Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 22

Just as Zhang Yuning had suspected, Chi Nian held secrets beyond ordinary imagination. If today’s incident had been leaked to her in advance, it would make perfect sense. Yet Chi Nian hadn’t reinforced her security and had remained coldly indifferent throughout. If Zhang Yuning hadn’t been injured, Chi Nian might not have even batted an eye.

 

So, the disregard for the trending scandal, the two petty thieves downstairs, and even Zhang Yuning’s own intentions had all been within Chi Nian’s grasp?

 

She refused to believe anyone in this world could truly see into another’s mind. Zhang Yuning was more inclined to think that Chi Nian was simply skilled in psychological manipulation. A beauty playing the game, every step a trap.

 

But if Chi Nian had already detected her disloyalty, why keep her by her side?

 

Interesting. Were the two of them going to engage in a battle of wits, each hiding countless schemes? Zhang Yuning was genuinely curious. What about her was worth Chi Nian’s attention? She decided that, no matter what, even without explicit instructions, she would meet with Third Miss Xiao Changying.

 

She had already mentioned this in her email to Lan Chengjin, hoping the Third Miss would grant permission. At the very least, it might clear up some doubts.

 

Zhang Yuning forced a smile, though irritation simmered inside. Being held by Chi Nian’s arm while maintaining a pleasant expression was grating. “I saw the trending news and thought you’d take some action. How does that translate to me wanting you exposed?”

 

“I’m not telling you this to make you admit anything.”

 

“Think whatever you want. You could always fire me.”

 

Chi Nian stopped walking and slowly turned her head, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “Giving up after just half a month?”

 

“I don’t see that you’re particularly satisfied with me either.”

 

“Are you complaining about the lack of pay?”

 

Zhang Yuning’s brows furrowed. So now they are going to settle accounts? Fine. She might as well drop all pretenses; employer and bodyguard, roles clearly defined.

 

“You really haven’t paid me.”

 

“How much do you want?” Chi Nian asked.

 

For some reason, hearing Chi Nian say that only deepened Zhang Yuning’s frustration. She had never cared much about money. She could earn what she needed. Though she had once brought up the issue of pay in her entanglement with Chi Nian, now that money was on the table, it felt oddly sensitive.

 

“A million.”

 

A million Liu Yuan. What was that to Chi Nian? She was extravagantly generous, having casually spent tens of millions on Zhong Ming. As someone at the pinnacle of wealth, she should have agreed without hesitation. Zhang Yuning had blurted it out without even processing the amount.

 

But Chi Nian only looked at her with amusement. “That figure isn’t appropriate.”

 

“Did I hear wrong? You think a million is too much? Your life and freedom aren’t even worth a million?”

 

“I said it’s inappropriate, not that it’s too much.” With that, Chi Nian walked toward the car, a knowing smile playing on her lips, as if the chaos behind her was of no concern.

 

She left the conversation unfinished and refused to pay. What was she planning? Zhang Yuning followed, only to hear the roar of engines. Turning her head, she saw three black SUVs and a Lincoln parked in front of the police headquarters. Eight men in black suits and sunglasses stepped out. Four positioned themselves on either side of the Lincoln, while the other four approached Chi Nian.

 

The Chi family, no doubt. Zhang Yuning could tell at a glance. Word had reached them, and they had come to retrieve their own.

 

As the four bodyguards closed in on Chi Nian, Zhang Yuning rushed forward, shielding her. The greatest danger lay with the Chi family. These men were undoubtedly sent by Chi Jing.

 

“Move aside!” These men were likely bodyguards as well, exuding an intimidating aura, acting tough under the influence of their master’s authority. Seeing Zhang Yuning blocking Chi Nian, they were about to take action just as Zhang Yuning was itching to vent her frustration.

 

The first suited man who reached out didn’t even touch her before she flipped him over her shoulder. Zhang Yuning moved swiftly; by the time the next man swung a punch, she had already crouched to dodge, delivering a sharp blow to his lower abdomen. A sweeping kick took down the third, and using the bent-over man’s back as leverage, she flipped over and knocked down the fourth.

