Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 41
41
“The boundless horizon is my love, where flowers bloom at the foot of the endless green mountains!”
“What kind of rhythm is the grooviest? What kind of singing is the most exhilarating!”
“…”
Since the original owner of the body never ate breakfast and typically woke up after 10 a.m., the housekeeper and maids at Tinglan Mansion usually got up around 6 a.m. They would tidy up the house, replace wilted plants with fresh ones, and prepare ingredients in case the original owner suddenly decided to wake up early and demand food.
At this hour, even the maids’ alarms had only just gone off.
Cheng Xing, however, was different. After returning to her room last night and taking a shower, she downloaded the music she planned to play this morning. To avoid giving the old lady any reason to accuse her of deliberate retaliation, she also learned a few universal square-dancing moves from the Douwu app, channeling the same energy and determination she once had as the leader of her school’s morning exercise routine.
She went to bed at 11 p.m., forcing herself to sleep, with coffee prepared by her bedside. When her alarm rang, she opened her eyes, brewed a cup of coffee, and downed it.
To annoy the old lady, she even drank coffee, something she normally avoided!
The bitter coffee stimulated her taste buds but invigorated her body.
And so, the spacious living room echoed with the same square-dance music that used to blare from the courtyard below Cheng Xing’s old home.
The speakers were ones Cheng Xing had specifically asked Sister Zhou to dig out. They were originally used for the wedding of the original owner and Jiang Ciyi but had been gathering dust in storage, never expected to see the light of day again.
When Cheng Xing requested them, Sister Zhou was stunned and asked what she needed them for.
Cheng Xing gave her a charming smile and said mysteriously, “You’ll find out tomorrow.”
The speakers were incredibly powerful. Sister Zhou, who slept in the housekeeper’s room on the far side of the first floor, was the first to rush out. Normally, she was impeccably dressed in a black suit, matching trousers, a white shirt, and a bow tie, but today, she had thrown on a white shirt in haste, its buttons misaligned.
As she stepped out, she saw her young mistress wearing a light purple tracksuit, standing next to a massive black speaker blasting square-dance music that was just reaching its climax.
The “dun-tss, dun-tss” beat sounded like a demolition crew had come to tear the house down.
Sister Zhou’s heart trembled. She wanted to ask what her young mistress was up to, but Cheng Xing leisurely stretched her arms, moving like a graceful swan on a stage. Her casual movements were surprisingly elegant.
Sister Zhou couldn’t help but stare, even clapping a little.
Her applause, however, was completely drowned out by the music.
Many of the maids, roused by the noise, came out as well. Normally, they tiptoed around in the mornings, wary of their temperamental young mistress. Even though the master bedroom was far from the first floor, they feared waking her or giving her any reason to throw a tantrum.
Who would dare make such a racket?
Could it be the old lady who arrived last night or that intimidating Miss Xu?
Curious to see the commotion, many maids hurriedly got up, only to freeze in place alongside Sister Zhou when they saw the scene.
…?
The maids exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to do.
Was their young mistress summoning them to join her in square dancing?
Should they dance… or not?
As they wrestled with the dilemma, Sister Zhou noticed something.
Though the speaker was placed near the sofa, it was closest to the rooms where the old lady and Miss Xu were staying.
Sister Zhou hesitated, recalling the madam’s instructions from the night before: as long as Cheng Xing didn’t physically harm the old lady or tear the roof off, she could do whatever she wanted.
Clearly, the madam was protective of her daughter.
And now, Cheng Xing hadn’t laid a hand on anyone or caused structural damage—she was just square dancing. It was a healthy exercise, after all!
This was a good thing!
Sister Zhou’s lips twitched into a faint smile. She instructed the maids to pretend they saw nothing and to carry on with their usual routines.
The maids didn’t understand but obeyed, filing out and returning to their rooms in an orderly fashion.
Sister Zhou adjusted her misbuttoned shirt, turned gracefully, and went back to her room.
Cheng Xing noticed them but trusted that someone as sharp as Sister Zhou would understand her intentions. Worst case, she’d drag all the maids into square dancing with her.
Fortunately, everyone was sensible.
When the song ended, there was a two-minute silence.
The two rooms remained quiet, so Cheng Xing scrolled through her hastily downloaded playlist and played a high-energy DJ remix of The Lasso Pole.
Last night, while downloading songs, Cheng Xing was immensely grateful that much of this world’s culture overlapped with her original one.
