Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 25
25
Cheng Xing didn’t know how the level of pain was determined, but in an instant, fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her lips turned as pale as paper.
The pain was so intense that she collapsed, though she still had some strength left. Her arms propped up her body, preventing her from looking too pathetic.
This sudden turn of events startled both the old lady and Xu Zhaozhao.
But the old lady’s panic lasted only a moment before her face hardened again, and she scolded, “Cheng Xing, stop pretending. I’ve seen all kinds of people over the years—do you really think you can scare me with this act? No matter what you do today, you will divorce that woman, even if it takes everything.”
Sweat gathered into droplets and fell to the floor, not far from the soup and water that had just spilled.
It was all a mockery of her wasted efforts over the past few days.
She hadn’t chosen to come to this world!
Why did they all have to make things so difficult for her?
Wasn’t a grandmother supposed to be someone close to her? Why was she so aggressive and overbearing?!
Cheng Xing’s eyes burned with bewildered resentment. Her body trembled with pain, and even her voice quivered, yet it was icy: “I won’t.”
Xu Zhaozhao stared at Cheng Xing, worried that things might escalate, and tugged at the old lady’s arm. “Grandmother, it doesn’t seem like Sister Xing is pretending.”
Cheng Xing raised her head slightly, giving them both a cold look.
Xu Zhaozhao immediately stepped forward, feigning concern. “Sister Xing, are you okay?”
Cheng Xing shook off the arm Xu Zhaozhao tried to place on her. “Stay away from me.”
Xu Zhaozhao instantly put on a hurt expression. “Sister Xing, are you really ignoring me just because you have her now? I’m just worried about you.”
Cheng Xing wished she could cut ties with these two for the rest of her life.
Before, she’d only thought one was an arrogant, domineering old woman and the other a scheming, manipulative green tea. But now, she realized they were simply bad.
Bad to the core!
“I’ll go get the family doctor,” Xu Zhaozhao said hurriedly, even wiping at nonexistent tears at the corner of her eyes for effect.
The old lady immediately stopped her. “Zhaozhao, leave her be. Look at her—she’s clearly faking it.”
Cheng Xing: “…”
The pain felt like ants gnawing at her heart, draining her to the point where she could barely speak, let alone argue back.
She didn’t know when the system’s punishment would end; she was barely holding on.
In a moment of desperation, Cheng Xing checked her pulse. Aside from her heart racing much faster than usual, there was no apparent issue.
But the pain was indescribable.
The old lady, however, just looked at her and sneered. “Cheng Xing, your attempt to frame me with these tactics is too amateur. I was navigating the corporate world with your grandfather when I was twenty. I built the Cheng Corporation with my own hands. I’ve seen more people than the salt you’ve eaten. Stop acting.”
Cheng Xing clenched her fists, biting her teeth in silence.
But her anger grew stronger.
It was just like when she first arrived in this world and learned that her fiancé, Su Jiaming, had orchestrated the car accident.
She was furious. Even resentful.
This was the time when the Cheng family members usually woke up one by one to have breakfast. But since yesterday was Guan Linmin’s birthday banquet, everyone had slept in later than usual.
Qin Zhiyun never had the habit of sleeping in. After waking up, she saw her husband still sound asleep.
Normally, Cheng Zimo would already be in his study handling documents by seven in the morning to manage the Cheng Corporation.
It was rare to see him sleeping so deeply, so she didn’t disturb him and snuggled back beside him for a while.
When Cheng Zimo finally woke up, Qin Zhiyun lingered with him, exchanging sweet nothings. While he was washing up, she decided to check if anyone had come downstairs for breakfast. As soon as she stepped out, she saw the scene unfolding below.
Her sister-in-law, Cheng Xing, looked utterly disheveled.
Before Qin Zhiyun married into the family, the Qin family had specifically warned her: in the Cheng household, you could offend anyone except the old lady and her little sister-in-law.
Cheng Xing had been pampered and spoiled her entire life. No matter what mistakes she made, the Cheng family would clean up after her.
In other families, someone her age would typically be given a cushy job, but because Cheng Xing had once said she didn’t like working, she’d never set foot in a workplace. Her daily routine consisted of spending her parents’ money with their black card.
