Chapter 26 The Young Lady in the Wheelchair 26: Let's Get Married

Since that day, neither of them has mentioned what happened that day.

Cheng Zhishu naively thought that she had disguised herself well and would forget about it after waking up, and that she did not hear Xi Congshuang's whisper in her ear.

As the end of the semester approached, Cheng Zhishu returned home with a head full of important notes and encountered someone moving. At first, she didn't recognize who it was and stepped aside to avoid the busy servants, unaware of the stares directed at her from those around her.

She set off down the familiar road and walked deeper into the area.

On her journey to find Hui Wenhai, Cheng Zhishu never easily gets lost.

She imagined herself as a warrior in a fairy tale, her schoolbag as a heavy sword, and how she could overcome all obstacles to reunite with the princess in the tower.

Before dinner, Xi Congshuang asked, "You seem to be in a good mood today."

No student would refuse summer vacation. After the final exams, it's summer vacation, and Cheng Zhishu is indeed in a good mood.

Cheng Zhishu nodded: "Yes."

A smile appeared on Xi Congshuang's lips: "That's good."

On the first weekend of summer vacation, Xi Hanran, who had been a frequent flyer for nearly a month, appeared in Wenhai and insisted on staying for a meal to express her gratitude.

Xi Congshuang: "Wen Can didn't leave you any food again?"

Xi Hanran: "There's no one inside anymore, who's going to leave me some food?"

Xi Congshuang, finally remembering what she had done, said, "That's true."

Xi Hanran had drunk some wine and was a little drunk, her face flushed: "There are some things I can't do myself, it always looks bad."

"But thank you, I finally don't have to see him hanging around in front of me anymore... This glass is to celebrate my shameful dad finally moving out with his doubly shameful precious son!"

Xi Congshuang substituted fruit juice for alcohol: "You're welcome. I didn't do this because of you."

With her eyes blurry from drinking, Xi Hanran pointed and said, "You're getting more and more arrogant. Arrogance has been retired."

"..." Xi Congshuang raised her voice, "Xiao Liu! Someone is drunk, take her to the guest room."

Xiao Liu: "Hey, I'm here!"

Only then did Cheng Zhishu understand the true meaning behind Xi Congshuang's question that day.

Are you happy because the person who annoyed you left?

Cheng Zhishu lowered her head to drink her juice, revealing her red ear tips. She was afraid that if she didn't lower her head, her obvious smile would be noticed.

Even though she hadn't drunk any alcohol, she was already feeling slightly tipsy.

"Honkai Impact Value -1".

A familiar voice rang in Xi Congshuang's ears, and a figure as red as a ruby ​​spun before her eyes, truthfully announcing: "Current Honkai value 21, please keep up the good work, host."

Xi Congshuang: "..."

For the first time, she felt that the system's notification sounds were really annoying.

*

In the past, Xi Congshuang would always suffer some hardship when the seasons changed.

Having been a patient for many years, she thought she had enough experience, prepared in advance, and diligently underwent rehabilitation without any slackening.

As expected, the condition of my leg recovered well, and the phantom pain was greatly reduced.

Xi Congshuang, however, relaxed for a moment and stopped her slacking off, so she accidentally caught a cold during the change of seasons.

Wen Hai fell silent because of his master's illness. Chairman Xi also came over and left late at night.

Everyone moved slowly and quietly, afraid of waking the patient in the room.

Xi Congshuang felt like she had slept for a long time, and her whole body felt like it was going to fall apart. When she first woke up, she forgot where she was and instinctively called out, "Nurse Yang..."

The figure lying beside the bed stirred, groggily reaching out to touch Xi Congshuang's hand: "Sister, you're awake?"

Nurse Yang wouldn't touch her casually, and she certainly wouldn't call her "sister."

Xi Congshuang instantly snapped out of her daze, remembering where she was: "Zhishu? What are you doing here?"

Having slept for too long, the hoarse voice startled Xi Congshuang, who coughed a few times to clear her throat.

Cheng Zhishu rubbed her eyes: "You slept all day and didn't wake up. I'm covering for Sister Liu and staying here for a while. Is anything bothering you?"

