Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 56
56
At six in the evening, the sky in Jianggang had just begun to darken, with the molten gold of the sunset hanging on the horizon. The streets were bustling with streams of cars and surging crowds.
Cheng Xing was escorting Jiang Ciyi to meet up with Zheng Shuqing.
Originally, Cheng Xing had assumed that for an occasion like this, Jiang Ciyi would dress up extravagantly, becoming the brightest focal point in the crowd.
But she was dressed plainly, almost understated, and simply asked Cheng Xing to drive her from the suburbs to Wuyi Road, where Zheng Shuqing was waiting at a nearby café.
She didn’t invite Cheng Xing to join her, nor did she intend for Cheng Xing to appear in front of her classmates.
Though Cheng Xing had known this in advance, she still tentatively asked, “Should I just drop you off there?”
Without hesitation, Jiang Ciyi replied, “No need.”
Cheng Xing pursed her lips but still drove her to the Starbuck Café on Wuyi Road as agreed. As soon as they got out of the car, she spotted Zheng Shuqing sitting by the window, furiously typing away on her laptop.
Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair toward the café, but before they reached the entrance, Zheng Shuqing caught sight of them out of the corner of her eye. Without even closing her laptop, she rushed over, exclaiming, “Jiangjiang!”
“Hmm.” Upon seeing her, Jiang Ciyi handed over the autographed book she’d asked Gu Qingfeng for yesterday and casually asked, “Not done writing yet?”
“Finished,” Zheng Shuqing said, her eyes darting between Jiang Ciyi and Cheng Xing. She didn’t even open the autographed book, instead moving behind Jiang Ciyi to take over pushing the wheelchair. “I’m working on tomorrow’s piece. It’s boring anyway.”
Cheng Xing naturally stepped aside. Jiang Ciyi glanced back at her, her expression cooling slightly, but she said nothing.
As the two chatted intermittently, Cheng Xing stayed silent, practically invisible.
She overheard them discussing who would be at the class reunion tonight and the main event: the couple handing out wedding invitations.
Zheng Shuqing did most of the talking, while Jiang Ciyi seemed uninterested, only offering perfunctory responses.
As the evening rush hour hit, streetlights flickered on, and the crowds grew thicker.
Once their conversation wound down, Zheng Shuqing packed up her laptop and signaled to Jiang Ciyi that it was time to go. As she stood, she noticed Cheng Xing also getting up and asked in surprise, “She’s coming too?”
Past events had left Zheng Shuqing with a poor impression of Cheng Xing. Even though she knew many at the reunion were eager to see Jiang Ciyi to curry favor with the Cheng family, Zheng Shuqing couldn’t muster a friendly attitude toward her.
Besides, if Cheng Xing showed up, the reunion would turn into her stage, transforming a casual gathering into a sycophantic spectacle. That wouldn’t allow Jiang Ciyi to vent her frustrations.
It’d be better if Cheng Xing didn’t go. Then everyone would fawn over Jiang Ciyi to get in good with the Cheng family, showering her with flattery.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—those who had bullied and mocked Jiang Ciyi in school would have to bow and scrape before her.
Wasn’t that straight out of a satisfying revenge novel?
Cheng Xing stayed silent, waiting for Jiang Ciyi’s response.
The next moment, Jiang Ciyi shook her head. “She’s going home.”
Zheng Shuqing let out a sigh of relief. “Good.”
Then, as if remembering something, she leaned in and whispered something to Jiang Ciyi.
Jiang Ciyi shook her head. “No need.”
Cheng Xing didn’t catch the whisper but was slightly curious. Half-jokingly, she asked, “What’s so secret that I can’t hear?”
Without missing a beat, Zheng Shuqing said, “Just testing how much you care about Jiangjiang. Can you pick her up at the restaurant tonight?”
“When does it end?” Cheng Xing asked.
“Not sure,” Zheng Shuqing replied. “Probably around ten or so.”
“Send me the address then. I’ll wait for her.”
Cheng Xing harbored no ill will toward Zheng Shuqing. After all, Jiang Ciyi had few people in her life who genuinely cared for her.
Though Zheng Shuqing could be a bit immature and blunt, she wasn’t a bad person overall. Plus, in the original story, Zheng Shuqing’s fate was rather tragic, and the shift in their relationship was poignant.
