Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 67

67

The surgery lasted seven hours.

For those awaiting a life-or-death verdict, time crawled by agonizingly slow.

During this period, Cheng Xing didn’t eat a single bite or drink a single drop of water.

Qin Zhiyun, always thorough in her duties, fulfilled her role as the eldest sister-in-law despite not being particularly fond of her younger sister-in-law. She had light meals brought for Cheng Xing.

Cheng Xing shook her head. “Thank you, sister-in-law, but I have no appetite.”

After being refused twice, Qin Zhiyun didn’t offer again.

With a pile of company matters to attend to, Cheng Zimo left the hospital three hours into the surgery.

Only Qin Zhiyun and Cheng Xing remained outside the operating room.

Seeing Cheng Xing’s nervousness, Qin Zhiyun tried to comfort her by talking about the doctor, Qin Shuang, who had been specifically requested for the surgery. She mentioned that Qin Shuang was a talent recruited from a renowned overseas hospital with a hefty sum by another hospital.

Despite her young age, Qin Shuang was a Harvard Medical School graduate with outstanding academic performance.

She had initially stayed in the U.S. to work, but due to her family’s persistent urging, she returned to Jianggang.

Cheng Xing then recalled who Qin Shuang was—the new attending doctor assigned to her when she fainted and was sent to the hospital. At the time, Qin Shuang wore a mask, and aside from a slightly unsettling gaze, everything else seemed normal.

Cheng Xing attributed that discomfort to the “debts” of the original host.

She soon forgot about it entirely.

The moment the operating room’s light went out, the sky darkened, as if brewing a massive storm.

The hospital corridor’s lights were starkly white, almost blinding. Cheng Xing’s mind kept replaying the worst-case scenario of this accident—Jiang Ciyi’s death.

What would follow would be the collapse of this world, and her wandering soul would have nowhere to go.

She might dissipate into nothingness or be transported to another world.

Sometimes, the unknown wasn’t terrifying. What was terrifying was the known.

The most terrifying was knowing the outcome and repeatedly trying to change it, only to find it futile.

Cheng Xing didn’t notice her entire body trembling, her fingers curled tightly at her sides, so cold they couldn’t fully close. Qin Zhiyun patted her shoulder and softly reassured her, “It’ll be okay.”

Cheng Xing turned her head and gave her a faint smile, though it was a bitter one.

She couldn’t see it, but she could imagine it was an unattractive smile.

Qin Zhiyun sighed silently, waiting for the doctor’s verdict.

The lead surgeon and Qin Shuang removed their masks. The surgeon’s gaze flickered between Cheng Xing and Qin Zhiyun before settling on Cheng Xing. “The surgery was a success.”

Cheng Xing let out a breath of relief.

She knew that as the absolute protagonist of this world, Jiang Ciyi wouldn’t die.

But—

The doctor paused and added, “Her condition is still poor. She’ll need to stay in the ICU for a few days for observation. She can be moved to a regular ward once she’s recovered a bit.”

Cheng Xing asked, “When will she wake up?”

“I don’t know,” the doctor replied. “In the best case, one to three days.”

Cheng Xing didn’t ask, and the doctor didn’t mention, what would happen in the worst case.

At the very least, this outcome was already much better compared to Xu Zhaozhao in the other operating room.

Xu Zhaozhao’s actions were too shocking and despicable.

Coupled with the fact that it caused a fatality, the news couldn’t be suppressed.

The Cheng family members gradually learned about it, and some paparazzi, who had been tailing Xu Zhaozhao, captured footage from a distance. However, Cheng Zimo paid a hefty sum to buy it back.

The hospital was in chaos all day, with distant and close relatives coming to visit Jiang Ciyi.

Cheng Xing was overwhelmed just dealing with the relatives, but thankfully, Qin Zhiyun was there to help, so it wasn’t too exhausting.

Guan Linmin spent the day handling Xu Zhaozhao’s affairs and only returned to the hospital in the evening. When she learned everyone had visited, she grumbled a bit.

It was clear to anyone that most weren’t there to visit the patient. After all, with the patient in the ICU, what could they see?

Some came to curry favor with the Cheng family through Cheng Xing, while others came to snoop about Xu Zhaozhao’s situation.

On the surface, the Cheng family maintained harmony. The younger uncle and aunt only called to offer condolences, briefly asking about the situation and telling Cheng Xing not to be too upset. They said they’d visit the hospital once Jiang Ciyi woke up.

The visitors were mostly distant relatives.

These relatives held shares in the Cheng Group, but only small, scattered ones.

