Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 34
34
The atmosphere was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Cheng Xing calmly waited for Jiang Ciyi to make her decision.
She respected every choice Jiang Ciyi made.
Jiang Ciyi showed no extreme reaction to the two documents. From the moment Cheng Xing presented the options, she had quietly lowered her gaze, carefully reading through the terms of the documents.
Whether it was the divorce agreement or the two-month contract, the terms were very favorable to her.
When Cheng Xing first proposed the two-month period, there was an element of coercion.
A transaction naturally comes with conditions.
But these conditions were written into the divorce agreement as compensation for her.
In other words, whether she chose divorce now or the two-month period, she would receive the same benefits.
With such generous terms, it was hard to believe there wasn’t some catch.
After reading through, Jiang Ciyi placed her hands on the table, adopting a serious negotiating posture. “So, what’s your purpose?”
“I have no purpose,” Cheng Xing said with a slight smile. “You might not believe me, but I truly have no purpose now.”
“Now?” Jiang Ciyi quickly caught the loophole in her words.
“Yes,” Cheng Xing didn’t hide it. “Before, I did have one. I didn’t want to divorce you, so I proposed the two-month period to change your impression of me.”
“And now? Why the change of heart?”
“I felt I was too despicable.” Cheng Xing said with a self-deprecating smile. “You should be the one to choose the life you want, not be controlled by me.”
“I’ve never felt controlled by you,” Jiang Ciyi said. “I made my own choices to get to this point. I trusted the wrong person.”
“No,” Cheng Xing refuted. “Someone else deceived you.”
“Someone else?” Jiang Ciyi raised an eyebrow, her tone heavy.
The moonlight cast faint shadows, and the sky darkened as if ink had been spilled across it.
Jiang Ciyi said, “Cheng Xing, is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Her fingertips lightly brushed over the paper labeled “Divorce Agreement,” pausing before adding, “Before I make my choice.”
She gave Cheng Xing plenty of time.
Cheng Xing smiled faintly, knowing exactly what she wanted to hear.
“There is,” Cheng Xing said. “I’ll tell you a secret.”
Jiang Ciyi raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Since it’s a secret, you have to promise that no third person in this world will know. Can you do that?” Cheng Xing asked.
Jiang Ciyi thought for a moment and nodded.
Cheng Xing stood up, walked to her side, bent down, and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “I am Cheng Xing, but I’m also not Cheng Xing.”
Jiang Ciyi pursed her lips. “Have you been to a psychiatrist?”
Cheng Xing was taken aback. “Huh?”
Realizing what she meant, she quickly clarified, “I don’t have a split personality.”
“Generally speaking, that’s what they all say.” Jiang Ciyi deliberately omitted the subject to avoid triggering her.
“That’s not fair,” Cheng Xing said with a smile. “If I admit I have a mental illness, you’d believe I’m confessing. If I deny it, you’d think that’s what mentally ill people say. I’m trapped in your assumption, and there’s no way out.”
Her voice was soft, as if afraid of being overheard, and her warm breath brushed against Jiang Ciyi’s ear, making it heat up slightly. Jiang Ciyi instinctively tilted her head to the side, feeling a bit uneasy.
There was no one else around, so Jiang Ciyi didn’t understand. “Can’t you just say it from across the table?”
Cheng Xing glanced at the blinking red light on the ceiling of the living room and shook her head. “No. My mom is watching.”
“Huh? Why?”
“She found out about what happened before,” Cheng Xing shrugged. “To prevent me from bullying you again, she installed surveillance. Not only that, the butler and the maids are her informants. If I mistreat you, she’ll come rushing over to stand up for you.”
Jiang Ciyi frowned.
She understood the meaning but was still confused.
Why would Guan Linmin stand up for her?
That woman was someone who doted on her daughter without limits.
Even without Jiang Ciyi saying anything, her expression conveyed everything.
Cheng Xing understood her thoughts and explained gently, “She didn’t know about everything I did before. She only found out after my hospitalization this time. She always thought I liked you so much that I was head over heels, and that you were the one who didn’t appreciate me.”
“Hah,” Jiang Ciyi let out a cold laugh at the last sentence.
“But now she knows the truth, so she’s keeping an eye on me,” Cheng Xing said. “And what I’m about to say can’t be heard by her.”
