Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 22
22
The banquet hall was filled with a bustling crowd of guests, and the slap echoed sharply through the room.
Liu Ning was stunned. Never in her life had her parents laid a hand on her, yet now, because of someone else’s casual remark, she had been slapped across the face in front of everyone.
The blow was forceful, leaving half her face numb, bl00d trickling from the corner of her mouth, and a metallic taste lingering on her tongue.
“Mommy!” Liu Ning cried out in shock and disbelief.
Mrs. Liu glared at her. “Hurry up and apologize to Miss Shen!”
Liu Ning couldn’t fathom what she had done wrong. Pointing at Jiang Ciyi, she exclaimed, “It’s clear that I lost something, and that cripple stole my necklace! I was just confronting her—why should I apologize?”
“You were rude to Miss Shen.” Mrs. Liu said, turning humbly to Shen Qingxue. “Miss Shen, I’m so sorry. My daughter has been spoiled since childhood and speaks and acts without restraint. I’ll make sure to discipline her properly when we get home.”
Some in the crowd recognized Shen Qingxue, while others didn’t. But the spectacle left everyone bewildered.
After all, in front of such a crowd, Mrs. Liu—a prominent figure in Jianggang’s elite circles—was now bowing and scraping to a woman much younger than herself.
“It’s fine.” Shen Qingxue responded calmly. “Your daughter is lively and innocent; it’s clear you dote on her, Mrs. Liu. But the person she should apologize to isn’t me—it’s this young lady who was wrongly accused.”
Mrs. Liu pinched Liu Ning, who stood beside her. “Hurry up and apologize to this young lady.”
“Why should I apologize to her?!” Liu Ning grew even more confused.
She had no idea who this woman who had suddenly appeared was, nor why her perfectly planned scheme had gone awry. Cheng Xing, who was supposed to play along and back her up, hadn’t shown up, leaving Liu Ning to carry out this frame-up alone.
“She stole my necklace!” Liu Ning insisted, clutching the necklace. “Mommy, look—this is the birthday gift Daddy gave me for my twentieth birthday. Are you saying I deliberately planted it in her bag to frame her? I’ve been with Luran and the others the whole time; there’s no way I could’ve done it!”
Mrs. Liu’s heart ached seeing her daughter like this, but Shen Qingxue stood firm, clearly intent on seeking justice for the disabled woman.
“Ningning, apologize.” Mrs. Liu said sternly. “Apologize to this young lady.”
“What kind of logic is this? She stole my stuff, and I’m supposed to apologize to her? No way!” Liu Ning remained defiant.
The next moment, Cheng Xing’s voice cut through the crowd: “What evidence do you have to prove my wife stole your necklace?”
Because of Shen Qingxue’s appearance, Cheng Xing had hesitated, choosing to observe from the sidelines.
But Liu Ning pressed on relentlessly, and Jiang Ciyi, sitting in her wheelchair, had become the target of everyone’s scrutiny.
Even though no one had seen Jiang Ciyi steal the necklace, Liu Ning’s confident accusations, coupled with her aggressive demeanor and a lengthy speech about Jiang Ciyi’s supposed motive, pinned her as the culprit.
Whispers began circulating among the crowd, with some saying the woman the Cheng family married was a thief.
Only then did Cheng Xing step forward, walking to Jiang Ciyi’s side and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Jiang Ciyi looked up and met her gaze, her expression blank, but beneath her calm exterior, a storm was brewing.
Cheng Xing only noticed as she drew closer that Jiang Ciyi’s body was trembling.
The scene grew even more lively with Cheng Xing’s arrival. Guan Linmin and Qin Zhiyun, having heard the commotion, rushed over, along with the men of the Cheng family.
Seeing Mrs. Liu standing there, Guan Linmin positioned herself beside Cheng Xing and Jiang Ciyi, ready to stand up for them. But Cheng Xing didn’t let her get involved.
She fixed her gaze on Liu Ning. “To catch an adulterer, you need both parties; to catch a thief, you need the stolen goods. It’s a simple principle—surely you understand that, Miss Liu?”
“Cheng Xing, you—!” Liu Ning, seeing her change her tune, was furious. “Why are you defending her?”
“She’s my wife. If I don’t stand up for her, who will I stand up for?” Cheng Xing said. “Let’s set aside everything else for now. You claim Jiang Ciyi stole your necklace—what evidence do you have? Did someone see her take it? Did you check the surveillance and see her do it?”
Liu Ning fell silent.
Cheng Xing pressed on. “Or did Jiang Ciyi admit to stealing your necklace?”
Liu Ning turned her head and saw her friend Zhou Luran, who was gleefully watching the drama unfold, and said coldly, “Luran saw it.”
