Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 59

59

[Awoo! Congratulations, Host! Strategy progress has reached 50%. Reward: 400,000 HKD. Keep up the great work!]

As Cheng Xing stepped through the doors of Wenxing Media, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

It was, as always, that same unchanging tone.

Cheng Xing had long grown accustomed to the system’s unpredictable appearances, but—

“I didn’t do anything. How did the strategy progress increase again?” Cheng Xing asked in her mind, swiping her work ID to enter the company and completing her morning check-in with a fingerprint scan.

[Howl! It’s calculated based on the fluctuations in the values between the Host and the strategy target.]

After answering Cheng Xing’s question, the system added with enthusiasm: [Awoo! I knew it! The Host is a heaven-sent talent, making the strategy task a breeze. In just half a month, you’ve already reached 50% completion. You’re truly the chosen strategy master!]

[Awoo! I’m proud to have such a Host. Please continue to work hard to complete the mission!]

Cheng Xing wasn’t swayed by the system’s mechanical flattery. Instead, during the days when the system was silent, she had been thinking a lot.

For instance, what would happen if she failed to complete the strategy task? Time would rewind to three months ago.

She would have to start the tasks all over again.

Ever the planner, she had already written half a notebook full of contingency plans for restarting the mission.

It also served as a great way to slack off at work.

Of course, completing it in one go would be ideal.

For now, she had been treating Jiang Ciyi’s legs, but based on her assessment, getting Jiang Ciyi to stand within two months and regain her former mobility was nothing short of a pipe dream.

So, she squeezed every spare moment, devouring time-travel novels in her free time and brainstorming with the system: “Does your Interstellar Fate Management Bureau have a shop?”

System: [?]

Zzt—

She could practically feel the system freeze for two seconds.

[Awoo! Reporting to the Host: The Interstellar Fate Management Bureau does not have a shop, nor does it offer item exchanges. If you have exchange needs, you can search for them in the plane world.]

Cheng Xing clicked her tongue. “What kind of lousy place is this? Not even a single miracle drug?”

System: […]

Cheng Xing’s relationships at the office remained lukewarm. Apart from occasional chats with Daisy, she had nothing to say to the two guys, Jiang Bai and Lan Bo.

Initially, she had considered cozying up to them, but one day she overheard them gossiping about her in the stairwell while smoking.

It wasn’t particularly malicious, but it rubbed her the wrong way, so she decided to stop bothering with them.

In the office, she quietly played the role of the invisible employee, slacking off when she could but never falling behind when work needed to be done.

Slowly, she was getting used to office life.

On Thursday morning, as Cheng Xing went to the pantry to brew instant coffee, Daisy came over and added a splash of milk to her cup.

Cheng Xing turned her head, forcing her eyes open wider, and thanked her.

Daisy unwrapped an energy bar and asked while eating, “Trouble sleeping?”

“Uh… a bit,” Cheng Xing said, sipping her coffee to stay alert, not telling the truth.

She wasn’t suffering from insomnia.

On the contrary, give her a bed right now, and she could sleep like the dead.

“There’s no need to feel too much pressure working here.” Daisy said reassuringly. “Just take your salary, clock in and out, and treat the office politics as if they don’t exist. They can’t do anything to you anyway.”

Daisy assumed Cheng Xing’s sleeplessness was due to work stress, worried she might burn herself out.

Cheng Xing gave a wry smile. “I know. Thanks, Sister Daisy.”

Priorities had to be set.

Right now, the most urgent matter was Jiang Ciyi’s legs.

Every night, Cheng Xing acted like a thief, waiting anxiously for Jiang Ciyi to fall asleep before sneaking up to massage her legs and perform acupuncture.

She often stayed up until 3 a.m. One night, Jiang Ciyi went to bed late, and by the time Cheng Xing started the massage, it was already 1 a.m. By the time she finished, it was past 4 a.m., and the faint light of dawn was creeping over the horizon.

Standing by the window, pulling back the curtains, she saw double images of the world outside.

After several consecutive days of this, her body was reaching its limit, surviving only on coffee.

But now, it seemed her body was building a tolerance to caffeine.

This was already her fourth coffee of the day.

Daisy had only seen her brew three cups at the office, but in truth, she had downed an extra-bitter iced Americano before leaving home that morning.

The first time she tried an iced Americano, she wanted to spit it straight into the toilet and curse it out for three thousand words.

But now, she could handle its bitterness, even finding a hint of sweetness toward the end.

