Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 21.1

Zhang Yuning felt as though she were trapped in a chaotic, otherworldly haze. A disorienting sensation of her soul floating free, the world around her reduced to a blur of indistinct shapes. It made her wonder if she had already died.

 

Once again, an icy chill gripped her, but after a brief, bone-deep cold, something scorching pressed against her. It reminded her of the faint warmth of a flickering flame during the freezing winters of her childhood, when she had nowhere else to seek shelter. The instinct to survive drove her to reach for that heat, no matter the cost.

 

This bout of cold didn’t last long, and soon, her body returned to normal. Yet the source of that warmth remained entangled with her. Zhang Yuning tried to lift her heavy eyelids to see who it was, but exhaustion weighed her down. Her limbs felt weak, barely able to muster the strength for an embrace. As her consciousness wavered, she succumbed to the unknown depths of this strange encounter.

 

She had no idea how much time had passed before she finally awoke from the endless dream. Her head throbbed as she forced her eyes open, and when she tried to move her right arm, she found someone nestled in the crook of it. Rubbing her eyes with her left hand, she blinked groggily, still half-lost in a daze. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room.

 

Then, memories flooded back. Images from last night flashing through her mind. She remembered Chi Nian preparing a Western-style dinner, the moon-shaped lamp casting a candlelit glow over the table. The steak had been bland, and Chi Nian had seemed sorrowful. After taking just a sip of wine, Zhang Yuning had felt herself growing dizzy before being helped to bed.

 

As the pieces fell into place, rationality slowly returned. She squinted, then fully opened her eyes, recalling everything that had happened.

 

Chi Nian had injected her with something. No, she had also drugged the wine.

 

Zhang Yuning turned her head toward the bar counter, still untouched from the night before. The moon lamp spun quietly on its own, the half-eaten steak lay abandoned on the plate, and the two wine glasses stood there, each holding different amounts of leftover wine.

 

She yanked her right arm free, not caring that Chi Nian was still asleep beside her. All she wanted was to find the needle mark to confirm Chi Nian’s betrayal and expose her deceit.

 

But Chi Nian woke up, her gaze steady and unruffled as she watched Zhang Yuning inspect her arm.

 

Strangely, her skin was smooth and unblemished. No trace of a needle prick. Zhang Yuning distinctly remembered the sting of the injection in the inner crook of her elbow. How could there not even be a red mark?

 

“What are you looking for?” Chi Nian sat up, the blanket slipping to reveal her bare upper body once again. She propped herself up with folded arms, her gaze drifting downward still unclothed. Zhang Yuning immediately shut her eyes, trying to recall other details. Unlike the first time, had anything even happened?

 

She wasn’t even sure. It was like another memory-erased entanglement.

 

No! Zhang Yuning’s thoughts were derailed again by Chi Nian. She had been injected! Who cared if Chi Nian was dressed or not, or whether they had slept together again? Fury surged through her at the realization of being manipulated. Without hesitation, Zhang Yuning reached out and grabbed Chi Nian’s throat not with full force, but tight enough to leave room for speech.

 

“What did you inject me with?” Zhang Yuning could feel the ferocity in her own expression, but Chi Nian’s gaze softened slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile as she met her eyes without flinching.

 

Seeing her smirk so carelessly, Zhang Yuning’s blood boiled. She tightened her grip, teeth clenched. “What are you laughing at?! Do you really think I won’t do anything to you?”

 

Zhang Yuning could have strangled Chi Nian to death if she just held on a little longer, but Chi Nian didn’t struggle at all. Instead, her smile faded, her eyes reddened as if on the verge of tears, filled with pain as though she had endured endless suffering.

 

Seeing her like this, Zhang Yuning’s heart ached, and she angrily loosened her grip. “Chi Nian, say something!”

 

Chi Nian coughed several times, her already pale complexion now even more sickly. She gasped for air, trying to ease the discomfort from the choking, but quickly regained her composure. Chi Nian was like a dried-up well. No ripples, no disturbance. Nothing in the world could affect her; no splash could be made.

 

“These are all just your own delusions,” Chi Nian sneered. “You can’t even tell reality from dreams.”

