Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 26
26
The atmosphere in the hospital room suddenly felt off.
After a moment, Cheng Xing realized that when Jiang Ciyi mentioned “stars,” she meant the celestial ones, not her. Just as Cheng Xing was about to make a joke to brush it off, Jiang Ciyi calmly clarified, “The stars in the sky.”
Seeing Cheng Xing’s indescribable expression, Jiang Ciyi belatedly realized her words had been ambiguous and quickly corrected herself.
Cheng Xing’s face flickered with a subtle change, but only for a moment. Then she teased with a smile, “I wouldn’t be so narcissistic as to think you meant me.”
Jiang Ciyi pursed her lips, staying silent.
Cheng Xing let out a few awkward chuckles, the air growing slightly tense.
“Sorry.” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing: “…”
The atmosphere, which still had a chance to recover, plummeted with those two words from Jiang Ciyi, leaving no room for salvage.
Cheng Xing decided to stop overthinking and just let it go. “It’s not your fault,” she said. “I misunderstood at first, but I figured it out.”
She stood up. “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jiang Ciyi looked at her. Cheng Xing was smiling gently at her. “Come on, let’s go to the bookstore.”
“Your condition?” Jiang Ciyi hesitated.
“Much better.” Cheng Xing stretched her neck. “I asked my mom and found out I’ve been out cold for two days. Now that I’m awake, my bones ache from lying in bed. I need to get out and move.”
“Alright.” Jiang Ciyi agreed, though she wasn’t eager to go out. She was a homebody by nature, usually sticking to a routine between home and the police station, occasionally going to the market with her grandmother or taking evening walks in the park. Unless necessary, she rarely went out alone. Even her friend Zheng Shuqing only met her every few months. After her car accident, Zheng Shuqing started seeing her more often.
In school, Jiang Ciyi had always been a loner, never finding much appeal in nature’s scenery. But Cheng Xing’s earlier words about the sunset sparked something in her. Suddenly, the idea of watching the sunset at dusk, walking leisurely down the street, felt romantic. And that romance didn’t require money—just pausing what you were doing, stepping outside, and looking up.
Jiang Ciyi hadn’t changed into a hospital gown. Cheng Xing helped her move from the bed to a wheelchair, noticing a small patch of bruising on the back of her hand. “What happened to your hand?” she asked.
“Yesterday, an intern nurse wasn’t skilled and had to poke me a few times.” Jiang Ciyi explained casually, covering the bruise with her slightly long sleeve. Her fair skin made the bruise stand out starkly.
“Didn’t they switch hands today?” Cheng Xing asked.
“Yesterday, she finally got the hang of it after finding the right vein. If she switched hands today, she’d probably need five or six tries again.” Jiang Ciyi said as Cheng Xing pushed her wheelchair. Their conversation flowed naturally, calm and harmonious.
“Makes sense.” Cheng Xing replied, asking if there was any backflow of bl00d. Jiang Ciyi casually mentioned that half the IV tube had filled with bl00d, nearly making the nurse cry.
She spoke lightly, but Cheng Xing frowned. IV insertions weren’t trivial. Even if Jiang Ciyi’s veins were thin, an inexperienced nurse, after proper training, shouldn’t make so many mistakes, especially causing that much bl00d backflow. Jiang Ciyi’s frail condition couldn’t handle such carelessness.
Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi out of the inpatient building. Both were striking in appearance, and despite wearing hospital gowns, they drew attention, turning heads wherever they went. Oblivious to the stares, they were immersed in their own world.
“You should tell the attending doctor when we get back.” Cheng Xing said after some thought. “I know you’re kind and want to give newbies a chance, but you’re not their practice dummy. If they lack the basic aptitude, they should give up sooner.”
Jiang Ciyi paused.
They came out late after lingering in the hospital room, missing the vibrant sunset painting the sky with shades of orange and crimson. By the time Jiang Ciyi looked up, only faint orange clouds remained, like tie-dye fading in the evening breeze, leaving a dim, darkening sky. The moon was barely visible, faint and hazy on the horizon.
