After My Death, the Richest Heiress Committed Suicide to Be With Me - Chapter 3

 

Darkness, thick like ink that could not be stirred.

Viscous, suffocating, and heavy, it wrapped tightly around her.

Wu Yi struggled with all her might, only to find her limbs immovable. She tried to open her eyes, but she could see nothing.

“So noisy.”

Clamoring voices drifted constantly into her ears, interspersed with deafening music.

“Hey, Tian Feng, what’s wrong with the Eldest Miss? We agreed to a drinking contest, so why did she fall asleep as soon as she got to the bar?”

“How should I know? It’s fine if she sleeps; you guys will definitely lose the contest later!”

“Go on, turn the music up even louder!”

“Maybe not, Xianya. If we wake Miss Yi, she’ll definitely be furious.”

“Hee-hee, Nangong Jin, you’ve got a point. You go push her awake then.”

“Tian Feng, Nangong Jin; so familiar. Who are they?”

A sudden consciousness flooded her brain, like a crack tearing through the fog.

Another life-and-death struggle.

The darkness before her finally split into a tiny crevice.

Light seeped in.

More and more light flooded in. She heard the raucous noise and smelled the lingering scent of alcohol, mixed with the specific perfume of young girls.

Wu Yi snapped her eyes open!

Interlocking light and shadows filled her vision instantly, causing her pupils to constrict sharply from the stimulation.

She instinctively raised her hand to block it, seeing the crystal chandelier, the ceiling, and the swirling lights through the gaps between her fingers.

As her vision lowered, the scene before her felt like a curtain being pulled back, one image after another rushing toward her: a spacious and magnificent luxury private room where a dozen handsome young men and beautiful girls were sprawled across sofas, laughing and shouting. On the two marble coffee tables in front of them sat piles of multicolored drinks.

“Ha, Eldest Miss, you’re awake?” A girl leaned in close.

Wu Yi turned her head and saw a youthful, beautiful face.

Her junior high school classmate, Wang Xianya. Why was she here?

A daze clouded her eyes as the fog of her mind began to peel away.

There was hesitation, thought, and bewilderment. This soon transformed into a shock so dense it could not be dissolved!

Wu Yi’s entire body began to tremble. She looked down; the hands she had raised were shaking just as violently.

“Miss Yi, are you alright?”

Another voice, laced with obvious flattery, sounded in her ear.

Wu Yi’s gaze moved slowly, landing on a fawning, smiling face. The girl wore a socialite’s hairstyle she had tried desperately to imitate and “rich” makeup, yet her entire being radiated the aura of a parvenu.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

“Hee, Eldest Miss, I heard your new tutor is very disobedient. Do you want me to step in?”

“Yeah, Miss Yi, Xianya is right. Since they won’t listen, just teach them a lesson. If it’s a guy, break his legs; if it’s a girl, make her lose her most precious. I can help you!”

“Get out! I’m warning you, stay out of my business!”

“Miss Yi, why are you being so mean? I just wanted to help you. This is ‘Hellfire’ that I bought at a high price. It’s very interesting. Miss Yi, do you want to play with it?”

Nan! Gong! Jin!

Wu Yi suddenly reached out and gripped the girl’s arm.

The girl, who had been intent on flattering her, quickly squeezed out a sweet smile.

But in the next second, her expression changed drastically, and she cried out in pain, her face turning pale.

“Ah! Miss Yi, you’re hurting me!”

Wu Yi stared deathly at her, catching the flash of panic in Nangong Jin’s eyes. She gripped even harder.

“What is the date and time right now?”

Hoarse, dry, and dark; her voice sounded as if it were being squeezed out of a strangled throat.

Nangong Jin froze. Meeting Wu Yi’s blood-red eyes, she jumped in fright and tried to back away in fear, but she could not move an inch.

“Wu Yi, you must be sleep-confused. Come on, your big brother will tell you the time.”

Nearby, Tian Feng stood up drunkenly with a glass in his hand. He swayed his head as he checked his watch. “It is currently Galactic Calendar Year 8034, September 27th, burp; 16:22 and 58 seconds.”

“September 27th, 8034.”