“Then why are we talking here? We could go to the bedroom,” Jiang Ciyi suggested.
Cheng Xing shook her head. “Let’s stay here. It’s about serious matters, and having the video as evidence isn’t a bad thing.”
Jiang Ciyi didn’t say anything more, waiting for her to reveal the secret.
But Cheng Xing stepped back. “Alright, make your decision.”
Jiang Ciyi was stunned. “…That’s it?”
“That’s the secret.” Cheng Xing nodded.
She didn’t fully open up to Jiang Ciyi. For her own safety, she didn’t completely trust Jiang Ciyi, even with her “protagonist” aura. She didn’t dare place herself in such an unfamiliar environment and unconditionally trust someone.
If this didn’t go well and got exposed, at best, she’d be labeled as having a split personality; at worst, she’d be studied as an alien creature.
She wanted to persuade Jiang Ciyi to stay and help her complete her mission, but she didn’t want to hand over a fatal weakness.
“As for the rest, I can’t say.” Cheng Xing sat back across from her, relaxed. “Through our interactions these past few days, I’m sure you’ve noticed something and even tested me a few times. You might be thinking of answers within the realm of science, but I can responsibly tell you that this isn’t something science can explain.”
It was half a confession.
Even if Jiang Ciyi wanted to retaliate or do something with the video, it wouldn’t prove that Cheng Xing admitted she wasn’t herself.
She could easily attribute her vague words to something else.
The video wouldn’t be damning evidence against her.
“That’s all I’ll say,” Cheng Xing looked at her gently. The crystal chandelier in the dining room cast a bright glow, illuminating Jiang Ciyi’s fair face. Her expression was serious, deep in thought, her eyes fixed on Cheng Xing, scanning her up and down for any clues.
But Cheng Xing remained calm, sitting back down after saying those unsettling words.
Cheng Xing’s words were unreliable.
Especially the part about it being something beyond scientific explanation—it was utterly unconvincing.
What couldn’t be explained by science?
Quantum mechanics, black holes, even time travel could be hypothesized using theories about light-year distances.
So what else could it be?
Jiang Ciyi couldn’t figure it out, and Cheng Xing wasn’t going to explain further. She had hidden everything.
She offered Jiang Ciyi incredibly generous terms.
In the past, Jiang Ciyi would have signed the divorce agreement without a second thought, but now, she hesitated.
Her first instinct just now was to sign the two-month contract.
The current Cheng Xing was intriguing.
This wasn’t a good thing.
Even Jiang Ciyi’s hesitation wasn’t a good thing.
After a moment, Jiang Ciyi asked, “So why do you want to make this two-month agreement with me?”
“No matter what, I’m Cheng Xing now,” Cheng Xing explained, rephrasing the system’s mission. “I have to pay the price for what was done before, so give me two months to make it up to you.”
“The terms you’ve offered are already good compensation.”
Cheng Xing paused. “Material compensation is one thing; emotional compensation is another.”
Jiang Ciyi smirked at that. “So how do you plan to compensate me emotionally?”
Cheng Xing was momentarily speechless, thinking for a moment before saying, “By changing your impression of me. I’m not that kind of person. You don’t need to fear me or resent me. Even if we can’t be wives, we can be good friends. In the future, if you make it big, you might even help the Cheng family out.”
It sounded like a pipe dream. Jiang Ciyi said flatly, “The Cheng family is already a prominent name in Jianggang. Do you still need my help?”
“Who knows? The world is full of surprises. What if one day you suddenly become incredibly wealthy and powerful? The Cheng family might rely on you then.” Cheng Xing said jokingly, knowing it was true, though no one else would take it seriously.
“Like Shen Qingxue, whom we saw the other day,” Cheng Xing suddenly gossiped. “Do you like her?”
Jiang Ciyi was playing with the pen Cheng Xing had handed her, twirling it between her fingers before stopping. “Are you testing me?”
“Why would I test you? Just asking casually,” Cheng Xing said. “Someone like Shen Qingxue—even Liu Ning would have to bow and scrape before her. This circle is very realistic. So, if one day you remarry someone even better, don’t just remember me as a jerk and come back to take revenge on the Cheng family. Or if you’re still upset with me, just take it out on me alone.”