Jiang Ciyi gazed at the sky, not responding to Cheng Xing’s comment, and said softly, “It’s already dark.”
“Yeah. The lights are on.” Cheng Xing replied.
The hospital was bustling, with people passing by constantly. Cheng Xing quietly pushed Jiang Ciyi forward. Since Jiang Ciyi hadn’t responded to her earlier concern, Cheng Xing assumed she disagreed but didn’t press the issue further.
It wasn’t until they were near the bookstore that Jiang Ciyi spoke again, her voice soft. “Look at those stars. Some are bright, some are dim, some are hidden by clouds, but none of them stop shining.”
Cheng Xing was confused. “Hm?”
“Some stars take longer to appear, but that doesn’t mean they’re the dimmest.” Jiang Ciyi said. “Denying someone too soon is like dismissing a star’s brightness too early.”
It was the first time Cheng Xing heard Jiang Ciyi speak so philosophically. She had initially thought Jiang Ciyi was just a quiet beauty, but she’d seen her stand her ground against Cheng’s grandmother and Xu Zhaozhao, and hold her own with Guan Linmin. Jiang Ciyi’s resilience and character shone through in every aspect of her life. At this moment, Cheng Xing felt her depth and kindness.
Though she admired Jiang Ciyi’s compassion, she asked, “How do you know that nurse is one of those slow-to-shine but bright stars?”
“Everyone’s eyes speak.” Jiang Ciyi said. “You can see a lot in them.”
“What did you see in hers?” Cheng Xing asked.
“Earnestness, persistence, passion.” Jiang Ciyi replied, pausing. “The world is made up of countless ordinary people. Very few succeed purely on talent.”
Her words made Cheng Xing think. As they reached a row of literary novels in the bookstore, Cheng Xing leaned close to Jiang Ciyi’s ear and whispered, “So, are you one of those who succeeded through talent, or one of the countless ordinary people?”
Jiang Ciyi picked up a novel—a recently published urban yuri story with a fresh-looking cover. It told the tale of two high school girls who went from rivals to friends, developing feelings for each other. They got together after graduation but broke up due to a long-distance relationship in college, only to reunite years later in the workplace and rekindle their romance.
“I haven’t succeeded yet.” Jiang Ciyi said, her face partially hidden by the book. Her warm breath hit the pages and bounced back, her deliberately soft voice carrying a hint of allure that tickled Cheng Xing’s ears.
The bookstore’s warm yellow lighting created a gentle, serene atmosphere, punctuated only by the occasional sound of flipping pages or footsteps from new customers. Jiang Ciyi’s voice stood out clearly, especially as Cheng Xing leaned closer to hear her, her ear brushing past Jiang Ciyi’s cheek. The stray hairs at Jiang Ciyi’s temple grazed Cheng Xing’s cool skin, sparking a sudden flame that spread to her heart with the night breeze.
Cheng Xing swallowed hard, momentarily lost in thought.
The next second, Jiang Ciyi waved the open book in front of her. “Did you hear me?”
Cheng Xing snapped back, standing upright like a spring. Her ears felt itchy, and she rubbed them, pretending the redness was from her own touch. She leaned down again and whispered, “What did you say?”
Jiang Ciyi flipped a page. “I said I haven’t succeeded yet. I’ll tell you when I do.”
Cheng Xing pursed her lips. “Alright.”
She didn’t question Jiang Ciyi’s words at all.
“Let’s read.” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing didn’t dare linger by her side. The faint floral scent from Jiang Ciyi made her heart race. Life’s so unfair, she thought. They’d both come from the hospital, yet Jiang Ciyi smelled like flowers while she reeked of disinfectant.
Cheng Xing moved to another shelf, one filled with medical books. She fanned her face to cool the flush, trying to calm her racing heart. But through a gap in the books, she caught Jiang Ciyi staring at her.
Their eyes met. Cheng Xing froze, then stiffly turned away, pretending not to notice.
But… Jiang Ciyi’s smile had been so sweet.
Her heart beat even faster.
Jiang Ciyi had picked up the novel randomly, drawn to its cover, which reminded her of the sunset she’d missed. Though it wasn’t her usual genre, the emotional depth and intriguing protagonist kept her reading.
