Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 31

“As usual?” The phrase made it sound as if they were close. Zhang Yuning had no idea where Chi Nian was coming from with that remark—wasn’t that something only people who had known each other for a long time would say? Or was it that Chi Nian was looking at her but actually speaking to the moon?

At that thought, Zhang Yuning’s heart sank. She tilted her head away, avoiding Chi Nian’s hand. “Don’t touch me while driving. It’s not safe.” she said, stepping on the accelerator to speed up the car.

She could feel her expression darkening, her words clearly laced with irritation.

“Are you angry?” Chi Nian still didn’t let up on teasing her.

“Angry about what? There’s nothing to be angry about.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Weren’t you always acting like you understood me so well? Can’t even guess this?”

Zhang Yuning could sense Chi Nian’s gaze lingering on her. Their eyes only met in the periphery of their vision, and for some reason, her mood inexplicably soured. Whenever she spoke, her words came out tinged with bitterness.

“Rather than making me guess, why don’t you just tell me?” Chi Nian’s tone was light, none of the earlier weakness present.

Of course, she’d respond like this—how boring. Zhang Yuning stopped talking, focusing only on getting to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Chi Nian seemed tired, too, falling into silence as she hugged her arms and stared out the window. Occasionally, Zhang Yuning would glance over and catch Chi Nian’s reflection in the car window. She looked as lonely as ever, curled up in her own world, lost in thought.

At times like these, Zhang Yuning felt that Chi Nian was far away from her as if her body was in the car, but her spirit was a thousand miles distant.

Was she afraid of the test results? Or was this all just an act, a deliberate performance?

The two remained silent all the way to the hospital. The car pulled up directly in front of the outpatient building, where several white-coated doctors were already waiting. The moment they stepped out, a doctor who looked like a senior specialist warmly greeted them. “Miss Chi, you’re here.”

“Thank you for your trouble, President Xi,” Chi Nian replied with a bright smile, shaking his hand. The other department heads standing nearby bowed politely to her.

The exchange felt like a social ritual. Zhang Yuning followed Chi Nian to the VIP examination area. Blood tests came first, followed by a full female tumor screening and a series of imaging tests like MRI scans—none of which were skipped.

Zhang Yuning stood by the observation window, watching as Chi Nian lay on the scanning table. The doctors’ computer screens displayed her physical condition in real-time. Fortunately, Zhang Yuning could understand the readings. The results were immediate and visible.

The doctors treated her with respect, neither shooing her away nor preventing her from observing, as if she were Chi Nian’s trusted confidante. President Xi himself sat nearby, reviewing the MRI images.

Leaning in for a closer look, Zhang Yuning heard President Xi remark, “Miss Chi’s physical condition is excellent. The hematoma from her previous car accident has completely disappeared.” As he spoke, he adjusted the imaging to focus on the cranial section, where a tiny dot-like shadow could be seen.

He seemed to be addressing the other doctors, but also muttering to himself. Zhang Yuning caught the sensitive mention of a car accident and asked, “President Xi, are you saying that in her previous examination, there was a shadow from a hematoma in her head, but now it’s gone?”

“Yes. That hematoma was quite troublesome. The surgery didn’t completely remove it. I judged that it could be gradually reabsorbed, and now, sure enough, it’s gone.”

“This is a great opportunity,” Zhang Yuning had always harbored doubts about this car accident. Chi Nian’s recovery defied logic, so she quickly asked, “Dean Xi, did Miss Chi undergo any cosmetic or similar surgeries later? I noticed the scar on her head is gone too.”

“I’m not entirely sure about that. I only handle internal and surgical cases. Miss Chi went abroad during that time. She probably had reconstructive surgery.”

Zhang Yuning nodded, lost in thought as she stared at the images on Chi Nian’s screen. The speed of recovery was indeed unrealistic. Either this Chi Nian before her still had identity issues, or the Chi family had extraordinary connections, enabling them to find a top-tier institution abroad to repair her scars.

“Dr. Zhang, look—the MRI shows Miss Chi’s current physical condition is quite good.”

“What did you call me?”

“Dr. Zhang.” Dean Xi turned with a smile. “Aren’t you Miss Chi’s personal physician?”

Zhang Yuning froze for a moment. Was this how Chi Nian had introduced her? No wonder Dean Xi had been briefing her on Chi Nian’s condition and even allowed her to stay and review the results.

She had suspected Chi Nian was doing this deliberately, but now it seemed she had been overthinking it.