Zhou Luran: “??”
“Is that so, Miss Zhou?” Cheng Xing turned to her. “Please tell us, when and where did you see Jiang Ciyi take her necklace?”
Zhou Luran looked utterly confused. “I don’t know anything about it. I didn’t see anything.”
After clarifying, she turned to Liu Ning. “Liu Ning, are you out of your mind? When did I ever tell you that?”
Her lie was instantly exposed, but Liu Ning stood her ground. “So you’re all siding with this cripple, huh?”
“It’s not about siding with anyone.” Cheng Xing said. “Miss Liu, be precise with your words. If my wife truly took your necklace, we would absolutely apologize and compensate you. But if she didn’t, you must apologize to her right here and clear her name.”
Liu Ning gritted her teeth in frustration. “Cheng Xing, you—!”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
She couldn’t exactly admit that she and Cheng Xing had planned this together to frame Jiang Ciyi, ruin her reputation, and humiliate her at the banquet, could she?
That would confirm she was framing Jiang Ciyi.
And she would become the liar.
With so many of Jianggang’s elite gathered at this banquet, she could afford to lose face, but her family couldn’t!
At this point, she could only double down. “I didn’t see her steal it, but the necklace fell out of her bag. And she’s the only one here with a motive to steal.”
“Why?” Cheng Xing asked. “What’s her motive?”
“What else could it be? She’s poor, obviously! Everyone knows her father’s a drug addict who’s been to prison.”
“Liu Ning, watch your words!” Guan Linmin, unable to stay silent, interrupted her.
Cheng Xing held her back, saying calmly, “Is that her motive? Her family background makes her a thief? That’s laughable. Miss Liu, it’s a good thing you don’t work for the police, or there’d be countless wrongful convictions.”
“First, your necklace may be worth a million, but it’s not worth my wife stealing. My closet is filled with far more expensive jewelry and clothes. If my wife wants anything, she can take it—it’s hers.”
“Second, she used to be a working professional, but as a renowned forensic pathologist at the Jianggang Police Department, every cent she earned was honest, and she never lived beyond her means.”
“Third, as you can all see, her physical condition doesn’t exactly lend itself to stealing.”
“Finally, given my wife’s character and what she already has, a million-dollar necklace is nothing to her. I won’t speak for the entire Cheng family, but everything I own belongs to her. Her actions are mine. So, Miss Liu, do you think I would steal your necklace?”
Cheng Xing’s voice wasn’t loud, but her calm analysis of the situation was logical and compelling.
“Then how do you explain the necklace falling out of her bag?” Liu Ning said. “Are you saying I framed her?”
“There are many ways a necklace could end up in my wife’s bag,” Cheng Xing replied. “I’ve already asked the butler to check the surveillance. Since this happened at our Cheng family’s event, we won’t let anyone be wronged. I was with my wife the entire time, and we haven’t been here long—it should be easy to verify.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the butler appeared. “Miss, we’ve found it.”
“Play the surveillance,” Cheng Xing said, directing someone to turn on the large screen hanging in the air, originally meant for showing a birthday video for Guan Linmin tonight.
The next moment, Shen Qingxue spoke up. “Today is Mrs. Cheng’s birthday banquet. Making such a scene is stealing the spotlight. Why don’t we all take a step back and let it go?”
Shen Qingxue glanced at a trembling girl standing in the corner, piecing things together.
If she hadn’t stepped in, that girl would likely have been dragged out as a scapegoat for these people.
Shen Qingxue remained composed, like the first snow of winter—cool yet carrying a hint of warmth. “Miss Liu must be shaken up too.”
Cheng Xing didn’t understand her intentions. Just moments ago, Shen Qingxue had been assertive, using her influence to make Mrs. Liu slap Liu Ning. Now she was playing peacemaker?
Not just Cheng Xing—even Liu Ning was confused.
Liu Ning had already prepared to pin everything on the small-time celebrity Chen Rui had introduced if the plan fell apart. After all, she had paid the celebrity to slip the necklace into Jiang Ciyi’s bag while Jiang Ciyi was in the restroom. She didn’t know how the celebrity managed it, but it was done.
Yet Shen Qingxue had unexpectedly stepped in to mediate.
Cheng Xing wasn’t inclined to give her this courtesy. “Miss Liu may be shaken, but my wife is shaken too. Not only that, she’s been wronged. Doesn’t this deserve an explanation?”
Shen Qingxue froze, her faintly blue-tinted eyes locking onto Cheng Xing.
Cheng Xing was momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now she saw that Shen Qingxue’s eyes were a striking mix of blue and brown, almost like those of a foreigner.