Qin Zhiyun had a cousin who went to the same high school as Cheng Xing. According to her, Cheng Xing had a terrible reputation at school, often bullying others. People avoided her, fearing her bad moods. The worst incident was when she forced a frail male classmate to kneel and clean her shoes.
Qin Zhiyun had been disgusted when she heard this, but after coming to the Cheng household, her interactions with her sister-in-law were limited. Cheng Xing seemed like a completely different person from the one her cousin described.
Qin Zhiyun remained skeptical about those stories.
But now, the old lady, who had been living abroad, had suddenly returned, and in the blink of an eye, she was at odds with Cheng Xing.
The grandmother and granddaughter were like fire and water, a tension that seemed tied to the welcome banquet held for the old lady the other night.
It was early in the morning, and they were already at odds. As the daughter-in-law, Qin Zhiyun knew it wouldn’t be wise to meddle in their affairs, but she couldn’t just stand by either.
After all, the worsening relationship between the two had something to do with her family.
Recalling how Cheng Xing had stood up for Cheng Zimo at the banquet, Qin Zhiyun felt compelled to help her.
After some thought, she went to knock on Guan Linmin’s door.
Guan Linmin was still half-asleep, assuming it was some clueless maid forgetting her instructions and coming to call her for breakfast.
She dawdled for a while before opening the door. Seeing her eldest daughter-in-law, she yawned and asked, “What’s up, Yun’er?”
Qin Zhiyun didn’t dare speak loudly and whispered a few words in her ear.
Guan Linmin’s eyes widened instantly. She threw on a silk camisole nightgown and was about to rush downstairs.
Cheng Kunshan, still in the room, called out to her. “What’s going on? Why the rush? At least put on some clothes first.”
Guan Linmin turned back, seeing him calmly seated at the desk, engrossed in Das Kapital, and stomped over to pinch him. “Cheng Kunshan! This is all your fault! Why did you have to bring your mother back? The moment she’s here, our house is in chaos. Get her out of here!”
Cheng Kunshan winced in pain, hurriedly putting down the book to placate her. “What’s wrong? She’s just lonely abroad and wants to come home to enjoy family time. As her son, how can I kick her out? Besides, she’s leaving in a few days. Just bear with it. Tell Zimo and the others to bear with it too. She’s eighty—how many years does she have left?”
Guan Linmin’s face darkened. “Go downstairs and see for yourself!”
With that, she threw on a coat and rushed out.
Cheng Xing had been half-kneeling on the floor for what felt like an eternity, waiting for the punishment to end.
The pain seemed to stretch time to half its normal speed. She was on the verge of collapsing, but she still glared coldly at the old lady.
At that moment, the old lady’s face seemed to overlap with Su Jiaming’s.
Cheng Xing’s first twenty years had been smooth sailing, but this year had been one disaster after another.
The old lady snapped, “What are you staring at? Are you dissatisfied with me?”
“Of course.” Cheng Xing gritted out through clenched teeth.
“Then why are you pretending?” the old lady sneered. “It’s just a broken bowl of porridge. Do you think you can use that to kick me out?”
“No descendant of the Cheng family should grovel before others,” the old lady declared sharply, her years of commanding authority in the business world radiating from her.
Cheng Xing wasn’t intimidated. “Old fossil.”
The system’s punishment had sapped her strength, and she spat out each word with effort. But after speaking, she could no longer hold herself up. Her consciousness began to fade, and the arm supporting her gave out, her body teetering on the edge of collapse.
But she couldn’t fall. If she did, her face would land in the spilled soup and water on the floor.
She would look even more pathetic.
She didn’t want to be so pathetic.
At least not in front of these two.
Xu Zhaozhao said softly, “Grandmother, maybe we should get the family doctor to check on Sister Xing. She looks really unwell.”
“Get what?” the old lady scoffed. “The family doctor is someone I brought back from abroad, paid handsomely every year. What right does she have to use him? Just because her last name is Cheng? Hmph.”
That final “hmph” carried layers of unspoken mockery.
Cheng Xing had thought the pain would eventually numb her, but it didn’t. It kept tormenting her, as if teaching her a lesson for daring to hope otherwise. It was a reminder that these tasks were non-negotiable, and any attempt to skirt them would lead to a miserable fate.
Her senses were fading. Her vision blurred, and she could barely hear what they were saying.
When she checked her pulse again, her fingers trembled so much she had to pinch herself to steady them.
