Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 45

45

Jiang Ciyi hadn’t expected Cheng Xing to press herself so close, her voice carrying a hint of seductive charm.

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Ciyi was caught off guard, her mind blank.

But in an instant, her clear, cool gaze met Cheng Xing’s, showing no trace of fear.

If one could ignore her slightly reddened ears and the involuntary quickening of her heartbeat, she might have seemed as composed as ever.

Unfortunately, Cheng Xing noticed everything.

Her throat tightened. After calling Jiang Ciyi by that intimate nickname, she didn’t dare make any bold moves, afraid of angering Jiang Ciyi with her “presumptuousness.”

But Jiang Ciyi had already spoken those provocative words. If Cheng Xing didn’t respond in some way…

First, it wouldn’t make sense emotionally.

Second, it wouldn’t make sense rationally.

And third, Cheng Xing had her own pride.

Being challenged like this, especially in such a situation, was… frustrating, to say the least.

Yet, when her eyes suddenly locked with Jiang Ciyi’s, their bodies so close, the softness of their chests pressed together through thin fabric and a blanket, the sensation was impossible to fully ignore. Especially when Cheng Xing met Jiang Ciyi’s gaze in the silent room, where every second seemed to stretch, every breath audible and distinct.

With her senses heightened, Cheng Xing could feel Jiang Ciyi’s breathing rhythm with uncanny clarity. Instinctively, she began to match it.

In this intimate atmosphere, she found herself studying Jiang Ciyi closely for the first time.

Beautiful.

Stunningly beautiful.

Her skin was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg, flawless even in the dim light, without a single visible pore. The phrase “delicate enough to break with a puff” was no exaggeration.

Her eyes, deep and guarded, were subtly sizing up Cheng Xing.

At that moment, Cheng Xing wanted to avoid her gaze. After all, she couldn’t possibly do anything with Jiang Ciyi on this bed.

For one, it wasn’t clear if Jiang Ciyi even wanted it. But more importantly, there was the matter of Jiang Ciyi’s leg.

With her condition, if Cheng Xing were to… well, that would be far too unethical.

Cheng Xing wasn’t that kind of person.

But Jiang Ciyi’s earlier provocation was clearly a test, perhaps an attempt to unravel Cheng Xing’s lies.

Cheng Xing couldn’t answer her question, though.

What was her purpose?

To complete the system’s mission and return to her original world for revenge.

Was Jiang Ciyi just a stepping stone in her mission?

Cheng Xing couldn’t bring herself to say something so cruel to a friend.

Whether or not Jiang Ciyi saw her as a friend, Cheng Xing genuinely considered Jiang Ciyi one.

Moreover, the system’s restrictions bound her. She couldn’t reveal that she came from another world, nor could she mention the system’s existence.

If she wanted to share anything, she’d need to wait until the mission level reached 80% or higher.

Saying too much now would only give the system an excuse to punish her.

What, was she so eager to hand someone a knife to stab her with?

Cheng Xing wasn’t that foolish.

But…

Jiang Ciyi was staring at her with keen interest, waiting to see what she’d do next, her eyes conveying one clear message: Are you joking?

Cheng Xing feigned composure, locking eyes with her. She tried to recall the romantic scenes from TV dramas she’d watched—what was supposed to happen at this point?

…It seemed like they were supposed to start undressing.

Cheng Xing coughed lightly, shocked by the inappropriate thoughts flooding her mind. Probably the influence of her old roommates, right?

She was definitely not that kind of person!

For a moment, she was at a loss for what to do. Noticing a strand of hair falling by Jiang Ciyi’s face, she reached out to twirl it around her finger. Sensing Jiang Ciyi’s slight disdain and relaxed guard, Cheng Xing suddenly leaned in closer.

This time was different from before—her lips nearly brushed Jiang Ciyi’s cheek.

Their breaths intertwined for a moment. Cheng Xing softly called, “A’Ci, do you really think I wouldn’t dare?”

She was human, after all.

And humans have desires.

But for now, Cheng Xing’s desire to complete her mission and return home was stronger, overshadowing any base, physical urges.

Yet, being this close to Jiang Ciyi, her throat felt drier than ever, and her tone took on a subtle, suggestive edge.

The desire in her eyes was unmistakable to Jiang Ciyi.

