friday of December, Chi Yi suddenly showed up in Sijiu City to ask Xie Shaojun out on a date.

Xie Shaojun didn’t have time to entertain her, she had an afternoon meeting with Bulgari to discuss breach-of-contract penalties.

So Xie Shaojun took Chi Yi to the nearest pedestrian street for lunch, then spent the rest of the day renting out an entire theater to watch a forgettable romantic comedy.

The film was utterly illogical, just sticky-sweet romance, abrupt breakups, and finally, the male lead shouting, “Twelve years, and I still only love you.”

Because he had waited faithfully for twelve years, the female lead was moved, and they got back together for a happy ending.

In the dim theater, the film’s closing scene played, the creaking sound of bicycle wheels rolling, paired with a sentimental campus ballad.

As the credits rolled across the giant screen, Xie Shaojun yawned, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

She turned her head and happened to meet Chi Yi’s gaze as she blinked awake. They stared at each other for three seconds before bursting into laughter in unison.

“Forget it, this kind of movie is utterly boring. Might as well go home and pick any film to watch in your screening room.” Xie Shaojun stood up from her seat, making a move to pull Chi Yi along.

As her hand made contact, Chi Yi suddenly looked up and pulled Xie Shaojun back onto her lap.

Xie Shaojun froze for a moment. Chi Yi plucked a piece of popcorn from the bucket beside them and popped it into Xie Shaojun’s mouth, then gently brushed her fingers over Xie Shaojun’s lips.

“Puppy,” Chi Yi murmured close to her ear. Xie Shaojun asked, “What’s wrong?”

“What are we now?”

Xie Shaojun lifted her eyelids slightly.

“Because you just said ‘go home.'” Chi Yi glanced at her, though she likely didn’t hold much hope for an immediate answer.

So after asking, Chi Yi quickly found an out for herself. She reached into her bag for her phone, just as Secretary Wang’s call came through. Chi Yi answered.

The lights in the screening room brightened, and staff began filing in. Xie Shaojun stood and tugged Chi Yi up with her.

The conversation ended there.

With an assistant calling to hurry them along, Xie Shaojun dragged Chi Yi’s suitcase behind her. Secretary Wang had already checked them in, and the two took the elevator to the top floor.

Secretary Wang waited at the door, greeting Xie Shaojun with a smile before hauling a thick stack of documents into the hotel room.

Xie Shaojun initially felt a bit awkward, but judging by the situation, Chi Yi was even busier than she was.

“How long are you staying this time?”

The room was heated, and wearing a padded jacket made it unbearable to stay inside for even a second longer. Xie Shaojun retreated to the doorway.

Chi Yi took off her coat and hung it on the rack by the door, saying her flight was the next morning.

“Haimi will hold a global press conference next Wednesday to announce the successful development of the 6nm chip.”

“Didn’t you say before the timing wasn’t right?”

“Mm. Now it is.” The room door opened, and the suitcase slid ungracefully for two meters before Xie Shaojun straightened up, leaving the handle behind.

Chi Yi looked at Xie Shaojun, her lips parting as if she felt compelled to share the news. “I didn’t expect the scheme to actually work.”

“Maybe it’s the good luck you brought me.”

Xie Shaojun didn’t quite understand. She looked up to see Chi Yi bracing one hand against the wall.

“Are you coming over tonight?”

Xie Shaojun gave her an apologetic look. “It’s Grandma’s birthday tonight, there’s a family dinner I have to attend. I’ll probably drink, maybe even get drunk, and it’ll be late.”

“Okay.” Chi Yi lowered her hand.

Xie Shaojun’s gaze was drawn to the watch on Chi Yi’s wrist. Against her pale skin, which nearly matched the wall’s color, the cracked watch face stood out starkly.

Noticing the broken watch for the second time, Xie Shaojun almost asked about it, but then her assistant called, the meeting was in less than fifteen minutes, and she had to leave.

“Goodbye,” Xie Shaojun said to Chi Yi.

Chi Yi didn’t respond, clearly disliking the word. Xie Shaojun saw her frown and figured she wouldn’t say anything back.

She turned and took the elevator down two minutes later.

Outside, the rain poured heavily. Her assistant had the car waiting by the revolving doors, the sound of the downpour heavy and dull against the pavement.

Wait.

Chi Yi’s voice called out from behind.

Xie Shaojun turned to see Chi Yi, still in the thin coat she’d worn on the transoceanic flight that morning, jogging after her. The toes of her shoes were speckled with mud from the rain.

But Chi Yi’s poise remained impeccable even in the rain, her steps were steady and sure.

The rapid patter of footsteps grew closer.

A black umbrella opened in her hand, stepping through puddles that reached half the height of her shoes. Chi Yi walked swiftly, and soon the umbrella was held over Xie Shaojun’s head.

Though she hadn’t quite mastered the technique of holding an umbrella, her left shoulder quickly became damp the black canopy, large enough for two, remained steadily tilted over Xie Shaojun, not letting a single drop of rain touch her.

Xie Shaojun swiftly took the umbrella into her own hands, sheltering both of them in the narrow, rain-free space.

She stared straight at Chi Yi, silent for about thirty seconds.

Then she asked, “Chi Yi. What were you planning to do at the hotel tonight?”

Chi Yi replied, Work.

“Oh.” Xie Shaojun nodded and said she also had work in the afternoon, and if she didn’t get drunk in the evening, she’d work then too.

Chi Yi gave her a strange look. They reached the parked car and stood still as the rain poured harder. An assistant opened the car door.

Xie Shaojun handed the umbrella back to Chi Yi, then glanced at her and suddenly said, “Why did you think you were my target to pursue?”

Without waiting for an answer, she added, “Well, come then. Tonight is the Xie family dinner. You can attend as my plus one.”