Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 6

The sobering tea sat on the table. Twenty minutes had passed, yet Shen Zhibing hadn’t touched a single sip. The housekeeper stood silently beside her, while the other servants were so tense that even their breathing seemed suppressed.

Tonight’s banquet was attended by influential figures, and Shen Zhibing could not afford to appear negligent. Many had approached her to strike up conversations, and she had responded to each politely, which had accumulated into quite a bit of alcohol consumed.

Yet the real reason she felt intoxicated wasn’t the wine—it was the disappointment after confirming that Lian Ao wouldn’t be showing up tonight. The anticipation she had harbored since receiving the flowers that afternoon came crashing down, leaving an unpleasant taste.

Shen Zhibing drank several more cups. The driver, assuming the usual routine, expected her to return to her residence at Yunlu Flower Estate. Yet ten minutes after leaving, she requested a different destination.

This was a place she rarely visited at night, and almost never stayed overnight. The housekeeper was surprised when informed.

“Miss, have a little while it’s still warm,” the servant said cautiously. Direct persuasion had to come from the housekeeper.

Shen Zhibing pressed her temples, trying to relieve the discomfort caused by the tipsy feeling. The sobering tea was useless; she had bigger worries at the moment.

“You couldn’t reach her even when I asked you to call?” Shen Zhibing lowered her gaze, her voice cold as an ice blade.

The housekeeper, who had been with her at Yunlu Flower Estate, was familiar with Shen Zhibing’s temper. She was decent with alcohol, rarely losing control, unless she was half-drunk and had a reason to vent her frustration—then someone was bound to suffer.

At this moment, who else could it be besides Qi Zheng?

The housekeeper’s heart raced as she dialed. That afternoon, when Qi Zheng had returned to school, she had tried to persuade her to stay, but Qi Zheng insisted on leaving. She could not be blamed for that later.

Yet, even after three calls, there was no answer, only automatic disconnection. Shen Zhibing’s expression darkened further; even the housekeeper couldn’t predict her next move.

“You let her leave just because she said so this afternoon?”

The housekeeper reported truthfully: “Miss Qi said, with graduation approaching, she has many school matters to handle. It’s more convenient for her to be back at school.”

Shen Zhibing sneered. At the contract signing, how could she not have mentioned this? She remembered that at the time, Qi Zheng had repeatedly asked if accommodations could be arranged for her, fearing she would have nowhere to stay after graduation.

This villa, rarely visited by Shen Zhibing, had been carefully prepared. Was it really worse than that shabby dorm?

“Give me the phone,” Shen Zhibing said, taking the housekeeper’s phone.

She would not use her own phone to call Qi Zheng, but tonight, she had to see the person she purchased.

The line was still unanswered. Shen Zhibing’s breathing grew heavier as she stared at the now-cold sobering tea, wishing she could see through the bottom of the cup.

“Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.”

Shen Zhibing hadn’t experienced this situation in a long time. No one’s number had been unreachable, and no one had ignored her calls repeatedly.

Except once, when Lian Ao suddenly went on a business trip without telling her. That night, Shen Zhibing couldn’t sleep, calling until her phone died. Lian Ao spent the following thirty days apologizing in different ways, and only then did the matter conclude. Tonight, Qi Zheng probably wouldn’t get the same treatment—or the chance to apologize.

The housekeeper, seeing Shen Zhibing clutch the phone silently, worriedly said, “Miss, the tea has gone cold. Shall I have the kitchen prepare another cup?”

“I won’t drink it. Take it away.”

Shen Zhibing’s words were an order. The housekeeper, concerned for her well-being, did not press the matter and signaled for the items to be removed.

The tea was gone, replaced by another cup. Shen Zhibing glanced at it but didn’t drink. She still clutched the phone, tapping the table repeatedly. Ten minutes later, the phone suddenly rang. The housekeeper had saved Qi Zheng’s number earlier, and “Miss Qi” flashed cheerfully on the screen.

A glint of fire appeared in Shen Zhibing’s eyes, quickly covered by coldness.

She didn’t answer immediately, letting it ring. Then the ringtone abruptly stopped.

The housekeeper raised her eyebrows. Was Miss Shen retaliating for Qi Zheng not picking up earlier? But if Qi Zheng didn’t call again, no one in the villa would have a pleasant night.

Fortunately, Qi Zheng called a second time, yet Shen Zhibing still didn’t pick up.

The housekeeper couldn’t help but speak: “Miss, if Qi Zheng doesn’t know it’s you, seeing my number, she might not keep calling.”

Shen Zhibing looked at the screen and finally pressed to answer. Qi Zheng’s voice came through.

“Hello, may I ask what you need?”

Qi Zheng had exchanged numbers with the housekeeper before leaving the villa that afternoon, as a courtesy. She hadn’t expected that night she would actually call multiple times.

Earlier, Jiang Youyou had thrown up. Qi Zheng had helped her to the bathroom, washed her face, and settled her on the bed. Her own clothes were dirty and had to be changed. Qi Zheng, unaccustomed to sharing a bed, had spread a clean sheet on Jiang Youyou’s bed for the night.