The bedside was covered in dents, and the sheets were wrinkled, as if a small animal had been lying there sleeping there.

Xi Congshuang was in a daze for a moment in the dim light. In that instant, she couldn't quite explain what was going on in her mind. She answered a beat late, "I don't think so."

This reaction doesn't seem to be nonexistent.

Cheng Zhishu was still a little worried, but she finally understood why Sister Liu was always so anxious about this and that, and couldn't help but treat her with the same attitude.

Xi Congshuang does indeed possess a stronger will than ordinary people, but relatively speaking, her body is extremely fragile.

She often didn't take it seriously, and before she knew it, she found herself sick, but she still didn't take it seriously.

This is what it means to be more anxious than the emperor.

Cheng Zhishu: "Dr. Qi is staying in a guest room upstairs. Should I call her over?"

"No need," Xi Congshuang asked. "What time is it now?"

Cheng Zhishu reached for her phone on the bedside table and showed it to Xi Congshuang: "It's 11 p.m. You've been sleeping all day."

She put away her phone: "Are you hungry, sister? Do you want something to eat? I'm going downstairs..."

Xi Congshuang had no appetite at the moment, so she grabbed her hand and said, "It's getting late. You must be tired. Do you want to go to sleep?"

She just saw the time on her phone. Today is Sunday. Cheng Zhishu still needs to go to school tomorrow, so she doesn't have to stay up with her, the patient.

Actually, she's fine; she just forgot to exercise restraint. She'll be fine after a while.

"...?"

Cheng Zhishu paused, her drowsy brain getting tangled under Xi Congshuang's gaze, and stammered, "...This, this is so embarrassing."

Xi Congshuang asked, puzzled, "What's there to be embarrassed about? It's just sleeping."

Could it be that Cheng Zhishu hasn't let go of the thought of repaying her kindness, and is stubbornly refusing to go back to her room to sleep, instead taking care of her, the patient?

She wouldn't go so far as to exploit high school students.

Cheng Zhishu: "..."

Her expression gradually went blank under Xi Congshuang's gaze. After a moment of blankness, it gradually became firm, as if she had made up her mind. She then stood up, supporting herself on the bed with her hands.

Xi Congshuang looked up, and whether it was her imagination or the darkness of the room, she felt that Cheng Zhishu's ears were red.

She raised her hand and pulled off the hair tie, her eyes lowered, her long hair falling over her shoulders and back, her ears hidden in her hair, making them even harder to see.

Then, a corner of Xi Congshuang's blanket was lifted, and another body, carrying the scent of citrus, lay down and took away the other pillow from her bed.

Xi Congshuang: "…………"

Um?

Finally realizing what was happening, Xi Congshuang paused for a few seconds, a rare occurrence, before turning to look at her side.

To everyone's surprise, Cheng Zhishu beside him had already closed her eyes, her long eyelashes drooping, and the shadows under her eyes were obvious.

Not only shadows, but also dark circles.

With my eyes open, I was always drawn to her bright, brown eyes, but when I closed them, I noticed the obvious fatigue on her young face.

It makes sense, given the already heavy academic workload, which only intensifies after entering senior year of high school.

In order to maintain her first-place ranking and win the scholarship, Cheng Zhishu tried every means to secretly study late at night, thinking that she could hide it from the girl in the next room.

After finally getting a weekend off, how could I not be exhausted if I spent my hard-earned free time on her?

Xi Congshuang suddenly lost the idea of ​​waking her up and letting her go back to her room on her own. Rather than going through all that trouble, she decided to let her continue sleeping, since her bed was quite large anyway.

only.

His scrutinizing gaze slowly descended, subtly deepening.

The light and shadow cast a hazy, delicate shadow on Cheng Zhishu's profile, like the surface of glazed porcelain, vaguely revealing what she would look like when she grew up.

What did that system say again?

He held a high position of power and influence, and was isolated and alone. He was all alone at the top, and the higher he climbed, the colder it got.

It sounds like she's suffering a lot, but the current Cheng Zhishu has nothing to do with those descriptions; instead, she's very clingy.

Never mind, let's leave it at that.

