After the Second Playthrough, the CP-Less Female Lead Kneels and Begs Me for Forgiveness [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 23

Shao Xibei frowned slightly; the blood clinging to her hand made her feel uncomfortable.

She pushed the door open a little wider. “Come in, little girl,” she said, turning around to enter the room.

Pei Xi hesitated at the doorway. How could someone trust another so easily, leaving the door wide open for a stranger to enter?

Her fingers tightened uncontrollably around the handle of the food box. Looking at that slender, willow-like back, she couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you… worried that I’m here to harm you?”

With her back turned, Shao Xibei first washed her hands in the basin on the stand, then took a handkerchief hanging on the wall to meticulously dry her fingers.

Hearing this, her lips curled into a faint smile. She turned her head slightly, revealing an exquisite profile; the corners of her eyes tilted upward, and her long lashes drooped slightly. “Harm me? A villain would not expose themselves first.” Having said that, she turned back to continue her movements, seemingly not worried at all that Pei Xi might attack her from behind.

Pei Xi’s breath hitched. Looking at the woman who appeared even more sickly in the dim room, she slowly stepped forward.

As long as I can get her to eat it, it will be fine.

As the woman’s thin silhouette swayed before her eyes, Pei Xi inconspicuously pressed the hidden mechanism at the bottom of the food box.

Shao Xibei sat down languidly in a chair. Watching Pei Xi cautiously arrange the food box on the table, she smiled and said, “What kind of delicacies did your father have you bring that make you so careful, as if you’re afraid of bumping them?”

Pei Xi didn’t speak. She simply kept her head down and slowly took everything out of the food box, placing them one by one next to the other dishes.

Shao Xibei looked over; the dishes were steaming as if they had just come off the stove, and the aroma was mouth-watering. They were three ordinary home-cooked dishes, looking extremely plain compared to the nearby elaborately prepared and displayed cuisine.

Strangely, the smell gave Shao Xibei a rare spark of appetite.

Pei Xi also seemed to feel that the dishes she brought out were somewhat unremarkable, but she was a girl of few words and didn’t know what to say in this situation.

Seeing Pei Xi standing there like a wooden statue, Shao Xibei beckoned to her: “Sit down quickly, little girl, let’s eat together. By the way, I haven’t asked your name yet.”

Pei Xi shook her head and said, “I’m not hungry.” Then, she answered Shao Xibei’s other question: “Pei Xi. My name is Pei Xi.”

Shao Xibei didn’t push her, but seeing the girl standing there watching her eat felt very strange.

Shao Xibei said, “Pei Xi, why don’t you head back first? Someone will come to clean up tomorrow.”

Pei Xi shook her head. “My father said I must watch you eat.”

Shao Xibei found it a bit of a headache. “Is there something wrong with your father’s head?” Sending a young girl on such an errand late at night.

She didn’t feel at all that it was wrong to insult someone’s father right in front of them.

Pei Xi pursed her lips; she hadn’t expected Shao Xibei to have such an attitude toward Pei Qing.

As she spoke, Shao Xibei felt the urge to cough again, but she swallowed several times and ultimately held it back.

“Sit down,” she said once more, but Pei Xi shook her head again.

Shao Xibei sighed. “Suit yourself.” With that, she picked up her bowl and chopsticks and, under Pei Xi’s gaze, began to eat her meal in a slow and refined manner.

However, what Shao Xibei didn’t know was that Pei Xi didn’t dare to look much at all. She only stole a quick glance to confirm that the woman was eating the food, and then kept her eyes fixed on the floor.

She had never seen anyone eat so beautifully—or rather, she had never seen such a beautiful person.

It felt as though looking for one second longer would steal her soul away; no wonder her father kept her locked up.

Shao Xibei ate a few bites and then set down her chopsticks. She said, “I’ve finished.”

Pei Xi looked at the dishes, which seemed almost untouched, but said nothing. She moved to Shao Xibei’s side and quietly began to clean up.

Shao Xibei let out a yawn, a tear of exhaustion moistening the corner of her eye.