Seeing the heartbroken person looking so pitiful… she couldn’t leave her alone.

Her phone had been tossed onto the bed. Jiang Youyou, half-asleep, annoyed by the ringtone, shoved it under the pillow. After a while, Qi Zheng found the missed calls.

There was no sound from the other end, only soft breathing.

Jiang Youyou slept restlessly, tossing and turning. Qi Zheng had to restrain her to prevent any sudden movements, fearing she might fall.

“This is Qi Zheng,” Shen Zhibing said before Qi Zheng could hang up, thinking she had dialed the wrong number.

Hearing the tone, Qi Zheng felt a bad premonition.

In the original story, there seemed to be no description of this night. She remembered the original owner stayed obediently at the villa, but it didn’t mention Shen Zhibing coming.

Anyway, she wasn’t there—Shen Zhibing arriving and finding her absent would naturally be infuriating.

“Mr. Shen, do you need something from me?” Qi Zheng softened her tone, realizing escaping had been somewhat inappropriate.

Shen Zhibing completely ignored her attempt at submission, speaking coldly: “Didn’t I tell you? When I come, you must be there.”

The words left unsaid clearly reflected her displeasure at Qi Zheng’s absence.

Qi Zheng remembered a different statement instead: “But Mr. Shen, you also said I could do whatever I wanted. And when we signed the contract, it said it wouldn’t affect my graduation. I had to return to school to handle graduation procedures. Did I do something wrong?”

“You…”

“Mr. Shen, I honestly didn’t know you would come tonight. You didn’t tell me in advance.”

“Are you saying it’s my fault for not scheduling you in time?”

Qi Zheng didn’t respond, but that was indeed what she thought.

This wasn’t ancient times—was she supposed to stay at the villa twenty-four hours a day just to wait for Shen Zhibing’s “whim”? Ridiculous.

Shen Zhibing’s anger grew, making Qi Zheng’s headache even worse. She pressed her temples hard, extremely displeased over the phone.

“Come immediately. Now.”

Shen Zhibing wasn’t interested in arguing further. After giving the order, she was about to hang up.

Qi Zheng objected: “Mr. Shen, it’s already very late, and it’s inconvenient for me to come now.”

“Didn’t we assign a car and driver for you? That excuse won’t do.” Shen Zhibing’s patience had run out; her head throbbed.

“Mr. Lao Yu has probably gone to rest. It would be troublesome for him to come again.”

Shen Zhibing finally lost her temper, raising her voice: “Qi Zheng, you should understand your position. What right do you have to bargain with me? When I say come immediately, you come!”

Shen Zhibing gave her no chance to negotiate and hung up.

Qi Zheng found her utterly unreasonable. Even a CEO couldn’t act so arbitrarily. But then she remembered her other identity—her benefactor—and indeed had the right to demand this.

Sure enough, three minutes later, Lao Yu called to ask when she would be ready. He would drive her there.

Qi Zheng sighed. What on earth had Shen Zhibing lost her mind over tonight that made her insist on seeing her?

She considered herself not that charming. With Jiang Youyou in this state, she couldn’t leave her alone in the dorm.

After putting off Lao Yu, Qi Zheng called Shen Zhibing again, using the number saved on the day they signed the contract.

“Mr. Shen, can I come tomorrow instead?” Qi Zheng lowered her voice, trying to negotiate politely.

“Reason.”

Glancing at Jiang Youyou, who was about to vomit again, she confessed: “Someone needs my care. I can’t leave tonight.”

Shen Zhibing sneered: “Qi Zheng, have you forgotten? You’ve already been bought by me. Now I want to see you, and you say you need to care for someone else?”

Jiang Youyou sat up groggily, frowning and holding back nausea, seemingly searching for a proper place to go.

Qi Zheng could only sacrifice the basin at the foot of the bed. Holding the phone with one hand, she handed the basin to Jiang Youyou with the other: “Hold it yourself. Don’t make a mess on the bed.”

Jiang Youyou held the basin, relieved.

Qi Zheng, bothered by the smell, stepped back a few paces to isolate herself from the retching sounds.

Shen Zhibing heard every word Qi Zheng said to Jiang Youyou, utterly displeased. The expensive acquisition she paid for disobeyed her orders, even actively helping someone else? Did she take Shen Zhibing for a fool?

“Qi Zheng, are you trying to trick me?”

Qi Zheng’s temper flared: “Mr. Shen, surely you’re not throwing a drunken fit too?”

Otherwise, she could not understand why Shen Zhibing was being so relentless.

Suddenly, a new call came through Shen Zhibing’s phone. Seeing it was Lian Ao—whose call she had been waiting for all night—her previous irritation vanished.

“Qi Zheng, we’ll settle this later!”

Shen Zhibing no longer argued, picking up Lian Ao’s call.

“I’m sorry I didn’t attend the banquet tonight.”

The familiar, warm male voice flowed from the receiver, yet Shen Zhibing no longer felt the previous comfort.