As Xi Congshuang gradually felt tired, she closed her eyes and went to sleep. In her drowsy state, she wondered if she had said something that might have caused a misunderstanding.

There must be some truth to it, otherwise how could Cheng Zhishu have misunderstood it...?

After she closed her eyes, Cheng Zhishu opened her eyes a crack and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Xi Congshuang with her eyes closed. She then opened her eyes and took a careful, deep breath.

She hugged the blanket, looked to her side, hesitated several times before silently withdrawing her hand and hugging the blanket again.

Although they were lying in the same bed, Xi Congshuang's sleeping posture was so upright that she wouldn't move around even in her sleep, so there was always a distance between them.

However, Cheng Zhishu was already very satisfied. She lowered her head, breathed with her nose touching the blanket, and slowly closed her eyes.

She thought she would have insomnia because she shared a bed with Xi Congshuang, and she was prepared to drink coffee to stay awake the next day. Unexpectedly, she felt so at ease surrounded by Xi Congshuang's scent that she slept soundly until dawn.

When one is ill, one is always more vulnerable, and Xi Congshuang had a rare dream about the past.

These dreams are fragmented and I don't know where they came from.

Many of these were things that Xi Congshuang thought she had long forgotten, suppressed deep in her mind for a long time. They surged up again while she was weak and still haunted her, disturbing her peaceful dreams.

"You are our only child, and your mom and dad have high hopes for you."

"Cong Shuang, we are very disappointed in you. You have always been excellent, why are you second?"

"You can't stay stagnant. Although you won first place this time, don't you think your overall performance has regressed compared to before?"

"It is very weak to have unnecessary feelings for unimportant people and to ask a nanny for a hug."

"What are you doing? Xi Congshuang, you've disappointed us so much!"

"..."

Despite not caring about these things and taking them lightly, Xi Congshuang would still suddenly wake up, slowly feeling her heart clench and struggle to beat in her chest.

It was already daylight, and the spot next to her was long gone; when she reached out to touch it, it was completely cold.

Xi Congshuang withdrew her hand from the cold bed and placed it on her forehead, her thin eyelids drooping.

"I'll take Monday off."

*

After sleeping all weekend, Xi Congshuang finally mustered enough strength to get out of bed and wheel herself downstairs for a walk.

Xiao Liu had a jacket draped over his arm, ready to put on a coat at any time. Although Xi Congshuang already had a jacket, it was still necessary to be on the safe side.

Zheng Momo followed behind her, determined to become Xi Congshuang's two protectors along with Xiao Liu.

When two people who are both naturally worrisome get together, they easily start chatting, exchanging words and discussing the grand plan for the restoration of Xi Congshuang Kang.

Xi Congshuang listened listlessly, resting her chin on her hand, trying to find a reason to get rid of the two of them.

Before she could even speak, Xi Congshuang's question was easily resolved, and the two of them voluntarily retreated, keeping watch at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Because Chairman Xi had returned, she went straight to Wenhai to chat with her shortly after arriving home.

"You look much better." Chairman Xi came alone, slowly sat down, and his eyes, which did not show his age, were full of satisfaction.

Xi Congshuang: "I'm sorry to have worried Grandma. Actually, it's just a minor problem. I'll be fine after a few days of rest."

Chairman Xi sighed, "To be honest, I was too impatient. I only thought that handing this project over to you would make it more perfect, and I forgot about your health condition."

She originally came to visit Xi Congshuang, a patient, but unexpectedly, in the end, Xi Congshuang had to comfort her. She almost raised three fingers to promise that she would never do it again and put Xi's mind at ease.

Chairman Xi said, "Cong Shuang, Grandma has been thinking about a problem these days and has also been looking for some people."

She looked up at Xi Congshuang on the other side of the table and said, "If there's anyone you like in there, I hope you'll get married."

Xi Congshuang asked in surprise, "Why would Grandma suddenly think of this?"

Chairman Xi: "Your health is not good, and you always need someone close to you to take care of you. This responsibility should fall on me, but I often can't be by your side to take good care of you."

"So I thought that if you got married, someone would take my place and take care of you wholeheartedly, whoever you like, is fine."