She slowly stood up, but at that very moment, a violent wave of dizziness hit her. Her strength vanished instantly, and she collapsed directly onto Pei Xi.

Pei Xi was already thin and frail, and coupled with her short stature and lack of preparation, she was knocked straight to the ground.

The dishes she hadn’t yet put back into the food box spilled across the table.

Pei Xi stared up at the ceiling beams, blinking extremely slowly.

Her nose and mouth were pressed against Shao Xibei; the weight on her was light, and the scent at the tip of her nose was very pleasant.

In her memory, it felt like it had been a long time since she had been in such close contact with another person.

Shao Xibei’s dizziness lasted only a few seconds before her vision cleared again. Feeling the person beneath her, Shao Xibei felt apologetic: “I’m sorry, Pei Xi, did I hurt you by falling on you?” She tried to get up immediately, but her weakened body did not recover.

Helplessly, Shao Xibei could only say, “Pei Xi, could you please help me to the bed?” She had never experienced such a sudden total loss of strength before.

If possible, she really didn’t want to make use of an underweight, frail young girl.

Pei Xi answered with a soft “okay.” She carefully pushed the woman off, and after standing up herself, she crouched down to support the woman’s shoulders and help her rise slowly.

Shao Xibei leaned her hand on Pei Xi’s shoulder, feeling somewhat relieved that she wasn’t heavy.

Fortunately, the bed wasn’t far, though Pei Xi was still just a child who hadn’t fully grown; helping Shao Xibei to the bedside was still tiring for her.

She had intended for the woman to sit on the edge of the bed before lying down, but Pei Xi overestimated her own strength. She was pulled down by Shao Xibei, and they both tumbled onto the bed—though this time, it was Shao Xibei who was pinned underneath.

Pei Xi felt a soft sensation against her cheek. For a moment, her mind went completely blank. Once she realized what had happened, her face turned a deep crimson. She scrambled to sit up, so nervous she couldn’t even form words. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally managed to choke out a “Sorry.”

She then rushed to the table and began cleaning up in a frantic hurry.

Shao Xibei rubbed her forehead. Seeing Pei Xi acting as if she were being chased by a dog, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Why are you in such a rush? It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Xi’s movements became even faster. She finished packing everything in a matter of seconds, then headed for the door without looking back. “It’s late, Auntie, please get some rest.” Before she had even finished her sentence, she had already shut the door.

Shao Xibei listened to the sound of footsteps gradually fading away outside. The steps sounded somewhat panicked. After an unknown amount of time, Shao Xibei finally regained her strength.

She got out of bed and walked over to the dining table; everything Pei Xi had brought had been cleaned up perfectly. She reached for a small accessory she wore around her neck—a crystal-like object.

This object was miraculous; it contained a small storage space inside. It was the only thing that had remained with her. When she first woke up, she had noticed this ornament around her neck.

It was only after careful study later on that she discovered this unique space.

However, strangely enough, she didn’t find it the least bit unbelievable. If that were the case, she must have considered such things commonplace in her past.

The food she had put into her mouth earlier had actually been entirely transferred into that space.

She believed that Pei Xi was indeed Pei Qing’s child.

Although Pei Xi looked malnourished, the fabric of her clothing was of high quality. Furthermore, there was no reason for Pei Xi to tell a lie that could be so easily exposed.

But that didn’t mean the girl wouldn’t try to harm her.

Even though she had no memory, she could figure out with common sense that no one would like a person who ruined their parents’ relationship.

She had heard more than enough from the guards outside.

For instance: “They’re guarding this place so tightly, they won’t even let the Madam in.”

Or: “The Madam and the Master are fighting again. Ever since the Master took a concubine, they’ve been fighting every single day.”

Since arriving in this room, she had never seen anyone other than Pei Qing. Therefore, it was very strange for a little girl to come by late at night to deliver food.

If she guessed correctly, the girl must have snuck in.

The child was ultimately too young; she hadn’t considered what would happen if Shao Xibei told Pei Qing about this incident.

Shao Xibei let out a long, slow sigh. “…Disaster is coming.”

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