 

Zhang Yuning was the type who relied on speed and strength, with explosive power. If she didn’t strike decisively while her opponents were off guard, prolonged combat would only exhaust her.

 

In just a few dozen seconds, all four suited men were on the ground. As they scrambled to their feet, Zhang Yuning knew she needed a weapon. She pulled out her butterfly knife from her waist, readying herself for another round.

 

“Do you think the police are dead?” Mo Lindi finally snapped. She had just managed to shoo away the reporters, and now a brawl had broken out right in front of the National Police Headquarters building.

 

Yet the Chi family could come and go as they pleased. It was clear that power and wealth were the keys, bypassing barriers that ordinary people could never hope to overcome.

 

The four suited men stood up, looking disheveled. A stark contrast to their earlier swagger, almost comical. Chi Nian, meanwhile, stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene like it was entertainment.

 

“I love watching her fight to protect me. You saw it too, Officer Mo they barged in first.” Chi Nian made it clear she was siding with Zhang Yuning, almost as if she had deliberately let her teach these men a lesson.

 

Zhang Yuning flexed her wrist, the wound on her palm throbbing, the gauze staining red. She clenched her fist, hiding it from Chi Nian’s view. She didn’t say anything. After all, she had done her duty as a bodyguard. But Chi Nian’s enjoyment of watching her fight was downright baffling.

 

One of the suited bodyguards stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Miss, we’re here to escort you back.”

 

“Did I ask you to come?”

 

The man shook his head.

 

“Did I allow you to lay a hand on my bodyguard?”

 

“I didn’t know she was yours,” the man replied timidly.

 

“So what now? You did attack her.” Chi Nian’s cold, striking expression carried a ruthless edge. Zhang Yuning stood silently, while Mo Lindi chose not to intervene further. This seemed like a family matter for the Chi household.

 

The first man who had attacked clenched his fist, then pulled out a thumb ring from his pocket, sliding it onto his left index finger. Trembling, he glanced at Chi Nian, then at Zhang Yuning. Suddenly, with a forceful twist, he severed his own finger. He dropped to his knees in pain, gritting his teeth without a sound, not even daring to scream.

 

Zhang Yuning narrowed her eyes, unimpressed by the bloody spectacle. This guy was truly ruthless. She glanced at Mo Lindi, who remained unfazed, only raising an eyebrow slightly.

 

Only after witnessing the self-inflicted punishment did Chi Nian finally turn her head, her voice icy. “At least you understand the family rules.”

 

“Please, Miss, get in the car.” The man’s reddened eyes welled with tears likely from the pain yet he still managed to bow and grovel before Chi Nian.

 

Zhang Yuning felt nothing but pity. Those who became bodyguards for the Chi family earned a hefty salary, but life and death, reward and punishment, were all at the whim of their employer. These men had no status, no autonomy. One word or glance from their boss could cost them a hand, or even their life.

 

“Who’s in the car?” Chi Nian still didn’t move.

 

The person was about to answer when she waved her hand dismissively. “Never mind, I know.”

 

Chi Nian didn’t press further. The earlier punishment had felt more like venting frustration on Zhang Yuning’s behalf.

 

“Xiao Zhang, do you need to go to the hospital for your hand?” Sure enough, she had noticed the injury. Zhang Yuning had hidden it well. How had she still spotted it?

 

“Really, it’s fine. I just need to clean and dress it with antiseptic regularly. Don’t forget, I’m a doctor.”

 

“Alright then, Dr. Zhang.” She smirked playfully. Chi Nian was becoming more and more like herself. The remark sounded odd, but ever since her identity had been exposed, she no longer bothered hiding the privileges that came with it.

 

The extravagant entourage, the powerful forces behind her, her ruthless decisiveness, her indifference toward life, the rigid class distinctions. This was the true demeanor of a wealthy heiress.

