After the Second Playthrough, the CP-Less Female Lead Kneels and Begs Me for Forgiveness [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 27

It seemed that Shao Xibei’s voice had been heard, for the small ghost sitting on Pei Qing’s shoulder manifested once again.

This time, it was no longer a flickering shadow; Shao Xibei could see the ghost’s form with terrifying clarity.

It had bluish-purple skin, bulging eyeballs and stomach, and unnaturally thin limbs.

The little ghost split its mouth open toward Shao Xibei, emitting a cackling giggle. Without exaggeration, the corners of its mouth reached its ears, revealing a mouth full of dense, needle-like teeth. In the stillness of the night, the scene was utterly macabre.

Pei Qing was completely unaware of his own physical state. He needed Shao Xibei; he felt that as long as he got close to her, the heavy, abnormal sensation weighing on his body would vanish.

The night amplified the darkness in Pei Qing’s heart. He felt he shouldn’t have bothered with gentle methods; he should have locked her away on the very first day.

“Xiao Xi, I brought you back. Shouldn’t you listen to me? Come here, alright?”

Shao Xibei paid no mind to Pei Qing’s words. Her eyes were fixed on the little ghost, contemplating how to deal with such a thing.

Pei Xi remained silent behind Shao Xibei. She had thought of many things, but in the end, they all came to nothing; she truly was no match for Pei Ming.

Pei Qing drew closer and closer to the two of them, seemingly having forgotten how he had just been flung to the ground.

Shao Xibei wasn’t worried about Pei Qing. Based on their earlier encounter, the gap between her strength and his was massive; he had no power to strike back. What worried her was the little thing on his shoulder.

Maybe I can just grab it with my bare hands?

The thought surfaced suddenly, but she felt it was entirely feasible.

Pei Qing was now completely ignored by Shao Xibei, whose eyes were filled only with the eerily smiling ghost.

Seeing Shao Xibei standing motionless as if frozen, Pei Xi tried to step past her to face Pei Qing. However, she had barely moved when Shao Xibei reached back and gently pressed her down.

Pei Xi stopped instantly. If she defied this woman’s will, would she be unhappy? Pei Xi thought to herself; she didn’t want to make her unhappy.

Watching Pei Qing approach, Shao Xibei estimated the distance was right. She reached out, grabbed the ghost off Pei Qing’s shoulder, and then unceremoniously delivered a kick to Pei Qing’s stomach.

Pei Qing immediately flew backward. Despite being kicked in the stomach, he clutched his shoulder and began to howl in agony.

The guards at the courtyard gate seemed to have been dismissed by Pei Qing tonight, as his loud screams drew no one.

Pei Xi watched once more as her father—who in her memory possessed immense strength—was effortlessly kicked away by this slender woman.

Looking at Pei Qing groveling and screaming on the ground, Pei Xi felt for the first time that her father was not powerful at all.

Of the three people present, perhaps only Shao Xibei heard the infant’s shrill scream the moment she tore it away from Pei Qing’s body.

Perhaps even the little ghost hadn’t expected to be caught by human hands.

Shao Xibei squeezed the ghost’s neck. Its hideous body squirmed wildly as it clawed at the hand trapping it, but her grip only tightened.

The ghost seemed capable of feeling pain; it shrieked in agony as a black liquid oozed from its mouth.

Feeling disgusted, Shao Xibei threw the ghost directly against the wall.

So, you really can catch these things by hand.

Once freed, the ghost lunged back onto Pei Qing’s shoulder and vanished instantly.

At that moment, Pei Qing stopped clutching his shoulder.

Suddenly, the crisp sound of a ringing bell echoed from nowhere.

Pei Qing’s body, lying prostrate on the ground, shuddered violently. His eyes began to roll back into his head, and his body rose in an extremely distorted posture. He then stumbled and staggered out of the courtyard.

It was so eerie. Pei Xi had never seen anything like it, but she watched with wide, unblinking eyes.

“Pei Xi, did you hear a bell?” Shao Xibei asked suddenly.

Pei Xi whispered, “No.” She hadn’t heard anything, nor had she seen anything.

Everything tonight had happened too fast.

Shao Xibei temporarily abandoned the idea of running away… perhaps staying here would yield other discoveries.

Furthermore, she had unexpectedly discovered her own extraordinary combat power tonight—but why could she suddenly see those things?

This was a matter worth investigating.

As Shao Xibei pondered this, she noticed Pei Xi standing blankly behind her and assumed the child was terrified.

She turned around, placed her hand on Pei Xi’s head, and stroked it gently: “It’s alright, it’s over. Go back to sleep.”

Pei Xi looked up. Seeing Shao Xibei’s gentle, smiling face, her eyes flickered, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.

!!!

Shao Xibei thought: She really was scared!

She leaned down and gently pulled Pei Xi into a hug, slowly patting her back: “Pei Qing scared you, didn’t he? Don’t be afraid. If he comes again, I won’t let him off so easily.”

Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Pei Xi was filled with disbelief. She… her eyes had just been stinging a moment ago.

She hadn’t expected this woman to think she was crying from fear.

It turns out that the child who cries really does get the candy.

No, the child who cries has always gotten the candy, but it depends on who you are crying in front of.