“Later, have her checked for ENT, and then we’ll wait for the blood test results.” Zhang Yuning still didn’t dare relax. The MRI could only clearly show the absence of tumors, but other pathological conditions would require blood tests.

Ordinary patients often had to wait a long time in hospitals, but in Chi Nian’s private examination unit, all results would be ready within two hours.

“Yes, Miss Chi is blessed with great fortune. She’ll be fine. The results will come soon.”

“Thank you, Dean Xi.”

Zhang Yuning stepped out of the observation room and sat on a bench in the hallway. Her fingers felt cold—not the discomfort of chills, but the night’s low temperature seemed to seep into her bones. She really had become more sensitive to cold than before. Even though the weather was supposed to be warming up, the rainy day felt unusually chilly.

Perhaps she was the one who needed a check-up—her abnormally strong wound-healing ability, the way she shivered in the rain as if poisoned by cold. And that injection Chi Nian had given her—what was it? She still had no idea, and so far, there had been no noticeable reactions or symptoms.

Sitting gloomily, Zhang Yuning rubbed her hands together. The sound of high heels echoed from around the corridor corner. She looked up and saw the woman who always favored cheongsams—Xi Mengge.

Elegant and poised, she carried an air of timeless grace, her gaze calm and unhurried.

“President Xi.” Zhang Yuning couldn’t pretend not to recognize her—they had met before, and as Chi Nian’s sister-in-law, basic courtesy dictated she follow Chi Nian’s lead in formalities.

“Hello.” Xi Mengge nodded at her. As she reached the examination room door, Dean Xi emerged. Xi Mengge looked slightly anxious and asked immediately, “Brother, how is Nian Nian?”

“Nothing serious. We’re just waiting for the blood test results.”

“That’s good. I’ll go see her.”

No wonder the surname Xi had sounded so familiar—they were siblings. So, Chi Nian’s respect for Dean Xi made sense; they were family, and sharing information was natural. Still, this sister-in-law seemed far more concerned about Chi Nian than that fake brother of hers.

Zhang Yuning stood up and paced back and forth by the window. Outside, the storm raged, thunder rumbling as raindrops pattered against the ground, splashing up like impatient dancers.

The outward-opening window was ajar. In the glass reflection, a figure approached. Zhang Yuning had been lost in thought for so long that she hadn’t noticed the person drawing near from behind.

“Aren’t you cold standing here?” Chi Nian reached out and touched Zhang Yuning’s arm, who then lowered hers. Chi Nian naturally linked arms with her.

Lying down for the examination had left Chi Nian’s hair loosely cascading, strands at her temples fluttering in the breeze from the window. Against her pale face, a radiant smile bloomed like a flower.

“Did you tell Dean Xi about the nosebleeds and ear bleeding? Did you get specialized tests done?”

“I’ll go upstairs later.” Chi Nian replied calmly, her tone laced with amusement. “You saw the MRI—shouldn’t you believe me now?”

“I’ll wait for the blood test results.” Zhang Yuning recalled Dean Xi’s words and asked, “Why did you tell people I’m your private doctor?”

“Aren’t you?”

“How am I?”

“Preparing balanced meals, brewing Four-Red Soup, supervising my hospital visits—which of these isn’t a private doctor’s job? Besides, if I hadn’t told them you were with me, do you think they’d have let you stay in the observation room to watch my scans in real time?”

Zhang Yuning countered, “You’re the boss, I’m the bodyguard. A bodyguard’s job is to protect and also keep an eye on the boss’s health.”

“You’d better be an obedient bodyguard.”

“Haven’t I been obedient enough?”

“Pot calling the kettle black,” Zhang Yuning muttered under her breath. They had already argued before, and she didn’t want to start another fight especially when Chi Nian’s health was still unclear.

She still trusted her professional judgment and instincts. There was definitely something wrong with Chi Nian’s condition, and the blood test would surely reveal something.

Chi Nian smiled without responding, still holding Zhang Yuning’s arm as they stood by the window, listening to the rain. The surroundings were quiet, undisturbed by doctors coming and going. Despite being in a brightly lit hospital, an eerie stillness enveloped them.

On rainy days, the moon was rarely visible. The overcast, drizzling weather easily dampened one’s spirits. Zhang Yuning stood in silence, countless questions churning inside her. Chi Nian’s gentle hold on her arm left her with mixed emotions.

She didn’t know what this intimate gesture meant. Was it manipulation? Was she a stand-in? Or was there some other crucial reason? She and Chi Nian weren’t close. There was no reason for sudden affection or attachment. Zhang Yuning was certain that everything Chi Nian did wasn’t for her sake but for some ulterior motive.