But it was different from what she’d seen in Cheng Xing before—pure, untainted, yet mixed with complex emotions Jiang Ciyi couldn’t quite decipher.

Cheng Xing’s warm breath grazed Jiang Ciyi’s cheek, heating the air around them. Not to mention her body, pressed so closely under the blanket, leaving no room to breathe.

Her legs, numb and unfeeling, were fine.

But her upper body was overheating, beads of sticky sweat forming.

A low voice escaped Jiang Ciyi’s throat: “Had enough fun? Get off.”

Cheng Xing: “…?”

The air seemed to freeze. Cheng Xing’s eyes widened. Did Jiang Ciyi really think she was just playing around?

Even a clay figurine has some temper!

Cheng Xing retorted, “I’m not playing. A’Ci, if you’re willing, I’ll keep going.”

She didn’t believe Jiang Ciyi would actually agree.

Even if Jiang Ciyi knew she wasn’t the original Cheng Xing, how much affection could they have built in such a short time? Did she really think Jiang Ciyi would be willing to sleep with her?

Jiang Ciyi was the female lead, not some disposable side character. How could she be that thoughtless?

Cheng Xing deliberately provoked her, but Jiang Ciyi’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Go ahead.”

No extra words, just a simple statement, delivered in this charged atmosphere, sounding almost like a challenge to a fight.

Cheng Xing, unable to back down, narrowed her eyes and leaned toward Jiang Ciyi’s lips.

But the next second, she felt a cool sensation against her lips.

No, not entirely cool.

Part of it was cool—about two centimeters wide, like a scalpel—but beyond that, it was warm and soft.

Jiang Ciyi stared at her calmly, completely unbothered by the fact that their lips were “touching.”

Cheng Xing glanced down at the scalpel.

She had no idea when or how Jiang Ciyi had pulled it out. She hadn’t even seen her move.

There was no doubt in her mind that Jiang Ciyi could have silently killed her just now.

The thought sent a chill down her spine, cold sweat forming on her back. She propped herself up, pulling away slightly.

For a brief moment, she felt guilty.

But then she remembered—Jiang Ciyi had provoked her first tonight!

Why should she feel guilty?

Besides, she’d only been bluffing! That one move…

It didn’t even touch Jiang Ciyi’s lips.

No kiss, no kiss.

At best, she’d kissed a scalpel.

Cheng Xing immediately put on an angry front. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you going to sleep with me or not?”

“Hm?” Jiang Ciyi removed the scalpel, twirling it between her fingers as if it were a fascinating toy.

“I was holding back because of your leg.” Cheng Xing said. “I just want to help you recover, then we can… you know, do things. I thought you were okay with it, but you were just teasing me.”

“Oh,” Jiang Ciyi replied lightly, her tone indifferent.

Cheng Xing: “…”

She was out of steam.

But if she didn’t say something to Jiang Ciyi, tonight would be a lost cause.

Cheng Xing, pretending to be angry, her mind racing like a whirlwind, finally rolled off Jiang Ciyi and returned to her side of the bed. She turned her back to Jiang Ciyi, lying on her side. “If you think I have ulterior motives, fine. Just kill me with that scalpel while I’m asleep.”

Jiang Ciyi laughed softly.

How could she not see through Cheng Xing’s dramatic act?

But the next second, Cheng Xing was genuinely upset.

She’d put in so much effort! Couldn’t Jiang Ciyi at least pretend to be fooled?

Didn’t she know it’s hard enough being human without tearing each other down?

These past few days, Cheng Xing had given Jiang Ciyi at least 120% of her sincerity, and this was how she was treated!

Burying her face in the blanket, Cheng Xing’s muffled voice came through: “I’m done talking. If your leg ever gets better, I’ll pin you to this bed and teach you a lesson. If you’ve got the guts, kill me now.”

As for how she’d “teach her a lesson,” she hadn’t figured that out yet.

But Jiang Ciyi had pushed her to this!

Jiang Ciyi didn’t respond.

Cheng Xing’s head buzzed with anger as she kept ranting. “What could I possibly want from following you around? Are you richer than the Cheng family? More powerful than the Jianggang Police Department? What could I be after? You’re my wife, aren’t you? If I’m not after your body, what else could I want? Am I an idiot—”

The word “idiot” was already at the tip of her tongue when the blanket was yanked off.