Wu Yi repeated it blankly. Then, her entire body shuddered, and a flame-like sharpness erupted in her pupils.

“Lou-lou!”

She threw aside Nangong Jin’s arm and rushed out the door like a gust of wind.

A driver and two bodyguards met her.

“Miss Yi, Director Lin wants us to take you back immediately.”

Wu Yi did not stop running. “Clear the way for me! I want to go home!”

The two bodyguards looked delighted and immediately went ahead to push through the crowd for her.

The four of them squeezed out of the crowded central dance hall.

Wu Yi’s running pace came to a sudden halt.

She suddenly began patting her body, searching desperately for something. A bodyguard quickly handed her a phone. “Miss Yi, your phone is here.”

Wu Yi’s throat was dry; she couldn’t even make a sound. She snatched the phone as if she were stealing it and began frantically searching for a contact.

Seeing her arms shaking and her fingers pressing haphazardly on the screen, unable to hit the right spot, the bodyguards grew uneasy.

“Miss Yi, who do you want to call? I’ll help you.”

“Quick, quick! Call Aunt Liu for me.”

The bodyguard immediately took the phone and dialed. A moment later, a concerned middle-aged female voice came through.

“Miss, have you returned?”

Hearing this voice, Wu Yi’s hands shook even more violently. She couldn’t even hold the phone, so the bodyguard had to hold it to her ear for her.

He saw her wearing a strange expression; her mouth was slightly open as if she wanted to smile, yet her face showed a grief so intense it looked as if a rainstorm were about to break.

“Miss, why aren’t you speaking? Is something wrong?”

“Ah.” Wu Yi opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

“Be good and listen. Come home quickly. I’ve made something delicious for you.”

“Aunt, Liu.” Wu Yi squeezed her throat with all her might, finally managing to make a sound.

“Yes, I’m here! Where are you? The bodyguard said you were coming back. Are you almost home?”

“Aunt Liu,” Wu Yi called out again. Her voice finally stabilized as she spoke slowly. “My new tutor; is she coming to the house today?”

“Heh, I knew the Miss was a good child. You clearly care about your studies! Yes, she’ll be at the house in a little while, so you need to come back quickly.”

She suddenly reached out and snatched the phone back from the bodyguard. The words stumbled out from the depths of her soul. “What; what time is the appointment?”

“Seven o’clock tonight. One must leave time for others to eat dinner, after all.”

“Good.” She hung up and got straight into the car.

“Take, the, ring road.”

The driver heard her voice trembling even more and looked back uneasily. “Miss Yi, the ring road takes a detour around half the city.”

Wu Yi looked at him fixedly. “I said. Take. The. Ring. Road.”

Beneath her calm gaze lay a terrifying deterrent. The driver’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately complied.

The car sped along the ring road, passing the business district, crossing the snack street, and entering an area of ancient-style residences.

Wu Yi stared out the window, seeing the familiar city walls, the moat outside the walls, and the arched bridge in the distance. She involuntarily straightened her back, her hands gripping her school uniform’s pleated skirt.

Finally, a stone city gate guarded by the towering walls appeared in her vision.

The heart in her chest went thud, thud, thud, beating like a drum. Countless emotions galloped from her limbs and bones, surging like a tide to the back of her throat.

“Stop!”

The car made a piercing screech as the brakes were applied, stopping in front of a row of buildings.

The bodyguard got out to open the door for her, but Wu Yi stood frozen, staring at the four words on the gate opposite her.

“Neighborly Apartments.”

She slowly stepped out, but her feet felt soft, as if she were stepping on clouds.

People came and went at the apartment entrance; students in groups of two or three talked and laughed as they moved in and out.

Everything before her eyes seemed both real and illusory. Light and shadows danced, laughter drifted near and far, and the walking crowd was both clear and blurred. It was fantastical and dazing; everything felt frighteningly unreal.

The driver and bodyguards looked at her in confusion. They saw her leaning against the car door, her body hunched, her face pale, and her whole frame trembling. She was muttering to herself, “Wu Yi, calm down. Hurry and calm down. This isn’t a dream. You’re back. You have another chance. You can love her again!”