She felt like a tool or a replacement, existing only to serve a purpose. The day that purpose vanished, she’d become worthless.

Her emotions felt like they were being pulled in opposite directions. The harder she tried to climb out, the more something dragged her back into the mire. Did they want her to fall into ruin? Dream on!

Zhang Yuning believed she would uncover the truth eventually.

“Nian Nian.”

In a daze, she heard someone call Chi Nian’s name. The voice unmistakably belonged to Xi Mengge.

“Sister-in-law.” Chi Nian released Zhang Yuning and walked over. Xi Mengge’s concerned gaze settled on her as she said softly, “Let’s go upstairs. I heard you’ve been…” The rest of the sentence, likely about the nosebleeds and ear bleeding, faded as they moved away.

But before stepping into the elevator, Chi Nian turned back to Zhang Yuning and asked with a smile, “Aren’t you coming, Xiao Zhang?”

“I’ll wait here for the blood test results,” Zhang Yuning made an excuse. Chi Nian nodded and left with Xi Mengge.

The blood test was on the same floor, but she didn’t follow. She needed to wait for Dean Xi—Zhang Yuning had her own plans.

She remained standing patiently outside the door until Dean Xi emerged.

“Dr. Zhang didn’t go upstairs?” Dean Xi was always courteous. Few people usually addressed her as Dr. Zhang, but Chi Nian’s casual remark had inadvertently played into her intentions.

Zhang Yuning returned the courtesy with a gesture inviting him aside, wary of being overheard. Understanding her meaning, Dean Xi moved near the window and asked, “Did Dr. Zhang have something to ask me?”

“I wanted to consult you about some things I can’t figure out on my own.”

“Dr. Zhang, you’re too polite. Please, go ahead.” He truly treated those around Chi Nian as his own, without any reservations.

Zhang Yuning thought for a moment before asking in a low voice, “Is there a condition that causes sudden chills or illness after exposure to cold, like getting caught in the rain or a cold wind?”

“Chills…”

“Without symptoms like a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or fever—none of the typical reactions to a cold or flu.”

Dean Xi stroked his chin in contemplation before saying, “Without any prior conditions, such unexplained symptoms are quite rare. However…” He hesitated.

“What is it?”

“Why do you ask this? Is it about Ms. Chi?”

“No, it’s about a friend who’s been acting strangely lately. I only know the basics and can’t compare to an expert like you. Since I happened to be bringing Ms. Chi here, I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask. If it’s inconvenient, that’s fine.” Zhang Yuning had anticipated his question and prepared a polite response, deflecting the inquiry to someone else—the safest approach.

Dean Xi nodded, glanced around, and then said, “In clinical trials, especially during drug testing, such cases have occurred, but they’re usually short-lived. When this happens, the drug formula and proportions need adjustment, requiring repeated trials.”

“Drug testing?” Zhang Yuning’s heart tightened. She pressed further, “In such cases, have the test subjects suffered long-term effects?”

“Most test subjects are only involved temporarily. There is some follow-up data, but it’s purged every six months. These are highly confidential. While experiments are commonplace in pharmaceutical research, many involve regulatory violations, so such evidence isn’t publicly retained.”

“All new drugs come at the cost of test subjects sacrificing their health, even their lives. But it’s a transaction—without test subjects, new drugs would struggle to reach the market, and success would be slim.”

“Hmm. You might want to ask your friend if they were ever a test subject.”

Zhang Yuning felt a heavy weight but maintained a smile. “Thank you, Dean Xi. She might have been a test subject in the past when life was harder.”

“Possibly. I’ll go check on the blood tests now. Dr. Zhang, feel free to do as you please.”

“Alright.”

After Dean Xi left, Zhang Yuning took a few steps back, her hands weakly bracing against the windowsill. She leaned her head out the window, letting the drifting rain dampen her face. Thinking of her argument with Chi Nian and her own chills, she pulled her head back in.

Those few cold drops made her realize the severity and complexity of the situation with even greater clarity.

Drug test reactions, coupled with the SO Anti-Cancer Lab’s history of live-subject experiments. It was hard not to suspect she was being used as an experimental subject.

The orchestrator of this experiment was none other than Chi Nian, who had assembled the team. She was still searching for Yu Qinghua and Ai Lin, and the medical team would likely be formed soon. With money, anything was possible—and the Chi family had no shortage of it.

