Transmigrated As The Villainous Scumbag Wife Of A Disabled Tycoon - Chapter 89
89
It wasn’t yet nine o’clock when they arrived at the west gate of Qingyu High School.
On a Sunday evening, the campus was eerily empty. The security guard sat in front of a small opera-playing device, the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese opera drifting faintly as he dozed off in his chair.
The surroundings, however, were far from quiet. It felt as though countless pairs of eyes were watching from the shadows.
It was no surprise. Many people had heard about Cheng Xing’s bet with Lu Qi at the racetrack earlier that day.
Who would miss such a spectacle?
Some were waiting in cars parked discreetly in the dark, while others lingered in nearby shops, pretending to be passersby.
Being secretly observed wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but thankfully, the car’s tinted windows shielded them from most prying eyes.
Even so, Jiang Ciyi asked, “Having second thoughts?”
Cheng Xing lowered her gaze. “It’s fine.”
Ever since Jiang Ciyi had seen through her plan, Cheng Xing had been unsure how to face her.
She wasn’t like Lu Qi, who could bully others without batting an eye.
Even though she convinced herself she was avenging Jiang Ciyi, the question lingered: Why did those who had hurt Jiang Ciyi continue to live carefree lives while Jiang Ciyi remained trapped in her nightmares?
What had Jiang Ciyi done to deserve this?
Cheng Xing had spent a long time mentally preparing herself, carefully devising a way to get back at Lu Qi—tit for tat, using her own methods against her.
But everything changed when Jiang Ciyi asked, “Is this the kind of thing you’re used to doing? Something you enjoy?”
There was no condemnation or disdain in her tone.
Yet, when those words left Jiang Ciyi’s mouth, Cheng Xing felt an overwhelming sense of shame.
She was ashamed for even entertaining the idea.
For some reason, at that moment, it was as if the emotions of her “original self” stirred, blending with her own, making it hard to distinguish one from the other.
It felt like Jiang Ciyi was questioning her very soul.
And her soul couldn’t withstand even the slightest scrutiny.
Cheng Xing drove in silence, not asking Jiang Ciyi how she planned to handle things.
Whatever happened, it couldn’t be worse than her own approach.
In the quiet car, Jiang Ciyi turned on the stereo, and soothing music filled the space, easing the tense atmosphere.
Waiting always felt agonizingly slow, especially with unseen eyes watching.
Even Xu Jingcheng, who wasn’t deeply involved in their social circle, had heard about the situation and sent Cheng Xing a WeChat message, asking how things had escalated to this point.
There was no hint of gossip in her tone—just genuine curiosity.
Cheng Xing replied with a shrugging emoji: A moment of impulse.
After sending the message, she glanced at the time: 9:28 p.m.
Lu Qi still hadn’t shown up.
Cheng Xing turned off her phone screen and muttered, “She’s probably not coming.”
“She will,” Jiang Ciyi said with certainty, her gaze fixed ahead. “She’ll come.”
“Then she’s planning to be late?” Cheng Xing asked.
Jiang Ciyi paused. “She’ll show up right on time.”
Because Lu Qi was confident that Cheng Xing wouldn’t go too far.
After all, the Cheng and Lu families had business ties, and it wasn’t clear who needed whom more.
But Lu Qi had forgotten that the Cheng Xing of today was no longer the same as before. She was someone capable of slapping her in the face.
Meanwhile, on another street near Qingyu High School, a gray luxury car was parked discreetly by the roadside. Su Manchun sat in the passenger seat, her voice cold. “Do you really have to go?”
“If I don’t, how will I know what kind of show she’s putting on?” Lu Qi lit a cigarette inside the car, exhaling a ring of smoke. Su Manchun frowned almost imperceptibly, wanting to roll down the window.
But the car wasn’t on, so the window wouldn’t budge.
“Smoking in a confined space? You’ll choke.” Su Manchun said sharply.
“I’ve lived long enough.” Lu Qi replied nonchalantly.
Her careless attitude only irritated Su Manchun further. Things hadn’t gone as planned since her return to the country.
In hindsight, coming back seemed like a foolish decision.
But she would never admit to making a mistake.
To her, marrying Cheng Xing was important.
But so was her future.
She had held onto the memory of Cheng Xing leaving her two billion in her past life, but now Cheng Xing didn’t even acknowledge it.
