After Transmigrating into a Ridiculous Alpha, I Saved My Aloof Omega Wife - Chapter 44

Night, at the villa.

Uncle Liu stepped out of the car with a furrowed brow, clutching several documents in his hand.

A few days ago, the young mistress had instructed him to look into Cheng Jianli’s family matters. At the time, she had only asked him to clarify the relationship between Zhang Siyuan and the Cheng family. But as he dug deeper, he stumbled upon some unusual findings.

The Cheng household consisted of five people: Cheng Jianli, Cheng Tianwei, Zhang Siyuan, Zhang Qiang, and Cheng Jianli’s grandmother.

Cheng Jianli’s mother had passed away early, and Cheng Tianwei had only one daughter, Cheng Jianli. There was nothing particularly noteworthy about that.

However, the situation with Zhang Qiang and Zhang Siyuan’s family was rather peculiar. Zhang Qiang and his wife had married many years ago and moved to the city. Soon after, his wife became pregnant. At the time, the family was extremely poor, and traveling from the countryside to the city cost several hundred yuan, so the Chengs never had the chance to visit them.

Later, when the child was born, for some unknown reason, Zhang Qiang and his wife divorced. Zhang Qiang then moved back to the countryside, bringing with him his half-year-old son, Zhang Siyuan.

Up to this point, things still seemed somewhat normal. But when Uncle Liu incidentally investigated the small clinic where Zhang Qiang’s wife had given birth, he discovered something shocking, the wife had actually given birth to a girl, not a boy.

This revelation left Uncle Liu utterly stunned. He immediately dispatched his subordinates to track down Zhang Qiang’s ex-wife, cautioning them not to alert anyone.

With this in mind, Uncle Liu straightened his attire and walked to Jiang Muyan’s room, knocking lightly. “Young Mistress, are you busy right now?”

Jiang Muyan opened the door. She was dressed in her beige school uniform, holding a half-eaten bowl of strawberries. “Uncle Liu, what’s the matter?”

Uncle Liu glanced inside and saw Cheng Jianli sitting on the sofa, reading a book. Lowering his voice, he said, “The matter you asked me to investigate earlier, I’ve made some progress.”

Jiang Muyan asked, “Is it about Teacher Cheng?”

Back when Cheng Jianli had mentioned that Zhang Siyuan knew they weren’t blood-related when he confessed, Jiang Muyan had found it suspicious and enlisted Uncle Liu’s help to investigate.

Moreover, when she first arrived in this world, the system had told her that Zhang Siyuan and Cheng Jianli were the male and female leads. The author would never make blood-related characters the protagonists.

There had to be something strange going on.

Besides, this was a very melodramatic, old-school angst novel. If Jiang Muyan wanted to fully understand the relationship between Zhang Siyuan and Cheng Jianli, she had to uncover the clues herself.

Jiang Muyan turned to Cheng Jianli and said, “Teacher Cheng, Uncle Liu and I need to go downstairs for a bit. You stay here for a while.”

Cheng Jianli gave a soft “Mm” and continued reading on the sofa.

As they descended the stairs, Uncle Liu recounted his findings to Jiang Muyan. After listening, she frowned and asked, “Uncle Liu, is all this information accurate?”

Uncle Liu nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Muyan had already braced herself for this. “So Zhang Siyuan really isn’t his father’s biological son. I always wondered why, even though he and Cheng Jianli are cousins, they don’t resemble each other at all.”

Uncle Liu said, “According to the clinic’s records, Zhang Qiang’s wife, Wang Ming, gave birth to a baby girl back then. But somehow, it later turned into a boy, the current Zhang Siyuan.”

Jiang Muyan froze. “A baby girl?!”

“Yes, I’ve already sent someone to investigate Wang Ming’s whereabouts, but she disappeared after divorcing Zhang Qiang,” Uncle Liu said. “Miss, that area was a remote backwater where information didn’t circulate well in the past. Zhang Qiang favored sons over daughters and always wanted a boy. Could it be because of this…”

Jiang Muyan interrupted, “Wait, Uncle Liu, there’s another strange detail.”

Uncle Liu: “Please go ahead, Miss.”

“Teacher Cheng told me earlier that Zhang Siyuan’s family was actually quite wealthy,” Jiang Muyan said. “But if Teacher Cheng and he are relatives, why is there such a wealth gap?”

Uncle Liu replied, “I’ve looked into that too.”

He then produced another document: “I now suspect that Zhang Qiang likely sold his newborn daughter for a large sum of money, then used it to buy Zhang Siyuan.”

“This happened over a decade ago. The value of money was completely different back then, even a few hundred yuan meant something entirely different.”

Jiang Muyan clenched her fists: “He sold his own daughter?”