Cheng Xing wanted Jiang Ciyi to keep the people who were good to her, so she smiled warmly. “She’s not great at socializing, so please look after her tonight. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”
Zheng Shuqing was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”
Her shocked expression practically screamed, Is this for real?
Cheng Xing didn’t elaborate further, instead asking, “Did you drive? I can take you both there.”
Zheng Shuqing snapped out of it. “I drove. We’ll go ourselves.”
Her shock had made her wary of Cheng Xing, and her tone became guarded.
Cheng Xing glanced at Jiang Ciyi, who was sitting calmly in her wheelchair, listening to their conversation. Considering the difficulty Jiang Ciyi might have getting into the car, she offered to help them.
Zheng Shuqing was about to refuse when Jiang Ciyi agreed, “Okay.”
Cheng Xing’s eyes lit up, but she noticed Zheng Shuqing pushing the wheelchair off course. “Careful, that’s a tactile paving strip.”
Before Zheng Shuqing could react, Cheng Xing took over, pushing Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair smoothly and politely saying to Zheng Shuqing, “You’re carrying heavy stuff. Just lead the way, and I’ll follow.”
Zheng Shuqing: “…?”
Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite place it.
Zheng Shuqing’s car was a BMW sedan worth over 500,000 yuan, just big enough to fit the folded wheelchair.
Cheng Xing first helped Jiang Ciyi into the front passenger seat, then folded the wheelchair and stowed it in the trunk. At first, she wasn’t familiar with the process, but she’d gotten the hang of it with practice, folding it in seconds. Worried Zheng Shuqing might not know how to unfold it, she demonstrated.
Zheng Shuqing nodded to show she understood, and Cheng Xing felt reassured handing it over.
Still concerned about causing trouble, she carefully instructed Zheng Shuqing as she closed the trunk, “Ciyi can now use her core strength to get out of the car herself. Just set up the wheelchair properly for her to transfer. Also, she can’t drink alcohol, eat spicy food, or have seafood. It’s best to avoid greasy or heavy meat dishes tonight too. If someone tries to push drinks on her, please help her decline.”
Cheng Xing glanced back and caught Jiang Ciyi, seated in the passenger seat, watching her thoughtfully through the rearview mirror.
Zheng Shuqing frowned after hearing the instructions, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but ultimately just nodded. “Anything else?”
“That should be it,” Cheng Xing said. “Thanks for looking after her tonight.”
“Oh, come on,” Zheng Shuqing couldn’t hold back. “She’s my friend. Isn’t it normal to take care of her? But you—what’s with the sudden change? Are you actually being this nice to Jiangjiang now, or is this all an act? If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t be…”
“Shuqing.” The passenger window rolled down, and Jiang Ciyi abruptly cut her off, urging, “We’ll be late if we don’t go now.”
Zheng Shuqing agreed, swallowing her words. She shook her head, puzzled, and waved at Cheng Xing. “Fine, I’m taking her.”
“Drive safely,” Cheng Xing said. “If you need anything, call me using Ciyi’s phone. I’m the first emergency contact.”
Zheng Shuqing was stunned for a moment but got into the car.
The car slowly merged into the busy traffic, the warm air inside fending off Jianggang’s mild evening chill.
Only then did Zheng Shuqing process it, exclaiming, “Has Cheng Xing really changed? She’s practically doting on you now. If I didn’t know how she used to be, I might actually fall for it.”
Jiang Ciyi didn’t respond, only gazing out at the bustling traffic.
“Is she playing the ‘chasing the wife after regret’ trope?” Zheng Shuqing continued, not needing a reply. “That stuff only works in novels or dramas. In real life? Run as far as you can.”
“She didn’t know how to love before, was young and reckless, didn’t treat you well, and only realized your worth when you wanted a divorce. All that emotional and physical torment, just to end up with the rich couple living happily ever after? Why bother?” Zheng Shuqing ranted, then shifted to the reunion’s hosts, mentioning that Jia Zhencheng had booked the most expensive private room at Guanlan Restaurant, costing hundreds of thousands for the night.
She was in high spirits, but no one responded.