 

“My delusions? Wasn’t it you who drugged the wine and made me pass out?”

 

“Do you have any proof that I drugged it?”

 

Zhang Yuning shook her head in frustration. She got up and brought over the wineglass. “Drink it.” She didn’t believe Chi Nian would dare. If the wine wasn’t drugged, she wouldn’t have lost consciousness after just one sip. It was impossible.

 

Chi Nian lowered her gaze with a faint smile, took the glass, and downed it in one go. Zhang Yuning’s expression changed instantly. She stared at Chi Nian. After drinking, she had blacked out within minutes, yet time passed second by second, and Chi Nian remained completely unaffected.

 

Chi Nian stood up and began dressing, finally slipping into the evening gown that had been hanging by the balcony. Her composed movements made last night’s unbelievable events seem like a dream. What kind of game was she playing?

 

“Don’t be resentful, and don’t trust what you think you know. What you see, think, or guess none of it is necessarily true.” Chi Nian adjusted the strap of her dress with a bewitching grace, her lips curling into an unprecedented allure.

 

Furious, Zhang Yuning rummaged through the trash for the syringe. Everything real or fake felt deliberately staged. Yet Chi Nian calmly went to do her makeup, leaving Zhang Yuning alone in confusion.

 

Was it another dream? But the realism of this dream was too intense.

 

She smacked her forehead, trying hard to recall, but her mind went blank. No memory of the details remained. If this was all just a dream, what had happened after they finished dinner?

 

She couldn’t remember at all. Zhang Yuning walked to the bar counter, watching the swirling reflections of the lights, her emotions slowly stabilizing. Once she calmed down, she tidied the table. By then, Chi Nian had finished getting ready and emerged with her purse.

 

“The rain’s stopped. We can go out now.” Chi Nian fluttered like a dazzling butterfly, a stark contrast to her usual aloofness at home.

 

Zhang Yuning pondered. As long as they went out, there would be opportunities. Staying cooped up at home left her with no openings. She noticed there were no red marks on Chi Nian’s neck from the choking earlier. Had she covered them with makeup? Her makeup was heavier today, but it didn’t diminish her beauty.

 

The usual fragility was gone now. She must be going out to socialize again.

 

What a dazzling socialite.

 

Zhang Yuning smiled. “Alright, let me change.” Her emotions shifted effortlessly with someone like Chi Nian, she had no choice.

 

Who would Chi Nian meet this time? Where would she go? After staying at her place for over ten days, it was time to leave. This period had been joyful, but such fleeting happiness might come at a steep price.

 

When changing clothes, Zhang Yuning couldn’t help but glance at the crook of her arm. There were indeed no needle marks. This was the most bizarre aspect, second only to the strangeness of Chi Nian’s car accident.

 

Zhang Yuning put on a beige trench coat and flat denim shoes, with a small pistol tucked into her belt at her waist for self-defense, just in case. Before leaving the study, she glanced at the desk, quickly opened the drawer, and casually grabbed a tiny listening device, clutching it in her palm.

 

She walked out nonchalantly. Chi Nian was waiting, just like the last time they went out. The luxury car, hidden away for so many days, could finally be driven out again.

 

This time, however, the meeting place Chi Nian had chosen was Huazhong Hotel, located in a high-end commercial district where crowds were sparse on weekdays. It was already ten in the morning, and by the time they arrived, it would likely be lunchtime. Would they have to entertain a whole table of people?

 

While driving, Zhang Yuning suddenly remembered an entry in Chi Nian’s black notebook that seemed to match today’s date. Beside the date was the word “injury.” It was hard to decipher what it meant. Both notebooks appeared to record dates and significant events, but their contents were perplexing.

 

When they arrived at the parking lot, hotel staff came out to greet them in advance. Compared to the manor from last time, Huazhong Hotel seemed a bit low-end. The choice of meeting place alone spoke volumes about a person’s status.

 

This time, Chi Nian refused to use Zhang Yuning’s dedicated phone. Fortunately, she had a backup plan and had hidden the listening device at the bottom of Chi Nian’s bag. The device was as small as a mosquito and had limited range, but within ten meters, it could pick up conversations clearly.