And she was so good to that disabled wife of hers.
If Cheng Xing truly ended up with that woman, where would that leave Su Manchun?
Wouldn’t all her efforts be for nothing?
No way.
Su Manchun refused to let that happen.
Lu Qi, meanwhile, was acting like a clueless NPC, practically pushing Cheng Xing and Jiang Ciyi closer together.
Su Manchun felt like she’d teamed up with an idiot, but she had no choice—Lu Qi was still the second daughter of the Lu family.
At the very least, she was a fallback option.
If Cheng Xing truly was different this time around, Su Manchun could still settle for Lu Qi, the reckless jerk.
Lu Qi might be a mess, but she wasn’t bad to Su Manchun most of the time. She didn’t obey her every word like Cheng Xing had, but she rarely contradicted her either.
Looking back, Su Manchun realized how foolish she’d been in her past life. She thought that studying abroad would elevate her status in her father’s eyes and allow her to shine in a new arena. But reality had slapped her hard.
She should have stayed in the country. Even if Cheng Xing was a failure, he was devoted to her. She could have manipulated him into fighting for control of the Cheng Group, securing it for herself. That would’ve been far better than struggling in a new field.
No amount of education could outweigh her background.
Back then, she thought she could have it all. Even if she went abroad to study, Cheng Xing would wait for her.
But she hadn’t expected…
In this life, Su Manchun wanted to strategize and control everything.
But she hadn’t accounted for Lu Qi, her incompetent ally, constantly provoking Cheng Xing.
Su Manchun had subtly suggested that Lu Qi join the company and work under Lu Xishi to gain some real power.
Lu Qi, however, laughed it off. “You think Lu Xishi’s a pushover? Getting anything from her is like climbing to the heavens.”
“You’re fine just living off the family’s allowance?” Su Manchun asked.
Lu Qi paused, then chuckled. “I’m an adopted daughter, you know that, right?”
Su Manchun frowned. “But Lu Xishi treats you well. So does your mother.”
“It’s all fake,” Lu Qi said with a smirk, her tone dripping with disdain. “If they didn’t act that way, how could they show off their kindness?”
“Hypocrites.” Lu Qi added.
Su Manchun fell silent.
But Lu Qi was clearly self-destructing.
At a critical moment in the Cheng-Lu family partnership, she insisted on clashing with Cheng Xing.
Last time, Lu Xishi had even made concessions to the Cheng family for her sake, yet Lu Qi kept stirring up trouble.
Sometimes, patience brings peace.
But Lu Qi wouldn’t listen.
Her cigarette burned out, and the car filled with smoke. Su Manchun coughed several times before Lu Qi finally started the car and opened the window.
The smoke drifted out, mingling with the chilly night air.
Lu Qi tossed the cigarette butt out, its ember flickering faintly.
“Be patient? I’ve been patient enough in the Lu family,” Lu Qi said with a mocking smile. “They won’t do anything to me anyway.”
At worst, Lu Xishi would ignore her or send her abroad again, like after high school.
The smoke cleared, and Lu Qi stepped on the gas, turning the corner.
“Lu Qi!” Su Manchun said. “Do you really have to do this?”
“What else? Act like a coward?” Lu Qi said flippantly. “Or are you scared I’ll embarrass your precious crush?”
“She’s not even going to marry you,” Lu Qi taunted. “You still think you’re the Su Manchun who could make her do anything? Su Manchun, she doesn’t love you anymore.”
Each word was more cutting than the last.
Su Manchun closed her eyes briefly. “Fine. Drop me off at the next intersection.”
Good advice can’t save someone determined to ruin themselves.
“Afraid she’ll see you with me?” Lu Qi asked. “Or are you scared she’ll find out we’ve already slept together plenty of times?”
In the next moment, Su Manchun slapped Lu Qi across the face.
Lu Qi, still driving, felt half her face go numb.
“I’m warning you,” Su Manchun said sharply. “Don’t ruin my plans, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Lu Qi slammed on the brakes, causing Su Manchun’s body to lurch forward, nearly hitting the dashboard. The seatbelt dug into her, making it hard to breathe, but her anger burned like a fire within.
“Kill me? Or maybe I’ll drag you down to hell with me.” Lu Qi said, her voice low and menacing, her expression dark.
Her tone matched the desolate street perfectly.