 

The Chi Nian from the past few days might have just been a fleeting whim.

 

But her momentary amusement could ruin someone’s entire life. The rich could decide another’s fate with a snap of their fingers. Who wouldn’t be intoxicated by such power? Who wouldn’t crave such privilege?

 

No wonder people so easily lost themselves in the face of money and influence.

 

She followed Chi Nian to the Lincoln. The door opened automatically, revealing a lavish interior. A wine cabinet, a dining table, plush seating, and even a butler waiting in attendance. At the far end sat an elegant woman.

 

“Sit beside me.” Chi Nian instructed before taking her seat. Zhang Yuning nodded and sat next to her.

 

Only after boarding did Zhang Yuning get a clear look at the woman’s face. She immediately recognized her as Xi Mengge, the financial director of the Chi Shang Group.

 

Dressed in a dark blue qipao embroidered with ink-wash landscapes, her hair was elegantly coiled into a bun, adorned with a jade hairpin. She looked like a noblewoman straight out of the Republic of China era. There was an ethereal grace in Xi Mengge’s bearing, her delicate features giving her the timeless beauty of a classical painting, her age impossible to guess.

 

Rumored to be born in the 1970s, she had overseen the Chi Shang Group’s finances for over a decade. Xi Mengge was notoriously low-profile, never appearing at public events or social gatherings. Zhang Yuning had only seen her photo while researching the Chi family’s corporate structure. Her striking beauty and poise had left a lasting impression.

 

“How have you been lately?” Xi Mengge asked Chi Nian with a gentle smile, her voice flowing like a quiet stream, unhurried and measured.

 

“How dare I trouble Director Xi to personally fetch me?”

 

The air in the car thickened with tension. Zhang Yuning knew she should play deaf and dumb, but she couldn’t help wanting to hear more of their exchange.

 

“Have you stopped calling me sister-in-law now?”

 

Sister-in-law? Zhang Yuning was stunned. She hadn’t known Xi Mengge was Chi Jing’s wife; Chi Nian’s sister-in-law? But it made sense. How could the financial reins of the Chi family fall into an outsider’s hands?

 

Chi Nian propped her chin on her hand, grinning at Xi Mengge. “Will I get candy if I call you sister-in-law?”

 

“That depends on what kind of candy you want.”

 

“The kind you might not be willing to give.”

 

“You can always ask.” Xi Mengge maintained her poised, ladylike posture, occasionally lifting a European-style teacup for a sip. Her smile never wavered, making it impossible to discern whether she was friend or foe.

 

But as a high-ranking executive of the Chi Shang Group, she was undoubtedly formidable. No one could manage such vast financial power without some tricks up their sleeve.

 

“What a joke. If the candy in my pocket is missing, shouldn’t it be returned without question? Why would I need to ask you for it?”

 

“Sister-in-law is just holding onto it for you temporarily. You’re still young, and when the time is right, it will be returned to you.”

 

Chi Nian gave Xi Mengge a mocking glance, picked up the glass of red wine in front of her, and downed it in one go. She raised an eyebrow and said, “I don’t want the candy anymore.”

 

“Then what do you want?”

 

“What I want will still rely on Sister-in-law when the time comes.”

 

Xi Mengge smiled warmly. “Alright, whatever A’Nian wants, I’ll definitely give it to you.”

 

“Then I’ll thank Sister-in-law in advance.”

 

The tone of their conversation was calm, but beneath the words lay countless exchanges of veiled barbs, each remark pointed yet restrained. Zhang Yuning could only think how treacherous the world of the wealthy was and Chi Nian was no pushover.

 

She was playing the fool to outwit the tiger.

 

Zhang Yuning suddenly noticed Xi Mengge studying Chi Nian carefully. After a moment, she finally couldn’t resist saying, “You seem different from before.”

 

“Oh?” Chi Nian remained unruffled.

 

“There are things you wouldn’t have said before, things you wouldn’t have done.”