At the next intersection, she glanced at Jiang Ciyi and sighed, “Jiangjiang, say something. What’s on your mind?”
“Thinking,” Jiang Ciyi said concisely.
“About what?” Zheng Shuqing asked.
Jiang Ciyi frowned. “Just now.”
She paused. “You crossed a line.”
Zheng Shuqing was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“You asked me, and I didn’t want to use her name, but you still made the request to her,” Jiang Ciyi said. “Just like how I didn’t want to come to this reunion or join the class group chat, but you made the decision for me anyway.”
Zheng Shuqing fell silent.
“I don’t have many friends, and we’re close, but that doesn’t mean I need you to speak for me. On the contrary, you know I have my own mind.”
“I’m sorry,” Zheng Shuqing said, guilt in her voice.
The light turned green, and the car behind honked incessantly. Zheng Shuqing drove on, keeping her eyes forward.
Jiang Ciyi didn’t scold her but calmly expressed her displeasure about Zheng Shuqing agreeing to the reunion without her consent and her dissatisfaction with the earlier incident.
By the time they reached the parking lot of Guanlan Restaurant, the atmosphere in the car was heavy, the warm air doing little to thaw the tension between them.
“I didn’t think it through,” Zheng Shuqing said, looking like she might cry. “I just thought, since you’re married to her, why not use her name? Those people looked down on you in school, so you could slap them in the face and get your revenge.”
“Do I look enviable right now?” Jiang Ciyi said. “I’ve lost my job, my value, and the only thing I’m useful for is being someone else’s accessory. You wanted me to use her name, yet you still look down on her, mocking her to her face.”
“Shuqing, that’s not right.”
“Are you speaking up for her now?” Zheng Shuqing countered.
“I’m being objective,” Jiang Ciyi said calmly. “I’m not blaming you this time, but there won’t be a next time.”
Zheng Shuqing bit her lip. “Can you forgive her for everything she did to you?”
“That’s my business,” Jiang Ciyi said. “It’s still up for discussion. But can’t I still be friends with you?”
Zheng Shuqing blurted, “Why can’t we be friends? We’ve always been…”
Her words trailed off as memories flashed through her mind, her voice softening. “Jiangjiang, you still can’t forget that, can you?”
“I understand and respect you.” Jiang Ciyi said. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll forget.”
Not wanting the tense atmosphere to linger, Zheng Shuqing was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve. If they walked into the private room like this, everyone would notice something was off.
Jiang Ciyi just wanted to get through the night quietly, not to be the center of attention or to seek the kind of vengeful catharsis Zheng Shuqing envisioned. She came to the reunion to give face to Luo Li and Zheng Shuqing, not to be anyone’s pawn.
Friendships last when boundaries are respected.
“Alright,” Jiang Ciyi said, lightly pinching Zheng Shuqing’s arm. “Let’s get out. We’ll be late.”
Zheng Shuqing looked at her, wanting to say more, but swallowed her words under Jiang Ciyi’s forgiving gaze.
She got out, retrieved the folded wheelchair, and, recalling how effortlessly Cheng Xing had unfolded it, assumed she could do the same. But after struggling for a while, she still couldn’t get it open.
It took herculean effort to finally unfold it, leaving her sweating profusely.
Zheng Shuqing pushed the wheelchair to the passenger side, opened the door, and assisted Jiang Ciyi as she transferred herself, somewhat clumsily but determinedly, onto the wheelchair.
Suddenly, she understood the weight of Jiang Ciyi’s earlier words.
The car accident had shattered Jiang Ciyi’s pride.
Sitting in the wheelchair, she had lost much of her former confidence.
Zheng Shuqing gripped the wheelchair handles and sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry, Jiangjiang.”
“It’s fine,” Jiang Ciyi said, not wanting to argue. Knowing Zheng Shuqing’s character, she understood that changing her wouldn’t happen overnight. Saying more would only make them both unhappy.
Between adults, there was no need to make things so unpleasant.
“But when I was unfolding the wheelchair just now, I realized Cheng Xing’s kind of impressive.” Zheng Shuqing said. “Her attentiveness to you doesn’t seem fake.”
Jiang Ciyi listened quietly, offering no comment.