Jiang Ciyi hadn’t turned dark yet, but there was no guarantee she wouldn’t.
Cheng Xing couldn’t predict the future and could only try to minimize harm to others.
But after hearing her words, Jiang Ciyi fell silent, her gaze lowered, the chandelier’s light reflecting off her hair.
After a long pause, Jiang Ciyi gave a faint smile, her emotions unreadable. “You’ve planned out my future quite well.”
Cheng Xing smiled back. “It’s only human nature.”
“You’re already planning my second marriage before we’re even divorced,” Jiang Ciyi picked up one of the documents and signed her name swiftly. “Whose human nature is that?”
Cheng Xing saw that she had made her decision but couldn’t tell which document she signed.
The two documents had been mixed up during their banter and Jiang Ciyi’s hesitation.
So now, Cheng Xing didn’t know the outcome.
She had been calm when handing over the documents and discussing them, but now that Jiang Ciyi had signed, and the matter was settled, Cheng Xing felt a twinge of nervousness.
Jiang Ciyi’s question was sharp, and Cheng Xing didn’t respond immediately.
Jiang Ciyi didn’t let her off. “Miss Cheng, care to explain? Whose human nature? Or perhaps you’ve already picked out a second marriage partner for me? Which family caught your eye?”
Cheng Xing: “…”
She hadn’t felt anything before, but Jiang Ciyi’s words made her cheeks flush slightly. “I misspoke.”
Cheng Xing admitted her mistake promptly. “It was just a hope. I hope you’ll do better in the future.”
“I don’t need you to tell me that,” Jiang Ciyi said. “But it won’t necessarily be through marriage.”
After this marriage ended, she probably wouldn’t choose marriage again.
To put it bluntly, she was afraid of marriage.
Jiang Ciyi had never been set on getting married. It was only because of her grandmother’s dying wish and her own circumstances that she made the best choice at the time. But after this marriage, she had no expectations of anyone.
Cheng Xing recalled the description in the original novel.
In the book, after being recognized by the wealthiest family, Jiang Ciyi was in a blackened state, consumed by thoughts of revenge. With Shen Qingxue and her family’s help, she completed her revenge plan.
But after achieving her goal, she didn’t feel the joy she expected. Instead, she felt empty and disheartened.
Shen Qingxue was the one who pulled her out of that state, her destined partner.
Thinking of this, Cheng Xing shook her head helplessly. “Alright, as long as you’re happy.”
Based on Jiang Ciyi’s words, it was clear she had signed the divorce agreement. Cheng Xing stood up. “Then let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow.”
Her heart felt a pang of bitterness, but she suppressed it.
It wasn’t just bitterness—there was more frustration and disappointment.
If she divorced Jiang Ciyi, her mission to win her over would be indefinitely delayed.
She couldn’t exactly keep showing up in Jiang Ciyi’s life after a divorce—she’d probably lose all her progress.
This also meant her return was far off.
If she didn’t complete the mission within three months, she’d be stuck in a loop, repeating the process with all her memories until she succeeded.
Still, she decided to respect Jiang Ciyi’s choice.
But the next second, Jiang Ciyi said, “Go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for what?”
“To get divorced,” Cheng Xing said. “Didn’t you sign the divorce agreement?”
Jiang Ciyi smirked. “Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Cheng.”
She moved her hand, revealing the document on top—the two-month contract Cheng Xing had drafted herself.
For the next two months, they would act as wives, with Party B (Cheng Xing) unconditionally following Party A (Jiang Ciyi)’s orders. Party B must cooperate with all of Party A’s activities, while Party A could choose to cooperate with Party B’s activities based on her mood.
At the end of the two months, the agreement would conclude, and Party A would receive money, a house, and three demands that Party B must fulfill unconditionally.
Cheng Xing’s eyes lit up. “You…”
“I’m agreeing to your two-month contract.” Jiang Ciyi said.
After the initial joy, Cheng Xing was puzzled. “Why?”
Jiang Ciyi paused. “Divorcing right after getting married is too much hassle to explain. Also, I need a stable living environment in the short term to focus on my work in the lab.”
“Of course,” Cheng Xing said. “I’ll drive you to and from work from now on. I don’t have a job anyway.”
Jiang Ciyi frowned at that.
In that moment, Cheng Xing saw a hint of disdain in her eyes, as if she was judging her for being idle.