Cheng Xing’s rationality snapped back, and she swallowed the self-deprecating word.

…Why make things harder for herself?

“Have you vented enough?” Jiang Ciyi’s tone was calm, betraying no emotion. “If you’re done, come out of your turtle shell before you suffocate.”

Cheng Xing: “…?”

What the heck?

Was she indirectly calling her a turtle or a bastard?

Now Cheng Xing was truly furious. She pulled the blanket back over herself. “Fine, let me suffocate. You’ll lose a wife and inherit my fortune.”

Jiang Ciyi: “…”

Cheng Xing stayed curled up under the blanket, too angry to care about the outside world.

She wasn’t even sure what she was so mad about.

Her chest heaved with frustration, a lump of anger stuck in her throat, nearly bringing her to tears. The room was silent, and under the blanket, it was even quieter. Her senses dulled, and after such a busy day—starting at 6 a.m. with blasting dance music for the two downstairs—she hadn’t had a moment’s rest.

Now, curled up here, she started to feel sleepy.

Her mind grew foggy.

The next second, Jiang Ciyi poked her shoulder. “Still mad?”

Through the blanket, Cheng Xing, half-asleep, let out a soft whimper, like a cat’s meow.

Jiang Ciyi chuckled. “Still awake?”

“Mmm~” The sleepy sound told Jiang Ciyi—she was already out.

Jiang Ciyi didn’t move again. The breathing beside her gradually evened out.

After a while, she closed her eyes.

She hadn’t planned to ask so much tonight, but the conversation had led them here.

Jiang Ciyi felt that the current Cheng Xing was full of secrets.

The old Cheng Xing might have been a bit scheming, but her thoughts were always written on her face.

This one, though, seemed gentle and kind but was far from simple.

Having someone like that constantly by her side, always showing concern, had stirred something in Jiang Ciyi more than once.

Logically and emotionally, she should probe into Cheng Xing’s secrets.

But Cheng Xing hid them well, and Jiang Ciyi wondered if she should just stop asking.

Things were fine as they were. In two months, they’d part ways. She’d get enough money to settle in Jianggang, cut ties with the Cheng family completely, and part with Cheng Xing… gracefully.

Yet she couldn’t help her curiosity.

Curiosity drove her to test Cheng Xing’s boundaries.

She hadn’t expected to upset her so much.

Recalling Cheng Xing’s petulant words, Jiang Ciyi’s lips curved into a smile, which she quickly suppressed.

…Unknowingly, she was smiling more often.

That meant Cheng Xing was affecting her more.

For Jiang Ciyi, that wasn’t a good thing.

She didn’t know what Cheng Xing wanted by staying close, but she didn’t sense any malicious intent.

And those emotions in Cheng Xing’s eyes? They weren’t about love.

Jiang Ciyi kept replaying the earlier scene in her mind, wondering if pulling out the scalpel had scared Cheng Xing and caused her anger.

…Well, she deserved it.

Who told her to lie in her bed and chat so happily with someone else?

Jiang Ciyi’s territorial instincts were strong. She hated when someone took what was hers.

Even back in high school, when someone stole a cheap rabbit keychain she’d bought from a two-yuan store, she’d been upset and schemed to take it back.

Even though… she’d ended up battered and bruised.

But she never regretted it. She got her stuff back.

Lost in these unhappy memories, Jiang Ciyi pressed her lips together, her thoughts drifting.

The next morning, Cheng Xing’s alarm went off at 5:50. She quickly silenced it and got out of bed.

Her battle with those two villains wasn’t over yet.

After rubbing her eyes, she glanced back to confirm Jiang Ciyi was wearing earplugs, then tiptoed out of bed to change and leave.

Last night’s emotional rollercoaster must have worn her out, because she’d slept deeply, not moving an inch despite her usual tossing and turning. She hadn’t “offended” Jiang Ciyi in her sleep either.

But she still remembered being angry before bed.

Angry about what?

She couldn’t quite recall.

Something to do with Jiang Ciyi.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. After ensuring Jiang Ciyi wouldn’t be disturbed, Cheng Xing went downstairs and turned on the stereo.

Max volume on the stereo. Max volume on her phone.

The next second:

“Wumeng Mountain connects to the mountains beyond! Beat, beat, beat…”

To maximize the effect, she’d downloaded the ProMax version yesterday, with electronic drumbeats so loud they nearly drowned out the singer.