Her pulse was weak and erratic, tinged with the agitation of a racing heart.
Just as she was about to collapse, someone caught her head, supporting her full weight.
Cheng Xing struggled to open her eyes and saw Jiang Ciyi, her long black hair hanging down, gently patting her face. Though her expression was cold, her eyes held worry and care. “What’s wrong with you?”
The pain had lasted so long that Cheng Xing could no longer distinguish reality from illusion.
It felt like the pain had stopped, yet it lingered.
“It hurts.” Cheng Xing said, relaxing at the sight of her. Her head rested on Jiang Ciyi’s numb legs. “My chest hurts.”
Jiang Ciyi frowned, glancing around before pointing at a maid. “Help me lay her flat on the ground.”
The maid had been standing by, watching the scene unfold but too intimidated by the old lady’s authority to act.
Even when Jiang Ciyi singled her out, she took one step forward only to freeze when the old lady let out a threatening “hmph” from her nose.
The maid shrank back, her eyes pleading—Please let me go.
The maids working here were just trying to earn a living. Everyone knew the Cheng family was full of powerful, wealthy people—none of whom could be offended.
Anyone with a shred of sense knew the old lady held absolute authority in this household.
Offending the newlywed Jiang Ciyi was one thing, but crossing the old lady could make finding another job nearly impossible.
When the maid didn’t move, Jiang Ciyi’s frown deepened, but she didn’t press her. Instead, she pointed at another person.
But in the large hall, with five or six maids present, not one dared to step forward.
The old lady laughed. “Who do you think you are, ordering my Cheng family’s people around?”
Jiang Ciyi shot her a sidelong glance, her voice cold and her tone flat. “They signed labor contracts, not slavery bonds.”
Her calm demeanor made her words all the more cutting. “The feudal era is over. Are you trying to turn the Cheng Corporation into the Cheng Empire? Let’s see if you can live a few hundred years first. Someone half-buried in the ground, yet still so vicious.”
“You!” The old lady was livid. “How dare a junior like you lecture me?”
“Good thing I’m a junior.” Jiang Ciyi replied. “Otherwise, I’d have to teach you a lesson myself.”
Xu Zhaozhao, standing to the side, subtly fanned the flames. “Grandmother, don’t be angry. Miss Jiang wasn’t raised with much guidance—she’s young and doesn’t know manners. Why bother arguing with her?”
Jiang Ciyi let out a cold laugh. “Xu Zhaozhao, do you think the whole world is full of idiots? I may not have had much upbringing, but I know not to stir up trouble in someone else’s family while living under their roof. A cuckoo taking over a magpie’s nest is still just a cuckoo. A sparrow perched on a branch doesn’t become a phoenix—it’s still just a chirping sparrow.”
The punishment seemed to have ended. Cheng Xing felt her heart ease slightly, and when she checked her pulse again, it was steadier than before.
She also caught Jiang Ciyi’s words.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Ciyi, usually so reserved and quiet, to be so sharp-tongued when provoked. Her insults were refined, cutting without a single curse word, tearing her opponents apart.
Despite her weakened state, Cheng Xing raised her hands to clap.
But her condition couldn’t even sustain that small action. After two claps, her consciousness wavered, her strength drained, and she slid down Jiang Ciyi’s legs.
In a panic, Jiang Ciyi pulled her back up.
Cheng Xing gave a weak smile, her voice faint as a mosquito’s buzz, yet still trying to comfort her. “I’m fine.”
Jiang Ciyi scolded her. “Stop talking.”
Cheng Xing tilted her head up to smile at her, though even that small movement was a struggle.
“Pretty convincing act,” the old lady sneered. “Cheng Xing, if you agree to divorce her and marry Zhaozhao right now, I’ll give you 5% of the Cheng Corporation’s shares.”
“Grandmother,” Xu Zhaozhao said, feigning a change in expression. “You’re…”
The old lady patted her hand reassuringly. “Well? Do you agree?”
Cheng Xing half-squinted her eyes. “In your dreams.”
Her task in this world was to win over Jiang Ciyi. Divorcing her would mean death.
What use was 5% of the Cheng Corporation’s shares?
She’d learned the importance of money after her father’s incident, but she also knew not all money was worth taking.
Marry a green tea like Xu Zhaozhao?
She’d rather die.
Jiang Ciyi pressed her shoulders, whispering, “Stop talking.”