“Who knows?” Lu Qi said with a sinister edge. “Su Manchun, don’t pretend to be some lovesick fool. You sure didn’t act like one when you were screaming my name in bed.”
Su Manchun: “…”
“You’re insane.” Su Manchun said.
Lu Qi looked at her, a twisted smile on her face. “You’re just figuring that out?”
Su Manchun: “…”
She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.
Standing in the biting cold wind, her clothes fluttered around her.
“Go by yourself,” Su Manchun said. “I’m not embarrassing myself with you.”
Lu Qi didn’t respond, giving her a long, meaningful look before flooring the gas and speeding off.
Cheng Xing had been waiting for a while. By 9:35, Lu Qi still hadn’t shown up.
“She’s definitely not coming.” Cheng Xing said.
“She will.” Jiang Ciyi said with conviction.
No sooner had she spoken than Lu Qi’s car appeared across the street.
It sped toward them at an alarming rate, showing no signs of slowing, as if it meant to ram their car.
Cheng Xing’s eyes widened, and she immediately started the car.
But Jiang Ciyi, unfazed, grabbed her hand, signaling her to stay put.
As Lu Qi’s car barreled closer, Jiang Ciyi smirked mockingly.
At the last second, Lu Qi’s car swerved right, screeching to a stop just centimeters from theirs.
From Cheng Xing’s perspective in the driver’s seat, it looked like a near-collision.
Through the window, they could see Lu Qi’s face. She flipped them off provocatively, and a silent standoff ensued.
After a long moment, Lu Qi got out, leaning against her car and lighting another cigarette.
Cheng Xing prepared to get out to confront her, but Jiang Ciyi grabbed her arm. “No need to go out.”
“What’s your plan?” Cheng Xing asked, staring at Jiang Ciyi intently.
Jiang Ciyi’s gaze on Lu Qi was complex, but her tone was calm. “Let her stand there and wait. Everyone’s watching her.”
She was the only one under scrutiny.
And Jiang Ciyi refused to be the one watched anymore.
“The more composed and indifferent she acts, the more panicked she is inside.” Jiang Ciyi said.
Cheng Xing paused. “You seem to know her well.”
Soft music played in the car, its gentle, tinkling notes filling the air.
Jiang Ciyi smiled. “In this world, aside from your lover and family, the one who knows you best is always your enemy.”
“Sometimes, your enemy knows you better than your family or lover.”
Cheng Xing understood, her gaze on Lu Qi darkening.
Halfway through her cigarette, Lu Qi’s hand trembled, and ash fell onto her hand, burning her. She flinched but only gave Cheng Xing’s car a cold, sinister look.
Moments later, she stomped out the cigarette, picked up a rock from the ground, and hurled it at Cheng Xing’s car with all her might, venting her frustration.
The luxury car’s windshield merely showed a faint mark.
Cheng Xing asked, “Should we go out?”
“No,” Jiang Ciyi said. “We’re not going out today.”
“Just stalling?” Cheng Xing asked.
Jiang Ciyi shook her head. “Just seeing how strong her psychological defenses are.”
Back then, wasn’t Lu Qi’s favorite thing to do breaking others’ mental barriers?
When Jiang Ciyi was younger, she didn’t understand why Lu Qi never hit or insulted her but instead circled her, staring with those unsettling eyes.
It made her skin crawl.
Now she understood: Lu Qi cared most about others’ gazes.
So her first instinct was to stare others down, making them afraid without doing anything else.
A single look was enough to unnerve someone.
And back then, she succeeded.
Jiang Ciyi went from someone who walked with confidence to someone who couldn’t even lift her head. When teachers called on her in class, she lost her confidence and could no longer stand and answer with the same boldness as before.
Her self-esteem had been completely shattered.
Now, Jiang Ciyi was getting her revenge.
But in a gentler way.
When the first rock failed to break the windshield, Lu Qi picked up another, her initial composure gone.
She could have knocked on the window, but she didn’t.
That would mean admitting defeat.
So she resorted to the most primitive method, throwing rocks at the windshield, leaving only faint marks after four or five tries.
Jiang Ciyi started the car, and the headlights blazed, illuminating Lu Qi and freezing her in place.
In the next moment, Jiang Ciyi rolled down the window, extended her hand, and flipped Lu Qi off.
“Damn it!” Lu Qi’s voice was loud, but Jiang Ciyi ignored her, closing the window.
