Chapter 33 The Young Lady in the Wheelchair 33: Let's Sleep Together

As the countdown on the blackboard passed its halfway mark and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, a major event was about to unfold at the Xi residence.

It was Chairman Xi's birthday. Although he looked very energetic, it was hard to tell from his appearance. Chairman Xi was already over seventy-four years old.

Her birthday party is always a grand affair, and this year was no exception.

The long-quiet manor has become lively again. This is one of Chairman Xi's private properties. She had planned to retire here, but she spends more time celebrating her birthday.

Everyone celebrated Chairman Xi's birthday. Cheng Zhishu, who was busy preparing for her exams, also put down what she was doing and went out with Xi Congshuang a day early to stay at the manor.

The next day, as soon as the appointed time arrived, guests came in droves, bringing gifts to congratulate Chairman Xi.

Originally, Cheng Zhishu was following Xi Congshuang, but as soon as the banquet started, Xi Congshuang was surrounded by a group of people, holding champagne glasses and chatting happily.

Cheng Zhishu couldn't understand, and stared blankly to the side with her eyes wide open, not even noticing when she was squeezed out.

"There are so many people, we can't get in." Cheng Zhishu stood on tiptoe, holding her juice, but could only see the top of Xi Congshuang's head from above the shoulders of the crowd.

Looking at the many figures surrounding Xi Congshuang, she felt lingering fear. Just as she was rationally considering the possibility of squeezing back in, her phone in her handbag began to shake incessantly.

This frequency should belong to Shangguan Yin.

She took out her phone and saw that the screen was full of messages from her, every word of which revealed her desperate call to Cheng Zhishu.

She also came to the banquet with her parents today, and was bored, so she hid in the pavilion of the manor and frantically sent her messages.

【Little Grass】: I'm so bored, so bored! Come save me!

【Little Grass Yinyin】: Where is everyone? Are you there?

【Little Grass Yinyin】: You're not still inside, are you? This is the most boring time of the day. Please come out and play with me.

【Little Grass】: Head covered in grass.jpg

"..."

Cheng Zhishu replied with an emoji and typed, "Coming soon."

Shangguan Yin replied instantly: "Love letter (heart)".

Cheng Zhishu also sent a message to Xi Congshuang, and then went out in that direction.

Crystal chandeliers hung high in the spacious hall, radiating dazzling light, while the red velvet curtains that usually hung down were now drawn up, and melodious music filled the air.

A crowd of elegantly dressed people entered through the gate, flowing into the hall like water. Only a girl in a blue dress went against the flow, like a small fish stepping out of a pond.

Lifting her skirt, Cheng Zhishu stepped out the door. She wasn't very skilled at walking in high heels, and after walking a short distance, she realized it was only dusk outside.

Standing in the hall, she always felt like it was a night of extravagance and debauchery, an atmosphere that could easily make one lose oneself in it.

Actually, it was only sunset outside, the setting sun melting into gold, casting a hazy golden halo over the earth.

Cheng Zhishu held up her phone, trying hard to make out the directions: "I remember looking at the map yesterday, the Guanhui Pavilion should be over there..."

Helping someone with a terrible sense of direction find their way in a place they've never been before is a daunting challenge.

The host of the banquet had not yet made his formal appearance, and guests were still arriving in droves.

Waiters in elegant uniforms led the way, and the guests who had arrived were both unfamiliar and special.

Among them was a blonde, blue-eyed foreign woman in a black suit. Her long blonde hair was neatly combed back and tied up, revealing her smooth forehead.

Her hairstyle is not something most people would choose under normal circumstances, and it's difficult to make it look good.

Firstly, the curvature of the skull is not superior enough; secondly, not everyone's hairline can be openly exposed.

This serious young lady, however, had none of these concerns. Her striking features remained expressionless, like an internationally renowned supermodel, and the carpeted road seemed to have become her runway.