Then she recalled that, in the original novel, Shen Qingxue was described as having one-eighth European ancestry, giving her deeper features and a more pronounced nose.
“Everyone’s been wronged.” Cheng Xing said with a gentle smile, standing her ground. “So let’s check the surveillance and make sure no one is wronged. That’s the best way.”
She raised her hand to play the surveillance, but Shen Qingxue said coolly, “Miss Cheng, can’t you give me some face?”
“I can give you face.” Cheng Xing replied. “But who will make up for the grievance my wife has suffered?”
The old Cheng Xing had been sharp and impulsive, acting without much thought or tact.
But this Cheng Xing was different—gentle and composed, yet resolute in protecting Jiang Ciyi, unafraid to stand up to Shen Qingxue.
Their gazes locked, sparking like clashing swords.
Guan Linmin, worried that Cheng Xing might offend the legendary Shen family heiress, didn’t want to end up like Mrs. Liu, forced to slap her own daughter to appease someone powerful. She stepped in. “Alright, it’s my birthday today. Everyone, give me some face and let this go.”
“I’ll take responsibility with Mrs. Liu.” Guan Linmin continued. “Both sides were at fault. Let’s have them apologize to each other and call it even.”
She shot a glance at Jiang Ciyi and then looked at Mrs. Liu, with whom she had a decent relationship. “Mrs. Liu, what do you think?”
“Ningning.” Mrs. Liu tugged at Liu Ning’s hand, her eyes almost pleading. “Apologize to Miss Jiang.”
Reluctantly, Liu Ning muttered, “Sorry.”
“Sorry to whom?” Cheng Xing pressed. “Be clear.”
Liu Ning glared at her. “Cheng Xing, don’t push it.”
“Then play the surveillance.” Cheng Xing countered.
Gritting her teeth, Liu Ning spat out, “Jiang Ciyi, I’m sorry.”
Mrs. Liu looked at Guan Linmin. “Is that enough, Mrs. Cheng?”
Guan Linmin nodded and patted Jiang Ciyi’s shoulder, signaling her to apologize.
But Jiang Ciyi maneuvered her wheelchair, her tone cold. “I didn’t do it, so I won’t admit to it.”
Guan Linmin awkwardly withdrew her hand. Cheng Xing immediately followed up. “If you want us to apologize, show the surveillance and prove it’s my wife’s fault. If it’s her fault, we’ll kneel and apologize. But if you won’t show the surveillance, we won’t accept this blame.”
With that, they left under the crowd’s watchful eyes.
Guan Linmin flashed a smug look but quickly hid it, turning to Mrs. Liu with an apologetic expression. “Mrs. Liu, I’m really sorry.”
Back in their room, Jiang Ciyi sat quietly, staring out the window in a daze.
Cheng Xing poured her a glass of water, but she didn’t drink, seemingly lost in thought about how the necklace ended up in her bag.
“Don’t overthink it.” Cheng Xing said. “Don’t fall into the trap of trying to prove yourself.”
Jiang Ciyi glanced at her casually. “You never doubted me?”
“No,” Cheng Xing said. “You wouldn’t do something like that.”
Cheng Xing hurriedly took a sip of water, nearly choking and coughing a few times.
Jiang Ciyi reached out to pat her back but quickly pulled away.
After recovering, Cheng Xing said, “I saw your father in the hall earlier. It seems someone bribed him to come here and humiliate you.”
“Hm?” At the mention of her father, Jiang Ciyi’s expression shifted. “Was it Liu Ning?”
Cheng Xing shook her head. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t say.”
Jiang Ciyi frowned, unable to understand why these people were targeting her.
“Do you have any conflicts with them?” she asked Cheng Xing.
Cheng Xing paused. “No, why do you ask?”
“I don’t know these people,” Jiang Ciyi said. “Today is your mother’s birthday. By targeting me, the most direct outcome is to tarnish your family’s reputation, letting everyone in the circle know you married a woman of bad character, while also ruining your mother’s birthday party.”
Cheng Xing: “…”
It did make sense.
But from what Liu Ning said, it seemed like she and the original Cheng Xing had planned this together.
…She really couldn’t fathom the original Cheng Xing’s thought process!
In the original novel, this banquet was only briefly mentioned, with no appearance from Shen Qingxue. Naturally, Jiang Ciyi wasn’t there either.
Because at this point in the story, Jiang Ciyi was still locked in the attic by the original Cheng Xing, treated like a dog.
