After Transmigrating as the Villain’s Scummy Alpha "Dainty" Wife, My Escape Failed (GL) - Chapter 4

At the dining table, Chi Yuan stirred the minced fish porridge in her bowl while watching the two people on the other side.

Chi Shuangzhi sat next to Jiang Ci, a picture of kind concern as she asked after her well-being. The table before Jiang Ci was spread with a dazzling array of dishes: soup dumplings, cheese bread, red bean soup, and more.

“Xiao Ci, whatever you feel like eating, just tell Nanny Wu and let her make it for you.”

“Since you’ve come home, stay for a few months. Don’t be in a hurry to leave. If you have work, let Chi Yuan drive you. I know you’re busy, but you must take care of your health.”

Jiang Ci remained humble and polite throughout, thanking Mother Chi and offering a compliment in return: “This pearl necklace suits you perfectly. I saw it at an auction and felt it matched your temperament instantly. Pearls only truly shine when worn by someone with your grace.”

Chi Yuan couldn’t help but snort coldly. Looking at this scene of “mother-daughter” affection, an outsider would think Jiang Ci was the precious treasure of the Chi family.

Chi Shuangzhi glared at Chi Yuan. “What are you snorting at? You’ve stirred that porridge into a paste. Have all the table manners I taught you been fed to the dogs?”

Is this really my biological mother? Talk about having two faces.

Chi Yuan silently lit a candle for the original host in her heart.

In the novel, Chi Shuangzhi was perhaps the only person who was genuinely happy about the marriage between Chi Yuan and Jiang Ci. Under her iron-fisted “arrangement,” no matter how reluctant Chi Yuan was, she had to bite the bullet and marry the woman.

The engagement between the Jiang and Chi families started as a half-joking “betrothal” when both mothers were pregnant. Later, when the two children differentiated—one as an Alpha and one as an Omega with an 80% compatibility rate—the families slapped their thighs and decided it was fate, officially confirming the betrothal.

On the wedding day, it was Mother Chi who grabbed Chi Yuan by the ear and dragged her down the red carpet. The declaration that Jiang Ci was “forbidden from stepping foot in the Chi house” also happened around that time.

“System, if I successfully save the villain and complete the task, can I get a divorce?”

“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with this smiling tiger. If she ever holds a grudge about how the original host insulted and bullied her, I’m toast.”

System: [Jiang Ci doesn’t truly like you anyway. Once she makes her comeback, you can both go your separate ways.]

Divorcing and running away is the only way.

In the original book, the plan to drug and photograph Jiang Ci succeeded. Her reputation was ruined, and she became a pariah in the industry. No matter how she explained, labels like “player” and “scandalous” stuck to her. Her mother, hospitalized with dementia, jumped from a window after being relentlessly harassed by doxxing “anti-fans.”

That was when Jiang Ci fully “blackened” and began her path of revenge. She eliminated Chi Yuan and threw the mastermind Jiang Wan into the wilderness, even threatening the “Female Lead’s Alpha” in the book to cut out her own heart to save someone. “Insane” didn’t even begin to cover it.

The System popped up with a friendly reminder: [Host, please note: reform and leading someone toward kindness is also part of “saving” the villain.]

Chi Yuan: “…Do I need to recite the ‘Eight Honors and Eight Shames’ and the Criminal Code to her on the spot?!”

System: [You could try.]

After breakfast, Chi Shuangzhi headed to the company. Before leaving, she strictly instructed Chi Yuan to take care of Jiang Ci.

“Now that you’ve brought her back, don’t even think about kicking her out! If you don’t serve Jiang Ci well, watch out—I’ll freeze your cards!”

She had Chi Yuan right where it hurt; there was no room for resistance.

Chi Yuan looked at Jiang Ci, who was sitting in her chair smiling and reaching out a hand toward her. She felt like her future path was narrowing.

“What?”

Jiang Ci acted as if she didn’t see Chi Yuan’s sour expression, gesturing upward with her hand. “Carry me upstairs.”

Chi Yuan frowned, her eyes flickering over Jiang Ci’s slender, pale calves. “Don’t you have legs?”

Jiang Ci: “My legs are sore, I don’t want to walk. I want you to carry me.”