The woman who had been in charge of the Xi family for many years seemed to have sensed something long ago, and hinted at it subtly.

Xi Congshuang avoided the topic: "Xiao Liu, Dr. Zheng, and Dr. Qi all take care of me, so I don't feel like I have no one to take care of me."

Chairman Xi: "No, this is different."

People who remain single are not necessarily opposed to marriage. For example, Ms. Xi is an exception. She prefers to marry her career rather than a person.

In her youth, she used her marriage as a bargaining chip to more easily ascend to the position of leader. Later, she discovered that she could do it with or without the engagement, and less than three months after the engagement banquet, she proposed to dissolve the engagement.

At times, she is not much different from ordinary elders, believing that someone will take care of Xi Congshuang after marriage.

Even if she can't be completely devoted, she will use methods to force the other party to be completely devoted.

Xi Congshuang, on the contrary, never considered marriage or establishing an intimate relationship with anyone.

Besides, she won't stay here for long. Once the mission is complete, she'll disappear from this world. Why create unnecessary trouble?

Xi Congshuang said, "But I don't think there's any difference; they're all the same."

Rather than relying on a marital relationship to be connected with someone who can take care of her "wholeheartedly," Xi Congshuang trusts the doctors and caregivers she hires with real money more.

Their professional competence is far superior to "wholehearted dedication".

But she had no intention of arguing with Chairman Xi about these things; she wouldn't easily try to persuade a stubborn person.

Chairman Xi: "Grandma knows that incident was a huge blow to you, and it's unrealistic to expect you to cheer up immediately. But Shuang, haven't you noticed that you've been detached from us all along?"

Xi Congshuang's smile suddenly faded, and she asked in return, "Really? I don't think so."

The old fox is spicier. Chairman Xi easily saw through her evasive words: "Look, you're just trying to fool Grandma again. Grandma isn't like Hanran and your fourth aunt. She's not so easy to fool."

Xi Congshuang: "..."

*

As the sun set, Cheng Zhishu returned home in the fading light of early autumn. She was eager to see Xi Congshuang and didn't notice that the atmosphere at Wenhai was a bit strange today.

Before entering, she took off her earphones, her steps becoming lighter as she strode in: "Sister, I'm back..."

Upon seeing the scene inside, Cheng Zhishu's words became hesitant, and the final "la" sounded very weak, as if she wanted to disappear into thin air.

Cheng Zhishu silently felt a headache coming on: Why didn't anyone tell her that her sister's grandmother was also there!

So embarrassing, I don't know why, it's just so embarrassing!

I wonder if my sister's grandma will find me annoying, childish, and impolite.

Ugh, I'm so upset! I should have just peeked inside before I went in.

Chairman Xi was sitting upright on a single sofa, drinking tea. Hearing this, he looked towards the door, paused for a moment, and then remembered who the girl in front of him was.

When Xi Congshuang proposed to take the person away, she did not object. It was just raising a child, and the Xi family was not so poor that they had to force a minor out.

The girl was silent and gloomy back then, but after not seeing her for a while, she had changed a lot.

She looked much more striking than before; it wasn't the same face, and she almost didn't recognize her, though she still looked very youthful and innocent.

Xi Congshuang was sitting on the other side, smiling at her: "Zhishu is home. Grandma brought some snacks over. Would you like to try some?"

Cheng Zhishu finally reacted: "Hello, Chairman Xi."

Chairman Xi beckoned: "Hmm, do you want some of these snacks?"

Cheng Zhishu shuffled over and took a piece: "Thank you, Chairman Xi."

“It’s alright. Cong Shuang used to love eating this too, but she wasn’t very obedient.” Chairman Xi said to Xi Cong Shuang, “I regret sending you abroad to study so early, and not being able to see you more when you were a teenager.”

Xi Congshuang sighed helplessly, "Then let's look at Zhishu more. She's much cuter than me."

Xi Dong gave her a reproachful look: "Stop dragging others down and just mind your own business. How come Grandma didn't know you were so young but full of bad intentions?"

The topic was diverted, and Cheng Zhishu, feeling pressured by Xi Dong's aura, quietly left.