Chi Nian must have been administering experimental drugs to herself. Given her physical condition, was she trying to treat herself with some kind of special medication? But why do it personally? For drug trials, wouldn’t healthy individuals or other patients suffice? Why choose herself? Was it simply because she was readily available?

Zhang Yuning’s heart began to tremble, her fingers stiffening unconsciously. It wasn’t fear or dread—it was disappointment, sorrow. Was Chi Nian really treating her as an experiment?

She was nothing. Chi Nian only cared about her as a test subject or a replacement.

Despite constantly preparing herself mentally, even if she had braced for this truth, the direction it took still filled Zhang Yuning with resentment and grief. She should return to the beginning, to that moment when she simply wanted to uncover the truth—without belief, without overthinking, without interpretation, without reaction.

She made a decision. From now on, she had only one goal: to confirm those deductions and suspicions, and to find out why she had been chosen.

Zhang Yuning waited silently outside the blood lab. After finishing the tests upstairs, Chi Nian and Xi Mengge came down laughing and chatting—apparently, everything was fine. She remained quiet. With Xi Mengge present, Chi Nian didn’t act too intimate with her. Instead, they looked like a harmonious family, while she was the outsider.

After waiting a full hour, the blood test results finally came out. Zhang Yuning insisted on seeing the data—she only trusted her own eyes. But the report showed that while some of Chi Nian’s levels were off, explaining her fatigue and weakness, there were no major issues.

It didn’t make sense. Chi Nian must have been in poor health to inject herself like that. At first, Zhang Yuning thought she might be doing this for someone else, like that “Moon” person. But now, she was almost certain it was Chi Nian’s own problem.

“Now you can put your mind at ease, right?” Chi Nian seemed satisfied with the results, as if she had expected them.

“If there are any issues in the future, you should still get checked.” Zhang Yuning felt these results couldn’t be conclusive. If symptoms worsened or new reactions appeared later, deeper tests would be needed. Time would reveal what was unclear now.

“We’ll deal with the future when it comes.”

Chi Nian yawned, visibly exhausted. Xi Mengge noticed and asked, “Do you want to go home and rest?”

“Yes.” Chi Nian answered without hesitation, but then she looped her arm through Zhang Yuning’s and said with a faint smile, “Let’s go home.”

“Mm.” Zhang Yuning’s heart remained unmoved. She had grown indifferent to this kind of closeness. Filled with those suspicions, she could no longer respond—even feeling moved had become difficult.

Resentment festered in her heart, replacing all her previous emotions. She was never supposed to have feelings in the first place.

As Zhang Yuning turned, she met Xi Mengge’s cold gaze but the woman instantly switched to a smile and instructed, “Take good care of Nian Nian.”

She nodded without a word.

Chi Nian was always like this—willful, repeatedly rejecting Xi Mengge’s invitations to return home. Her focus was entirely on Zhang Yuning, her experiment.

In the following days, Chi Nian continued to rest and recuperate, yet remained as busy as ever. Her work was all done online, and Zhang Yuning guessed it was related to assembling that medical team.

After extensive digging by Zhang Yuning, some shocking revelations about Yu Qinghua and Ai Lin came to light—both had given birth to children. Ai Lin had even been entangled in an ambiguous relationship with Third Miss’s father, while Yu Qinghua reportedly fell ill later and also had a child, but this child was born for the purpose of treating her illness.

Wasn’t this the same kind of inhumane, cruel experiment they had conducted before? The one that used genetic principles to restructure the cells of cancer patients, sacrificing the child in the process? No one knew how far this experiment had progressed. Much of the data and evidence had been erased, leaving no trace. Zhang Yuning had painstakingly recovered these fragments from the deleted records.

Without hesitation, Zhang Yuning handed this explosive secret to Chi Nian, who was equally stunned. Chi Nian then locked herself in her office for the entire night. Judging by the timeline, today should have been the day marked in Chi Nian’s white notebook as her “chill episode.”

But if Chi Nian stayed cooped up at home, how could she possibly experience it? Previous episodes had always been triggered by exposure to cold, yet even after getting caught in light rain or feeling chilly recently, she hadn’t had another attack.

After returning from the hospital, Zhang Yuning’s attitude had noticeably cooled, but Chi Nian was even more distant. Her aloofness stemmed from being trapped in her own world, preoccupied with what she deemed important—though in Zhang Yuning’s eyes, those dealings were anything but honorable.

Perhaps Chi Nian was orchestrating some grand scheme, and she was just another cog in the machine.

Just as she was lost in thought, Lan Chengjin’s email arrived: Meet later.