The waiter smiled and led the way, thinking to himself that this person must be someone of great importance.

“Flora, you’re here for a birthday party, not to inspect company operations,” Bo Manqing noticed her friend’s expression and reminded her, “Don’t look like that, cheer up.”

Flora: "I think I'm pretty happy."

Unexpectedly, her Chinese was excellent, and her pronunciation was as clear and articulate as a TV news anchor.

This surprised the waiter slightly, who had expected her to speak in a short, abrupt foreign language, as arrogant as she appeared.

After thinking for a moment, Flora explained, "I also brought a gift, one of the family head's favorite collections, to express my joy."

Bo Manqing turned her head and carefully examined Flora's face. Suddenly she said, "Smile. People in this country especially like people who can smile. They feel very close to them."

"..." Flora made a few effort to raise the corners of her straight lips a few pixels.

Bo Manqing couldn't help but chuckle: "Flora, you're really something. By the way, didn't the head of the family call to complain about your disobedience?"

Flora's rising pixels dropped, and there was a downward trend: "She's sick and can't call to scold me."

Speaking of the word "lesson," something ahead caught her attention, and she looked up with eyes as blue as the sea.

Bo Manqing followed her gaze and saw a young girl wearing a blue dress.

Holding her phone, Cheng Zhishu resisted the urge to scratch her head and muttered to herself as she walked away from the two of them: "East...east? North is up, south is down, west is left, east is right, it should be this way..."

Suddenly, Cheng Zhishu stopped, spun around in place, used her phone's compass to determine the direction, and made up her mind to walk in that direction.

Cheng Zhishu: "This is east, go this way."

Seeing that she was all alone, Bo Manqing said to the waiter, "We already know the way. Go and help the lost girl."

The waiter replied, "She is not a guest, but has a close relationship with Mr. Xi. Someone will help Miss Cheng in a moment."

As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter carrying the wine tray went straight to Cheng Zhishu and bowed to inquire about her doubts.

Flora spoke again in fluent Chinese, which seemed out of place with her appearance: "Close relationship with Xi Congshuang?"

Bo Manqing then grasped the key point: "Miss Cheng? Her surname isn't Xi?"

The waiter smiled politely but offered no further explanation and continued to lead the way.

Since the other party was unwilling to talk, Bo Manqing didn't ask any further and followed them for a while.

Flora stared in the direction the other person had left, and only followed after Bo Manqing called her a few times.

*

Inside the banquet hall, after finally getting rid of all the irrelevant people, Xi Congshuang could finally catch her breath and relax her stiff facial muscles, only to find that new guests were eagerly approaching.

Chairman Xi has not yet appeared, and there are not many members of the Xi family worth talking to. In addition, the others have grown legs and can run, leaving only Xi Congshuang, who is in a wheelchair and cannot freely use her electric wheelchair in crowded places.

Xi Hanran, unusually, had a change of heart and took the initiative to push Xi Congshuang away.

Given her condition, please stop abusing disabled people.

However, she didn't dare to say what was on her mind. After returning from the villa, the glider that Xi Congshuang had given her was still sitting untouched in Wen Can's warehouse.

She was truly convinced, and also truly afraid.

It's just a kite, why be so petty?

Pushing the person to a quiet place, Xi Hanran smiled smugly: "Go thank me now."

For example, they are grateful and sincerely call me aunt.

Xi Congshuang: "I'll have Ni An find you a senior hang gliding instructor as a thank you gift."

Xi Hanran was furious: "When are you going to let go of the glider thing? Don't be so vengeful at such a young age."

Xi Congshuang raised her glass to drink water, not arguing with her. In fact, she was two years older than Xi Hanran.

Xi Hanran: "You're so petty, it's easy for you to make life boring."

Realizing what she had said, Xi Hanran covered her mouth in alarm.

She said it! She actually said those three words to Xi Congshuang!

Xi Congshuang: "..."