She intended to carefully make her way upstairs, but was stopped by Xiao Liu who was passing by: "Zhi Shu is back. There's sliced ​​pink pineapple in the kitchen, just waiting for you to come back and eat."

Without much struggle, she was grabbed by the strap of her backpack and dragged to the kitchen.

The full name of this pineapple is quite long, and Cheng Zhishu often forgets what it's called, so she and Xiao Liu just call it pink pineapple.

There was a small stool prepared for Cheng Zhishu in the kitchen. When she was still growing, she often needed to eat. She would get hungry before mealtime and would sit on the stool to be fed by Xiao Liu and the others in turns.

She ate some pink pineapple to fill her stomach while smelling the aroma of the food and waiting for it to be served. Today, Chairman Xi was staying for dinner, so the preparation time would be a little longer than usual.

Xiao Liu poured a glass of freshly squeezed juice from the refrigerator: "It was just squeezed this afternoon, try it... I would never lie to you. Dr. Zheng and I both heard it. Chairman Xi said he hopes Miss will get married so that someone can take care of her wholeheartedly."

The first sentence was spoken to Cheng Zhishu, and the second sentence was spoken to the kitchen helper who was preparing vegetables.

Cheng Zhishu, who was drinking juice, choked: "Pfft, cough cough cough—"

Xiao Liu: "Actually, I think... Zhi Shu, be careful! Why did you choke? Give me a tissue."

"Cough cough cough cough!" Cheng Zhishu grabbed a tissue, covered her mouth with her other hand and coughed incessantly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to lift her head.

She could hear Sister Liu speaking nervously, but she couldn't concentrate on listening. Her heart sank, yet it pounded more violently than ever before.

It was only at this moment that she finally remembered the problem she had been deliberately ignoring all along.

—Xi Congshuang is five years younger than her and is a successful adult woman. How could she have feelings for a little girl?

If Xi Congshuang knew about my delusions, would she find them disgusting?

I think so.

She might even feel like she's repaying kindness with enmity, that the person she helped has developed feelings for her benefactor.

Cheng Zhishu leaned on the table, face down, breathing heavily. An overwhelming feeling of bitterness overwhelmed her, and her emotions surged towards her like the sea, almost suffocating her.

Hearing the news of her upcoming marriage was completely unexpected, and Cheng Zhishu had no way to stop it.

She was never anyone to Xi Congshuang.

Xiao Liu was so frightened that he stood up and kept patting his back to calm him down: "Do you want some water?"

Cheng Zhishu nodded haphazardly, took the water glass handed to her and drank it all in one gulp. She casually wiped away her tears with a tissue, forcing herself to act as if nothing had happened.

But the kitchen light was too bright, and her eyes would sting and her vision would blur whenever she looked up.

I want to cry, but I can't. I have to compose myself and go out to eat.

With Chairman Xi present, the dining table was quieter than usual. Neither the grandfather nor the grandson had the habit of talking at the table, and the only sounds in the dining room were the occasional clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

After finishing his meal, Chairman Xi got up to leave.

"It's getting late, Grandma will head back now so as not to disturb your rest," said Chairman Xi. "Why don't you rest at home for another day tomorrow? The project is finished, so Assistant Ni can handle it for you."

"I will."

Xi Congshuang went to see her off, but she stopped Xi Congshuang and said to her in front of the dining room door, "Grandma hopes you will think this over carefully."

She genuinely hoped that Xi Congshuang could be happier and not so depressed.

He was also worried that as he grew older, he would no longer have the energy to take care of Xi Congshuang.

It doesn't matter who it is, as long as they can be by her side.

Xi Congshuang nodded: "I will, Grandma."

In short, let's just get by for now.

Knowing that things shouldn't be rushed, Chairman Xi didn't continue speaking and left.

After everyone left, Xi Congshuang looked at the long-empty seat.

Today, Cheng Zhishu did not sit next to her for the meal, but sat opposite her, facing her.

She ate with her head down the whole time, and when Chairman Xi left her seat, she followed him away. She should be back upstairs now.

She thought that perhaps Chairman Xi's presence was too strong, making Cheng Zhishu feel uncomfortable.

————————

Here it is, a long update for today! [Sprinkling flowers]