In the early years, the matriarch tightly controlled the power, giving them no chance to buy or sell shares.

Everyone closely watched the Cheng family’s every move, knowing the matriarch particularly favored Xu Zhaozhao. They speculated she might have left Xu Zhaozhao some shares.

They came to gather information, hoping the Cheng family would implode, allowing them to profit.

Guan Linmin didn’t bring up these complicated matters at this juncture. She only told Cheng Xing to rest well and that she’d handle the rest.

After that, only Zheng Shuqing and Xu Congshi visited the hospital.

Zheng Shuqing had been trying to contact Jiang Ciyi but couldn’t reach her. Worried something had happened, she reached out to Cheng Xing and learned about Jiang Ciyi’s coma and two surgeries.

Zheng Shuqing rushed to the hospital and, seeing Jiang Ciyi lying in the ICU with tubes attached and a pale face, broke down and shouted, “Why? Didn’t you say you’d treat Jiang Jiang well from now on? How did she end up in the hospital again?! She’s never been okay with you!”

Cheng Xing remained silent.

Jiang Ciyi had been unconscious for two days, and Cheng Xing stayed at the hospital for two days.

She looked gaunt, her eyes lifeless.

“If anything happens to Jiangjiang, how will you make up for it!” Zheng Shuqing cried.

Cheng Xing closed her eyes and said coldly, “With my life.”

Zheng Shuqing’s cries stopped abruptly, either from shock or fear.

Cheng Xing exuded a natural air of authority, amplified by the stormy weather outside, making her seem cold and aloof.

Zheng Shuqing belatedly realized that Cheng Xing was the youngest daughter of the Cheng Group, a formidable figure in Jianggang whom no one dared to cross.

And she…

Zheng Shuqing broke out in a cold sweat.

In the past, because of Jiang Ciyi, Cheng Xing had given her, Jiang Ciyi’s best friend, some courtesy to win Jiang Ciyi’s favor.

But now, Jiang Ciyi was lying in the ICU.

Cheng Xing…

Zheng Shuqing looked at Cheng Xing with a newfound fear but still said softly, “Even if you give your life, it won’t bring Jiangjiang back.”

“She’ll be fine.” Cheng Xing said firmly.

“Really?” Zheng Shuqing asked.

Cheng Xing thought for a moment and sighed lightly. “Miss Zheng, I’m a bit tired.”

Zheng Shuqing took the hint and left, but she kept looking back at Jiang Ciyi in the ICU through the glass, hoping she’d wake up soon.

When Xu Congshi came, she didn’t say much. She brought a fruit basket and ordered takeout for Cheng Xing.

She said it was repayment for the meals Cheng Xing had brought her before. She calmly told Cheng Xing not to look so defeated, lest Jiang Ciyi wake up to find her in poor health, leading to both of them taking turns in the hospital.

Cheng Xing knew she meant well and could only smile in response.

But her smile told Xu Congshi she wasn’t listening. Xu Congshi shook her head helplessly.

Xu Congshi didn’t understand romantic love, but that didn’t stop her from viewing the situation with humanitarian concern.

In the end, she found it reasonable.

Holding to her philosophy of “Buddha doesn’t save stubborn fools,” Xu Congshi looked at Cheng Xing for a moment before leaving.

Five days had passed since Jiang Ciyi’s coma, and she remained in the ICU. Needles pierced the back of her hand daily, with countless bottles of glucose and nutrient fluids administered, yet there was no sign of her waking.

The doctors conducted a full examination, finding no obvious abnormalities.

The surgery had indeed been successful, and everything was recovering in an orderly manner—except for the fact that Jiang Ciyi hadn’t woken up.

Even Xu Zhaozhao’s funeral arrangements were nearly complete. Her cremation and burial were imminent, with half her ashes to be scattered at sea and the other half buried in a cemetery.

Naturally, she wouldn’t be buried with the Cheng family but beside her parents’ graves.

Initially, there were no plans for a funeral. Cremation and burial would have been the final courtesy the Cheng family extended.

But Cheng’s father had a dream about Xu Zhaozhao’s father. Considering their past friendship, and since Xu Zhaozhao’s parents had passed early, leaving her to be raised by the Cheng family, they decided to hold a small funeral as a respectful closure.

To avoid upsetting Cheng Xing, they initially didn’t tell her.

It wasn’t until the day before Xu Zhaozhao’s funeral, when Cheng Zijing visited the hospital in a black suit, that Cheng Xing learned about it.

Cheng Xing’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.

The dead are gone.