Uncle Liu nodded: “The internet and information networks were underdeveloped at that time. After Zhang Qiang and Wang Ming moved to the city, no one except the couple knew their child’s gender. With Wang Ming disappearing after the divorce, Zhang Qiang could rest easy all these years.”

“The Chairman’s friend works at the police station covering Cheng Jianli’s hometown district. They recently arrested a child trafficker involved in three cases,” Uncle Liu continued. “One of them was Zhang Qiang selling his child.”

Jiang Muyan could hardly believe her ears.

What kind of black-hearted monster would sell his own newborn daughter just to buy an unrelated son?!

“Uncle Liu, if Zhang Qiang really sold his child,” Jiang Muyan said gravely, “he must go to prison.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already reported it to the police,” Uncle Liu assured. “They’ll arrest Zhang Qiang and make him confess everything.”

Jiang Muyan nodded. “I’ll explain this to Teacher Cheng myself.”

Uncle Liu agreed, then left the stairwell as Jiang Muyan returned to her room with heavy thoughts.

Noticing her solemn expression, Cheng Jianli asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Muyan sat beside her, visibly distressed. “Teacher Cheng, do people really exist who value sons over daughters so much they’d abandon their own flesh and blood just for a boy?”

Cheng Jianli, puzzled by the sudden question, replied, “Perhaps they do.”

“But that’s his own daughter! How could anyone discard her?!” Jiang Muyan’s blood boiled at the thought of Zhang Qiang selling his newborn to acquire Zhang Siyuan. “That kind of beast doesn’t deserve to be called human!”

Sensing something amiss, Cheng Jianli asked gently, “What happened?”

Jiang Muyan revealed everything: “Zhang Siyuan isn’t related to your family at all. He was a purchased child.”

Though already aware they shared no blood relation, Cheng Jianli still slightly furrowed her brows at this confirmation, her pale fingers intertwining tightly.

Jiang Muyan continued, “Your uncle Zhang Qiang actually had a daughter back then, but he sold her immediately to get a son, Zhang Siyuan.”

Cheng Jianli’s gaze faltered. “A daughter? How do you know this?”

Jiang Muyan replied, “Uncle Liu investigated your rural hometown. Zhang Qiang sold your newborn cousin and made a fortune from it. Shortly after, Zhang Siyuan was brought home.”

“Zhang Siyuan has known all along that you’re not blood-related. No wonder he confessed to you,” Jiang Muyan said, her heart burning with anger. “That whole family is trash!”

Cheng Jianli’s eyes grew distant. “You mean… she was sold right after birth?”

Jiang Muyan studied Cheng Jianli’s calm expression masking hidden sorrow. Her heart ached the weight of “preferring sons over daughters” had crushed Cheng Jianli for far too long.

All these years, Cheng Jianli had studied desperately just to escape that place. What would have become of her if she hadn’t tested into the city’s high school?

Nodding, Jiang Muyan comforted her tenderly, “Teacher Cheng, don’t be sad…”

“No wonder Zhang Siyuan was so confident when he confessed,” Cheng Jianli murmured softly, her vision blurred as if looking through frosted glass. “So everyone knew.”

“Knew what?” Jiang Muyan thought this couldn’t get more absurd, how could her wife’s family background be so tragic!

“That Zhang Siyuan wasn’t biologically related,” Cheng Jianli explained. “When the family made me work in the factory to buy Zhang Siyuan a house, it was actually for a marital home. They planned for me to marry him when we came of age.”

“You two married?!” Jiang Muyan shot to her feet, unable to process this.

Zhang Siyuan’s confession had been family-sanctioned all along.

Jiang Muyan was appalled. “But you’re still nominally cousins!”

“Cousins without any blood relation. Zhang Siyuan wasn’t even on my household registry,” Cheng Jianli said. “It was my father’s idea.”

Furious, Jiang Muyan retorted, “Even without shared registration, what would the neighbors think?! Your father and uncle are rotten to the core, how can their legal and moral awareness be so shallow?”

After her outburst, Jiang Muyan’s head buzzed. Cheng Tianwei and Zhang Qiang’s obsession with preserving their so-called “family line” was horrifying.

Cheng Jianli lowered her eyes. “Exactly. That’s why I left.”

Today had brought too many revelations, Zhang Siyuan’s true origins, her aunt having given birth to a girl, that baby girl being sold immediately.

How could human hearts be so cruel.

Cheng Jianli asked quietly, “You’re certain about my uncle selling his child?”

Jiang Muyan nodded firmly. “Yes. Uncle Liu already reported it to the police.”

“Can he be imprisoned for it?”

“Absolutely!” Jiang Muyan declared. “It’s a serious crime!”

Cheng Jianli gave a slight nod and fell silent.

