Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 74

74

The news of the old lady’s passing came as a bolt from the blue.

By the time the three of them rushed to the hospital room, the old lady was already lying peacefully on the bed. Her younger brother and sister stood by her side, their faces etched with sorrow.

Cheng Kunshan was the last to arrive.

The past few days had been chaotic, with old secrets dragged into the open. Facing the risk of his family falling apart, Cheng Kunshan was naturally in a foul mood.

For the first time in years, the usually reserved man had a heated confrontation with his mother, erupting into the biggest argument in decades.

It was as if Cheng Kunshan was making up for a rebellious phase he’d never had. After the quarrel, he stormed out of the room.

Soon after, the old lady suffered a hysterical episode. Even the top medical team flown in from abroad couldn’t save her.

These details were later shared with Cheng Xing by Cheng Zijing as gossip.

Due to her conflict with the old lady over Xu Zhaozhao, Cheng Xing had been at odds with her for a long time. When the old lady fell ill, no one informed Cheng Xing, as they didn’t want to guilt-trip her into visiting.

But just yesterday, the old lady, clinging to life, insisted on summoning everyone to the large meeting room for one final “trial” of Cheng Xing.

She was met with a cold rebuff from Fu Ling.

Her condition worsened after she fell into a coma. That night, she ran a fever of 40°C that wouldn’t subside, muttering incoherently in her sleep.

By morning, the fever had barely receded, but she remained unconscious.

Half an hour ago, she suddenly woke up and called her daughter, Cheng Xiuli, asking her to come to the hospital.

Holding Cheng Xiuli’s hand, she rambled on, even talking about the dreams she’d had while unconscious. Cheng Xiuli comforted her gently, assuming she was out of danger.

But soon after, her condition took a sharp turn for the worse. Her body stiffened, and she collapsed onto the bed.

That phone call to Cheng Xiuli had been her final moment of clarity—a last flicker of life.

In the end, her strength gave out, and she stopped breathing.

The doctors tried to resuscitate her for a long time but couldn’t bring her back. They declared her death.

The atmosphere in the hospital room was heavy, and no one stepped forward to take charge or speak.

For years, Cheng Kunshan had relied on his mother, his wife, and his son. Now, reeling from the blow, he instinctively looked to Cheng Zimo for a reaction.

Cheng Zimo took a deep breath and said coldly, “I’ll contact Grandmother’s lawyer to confirm her will, then discuss funeral arrangements with Zijing.”

As he turned to leave the room, his uncle suddenly spoke up, “Your grandmother has just passed, and you’re already so eager to divide her estate?”

Cheng Zimo paused, his thick brows furrowing, though he held his temper in check. “What do you suggest, Uncle?”

“Respect the dead,” his uncle said. “We should focus on your grandmother first. If it weren’t for your family, she wouldn’t have died. You lot drove her to this.”

“Second Brother…” His aunt tugged at her brother’s arm, but it didn’t stop him.

Cheng Kunqian’s eyes were red with anger. “Her body isn’t even cold yet, and you’re all so heartless—not a single tear shed. Were you just waiting for her to die?”

“Uncle, that’s unfair.” Cheng Zijing stepped in to mediate. “We’re all heartbroken over Grandmother’s death. But her body hasn’t been dealt with yet, and you’re already making accusations in her hospital room. Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“Bullshit!” Cheng Kunqian clenched his fists. “All these years, everyone could see how much Mother favored your family. And what’s the result? You’re all responsible for her death. People like you don’t deserve to inherit the Cheng Corporation! Mother single-handedly saved the company back then—you’re not worthy of her legacy!”

“Second Brother, shut up!” Cheng Kunshan, who had been silently weeping by his mother’s bedside, roared. “When has Mother ever treated you unfairly? She’s lying right here, and you’re bullying the younger generation. Do you think I’m dead too?”

“If it weren’t for your family, Mother wouldn’t be lying here,” Cheng Kunqian straightened up defiantly. “All these years, I’ve never fought you for anything. But if her estate goes entirely to your family, I won’t accept it.”

“Then we’ll have the lawyer review Grandmother’s will,” Cheng Zimo said. “If she left shares to you, Uncle, combined with what you already hold, with a bit of maneuvering, you might actually have a shot at the CEO position at the next board meeting.”