No matter how vile Xu Zhaozhao had been, she was dead.

What could Cheng Xing say?

She wasn’t perverse enough to desecrate a corpse.

But thinking of the old lady, Cheng Xing asked Cheng Zijing if she had been informed.

“She’s been notified,” Cheng Zijing said. “Her flight arrives tonight. I’ll pick her up myself.”

Cheng Xing patted his shoulder. “Thanks for your hard work.”

Cheng Zijing ruffled her hair. “You’re talking about hard work? Look at yourself.”

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Xing asked.

Cheng Zijing smirked. “You look like a stray dog. When’s the last time you washed your face? It’s filthy. If Jiang Ciyi wakes up and sees you like this, she’ll be disgusted.”

Cheng Xing: “…”

“I washed this morning,” she defended. “I just didn’t put on any skincare.”

“Girls should take better care of their skin,” Cheng Zijing said with a smile. “Your second sister-in-law wouldn’t go to bed without an hour of skincare.”

Mentioning Wang Tingwan made Cheng Xing pause. She cautiously asked, “Any progress on her case?”

“Same as always,” Cheng Zijing said. “After Xu Zhaozhao’s death, they fished a sealed document bag from the sea with your second sister-in-law’s name on it. But it was empty.”

Cheng Xing exhaled in relief, though a trace of unease lingered in her eyes.

Her exhaustion from recent days masked it well.

“I don’t know if it’s related to her.” Cheng Zijing said lightly.

“Did the police investigate?” Cheng Xing asked.

“They did. No leads.”

Cheng Zijing glanced at her after speaking. “Alright, enough about that. Go home tonight, change, and get some sleep. You’ve got a tough battle tomorrow.”

“I’m not going to the funeral,” Cheng Xing said. “Mom didn’t tell me, so she clearly didn’t want me there. No matter what, Grandmother can’t make a fuss here.”

With Jiang Ciyi still in the ICU, attending the funeral of the person who caused her condition would go against Cheng Xing’s conscience.

Guan Linmin and the others understood this, so they didn’t ask her to attend, tacitly approving her decision.

If possible, the Cheng family likely wouldn’t have held a funeral for Xu Zhaozhao at all.

But Cheng Zijing said, “Grandmother isn’t someone to mess with. If you don’t go to the funeral, she might come to the hospital.”

Cheng Xing pressed her lips together and said calmly but firmly, “Then I’ll face whatever comes.”

After Cheng Zijing left, Cheng Xing opened her phone’s front camera to check her face.

Her skin had indeed become rougher.

Since Jiang Ciyi fell into a coma, Cheng Xing hadn’t slept a full night.

She only closed her eyes for brief naps when utterly exhausted, but she’d wake up soon after.

Sleepless and dreamless, closing her eyes felt like floating aimlessly on the sea, an unreal sensation.

Opening her eyes brought a feeling of being in another lifetime.

With Jiang Ciyi unconscious, Cheng Xing had more time alone to reflect on recent events and analyze why Xu Zhaozhao acted so irrationally.

It seemed illogical, but upon closer inspection, there were traces to follow.

Xu Zhaozhao was written as a brainless cannon-fodder villain, like the original host, meant to push the protagonists’ relationship forward.

In the original story, after the original host and Jiang Ciyi divorced, Xu Zhaozhao played the role of someone obsessively devoted to the original host. To win her favor, she kidnapped Jiang Ciyi, inadvertently strengthening Jiang Ciyi’s bond with her childhood sweetheart, mending her nearly broken heart.

Xu Zhaozhao’s fate was tragic.

But now, the recognition plot hadn’t occurred, and Shen Qingxue appeared early.

Cheng Xing thought her arrival had shifted fate’s gears, allowing many outcomes to be rewritten.

Xu Zhaozhao’s death, however, reminded her: outcomes couldn’t be changed.

Cheng Xing even reviewed the footage of the car accident. When the car plunged into the sea, there was a brief moment where the steering veered sharply, as if the wheel had been yanked.

But it was too late.

It could be interpreted as the fear of someone seeking death or as Xu Zhaozhao having her own consciousness.

But consciousness couldn’t overcome fate.

Fortunately, Xu Zhaozhao didn’t leave behind that document.

Otherwise, if it had been proven that the original host hired someone to kill Wang Tingwan, Cheng Xing’s path would be blocked.

It was also possible Xu Zhaozhao had no evidence and was merely using it to threaten Cheng Xing.

These were all Cheng Xing’s speculations. The more she thought, the less certain she felt.