This was the most disruptive kind.

The maids, who were a bit confused yesterday, now understood their young miss’s intentions. Sister Zhou, the first to rise, quickly changed and got to work. She brewed Cheng Xing a cup of coffee and a throat-soothing passionfruit tea.

Cheng Xing took a sip of coffee, instantly energized.

She sat there, blasting the music.

She wasn’t worried about the old lady or Xu Zhaozhao wearing earplugs, because she’d already told Sister Zhou to collect all the earplugs in the villa yesterday.

She’d also instructed Sister Zhou to monitor the two and buy out all the earplugs in nearby stores if they tried to get any.

Luckily, neither of them thought to buy earplugs.

That saved Cheng Xing some trouble.

While the music blared downstairs, Cheng Xing went upstairs.

She had Sister Zhou fetch two electric drills and a hammer from the storage room.

At first, Sister Zhou didn’t understand, but she obediently handed them over.

Cheng Xing’s room was directly above Xu Zhaozhao’s. She tested the drill a few times, but it wasn’t effective enough.

Giving up, she switched to the hammer, tapping it on the floor.

The sound wasn’t loud in her room, but downstairs, it was like a demonic chant.

Especially for someone trying to sleep—nothing was more infuriating than construction noise!

Cheng Xing had suffered from it before.

The next worst was the screech of a chair scraping the floor.

It could drive you mad.

Tired of hammering, Cheng Xing sat on a wheeled stool, sliding around and tapping, doubling her efficiency.

She was careful not to damage the floor tiles—she’d have to pay for repairs otherwise.

Cheng Xing, ever frugal, didn’t want that. But Sister Zhou reassuringly said, “These are from Liao City’s Huagang Group, warranted for a hundred years. If they break, they’ll replace them for free. The manager said even a bigger hammer wouldn’t damage them. As for the house’s steel frame, don’t worry, miss. It was built by Jianggang’s top construction team with the best materials. If our house collapses from this, every bridge and rail in Jianggang would need replacing.”

Relieved, Cheng Xing asked, “What about soundproofing?”

“Except for your bedroom, which was specially soundproofed, the rest are standard.” Sister Zhou replied.

Cheng Xing didn’t ask why her room was different—probably the original owner showing off her status. Either way, it worked in her favor.

Or rather, it worked against the two downstairs.

She needed her morning exercise anyway.

She hammered randomly above Xu Zhaozhao’s room, then above the old lady’s.

Within five minutes, Xu Zhaozhao, with a bird’s nest of hair, and the old lady, looking like an angry chick, stormed out. Too furious to care about their usual aristocratic poise, they shouted, “Cheng Xing! Cheng Xing!”

Cheng Xing didn’t hear them—she was having too much fun.

Sister Zhou nudged her, and she stopped, heading downstairs with a wooden frame. “Oh, Grandma, you’re awake!”

Acting like last night’s dinner table incident never happened, she grinned cheekily. “Look, I’m making a birdcage. What do you think?”

Xu Zhaozhao, with less than five hours of sleep over two days, dark circles under her eyes, and a foggy brain, asked incredulously, “You were hammering upstairs just to make a birdcage?”

“What? You could hear that?” Cheng Xing feigned innocence. “I thought you wouldn’t. I was planning to surprise Grandma with a parrot that mimics speech to cheer her up.”

The old lady shot her a sidelong glance. “Turn that noise off.”

Cheng Xing paused the music with her phone, speaking softly now.

The old lady and Xu Zhaozhao exchanged a glance, both seeing exhaustion in the other’s eyes.

…The world was finally quiet.

But then Cheng Xing strolled over casually. “Since you’re up, let’s exercise together.”

“Grandma, staying active keeps you healthy. That’s how the Cheng Group will thrive.” She dangled a carrot in front of the old lady.

The old lady didn’t buy it.

Please, just days ago, Cheng Xing had wished she’d drop dead.

Suspicious, she was startled when the living room stereo blared again at max volume, scaring her out of her wits.

And there was Cheng Xing, dancing with a mocking smile.

Xu Zhaozhao trudged over, barely holding herself together to support the old lady. “Grandma, should I take you to dance? Xing says it’s good exercise…”

She was so tired she could barely form a sentence, yawning nonstop.

