Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 38
38
When it was Cheng Xing’s turn to order, the cashier routinely asked what she wanted.
Cheng Xing ordered the new jasmine pearl milk tea and leaned down to ask Jiang Ciyi, “Have you decided?”
“Thick taro coconut milk.” Jiang Ciyi replied.
“Sugar level?” the cashier asked.
“Three parts sugar for the jasmine,” Cheng Xing said. She wasn’t fond of overly sweet drinks. Without consulting Jiang Ciyi, she added, “Five parts sugar for the other one, and make it hot.”
The cashier gave them a number and told them to wait on the side.
The milk tea shop was crowded, but orders came out quickly. After picking up the drinks, Cheng Xing handed both cups to Jiang Ciyi. “Let’s find a place to rest later.”
It was a three-minute walk from this mall to Donglai Mall.
Crossing a street, they entered the luxurious Donglai Mall. The glass was spotless, and even the lighting fixtures were uniquely designed, clearly a cut above Chenhua Mall.
All the luxury brand stores had spacious layouts, appearing sparse but unmistakably catering to an elite clientele.
On the first floor, there was a dedicated rest area. Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi to a corner to sit.
After more than an hour of shopping, Cheng Xing was feeling drained. Her cold hadn’t fully cleared up, and being the only one talking and walking for so long had taken its toll.
The rest area was nearly empty, with only one other table occupied by two girls sitting diagonally across from them. The girls glanced at them briefly before losing interest.
In this environment, Cheng Xing relaxed. She took the two milk teas, inserted straws, and handed Jiang Ciyi’s cup to her.
Jiang Ciyi glanced at the time. “Are you still dyeing your hair?”
“I am.” Cheng Xing said. “But only after we’re done shopping here.”
“That’ll be late,” Jiang Ciyi replied. She was already tired of trying on clothes, especially in this familiar, exorbitantly priced mall. She wasn’t a vain person and didn’t need extravagant outfits to prove her worth.
For work, a few simple casual outfits were enough—comfortable and practical.
“I’ve bought enough clothes,” Jiang Ciyi said. “Let’s head back after you dye your hair.”
Cheng Xing sipped her milk tea and shook her head. “No way.”
On this matter, Cheng Xing was unusually firm. “Let’s just shop on the third floor, one floor only, okay?”
She winked at Jiang Ciyi as she spoke.
Jiang Ciyi: “…”
She turned her face away, ignoring Cheng Xing’s gesture, and nodded calmly. “Fine.”
“Let me rest a bit more, and we’ll go shop after finishing the milk teas,” Cheng Xing said, then asked curiously, “Is yours good? Is five parts sugar too sweet?”
“It’s fine.” Jiang Ciyi replied.
“Taro needs five parts sugar. Seven would be too sweet and bad for your stomach,” Cheng Xing explained. “Three parts is too bland. Life’s already bitter, so you need a bit of sweetness to balance it out.”
Jiang Ciyi’s grip on her milk tea cup tightened slightly. She responded casually, “Oh.”
“Want to try mine?” Cheng Xing asked. “This one has a light jasmine flavor, with a subtle floral scent and rich milkiness. If you like jasmine, you’d probably enjoy it.”
Cheng Xing pushed her cup toward Jiang Ciyi, who frowned slightly, looking hesitant.
Noticing the faint lipstick mark on the straw, Cheng Xing quickly understood. She grabbed a tissue from her bag and wiped the straw. “Sorry, my lipstick got on it.”
After wiping it clean, she handed it back, laughing to ease the awkwardness. “Next time, I’ll buy transfer-proof lipstick and weld this color to my lips.”
Jiang Ciyi let out a “pfft” and laughed, her voice surprisingly loud before she quickly restrained herself, lowering her head with just a slight curve of her lips.
It wasn’t even that funny, but something about Cheng Xing’s delivery had a certain charm.
Her resolute, almost oath-like tone, mixed with a playful jest, felt like a stand-up comedy bit.
Jiang Ciyi had a high threshold for humor. When Zheng Shuqing told her lame jokes, only Zheng Shuqing would laugh hysterically, while Jiang Ciyi could only manage a polite lip-twitch, unable to find the humor.
She often struggled to find the right moment to laugh.
If everyone else laughed and she didn’t, it felt awkward.