For some reason, Cheng Xing heard a trace of gentleness in her tone.
Cold as Jiang Ciyi was, she showed all her kindness in a life-or-death moment.
Cheng Xing lowered her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips, but her lack of strength made her sway, held up only by Jiang Ciyi’s grip.
She could feel the steady strength in Jiang Ciyi’s arms, as if she were using every ounce of her energy.
Her wheelchair rolled over the spilled soup and water, but she didn’t care in the slightest.
Cheng Xing suddenly understood why she was the female lead.
She wanted to reassure her, to tell her the pain had stopped.
But she didn’t even have the strength to lift her hand.
The next moment, Jiang Ciyi’s voice turned grave. “You’ve all seen how your young miss is doing. Help me lay her flat—I can check on her. It might be a sudden heart attack or another acute cardiac issue. If we don’t act quickly, she might be ready for an autopsy soon.”
She looked up. “And you all—if she dies today, the surveillance in this house will prove it was because of you. Even if you didn’t lay a hand on her, her death would be tied to your argument. I’d like to see how the Cheng Corporation’s lawyers can get a reduced sentence for an eighty-year-old woman.”
“You can spend your remaining years lording over everyone in prison, still the vicious old lady.”
The old lady’s face changed. “You!”
“What are you all standing around for?!” Guan Linmin burst out of the elevator, catching Jiang Ciyi’s words. Seeing the motionless maids and Cheng Xing, pale and barely conscious, leaning against Jiang Ciyi’s legs, she was furious. “Do you all want to get fired?! Are you going to let the young miss die here?”
Five or six maids sprang into action, helping to lay Cheng Xing flat on the ground.
Jiang Ciyi, limited by her wheelchair, looked at Qin Zhiyun, the easiest to talk to, and used a simple address. “Big sister-in-law, help me.”
With Qin Zhiyun’s assistance, Jiang Ciyi knelt on the ground—a difficult position for her—but in that moment, saving someone took precedence.
She checked Cheng Xing’s pulse at her neck, called for an ambulance through Guan Linmin, and pinpointed the source of the pain.
Her warm palm brushed over Cheng Xing’s chest through her nightgown, unavoidably grazing soft skin, but Jiang Ciyi remained focused, asking repeatedly to confirm.
Finally, she identified the heart as the source.
Jiang Ciyi gently massaged Cheng Xing’s chest.
Cheng Xing’s consciousness hadn’t fully faded. She felt her heart beating stronger with each of Jiang Ciyi’s movements.
People crowded around her, but Jiang Ciyi turned and told them to back off to give her enough oxygen.
Jiang Ciyi’s pale face, lit against the light, was earnest and focused as she massaged her chest and checked her condition. Cheng Xing couldn’t tell if her increasingly strong heartbeat was due to Jiang Ciyi’s actions or her appearance.
After a while, Cheng Xing recovered slightly, but a drop of water fell on her face.
It was Jiang Ciyi’s sweat.
Every movement was a struggle for Jiang Ciyi’s body, yet she tirelessly continued.
She leaned down to listen to Cheng Xing’s heartbeat.
As she prepared for the next round of checks, Cheng Xing grabbed her hand. “Rest for a bit. I’m okay.”
She gave a weak smile.
Xu Zhaozhao suddenly spoke up. “Sister Xing is fine.”
All eyes turned to her. Xu Zhaozhao touched her nose awkwardly. “That’s what Sister Xing said.”
“You’d take a patient’s reassurance at face value?” Jiang Ciyi said coldly. “Stupid.”
It was clear she wasn’t insulting just to insult—she genuinely thought Xu Zhaozhao was foolish.
Absurdly so.
“Jiang Ciyi, don’t go too far,” the old lady said, seeing Cheng Xing could still speak and relaxing slightly, reverting to her stern demeanor. “This is the Cheng household—you don’t get to run wild here.”
“I’m not running wild,” Jiang Ciyi replied. “If the ambulance doesn’t get here soon, I can perform an autopsy right here.”
Guan Linmin’s eyes widened. “Don’t scare me.”
Tears streamed down her face.
Jiang Ciyi looked at the old lady. “If Cheng Xing dies, you’ll have played a major role.”
Those words instantly turned Guan Linmin’s anger toward the old lady. The old lady had always been domineering, and it only worsened with age.