“If she’d always been this good from the start, how great would that have been?” Zheng Shuqing sighed. “You wouldn’t have suffered so much in the hospital.”
“No such thing as ‘what if,’” Jiang Ciyi said.
“So, are you really going to forgive her? Not divorce?”
“Haven’t decided. We’ll see.”
Jiang Ciyi and Zheng Shuqing entered the elevator, where others were present, making it unsuitable to discuss such private matters.
Zheng Shuqing wisely kept quiet.
The reunion was organized by Jia Zhencheng, who had been a class officer in high school. After graduation, she joined her family’s company, outlasted her father, and decisively wrested control from her brother, transforming from a rich second-generation heir to a CEO.
Luo Li, meanwhile, had been the class’s arts representative, excelling at singing and dancing, always stealing the show at school events.
The two had been close since high school, and right after the college entrance exams, they posted a hand-holding photo on social media, officially announcing their relationship.
In this era, where same-s3x relationships were more common than opposite-s3x ones, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
What was surprising was that they hadn’t broken up after all these years and had reached the milestone of marriage.
Zheng Shuqing and Jiang Ciyi arrived on time, but the private room was already lively with many attendees.
Thanks to Jia Zhencheng and Luo Li’s influence, over 90% of the class showed up—higher attendance than the school’s anniversary celebrations.
Jiang Ciyi entered quietly, heading straight for a corner, but Luo Li spotted her and approached with a wine glass to greet her.
As the glass neared Jiang Ciyi, Zheng Shuqing quickly intercepted it. “Jiangjiang can’t drink. I’ll take it for her.”
Luo Li tossed her wavy hair and smiled. “Haven’t seen you two in years, and your bond is still as strong as ever.”
Zheng Shuqing grinned. “Her wife gave me strict orders. I’m just following through.”
“Oh?” Luo Li glanced at the door. “Miss Cheng didn’t come? I heard we could bring family.”
Jiang Ciyi didn’t let Zheng Shuqing answer for her this time, saying calmly, “She’s busy.”
“Jiangjiang,” Luo Li looked at her, “it’s been so long. You’re getting more beautiful.”
She didn’t dwell on Jiang Ciyi’s legs. Despite Jiang Ciyi’s understated appearance and wheelchair, her face outshone most in the room, impossible to ignore.
“You too,” Jiang Ciyi replied, exchanging pleasantries. The atmosphere warmed, and Luo Li said warmly, “You’re too kind. You got married so quietly back then. None of us old classmates knew you’d married into the Cheng family until Zhencheng heard it from a friend. You’re too low-key. You’ve got to have a drink for that.”
Jiang Ciyi glanced at the wine glass and shook her head calmly. “No, thanks. My family’s strict. I can’t drink.”
Luo Li: “…”
“Well, look at you.” Luo Li teased with a laugh. “Showing off your love life, huh? Just wait, I’ll give you a taste of my own PDA later.”
Jiang Ciyi smiled faintly. “Looking forward to it.”
She wasn’t fond of socializing, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t skilled at it.
On the contrary, after enduring isolation in high school, she’d learned to quickly assess whether an environment was friendly and what to say to please others. Her social skills were honed to perfection in private. In college, she got along decently with her roommates, but she didn’t need socializing to seem “impressive” or to fit in.
She simply devoted her time to what mattered.
That’s how she became Jianggang Police Station’s youngest forensic pathologist.
Once Luo Li left, Zheng Shuqing said in shock, “Anyone would think you two have been in touch all these years. You sound so familiar.”
Jiang Ciyi glanced at her. “You’ve never been to a reunion?”
“I’ve gone a few times, but I don’t talk to them much,” Zheng Shuqing said. “I’ve forgotten most of their faces. I just show up for the sake of it.”
“Familiar at first sight, grudges upon closer inspection,” Jiang Ciyi summarized. “That’s my relationship with everyone here.”
Zheng Shuqing: “…”
Nailed it.
After seeing them off, Cheng Xing headed straight to the nearest car dealership to ask if the front passenger seat of her white Mercedes could be modified.
The answer was yes.