 

As expected, she would probably be left outside again, but this time, she was determined to see who Chi Nian was meeting.

 

Standing in the elevator, Chi Nian exuded the same noble, imposing aura as before, her smile radiant. Once she donned her mask, the distance between them felt like an abyss, bottomless and unfathomable.

 

Zhang Yuning didn’t like this version of Chi Nian, yet she had to admit that this was the persona that matched her identity.

 

Before they reached the private dining room, Chi Nian suddenly hooked her arm and said, “You’ll sit next to me later.”

 

“Is that appropriate?” Zhang Yuning asked in surprise.

 

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

 

“You weren’t like this last time.”

 

“This time is different. Last time was last time. This time, you’re not allowed to leave my side for even a moment.” There was a protective edge to Chi Nian’s tone, which Zhang Yuning found odd. Who was the bodyguard here?

 

As she moved closer, she noticed faint finger marks on Chi Nian’s neck. She had used a lot of force that morning. It must have hurt. Zhang Yuning felt a pang of guilt. On one hand, she regretted her impulsive actions, but on the other, she believed she hadn’t done anything wrong. If someone violated her, she had every right to retaliate.

 

Contradictory emotions always made life harder. Why should she care? Yet, it seemed she could no longer control it.

 

What unsettled her the most was Chi Nian’s reaction. She hadn’t uttered a single word of reproach, acting as if nothing had happened. She hadn’t even gotten angry. After finishing that glass of red wine, she never brought it up again.

 

Why would Chi Nian tolerate someone like her so meekly? Her capacity for forbearance surpassed that of ordinary people. Whether it was verbal jabs or physical provocations, Zhang Yuning had done it all, yet Chi Nian simply brushed it off, never holding a grudge. Why was she like this?

 

The listening device had been a waste. Chi Nian never played by the rules, always catching Zhang Yuning off guard. Her actions were impossible to predict, and unexpected situations arose without warning.

 

Arriving at the private room entrance, two waiters bowed and opened the door for Chi Nian. Zhang Yu’ning had expected some grand spectacle awaiting them, but instead, she found a large round table inside, with only a balding old man seated there.

 

Upon seeing Chi Nian, he stood up respectfully, his expression tinged with fear as if he were facing not a beautiful woman, but a man-eating beast. If Chi Nian truly was cunning and ruthless, then no one could be her match. Even when putting on an act, she was flawless in her performance.

 

In this world, truth and deception were often indistinguishable. Perhaps the mask Chi Nian wore wasn’t a mask at all, but simply one facet of her multifaceted personality.

 

“Dr. Zhong, it’s good to see you,” Chi Nian stepped forward, extending her hand. The old man bowed slightly as he shook it. “You flatter me, Miss Chi.”

 

Zhang Yu’ning stood behind Chi Nian, studying the old man, and immediately recognized him as Zhong Ming, a world-renowned physicist. The name “Dr. Zhong” was globally celebrated. Countless nations had tried to poach him, yet none had succeeded. He had once declared that he would remain loyal to the Chi family for life, living and dying as one of them. Rumor had it he owed a debt of gratitude to Chi Nian’s grandfather and was here to repay it.

 

“Please, have a seat,” Zhong Ming said with a beaming smile, though his true intentions remained unclear.

 

Chi Nian glanced at Zhang Yu’ning and said, “You sit too.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“And this is?”

 

Zhang Yu’ning stayed silent, but Chi Nian’s lips curled slightly as she answered, “She’s one of us. No need to worry, Dr. Zhong.”

 

One of us? Why didn’t she just say she was a bodyguard? Anyone could tell at a glance, given Zhang Yu’ning’s stern demeanor, vigilant expression, and no-nonsense attire. She was clearly Chi Nian’s protector.

 

“Ah, one of us.” He seemed skeptical but didn’t press further.

 

The private room wasn’t on a high floor. Only the third story making pedestrians below clearly visible. Forget security and surveillance; danger could strike at any moment. If someone had planned an ambush, or if Chi Nian’s whereabouts had been exposed, this location made her an easy target.

