Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 482 - 467 is done for

Jiang Jinghuai remembered that there was still a celebration banquet coming up later; sneaking out like this was his only option. Quelling the faint bitterness in his heart, he said stubbornly in a low voice, "Sangsang, wait for me. I’ll come tomorrow."

"Look at her, not even willing to return home. A pregnant woman living alone outside—no wonder people talk behind her back!" Walking side by side with Jiang Jinghuai, Ye Binyi complained discontentedly. Especially considering the attitude her daughter-in-law had shown toward her son just now—it was truly outrageous.

"Mom, do you seriously not know the reason she won’t come home?" Jiang Jinghuai held back his temper.

Ye Binyi certainly knew, but she didn’t feel she was at fault. Still, given the rare nature of today, she didn’t want an unpleasant fallout between mother and son because of Tian Sangsang. She glanced behind her, her expression growing grave. "Jinghuai, Sangsang is already over four months pregnant—do you still remember the last time you two were intimate?"

Jiang Jinghuai felt awkward being asked that aloud. Seeing his mother’s mysterious demeanor, his sharp brows knitted slightly as he struggled to grasp her intent.

Ye Binyi sighed heavily, assumed a solemn demeanor, and fixed her gaze on him seriously. "It’s not that I’m trying to stir things up, but my heart hasn’t been at peace. Have you heard what people outside are saying? They’re claiming Sangsang’s child might not be..."

"Mom!" Jiang Jinghuai’s face darkened instantly. He rubbed his temples wearily and said, "What are you even talking about! Sangsang’s child is mine! You’re a teacher too—how can you blindly believe that nonsense?"

Ye Binyi saw that he was genuinely angry and hastily said, "Alright, alright... If you say so, then it’s my grandchild. I’m just too worried, that’s all—it made me lose my sense of proportion." Hearing the conviction in her son’s tone, Ye Binyi reluctantly believed him. But her uneasiness remained. "Still, one thing I must remind you. The other day, I saw Zhao Chun coming and going at her home with keys in hand. If it’s our Jiang Family’s child, it doesn’t make sense for it to stay out there like that. You really shouldn’t let Sangsang keep doing as she pleases."

Jiang Jinghuai’s breathing slowed slightly, and he lowered his eyes. "I understand."

**

Ji Qin and the others were brought back for questioning, and Hua Jun dared not be careless.

Since there had been a flaw in this situation, someone was bound to latch onto it. She had to handle everything flawlessly and ensure Jiang Jinghuai wouldn’t detect anything suspicious.

Returning home in a foul mood, Hua Jun saw Hua Zifeng lounging on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other. Already irritable, Hua Jun didn’t want to argue with him, and for once, even his annoying demeanor didn’t bother her as much.

Hua Zifeng glanced at her unexpectedly and then curled his lips knowingly. "Sis, even you have your missteps, huh? Bet you didn’t think that of all times, Jiang Jinghuai would happen to come back now, did you? Ah, sometimes plans really can’t match fate. Even I have to marvel at the heavens right now."

Hua Jun snorted but said nothing.

"It’s fine to suffer a loss this time," Hua Zifeng said leisurely. "Life’s like a spinning wheel; maybe next time things will turn in our favor. Believe me, sis—next time, surprises might be waiting for us."

"Oh? And how would you know? How are you always so well-informed about my affairs?" Hua Jun turned her head coldly, eyeing him.

Hua Zifeng shrugged. "Family, right? Naturally, we ought to look out for one another."

"Ha." Hua Jun remained skeptical.

"What’s your setback got to do with me?" Hua Zifeng straightened up, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and said meaningfully, "In this matter, staying thoroughly uninvolved would be much better for you. Cut it off at the roots."

Hua Jun wasn’t entirely without that inclination. She let out a faint snort. "And what about your little lover?"

"Just playing, that’s all," Hua Zifeng said. "Old ones go so new ones can come. Besides, there’s a big tree waiting for me up ahead."

"Careful it doesn’t hang you to death," Hua Jun mocked.

Hua Zifeng chuckled lightly, unconcerned.

**

Even after being implicated as the mastermind, Ji Qin wasn’t afraid because she had backers. But what she hadn’t anticipated was being used as a pawn. When sentenced and thrown into prison, she was still completely dazed. Once realization set in, she fought desperately, screaming out loud: "Let me go! I want to see Prosecutor Hua! I was framed!"

"Where’s Prosecutor Hua? I want to see her! I want to see her!"

"Behave yourself! It’s decided—there’s no framing you here!"

After being locked in an icy cell for three days, with no one to answer her cries for help, her glimmer of hope slowly extinguished. Only then did Ji Qin wake up to reality. She was laughably naive and ridiculously foolish. She thought climbing aboard Hua Family’s ship could bring her security, but the Hua Family hadn’t cared about her at all.

In the eyes of the Hua Family, she was nothing but an insignificant ant. When their mood was good, they’d let her crawl freely on the ground. When their mood shifted, crushing her would be effortless.

Especially Hua Jun—one moment, she was reassuring Ji Qin, claiming she would help her get out as long as she admitted guilt formally and made a show of it. The next moment, she abandoned her to rot in prison. How could Hua Jun do this to her?

In this moment, Ji Qin thought of Tian Sangsang—a truly fortunate woman, always surviving no matter how much others schemed against her, with a man who cherished her deeply. Why had she never encountered such a good man? All she ever got was trash like Hua Zifeng—a shameless pervert and scoundrel!

She deeply regretted challenging Tian Sangsang in the past. That pointless competition had only destroyed her. She was just thirty years old—not young but nowhere near old either. Half her life was still ahead. How could she face spending the rest of it locked in a cold, dark prison cell?

If she’d focused on running a legitimate business, things wouldn’t have turned out this badly—she wouldn’t have fallen to the point of incarceration. All this was the fault of the Hua siblings.

She was unwilling! Completely unwilling!

A few days later, Ji Qin saw Hua Jun, lofty and expressionless as if indifferent to everything. But Ji Qin now saw her for what she truly was—a venomous woman. Hua Jun’s superiority was built solely on power; such people were despicable and hateful, assuming that holding power meant controlling everything. And yet, Ji Qin couldn’t deny that she wished she could become someone like Hua Jun.

"Prosecutor Hua," Ji Qin smothered her resentment, adopting a flattering tone. "Prosecutor Hua, you finally came to see me. Didn’t you say everything would just be a formality? Why am I still locked in here?"

Hua Jun replied coldly, "You committed the crime. If not you, who else should be locked up?"

Her tone carried no trace of courtesy or pretense. Ji Qin knew, without a doubt, that this was her downfall.

"No, Prosecutor Hua, you can’t turn your back on me like this! You had a hand in this too—how can you shove everything onto me?" Her voice trembled with desperation.

Hua Jun sneered. "I have no idea what you’re talking about. Behave yourself and focus on rehabilitation here. If you perform well, you’ll be out soon enough."

Ji Qin let out a few bitter laughs before suddenly screaming at her hysterically, "You beasts—someone will deal with you all eventually. Hua Jun, aren’t you afraid I’ll spread all your dirt around from in here?"