If she laughed and no one else did, it was even more awkward.
Over time, she settled for a neutral expression. People got used to her stoic demeanor, and no one commented on it anymore.
After suppressing her smile, Jiang Ciyi pretended nothing had happened. But Cheng Xing, sitting across from her, grinned with satisfaction. “See? You look so pretty when you smile.”
Jiang Ciyi: “…Oh.”
She took a sip of Cheng Xing’s milk tea. The flavor was too light for her taste, so she pushed it back across the table.
“How is it?” Cheng Xing asked. “Like the jasmine flavor?”
“It’s okay. Mine’s better.” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing eyed her cup. Within three seconds, Jiang Ciyi caught her intent and pursed her lips. “Want to try it?”
Cheng Xing hesitated, unsure. “Is that okay?”
Jiang Ciyi nodded and slid the cup over.
Cheng Xing wiped the straw with the same tissue, took a sip, and gave a thumbs-up. “This taro flavor is amazing.”
“Mm,” Jiang Ciyi agreed faintly. “Not too sweet, just right.”
“I’ll take one more sip,” Cheng Xing said. “Just a small one.”
Jiang Ciyi was generous. “Finish it. I’m full.”
“No way, I can’t take what you love,” Cheng Xing said with principle. She took a small sip, returned the cup, and stood up energetically. “I’m revived. Let’s go shop.”
Jiang Ciyi held her milk tea, taking a light sip. “Okay.”
Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi into the elevator, then realized—she hadn’t wiped the straw after drinking from Jiang Ciyi’s cup.
She glanced down guiltily at Jiang Ciyi, but Jiang Ciyi was calmly sipping her milk tea, seemingly unaware.
Cheng Xing patted her chest in relief, her peripheral vision casually landing on the milk tea cup in Jiang Ciyi’s hand.
The straw still had her non-transfer-proof lipstick mark.
Jiang Ciyi’s skin was fair, and she wore a subtle peach-pink lip color that day.
Cheng Xing, on the other hand, had pale lips and needed bolder shades to look vibrant, so her lipstick was noticeably brighter.
The difference on the straw was obvious to Cheng Xing.
So… Jiang Ciyi must have noticed too, right?
Cheng Xing pressed her lips together, lost in thought, when the elevator opened.
Jiang Ciyi’s voice was cool and calm. “Miss Cheng, had enough staring?”
Cheng Xing: “…?”
“Huh?” Caught red-handed, Cheng Xing coughed lightly, quickly pushing Jiang Ciyi out of the elevator. She lowered her voice to explain, “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know,” Jiang Ciyi said, wiping the straw with a tissue, her action carrying a hint of implication, though her tone remained cool. “It’s not a big deal.”
Cheng Xing: “…Okay.”
After that, their shopping went even faster. If Cheng Xing saw something suitable for Jiang Ciyi, she’d have her try it on, and if it looked good, she’d pay immediately.
In less than half an hour, they’d bought everything on Cheng Xing’s list.
They purchased quite a bit but carried nothing. The store clerks, recognizing Cheng Xing, greeted her with eager smiles, offering the latest seasonal items with flattery. Their eyes, however, betrayed their intent to take advantage of a big spender.
Cheng Xing declined their recommendations, casually strolling through the stores with Jiang Ciyi.
When they finished, the clerks would ask, “Still delivering to Tinglan Mansion?”
Cheng Xing would nod.
Jiang Ciyi felt she’d bought enough. She’d even finished her milk tea without noticing. She urged Cheng Xing to go dye her hair, as she needed to prepare materials for her new job starting tomorrow.
Though Xu Congshi, the project leader and her senior, had offered her this job opportunity, Jiang Ciyi didn’t want to be too casual about it.
She also needed to adjust her schedule. She used to stay up late and wake early, working tirelessly at the police station. But after months without a job, she’d fallen into a routine of sleeping in, especially after the car accident. The medications’ side effects made her drowsy, and waking before 8 a.m. was nearly impossible.
Jiang Ciyi didn’t want to stay out too late.
Cheng Xing pushed her to a new store, spotting a white strapless sequined mermaid dress in the display case through the glass.
“Let’s check out this store, okay?” Cheng Xing asked.