“You think I care about the CEO position?” Cheng Kunqian snapped. “You don’t deserve to sit in that seat!”

Crash—

Cheng Kunshan swung a fist at Cheng Kunqian, knocking over a chair in the process, which clattered harshly to the floor.

Caught off guard, Cheng Kunqian retaliated with a punch of his own. The two brothers began brawling in the hospital room.

Cheng Zimo and Cheng Zijing quickly stepped in to break up the fight.

The room descended into chaos.

Cheng Xing stood silently by the door the entire time, like an invisible bystander, her gaze fixed on the old lady lying on the bed.

To say she wasn’t affected by the old lady’s death would be a lie.

Cheng Xing hadn’t expected her to go out like this. In the original novel, there was barely any mention of the old lady’s background.

Xu Zhaozhao was the villainous antagonist, but the old lady only appeared a handful of times in the story, always abroad. Even when Jiang Ciyi turned dark and teamed up with Shen Qingxue to destroy the Cheng family, the old lady was still living comfortably overseas.

Yet now, she had died unexpectedly.

The gears of fate had shifted dramatically at this moment.

This meant Cheng Xing might face more unforeseen events in the future.

Xu Zhaozhao’s death was inevitable, but what about the old lady’s? Was it a coincidence?

Or was it a chain reaction triggered by Xu Zhaozhao’s incident, like the unraveling of Cheng Xing’s own derived backstory?

The hospital room was a mess, but Cheng Xing had no intention of getting involved. Unable to make sense of it all, she simply left.

When she returned to Guan Linmin’s hospital room, both Jiang Ciyi and Fu Ling were there.

Seeing her return, Fu Ling said lightly, “You went to see your grandmother?”

“Yeah, they were arguing over there.” Cheng Xing replied, not hiding anything. She briefly recounted the dispute that had unfolded in the room.

Fu Ling clicked her tongue. “Who knows what kind of will the old lady left? It probably won’t make things easy for your branch of the family.”

“Let it be,” Guan Linmin said. “All these years, she’s been domineering, favoring our branch but causing a rift between Cheng Kunshan and his brother. And behind closed doors, our family has suffered plenty because of her.”

The mention of Xu Zhaozhao still made Guan Linmin feel a pang of frustration.

Fu Ling quickly reassured her, “Don’t dwell on unhappy things. She’s gone now, and your days will be much easier going forward.”

“But her passing was so sudden,” Guan Linmin sighed.

Fu Ling split a peeled orange in half, giving one part to Guan Linmin and the other to Cheng Xing. “Think of it this way—at our age, you might go to sleep one night and not wake up the next. She brought this on herself. She had a good life abroad but insisted on coming back to stir things up.”

Cheng Xing didn’t want to linger on such melancholic topics, especially with a certified pessimist in the room. She quickly changed the subject. “Grandma, how come you peeled an orange for me but not for A’Ci? What, someone with a bracelet can’t eat oranges?”

Fu Ling shot her a look. “Always thinking about your wife.”

“What can I do?” Cheng Xing peeled off a segment, carefully removing the white pith before offering it to Jiang Ciyi’s mouth. “We can’t let our A’Ci feel neglected, can we? You wouldn’t have the heart for that.”

“I would,” Fu Ling teased. “Look at how nervous you are.”

Jiang Ciyi chimed in, “Grandma already gave me one.”

Feeling her explanation was too brief, she added, “A whole one, actually.”

Fu Ling raised her chin proudly, shooting Cheng Xing a look—praise me.

“Wow!” Cheng Xing didn’t disappoint, exclaiming dramatically, but her words took a turn. “Someone with a whole bracelet gets a whole orange? Grandma, your favoritism is so blatant.”

She promptly earned a smack on the head.

From Jiang Ciyi.

And a few seconds later, another one.

From Fu Ling.

Cheng Xing pouted, looking left and right before fixing her gaze on Jiang Ciyi. “What, are you embarrassed because you’re the favored one?”

“I’m teaching you a lesson for not knowing how to talk properly.” Jiang Ciyi said.

“And you, Grandma?” Cheng Xing asked.