He put down his water glass and gave her a bright smile: "Hehe."

Xi Hanran was completely stunned, and felt like she saw the hang gliding instructor grinning and waving at her.

Someone seemed to have entered through the door, causing a brief moment of liveliness in the hall, which attracted the attention of the two people in the corner.

The two younger relatives, who were taking a break, were bumped into by their aunt, who arrived late. They brought wine glasses and stood together to exchange pleasantries.

"Who is that?" Xi Congshuang searched her mind but couldn't find a suitable face, so she asked.

Xi Hanran gave her a strange look: "Those are the Asia-Pacific president of Ander Group in the United States and the assistant to the president of Ander headquarters. They had a short-term cooperation with Xi's Group before, which you negotiated. You've forgotten about that?"

Xi Congshuang gave an excuse: "Too many things happened after the car accident, and I sometimes can't remember things. I only remember Bo Manqing, but my memory of that conspicuous blonde lady is vague."

Even though she had never met Bo Manqing, the president of the Asia-Pacific region, Xi Congshuang could easily recognize her face, but she truly did not recognize the other one.

Xi Hanran thought about it and agreed, then said, "That's Flora, the assistant to the president at headquarters. She's been representing the company headquarters on inspections recently, so she doesn't usually come here."

Seeing the group chatting happily, Xi Hanran said, "They probably came to say a few words because it's Chairman Xi's birthday and they're here for the sake of our short-term cooperation."

It's nothing more than icing on the cake and social niceties.

Flora seemed distracted, glancing several times unintentionally at the staircase leading to the second floor, where Chairman Xi would most likely appear.

After watching for a while, Xi Congshuang turned her gaze away, intending to take out her phone to check. However, Flora, who was blatantly staring blankly with an expressionless face, finally noticed them and looked over.

Her blue, inorganic eyes met Xi Congshuang's gaze for a moment, she nodded to her, and then turned to speak to Bo Manqing.

Bo Manqing and Fourth Aunt, who were exchanging pleasantries, both looked over and said something with smiles. Flora suddenly turned her head and stared straight at Xi Congshuang.

This behavior was incredibly rude. Only after Bo Manqing quietly reminded her did she regain her composure and return to her expressionless state.

Xi Congshuang didn't take it to heart. She had seen too many similar looks these days. If Flora's assistant was far away abroad, it was normal that she wouldn't know about this car accident in China.

In fact, Flora's question was completely opposite to what Xi Congshuang had in mind.

Flora asked Bo Manqing, "That pretty woman in the white dress looks familiar, who is she?"

Bo Manqing: "You forgot, she is Xi Congshuang."

Flora: "?!"

Does Xi Congshuang look like this?

After being reminded, Flora turned her gaze to the second floor, where no one had appeared yet, and belatedly realized that Xi Congshuang was sitting in a wheelchair at that time.

I was being quite impolite to stare at someone like that.

Flora downed the champagne in one gulp, then beckoned a waiter to replace the empty glass with another, preparing to go and apologize.

Bo Manqing couldn't stop her, so she had to let her go. Unfortunately, Flora was often as stubborn as a Doberman Pinscher that was hard to pull back.

To Flora's surprise, Xi Congshuang didn't care about these things, which relieved her. She repeatedly expressed her apologies before leaving.

Xi Hanran was quite surprised: "I didn't expect her to be so straightforward and sincere."

People like them can easily discern the insincerity in someone's tone of voice, even without looking at their facial expressions.

Despite Flora's long, aloof, and haughty face, her personality is at the other extreme—she's serious to the point of being a bit naive.

She walked over and said, "I'm sorry, the way I looked at you just now was too offensive. Please forgive me."

Xi Hanran was almost startled, thinking she had misheard and that the other person was picking a fight.

Xi Congshuang did not talk much with Xi Hanran about Flora's feelings.