“Want to ram her?” Jiang Ciyi asked Cheng Xing.
Cheng Xing blinked. “Huh?”
“We should go,” Jiang Ciyi said. “You can’t get through.”
Without hesitation, Cheng Xing started the car and bumped into Lu Qi’s.
The impact was light, and the car’s suspension absorbed most of it, causing only a slight jolt inside.
Lu Qi stood frozen, her expression dark and menacing.
Jiang Ciyi pulled out the dashcam’s memory card, rummaged through the car, and found a business card. She dialed the number on it.
“Hello, is this Miss Lu?” Jiang Ciyi’s tone was calm. “This is Jiang Ciyi. I saw the second Miss Lu at the west gate of Qingyu High School.”
Whatever the other person said, Jiang Ciyi responded coolly, “The second Miss Lu seems drunk. Let’s add each other on WeChat, and I’ll send you a video.”
Soon, the friend request was approved.
Jiang Ciyi added Lu Xishi on WeChat and sent her the video.
The clip was silent and short but clearly showed Lu Qi smashing the windshield like a maniac.
She looked like she was drunk.
Lu Xishi: [I’ll send someone to pick her up. Thank you.]
Jiang Ciyi: [No problem.]
Lu Qi, recovering from her shock at their actions, finally lost it and banged on their windshield.
Both windows rolled down simultaneously, and Cheng Xing and Jiang Ciyi turned to look at her, their gazes calm, as if the earlier collision was an accident.
Before Jiang Ciyi could speak, Cheng Xing said coldly, “The insurance company will contact you.”
Lu Qi: “?”
“Lu Qi,” Jiang Ciyi said, holding up her phone to show Lu Xishi’s WeChat profile.
Lu Qi’s face paled. “What… what are you trying to do?”
“What I do,” Jiang Ciyi said, “depends on what you do.”
“I haven’t done a damn thing!” Lu Qi snapped, clearly agitated.
She had no idea how Jiang Ciyi had gotten Lu Xishi’s WeChat. If Lu Xishi found out about this…
She couldn’t even imagine the consequences.
Lu Qi’s eyes flashed with menace. “Go ahead and tattle!”
Jiang Ciyi typed something on her phone. Seeing it, Lu Qi lunged for the device, but Jiang Ciyi quickly handed it to Cheng Xing, switching to the camera app.
Lu Qi missed the grab, and in her frustration, she reached for Jiang Ciyi’s neck. Cheng Xing suddenly understood Jiang Ciyi’s plan.
She shouted, “What are you doing?”
And recorded the scene.
Lu Qi noticed and let go, but red marks were already visible on Jiang Ciyi’s neck.
“What the hell are you two trying to pull?” Lu Qi’s emotions were unraveling. “You think telling Lu Xishi will solve everything?”
“What happened back then—do you think Lu Xishi doesn’t know?” Lu Qi sneered darkly.
“Of course she knows.” Jiang Ciyi said calmly. “Why else would she have sent you abroad?”
Jiang Ciyi’s gaze seemed to pierce her soul. “But what do you think would happen if this video went viral online?”
“The partnership between the Cheng and Lu families—don’t you need it anymore?!” Lu Qi roared.
Jiang Ciyi smiled faintly. “That depends on how much the Lu family is willing to sacrifice for their second daughter.”
“Or rather, how much is the second Miss Lu worth?” Jiang Ciyi continued. “The Lu family is on the rise, and Lu Xishi has worked tirelessly for years. Do you think this video could ruin it all?”
Lu Qi completely broke down, shouting, “Jiang Ciyi! What do you want?!”
“I can hear you,” Jiang Ciyi said. “You can lower your voice.”
Jiang Ciyi remained calm, effortlessly dismantling Lu Qi’s psychological defenses and backing her into a corner.
Even seated, her presence overwhelmed Lu Qi.
“I want everyone who bullied me alongside you back then to come to me and apologize,” Jiang Ciyi said, looking at her. “You can make that happen, right?”
Lu Qi: “It’s been years since I—”
Jiang Ciyi cut her off. “Lu Qi, you can make it happen.”
“Otherwise, the Lu family will pay a heavy price alongside you,” Jiang Ciyi said coldly. “You’ll become their sacrificial pawn.”
“Ahh!” Lu Qi, furious, kicked the car door.
Jiang Ciyi rolled up the window and let out a soft breath.