Coffee was bitter, but Cheng Xing’s life was even more so.

…

As expected, humans are highly adaptable creatures.

Daisy offered a few more words of comfort. Cheng Xing finished her coffee but couldn’t suppress a yawn.

Daisy frowned. As a workplace senior who wasn’t particularly close, she hadn’t planned to intervene further.

But as she left the pantry, she saw Cheng Xing grab a box of mints for a quick pick-me-up and prepare to brew yet another coffee.

The next moment, Daisy cut off the hot water Cheng Xing was pouring and pulled out three hundred yuan. “Go to a nearby hotel and get some rest.”

Cheng Xing froze, still processing, as Daisy stuffed the money into her pocket. “No matter what, your health comes first.”

“But what about this morning’s review meeting?” Cheng Xing asked.

“It won’t matter whether you’re there or not,” Daisy said. “I’ll cover for you. It won’t affect your attendance or salary.”

Cheng Xing wanted to refuse her kindness, but her brain felt like mush. Touched, she called out, “Sister Daisy…”

“Stop,” Daisy said coldly. “Go. Now.”

Cheng Xing set down her cup, no longer hesitating. “Alright. Thanks.”

Wenxing Media wasn’t in a bustling area, and nearby hotels varied in price. Two or three hundred yuan could get her a short-stay room.

But with the title of the Cheng family’s eldest daughter, Cheng Xing could waltz into any lavish hotel and check in with just her face.

She didn’t skimp on herself, booking a suite at a five-star hotel. Once upstairs, she drew the curtains, silenced her phone, and slept like the world had ended, skipping lunch entirely.

When she woke, it was nearly evening, close to the end of the workday. Her drained body finally felt somewhat recharged.

Checking her phone, she saw a message from Daisy telling her she could go straight home without returning to the office. The excuse was that Cheng Xing had gone to scout a new talent for Daisy but failed to close the deal.

It was essentially an off-site assignment.

Daisy had shared this to ensure Cheng Xing wouldn’t slip up in front of Jiang Bai and the others.

Cheng Xing sent Daisy another thank-you message. Daisy replied: [Yo, awake?]

Cheng Xing: [Yeah, slept like I passed out.]

Daisy sent a voice message: “Don’t obsess over finding value in this industry. ‘Value’ is a term for capitalists. You just need to be a cog in the machine. Too much pressure isn’t good.”

Cheng Xing gave a wry laugh. In Daisy’s eyes, all her exhaustion these past few days must seem work-related.

Still, she didn’t brush off Daisy’s kindness. [Thanks, Sister Daisy.]

She lingered in the hotel a bit longer, watching the golden sunset fade from the high-rise window as streetlights flickered on. Only then did she head out to pick up Jiang Ciyi.

When Cheng Xing arrived at the lab building, weaving through traffic, she saw Jiang Ciyi talking with Xu Congshi.

Xu Congshi leaned down to listen, then responded with a few words.

Spotting Cheng Xing’s car, Xu Congshi pushed Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair forward, and Cheng Xing took over smoothly.

Having met Xu Congshi a few times while picking up Jiang Ciyi, they were now familiar enough to exchange a few words.

Cheng Xing steadied the wheelchair with a smile. “Senior, what if Jiangjiang falls?”

“If you can’t even catch your wife, how do you have the nerve to stand here?” Xu Congshi said, hands in pockets, waving them off. “Alright, I’ve delivered her. I’m off.”

“Senior, drive safe.” Cheng Xing called out warmly, her energy noticeably better than usual.

“OK.” Xu Congshi walked to her car, unlocked it, got in, and buckled up but didn’t start the engine. Instead, she watched the two in her rearview mirror.

Cheng Xing pushed Jiang Ciyi to the car, opened the passenger door, and let Jiang Ciyi maneuver her wheelchair onto the ramp before settling into the seat.

For someone like Jiang Ciyi, giving her the autonomy to get in the car herself was far more dignified than being carried.

It seemed Cheng Xing genuinely cared for Jiang Ciyi.

But…

Xu Congshi pressed her temple. The milk sample test report had detected traces of sleeping pills.

After Jiang Ciyi provided the sample, Xu Congshi had rushed it to a trusted contact for analysis.

The report was already in Jiang Ciyi’s hands.

Yet Jiang Ciyi acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining her usual closeness with Cheng Xing.

Xu Congshi had even asked if Jiang Ciyi wanted a divorce. If she did, Xu Congshi could help.

