Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 31

31

Everyone at the Jianggang Police Station was familiar with Jiang Ciyi.

Before her car accident, every new recruit at the station would hear about Jiang Ciyi, the forensic expert from the Technical Department. She was renowned for two things: her striking beauty and her exceptional skills.

As the youngest forensic expert in the Technical Department, she had set numerous records at the Jianggang Police Station. She was the favorite subordinate of Chief Lin, a genius forensic doctor. Various labels were attached to her, and as a result, she had no shortage of admirers at the station—both men and women.

Back then, people privately joked that Jiang Ciyi, the forensic goddess, could charm anyone, regardless of gender. However, few dared to pursue her. For one, her personality was aloof, and she wasn’t keen on making friends. She clocked in on time, worked overtime until midnight, and even slept side by side with corpses in the morgue—a task that would unnerve even seasoned criminal investigators. Yet, for a young woman in her early twenties, she treated it as routine.

Secondly, she was simply too beautiful. The rough-and-tumble men at the Jianggang Police Station lacked the courage to approach her. There were women who tried, but almost all of them were rejected.

The only exception was Zhu Tao. He wasn’t particularly good-looking and had just been transferred to the Jianggang Police Station when he fell for Jiang Ciyi. He pursued her fervently, despite her clear rejections. Undeterred, he chased her relentlessly, even boldly claiming that “a determined man could win over any woman” and that Jiang Ciyi would eventually be his.

Such matters couldn’t stay hidden. Eventually, word reached Chief Lin, who called Zhu Tao in for a stern reprimand. Lin warned that if Zhu continued his brazen pursuit, he’d be demoted to a grassroots position. Only then did Zhu rein himself in.

However, because Zhu was a trace evidence expert specially transferred from another province, Chief Lin couldn’t be too harsh. This led to some friction with Jiang Ciyi. When they were forced to work together on major criminal cases, Zhu would occasionally make snide remarks, but Jiang Ciyi typically brushed them off with a calm demeanor that left him fuming.

The entire station knew about Zhu Tao’s unrequited love for Jiang Ciyi and the resentment it bred. The story was embellished into several versions, becoming fodder for gossip over tea.

The station’s untouchable flower, Jiang Ciyi, had recently gotten married—to a wealthy heiress, no less. This news was common knowledge.

At the time, people speculated that after her accident, Jiang Ciyi, left without support, had latched onto the wealthy heiress, Cheng Xing, like a drowning person clinging to driftwood. After all, despite her beautiful face, her humble background and disability made it unlikely that anyone would marry her for love alone. It was a lifetime commitment, after all.

The prevailing theory was that Jiang Ciyi had capitalized on Cheng Xing’s infatuation, using moral pressure to secure her position as the wife of a wealthy family’s daughter. Surely, Jiang Ciyi felt little affection for this marriage.

Cheng Xing’s flamboyant pursuit of Jiang had been a topic of gossip at the station, with everyone noting how much it had annoyed Jiang Ciyi. The rumors swirled, and it was hard not to know about them.

The consensus was that Jiang Ciyi had merely secured a meal ticket for the rest of her life—how much real emotion could there be?

Yet, seeing them today, their relationship seemed surprisingly genuine. It didn’t feel staged or fake.

Cheng Xing’s demeanor was different from the times she had shown up at the station’s entrance with roses, waiting for Jiang Ciyi to finish work. She was far more composed now, less ostentatious, and instead exuded a calm, gentle warmth. When speaking with others or toasting, she carried none of the arrogance expected of a wealthy heiress. Instead, she treated Jiang Ciyi’s colleagues with genuine courtesy, as if they were simply her wife’s coworkers.

This changed people’s perceptions of her. Most at the table hadn’t met or interacted with her before, and after this encounter, they realized how unreliable rumors could be.

The couple’s intimate interactions, seemingly oblivious to those around them, caught everyone’s attention. People exchanged glances, silently questioning: This is what they call a loveless marriage?

Cheng Xing wasn’t much of a drinker, especially when it came to baijiu, but she didn’t shy away. She treated Jiang Ciyi as a real person, and by extension, cared about her colleagues. Raising her glass again, she was stopped by Brother Xi, who said, “Miss Cheng, if you can’t handle it, don’t force yourself. We’re all family here. Go home with Xiao Jiang.”

