After the Second Playthrough, the CP-Less Female Lead Kneels and Begs Me for Forgiveness [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 25

The sun was sinking behind the western mountains.

Shao Xibei stood in the courtyard, staring blankly at the gradually declining sun, lost in thought.

Her body was becoming increasingly frail and thin. When she was awake, she often felt that life was utterly meaningless—it might be better to simply die and be done with it.

Yet, every time she opened her eyes the next morning, she felt a flicker of gratitude that she had survived another day.

Shao Xibei tightened her grip on the crystal-like object. The hard sensation in her palm reminded her that she had to recover her memories; there must be something of irreplaceable importance waiting for her.

Suddenly, a hemp rope about the thickness of a wrist was tossed down from the top of the perimeter wall.

Startled out of her reverie, Shao Xibei walked over curiously. Having lived here for some time, she had never seen such a commotion.

Then, she saw a head pop up over the high wall. The climbing process didn’t seem to be going smoothly, as the head quickly ducked back down.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Shao Xibei turned and hid behind a nearby fruit tree. The tree wasn’t particularly large or tall, but its dense foliage was enough to conceal her.

She watched as the head reappeared. Soon after, a thin, small figure she had met only a few days prior stood atop the wall.

It was Pei Xi.

Carrying a food box on her back, Pei Xi slid down the hemp rope extremely slowly until she reached the ground. Once steady, she turned to the rope and began tidying her clothes.

Standing to the side, Shao Xibei lowered her eyes. A sudden mischievous urge took hold of her, and she stepped lightly to stand directly behind Pei Xi.

Pei Xi seemed to sense someone’s presence and froze mid-motion.

The atmosphere grew silent.

Looking at the statue-like Pei Xi, Shao Xibei chuckled softly. “Hehe, little liar.”

Pei Xi shuddered and turned around stiffly.

The woman before her seemed even thinner than she had been a few days ago, yet this only made her appear more pitiable and delicate.

Pei Xi didn’t know what to say; she could only hang her head and stare at the tips of her shoes.

Shao Xibei covered her mouth and coughed slightly before speaking. “Your father told you to deliver food, yet you’re climbing over the wall?”

Pei Xi opened her mouth, feeling she should say something, but she had always been clumsy with words and naturally reticent. She could only remain frozen in place.

Shao Xibei continued, “Was everything you said the other day a lie? You aren’t actually Pei Qing’s child, and he didn’t ask you to deliver food, did he?”

Pei Xi looked up, stammering her reply: “I… I am Pei Qing’s child.”

Shao Xibei raised an eyebrow. Teasing children was actually quite fun, though she noticed the child’s hands were already chafed red by the rope.

Pei Xi only answered one of the questions. After speaking, she hung her head again. Her long, messy bangs covered her eyes, seemingly shielding her inner world as well.

…Will she be angry? Because I hid the truth, will she hit me? Like Father and Mother do?

As these thoughts swirled, a sense of infinite panic and rejection rose within Pei Xi.

But the reaction she anticipated never came.

Looking at the small, lowered head, Shao Xibei reached out and gently placed her hand on top of Pei Xi’s head, ruffling it twice.

Feeling the soft touch on her head, Pei Xi’s eyes widened. She looked up in bewilderment at the woman dressed in white. “…You.”

“Let’s go back to the room first,” Shao Xibei interrupted.

As she turned around, she didn’t forget to add: “Keep up, now~” The rising intonation betrayed her cheerful mood.

Pei Xi stepped forward to follow. The sun had not yet completely vanished, and the last remnants of light fell upon Shao Xibei, casting a long shadow.

Pei Xi could still feel the warmth of the other person on the top of her head. How is it that this person is so different from everyone else?

Step by step, Pei Xi trod upon Shao Xibei’s shadow as they entered the room.

Shao Xibei sat down by the table. “You sit down too,” she said to Pei Xi.

Pei Xi shook her head.

Shao Xibei felt a bit frustrated; this child was far too stoic.

Deciding to be direct, she reached out, grabbed Pei Xi’s wrist, pulled her over, and pressed her down into a chair.

Pei Xi blinked slowly. Everything happened so fast that her brain was a bit dazed.

This child really is like a wooden post.

Shao Xibei rested her chin on her hand and noticed the food box on Pei Xi’s back. It was the same one from last time, but this time it had two small straps attached so it could be carried on the shoulders.

Shao Xibei said, “What did you bring me to eat today?”

Pei Xi snapped back to reality. Hearing Shao Xibei’s question, she remembered why she had come.