Chi Yuan tried to engage her in a staring contest but ultimately lost to those autumn-water eyes. Beauty is indeed a trap. Why did she have to run into a gorgeous woman who hit all her aesthetic preferences but was covered in thorns?

She can’t be touched, yet she keeps flirting!

Back in a bridal carry, Jiang Ci rested her chin on Chi Yuan’s shoulder. Watching Chi Yuan’s ears turn beet red, the smile on Jiang Ci’s face gradually faded, a dark glint flashing through her eyes.

There was a spacious terrace garden on the second floor. Chi Yuan carried her all the way to a rattan chair under a sunshade before pulling away as if her hands had been burned.

Jiang Ci propped her chin on her hand, finding it strangely amusing. She had heard that Chi Yuan was a notorious flirt who changed women like clothes, with enough lovers to line several streets.

But looking at her now… she seemed quite innocent.

And a bit dim-witted. Truly an easy-to-use tool.

Jiang Ci intended to tease her more, but her phone rang. The caller ID showed it was her manager-slash-assistant, Xiao Yu.

The sun was perfect today. Various flowers bloomed in the garden, and the warm floral scent pressed down on them. Amidst the fragrance, Chi Yuan caught a whiff of fresh, tart lemon mixed in.

It was so familiar. She felt she had smelled something similar—no, a more refreshing, juicy, and sweet scent elsewhere, one that tempted her to take it again and again.

When Jiang Ci hung up, she saw Chi Yuan standing before a small potted lemon tree, sniffing it. Her jade-like fingers brushed over the yellow-green fruit, her pale pink nails catching a bit of tart juice as if she wanted to drink in more…

“Chi Yuan,” Jiang Ci interrupted her, her expression unreadable.

Chi Yuan let go of the lemon and turned her head. The soft sunlight hit the high bridge of her nose; her features were vibrant and beautiful—elite-level visuals even by entertainment industry standards. Her soft, cherry-like lips looked plump, giving one the urge to squeeze them.

Unlike Jiang Ci’s natural porcelain skin, her skin had a healthy, rosy glow. The sunlight made her cheeks flush, making her look even more charming and cute.

Jiang Ci was dazed for a moment. Coming to her senses, she patted the seat next to her. “Come here, let’s talk.”

Talk? “About what?”

Alarm bells rang in Chi Yuan’s head. She walked over reluctantly, wondering what Jiang Ci was up to.

Jiang Ci felt a bit like a human trafficker kidnapping a child. “Let’s talk about… how you and Jiang Wan met.”

“Jiang Wan?” Chi Yuan thought Jiang Ci was bringing up last night again. Her eyes darted around, her legs stretched out as her toes tapped together—the picture of a guilty conscience.

“I’m curious how you fell for such a mad dog,” Jiang Ci waved her phone, her tone sounding rather helpless. “Truly… a mad dog that you can’t shake off no matter what.”

Xiao Yu had called to confirm the schedule. The lifestyle variety show Home of Peaches and Plums on Mangosteen TV had set the filming date for the day after tomorrow. However, a new name had suddenly been added to the guest list: the rising actress representative, Jiang Wan.

“This isn’t the first or second time Jiang Wan has done this. If I’m on a show, she wants in. If I act in a drama, she wants to audition. Now she even wants to steal my woman. As the legal wife, shouldn’t I get to know the ‘mistress’ a bit better?”

Hearing Jiang Ci’s rant, Chi Yuan wanted to applaud on the spot. Exactly! She had suspected the female lead was mentally unstable for a long time. With so many actors in the circle, she just had to harass Jiang Ci until she turned into a villain.

System: [Detected that the female lead is about to appear on the same variety show as the villain. Please take action immediately to save the villain.]

Under the barrage of the system’s reminders, Chi Yuan rubbed her ears, feeling a headache coming on. She briefly told Jiang Ci about her history with Jiang Wan and promised repeatedly that she had blocked her and would never contact her again.

Jiang Ci listened with interest, finally offering a regretful comment: “What a waste to block her. Jiang Wan is quite pretty; she’s a good match for you.”

Chi Yuan: …I suspect you’re insulting me.

Chi Yuan: “Her character isn’t great; she’s not kind enough. I think in life, one should be positive and sunny. Things like orchestrating car accidents or dumping people in the woods—those illegal things must absolutely be avoided.”

