Just Wanting to Divorce My Love Rival - Chapter 27

Mu Cheng looked at her with a face full of anticipation and a hint of joy. “I knew it! You definitely remember. Since you remember, this is much easier. The reason I said those things to you nine years ago was to make you believe me now and help me understand what happened…”

Zhong Yingzhi listened to her words quietly, without interrupting or questioning, but her expression gradually grew solemn.

By the end of the speech, Zhong Yingzhi hadn’t said a word. Instead, she turned and gave an order: “Auntie Yang, bring me my phone.”

Auntie Yang briskly handed over the phone with a humble and respectful attitude. She had silver-streaked hair and a slightly plump build, clearly over fifty. Having worked for the Zhong family for nearly twenty years, she had watched Zhong Yingzhi grow up. Despite this, she never overstepped her boundaries, maintaining a strict sense of decorum.

After getting the phone, Zhong Yingzhi dialed Lin Zhuo. “Is it possible there’s still a problem with the brain scans from last time that we missed?” she asked coldly.

“Impossible. If there were a problem, there’s absolutely no way I wouldn’t have found it,” Lin Zhuo replied firmly. Though he was talkative, he had never failed in his professional field. With his high-level medical skills, such a low-level error was out of the question.

“She’s started talking nonsense again, insisting she traveled through time,” Zhong Yingzhi cast a worried glance at the person in front of her. “I suspect she’s developed a mental illness, or perhaps some kind of delusional disorder.”

Mu Cheng looked at her with a forced smile. “I’m standing right here. When you’re calling me mentally ill or delusional, could you show some tact? At least don’t say it to my face.”

Zhong Yingzhi hung up and took Mu Cheng’s hand. “Come on, I’m taking you back for another check-up.”

“It’s useless no matter how many scans we do; my brain isn’t broken,” Mu Cheng shook off her hand. “Do you really have no impression of the things I told you in college?”

Zhong Yingzhi’s brows knit tightly, her expression becoming increasingly grave.

Seeing that look, Mu Cheng sensibly stopped talking. If she continued, Zhong Yingzhi would undoubtedly drag her back for more brain scans, wasting more precious time. It was better not to go looking for trouble.

“Fine, fine, stop,” Mu Cheng raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I won’t say it anymore. Don’t drag me to any more exams. I’ve just been reading too many time-travel novels and was playing a joke on you. Don’t be so serious.”

Zhong Yingzhi’s grim expression softened slightly, but concern still lingered in the depths of her eyes.

Mu Cheng couldn’t waste any more time on Zhong Yingzhi. She scanned her surroundings and quickly spotted an exit from the living room; the door was slightly ajar, suggesting a path out.

She made a snap decision. Catching Zhong Yingzhi off guard, she dashed over and pushed the door open.

Zhong Yingzhi frowned at her inexplicable behavior.

When Mu Cheng pushed the door open, she realized it wasn’t an exit, but a walk-in closet. Warm yellow lights illuminated wooden wardrobes where clothes, trousers, and dresses were hung in distinct categories. It was a spectacular sight; even a large clothing store might not have this many items.

Mu Cheng tutted in admiration. Rich people are truly extravagant.

“What are you doing?” Zhong Yingzhi asked from behind.

Mu Cheng froze. Seeing this closet, she had almost forgotten her original goal. She had planned to run away—staying by Zhong Yingzhi’s side would yield no answers, and she couldn’t get a phone. Her only choice was to head out and try to find an acquaintance to ask about the situation.

Mu Cheng gave an awkward laugh and made up a random excuse. “Nothing. I just thought this door looked nice and wanted to see what was behind it.”

Zhong Yingzhi looked suspicious. “Is that so?”

Mu Cheng’s eyes darted around, looking for another way out. “Your walk-in closet is great. So many clothes. Even if you changed every day, you probably couldn’t wear them all.” Her wandering eyes locked onto another door. That one must be the exit.

Zhong Yingzhi: “You’d have to ask yourself. This is your closet.”

Mu Cheng was about to lunge for the door when she heard those words. She stopped, turned her head, and looked at her in shock. “My closet? All mine? This many?”

Zhong Yingzhi shook her head.

“I knew it. How could they all be mine?” Mu Cheng shook her head.

Zhong Yingzhi pointed upstairs. “One room couldn’t fit them all. There are more on the second and third floors.”

One room was already an appalling amount; there was more? Is this the benefit of marrying a tycoon? Buying clothes in wholesale mode?

Mu Cheng rubbed her chin. “Am I with you because I’m after your money? Did I endure the ‘pummeling’ of society after graduation and finally lower my noble head before shallow wealth?”

Zhong Yingzhi: “…”

At that, Mu Cheng remembered something. “Do I have a job? I’m not a useless freeloader who eats ‘soft rice’ and spends money without restraint, am I? Did you raise me to be a waste?”

Zhong Yingzhi reached out and ruffled her hair, laughing softly. “What are you thinking? Of course you have your own career.”