The banquet’s main purpose in the novel was to show the original Cheng Xing getting drunk, partying with her reckless friends, and being provoked by someone claiming to have seen Su Manchun holding hands with another woman abroad. This drove her to return home and take out her anger on Jiang Ciyi.
But today, Shen Qingxue had appeared.
In the original novel, Shen Qingxue’s first appearance came after Jiang Ciyi was recognized by a powerful family. Shen Qingxue visited her on a snowy day, and the author dedicated extensive prose to their first meeting—how Shen Qingxue praised Jiang Ciyi, how they hit it off instantly.
Yet now, Shen Qingxue and Jiang Ciyi had already met.
Was Shen Qingxue helping Jiang Ciyi because she recognized her, or was it just a sense of justice? Her later attempt to smooth things over was puzzling.
These thoughts tangled like a mess of threads, and Cheng Xing couldn’t unravel them.
Perhaps the only way to find answers was to ask the system.
The room fell silent.
Both Jiang Ciyi and Cheng Xing were lost in their thoughts.
Soon, the banquet’s lively atmosphere resumed. Cheng Xing asked Jiang Ciyi if she wanted to see her father, but Jiang Ciyi shook her head. “There’s nothing to say to him.”
She had personally sent him to prison, and he likely hated her for it.
“Then I’ll handle it,” Cheng Xing said. “Rest here in the room.”
“Okay, thank you.” Jiang Ciyi replied.
After leaving the room, Cheng Xing headed straight to the room where Jiang Ciyi’s father was being held. Showing him a photo of Liu Ning, she asked, “Is this the person who sent you?”
Jiang’s father, lounging carelessly, smirked. “Wanna know? Pay up.”
Cheng Xing frowned. “You won’t talk?”
He laughed loudly. “Give me money, and I’ll spill everything. What’s wrong? You used to be so sweet, calling me ‘uncle.’ Now that you’re married to my daughter, you’re treating me like this? You’re just like that damn woman—two peas in a pod.”
The original Cheng Xing had dealt with Jiang’s father before, pretending to be friendly to win over Jiang Ciyi. But after learning Jiang Ciyi despised him, she threatened him, even arranging for him to be beaten up when he was drunk or high in shady bars. He never remembered who did it.
Eventually, he stopped daring to cross her.
But the current Cheng Xing was reasonable and wouldn’t stoop to such tactics.
All she could do was find a way to send him back to prison.
Seeing his brazen attitude, she baited him. “How much?”
“Three hundred thousand,” he said in Cantonese, grinning like a thug. “I’ll tell you everything.”
Cheng Xing: “…”
Why not just rob a bank?
“Jiang Ciyi is your daughter. Why would you push her to this point? Wasn’t killing her mother enough? Are you even human?” Cheng Xing stood, scolding him. “If you had any conscience, you wouldn’t show your face in front of her again.”
“Heh. Ha. Hahaha!” Jiang’s father laughed darkly. “I don’t have a daughter like her. Who knows which bastard her mother slept with to produce her? She even sent me to prison. If it weren’t for that slut, would I be in this mess? She’d be better off dead.”
“Does Jiang Ciyi know about this?” Cheng Xing asked.
He scoffed. “I’m counting on her to support me in my old age. Why would I tell her? She’s gotta give me money.”
As he grew agitated, Cheng Xing stepped back, signaling Xiao Yang to restrain him. She planned to have the police take him away after the banquet.
But this time, she’d make sure he faced serious charges.
An idea struck her.
Approaching the increasingly delirious man, she leaned in and said, “Do you know why Jiang Ciyi is so beautiful while you’re so ugly? Because she’s not your biological daughter. You could never have a daughter that stunning. Your wife never loved…”
Before she could finish, he kicked out at her.
Cheng Xing used the force to slide back several meters.
The room had surveillance. She instructed Xiao Yang to copy the footage and pass it to the police, who would know what to do.
As she left the room, the system’s cute, mechanical voice chimed in her mind:
[Awoo! Congratulations, Host! Strategy progress has reached 25%, earning you 500,000 HKD. Keep up the great work!]
Cheng Xing: “?”
A 15% jump in strategy progress—what had she done?
Just standing up for Jiang Ciyi?
But the reward money seemed lower.
[Awoo! You’re amazing, Host! You’re the fastest task-completer I’ve ever seen!]
“Don’t try to dodge the question with flattery.” Cheng Xing retorted mentally. “Why’s my money less?”
[Awoo! A 15% strategy progress leap in one go reduces the reward slightly. That’s the Interstellar Fate Bureau’s settlement rule. I don’t make the rules!]
Cheng Xing: “…”
That’s harsh.
[Awoo! But a progress leap of over 20% comes with extra rewards!]