Following the technician’s instructions, Cheng Xing got the dimensions of Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair from Cheng Zijing. Curious about why she needed them, Cheng Zijing worried his reckless sister might do something harmful to Jiang Ciyi. When he learned she was modifying the car for her, he was stunned, his voice message dripping with surprise, which amused Cheng Xing. She teased, “Can’t I be good to my wife?”
“Of course you can. But how did you go from a heartless troublemaker to this considerate person?” Cheng Zijing teased back. “Purely curious.”
“It’s not a big deal. Can’t you guys raise your expectations of me a bit?”
“I tried, but reality hit me like a ton of bricks, and I woke up from the dream.”
“…”
Cheng Xing told him he was terrible at conversation, killing the vibe.
Cheng Zijing didn’t mind, asking if she’d been in touch with Su Manchun lately, worried she was two-timing.
“Deleted her ages ago,” Cheng Xing said. “I’m a married woman. Why would I do something that stupid?”
Cheng Zijing sent a thumbs-up emoji.
Pleased with her response, he asked if she needed pocket money, transferring her a few tens of thousands, then sent the same to Jiang Ciyi.
Cheng Xing: “…”
Was this how rich people showed affection?
She liked it.
But it also stung a little. These weren’t her family—they were the original Cheng Xing’s.
Their kindness was based on bl00d ties, and she was just reaping the benefits of someone else’s place.
As the beneficiary, Cheng Xing felt a twinge of discomfort.
Though she liked Cheng Zijing and had always envied having siblings, having grown up without them, she was thrilled and touched by this brotherly gesture of sending pocket money.
Her emotions were complex.
Cheng Zijing sent: [This is how a Cheng should be.]
Cheng Xing: […So I wasn’t a Cheng before?]
Cheng Zijing: [Want the truth?]
Cheng Xing: [Is it harsh?]
Cheng Zijing: [Not pleasant.]
Cheng Xing: [Go ahead.]
Cheng Zijing sent a laughing emoji, then transferred another 50,000.
Cheng Xing sighed: [Bro, am I a paid companion? Do I get pocket money just for making you laugh?]
Cheng Zijing: [I’m happy to see you grow up. When I’m happy, I like splashing cash.]
Cheng Xing: […]
She didn’t get it, but she respected it and loved it.
“Then splash a bit more. Modifying the passenger seat costs 200,000,” Cheng Xing said.
Cheng Zijing transferred 300,000, leaving her stunned.
She knew he was generous, but not this generous.
But…
[You still haven’t told me the truth.]
Cheng Xing felt uneasy waiting for his reply.
She didn’t have deep feelings for Cheng Zijing or Cheng Zimo, but they embodied her idea of “older brothers,” and she craved their approval.
After a long pause, Cheng Zijing replied: [You were too wild before. I lost count of how many messes we cleaned up for you. It was exasperating.]
Cheng Xing: [Won’t happen anymore~~~]
Cheng Zijing: [We can clean up your messes, but we don’t want them to be legal troubles.]
Cheng Xing: […]
Their bar was pretty low.
After chatting casually with Cheng Zijing, he said he was busy and stopped replying.
Bored, Cheng Xing waited at the dealership. Two hours later, the technician called her to inspect the work, even using a wheelchair to test it.
The original passenger seat was gone, replaced by a lifting mechanism that automatically moved the wheelchair to the seat’s position, adjusted to a comfortable height to avoid bumping heads or legs.
Cheng Xing tested it herself. It worked well, though the wheelchair felt less comfortable than a car seat. Noticing Jiang Ciyi’s electric folding wheelchair didn’t seem particularly soft, she asked Cheng Zijing where he’d bought it and what materials it was made of.
Likely in a meeting, he took a while to reply: [What? Getting your wife a new wheelchair?]
Cheng Xing: [That seat feels a bit hard. She’s in it all day—won’t she be uncomfortable?]
Cheng Zijing: [Her legs have no sensation. Why would she be uncomfortable?]
Cheng Xing: […]
Fair point, but who said someone with leg disabilities couldn’t have a more comfortable wheelchair?
Her waist still had sensation, after all.
Cheng Zijing: [It’s cutting-edge tech from Country D. It looks plain but uses top-tier materials.]
Too lazy to explain, he sent a link.
Cheng Xing opened it and saw it was an international limited-edition model, with the base version priced at 700,000 USD.