She spent most of her time abroad, returning only a few days a year, so they’d tolerated her.
But this time, it involved her precious daughter.
Guan Linmin couldn’t hold back. “If anything happens to Xingxing today, I’ll fight you to the end.”
Xu Zhaozhao tried to mediate. “Mother, don’t listen to her. Sister Xing is fine now, isn’t she? Grandmother didn’t do anything to her. It was Sister Xing who spoke rudely to Grandmother this morning, and Grandmother got upset…”
“Miss Xu Zhaozhao deserves some credit too.” Jiang Ciyi interjected.
Guan Linmin’s anger flared, and she glared at Xu Zhaozhao. “Don’t call me Mother! Xu Zhaozhao, I took you in because your parents passed away, out of pity. And this is how you repay me after all these years?
“Did Xingxing ever wrong you? You’re two-faced, stirring up trouble. I don’t care about your little schemes, but now that Xingxing is married, you still egg on this muddled old woman to say things like offering 5% of the company if she marries you. What do you take my son’s hard work for?”
“Guan Linmin! Watch your words!” the old lady shot back. “Zhaozhao hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“Only a senile fool like you would think she’s innocent.” Guan Linmin retorted. “A muddled old woman, manipulated by a scheming girl. You have the nerve to boast about building the Cheng Corporation to its peak? I’d say it was sheer dumb luck.”
The old lady clutched her chest in anger. “If it weren’t for me, would Kunqian and Zimo have the Cheng Corporation as it is today?”
“The Cheng Corporation isn’t Cheng Kunshan’s yet,” the old lady said, her eyes blazing with threat. “I can still hand it over to Kunshan.”
“Give it to whoever you want.” Guan Linmin laughed in anger. “Does my Guan family not have companies of its own? I’m putting it out there—if anything happens to Xingxing, the Guan family will drag you to court, and you can spend your remaining days in prison.”
The commotion drew everyone downstairs.
Cheng Kunshan wanted to stop the argument between his wife and mother, but his two sons held him back.
Cheng Zijing, a sharp and seasoned observer, advised, “Don’t get involved, Dad. If you do, Grandma will just have more to latch onto. Mom’s got this—let her handle it.”
Cheng Kunshan whispered, “Listen to what your mom’s saying. What if she angers your grandma into a heart attack?”
“Grandma’s tough as nails.” Cheng Zijing said with a grin. “You should be more worried about your daughter lying on the floor.”
Cheng Kunshan: “…”
As he fretted over both sides, Guan Linmin pointed at the old lady. “If you’re lucky, you might skip prison and go straight to the coffin.”
Everyone: “…”
Cheng Zijing quietly gave Cheng Zimo a thumbs-up.
Cheng Zimo shook his head helplessly.
Cheng Xing, lying on the floor, could only vaguely make out their argument, her entire being floating as if on a cloud.
The next moment, a mechanical voice sounded in her mind—
[Beep—Pain punishment completed. This punishment task is over. 100,000 HKD has been deducted from the host’s account balance.]
[Awoo! Current host strategy value is 15%. Accumulated punishment tasks: 1, completed: 0. Experienced pain punishment level: 3.]
[Awoo! Friendly reminder: The host must diligently complete the strategy tasks! No slacking. If you trigger the next punishment task, make sure to complete it properly, or you’ll face the Interstellar Five Elements Prison punishment. Keep it up!]
Cheng Xing wanted to argue with the system, but before she could, her consciousness slipped away.
As she passed out, she caught a glimpse of Jiang Ciyi’s cool eyes, filled with concern, watching her.
When Cheng Xing woke again, everything was quiet.
The snow-white ceiling and the familiar smell of disinfectant told her she was in a hospital.
She’d spent most of her time in this world in hospitals.
Her eyes darted around. It was evening; she must have been unconscious for a day.
Someone was in the room. Guan Linmin was dozing by the bedside, her arms propped up, dark circles under her eyes, looking weary.
Cheng Xing couldn’t help but think of her own mother.
Two strands of hair fell across Guan Linmin’s cheek. Cheng Xing instinctively reached to brush them aside, but Guan Linmin’s eyes snapped open.
Her eyes were red, but she immediately asked with concern, “Xingxing, you’re awake? How are you feeling? Anything uncomfortable?”
Cheng Xing retracted her hand, fingers curling, and softly reassured her, “I’m fine. I’m okay.”