Fu Ling: “Same reason.”

Cheng Xing shook her head dramatically. “The world’s gone to ruin, and people’s hearts aren’t what they used to be.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

Cheng Xing paused, shrugging. “No idea. It just sounds cultured.”

Everyone: “…”

“Anyway, weren’t you all curious just now?” Cheng Xing raised an eyebrow.

Guan Linmin played along, nodding. “Absolutely, dying of curiosity.”

Jiang Ciyi stared at her. “Just waiting to see what earth-shattering thing you’ll say next.”

“Bingo.” Cheng Xing snapped her fingers. “Some words don’t need to mean anything—they just need to sound impressive. Commonly known as… showing off.”

The room fell silent for a few seconds before Fu Ling burst into laughter, instantly lightening the heavy atmosphere of life and death.

The conversation about the old lady became less somber. They chatted casually, touching on the future of the Cheng Corporation. Fu Ling, with her wealth of experience, reassured Guan Linmin not to worry too much and to focus on her upcoming surgery.

As for the rest, others would handle it.

After the chat, Fu Ling said she’d called a maid to stay with Guan Linmin. Cheng Xing wheeled Jiang Ciyi out of the room.

On the way back to Jiang Ciyi’s room, Cheng Xing asked, “Why’d you come to Guan Linmin’s room?”

“To visit a patient.” Jiang Ciyi said.

“Thoughtful of you.” Cheng Xing said. “So, what do you think about Grandmother’s death?”

Jiang Ciyi paused. “Do we have to talk about this out here?”

Realizing Jiang Ciyi probably wouldn’t say anything pleasant, Cheng Xing dropped it. “Fine, we’ll talk back in the room.”

Once they were in the room, Jiang Ciyi said flatly, “She got what she deserved.”

Those four simple words made Cheng Xing pause for a long moment.

For the old lady, a decision from years ago had caused a rift with her eldest son. In her old age, she longed for a harmonious family, with children and grandchildren gathered around her. But the things she did in her youth came back like ticking time bombs, weighing heavily on her heart.

If she hadn’t died now, her remaining days likely wouldn’t have been easy.

The granddaughter she’d acknowledged for years turned out to be a fraud, while her real granddaughter had suffered greatly because of her.

How could she maintain the authority she valued so much as an elder? How could she face her disheartened eldest son in his middle age?

Overthinking and worrying were never good for her.

Her life ending here might allow people to remember her fondly.

If they were particularly moral, they might even feel pity or guilt and let go of old grudges.

So, in a way, the old lady’s death was fitting.

Cheng Xing let out a slow sigh. “Grandma was right—she shouldn’t have gotten involved in all this.”

Jiang Ciyi reminded her, “Have you picked the book for the book club? Or are you not going? I can cancel your spot with Shuqing.”

Cheng Xing shook her head. “I’m going.”

But she hadn’t chosen a book yet.

“It takes at least three days to finish a book, doesn’t it?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

“I’ll pick one today,” Cheng Xing said.

In the end, Cheng Xing found a fitting book on the shelves of Fusheng Bookstore: Saying Goodbye Gracefully.

Guan Linmin’s surgery took only two hours and was a success. All that was left was recovery.

The old lady’s funeral, however, was delayed due to the falling out between Cheng Kunshan and Cheng Kunqian.

Cheng Xing didn’t need to worry about these matters, as Cheng Zimo and Cheng Zijing were handling them. This gave her time to steal moments to read.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

On the morning of the book club, Cheng Xing visited Guan Linmin first. They chatted for a while, and then a group of friends came to visit. Cheng Xing greeted each one, listening as they took turns praising her in front of Guan Linmin until her face nearly froze from smiling.

Back in Jiang Ciyi’s room, she gulped down some water to calm herself, saying to Jiang Ciyi with relief, “Good thing you didn’t go.”

Jiang Ciyi teased, “Run into a ghost?”

“Worse than a ghost,” Cheng Xing said. “A bunch of aunties came to fawn over me, praising me until I could barely find my bearings.”

“And you?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

“I knew they weren’t talking about me.”

“What’d they say?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

Cheng Xing thought back. “Gentle and virtuous, glamorous and poised, elegant and graceful, refined and dignified… and a bunch more I can’t even remember.”