She remembered when she was little and got scalded by boiling water. It hurt so much that she couldn’t help but cry, but when her father saw it, all she got was a slap.

‘Crying over such a small thing, it’s irritating to look at.’

At that moment, she understood she couldn’t “cry” her way to any comfort.

But what was this? A woman she had only met twice was being so unsparing with her tenderness.

Pei Xi cautiously leaned in a bit closer; her hand rose slowly, then hesitated and dropped.

Basking in the feeling of being held, a profound sense of sorrow suddenly surged within Pei Xi.

Why was I born into the Pei family?

Shao Xibei patted her a few times, and seeing that Pei Xi remained silent, she backed away slightly to get a better look at her.

The sight of Pei Xi’s tears stunned her.

The young girl’s face remained expressionless, yet tears were streaming down incessantly.

Shao Xibei felt a surge of silent resentment—she blamed that old wretch, Pei Qing, for this.

She reached out, intending to lift Pei Xi’s chin to wipe her tears, but she didn’t expect Pei Xi to tilt her head away to avoid her touch.

Seemingly afraid that Shao Xibei would be angry at her rejection, Pei Xi quickly turned her head back. She whispered softly, “My eyes… they don’t look good.”

Shao Xibei stroked Pei Xi’s head again. “It’s alright, I won’t look.” Having said that, she maintained her position and used her own sleeve to gently brush away Pei Xi’s tears.

As the fabric grazed her skin, Pei Xi felt as if her heart was being brushed along with it.

In an incredibly faint voice, she murmured, “If only… you were my mother.”

Shao Xibei didn’t catch the words. She was focused on drying Pei Xi’s face when she suddenly asked, “By the way, Pei Xi, how old are you?”

Pei Xi answered timidly, “Sixteen.”

Upon hearing this, Shao Xibei lamented inwardly that she was indeed still a minor. She had assumed the girl was only thirteen or fourteen; she hadn’t expected her to be sixteen.

Once the tears stopped, Shao Xibei said, “Go back and get some sleep.”

Pei Xi nodded and performed a formal bow. “Auntie, please rest well.”

Shao Xibei didn’t correct the title but answered with a smile: “My surname is Shao, Shao Xibei. You can call me Auntie, or Sister Shao—of course, you can call me whatever you like.”

Pei Xi nodded solemnly, bowed once more, and then climbed out over the wall using the hemp rope while carrying the food box on her back.

Shao Xibei didn’t ask why Pei Xi didn’t use the front door. She simply stood below, keeping a close eye on her so she could catch her if an accident occurred.

Pei Xi reached the top of the wall, cast one last look at Shao Xibei, whispered a soft goodbye, and slowly disappeared over the edge. A moment later, the hemp rope was pulled back up.

Shao Xibei shook her head and went inside. Pei Qing’s stunt tonight had truly drained her energy.

However, Pei Qing’s state was far too bizarre. She wondered if he would even remember these events tomorrow—and then there was that sudden sound of the bell.

All these occurrences tangled together in Shao Xibei’s mind, making her feel a wave of dizziness. It seemed she was pushing herself too hard.

Pei Xi carried the food box toward her bedroom. Though it was dark, the moonlight was bright enough to illuminate the path home.

However, before she had gone far, she saw a figure standing ahead.

Her footsteps involuntarily slowed. The figure seemed aware of her movement and slowly turned around to face her.

Under the moonlight, the person’s face appeared even more elegant and ethereal. Pei Xi called out in a low voice, “Sister, you’re back.”

Pei Ming’s white robes fluttered as she walked slowly toward Pei Xi.

Suppressing the urge to retreat, Pei Xi said, “Sister, Mother said you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.”

Pei Ming didn’t answer. She circled behind Pei Xi and opened the food box. Pei Xi’s body stiffened; she wanted to dodge but forced herself to stay still.

She lowered her head, submitting to Pei Ming’s actions like a docile rabbit.

Pei Ming leaned down and took a light sniff of the food. In a melodious, unhurried voice, she said, “The scent of Blood-Coagulating Powder. A highly toxic substance. How did you obtain this?”

Pei Xi replied, “I… bought it from a street vendor.”

Pei Ming continued, “You wanted to poison the woman Father brought home.”

Pei Xi remained silent.

Pei Ming went on: “Pei Xi, you are as foolish as ever. Do you think you could escape the consequences if you poisoned her to death?”

Pei Xi only said, “Sister, I’m tired.”

Pei Ming sighed. “Pei Xi, you need to grow up.”

“Don’t find me annoying; I just want you to think more about yourself.”

Without another word, Pei Xi bowed to Pei Ming and, without waiting for a reply, turned and walked away without looking back.

Left alone, Pei Ming shook her head. She touched the small bell hanging from her waist. “How did Xi’er become like this? She was so cute when she was little.”

The night breeze blew, causing the small bell to chime as if responding to Pei Ming’s words.

Suddenly remembering something, Pei Ming laughed softly. “Mother will be very happy to see me tomorrow morning.”

She flicked the bell. “After all, I’ve done my best to fulfill everything she requested. Isn’t that right, Suiyu?”

The bell let out a crisp ring, sounding clear and pleasant in the night air.

“Ding-ling-ling…”

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