Cheng Xing shook her head. “Thank you, Brother Xi, but I have to drink this one.”

Brother Xi looked at Jiang Ciyi, who shook her head, signaling that he didn’t need to intervene.

“I originally planned to toast three times to everyone.” Cheng Xing said with a self-deprecating smile, her eyes sparkling. “But as you can see, I’m not great with alcohol. My wife worries that if I get drunk, she’ll be the one suffering, so this will be my last glass.”

She continued, “This final toast is to thank you all for taking care of our Jiang, the forensic expert, in the past. If she’s ever been inconsiderate or offended anyone, I hope you’ll let it go. Going forward, please continue to support her. If there’s ever anything the Cheng family can do to help, just let us know. We’ll do our best. Thank you all.”

Her words were clear and logical, and she downed the glass of baijiu in one go. Her face turned as red as a ripe tomato, but she still smiled. “I’ve paid for everyone’s meal tonight. Enjoy yourselves. We’ll be heading out now.”

She moved to push Jiang’s wheelchair, but Brother Xi called out, “How did you two get here?”

“We drove,” Jiang replied, catching his meaning and politely declining. “I’ve called a designated driver. You guys keep drinking.”

Brother Xi could tell from her tone that she wasn’t pleased. He simply told them to take care and drive safely.

Jiang nodded in acknowledgment.

Even though Cheng Xing had drunk quite a bit and was feeling dizzy, she still went to the counter to settle the bill for both tables. Afterward, she pushed Jiang’s wheelchair outside. Jiang, seated in the wheelchair, was using her phone to arrange for a designated driver.

As they stepped outside, a cold breeze hit them. Cheng Xing, still warm from the alcohol, shivered.

Jiang asked, “Can you still walk?”

“I can.” Cheng Xing replied. “Have you called the driver?”

“Yes, they’ll be here in five minutes.”

Cheng Xing stood there waiting, sneezing once.

Jiang let out a soft sigh. “Get in the car first.”

“The car?” Cheng Xing paused. “Didn’t you call a driver?”

Jiang: “…”

“I called a designated driver.” Jiang clarified, pointing to a conspicuous car parked nearby. “Your car is right there.”

Cheng Xing stood still, letting out a sigh. “Help, I’m drunk.”

She then pushed Jiang toward the car.

For a moment, Jiang couldn’t tell if she was genuinely drunk or just pretending. When they reached the car, Cheng Xing tried to open the back door but failed after two attempts. Frowning, she turned to Jiang. “Jiang Ciyi, why can’t I open it?”

Jiang Ciyi: “…”

She wanted to find any sign that Cheng Xing was faking it, but there was none. Cheng Xing was asking the question with genuine confusion.

Jiang Ciyi confirmed: she was drunk.

“It’s not unlocked.” Jiang Ciyi said. “The keys are in your bag.”

Cheng Xing froze, then slowly opened her bag, took out the keys, and pressed the unlock button. The car’s lights flashed, and she pulled the door open with ease. This small, everyday task seemed like a major accomplishment to her.

Turning to Jiang with a satisfied smile, she said, “Jiang Ciyi, you’re so smart.”

Jiang: “…”

Normally, such compliments would make Jiang Ciyi roll her eyes, as they often felt like empty flattery. But right now, Cheng Xing’s sincere praise for something so trivial, coupled with her drunken excitement, was oddly endearing. After opening the door, she hurried over to Jiang Ciyi, saying nervously, “You’re wearing a skirt. I’ll carry you into the car so you don’t catch a cold.”

Cheng Xing pushed the wheelchair to the car, muttering, “Your body can’t handle the slightest discomfort right now.”

Jiang Ciyi looked at her, noticing the bright, joyful glint in her eyes. Cheng Xing wasn’t overthinking things; her drunken mind was a bit slow, sometimes struggling to string sentences together, but occasionally bursting with excitement and chatter. She genuinely cared about Jiang Ciyi’s well-being.

To be honest, Cheng Xing was more concerned about Jiang Ciyi’s health than Jiang Ciyi herself was. After all, Jiang Ciyi’s legs were tied to her fate.