Otherwise, where would she find these iconic tunes?
The bold, resonant voice of the grassland singer, paired with the “dun-tss” beat, filled the room.
“The lasso-wielding man, so mighty and strong! The galloping steed, like a swift wind along!”
“The lasso-wielding man, so mighty and strong!”
“…”
The same line repeated ten times.
Finally, a door swung open. Xu Zhaozhao, looking as if a ghost had drained her life force, stood in the doorway, her hair disheveled. Even the expensive door couldn’t block the square-dance noise. Having gone to bed at 3:30 a.m., her resentment was fiercer than any ghost’s. “Argh!”
Cheng Xing paused the music, and the world fell silent.
Xu Zhaozhao, nearsighted and without her glasses or contacts, could only vaguely make out a purple blob in the living room, like a sentient taro paste. Furious, she shouted, “Purple taro paste, what are you doing? It’s early in the morning—can’t you let people sleep? Have you no manners?!”
Cheng Xing stood up, removed one earplug, and rubbed her ear. “Huh? What did you call me, Zhaozhao?”
Her tone was polite, but anyone could see the smile on her face wasn’t genuine—it was more of a smirk.
Xu Zhaozhao froze, stunned. “Xing… Sister Xing?”
Cheng Xing nodded. “That’s me. I’m used to exercising early in the morning and forgot you and Grandma were here. My bad.”
Xu Zhaozhao: “…?”
Early mornings and Cheng Xing were two things that didn’t belong in the same sentence.
But Xu Zhaozhao wasn’t about to say that. Once she recognized Cheng Xing, her attitude did a 180, her voice turning saccharine. “Sister Xing, you have such great habits. I thought it was some clueless maid causing a ruckus, worried it’d wake you and Grandma.”
Cheng Xing’s lips curled. “My house—how could anyone else cause a ruckus? Well, except for some shameless people who insist on barging in with their big faces. Oh, Zhaozhao, don’t get me wrong—I’m not talking about you or Grandma.”
Xu Zhaozhao: “…”
Her face turned a mix of green and red, but Cheng Xing’s expression remained neutral. She crouched to check the speaker, ensuring it was at maximum volume, then cranked her phone’s volume to the max and played the next song.
“No matter how I try, I can’t escape this flowery world. Turns out, I’m just a drunken butterfly…”
The square-dance music was wildly varied, designed to catch people off guard.
After a softer song, the next one roared to life: “Wumeng Mountain connects to mountains beyond! Moonlight spills over Xiangshui Beach!”
The aggressive voice of a prairie bandit reverberated through the living room. Cheng Xing half-heartedly followed along with a few square-dance moves, throwing in some arm and leg swings.
She danced with surprising finesse.
For a moment, Xu Zhaozhao almost believed she exercised regularly.
But then it hit her—even if she was dancing, did it have to be this loud? It was clearly targeted at them.
After three songs, the old lady’s door finally opened, perfectly timed to the line, “Can someone tell me if the heavens are calling you!”
The old lady, who always appeared refined and dignified despite her annoying antics, with neatly styled hair and impeccable clothing, now had strands of her dyed black hair falling across her face. Her wrinkled face was a canvas of emotions as she glared furiously at Cheng Xing.
Cheng Xing caught her in her peripheral vision but ignored her.
When she “finished” the song, she paused the speaker.
The next second, the old lady snapped, “Cheng Xing, what’s this madness you’re causing so early in the morning?”
Cheng Xing stood, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead. “Oh, Grandma, you’re awake! Perfect timing—come join me for some square dancing.”
“You…” The old lady glared, swallowing whatever she was about to say.
Probably something like, Are you insane?
Cheng Xing blinked. “What’s wrong? I’m doing this for you. Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well last night? The feng shui master said staying here would help you recover, so I figured it’s a sign from above to take good care of you. The Cheng family’s success is all thanks to you, Grandma, and my comfortable life is because of you too. So, to ensure you live to a hundred, I’m helping you exercise.”
Her tone mimicked Xu Zhaozhao’s by about 80%, with the remaining 20% her own flair, leaving the old lady momentarily stunned, almost convinced.
Xu Zhaozhao: “?”
That’s not what you said to me earlier.
The old lady paused for a few seconds. “I’m not dancing. What is this nonsense?”
“This is the wisdom of the people—don’t underestimate these moves. They exercise every part of your body. One round wakes you up, two rounds refresh you, and three rounds ensure a long life,” Cheng Xing retorted confidently. “You’re looking down on the people.”