Sometimes, waking up, she’d scan her surroundings, find them empty, and instinctively call out for Jiang Ciyi, only to realize she was still in the ICU.

Cheng Xing admitted she was selfish.

When Xu Zhaozhao died, her first thought was relief that no evidence was left.

But in her situation, it was hard not to be selfish.

She tried calling the system several times, but for days, it was as if the system was dead, not responding at all.

Sitting in the hospital corridor for another half hour as night fell, she walked to the window to feel the breeze, forcing herself to stay alert. Then she went to the washroom in the ward’s suite, washed her face simply, and grabbed a bottle of essence, applying a few drops to her face.

Cheng Zijing was right—she couldn’t keep going like this.

Later, the doctor came to update her on Jiang Ciyi’s vitals.

After the doctor left, Cheng Xing quietly asked, “Can I go in to see her?”

The doctor wouldn’t dare refuse.

Truthfully, they hadn’t expected Miss Cheng to be so well-behaved these past few days. He nodded immediately. “Yes, but you’ll need to wear a sterile suit and stay no longer than twenty minutes.”

“Okay,” Cheng Xing nodded eagerly and changed into the sterile suit.

Jiang Ciyi lay on the bed, quiet like a sleeping beauty, but very thin.

Glucose and nutrient fluids sustained her vital signs, but they weren’t as good as real food.

The weight she’d gained recently, enough to pinch, was visibly gone.

She looked like the Jiang Ciyi Cheng Xing first met.

Cheng Xing softly called, “A’Ci.”

At first, she saw her as a mission target. But since she started treating Jiang Ciyi as a person, a friend, she was the one Cheng Xing saw every morning and before bed, chatting about trivial things.

Cheng Xing hadn’t realized how much space Jiang Ciyi occupied in her life.

Without her, Cheng Xing’s life lost its anchor.

Cheng Xing gently rubbed the inside of Jiang Ciyi’s wrist, feeling her pulse.

She chatted with her about recent events, unsure if she could hear.

When she was done, Cheng Xing placed her fingers on Jiang Ciyi’s pulse.

It was steady, showing no signs of trouble.

But Jiang Ciyi still wouldn’t wake.

After twenty minutes, Cheng Xing sighed softly, squeezed Jiang Ciyi’s fingers, and said warmly, “A’Ci, you need to wake up soon. Tomorrow is Xu Zhaozhao’s funeral. If you want revenge, I’ll take you to disrupt it, make sure she can’t rest in peace.”

“As long as you wake up, I’ll do whatever you say,” Cheng Xing’s voice broke, growing heavier. “A’Ci, don’t sleep too long.”

She was running out of ideas.

Jiang Ciyi felt her body sinking endlessly, trapped in a blue box filled with seawater. She reached out, trying to grab something, but grasped nothing.

She could only watch everything drift away as her vision faded to nothingness.

She tried to speak but couldn’t make a sound.

She tried to lift her hand, but the water’s weight held it down.

She didn’t know if she was dying, but faintly, she heard someone calling: A’Ci.

Jiang Ciyi jolted, struggling to swim upward.

At the same time, in the Interstellar Fate Bureau, Hui Gu was gravely injured, and Yin Die sent him to a recovery pod.

Days earlier, the management center’s red light flared again. Yin Die rushed to find Hui Gu, urging him to abandon his unrealistic plan.

With their abilities, they couldn’t hide it for long.

When Commander Wopus found out, they’d face severe punishment.

The Interstellar Fate Bureau was a place of strict hierarchy, where fate navigators weren’t allowed personal feelings.

They followed the bureau’s tasks, and Hui Gu’s actions had severely violated its rules.

Rule-breakers faced punishment.

Yin Die didn’t understand why Hui Gu did this, but by the time she realized, he was already in too deep. She could only help him cover it up.

But the situation snowballed out of control.

This time, the red light didn’t stop, and the piercing alarm drew the attention of the Inspection Center. As an outstanding employee, Yin Die stabilized them and began urgent repairs.

The management center’s red light often lit up due to hosts going off-script or failing tasks, leading to punishments for fate navigators.

But the alarm rarely sounded.

In the past, Yin Die would fix things for Hui Gu before confronting him.

This time, she decided to teach him a lesson about the gravity of his actions.

But she didn’t expect a massive bug in World 7531, causing a human death.

Hui Gu’s secret wouldn’t stay hidden for long.

When he learned of it, he rushed to the management center.

Yin Die urged him to turn back, open a space gate, rewind time, and act as if nothing happened.

Together, they could still fix it.