But when drunk, Cheng Xing didn’t think so deeply. She simply felt that the wind was strong, and Jiang Ciyi, sitting alone in her wheelchair with her hair fluttering in the breeze, looked pitiful—fragile, as if she might shatter at any moment. It made Cheng Xing want to protect her.

Cheng Xing reached out, effortlessly lifting Jiang and placing her in the car. She first let go of the arm supporting Jiang Ciyi’s back, letting her lean against the seat, then carefully released the arm under her knees. But Jiang Ciyi kept staring at her, transfixed.

Cheng Xing’s movements slowed as their eyes met. The dim yellow streetlight cast a warm glow on Jiang Ciyi’s face, making her look like a figure in an ink-wash painting. Her usually cold gaze softened.

Cheng Xing smiled, her voice soft. “Jiang Ciyi, I can see myself in your eyes.”

In the confined space of the car, Cheng Xing gently brushed her hand over Jiang Ciyi’s long eyelashes. Jiang Ciyi blinked instinctively, her lashes grazing Cheng Xing’s palm.

Cheng Xing lowered her hand, her breath tinged with the faint smell of alcohol—not overpowering, as she hadn’t drunk too much. In a muffled voice, she asked, “Can you see yourself in my eyes?”

Jiang Ciyi looked at her intently, as if searching for something.

“There must be,” Cheng Xing said. “You’re so beautiful, everyone has you in their eyes.”

Jiang Ciyi didn’t respond.

Cheng Xing turned, leaning her back against the car door and tilting her head to look at the sky. Her tone grew heavy. “But Jiang Ciyi, you need to keep your eyes sharp. See clearly who’s good to you and who means you harm. Don’t trust those who say they’ll treat you well but end up hurting you. You have to live well, live fully. In the future, so many people will come to love you, and you’ll become very wealthy.”

Jiang pursed her lips, trying to find flaws in Cheng’s seemingly incoherent words. But they felt like genuine hopes—expectations for her future.

Become very wealthy? Loved by many people?

…What kind of dream was that?

Jiang called out, “Cheng Xing, get in the car.”

Cheng kept looking up. “Do you think if you keep staring at the sky, you can go where you want to go?”

“Where do you want to go?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

Cheng Xing replied, “I want to go home.”

“Where’s home?” Jiang Ciyi pressed.

Cheng Xing fell silent. After a long pause, she lowered her head and sighed. “Somewhere very, very far away.”

Jiang Ciyi’s ears perked up. She felt close to the truth, as if the answer she sought was within reach.

“How far?” Jiang Ciyi asked. “Who’s at home?”

A gust of wind blew, scattering Cheng Xing’s hair. She closed her eyes, thinking of her mother, her grandparents, even the cafeteria at Jingzhong Medical University. A bitter smile crossed her face. “It feels like there are so many people, but also like there’s no one.”

She didn’t know if what she saw under the system’s guidance had already happened or was yet to come. She didn’t know what she’d find when she returned after completing her task here. Everything was uncertain.

The place where she grew up and the people she cared about had become like Schrödinger’s cat—locked in a box, their state unknown until opened.

Jiang Ciyi paused, then asked, “Where did you come from? How did you get here?”

Cheng Xing turned to look at her, seeing Jiang Ciyi’s serious, tense expression. She gently touched Jiang Ciyi’s head. “Jiang Ciyi, you have to take care of yourself. You’re so smart, so beautiful, and so hardworking. Things will only get better for you. Whatever you want, just tell me, and I’ll make it happen.”

Jiang Ciyi: “…”

Drunk.

Why did she keep trying to get answers from a drunk person?

But it was only when Cheng Xing was drunk that she let her guard down.

Jiang Ciyi didn’t respond, instead urging her to get in the car.

The night wind was chilly, sobering Cheng Xing slightly. She closed Jiang Ciyi’s door, stowed the wheelchair in the trunk, and leaned against it, lost in thought.

After a moment, she composed herself and got into the car.

Jiang Ciyi was resting with her eyes closed. Cheng Xing sat a seat away, not disturbing her. She leaned against the window, lost in a daze. A knock on the window came from Jiang Ciyi’s side.