Mu Cheng dodged her hand. “Don’t speak to me so tenderly. It’s too lovey-dovey; I’m not used to it.”

Mu Cheng’s face darkened as she asked curiously, “So what do I do? Do I earn a lot? Is it related to my major?”

Zhong Yingzhi retracted her empty hand, her voice turning a degree colder. “It is related to your major. You’re a magazine editor-in-chief.”

Mu Cheng’s mouth hung half-open. “Wow, am I that impressive?”

“I opened the magazine house,” Zhong Yingzhi poured cold water on her.

Mu Cheng’s bright smile froze. “I knew it! How could I be that impressive? Turns out it was through the back door.”

Zhong Yingzhi raised an eyebrow slightly. “Have some confidence. Even though I opened it, it’s very likely you earned the position through your own ability.”

Mu Cheng let out a couple of “he-he”s. Then, like a flash of lightning, she bolted for the door and fled.

Zhong Yingzhi stood there, watching her run away. She didn’t stop her, simply shaking her head helplessly.

Running out of the living room, Mu Cheng found herself in a vast garden. The lawn stretched out endlessly, with a cobblestone path winding through it. In the distance was a pond where schools of golden fish swam.

A groundskeeper was trimming the bushes with garden tools. Seeing Mu Cheng run out, he bowed. “Good morning, Madam.”

Mu Cheng nodded slightly in response, looking a bit dazed. She was once again stunned by the sight. She knew Zhong Yingzhi was rich, but that had been a superficial understanding. She thought the closet was extravagant enough, but there was even more here.

The villa’s garden was larger than many scenic parks. It was beautiful—a perfect place for retirement.

However, Mu Cheng was in no mood for scenery. She was stuck in a very direct dilemma. The time she spent here was never certain—sometimes one hour, sometimes four or five, sometimes more or less.

Looking at the massive garden, she felt stuck. It was so big, she had no map, and no car. How was she supposed to get out? Even if she managed to walk out, there would be no time left to do anything else.

Mu Cheng rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Why build a house this big? People would think it’s the Emperor’s imperial garden.”

She still needed to make a phone call. Mu Cheng fixed her gaze on the young groundskeeper. He was wearing a blue uniform, had a clean-cut face, and looked to be in his early twenties—a clean-looking young man.

Mu Cheng jogged over, a smile plastered on her face.

The groundskeeper stopped his work. “Madam, do you have any orders?”

“Could you stop calling me ‘Madam’? It sounds so weird,” she said, before waving it off. “Forget it, that’s not important. Lend me your phone for a second.”

The groundskeeper looked troubled and stammered, “That… I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Why? Just a quick favor, it’ll only take a minute. Please?” Mu Cheng looked at him expectantly.

The groundskeeper looked extremely conflicted but remained firm in his refusal.

“I am the ‘Madam’ of this huge villa!” Mu Cheng said the word with great difficulty. “I won’t steal your phone. How about this: you lend me the phone and I’ll give you a raise. As the ‘Madam,’ giving you a raise is no problem. Trust me.”

The groundskeeper bit his lip. “Madam, please don’t make it difficult for me.”

Mu Cheng: “I just want to borrow a phone; it’s not a big deal. Then just consider that I’m buying your phone. Ask Zhong Yingzhi for the money—ask for whatever you want, thousands, tens of thousands, just open your mouth wide.”

“Miss Zhong gave orders a long time ago—we cannot give you a phone. Please don’t make it hard for me. I’m just a junior employee; I can’t make that decision,” the groundskeeper confessed.

Mu Cheng cursed under her breath. “That woman… she just won’t quit, will she? She’s a total roadblock.”

Since she couldn’t borrow a phone, she had to bite the bullet and keep walking out. On the way, she saw the villa’s shuttle car. Since the garden was so big, a shuttle was provided for the residents’ convenience.

Mu Cheng tried to get on, but was refused. The reason: “President Zhong instructed that you cannot leave the estate.”

Mu Cheng suppressed her anger. Fine, I won’t ride. She continued on foot.

As she walked, she grumbled, “In this ‘Imperial Garden,’ I’m supposed to be the Empress, right? Why won’t the shuttle take me? Why can’t I borrow a phone? What kind of Empress is this? An Empress in name only—meaningless.”

After walking for about ten minutes, she finally reached the exit. The red wall was two meters high, and the large iron gates were tightly shut.

Mu Cheng jogged to the guardhouse next to the gate and peeked through the window. An old man in his sixties was sitting inside.

“Grandpa, could you help me open the gate? Thank you,” Mu Cheng called out politely.

The old man turned his body, turning his back to her as if he hadn’t heard.

Mu Cheng raised her voice. “Grandpa! Help me open the gate! Grandpa, open up! Open the gate! Um… Grandpa, can you hear me?”

Great. I get it. There was no way he didn’t hear her. 100% another order from Zhong Yingzhi.