 

The room was a suite, complete with a private bathroom and a dedicated serving passage. The round table, meant for ten, was laden with untouched dishes. Zhang Yu’ning had no appetite and wasn’t accustomed to sitting through formal dinners like this.

 

“I should probably stand,” she suggested, attempting to rise, but Chi Nian pressed a hand on hers. “Sit when I tell you to sit.”

 

“I’m worried I’ll disrupt your conversation with Dr. Zhong.”

 

“Just stay quiet and don’t move, and you won’t be a problem.” Chi Nian always turned domineering in public, and Zhang Yu’ning couldn’t understand why she was acting out of character again today.

 

She would have preferred stepping aside to investigate Zhong Ming. Checking if he had made any major headlines or breakthroughs recently, whether he was working on the same research topic as the person they’d met earlier. Piecing things together step by step might have revealed Chi Nian’s true intentions.

 

But she had no choice but to obey. Otherwise, she really would disrupt Chi Nian’s agenda.

 

For some reason, an awkward silence lingered between the two until a waiter served tea. Chi Nian poured a cup for Zhong Ming herself and asked, “How was your daughter’s fourth cosmetic surgery? Did it go well?”

 

Cosmetic surgery?? Zhang Yu’ning latched onto the key detail. It sounded like small talk, but she knew it was anything but a casual opener.

 

“Thank you for your concern, Miss Chi. It went smoothly, but she’ll need two more procedures to fully recover.”

 

Chi Nian picked up her teacup, inhaled its aroma without drinking, and maintained her official smile: “The third payment has been transferred to your account.”

 

“Third payment? Could it be?”

 

“Indeed, it was all me.”

 

Zhong Ming hurriedly stood up, even seeming ready to kneel, but Chi Nian waved her hand dismissively. “No need for that. I did transfer three payments for your daughter’s surgery, but the fraudulent accounts you manipulated are also in my hands.”

 

“Miss Chi!” He suddenly dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his weathered face.

 

Zhang Yuning had had enough. She began searching for information on Zhong Ming, vaguely recalling his name from previous data retrievals, though she hadn’t committed it to memory. Flipping through the database, she discovered that Zhong Ming’s wife had squandered their family fortune on drugs and had died in an accident she caused, leaving their daughter severely burned and in need of multiple skin grafts and cosmetic surgeries.

 

The tragedy had nearly bankrupted him. As the head of the research department at Chishang Group, he could easily siphon millions into his own pockets with a few accounting tricks. The evidence of his embezzlement was now in Chi Nian’s hands yet, instead of threatening him, she had anonymously continued sending him money for his daughter’s treatment.

 

Realizing this, Zhong Ming broke down. The weight of the revelation left him at a loss. A man of talent and capability, he had long been loyal to the Chi family, yet he had resorted to illegal and despicable acts. Now, Chi Nian had chosen this way to confront him.

 

Unfazed by the kneeling figure, a man of some renown Chi Nian didn’t even glance his way. She sat composed for a long moment before finally speaking. “Get up. What I want isn’t the gold beneath your knees.”

 

“Miss Chi, your mercy toward me. I beg you.”

 

Chi Nian shook her head, raising a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture. The corners of her mouth curled slightly as she leaned forward, studying Zhong Ming. “All I want is your brilliance and your research.”

 

“What could I possibly have that would interest you, Miss Chi?”

 

“I want your life’s work to belong solely to me, Chi Nian. If you agree, sign this contract. Once you do, I’ll take full responsibility for your daughter’s treatment and ensure your family never wants anything again.” She opened a tablet, displaying a pre-drafted electronic contract.

 

Zhong Ming seemed stunned. All his research legally belonged to Chishang Group under his previous contract, but Chi Nian now had the power to nullify that “indentured servitude” and draft a new agreement, one even more restrictive. Yet, at this point in his life, he had no other choice.

 

Only then did Zhang Yuning understand: Chi Nian was wielding both kindness and leverage. Rumor had it that Zhong Ming’s team was on the verge of breakthroughs in scientific fields once deemed impossible. Success would have a monumental impact on humanity. His research was wealth beyond measure, enough to rival nations.