The old lady looked at her fondly. “My Zhaozhao is so obedient, a true Cheng. Not like some wild thing, rotten to the core.”

Her words were aimed at Cheng Xing.

But Xu Zhaozhao, half-dead from exhaustion, didn’t catch the jab, yawning again. “Shall we go? I’ll teach you.”

“No,” the old lady said, taking a deep breath. “I’m going back to sleep.”

Xu Zhaozhao’s lips twitched. “…”

With all this noise, who could sleep?

But even if she couldn’t, she wasn’t about to join in square dancing. She’d get all sweaty and sticky—gross.

She had important things to do today.

Cheng Xing didn’t care about their plans. When their doors closed again, five minutes later, the hammering resumed upstairs.

It went on all morning. By 7:50, breakfast time, Cheng Xing had Sister Zhou call everyone to eat.

The old lady and Xu Zhaozhao, too exhausted, refused.

Cheng Xing didn’t press Sister Zhou, just made a couple of snarky comments in the living room and let them go back to sleep.

At the dining table, it was just her and Jiang Ciyi.

Last night’s little episode was forgotten by morning, except for a brief analysis of why she’d been so mad.

She couldn’t figure it out, chalking it up to hormonal fluctuations and embarrassment from being teased.

She also reflected on herself—Jiang Ciyi was in such a state, and she’d still gotten mad at her?

Jiang Ciyi had even seemed ready to apologize last night.

Compared to her, Cheng Xing felt like a bully picking on the weak.

A gentle, beautiful weakling, no less.

…What a jerk she was.

So at breakfast, Cheng Xing quietly passed Jiang Ciyi a big chicken drumstick. Then, remembering Jiang Ciyi’s weak stomach couldn’t handle greasy food, she tried to take it back, only for Jiang Ciyi to block her chopsticks.

Jiang Ciyi, nibbling on a crab roe bun, ate slowly. “What’s with giving something to someone and then taking it back?”

“You can’t eat it,” Cheng Xing said. “Your stomach’s not ready.”

But Jiang Ciyi held firm, and Cheng Xing couldn’t pry it away.

“Once you give it to me, it’s mine.” Jiang Ciyi said. “Whether I eat it or how I handle it is my business.”

Cheng Xing: “…So how are you handling it?”

“I’m eating it.” Jiang Ciyi replied.

Cheng Xing: “?”

She gripped her chopsticks harder. “No way. Your stomach’s not up for it.”

“Then you’re stealing my stuff?” Jiang Ciyi narrowed her eyes, exuding a subtle pressure.

Cheng Xing didn’t flinch. “It’s yours, but can’t you share it with me?”

Jiang Ciyi stared, waiting for her to continue.

Cheng Xing gritted her teeth. “Have pity on me. I want meat. Can I have it? I’ll give you something else.”

“Like what?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

As Cheng Xing pondered, the mansion’s door swung open, and a crowd of twenty to thirty people barged in, setting up equipment without a word.

Jiang Ciyi clicked her tongue. “Cheng Xing, your turf’s being taken over.”

“No amount of meat makes up for not guarding your own house,” she said, shaking her head in mock pity.

Cheng Xing: “…?”

Was she being compared to a dog now?

Turtle last night, dog today…

She suddenly remembered why she’d been mad at Jiang Ciyi.

“Jiang Ciyi.” Cheng Xing called her full name.

“Hm?”

Cheng Xing stood up, one arm braced on the table, the other reaching out to flick Jiang Ciyi’s forehead.

Caught off guard, Jiang Ciyi blinked: “?”

Smirking, Cheng Xing lectured, “Being snarky isn’t a good habit.”

Jiang Ciyi froze for two seconds before realizing.

…You were plenty snarky this morning too.

Before she could retort, Cheng Xing tossed out, “Stay put. I’ll take you to work in a bit.”

Then she hurried off.

Soon, she reached the intruders. “Hold it.”

The crew setting up equipment looked confused. “What’s wrong?”

“This is my house.” Cheng Xing said. “You think you can just come in and film without asking me?”

“We already got permission,” the leader said.

Cheng Xing sighed, pulled out her phone, and dialed the police. “Hello? Officer? A bunch of people just broke into my house. Yeah, I’m being bullied. I’m about to cry.”