“Why are you being so stubborn?” Guan Linmin said, her voice thick with worry. “You passed out and still say you’re fine.”
She stood up. “I’ll get the doctor.”
After Guan Linmin left, Cheng Xing realized this was the same hospital room as before, with a sense of familiarity.
But Jiang Ciyi was nowhere to be seen.
She checked her pulse. The intense pain had caused temporary oxygen deprivation to her heart and brain.
Rest would fix it.
Soon, the attending doctor came in with a group of nurses, crowding the room.
This time, the doctor was different—a young woman wearing a mask, her shoulder-length hair tied into a small, slightly messy bun because it was too short.
“No major issues,” the doctor said. “Just rest well, avoid staying up late, and don’t get angry.”
“Okay.” Cheng Xing agreed.
She agreed so obediently that the doctor gave her an extra glance, tinged with disbelief.
Eyes often conveyed a lot, and in that moment, Cheng Xing saw a familiar look in hers—shock, as if thinking, You weren’t like this before. How did you change?
This doctor likely knew the original Cheng Xing.
But the original’s memories held no trace of her.
“Thank you, Dr. Xiao Qin.” Guan Linmin said. “You’ve worked hard.”
“No trouble.” Dr. Xiao Qin nodded slightly. “Call me if you need anything.”
After she left, Cheng Xing asked Guan Linmin, “Mom, where’s Jiang Ciyi?”
Guan Linmin’s tone soured. “The moment you wake up, you’re looking for your wife. Do you even see me, your mom, anymore?”
“Of course I do.” Cheng Xing said, softening her tone. “I saw you the moment I woke up, so naturally, I’m asking about her.”
“She’s exhausted herself these past two days. After getting you to the hospital, she was weak and is in the next room getting an IV.” Guan Linmin said. “Don’t worry, I got you both VIP rooms.”
“Why’d I get a new attending doctor?” Cheng Xing asked.
Dr. Xiao Qin’s look had been odd.
“The previous one was sent abroad for an exchange.” Guan Linmin explained. “The new one is your sister-in-law’s cousin, a Harvard Medical School PhD, not even thirty yet. The hospital hired her at a high salary. If it weren’t for the Qin family’s insistence, she wouldn’t have come back.”
“Okay.” Cheng Xing didn’t press further, only asking, “How long was I out?”
Guan Linmin looked at her, eyes full of heartache.
The love was almost overwhelming, making Cheng Xing avoid her gaze, looking down.
“You didn’t just sleep—you passed out.” Guan Linmin said.
“That old lady’s been overbearing since she was young, and she’s only gotten worse with age.” She fumed. “She’ll probably only calm down when she’s in her coffin.”
“Maybe.” Cheng Xing said helplessly.
“You were out for two whole days.” Guan Linmin said. “My heart was in knots, terrified something would happen to you.”
“I’m fine now, aren’t I?” Cheng Xing patted her shoulder, not as close as she’d be with her own mother, but Guan Linmin grabbed her hand, tears welling up. “If anything happened to you, what would I do?”
“Even if something happened, you’d have to keep going.” Cheng Xing said, feeling the warmth of her palm. “You’ve got my two brothers. Second Brother will get married someday. You’d have two sons and two daughters—you’d live well.”
“It’s not the same.” Guan Linmin said firmly.
The room felt heavy, so Cheng Xing lightened the mood with a joke. “Why say that? If Big Brother and Second Brother heard you, they’d be hurt.”
“It’s just not the same.” Guan Linmin insisted. “I’d say it even if they were here. Xingxing, I know you put on an act at home, but you’re my daughter. When you were born, you were premature, so tiny, everyone thought you wouldn’t make it.”
“But your dad and I wanted a daughter so badly. How could I let you go after finally having you? I found the best doctors and stayed by your side every day.”
Guan Linmin held her hand tightly, her voice heavy, as if reliving the year Cheng Xing was born.
“Your brothers were raised with the help of nannies, but not you. I raised you myself. When you were one or two, you were always sick. People said you might not make it. I refused to believe it.”
“Before you, I didn’t believe in gods or spirits. After you were born, I visited every temple in the country within a year. If people said a place was sacred, I went. I took you to every Chinese medicine expert and specialist, here and abroad.”