 

“You have five minutes to decide.” Chi Nian waited leisurely, glancing at her watch before fixing her gaze on the door, staring intently.

 

Zhang Yuning followed her line of sight but saw nothing. The door remained shut. Yet, two minutes later, a knock sounded. Without hesitation, Chi Nian called, “Enter!”

 

Several men filed in one after another. Zhang Yuning tensed, her mind instantly cross-referencing their faces with her database, identifying each based on the data she had personally processed.

 

Her reaction was swift, her memory formidable. Once key details were retrieved, they were rarely forgotten. The men bowed to Chi Nian as they entered, their demeanor a mix of deference and unease.

 

How could they not be afraid? Zhong Ming was embezzling by cooking the books, others had lost money gambling or gotten hooked on drugs, some had committed bigamy by starting second families, and others had served two masters, violating commercial laws. These people were scattered across different R&D bases, all accomplished and respectable figures.

 

How could Chi Nian, a young lady from a wealthy family, be so concerned about R&D personnel? Meeting so many at once. Was she planning to expose herself?

 

Seven people, a full table. Zhang Yuning felt the urge to stand again. Who knew what kind of people these were? Dressed impeccably, yet each had their own stains. When someone holds your secrets, you naturally grovel but who’s to say they wouldn’t hold a grudge and scheme behind your back?

 

Sitting limited her movements, making it hard to oversee the situation. Zhang Yuning leaned close to Chi Nian’s ear and whispered, “I’ll stand to the side. With so many people, it’s easier to observe from there.”

 

“No, stay seated.”

 

“Why?”

 

“For safety.” Chi Nian’s gaze swept across the room, her silence leaving everyone else too afraid to speak. Perhaps they were all shocked to see each other at the door, never expecting a group summons. Those who came here had likely guessed the reason, and now they were drowning in shame.

 

How could sitting protect her safety? Yet Zhang Yuning couldn’t shake the feeling that Chi Nian was actually worried about her safety.

 

Chi Nian’s tactics were always the same outwardly cordial, but hiding a knife behind her smile for each person. At the negotiation table, she was poised and graceful, handling every interaction with effortless ease.

 

More people meant more trouble and greater risks. Zhang Yuning didn’t dare let her guard down. A waiter entered to add dishes, but the server carrying the soup was suddenly knocked over by a man. The scalding broth spilled out. Zhang Yuning sprang up, her hand instinctively moving to her waist, only to see the waiter charging toward Chi Nian, reaching for her bag.

 

Zhang Yuning grabbed his head and slammed it onto the table, then yanked him back by the hair and smashed him into the wall. The room erupted into chaos, but Chi Nian remained seated, utterly composed, her calm eyes scanning everyone.

 

As the waiter crumpled, the man to Zhang Yuning’s left seized the moment to lunge at Chi Nian. She pivoted and delivered a sweeping kick, her long leg sending him crashing to the floor.

 

“Don’t move again!” Zhang Yuning barked, pressing a gun to the man’s neck. The others exchanged uneasy glances.

 

The fallen waiter and the assailant seemed to be in cahoots. Suddenly, the waiter pulled a fruit knife from his jacket and rushed Chi Nian. Zhang Yuning tried to intervene, but another man grabbed her arm. Seeing Chi Nian in danger, she struck his shoulder hard, breaking free but she was still a step away. In desperation, Zhang Yuning reached out and caught the blade barehanded.

 

Crimson blood seeped between her fingers. She kicked the attacker between the legs, twisted the knife, and stabbed back, snapping his finger bones. He howled in pain, dropping the blade.

 

“Xiao Zhang!!” Chi Nian shouted, horrified, cradling Zhang Yuning’s injured hand as the room descended into further chaos. Suddenly, the door burst open. A squad of police stormed in, pinning down the two assailants.

 

Mo Lindi, clad in her police uniform, stood tall in knee-high boots, her commanding presence undeniable. A gun and baton hung at her waist, her police cap shading her sharp, hunter-like eyes as they swept over the scene.

 

“Take them all away,” she ordered calmly, her voice laced with an unyielding authority.