But Jiang Ciyi shook her head, saying softly, “I know what I’m doing.”

As an outsider to their marriage, Xu Congshi couldn’t say much, only advising her to take care of herself.

The sleeping pills wouldn’t harm her brain, but long-term use could slow her movements and, in severe cases, hinder her leg recovery.

Jiang Ciyi nodded, indicating she understood.

Xu Congshi had expected to see Jiang Ciyi and Cheng Xing fall out, but everything remained as usual.

This piqued her curiosity.

She had never been one for gossip, but this time she couldn’t help but follow their story.

She realized—there’s no one who doesn’t love gossip!

If there is, the gossip just isn’t juicy enough!

Right now, she had already imagined a dramatic betrayal scene, but it hadn’t played out.

In her mind, she tried to piece together their relationship, but it remained elusive.

Were they in love? Past evidence didn’t support it.

Were they not in love? Jiang Ciyi hadn’t divorced her.

Xu Congshi even wondered if Cheng Xing held some leverage over Jiang Ciyi.

…

Unable to resist, she indulged in another round of mental gossip until Cheng Xing’s car drove off. Only then did Xu Congshi look away.

Her phone vibrated.

It was a message from her mom: [Darling, the meeting is set for next Saturday at 7 p.m.!]

Xu Congshi: […]

Furious, she replied: [Respect! Show some respect!]

Mom: [I’m already respecting you. It’s just a meeting—it won’t kill you.]

Xu Congshi: […But I don’t want an arranged marriage!]

Mom: [It’s not an arranged marriage if there’s no profit involved. This is a childhood betrothal, darling.]

Xu Congshi: […]

Never able to outtalk her mom, Xu Congshi rolled her eyes and turned on the car’s music to calm her anger.

It was the same song she’d looped last time.

But then, a spark of inspiration hit: [If I had a girlfriend and was getting married, could I push this betrothal onto the next generation?]

Mom: […No! Don’t be ridiculous!]

Clearly, Xu Congshi’s words had terrified her mother, who immediately called to confirm. “Darling, don’t do anything rash. You’ve been single for thirty years—where are you going to find a girlfriend? Marrying someone just to dodge this betrothal will ruin your life.”

Xu Congshi had always been rebellious—soft on the outside, defiant within. For example, both her mothers wanted her to study business, but against all opposition, she chose medicine.

Now, they wanted her to obediently go along with this marriage arrangement, so—

“I haven’t been single for thirty years,” Xu Congshi said, lowering the music volume. “I’ve been dating someone for a while.”

She made it up on the spot, speaking confidently, leaving her mother unsure. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Xu Congshi glanced at the singer’s name on the car’s display and said casually, “She’s a celebrity, but she’s in the rising phase of her career, so we agreed to keep it private.”

“What?” Her mother paused. “What’s her name? Bring her home to meet us.”

Wouldn’t that expose the lie?

“Not yet,” Xu Congshi said calmly. “She says she’ll go public after winning the Bosca Best Actress award. Then we’ll have a kid, so she can focus more on family.”

Her mother: “…?”

“Make it sound believable,” her mother said. “The Bosca Best Actress award isn’t that easy to win. And you’re talking about having a kid at over thirty? Who’s carrying it—you or her? And who’s raising it? You’re thirty and still can’t watch your mouth, making up a girlfriend to dodge a blind date. You spend twenty hours a day in the lab—when do you date? Online?”

“You’re exactly right,” Xu Congshi said, determined to avoid the blind date. “I video-call my girlfriend every day. I fall asleep to her voice. Without her, life’s meaningless—I’d rather die.”

Her mother: “…”

Xu Congshi doubled down fluently: “If you make me break up with her, I’ll never forgive you. I’m head over heels for her. I’ve even started leaving the lab on time—ask my colleagues if you don’t believe me.”

Her mother: “For real?”

Xu Congshi faltered briefly but, thinking of her mother’s internet-surfing habits, resigned herself. “Of course it’s real. We’re almost there—just don’t mess with our relationship.”

Her mother asked, “Almost where?”

Xu Congshi hung up, cranked the music, and rested her head on the steering wheel.

Yes.

She and her “girlfriend” were just one step away from meeting.

After picking up Jiang Ciyi, Cheng Xing chatted animatedly on the drive home, asking what she wanted for dinner.

Jiang Ciyi glanced at her suspiciously, noticing the dark circles under her eyes had faded and her demeanor was far better than the past few days. Instead of answering, she asked, “Work wasn’t busy today?”