She shook incessantly; even her voice was trembling.

“But this is also the last chance. You must not mess it up!”

She began to laugh as she spoke, and from her eyes, which were filled with a fierce light, tears suddenly began to fall rapidly.

She seemed not to feel them. Her lips pulled back and upward, her facial muscles twitching in a look that was part smile and part sob. Her entire face was stained with a manic yet sorrowful flush.

“So, you must not scare her!”

She suddenly pulled her feet back and ducked back into the car, slamming the door shut.

“Go! Take me home!”

The driver and bodyguards felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon and quickly started the car.

“Miss, you’ve finally returned.”

Aunt Liu personally met her at the main gate.

Wu Yi withdrew her gaze from looking around and let it fall on her.

The Aunt Liu of seven years ago wore her hair in an elegant, dignified bun and was dressed in a plain qipao. She had a kind, friendly smile on her face, and her crescent-moon eyes were filled with concern.

Smiling, she looked over and waved. “Miss, come inside!”

Wu Yi’s nose stung. She walked over quickly and hugged her.

“Aunt Liu.”

The kind elder patted her back. Feeling her trembling body, Aunt Liu became extremely anxious.

“Miss, did someone at school bully you? Tell me quickly, and I’ll call the principal right now!”

Wu Yi pushed down the lump in her throat, released her neck, and smiled with red-rimmed eyes.

“I’m fine. I just missed my mother a little.”

Aunt Liu let out a sound of pity, wanted to say something, but then sighed and led her into the living room.

Lowering her voice, she asked, “Did you have a falling out with the Madam? If you don’t like the tutor she found, I’ll find an excuse to dismiss her.”

“No need.” Wu Yi stopped her immediately.

Then, her face turned cold. Lin Xia, this time you had better not provoke me, and especially do not bully Lou-lou. Otherwise…

She clenched her fists, suppressing the agony that felt like it would tear her apart, and said instead, “I’ve seen the tutor’s profile. I am very satisfied.”

She then asked uneasily, “Aunt Liu, are you sure the appointment is for 7:00 tonight? Was it made clear to the other party?”

Aunt Liu was startled for a moment. “Of course. Do you still not trust me to handle things?”

Then, she showed a relieved smile. “Miss, you’ve grown up.”

Wu Yi shyly let go of her hand and looked around the living room.

The layout was exactly the same as before; even the maids had not changed. Feeling emotional, she stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor.

“Aunt Liu, Lou-lou.” Her voice and footsteps stopped simultaneously.

Lou-lou doesn’t know me at this time. I cannot act too familiar. I have to call her; Teacher Xiao.

A strange smile touched the corners of her lips as she continued, “Teacher Xiao will be here in a little while. Aunt Liu, what do you think I should wear?”

“The Miss was born with celestial beauty; you look good in anything.”

“It’s not about looking good. It’s about what is appropriate.” She frowned, remembering how rebellious and willful she had been in her previous life, wearing a long black dress and acting cold and distant.

Seeing her so concerned about the upcoming tutor, Aunt Liu was very happy. She accompanied her upstairs, entered the walk-in closet, and helped her open all the wardrobes.

“Miss, why would I lie to you? You were born radiant and noble; any clothes look right on you. However, considering it is a tutor coming, to show your heart as a student, I think you should wear this red dress. You wore it once on your birthday, and I thought it was incredibly beautiful!”

Wu Yi hesitated. “Is red too flashy?”

As if understanding her thoughts, Aunt Liu pulled out a lotus-colored fairy-style dress.

“Then choose this one. It has warm tones; the color is soft and elegant. It’s a designer piece and can best highlight the Miss’s gentle and beautiful side.”

Wu Yi was still anxious, hesitating in silence.

She had come from a past life with a heart entirely for her, yet now that the meeting was imminent, she grew increasingly uneasy.

Aunt Liu, untiring, found two more dresses for her, but Wu Yi’s gaze landed on a pure white dress.

Aunt Liu had raised her and understood her mind best, so she immediately took the dress out.

“Actually, white is very good. You were born with such a fair and beautiful face, Miss. If you wear this white dress, you will look just like Snow White from a fairy tale.”