Her senses were sharp—her hearing especially so. She could hear Cheng Xing’s heartbeat quicken as she leaned closer, so she deliberately slowed her speech, curious to see how much faster it could get. Perhaps because Cheng Xing’s talk of a romantic sunset had charmed her, Jiang Ciyi found herself warming to her. Today, she felt unusually patient, stirred by the lively streets and the warm glow of streetlights. She spoke more, explaining herself to Cheng Xing.
She thought Cheng Xing had gone to another shelf to browse, but instead, she saw her fanning herself in front of the books—a seemingly composed person doing something so cute. The word cute popped into Jiang Ciyi’s mind, surprising her and making her laugh.
Cheng Xing likely mistook her smile for mockery and turned away in a huff.
Even more interesting, Jiang Ciyi thought, chuckling softly before settling down to read.
Novels had always been a luxury for her. In school, her time was consumed by classes and lab work, with the rest spent working part-time to cover expenses beyond her scholarship. After graduating, she dealt with bodies daily, writing endless reports. Though her ability spared her from meeting victims’ families, she handled countless cases, each requiring meticulous care. On rare days off, she’d sleep for hours. Novels were an indulgence she couldn’t afford.
Opening this one felt like stepping into a new world. She was engrossed until a bookstore clerk approached. “Excuse me, have you finished? We’re closing soon.”
Jiang Ciyi looked up, her neck stiff from hours of reading. Her vision sparkled from low bl00d flow, and her eyes ached. Checking her watch, she saw it was 10:30 p.m. She’d read the entire first volume and was on page 148 of the second, right at the moment the two female leads were about to confess their feelings.
“Can I borrow this book?” she asked.
“Yes,” the clerk said politely. “You can get a borrowing card, and it’s free to borrow for two weeks.”
“How much is the card?” Jiang Ciyi asked.
“Five hundred yuan. An additional five hundred upgrades you to a membership card, which gives an 80% discount on all books and a one-month borrowing period,” the clerk explained.
Jiang Ciyi calculated that a borrowing card was more cost-effective and was about to request one when a voice behind her said, “Can two people share a membership card?”
It was Cheng Xing.
Cheng Xing had been absorbed in a book on traditional Chinese medicine, which mentioned paralysis. Though it offered no cure, she knew acupuncture, medicinal baths, and massages could work. Hearing the clerk, she checked her phone and realized how late it was. As she approached, she overheard Jiang Ciyi’s conversation and did some quick mental math.
The clerk considered. “Technically, no, but if one person pays for both, it can be treated as a single order.”
“Then get us a membership card,” Cheng Xing said, pausing. “Can we use it right away?”
“Yes,” the clerk replied.
Cheng Xing asked Jiang Ciyi if she wanted any other books.
Jiang Ciyi was taken aback. “I can borrow.”
“Our bookshelf at home is empty,” Cheng Xing said. “You can buy them and read slowly.”
Cheng Xing loved buying books—a costly hobby. Her room was filled with books of all kinds: social sciences, sci-fi, astronomy, medicine, even obscure agricultural texts. She cherished collecting physical books.
“No need,” Jiang Ciyi said. “I’ll finish them quickly.”
The clerk, sensing their disagreement, tactfully said, “I’ll be at the counter. Come over when you’ve decided. We’re open for another ten minutes.”
“Thanks.” Cheng Xing replied.
Once the clerk left, Jiang Ciyi stood firm. Books were for reading, not keeping. Why spend so much on a card and more books?
“Don’t you ever want to reread them?” Cheng Xing asked. “It’s a hassle to come back to the bookstore.”
“No.” Jiang Ciyi said firmly.
Cheng Xing paused. “But if you buy them, they’re yours. You can annotate, underline, whatever. Right now, you can’t mark the good lines. I love buying books.”
Jiang Ciyi: “…”
Unable to sway her, Jiang Ciyi relented. “Fine, you buy them.”
“Just these two?” Cheng Xing asked.