“I know people in our circle were waiting to see me fail. That year, I donated over 80 million to temples, but later, maybe the heavens saw my sincerity, and you suddenly got better.”
Cheng Xing’s own childhood had been frail, healed by her grandfather’s herbal baths.
She’d grown up in a medicine shop, learning and healing.
Every season change, she’d catch a heavy cold, fevers reaching 40°C, scaring her family. Her mother would stay up night after night by her side.
When she finally grew up healthy, everyone called it a miracle.
Each hospital visit was a battle to snatch her from death.
So when Guan Linmin spoke, Cheng Xing’s heart ached too.
Guan Linmin’s tears fell on her hand, and Cheng Xing wiped them away with a tissue.
“Mom only has one daughter—you have to live well.” Guan Linmin said, gripping her hand. “And whatever happened with Su Manchun is in the past. Now that you’re married to Jiang Ciyi, treat her well.”
Cheng Xing didn’t know why the topic shifted but nodded in agreement.
“I know about some of your antics outside, and I know what you and Liu Ning were up to that night. But I’m willing to give you another chance.” Guan Linmin said, patting her hand. “I don’t expect you to be like your brothers, with their books or achievements. I just want you to be safe, healthy, and a good person.”
Cheng Xing met her eyes and, after a long moment, nodded solemnly.
If she stayed in this body, she’d be a good person.
After Guan Linmin left, Cheng Xing got up and went to the next room.
She knocked, but no one answered.
Pushing the door open, she found Jiang Ciyi awake, sitting on the bed reading.
Hearing someone enter, she glanced up briefly before returning to her book.
“Is that book good?” Cheng Xing asked, pulling a chair to the bedside.
“It’s alright.” Jiang Ciyi said, folding the corner of the page she was on and setting the book aside. “Haven’t you read it?”
“I looked at other books at the bookstore that day.” Cheng Xing said. “Should I get you some novels? They’d be good for passing time in the hospital.”
“Sure.” Jiang Ciyi replied. “Any book is fine.”
That night at Fusheng Bookstore, Cheng Xing had gone to find some calm. She’d spotted a few forensic medicine books on the shelves, bought them, and brought them back for Jiang Ciyi.
She thought Jiang Ciyi might be bored in the hospital and could read them.
But now, she realized that since Jiang Ciyi’s profession was forensic medicine and she couldn’t work in it anymore, reading those books in the hospital might feel like a stab to the heart.
Novels would be more interesting.
Jiang Ciyi didn’t mind. That Cheng Xing remembered to bring her books—whether out of sincerity or not—meant something to her.
That’s why she’d poured her a glass of water and brought it to the bathroom that night.
Jiang Ciyi knew Cheng Xing had gone racing that night and had seen Xu Congshi’s live broadcast.
At the time, she’d genuinely hoped Cheng Xing would crash and die.
But when Cheng Xing returned, exhausted yet still smiling gently at her, and brought her books, it shifted something.
Hearing her now, Jiang Ciyi said softly, “The bookstore’s called Fusheng Bookstore, not far from the hospital. Have you finished your IV today? We could go check it out.”
Jiang Ciyi looked out the window. “It’s almost dark.”
“It’s just evening.” Cheng Xing said. “Look, the sunset hasn’t fully faded.”
She’d only just woken up, but her voice carried hope. “If we go now, we can watch the sunset shift westward, the sky turning from orange to gray. Then the streetlights will come on, cars will stream by, but the bookstore will be quiet.”
“Especially at night.” Cheng Xing’s tone was light, but her words painted a vivid picture in the mind.
What should’ve been a dull, lonely evening suddenly felt alive with the warmth of the world.
Jiang Ciyi looked at her, noticing the sparkle in her eyes, like the brightest star in the early night sky.
“When we’re tired of reading, we can grab dinner at any shop.” Cheng Xing said. “Then walk back under the night sky. It’s almost the full moon—lately, it’s been especially bright and round.”
Jiang Ciyi suddenly asked, “Have you read The Moon and Sixpence?”
“You’ve read it too?” Cheng Xing asked, delighted.
Jiang Ciyi nodded. “I liked it for a while.”
Cheng Xing asked, “So, do you prefer the moon or the sixpence?”
Jiang Ciyi thought for a moment, her voice softening. “I like the stars.”
Cheng Xing froze, blinking. “Huh?”
Was… was that a confession??