 

Good! Finally, a second person sensed that Chi Nian wasn’t acting like herself. Zhang Yuning secretly rejoiced, feeling this was the real highlight of the day.

 

“I wonder what Sister-in-law is referring to?”

 

Xi Mengge’s gaze settled on Zhang Yuning, and she smiled faintly. “Before, you never hired female bodyguards. You said men were absolute strength and women were useless.”

 

Who would’ve thought Chi Nian once held such ignorant views? Though it was a common belief, it wasn’t absolute. Zhang Yuning thought this with a mix of irritation and resignation.

 

Hearing Xi Mengge’s words, Chi Nian took Zhang Yuning’s wrist. The crimson palm bore reopened wounds that had just begun to heal. She gently massaged Zhang Yuning’s fingers, her eyes filled with tenderness but when she turned to Xi Mengge, a trace of coldness surfaced.

 

“I was ignorant before. You’ve seen Xiao Zhang’s skills.”

 

“Yes, she took down four of my bodyguards in an instant. She’s certainly capable of protecting you.”

 

“And Xiao Zhang isn’t just a bodyguard.”

 

Xi Mengge listened with keen interest. “Oh?”

 

“She’s also my bedmate, very important to me. So no one should even think of touching her.”

 

Zhang Yuning’s expression darkened. Was this really something to announce so casually? Even Xi Mengge’s face changed. Her smile froze as if sealed away, stiffening for a long moment before she asked in disbelief, “A’Nian, since when have you started liking?” She didn’t finish, perhaps meaning to say “women.”

 

“Liking what? Women?” Chi Nian admitted openly, without hesitation. “I said she’s important to me. What if she’s a bodyguard? What if she’s a bedmate? I’ll play however I want.” The word “play” struck Zhang Yuning like a blow.

 

Just playing around, huh? That suited her. But calling her “important” what did that mean?

 

Was it showing favoritism? Expressing satisfaction with her work? Or gratitude for saving her time and again?

 

Zhang Yuning didn’t know. She looked up and met Xi Mengge’s scrutinizing gaze. Maybe it was her imagination, but from the moment they got in the car until now, Xi Mengge’s eyes had never been as sharp as they were in this moment. Though fleeting, the chill in them was unsettling.

 

“If she means that much to you, of course I wouldn’t interfere.” Xi Mengge was also skilled at masking her emotions, but her earlier expression had been anything but tolerant.

 

Chi Nian seemed to respect her sister-in-law on the surface, yet she didn’t hold her in complete regard. She responded with courtesy but countered with veiled hostility, stubbornly shielding her own without leaving Xi Mengge any face.

 

Zhang Yuning even felt like she was being used as a pawn, deliberately provoking Xi Mengge nothing more than a tool herself.

 

So, there was no need to believe Chi Nian’s words. Her attitude could flip 360 degrees in an instant. This person was utterly untrustworthy. The best course was to maintain the same mindset as before: trust no one. Whether it was goodwill or a trap, she wanted nothing, coveted nothing. That was all.

 

The Chi family’s villa estate was vast and opulent. Two villas, a private golf course, and a horse ranch, all backing onto the sea with a private yacht ready to set sail at any moment. This grand gate was beyond most people’s wildest imaginations. Having seen Butterfly Manor, Zhang Yuning could roughly picture just how extravagant and luxurious it must be.

 

It just went to show. The world of the wealthy had no limits.

 

She had assumed Chi Nian was heading home this time, but the woman paused as she stepped out of the car and said, “I won’t be sending Sister-in-Law inside.”

 

Xi Mengge clearly hadn’t expected this and immediately responded, “I came to bring you home. Your room is cleaned every day.”

 

“I have my own place to be.”

 

“Where?”

 

Chi Nian didn’t answer. Instead, she looped her arm through Zhang Yuning’s and walked toward her own car. “Let’s go back.”

 

“Back where?” Zhang Yuning asked.

 

“Our home.”