Jiang Ciyi nodded, but Cheng Xing browsed the shelf, asking, “Are you interested in ‘marriage-first, love-later’ stories?”
Jiang Ciyi: “?”
Cheng Xing carefully picked out six novels, including a blue-covered one. Jiang Ciyi thought that was excessive, but then Cheng Xing returned to the counter with eight more books—sci-fi, medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, psychology, and criminal investigation.
Cheng Xing happily paid for the membership and the books, then pushed Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair, carrying two bags of books.
Outside, Jiang Ciyi suggested placing the bags on her lap since she couldn’t feel pain in her legs. Cheng Xing hesitated for two seconds before shaking her head. “No, I can carry them.”
“I can’t feel the weight,” Jiang Ciyi said. “It’d save you effort. Why not?”
“Your legs may not hurt, but your heart might feel wronged.” Cheng Xing said. “I’m not so weak that I can’t carry a few books.”
Thrilled with her purchases, Cheng Xing’s tone was noticeably brighter. Jiang Ciyi didn’t feel wronged, just practical, but since Cheng Xing insisted, she dropped it, letting her carry the load.
Further ahead, a little girl was selling flowers near the hospital entrance. The flowers, likely picked that morning, were wilting after a day in the sun. She sweetly called out to passersby, offering flowers for two yuan each, but no one stopped.
As Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi past, the girl approached. “Pretty sister, buy a flower for your sister.”
She was speaking to Jiang Ciyi.
Jiang Ciyi blinked. “Why?”
The girl frowned, thinking. “Your sister’s working hard carrying stuff. You should reward her.”
“But she likes carrying them.” Jiang Ciyi said. “Why should I reward her?”
“She could put the stuff on your lap but doesn’t want to hurt you,” the girl said. “She loves you, so buy her a flower.”
Jiang Ciyi raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
The girl glanced around, then whispered, “Her hands are red from carrying.”
“But my legs don’t feel pain.” Jiang Ciyi said.
“But your heart would feel cold.” The girl insisted. “She doesn’t want to burden you just because you can’t feel it. Buy her a flower, pretty sister.”
Jiang Ciyi watched her, curious what else she’d say. The girl even started to pout. “Come on, buy a flower for the sister who loves you so much.”
Cheng Xing, embarrassed, interrupted, “Kid, how much for all your flowers?”
The girl looked up, blinking. “Twenty-eight flowers, fifty-six yuan. If you buy them all, I’ll give them for fifty-two yuan. Wishing you and pretty sister love forever!”
The girl was a sweet talker. Cheng Xing crouched to her level. “She’s the pretty sister, huh? What about me? Am I not pretty?”
“You’re pretty too!” the girl said. “You’re pretty sister’s girlfriend, so of course you’re pretty. I want to be as pretty as you when I grow up.”
Cheng Xing was charmed and reached for her phone to pay, but Jiang Ciyi said, “Kid, show me your QR code. I’ll buy them.”
The girl’s eyes darted between them, unsure who was paying.
“You asked me first.” Jiang Ciyi said. “You’re right. I’ll buy a flower for the hardworking sister behind me.”
The girl quickly handed over her QR code. After Jiang Ciyi paid, the girl offered the flowers to Cheng Xing, who said, “Give them to the pretty sister.”
“Oh!” The girl handed the flowers to Jiang Ciyi. The bouquet was a mix of varieties, colorful despite their wilted state, hinting at their former vibrancy.
Holding the flowers, Jiang Ciyi caught the girl staring. “You’re so pretty, sister,” the girl said.
“No need for flattery.” Jiang Ciyi replied. “Don’t be so worldly, kid.”
“It’s true.” the girl insisted, turning to Cheng Xing. “Gentle sister, don’t you think?”
“She’s very pretty.” Cheng Xing said earnestly.
Jiang Ciyi’s ears heated inexplicably. “Kid, aren’t you going home?”
“Right now!” The girl dug into her skirt pocket and pulled out a packet of seeds. “These are rose seeds. My mom grew these flowers. She says growing flowers is like loving someone—you have to nurture them carefully to get beautiful flowers and enough love.”