Jiang Ciyi lowered the window to see Brother Xi. “What’s up?” she asked.

Brother Xi bent down. “It was crowded earlier, so I didn’t ask. When are you planning to return to work?”

Jiang Ciyi glanced at her legs. “No time soon.”

“You know the Technical Department’s forensic team is short-staffed. Several people transferred out this year, and you’re our pillar. We’ve got several major cases stalled because we can’t confirm autopsy results.” Brother Xi probed, “No way at all?”

Jiang Ciyi clenched her fist, her tone calm but forced. “No way.”

“Alright,” Brother Xi sighed. “Chief Lin’s mentioned you a few times. Even if you can’t work, come back and visit when you can.”

“Okay.” Jiang Ciyi agreed, but gave no specific timeline.

Brother Xi, sensing her reluctance, didn’t linger. He wished them a safe trip and left.

As the window rolled up, Cheng Xing asked, “Are you close with Brother Xi?”

Jiang Ciyi replied curtly, “We’re fine.”

“And Chief Lin?”

“Fine.”

Jiang Ciyi’s responses were perfunctory, as always. Cheng Xing pouted and asked casually, “So who are you close with?”

Jiang Ciyi crossed her arms, thought for two seconds, and said, “Zheng Shuqing.”

Cheng Xing: “…Oh.”

She regretted asking.

She closed her eyes to rest.

Soon, the designated driver arrived.

Cheng Xing handed over the keys, only to see a familiar face. The boy had a choppy fringe haircut, fair skin, and was wearing a white T-shirt despite the cold. Meeting her gaze, he exclaimed in surprise, “Cousin?”

Cheng Xing: “…Hey.”

It was Xu Jingyu, the second son of her aunt, Cheng Xiuli.

“Why are you working as a designated driver?” Cheng Xing asked. “Is your family short on tuition money?”

Xu Jingyu fastened his seatbelt and faced forward. “No. Sit tight, I’m starting the car.”

Cheng Xing let out an “oh” and settled into the back seat.

Xu Jingyu was quiet during the drive. They were only cousins, distant relatives who only saw each other during holidays or major events. Since Cheng Xing didn’t keep close ties with family, Xu Jingyu had no intention of chatting.

The quiet atmosphere in the car lulled the tipsy Cheng Xing into a drowsy state. As they hit a bump, her body tilted, and her head landed on Jiang Ciyi’s shoulder.

Startled awake, Cheng Xing tried to sit up, but Jiang Ciyi asked, “Why did you toast them?”

Cheng Xing, still sluggish, didn’t catch the question. “Huh?”

“You didn’t need to toast them.” Jiang Ciyi said.

Cheng Xing paused. “They’re your colleagues.”

“When you go back to work, they won’t stab you in the back.” Cheng Xing added.

Her toasts weren’t to curry favor but to ensure no one would secretly undermine Jiang Ciyi. Jiang Ciyi was brilliant and capable, but people like her often overlooked workplace relationships. These relationships might seem trivial, but they could be fatal at critical moments.

Cheng Xing didn’t want Jiang Ciyi to struggle in her career. She just wanted Jiang Ciyi to do what she loved, while Cheng Xing handled the complicated social dynamics.

Jiang Ciyi was taken aback and asked, “What about Zhu Tao? Don’t you dislike him?”

“I do. He’s a toad lusting after a swan.” Cheng Xing said softly. “But you said he’s in trace evidence and works closely with you. Plus, he’s petty. You can’t afford to offend him too much. After all, it’s easy to deal with honorable people, but hard to guard against petty ones.”

Jiang Ciyi turned to look at her.

Cheng Xing, eyes closed, spoke slowly. “Jiang Ciyi, when you return as Forensic Doctor Jiang, you’ll be the most beloved forensic doctor.”

Her face lit up with a smile, as if she could already see Jiang Ciyi being warmly welcomed back at the station.

Jiang Ciyi’s heart tightened. After a pause, she said coldly, “I’m starting work at my senior sister’s lab next week. I might…”

She hesitated, then slowly admitted the harsh truth: “I might never be a forensic doctor again.”