To cheer up their friend, those aunties sure knew how to lay it on thick!

Cheng Xing shook her head. “I was blushing so hard my ears were burning.”

Jiang Ciyi glanced at her. “Really? Your face isn’t red.”

“My face is hot, and my ears are too,” Cheng Xing said, rubbing her cheeks, wishing she could splash cold water on her face in the bathroom.

“Really?” Jiang Ciyi still didn’t believe her.

Cheng Xing nodded vigorously. “Of course! Why would I lie?”

To prove it, she leaned closer. “Don’t believe me? Feel for yourself.”

Jiang Ciyi’s cool, clear eyes met hers, the slight upward tilt at the corners carrying a hint of allure. For a moment, Cheng Xing felt captivated.

Then she realized her words might’ve crossed a line. Clearing her throat, she was about to backtrack when Jiang Ciyi’s cool hand landed on her face, her tone light but teasing. “Let me check.”

Cheng Xing: “…”

Why did this feel so weird?

She reached to pinch her burning ears, but Jiang Ciyi grabbed her earlobe first.

Her fingers were cold, making Cheng Xing wince. “Your hands are freezing! Are you wearing too little? You’re still recovering—be careful not to catch a cold.”

Jiang Ciyi rubbed her earlobe a few times, making Cheng Xing’s breathing uneven and her heart race. Too embarrassed to say anything, she noticed Jiang Ciyi treating her like a toy, her hands not stopping. Pretending to be annoyed, she said, “Have you touched enough? Your cold hands are making my ears cold.”

“Really?” Jiang Ciyi chuckled, covering her entire ear with her hand.

Cheng Xing had been half-squatting to talk to her, one hand resting on the silver handle of Jiang Ciyi’s wheelchair, tilting her head up slightly. She caught a playful glint in Jiang Ciyi’s eyes, but her ears seemed to block out all sound.

It was as if she’d been cut off from the world.

Jiang Ciyi leaned closer, whispering against the back of her hand, “But your ears are burning hot and red—almost hot enough to burn my hand.”

Cheng Xing froze. “Then why are you still…”

Jiang Ciyi placed a finger on her lips, the coolness spreading to her lip. It silenced her.

Jiang Ciyi asked, “Did you hear anything?”

“What?” Cheng Xing said. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“It’s the wind,” Jiang Ciyi said.

Cheng Xing: “?”

The windows in the room were tightly shut. There was no wind—where would it come from?

“There’s no…” Before she could finish, Jiang Ciyi let go of her ear and blew a puff of air near it.

The warm breath spread across her skin, a whooshing sound filling her ear, like brushing past a wild gust in an endless wilderness.

No, it was even more jarring.

So jarring that Cheng Xing’s body trembled instinctively.

Jiang Ciyi pulled back quickly, sitting in her wheelchair with a triumphant smile.

It was rare to see her smile like that. Cheng Xing was momentarily dazed but soon snapped out of it, gritting her teeth as she called out, “Jiang. Ci. Yi.”

She paused after each syllable, her gaze on Jiang Ciyi shifting.

Jiang Ciyi raised an eyebrow. “Mad?”

“Yes.” Cheng Xing said.

“How could you?” Jiang Ciyi propped her chin on one hand, her tone lazy. “How could the gentle, virtuous, glamorous, poised, elegant, graceful, refined, and dignified Miss Cheng get mad at me over a little joke?”

Cheng Xing: “…”

Her first thought was that Jiang Ciyi had a damn good memory.

But—every one of those words made her want to curl her toes in embarrassment!

“I am mad.” Cheng Xing said firmly.

“And then?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

Cheng Xing stared at her, seeing her fearless, unrestrained demeanor.

Biting her lip, Cheng Xing said, “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

“Hm?” Jiang Ciyi said. “Wasn’t it funny?”

“It was.” Cheng Xing said. “And now I want to tease you back.”

“Wha—”

Before Jiang Ciyi could finish, she fell silent.

Cheng Xing leaned in and bit her neck gently, slowly, grazing her skin with her teeth. She didn’t suck or press too hard, but it sent a tingling sensation through Jiang Ciyi’s body, her mind going blank for a moment.