Cheng Xing: “…”
And this was a gift from Cheng Zijing before she and Jiang Ciyi were married.
This…
Cheng Xing sent a smiley face: [Did Jiang Ciyi save your life or something?]
How else could you explain a wheelchair worth over 5 million yuan?!
Was it studded with gold and diamonds?!
Cheng Xing was tempted to try it herself.
Cheng Zijing: [Your second sister-in-law was close to her before she passed.]
Cheng Xing: […]
Recalling Su Lengyue’s words about the late second sister-in-law, Cheng Xing didn’t dare press further: [Sorry.]
Cheng Zijing: [.]
After the car modification, Cheng Xing checked the time and asked Jiang Ciyi how things were going and if she needed a ride.
Jiang Ciyi didn’t reply, likely still caught up in the lively reunion.
Fortunately, Jiang Ciyi had sent her location earlier, so Cheng Xing decided to head over and wait.
At Guanlan Restaurant, the valets recognized her car plate and addressed her respectfully as Miss Cheng, asking if she had a reservation. She said she was waiting for someone.
The valets exchanged glances, wondering who had the audacity to make Miss Cheng wait.
Cheng Xing ignored them. The sushi from their afternoon picnic in the suburbs was long digested, so she had them open a private room nearby, where she could wait for Jiang Ciyi while grabbing a bite to replenish her energy.
Guanlan Restaurant was a high-end spot in Jianggang, but for the original Cheng Xing, it was just routine.
The staff treated her like royalty, practically ready to feed her with chopsticks.
Uncomfortable with the attention, Cheng Xing dismissed them. After eating a bit, she checked her phone. Jiang Ciyi finally replied: [Come.]
Cheng Xing sent an “OK” emoji: [I’m already next door.]
The staff had mentioned the largest private room was reserved for a class reunion, so Cheng Xing guessed it was Jiang Ciyi’s group and picked the closest room.
She stood up, but Jiang Ciyi added: [Wait for me downstairs.]
Cheng Xing typed: [How long?]
[Fifteen minutes.]
Cheng Xing didn’t ask what she was doing, sending a “No problem, mission accepted” emoji.
Already on her feet, she didn’t bother sitting back down. Since she’d be waiting downstairs anyway, she headed there early to avoid running into Jiang Ciyi as she left.
She stopped by the restroom first. Just as she closed the stall door, she heard someone laughing, “Tonight was hilarious. Jiang Ciyi was so full of herself in school, and even after all these years, she’s still putting on airs.”
Hearing Jiang Ciyi’s name, Cheng Xing’s brow furrowed.
Realizing what kind of scene she’d stumbled into, she didn’t confront them, choosing instead to listen quietly.
“Exactly. Bragging about how lovey-dovey she is with Miss Cheng, saying Miss Cheng treats her like a treasure, but we didn’t even see her tonight? And all those people fawning over her sour face.”
“Don’t get me started. Jia Zhencheng’s no better, acting all high and mighty, saying she’s treating everyone to a fancy dinner at Guanlan, then pushing Jiang Ciyi to foot the bill. I nearly died laughing.”
“Does Jiang Ciyi even have the money? Look at her clothes—her whole outfit’s worth less than mine.”
“Yeah. I bet Miss Cheng doesn’t care much for her. I mean, she’s disabled now.”
“And that Zheng Shuqing, trailing after Jiang Ciyi, blocking drinks and speaking for her, using Miss Cheng as an excuse. Tsk.”
“…”
The two went on, oblivious to anyone else, their voices accompanied by the sound of running water.
Cheng Xing stepped out of the stall, turned on the faucet at the far end, and washed her hands. The warm water flowed over her fingers, and she suddenly felt her hands were too empty to make a proper statement.
She kept her head down, washing quietly, when one of the women suddenly spoke to her, “Hey, beauty, can I get your number?”
Cheng Xing turned off the faucet, glanced at her—she wasn’t even half as good-looking as Jiang Ciyi.
More importantly, her heart was ugly.
Cheng Xing shook her head. “I’m married.”
The woman looked disappointed. “That’s a pity. Hit me up if you get divorced.”
Cheng Xing: “…”
Probably just teasing her, but Cheng Xing seized the chance to ask, “Who’s the disabled person you were talking about?”