The old lady: “…”
How did this turn into her disrespecting the people?
With such strict scrutiny on public stances these days, and the Cheng Corporation involved in numerous government projects, if word of this got out, either the company would rush to distance itself from her, or its stock price would plummet.
The old lady couldn’t take that risk. She snapped, “Cheng Xing, don’t you dare pin that on me.”
“Then join me in dancing.” Cheng Xing said. “Dance, have breakfast, then walk 20,000 steps. I guarantee you’ll live to 99.”
The old lady: “…”
Oddly, she felt a flicker of temptation.
Xu Zhaozhao, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. “Grandma, you slept late last night. Exercising too much this morning might be too much for you.”
With someone offering an out, the old lady’s fleeting interest was snuffed out. She said coldly, “Zhaozhao knows how to care for me.”
“Sigh.” Cheng Xing feigned a helpless sigh. “Bitter medicine heals the body, and harsh words guide the path. Some people only care about the present, but others want you to live a long life, ensuring the Cheng Corporation’s prosperity endures.”
Xu Zhaozhao’s face paled. “Grandma, that’s not what I meant!”
“Enough,” the old lady said, glancing at her and patting her hand fondly. “I know who truly cares for me. Go back to sleep.”
“Okay.” Xu Zhaozhao replied obediently.
As soon as the door closed, the speaker blared again: “Wumeng Mountain connects to mountains beyond! Moonlight spills over Xiangshui Beach!”
Cheng Xing had downloaded a DJ version sung by a hundred-person choir, a true assault on the ears.
Then she sat in the living room, leisurely sipping tea.
The song looped thirty times.
At 7:50 a.m., the music stopped. Cheng Xing sat at the dining table and asked Sister Zhou to knock on the old lady’s and Xu Zhaozhao’s doors.
When the doors opened, both looked exhausted and said they weren’t eating breakfast.
Cheng Xing sighed helplessly. “This breakfast was specially prepared to welcome you two. If you don’t eat, I’ll feel so guilty I’ll have to kneel in the ancestral hall.”
In truth, she’d never even seen the ancestral hall.
Her lips moved smoothly, weaving a web of moral pressure. The old lady gritted her teeth and said, “Fine, I’ll eat.”
At 8 a.m., the old lady sat at the head of the table, staring at a plate of stir-fried greens, while Xu Zhaozhao had a vegetable salad in front of her.
Cheng Xing and Jiang Ciyi sat across from each other, their plates holding crispy toast, fresh hot milk on the side, and a golden runny-yolk fried egg sandwiched in the toast. Cheng Xing ate with satisfaction.
Jiang Ciyi ate quietly, treating the other two as invisible.
The old lady didn’t touch her utensils, only questioning, “You and your wife eat that, but you give me and Zhaozhao this? Cheng Xing, is this your hospitality?”
Cheng Xing looked shocked. “Grandma, how can you call yourself a guest? You’re my grandmother. These were specially prepared for you and Zhaozhao. Don’t you like them?”
The old lady clenched her teeth. Normally, she ate salad for breakfast too, but seeing the other two with such appetizing food while she and Xu Zhaozhao got bland dishes was infuriating.
“I checked with the family doctor. Your bl00d sugar and lipids are a bit high, so green vegetables are good for you. As for Zhaozhao, she’s a celebrity destined for the big screen. She’s been eating too well with you lately—I noticed a double chin when she went out this morning, so I had a vegetable salad made for her.” Cheng Xing sighed. “I treat you like family and think of your well-being, yet you misunderstand me?”
Xu Zhaozhao rushed to find a mirror, but there wasn’t one nearby. Staring at her vegetables, she lost her appetite and looked at the old lady. “Grandma, have I really gained weight?”
The old lady, mulling over Cheng Xing’s words, hesitated. Xu Zhaozhao took it as confirmation, her face turning grim.
“Forget it,” Cheng Xing said, finishing her toast. “Grandma, if you don’t see me as family, why bother visiting us before leaving the country?”
“Visit you?” The old lady was confused.
“Yeah,” Cheng Xing said confidently. “You’re moving abroad permanently, so of course you’d visit the people who matter most to you before leaving. I thought you valued us so much that I prepared all these surprises, but I guess I was being presumptuous.”
Xu Zhaozhao, seeing the old lady staring silently at Cheng Xing, chimed in, “Sister Xing, this morning didn’t feel like surprises—more like shocks.”