The girl smiled hopefully, missing a tooth but radiating warmth. “I hope when these seeds bloom, your legs will be better.”
Jiang Ciyi was terrible at gardening—everything she tried to grow died. Her colleagues once teased that her “deathly aura” was to blame. She was about to return the seeds, but Cheng Xing, as if reading her mind, took them from her hand and waved them at the girl. “Thanks, kid. When these seeds bloom, this pretty sister’s legs will definitely be better.”
Jiang Ciyi glanced back, catching only the gentle curve of Cheng Xing’s smile, brimming with confidence. A strange flutter stirred in her chest, and she pressed it down.
At the hospital entrance, Cheng Xing stopped. “Oh no.”
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ciyi asked.
“I got so caught up reading, I forgot about dinner. Are you hungry?”
Jiang Ciyi touched her stomach. “I’m fine.”
“Want to grab something?” Cheng Xing asked.
“Don’t know.”
“Most places are closed now.” Cheng Xing said. “How about we order takeout?”
“Sure.” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing scanned the area. Most nearby restaurants were closed, and only the hospital remained busy. They decided to head back and order takeout.
In the elevator, Jiang Ciyi held the flowers and broke the silence. “Will these flowers last until tomorrow morning?”
“They will.” Cheng Xing said, eyeing them. “They’ll last a week.”
Jiang Ciyi glanced at her, smiling. “Are you lying?”
“Why would I lie?” Cheng Xing said. “I’m serious. I never lie.”
Jiang Ciyi went quiet, and the atmosphere grew oddly still. Cheng Xing belatedly realized she’d told plenty of half-truths since arriving here—maybe not lies, but not entirely honest either.
Fearing Jiang Ciyi might probe further, she was relieved when Jiang Ciyi asked, “That morning, were you making breakfast for me?”
“Yeah,” Cheng Xing admitted. “I thought porridge would be good for your stomach.”
“You don’t cook much, do you?” Jiang Ciyi asked.
Cheng Xing: “…No.”
“No wonder.” Jiang Ciyi said with a soft laugh.
After Cheng Xing’s hospital admission, a full checkup revealed her collapse was due to stress-induced heart strain and high bl00d pressure. As the elevator doors opened, Cheng Xing missed Jiang Ciyi’s words and asked what she’d said.
“Nothing.” Jiang Ciyi replied.
Curious, Cheng Xing asked twice more, but Jiang Ciyi didn’t elaborate. Thinking back to that morning when Jiang Ciyi had stood up for her, Cheng Xing thanked her softly.
Jiang Ciyi was surprised. “Why thank me?”
“You stood up for me.” Cheng Xing said.
“It’s only natural.” Jiang Ciyi said, fiddling with the flowers. “After all, you made that porridge for me.”
Cheng Xing didn’t dwell on the mutual gratitude, accepting her kindness.
Back in the room, Cheng Xing set the books down and pulled out her phone to order takeout, asking Jiang Ciyi what she wanted. Jiang Ciyi said she’d eat anything except what she didn’t like.
Cheng Xing: “…”
“You remember what I don’t eat, right?” Jiang Ciyi asked.
“Beef, lamb, organ meats, pork belly, hairtail fish…” Cheng Xing rattled off the list Jiang Ciyi had mentioned before, then sighed. “Jiang Ciyi, it’s really hard to find something you like.”
Jiang Ciyi shrugged. “Then just order for yourself.”
“I’m not refusing to order for you.” Cheng Xing said. “I’m just teasing. If you don’t eat well, you’ll end up needing medicine.”
Jiang Ciyi: “…Oh.”
Cheng Xing ordered rice rolls, claypot rice, and corn-rib soup. After ordering, she looked up to see Jiang Ciyi on her phone.
As she stood to tend to the flowers, a system voice rang in her mind:
[Awoo! Congratulations, Host! Strategy progress: 30%. Reward: 400,000 HKD… static… static…]
[Beep—Strategy progress decreased by 10%. Punishment mode activated.]
[Beep—static… static… Strategy progress: 40%. Reward… awoo… beep—]
Cheng Xing: “…”
What’s wrong with this system?!