“It was fine,” Cheng Xing said cheerfully. “A senior colleague was really nice to me. She sent me on an off-site task and even gave me three hundred yuan for expenses.”

She had spun Daisy’s money for a hotel nap into this story.

“Oh,” Jiang Ciyi said, pausing. “What does your company do on off-site tasks?”

“Scouting talent,” Cheng Xing replied. “Looking for promising candidates to sign.”

Thankfully, Daisy had prepared an excuse for Jiang Bai and the others, or Cheng Xing wouldn’t have known what their department’s off-site work entailed.

Jiang Ciyi lowered her eyes, lost in thought. Cheng Xing quickly steered the conversation back. “You haven’t said yet—what do you want for dinner?”

“Anything’s fine,” Jiang Ciyi said. “Sister Zhou probably has everything prepared, right?”

Sister Zhou, their highly competent housekeeper, always planned menus that catered to both their tastes, ensuring a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

But sometimes, situations like this arose—

Cheng Xing raised an eyebrow. “If you want something else, I can take you out to eat.”

“No need,” Jiang Ciyi said. “I still have samples to analyze and data to finish. Let’s eat at home.”

Cheng Xing had noticed Jiang Ciyi had been working from home lately but hadn’t had the energy to ask. Today, well-rested, she asked about the lab.

Jiang Ciyi explained that she’d asked Xu Congshi for a favor, which caused her to take on extra work with an earlier deadline, forcing her to bring it home.

Cheng Xing asked what the favor was, and Jiang Ciyi smirked. “You sure you want to know?”

“What? Does it have to do with me?” Cheng Xing laughed. “Now I’m even more curious.”

Jiang Ciyi smiled faintly but didn’t answer.

Her smile was cryptic, making Cheng Xing’s scalp tingle. Guessing, she said, “You didn’t have someone check if I’m cheating, did you?”

Jiang Ciyi let out a long “Mmm,” neither confirming nor denying.

“I haven’t,” Cheng Xing denied. “You’re wasting your time. I keep my promises.”

Jiang Ciyi hummed and closed her eyes to rest.

Cheng Xing added, “You even rejected your idol’s WeChat request for me. How could I betray you?”

“My idol?” Jiang Ciyi’s tone rose slightly.

Since when did she have an idol? Why didn’t she know?

“Gu Qingfeng,” Cheng Xing said. “Have you finished watching Spring Court Evening? Want to continue tonight?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ciyi said, pressing her temple. “I’m up to episode thirty, but lately, I’ve been so tired. No matter how much I sleep, it’s never enough.”

Cheng Xing’s heart skipped a beat, guilt creeping in. “Oh? Then you should sleep early tonight.”

“Mmm,” Jiang Ciyi said flatly. “I used to be a light sleeper, but not like this. Since I started drinking milk, I’ve been drowsy all the time. I sleep deeper, sure, but I still feel like I haven’t slept enough.”

Hearing “milk,” Cheng Xing’s guilt intensified. She forced a smile. “Is that so? Maybe the milk’s helping you sleep.”

“There’s a saying that milk before bed aids sleep,” Jiang Ciyi said, glancing at her and subtly observing her every move. “But this milk feels more like it’s laced with Sinos.”

Cheng Xing: “…”

For a moment, cold sweat trickled down her back.

She swallowed hard, coughing lightly with a laugh. “How could that be?”

Someone bad at lying, forced to lie, couldn’t even control the tremor in her voice, yet she tried to stay calm.

“Just kidding,” Jiang Ciyi said with a slight smile before reverting to her cold demeanor. “Let’s stop the milk for a week after this one.”

“Huh?” Cheng Xing froze for two seconds before nodding. “Okay.”

It seemed Jiang Ciyi had noticed something.

Cheng Xing’s heart grew uneasy. When they parked at Tinglan Mansion, she turned off the engine and opened her palms under the light, seeing them slick with sweat.

At dinner, Jiang Ciyi stayed quiet. After eating, she went upstairs to the study to continue working.

Cheng Xing sat on the couch, thinking, piecing together Jiang Ciyi’s actions and behavior over the past few days.

There was nothing unusual.

None of Cheng Xing’s things had been touched. The sleeping aid she used wasn’t Sinos but a custom blend she’d made, with minimal harm to the brain.

She was careful not to use too much.

But Jiang Ciyi’s words felt like a warning, yet she hadn’t said it outright.