Wu Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Snow White doesn’t necessarily wear a white dress.”

Despite saying that, she could not help but reach out and take it, her fingertips stroking the fabric.

This was a 17th birthday gift sent by Su Lianxin, and she had never worn it. For some reason, at this very moment, she suddenly felt that this white dress was the most fitting for her heart.

“Since the clothes are chosen, go eat first, Miss. I made the sweet and sour fish and steamed lion’s head meatballs you love.”

Wu Yi shook her head gently. “Aunt Liu, I want to try the dress on first.”

“Alright. I will step out. Call me when you are changed.”

Aunt Liu turned and left the walk-in closet, closing the door behind her. Wu Yi quickly shed her school uniform and put on the white dress.

She walked to the full-length mirror and studied herself. The youthful and charming girl was now dressed in an academy-style white dress with a refined collar, looking fresh and natural. The flowing hem of the skirt looked light and beautiful.

She untied her hair ribbon, allowing her hair to cascade down like a waterfall over her shoulders. With her long hair flowing and her white dress fluttering, she appeared gentle and serene. However, on her face, which should have been glowing with youth, there was a pale, panicked, and suppressed flush.

“Lou, will you like me like this?”

Memories rushed in unbidden. Her vision suddenly blurred, and her brain roared as a tearing pain exploded within. Cold sweat immediately drenched her forehead.

Wu Yi let out a muffled groan and leaned against the mirror, struggling to support herself with her palms against the glass. She panted heavily; her throat felt as if it were being strangled, and her breath was nearly cut off.

“This is the space-time travel side effect!”

Wu Yi snapped into alertness instantly and struggled to call out. “Aunt Liu!”

Aunt Liu quickly pushed the door open and supported her in a panic. “Miss, what happened? I will call the doctor immediately!”

“No, Aunt Liu. Promise me, do not call the doctor yet. I just need to rest. I must make a good impression on the tutor.”

Confusion, fragmentation, and tearing; countless shards of information tumbled from the depths of her memory. She remained hunched over, gasping for air.

“Miss, you are in such distress. What could be more important than your health?”

Aunt Liu turned and instructed the maid outside the door. “Hurry and call the doctor!”

“Aunt Liu, believe me.” Wu Yi gasped. The side effects came fast and furious, the pain so intense she nearly lost consciousness.

Gripping Aunt Liu’s arm, she said desperately, “Aunt Liu, promise me not to call the doctor, and definitely do not send me to the hospital. I will be fine after lying down for a while. You must wake me up before the teacher arrives.”

Before she could finish her sentence, she collapsed into unconsciousness amidst the overwhelming pain. In her residual consciousness, she tried her best to grasp the last fading glimmer of light, letting out a silent scream: Lou, I don’t want to miss our first meeting!

Aunt Liu cried out in alarm and called for others to help hold the fainting Wu Yi. They carefully placed her on the bed, but when Aunt Liu tried to leave, she found she could not pry the girl’s hand away. Wu Yi gripped her wrist tightly and did not let go even in her coma.

Aunt Liu sighed and sat by the bed, directing others to work. Looking down, she saw a crystal-clear tear hanging at the corner of Wu Yi’s eye. She gently wiped it away with a tissue and sighed. “Miss, what great grievance have you suffered?”

When she opened her eyes again, the white ceiling came into view.

Wu Yi was dazed for a moment, then she remembered something and scrambled to sit up. Aunt Liu immediately came over to support her. “Miss, you are finally awake!”

“Do you know how worried I was? I almost called Mr. Wu to come back. If the doctor hadn’t said you were just suffering from extreme exhaustion, I would have had someone take you to the hospital.”

“What time is it? Did Teacher Xiao arrive?”

“Oh, I forgot to mention it because of the chaos. She hasn’t come yet. Let me check. It is already eight o’clock. You were unconscious for two whole hours. Also, while you were unconscious, you kept calling out ‘Lou’ or something. What is that?”

Aunt Liu grumbled for a while, but she heard no response. Turning around, she saw Wu Yi looking dazed, muttering to herself, “Did something go wrong? Why wouldn’t she come?”