“A high school classmate,” the woman said with a laugh. “She was pretty back then, but got disabled in a car accident. Claims she married into a wealthy family and is pampered by her wife, but doesn’t even have a ring on her finger. Her ‘designer’ clothes are all low-end knockoffs.”
“Maybe she just doesn’t like high fashion?” Cheng Xing suggested.
The woman scoffed. “What woman doesn’t love high fashion?”
Cheng Xing shrugged. “What if her wife really does pamper her at home, but she didn’t want her wife at a place like this?”
The woman paused, then laughed louder. “Her wife just doesn’t care for a disabled person. Come on, the famous Miss Cheng of Jianggang, liking her?”
“What if?” Cheng Xing smirked.
“You’re not her wife,” the woman said. “How would you know?”
“I am,” Cheng Xing said.
The woman frowned, rolling her eyes. “Don’t talk big. Miss Cheng’s at a gala in Gangbei tonight, having a blast.”
“If you’re going to pretend, at least pick someone believable,” the other woman chimed in.
Clearly, they thought she was bluffing, and their interest in her waned.
They turned and left.
Cheng Xing stood at the restroom door, exhaling softly. She called Sister Zhou, asking her to arrange for the most expensive diamond ring and a luxurious outfit from a high-end boutique to be delivered.
Since a long gown wasn’t suitable for the occasion, Cheng Xing requested a shirt and trousers.
A haute couture outfit fresh from Paris Fashion Week and a 50-million-yuan diamond ring arrived at Guanlan Restaurant within five minutes, along with matching accessories.
A navy-blue tie-dye tube top paired with a white V-neck blouse, loose black trousers, and silver open-toe heels. Her hair was loosely curled and tied into a low, relaxed bun, with a belt worth 2 million yuan at her waist.
Cheng Xing had lost all sense of the prices—she could afford to splurge, thanks to the Cheng family.
After changing, she walked out with the diamond ring. Before reaching the private room, she spotted Jiang Ciyi in her wheelchair.
Her classmates were at the door, seeing her off.
She overheard one say, “Jiang Ciyi, stop pretending. Everyone knows Miss Cheng doesn’t actually like you.”
“If you hadn’t been the mistress, who knows who’d be Mrs. Cheng now. Miss Cheng and that other woman were childhood sweethearts. Who do you think you are?”
The voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.
Jiang Ciyi’s expression didn’t change. “Oh? Did she tell you that herself?”
“Everyone in Jianggang’s elite circles knows,” the person said. “My friend knows Miss Su. If she hadn’t gone abroad to study, where would you be? Still acting all high and mighty.”
Once someone started, others joined in. “Exactly. Acting like Miss Cheng’s busy tonight, when she’s actually busy having fun in a sea of beauties.”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Zheng Shuqing’s brow furrowed. “You people are such snobs!”
Before she could finish, Cheng Xing raised her voice, smirking, “Who said I’m having fun in a sea of beauties?”
Her sudden voice drew everyone’s attention, their gazes locking onto her.
Cheng Xing strolled over unhurriedly, pulling the ring from her pocket. “Darling, I said I’d come with you tonight, but you wouldn’t let me. I’ve been sitting next door for half an hour, and this ring’s warmed up from my touch.”
She crouched down, slid the ring onto Jiang Ciyi’s ring finger, and kissed her hand. “Your hand looks better with a ring.”
Then she looked up at the woman who’d spoken earlier.
It was the same one who’d asked for her number in the restroom.
Cheng Xing said coolly, “Which friend of yours knows Miss Su? Which Miss Su? And when did I say I liked Miss Su and not my wife?”
She called Jiang Ciyi “darling” so naturally, so affectionately, it didn’t sound like an act.
Standing up, she held Jiang Ciyi’s hand, her fingers brushing over her cool palm, gently soothing her clammy hand as if to comfort her.
At the same time, she casually glanced at the crowd, saying lightly, “Tonight, Ciyi didn’t want me to come, saying she didn’t get along well with her high school classmates. Looks like she was right.”
“If I hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have known how much you’ve been bullying my wife,” Cheng Xing said with a soft laugh. “What an eye-opener.”
The crowd froze, a chill running down their spines.