After a moment of silence, she shook her head. “I didn’t bring you anything to eat.”

Shao Xibei pursed her lips into a smile. “What? Did your father not ask you to bring me food this time? Then why are you here, taking the ‘unconventional’ route? If you sneak in at night, I might just take you for a thief.”

Shao Xibei’s words were laced with a playful teasing, but Pei Xi didn’t seem to realize it was a joke. She answered earnestly, “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please don’t think of me as a thief.” Pei Xi was somewhat nervous; thieves were people who were hated.

Shao Xibei chuckled softly and asked again, “Then what are you doing here? Surely you didn’t come just to catch a few more glimpses of your ‘Auntie’?”

Shao Xibei still remembered the title Pei Xi had used during their first meeting. To be honest, thinking about her status as a concubine—a status forced upon her by Pei Qing—disgusted her. However, using the title to tease Pei Xi felt somewhat entertaining.

Pei Xi’s lips were pressed tight. She couldn’t give a clear reason for why she had come.

“…I, just, just…” She stammered for a long while without finishing the sentence.

Shao Xibei didn’t interrupt her. She simply stood up to retrieve a jar of ointment from the cabinet.

Seeing this, Pei Xi thought Shao Xibei was angry because she hadn’t answered properly.

Shao Xibei took the ointment, sat back down, and remained silent as she quietly opened the lid. Pei Xi bit her lip, repeating the same sentence in her mind many times before finally asking apprehensively, “…Did I make you unhappy?”

At this, Shao Xibei burst out laughing. How could this child be so adorable? Pei Xi’s arrival brought a sense of vitality to the place, and it actually made her quite happy.

“Alright, alright, I’m just teasing you. I’m not unhappy. It doesn’t matter why you came.”

While Pei Xi watched with a look of astonishment, Shao Xibei pulled the girl’s hands onto her own lap. She took a bit of the ointment and gently rubbed it onto the reddened areas of Pei Xi’s skin.

“Look at you, getting hurt like this and not saying a word,” Shao Xibei scolded lightly, pretending to be annoyed.

Even though this was only their second meeting, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pity for Pei Xi.

Pei Xi kept her eyes lowered, lost in thought.

By the time the ointment was applied, the moon had somehow already risen into the sky. Shao Xibei looked out at the darkened horizon and a thought suddenly struck her: she could use Pei Xi’s hemp rope to climb over the wall and escape.

With this thought in mind, her gaze toward Pei Xi became increasingly gentle.

Once again, she reached out and softly took Pei Xi’s hand.

Pei Xi’s hand was very small, easily covered by Shao Xibei’s. She pulled the girl up from her stool.

Pei Xi offered no resistance; she simply stared blankly at their joined hands, her mind drifting.

They walked to the spot where Pei Xi had entered.

Shao Xibei let go of her hand and pointed toward the wall. “Pei Xi, I want to climb out of here.”

Pei Xi withdrew her hand. The lingering sensation in her palm spread to her heart—so this was what it felt like to hold someone’s hand. It was so warm.

However, now was not the time for such thoughts. Upon hearing Shao Xibei’s words, she shook her head.

She said with some difficulty, “It’s very tiring. You will get hurt.”

Suddenly, Shao Xibei coughed violently twice, and traces of blood stained the corners of her mouth.

Pei Xi reached out, but seeing Shao Xibei pull out a handkerchief to wipe away the blood, she withdrew her hand.

Shao Xibei clutched her chest and spoke softly, “Pei Xi, I want to go out and see the world. Ever since your father kidnapped me and brought me here, I haven’t been outside once.”

Pei Xi’s eyes widened in shock. “You were kidnapped by my father?”

Shao Xibei let out a long sigh. “I have been weak and sickly since I was young; I don’t have much longer to live. Pei Qing, that lowly creature, lusted after my beauty. Regardless of my health, he forcibly abducted me and imprisoned me in this tiny courtyard. I see no one but him, day in and day out. At the rate my body is failing, I’m afraid I only have a few days left.”

“I am very happy that you are willing to visit me. No matter what your motives are, I don’t care.”

“Pei Xi, I want to go out and see the world while I still have these last few days.”

Shao Xibei spoke very calmly, but sometimes, the calmer the delivery, the more it tugs at one’s heartstrings.

Combined with her thin, sickly appearance, her words felt incredibly real.

Seeing Pei Xi’s lips turn pale from biting them, Shao Xibei knew the girl believed her.

“So, Pei Xi, will you help me?”

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