She had her eye on that mermaid dress—not for herself, but for Jiang Ciyi.
As they entered, a clerk greeted them, bending slightly with a smile. “Miss Cheng, long time no see.”
“Could you get that dress for us to try?” Cheng Xing pointed to the dress in the display.
The clerk’s smile faltered. “Sorry, Miss Cheng, that dress was just reserved.”
“Oh?” Cheng Xing was disappointed. “Alright.”
The clerk, expecting Cheng Xing’s usual assertive demeanor, braced for her to inquire about the buyer. After all, who didn’t know Miss Cheng’s reputation in their circle?
Spoiled, willful, and relentless.
To prevent her from fixating on the dress, the clerk quickly added, “We just received many new styles. You can check out the others.”
“I didn’t like the others.” Cheng Xing said, having already scanned the store. “Never mind, I’ll buy something else next time.”
“If you like this dress, I could let you have it,” a familiar voice said. Cheng Xing looked up to see Liu Ning wearing the mermaid dress, its hem intricately designed, resembling a fish tail swaying in the sea. But Liu Ning didn’t quite carry its elegance.
“No need,” Cheng Xing said, uninterested in arguing. “It looks good on you. You should buy it.”
She was about to leave with Jiang Ciyi when Liu Ning sneered, “Had enough of pretending, Cheng Xing?”
Cheng Xing paused but didn’t turn. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I said you’re pretending,” Liu Ning said, arms crossed. “Since when does Miss Cheng give up something she wants?”
Cheng Xing sighed, turning to face Liu Ning. “You saw it first, so it’s rightfully yours. How is that giving it up?”
Liu Ning: “…”
Her logic seemed airtight.
But—
“You’re not someone who plays fair,” Liu Ning said through gritted teeth. “How long are you going to keep up this act? Are you really so charmed by this woman?”
“No,” Cheng Xing replied calmly. “I’m not pretending. Maybe I’ve grown up and learned about first-come, first-served. Time moves on, people change, Liu Ning. Nothing stays the same forever. You should change too—can’t keep coasting through life. Otherwise, next time your mother sees Shen Qingxue, she’ll slap you again.”
Cheng Xing wasn’t intimidated by Liu Ning. She knew the Liu family, no matter how influential, couldn’t challenge the Chengs.
Even if Liu’s mother doted on her, she wouldn’t pick a fight with the Chengs over Liu Ning.
“Are you really not afraid I’ll leak those chat logs?” Liu Ning threatened angrily.
“Go ahead,” Cheng Xing said coolly. “The Chengs will handle a PR crisis for me at most. But Liu Ning, what will the Liu family do to you?”
“There’s no need to drag yourself down just to get back at me,” Cheng Xing advised. “Or the Liu family.”
Pausing, she added, “For the sake of our past friendship, four words: take care of yourself.”
With that, she left the store, leaving Liu Ning trembling with rage.
In the elevator, its reflective surface showed Cheng Xing’s calm face. Jiang Ciyi, in her wheelchair, gazed absently.
Suddenly, she asked, “Cheng Xing, when did you arrive?”
Cheng Xing, lost in thought, snapped back. “Huh?”
“Was it the night you came to me talking about divorce?” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing knew she couldn’t hide it and nodded. “…Yes.”
The next moment, a cute robotic voice sounded in her mind:
[Beep—Detected host exploiting a rule loophole, deducting 5 strategy points and a reward of 50,000 HKD.]
[Awoo! Time rewind, please take the strategy seriously and avoid cheating!]
[Beep—Next violation will result in a Level 1 pain penalty.]
[Awoo! It’s not that the system doesn’t want to help, but the host was too obvious. P.S.: All transmigrators are forbidden from revealing their identity when strategy points are low, or it will be treated as cheating.]
Cheng Xing: “…?”
Just as she was about to argue with the system, Jiang Ciyi asked again, calmly, “Cheng Xing, when did you arrive?”
Cheng Xing’s brain nearly overheated, torn between her frustration with the system and figuring out how to answer Jiang Ciyi.
After two minutes of silence, as they left the mall, Jiang Ciyi glanced up at her. “Can’t say?”
Cheng Xing’s eyes welled with grateful tears.
Jiang Ciyi tossed her empty milk tea cup into the trash. “Go dye your hair.”