Wu Yi suddenly grabbed Aunt Liu’s arm and said urgently, “Aunt Liu, help me call and ask. Why didn’t Teacher Xiao come to class?”

Seeing her urgent expression, Aunt Liu did not delay and immediately called to inquire. A few minutes later, she hung up with an indignant look on her face. “What kind of person is this? She broke the appointment without a word and even had the nerve to say our Miss has a bad temper!”

“Broke the appointment?”

“Yes. That Teacher Xiao is not coming. Don’t worry, I will find you a better one.” Aunt Liu tossed her phone aside angrily.

A deep sense of loss and panic flooded Wu Yi’s face. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Did you call Teacher Xiao to ask?”

Aunt Liu shook her head. “Of course not. I called the middleman.”

Wu Yi’s panicked face immediately brightened, and she said as if explaining, “No, Teacher Xiao is not that kind of person. She wouldn’t break an appointment for no reason, and even if she did, she would have said something specifically.”

She struggled to stand up. Her fractured brain made her thoughts disorganized, as if her soul had left her body. But the blood in her body seemed to be boiling; every drop was burning and screaming: I have to go ask. I must go there!

“Miss, you just woke up. You cannot go out.”

But as soon as the words were out, Wu Yi had already run to the top of the stairs and then dashed down them. She said without looking back, “I dropped something important. I have to go find it!”

“What are you all standing around for? Follow the Miss! If she feels even slightly unwell, carry her back immediately!” Aunt Liu shouted anxiously behind her, directing the bodyguards and the driver to follow.

Wu Yi rushed out of the house and fell into a state of hesitation; her pace slowed down. The bodyguards and driver followed behind her and asked, “Miss Yi, where are you going? Do you want to take the car?”

She acted as if she hadn’t heard them, walking with unsteady steps. The night wind lifted her white skirt, which seemed to dance under the flickering streetlights. She blended into the night, leaving a lonely, elongated shadow, walking in a daze while deep sorrow surged through her heart and soul.

The chance to start over only comes once. She did not dare to act recklessly.

“Hey, look! There is a cat over there.”

“Really? It’s about to be crushed. How pitiful.”

The conversation between two girls by the roadside drifted into her chaotic and helpless thoughts. She turned her head and stopped walking. In the middle of the road where cars were passing by, a small white kitten lay huddled into a ball, its frail body shivering on the pavement.

Cars roared past, but not one stopped.

“Lou, why are you holding Marshmallow? I don’t like it. Throw it away!”

“A-Yi, Marshmallow is a cat that heals pain. Be good, don’t scare it.”

Huge sorrow welled up in Wu Yi’s eyes. Memory fragments tumbled wildly, biting at her nerves and bringing an explosive pain. She could see nothing else and walked toward the cat as if she had lost her soul.

“Miss Yi, danger!”

The bodyguards and driver were terrified. They frantically tried to rush over but were blocked by the speeding vehicles in the opposite lane. Wu Yi heard nothing and ran straight toward the huddling kitten.

“Kitty, I am taking you with me.”

She reached out her hands, but the shivering cat was terrified of her approach and retreated into a ball. Behind it were the speeding cars. Wu Yi stepped forward regardless and grabbed the kitten.

Screeeech!

The sound of tires skidding on the pavement in an emergency brake rang out, piercing the night. Several cries of alarm were mixed with the whistling wind. Something fell, and the sound of rapid footsteps rushed toward her.

She felt a pair of hands tightly embrace her, sweeping her into the air and spinning her around. The void before her shifted; night and light interlaced, flickering between brightness and gloom.

Warm breath brushed against her ear. Her body fell into a warm embrace, then was released as her feet touched the ground. She heard a cold, pleasant voice of a girl.

“Fellow student, crossing the road is very dangerous. You must be careful in the future.”

Her entire body shuddered, trembling incessantly in the night. That voice seemed to come from the distant universe, traveling across light-years, yet it was profound and bone-deep, right next to her ear. She felt as if her soul had left her body. Her frame was as stiff as wood or stone. It took the effort of two lifetimes for her to finally turn around.

There, she saw the face that had haunted her dreams.