Chapter 12 A Brake Malfunction

• "What are you looking at? Cheng Xi, even if you don't like your sister-in-law, you still can’t slander her like this."
• It was unclear since when, but Cheng Jinghao was already standing behind me. His tone was much more stern than usual.
• The expression on my mother-in-law's face finally eased down. She rebuked Cheng Xi in a mild tone.
• I was stunned. I completely wasn’t expecting him to speak for me. During my dazed state, the housekeeper came to inform dinner was ready.
• In the middle of dinner, Cheng Jinghao received a phone call and had to leave first, probably because of some issue at work.
• Once dinner was over and all the relatives had left, my mother-in-law invited us to spend the night in the old residence. But because I was not willing to see Song Meiqian, I gracefully turned down the offer.
• Unexpectedly, Cheng Xi also made a ruckus about wanting to go back to her own apartment. Nevertheless, she had some drinks so she should not be driving. There was also no extra drivers in the house.
• Song Meiqian's eyes glinted. She said, "Jing, if you’re okay with it, you should drive Cheng Xi back. Her car's parked near the gate.”
• My mother-in-law nodded too. I could only agree and left with Cheng Xi.
• She was much quieter after she drank; she didn’t make a ruckus or cause troubles along the way. When we were about to reach her neighborhood, she untied her seatbelt and covered her. "Stop the car—I kind of want to throw up."
• "Okay."
• I looked at the rear-view mirror and to the rightmost lane. However, the car did not decelerate no matter what I did.
• Cheng Xi could not help but retch. Her voice was filled with impatience. "What are you dawdling about? Stop the car."
• A bad hunch rose inside me. I tried stepping on the brake paddle to maximum, but it was not working. I said worriedly, "The brake doesn't seem to work."
• She raised her voice, saying, "What? This car just went through maintenance the day before yesterday!"
• I gripped onto the steering wheel tightly and nervously fixated my line of sight on the road ahead. "Quick, call your brother!"
• I did not understand why, but in such a situation, the first person I thought of was Cheng Jinghao.
• Only him made me feel a little bit clear-headed.
• "Ning Jing!"
• When we reached a turn, a car sped past with its blinding headlights. My vision blurred. I only heard Cheng Xi cried out loud, and our car crashed straight towards a stretch of green.
• I simply could not avoid it, I swerved the steering wheel instinctively, doing my best not to crash at the passenger’s seat in the front.
• Crash—
• My head knocked heavily against the steering wheel, causing my mind blanked for a moment. Cheng Xi did not fasten her seat belt. She was bleeding and knocked out unconscious.
• I was trembling as I tried to push her. "Cheng Xi, Cheng Xi..." I called.
• She showed no response whatsoever. Still shaking all over, I flipped my bag over to get my cell phone and dialed the emergency number.
• My mind went blank upon seeing Cheng Xi's motionless body.
• It was quite a while after she was sent into the emergency room when my I gradually calmed down, and I finally made a call to Cheng Jinghao.
• Before long, he rushed over with my mother-in-law, as well as Song Meiqian.
• My mother-in-law ran over, crying as she asked, "What happened?!"
• I blamed myself for what happened, "Mom, the brake didn't work." I told as it was,
• With an unsightly expression, she sternly asked, "How could it suddenly broke?"
• I was also baffled, I didn’t know how to answer.
• Cheng Jinghao answered instead, "The police are already investigating the matter. When they find out about the cause, they'll let us know."
• My mother-in-law shot a fuming glare at me. Just as she was about to speak, the door of the emergency room opened. Cheng Xi was pushed out. She was pale and still unconscious.
• The doctor said that it was nothing serious; it was just that she hurt her forehead in the crash and it made her wound looked a bit gnarly.
• We sighed in relief. When we arrived at the lounge outside the ward, Song Meiqian seemed to be asking casually, "Jing, weren’t you driving Xixi back home? Why is she unconscious..."
• My mother in law already felt distressed to see Cheng Xi's in this plight. Hearing such a remark, she immediately turned to glare at me. "Why? Why is Xixi bruised and bloody while you can stand well here?"
• I seemed like a sinner. It was quite a while before squeezing out a light sentence, "I'm sorry..."
• Besides "I'm sorry", I really did not know what to say. If I could, I would rather be the one lying inside there.
• Song Meiqian continued fanning the flames, "Jing, Xixi is Jinghao's younger sister—even if she had done something wrong..."
• I glared at her fiercely. "What do you mean?"
• She took one step back fearfully, and her eyelashes quivered as she blinked—she looked like she was particularly afraid of me. Nevertheless, she did not stop talking, "I... I don't mean anything. I'm just afraid you took the quarrel between you and Xixi to heart."
• I was so angry that my fingers trembled. "Song Meiqian, what are you trying to say exactly—don't beat about the bush!"
• She bit her lower lip. "Tonight, the two of you were quarreling in the old residence. I'm just afraid you lost your mind for a moment..."
• "Enough!"
• Cheng Jinghao suddenly interrupted. His tone was so gloomy it would make people tremble in fear.
• Song Meiqian's voice died down instantly. Her eyes were brimming with grievances and worries.
• Cheng Jinghao's pitch-black eyes were weirdly fixated on me. His voice was freezing cold. "The police phoned me just now. They said the brake had been tampered with."
• A whirlpool of thoughts churned in my mind. When I discovered his examining gaze, I was stunned and almost burst into tears. "You're suspecting me?"
• Bouts of suffocating pain struck my chest. It was as if someone had dug a hole in it, I could not stand properly from the pain.
• My mother-in-law rushed towards me and slapped me in utmost fury. "Ning Jing, how could you do such a thing?!”
• My eyes widened in astonishment. The taste of blood quickly spread in my mouth. Even to explain, I did not know from where to begin.
• "Mom, mom..." a weak voice rang out from inside the ward.
• My mother-in-law could only drop the matter and hastily ran into the ward. She said worriedly, "How are you feeling—are you dizzy? Are you uncomfortable?"
• Cheng Jinghao was about to step inside when he heard Cheng Xi speaking in reluctance, "It doesn’t have anything to do with her. If it wasn't because she swerved the steering wheel and crashed the car on the driver’s side, I wouldn't be just suffering such minor injuries."
• I never expected that when everyone else doubted me, Cheng Xi, who was always on bad terms with me, would actually speak for me.
• Though, her tone sounded like she was very unwilling.
• Cheng Jinghao halted his steps. He frowned and casted a glance at me. "Are you injured?"
• For a moment, I felt pathetic and ridiculous. I asked him back, "You care about me?"
• I turned around and left at large strides the moment I finished speaking.
• "Ning Jing!"
• Right after I walked out of the ward, Song Meiqian came chasing after me.
• I couldn’t bear to look at her hypocrisy and sped towards the exit. She said, "Why are you not willing to divorce?"
• I halted. I brushed my disheveled long hair behind my ears and said, "The reason's very simple. I just want to let you bear the title ‘mistress’ for your whole life."
• Vexed, she glared fiercely at me with her pretty almond-shaped eyes and blurted out, "Don't think I can't do anything about it! This time, Cheng Xi spoke for you. Next time, you won't be so lucky!"
• "It was you? Everything that happened tonight was your scheme?!”
• In an instant, I had grasped the situation. I felt a chill running down my spine. I could hardly believe this.