Meet later? When exactly? And where? The message was oddly vague. Zhang Yuning was about to reply when Chi Nian emerged from her office, walking briskly as she said, “Get ready, we’re heading out.”

“Where to?”

“Butterfly Manor.”

Zhang Yuning’s expression flickered with surprise before quickly smoothing over. She gave a quiet hum, calmly slipping on her coat and packing her tablet and other tools into her bag.

Her mind was in turmoil. Had Chi Nian shared the information about those two women with Third Miss? Were they finally meeting to discuss the matter?

In all of Liuli Island, aside from Third Miss’s closest confidants, who else could gain entry to Butterfly Manor? Even Zhang Yuning, who had designed the security system, rarely set foot inside.

But this time, she might finally uncover the truth about the project—or at least get some answers from Third Miss to clear up her doubts.

They left swiftly. It was already 10 p.m., and a light drizzle fell outside. Zhang Yuning felt no signs of an impending episode—so did Chi Nian’s recorded date actually refer to meeting Third Miss?

The Xiao residence, known as Butterfly Manor, was a European-style villa named after Xiao Changying’s fondness for raising butterflies. Built by the sea and surrounded by hills about a hundred meters high, the estate had only three main gates. The central one reserved for the family, while others had to use the side entrances.

Accessing Butterfly Manor required passing through three layers of security. The first gate was vehicle license plate recognition, automatically opening upon verification. Two hundred meters inward stood the second gate—a high-walled courtyard entrance requiring facial recognition.

The final gate was manually controlled, guarded by four-armed security personnel equipped with weapons, alarms, and gate switches. All three perimeter walls were fitted with motion sensors. Any unauthorized intrusion or anomaly would trigger the alarms instantly.

Entering through any of the manor’s three main gates was an equally intricate process, with layer upon layer of security measures and stringent safeguards. Few knew that this system had been designed by Zhang Yuning, marking her proudest creation and the source of her first fortune.

She couldn’t quite remember the last time she had visited Butterfly Manor. Now, she had to pretend unfamiliarity with the place. After all, Third Young Miss had mentioned that Chi Nian was unaware of her true identity.

The two were led to the villa’s conference room to wait. Lan Chengjin appeared first, greeting Chi Nian before saying, “Miss Chi, please wait a moment. The Third Young Miss will be here shortly.”

“No problem,” Chi Nian replied with a faint smile. “Butterfly Manor truly lives up to its reputation. Would it be alright if I looked around first?”

“Of course, Miss Chi. Feel free.”

“Xiao Zhang, come with me.”

Zhang Yuning nodded. Lately, she had been speaking less, opting for nods or shakes of the head whenever possible. As they stood up, Zhang Yuning met Lan Chengjin’s gaze. In that brief moment, she caught a flicker of concern in Chengjin’s eyes.

Why was Chengjin looking at her with such worry?

Chi Nian’s curiosity about Butterfly Manor was just a pretense. Her request to explore likely hid some ulterior motive. Zhang Yuning had no choice but to follow, though Chi Nian remained silent the entire way. They simply moved from the downstairs reception area to the upstairs tearoom.

The tearoom was a glass-enclosed terrace, decorated in an antique style. Miniature potted landscapes adorned the space, a small fountain misting gently, and a tiny flowerbed embedded in the floor. Incense burned on the table, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance.

“Butterfly Manor really is something,” Chi Nian murmured as she approached the flowerbed. Zhang Yuning, however, had begun feeling dizzy the moment they entered. She sat at the tea table, propping her head up, inexplicably overcome with drowsiness.

“The security system designer for this manor is truly impressive.”

Chi Nian’s voice seemed to grow fainter in Zhang Yuning’s ears. The drowsiness weighed on her like a sedative, her eyelids growing unbearably heavy.

“Chi…” She fought to stay conscious, forcing her gaze toward Chi Nian, but her willpower was no match for the exhaustion. Desperate to stave off sleep, she dug her keys into her thigh, hoping the pain would keep her awake and leave a mark as proof.

Her eyes narrowed to slits, and in the final moments before her consciousness slipped away, she saw Chi Nian approach the table.

A deep sense of foreboding gripped Zhang Yuning. She pressed the keys harder into her leg, the sharp pain buying her a few more seconds. Then she watched as Chi Nian pulled a blue syringe from her bag—identical to the one from before.

“Everything will be alright.” The words whispered into her ear were the last thing she heard before even the sting of the needle faded into oblivion, plunging her into complete unconsciousness.