Her words were sincere, every syllable a piece of advice.

But while the speaker was earnest, the listener was indifferent. Hearing Chi Yuan prattle on about the criminal code, Jiang Ci gave a skin-deep smile. “I didn’t realize you were such a… ‘righteous’ (dim-witted) person.”

Having achieved her daily goal of “promoting kindness,” Chi Yuan was delighted to accept the “Good Person” card. “Of course, it’s just because you didn’t know the real me before.”

Jiang Ci: Heh. It’s exactly because I knew you before that I find your new level of stupidity incredible. Anyone can beckon, and you’ll rush in head-first. You do whatever they say, even happily agreeing to drug and photograph someone.

How did a shrewd woman like Chi Shuangzhi raise such a “silly-white-sweet” daughter?

The Chi family is finished.

Still unaware she had been categorized as a “dim-wit,” Chi Yuan felt her image as a “good person” was growing taller in Jiang Ci’s heart.

Don’t worry, dear Miss Villain, your dear wife will surely save you from the depths of misery.

After carrying a sleepy Jiang Ci back to the bedroom for a nap, Chi Yuan sneaked into the bathroom to make a call.

“Hello, Sister Chi? Got a new dinner party?”

“No dinner party. Qianqian, is that variety show Home of Peaches and Plums produced by your company?”

” Home of Peaches and Plums… yeah, I think so. It’s about to start filming. Why, Sister Chi, interested in investing?”

Xiao Qianqian and Chi Yuan were long-time “friends of convenience.” Every time there was good food or fun, they’d call each other. But unlike Chi Yuan, who was a truly idle playboy, Xiao Qianqian was a genuine CEO managing several entertainment companies. She was the heir to the Xiao family empire.

To put it simply, she was the “child of another family” in the high-society circle—the pride of heaven and a future star of the business world.

Chi Yuan: “Not looking to invest. I’m just bored lately and want to join a variety show for fun. See if you can squeeze me in.”

Xiao Qianqian laughed. “Babe, you? On a variety show? Is money getting hard to spend lately? Are you actually trying to break into the entertainment industry?”

Chi Yuan: “Nah, just for fun. To relax a bit.”

Xiao Qianqian didn’t believe her for a second, sensing something fishy. She thought about it and suddenly said, “Wait, I remember Jiang Wan was clamoring to go on Home of Peaches and Plums. Jiang Ci is in it, too.”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘Jiang Wan was clamoring’?”

Xiao Qianqian: “You don’t know? Just last night, Jiang Wan called me out of the blue, making a scene about wanting to be on that show because Jiang Ci is there.”

Chi Yuan: “And you agreed?!”

Xiao Qianqian: “Of course! She’s your girl, I had to give you that much face. Jiang Wan is quite devoted to you; she even sounded jealous when talking about Jiang Ci. Going on this show is definitely for her.”

“Giving Jiang Ci a hard time—shouldn’t that be exactly what you want?”

My god, so you’re the source of this evil. She had almost forgotten—the person who introduced her to Jiang Wan in the first place was Xiao Qianqian.

Chi Yuan rubbed her forehead, trying not to faint from anger. I really thank you for that “face.”

“A giant ‘Shura Field’ between the wife and the mistress—and you, the main party, want to join the mess? Sure, it’s just a word from me. You can join the crew the day after tomorrow.”

Chi Yuan exhaled. “Thanks for this. But I have to say one thing: I have absolutely nothing to do with Jiang Wan anymore. she’s not a good person. If you see her, take a detour. Don’t let her trap you.”

Hearing the dial tone, Xiao Qianqian was bewildered.

What? They broke up again?

No worries, babe, I’ll introduce you to a more obedient one next time!

Hanging up, Chi Yuan felt a wave of mental exhaustion, only to hear a series of alarms go off in her head.

System: [Detected intrusion of unknown forces! Automatic defense system forced to activate!]

[Detected data disorder, system forced shutdown.]

[Detected data disorder, system forced shutdown.]

With a clack, the alarms and the mechanical voice disappeared simultaneously—

Author’s Note:

Chi Yuan: The female lead and the villain both treat me as a tool. What a tragic life.

The two systems do not know of each other’s existence, but they interfere with one another.