The room grew quiet as Cheng Jianli stared at the floor. Jiang Muyan asked anxiously, “Teacher Cheng, are you okay?”

Cheng Jianli murmured an acknowledgment, her fingers icy cold.

Jiang Muyan said, “What’s wrong with being a girl? You’re so good at studying, you’re way more promising than Zhang Siyuan. He’s just a hopeless loser who can’t be helped. Remember when he framed you for cheating? Now he’s got a disciplinary record to show for it.”

“Teacher Cheng, don’t overthink it. You’re truly, truly outstanding, the most remarkable person I’ve ever met,” Jiang Muyan continued, noticing Cheng Jianli’s silence and sensing her distress. She stayed to comfort her, “Look, you’re the top student in your grade! You’ll definitely get into the best university someday. That’ll show them!”

Having escaped from a family that favored sons over daughters, and now learning that her similarly suffering sister had been sold off and forced to marry her so-called “cousin” it was all too heavy, too painful for anyone to bear.

Cheng Jianli had endured so much alone over the years, and she still hadn’t fully processed it all.

Hearing Jiang Muyan’s words, Cheng Jianli remained silent. Jiang Muyan scratched her head and asked cautiously, “Teacher Cheng, are you unhappy?”

Cheng Jianli glanced up at her. For some reason, whenever she saw Jiang Muyan’s pure, guileless face, the shadows in her heart would lighten a little. She replied softly, “A little, I suppose.”

“Uncle Liu will handle everything for you, don’t worry,” Jiang Muyan reassured her. “I’ll stay here with you, and tomorrow we’ll go to school together.”

Cheng Jianli’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Okay.”

Cheng Jianli’s despondency weighed heavily on Jiang Muyan. Seeing her like this made Jiang Muyan’s heart ache with an indescribable, dull pain that spread relentlessly.

All she wanted was to see Cheng Jianli happy and carefree, never sad.

So Jiang Muyan leaned in closer, trying to cheer her up. “Teacher Cheng…”

Cheng Jianli looked up, lost in thought. “Hmm?”

“Remember when I told you that taking advantage of someone could make you happy?” Jiang Muyan grinned sheepishly, rubbing her head before spreading her arms wide. “Why don’t you take advantage of me, then?”

Cheng Jianli met her gaze with moist eyes, then smiled faintly. “Why would I take advantage of you?”

The moment Jiang Muyan saw her smile, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Shyly, she said, “As long as it makes you happy, I don’t care what you do to me. Even if you exploit me.”

Cheng Jianli murmured, “I’m not some capitalist. Why would I exploit you?”

“Because I hate seeing you unhappy,” Jiang Muyan answered honestly. “Teacher Cheng, I want you to be happy every single day.”

Hearing this, the icy walls around Cheng Jianli’s heart built by her family began to thaw. She asked, “When did you ask Uncle Liu to investigate?”

Jiang Muyan replied earnestly, “Back when I bought you that dress. Remember when we went shopping and Zhang Siyuan sent you that text? That’s when I asked Uncle Liu to look into it.”

So it had been that long ago…

Cheng Jianli’s long lashes fluttered slightly.

“Zhang Qiang broke the law, he’ll definitely go to jail,” Jiang Muyan added. “Teacher Cheng, don’t be upset. That scumbag Zhang Siyuan isn’t worthy of you at all. Even if your dad wants you to marry him, I absolutely, absolutely won’t allow it!”

Seeing Jiang Muyan’s resolute expression, Cheng Jianli curled her lips into a gentle smile. “Mm, I know.”

Jiang Muyan spread her arms wide again, determined to lift Cheng Jianli’s spirits. “If you’re still feeling down, I can give you a big hug!”

Cheng Jianli smiled faintly, “A hug? Would that be taking advantage of you?”

Jiang Muyan blushed and replied, “Of course it would.”

Cheng Jianli said, “Then forget it. I don’t want to end up in jail.”

Jiang Muyan pouted, “Why forget it? I’ve had my arms raised for so long. ”

Before she could finish, Cheng Jianli suddenly turned, leaned in, and gently embraced her.

Jiang Muyan froze, feeling Cheng Jianli’s body as light as a feather against her, her voice as soft as cotton.

Resting her forehead on Jiang Muyan’s shoulder, she murmured, “Thank you, Jiang Muyan.”

Hearing this, Jiang Muyan’s heart instantly bubbled with innocent pink excitement.

Wait… did her wife just… hug her first?!

So exciting!!!

Just as Jiang Muyan was about to hug her back, Cheng Jianli gently added, “To thank you, why don’t you do a few extra math papers tonight? I’ll grade them for you.”

Jiang Muyan: “…?”

Cheng Jianli lifted her head, a faint smirk curling her lips. “With me by your side, I’m sure you can finish them, right?”

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