After the bite, there was a faint wet mark. Cheng Xing, her arms braced on the wheelchair, wiped the mark off Jiang Ciyi’s neck.

She stared straight at her. “Was that funny?”

Jiang Ciyi met her gaze, her cool eyes carrying an ambiguous, unreadable spark.

The atmosphere in the room turned intimate.

Cheng Xing’s eyes swept over Jiang Ciyi’s eyes, nose, lips, and slender neck. Jiang Ciyi’s gaze was just as bold.

Tension simmered in the air, their eyes locking on each other’s lips. Almost simultaneously, they both licked their lips.

Their lips glistened.

Cheng Xing swallowed, her body heating up rapidly. Her rational mind told her she was treading dangerous ground, but she felt glued in place, unable to look away.

Jiang Ciyi’s red lips parted slightly, her voice steady. “Not that funny.”

But her steady tone carried a hint of restlessness, her voice trembling slightly at the end.

It stirred something in Cheng Xing.

She leaned closer. “Why not?”

“It hurt,” Jiang Ciyi said. “I didn’t make you hurt.”

Her words carried an extra layer of meaning to Cheng Xing’s ears, almost as if Jiang Ciyi was whining.

But reason told her Jiang Ciyi didn’t whine.

That didn’t stop Cheng Xing from feeling pleased at the sight of the increasingly clear bite mark on Jiang Ciyi’s neck.

She’d made that mark.

It was her claim.

Cheng Xing felt her emotions toward Jiang Ciyi shifting, a nameless fire sparking in her core. Her fingers twitched, and she pursed her lips, the pale color blooming into something vivid, like a seductive rose.

Her voice hoarse, Cheng Xing asked, “What do you want, A’Ci?”

Jiang Ciyi’s hand landed on her neck. “I want you to hurt too.”

“No way,” Cheng Xing shook her head, but her hand covered the bite mark, gently rubbing it. In a low voice, she said, “I’m afraid of pain.”

“Then why’d you bite me?” Jiang Ciyi asked.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, A’Ci.” Cheng Xing said.

“Let me bite you back.” Jiang Ciyi said.

Cheng Xing pursed her lips. “No.”

Jiang Ciyi paused. “Or…”

“Hm?” Cheng Xing swallowed again, barely able to meet Jiang Ciyi’s eyes.

In a low, husky voice, Jiang Ciyi said, “We could kiss…”

Before she could finish with “maybe,” Cheng Xing was already leaning in. The moment their lips met, Jiang Ciyi’s eyes widened, letting out a surprised “maybe” like a fish blowing bubbles.

As her lips parted, Cheng Xing gently bit them.

Cheng Xing, half-squinting, noticed Jiang Ciyi’s eyes were still open. Feeling shy, she placed one hand on Jiang Ciyi’s neck and the other over her eyes, feeling her lashes brush against her palm.

…

After what felt like forever, Cheng Xing pulled back, gasping for air.

She turned to look at Jiang Ciyi, who was looking up at her.

The moment their eyes met, it was like something shot straight to her soul.

Jiang Ciyi licked her lips. Without thinking, Cheng Xing walked over, scooped her up, and carried her to the bed in three quick steps. Propping herself up with one arm beside Jiang Ciyi, she leaned down and kissed her again.

Unlike before, Jiang Ciyi seemed to respond to the kiss.

Everything felt natural, like it was meant to happen. Cheng Xing had never had a girlfriend and knew little about these things, but it all felt instinctive.

Their breaths intertwined, and Cheng Xing was delighted to see Jiang Ciyi’s face flush a peachy hue, her ears turning red too.

Cheng Xing’s hand moved to unbutton Jiang Ciyi’s hospital gown.

As she undid two buttons, a long-silent mechanical voice suddenly rang in her mind: [Awoo! Congratulations, Host! Strategy progress: 60%. Reward: 300,000 HKD. Keep up the good work~~]

Cheng Xing froze as if struck by lightning. Her hand instinctively grabbed at Jiang Ciyi’s chest before quickly pulling away.

Jiang Ciyi opened her eyes and calmly rebuttoned her gown.

Cheng Xing stood there, realizing her mistake. “Sorry, A’Ci.”