Cheng Xing was about to ask why Shen Qingxue appeared early when Liu Ning’s sharp voice interrupted: “Cheng Xing! Are you insane? Why did you do that downstairs?”
Liu Ning’s face was swollen, looking somewhat comical as she stormed over angrily.
Cheng Xing shifted her focus but mentally noted the system’s response to her question: [Awoo! As a key plot character, her appearance means the wheels of fate have started turning since you arrived here.]
Ignoring the system, Cheng Xing faced Liu Ning. “What’s wrong?”
“You have the nerve to ask me what’s wrong? Downstairs, you sided with that disabled wife of yours against me. Have you lost your mind?” Liu Ning fumed. “You got me slapped by my mom, and she says she’s locking me up when we get home.”
“You brought that on yourself.” Cheng Xing said. “You accused Jiang Ciyi without any evidence, bullying her in front of everyone.”
“You! You’re insane! Wasn’t this our plan?” Liu Ning raged. “I texted you today, and you didn’t reply, but you told me before to go ahead with it. I took this risk for you, and what? You played the good guy and stole the spotlight. Are you actually bewitched by that disabled wife of yours?”
Liu Ning accused her of betrayal.
Cheng Xing frowned. “I never told you to do this, and don’t come to me with such things in the future.”
“Pfft!” Liu Ning pulled out her phone. “Fine, let’s look at the chat records. Trying to play the saint now? You sent several voice messages in the group, egging us on.”
She played the recordings. It was indeed the original Cheng Xing’s voice, gleefully talking about causing a scene at the birthday banquet.
Others chimed in, asking if such a big fuss wouldn’t upset Cheng Xing’s mother.
The original Cheng Xing had laughed it off: “It’s fine. My mom spoils me. I just want to see that cripple humiliated. Bring out her deadbeat dad too—he’s like a dog; give him some money, and he’ll bite anyone. She’ll want to die from shame, haha!”
Cheng Xing’s head throbbed.
Was the original Cheng Xing an idiot?
She stayed silent, which Liu Ning took as guilt. “Believe me, I’ll leak these chat records right now. Let’s all go down together.”
“Do what you want.” Cheng Xing said. “The matter’s already settled. Stirring it up again just gives people more to gossip about.”
Those chat records wouldn’t spread. Even if they did, they wouldn’t gain traction.
The Cheng family wouldn’t allow such things to circulate.
If Liu Ning pushed this to a breaking point, the Liu family would be the ones to suffer.
And if necessary, the Liu family would sacrifice her.
In their circle, everyone understood from birth that individual interests came second to family interests. That’s why the original Cheng Xing and her reckless friends never crossed certain lines.
“Liu Ning, you’d better think carefully before acting.” Cheng Xing said calmly, her tone carrying an unspoken threat. “Don’t accidentally step on a landmine.”
Liu Ning froze. “You’re the one who gave me her dad’s contact info.”
Cheng Xing remained silent, looking at her calmly, confident Liu Ning wouldn’t dare act.
But Liu Ning couldn’t swallow her anger. Clenching her fists, she gritted her teeth. “Unless you make her apologize to me and let me have her for a few days.”
How she’d “have” her would be up to Liu Ning.
Cheng Xing’s brow furrowed, about to tell her to dream on, when a soft, mocking sound came from nearby: “Tch.”
Both Cheng Xing and Liu Ning turned to see a woman in a cream-colored shirt and black trousers, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, standing there. She was holding Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair, and Jiang Ciyi was looking at them calmly.
At Cheng Xing, in particular.
Her gaze seemed to pierce into Cheng Xing’s soul.
Liu Ning, unfazed, snapped, “Xu Congshi, this is none of your business. Stay out of it.”
Hearing the name Xu Congshi, Cheng Xing recognized her.
Jiang Ciyi’s senior, Xu Jingcheng’s cousin, and someone deeply tied to Jiang Ciyi’s eventual recognition by a powerful family. She was also Jiang Ciyi’s second sister-in-law, married to Jiang Ciyi’s second sister through an arranged family marriage.
Despite her harmless appearance, she could dissect a body without blinking—an kindred spirit to Jiang Ciyi.
Hearing Liu Ning, Xu Congshi crossed her arms. “Oh, I’m just here to see what you’re up to.”
Cheng Xing felt Jiang Ciyi’s gaze linger like an eternity.
After a long pause, Liu Ning prodded, “What are you standing there for? Make her apologize to me.”
Clap—clap—clap—
Jiang Ciyi, still in her wheelchair, began to clap. “Well played, Miss Cheng.”
[Awoo! Oh no! Strategy progress has dropped by 10%, triggering the punishment mechanism—]