But Hui Gu refused without hesitation, pouring all his energy into patching the rift, depleting himself until Yin Die saved him at the last moment.

Energy was the lifeblood of fate navigators. Higher energy values meant higher ranks.

Energy could buy food, nutrients, rest pods, or repair rifts.

Mistakes required energy to fix, and unfixable ones led to punishment.

Higher-ranking navigators could afford more and bigger mistakes.

Hui Gu wasn’t high-ranking. His energy was earned diligently, but even using it all, he couldn’t seal the rift.

Yin Die, unable to watch, stepped in, but having helped him before, her own energy was low. At a critical moment, a bug appeared.

Ignoring it, she sent the critically injured Hui Gu to the recovery pod.

Back at the management center, she tried to fix the bug, but an alert rang in her mind: Insufficient energy.

Cheng Xing didn’t sleep well all night, dozing fitfully in the hospital room. Waking up to a gray sky, she thought it was still dark.

Checking her phone, it was already 8 a.m.

She’d fallen asleep past 3 a.m., having visited the ICU and sat on a bench for a while.

Rubbing her eyes, Cheng Xing thought the gloomy weather signaled a coming storm.

Jianggang’s winters had no snow, and rainy days felt desolate, much like Jing City’s winters.

She received several messages.

Xu Jingcheng said she’d landed in Jianggang and heard about her situation. She’d visit her cousin Xu Congshi first and meet later.

Guan Linmin asked, as usual, if Jiang Ciyi had woken up.

Cheng Xing replied: Not yet.

Cheng Zijing messaged: [Grandmother’s face is darker than this weather.]

Cheng Zijing: [Good thing you didn’t come. Amitabha.]

He sent a praying hands emoji.

Cheng Xing replied with a perfunctory emoji and got up to eat breakfast numbly.

Like the past few days, she only ate a small bun before losing her appetite. She went to the ICU, got the doctor’s permission to enter in a sterile suit, and chatted softly with Jiang Ciyi, holding her fingers as usual.

After a moment, she noticed Jiang Ciyi’s little finger twitch slightly.

Thinking it was an illusion, Cheng Xing whispered, “A’Ci.”

Seconds later, Jiang Ciyi’s finger twitched again. Cheng Xing pressed the emergency bell.

As she stood to pull her hand away, it was gently held.

The person on the bed slowly opened her eyes, lips moving faintly under the oxygen mask, mumbling, “Where are you going?”

Cheng Xing’s eyes widened in shock, a tear falling unexpectedly.

Holding Jiang Ciyi’s hand, she said joyfully, “You’re finally awake.”

Jiang Ciyi’s awakening was cause for celebration. The doctors ran another full check, finding no issues. Her leg nerves even showed slight activity. She needed further observation but was moved to a regular ward.

Jiang Ciyi wasn’t very weak, but Cheng Xing, worried about her fatigue, sat by her bed, nervously tucking in her blanket and urging her to rest more.

“I’ve slept so long already,” Jiang Ciyi teased. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll sleep and never wake up?”

Cheng Xing’s face changed. “What are you saying? Spit it out, quick!”

She anxiously patted Jiang Ciyi’s shoulder.

Jiang Ciyi didn’t spit but looked at her leisurely.

Stared at for too long, Cheng Xing felt uneasy. “Why are you staring at me?”

“Cheng Xing,” Jiang Ciyi tilted her head. “While I was unconscious, didn’t you ever think about pulling my oxygen tube?”

Cheng Xing’s eyes widened. “How could I? I was dying for you to wake up. I was going crazy with worry.”

Jiang Ciyi stayed silent. Cheng Xing asked, “You don’t believe me?”

The room fell quiet for a moment before Jiang Ciyi said softly, “I believe you.”

“That day, when Xu Zhaozhao took you, I kept thinking, if only I hadn’t worked late,” Cheng Xing said. “I should’ve picked you up earlier.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Jiang Ciyi said. “Xu Zhaozhao planned it. It would’ve happened anyway.”

Cheng Xing shook her head. “But I didn’t do my part. I should’ve protected you.”

Jiang Ciyi looked at her and suddenly beckoned her closer.

Cheng Xing was puzzled. “What?”

“Come here,” Jiang Ciyi said.

Confused but obedient, Cheng Xing leaned in. The next second, Jiang Ciyi grabbed her head and plucked a hair.

Cheng Xing winced. “What was that for?”

Jiang Ciyi wrapped the hair around her finger, lowering her eyes playfully. “Miss Cheng, you’ve got a white hair.”