“Huh? How so?” Cheng Xing looked at her. “Is it wrong to want Grandma to live longer? Don’t you want her to live a few more years, Zhaozhao?”
Xu Zhaozhao stood up to protest. “Of course not! I want Grandma to live to a hundred!”
“Then we’re on the same page. Lack of exercise leads to health issues, but exercise promotes longevity.” Cheng Xing said.
“But you didn’t have to play the music so loud. It’s giving Grandma a nervous breakdown.” Xu Zhaozhao countered.
Cheng Xing smirked inwardly but kept a straight face. “Oh? I just wanted to get Grandma in the mood. Louder music creates the vibe.”
“You’re deliberately trying to disturb us,” Xu Zhaozhao said, glancing at Jiang Ciyi, who sat calmly at the table, looking refreshed and composed. “How come she didn’t hear it?”
Jiang Ciyi hadn’t planned to engage, but since someone was picking a fight, she took a sip of milk and glanced over. “I sleep well. Is that a problem?”
“When you’re uncomfortable, it means you’re growing. The more comfortable the environment, the faster you die. If you want to attend Grandma’s funeral, just say so. Or slip her some poison to speed things up.” Jiang Ciyi said coolly.
Xu Zhaozhao’s face flushed with anger. “Jiang Ciyi, you—!”
Cheng Xing immediately stepped in to defend her. “What? Mad because your plan’s been exposed? I treated you like a sister, but I didn’t know you were that kind of person.”
Xu Zhaozhao: “…?”
What kind of person was she supposed to be?
“Forget it,” Cheng Xing said gently. “Grandma, I’m taking Xiao Jiang to work. I’ve arranged some brain-boosting activities for you this morning. Someone will come by to keep you company. Don’t reject my kindness this time, or I’ll really get upset!”
With that, she left with Jiang Ciyi.
Once in the car, Cheng Xing grinned smugly. “How was my acting?”
“Needs work.” Jiang Ciyi said. “But it’s an improvement.”
“Thanks for the praise, Xiao Jiang.” Cheng Xing said, then asked, “How were the earplugs?”
“Not bad,” Jiang Ciyi replied. “I think exercise is inevitable, morning or night. What do you think? Ten to midnight sounds perfect.”
Cheng Xing gave her a thumbs-up. “Xiao Jiang, you’re brilliant. Let’s do it.”
Last night, after finalizing the plan, Cheng Xing had given Jiang Ciyi a pair of earplugs. Since the master bedroom had the best soundproofing in Tinglan Mansion, Jiang Ciyi slept soundly until 7:30 a.m.
Hearing the nickname, Jiang Ciyi turned away. “Don’t call me Xiao Jiang.”
“Then what should I call you?” Cheng Xing teased. “Not ‘wife,’ surely?”
Jiang Ciyi frowned. “Fine, stick with Xiao Jiang.”
“How about Jiangjiang?” Cheng Xing paused. “No, that’s what Zheng Shuqing calls you.”
“Xiao Jiang is what your mom calls me too.” Jiang Ciyi pointed out.
They hit a red light, and the car stopped at a crosswalk. Cheng Xing tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. When the light turned green, the car moved forward.
Suddenly, Cheng Xing said, “How about I call you A’Ci?”
“A’Ci,” she repeated, liking the sound of it. “A’Ci, A’Ci.”
Jiang Ciyi’s ears twitched, her chest feeling as if stuffed with cotton—indescribable. She glanced sideways at Cheng Xing, whose newly dyed hair glimmered in the sunlight, exuding warmth and elegance. Her satisfied smile and melodic voice filled the small, quiet car, stealing all the oxygen.
After a moment, she said, “Fine, call me A’Ci.”
At the next green light, Cheng Xing glanced at Jiang Ciyi.
Jiang Ciyi quickly looked out the window, avoiding her gaze, and said coolly, “Whatever.”
Meanwhile, back at Tinglan Mansion, a mahjong table was brought in, along with players Cheng Xing had hired.
The old lady stared at the table, grinding her teeth as she asked Sister Zhou, “Doesn’t she know I hate playing cards?”
Sister Zhou, ever poised, replied gently, “Miss said she hired these players at a high price to prevent you from getting dementia. She hopes you’ll give her this courtesy.”
The old lady: “…”
Reluctantly, she and Xu Zhaozhao sat at the table. The mahjong machine’s clattering was deafening, driving the old lady to the brink of a breakdown as the tiles shuffled.