Cheng Xing quickly added, “Of course, I won’t always be jobless. I’ll find work later, but it won’t interfere with driving you.”
Jiang Ciyi pursed her lips. “Do whatever you want.”
It didn’t concern her anyway.
“Cheng Xing.” Jiang Ciyi called out. “Can I call you that?”
“Of course, I am Cheng Xing.” Cheng Xing said with a double meaning.
Jiang Ciyi nodded. “Alright, Cheng Xing, I’ll trust you one more time. Don’t let me down.”
“You bet!” Cheng Xing said with a smile. “Xiao Jiang, trust me.”
Jiang Ciyi: “…Change the nickname.”
“Miss Jiang?”
“…”
“Jiangjiang?”
“…”
“Dr. Jiang?”
“…”
After several attempts, Jiang Ciyi gave her a speechless look.
Cheng Xing spread her hands helplessly. “Then what should I call you? Xiao Jiang?”
“Little Sister Jiang?” Cheng Xing tested. “You’re a year younger than me, so it’s not too much, right?”
Jiang Ciyi: “…”
Cheng Xing noticed the corner of Jiang Ciyi’s mouth twitch almost imperceptibly.
Then Jiang Ciyi gave a deathly smile. “Just call me by my full name. We’re not that close, Miss Cheng.”
Cheng Xing: “…Oh.”
Cheng Xing thought “Xiao Jiang” was nice and friendly, with a touch of workplace formality.
But since Jiang Ciyi worked in a formal setting where her superiors called her that, and she didn’t like Cheng Xing using it, Cheng Xing dropped it.
After securing the contract, Cheng Xing escorted Jiang Ciyi back to her room, urging her to rest early, while she headed to the study.
As soon as she entered, a mechanical voice sounded in her mind: [Awoo! Congratulations, Host! Strategy Progress: 35%. Reward: 300,000 HKD. Keep up the good work!]
[P.S.: Pleasing the target by proposing divorce is considered cheating. The Interstellar Fate Management Bureau does not endorse this approach.]
[P.P.S.: However, considering the host’s recent deductions in strategy points and the fact that no divorce occurred, no penalty will be issued this time.]
Cheng Xing: “?”
“What does that mean?” Cheng Xing was dumbfounded. She had finally found a loophole in the system, and now it was telling her it was cheating?
What nonsense!
There was no rule saying the strategy had to happen during the marriage.
[Awoo! The system wanted to remind you earlier. Even if you propose divorce and the target agrees, if your strategy points increase because you step into the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Interstellar Fate Management Bureau will activate the time-rewind function, sending you back to before you proposed divorce to make a new choice.]
Cheng Xing: “?”
“Why?” Cheng Xing said. “So I can’t divorce Jiang Ciyi?”
[Awoo! According to the Interstellar Fate Management Bureau’s rules, divorce with the target is only allowed if the strategy progress reaches 80% or higher. Divorcing below 80% is considered cheating, resulting in the cancellation of your exam results. In severe cases, you may face punishment in the Interstellar Five Elements Prison.]
Cheng Xing: “…”
What a garbage system, ruining her life and wasting her time.
[Awoo! The system can hear your complaints!]
“I’m complaining for you to hear. Don’t you think this is unfair? She’s already suffered so much, and you won’t let her choose the life she wants. Are you even human?!” Cheng Xing fumed.
System: [Awoo! Sorry, we’re not human.]
Cheng Xing: “…”
Go to hell.
System: [Awoo! She chose to maintain a two-month relationship with you. Rounding up, she chose you! Doesn’t that mean she likes you? Shouldn’t you be happy?]
Cheng Xing: “…”
You sure know how to round things up.
But…
“I have another question,” Cheng Xing said, puzzled. “Why not follow the original plot? Jiang Ciyi’s suffering is over. She’ll soon find her family and her true love. Why put me here?”
Making Jiang Ciyi face different choices, but the outcome remains the same.
She couldn’t give Jiang Ciyi a different life; she could only help her return to the correct timeline.
The system crackled for a moment.
Then it countered: [Are you sure Shen Qingxue is her true love?]
Cheng Xing: “…Who else would it be?”
The system suddenly turned mysterious: [Awoo! Time will tell you the answer.]
Cheng Xing: “…”