If Jiang Ciyi had noticed, why did she keep drinking the milk? She should’ve confronted her, not tested her like this.

But if she hadn’t noticed, why were her words so pointed?

Cheng Xing was baffled.

Meanwhile, in the study, Jiang Ciyi was fully focused on analyzing samples, unconcerned with whether Cheng Xing was agonizing over this.

She had sensed something off with the milk by the second day.

Highly sensitive to drugs, she could detect their smell and taste acutely.

She had even made Cheng Xing drink half a cup once. Though hesitant, Cheng Xing drank it.

This proved the milk didn’t contain anything lethal.

So, Jiang Ciyi played along, discreetly pouring the last bit of milk into a sealed bag when Cheng Xing wasn’t looking, storing it in the bottom of her drawer, and handing it to Xu Congshi at work.

Everything was seamless.

The results were as she’d expected.

She was only confused for a day. Then, recalling everything from meeting Cheng Xing in the attic to the faint needle marks on her legs, she pieced together what Cheng Xing was doing.

Jiang Ciyi chose not to expose her.

Instead, she dropped hints now and then, watching Cheng Xing flounder and struggle to lie convincingly.

It gave Jiang Ciyi a subtle thrill of revenge.

Occasionally, she felt her own heart was too dark.

But she hid it well.

She suspected Cheng Xing had a dual personality—her current self unrelated to the past.

But the old Cheng Xing had hurt her, and she couldn’t pretend it hadn’t happened.

Watching Cheng Xing falter, tense up, and stay awake night after night brought Jiang Ciyi a sense of justice.

It was one reason she hadn’t chosen divorce.

Staying by Cheng Xing’s side gave her opportunities for revenge.

She had nothing left to care about.

Her only father, lost to drugs, was in and out of prison.

Her legs were in this state.

So, not divorcing Cheng Xing didn’t matter. At worst, they’d go down together.

Her scalpel was always within reach, and she was confident she could end things with one strike.

But today, in the car, seeing Cheng Xing’s panicked expression, she softened for a moment.

So she eased up.

Jiang Ciyi finished her sample analysis by 10:30 p.m., the usual time for her milk. But when she returned to the bedroom, she saw Cheng Xing reading, and there was no milk on her nightstand. She asked, “Where’s my milk tonight?”

To Cheng Xing, it sounded like: Where’s the drug you prepared for me?

Cheng Xing set down her book, feigning calm. “Didn’t you say to stop the milk? I didn’t heat any.”

“I said to stop next week,” Jiang Ciyi said. “I still want it tonight.”

Cheng Xing frowned. “Why not start stopping tonight?”

Jiang Ciyi shifted herself onto the bed, and Cheng Xing assumed that was that.

But then Jiang Ciyi clicked her tongue. “Got it. You don’t want to heat milk for me. Fine.”

Her tone was flat, but it dripped with sarcasm.

Cheng Xing panicked. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t!”

“What then?” Jiang Ciyi raised an eyebrow.

Cheng Xing reluctantly got out of bed and returned in under five minutes with a cup of warm milk.

Jiang Ciyi took a sip, sniffed, and said, “Tonight’s milk is missing something.”

Cheng Xing: “…”

“Can you tell?” Cheng Xing asked.

“Or how do you think I became the youngest forensic expert at Jianggang Police Station?” Jiang Ciyi didn’t deny it, smiling at her. “Cheng Xing, when I said to stop the milk next week, I meant I don’t want you staying up so late anymore.”

Cheng Xing: “…”

“Doing good deeds after I’m asleep—does it make you feel noble? Are you moved by yourself?”

“…”

Jiang Ciyi said slowly, “You can do it in front of me from now on. I won’t ask.”

Cheng Xing was stunned. So Jiang Ciyi had known all along!

And she still drank the milk every day?

Wasn’t she afraid of being poisoned?

As if reading her thoughts, Jiang Ciyi smiled. “You drank it too, so I knew it wasn’t poison.”

Cheng Xing took a while to process before asking, “So when did you know?”

“The second day,” Jiang Ciyi said.

Cheng Xing sat on her bed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“That would’ve been boring,” Jiang Ciyi said calmly, finishing the milk and lying down. “Miss Cheng, I’m going to sleep.”

Cheng Xing: “Huh?”

“You can start,” Jiang Ciyi said.

Cheng Xing: “…”

In that moment, Cheng Xing’s ears twitched, turning red.