Xi Congshuang: "I'm a little tired. I'm going upstairs to take my medicine. Please tell Grandma later."

Xi Hanran: "Okay."

Considering her health condition, Xi Dong wouldn't be unhappy even if Xi Congshuang didn't appear, and Xi Hanran saw her off with great envy.

Avoiding the crowd, Xi Congshuang stayed alone in the lounge, dismissing the waiters who wanted to stay and serve her.

It's much quieter here than outside, providing Xi Congshuang with a space to think quietly.

She felt that this Flora... seemed familiar.

With striking blonde hair and a straightforward personality, he seems like a capable assistant who briefly appeared after the female lead went to prison.

The ending depicts the female protagonist confessing to all the crimes. After avenging her great grudge, she is heartbroken and loses all hope. She refuses to accept the legal team hired by her assistant to defend her, leaving the assistant feeling helpless.

Because the information provided by the system is too brief, many related figures and stories are replaced with vague terms, requiring Xi Congshuang to make her own judgments based on reality and not to easily believe all the contents.

For example, the information states that Xi Congshuang believes Xi Hanran is unscrupulous and despises her to the extreme. She even suspects that Xi Hanran may have been behind the car accident and that Xi Hanran often takes advantage of her vulnerable position and the favoritism of Chairman Xi to retaliate.

In fact, the car accident she suffered was indeed an accident, not caused by human intervention.

But there are too many blonde women in the world, so it cannot be simply concluded that the assistant who appeared briefly was Flora.

*

"Orange, you're going the wrong way, this is the way!"

Cheng Zhishu, who had taken the wrong turn, paused and caught up with Shangguan Yin ahead of her.

To prevent Cheng Zhishu from getting lost in her house any longer, Shangguan Yin suppressed a laugh as she led her back to the banquet hall.

Shangguan Yin looked on in surprise: "How come I didn't know you were so bad with directions? And didn't you come here last night? You still haven't gotten used to the way?"

Cheng Zhishu: "I've always had a terrible sense of direction. My sister gave me the layout map of the manor last night."

Shangguan Yin: "And then you still got lost."

Cheng Zhishu said heavily, "Yes."

Shangguan Yin remembered that the Xi residence was also very large, so she asked, "When you first moved to the Xi family...?"

Cheng Zhishu's voice grew even heavier: "Every day I would get lost and find my room only when the food was already cold. It wasn't until I moved to Wenhai that I was able to eat hot food."

Shangguan Yin couldn't stop laughing: "You too... hahahahahaha!"

She thought Cheng Zhishu was omnipotent, but little did she know that she was a hopelessly directionally challenged person who got lost in her own home.

Shangguan Yin gave her a thumbs up: "I'm truly impressed!"

"...Get out of here, go away."

Cheng Zhishu didn't want to talk to her and quickened her pace to leave. Shangguan Yin caught up with her and said, "Wait for me. If you disappear again, I really won't be able to find you."

Cheng Zhishu pointed and said, "I need to go to the restroom, are you coming or not?"

Shangguan Yin: "No, I'll wait for you outside."

Cheng Zhishu went to the restroom by herself. There was no one in the restroom. She washed her hands and tidied her wind-blown tangled hair in front of the mirror.

She didn't want to go to see Xi Congshuang looking disheveled; it wouldn't be pretty at all.

A short while later, the sound of flushing came from the cubicle, and someone opened the door and came out.

Cheng Zhishu subconsciously looked back in the mirror, and her first reaction was that she was so tall, definitely over 1.8 meters.

Tall and slender, she wore a loose black suit jacket and high heels, and it looked like she was walking right through the door.

The blonde woman with a high ponytail walked to the room next to Cheng Zhishu, turned on the tap to wash her hands, and the rushing water rinsed her hands, her wristwatch faintly visible in her sleeve.

She is undoubtedly a woman with a strong presence.

In her nervousness, Cheng Zhishu hissed in pain and actually pulled out her tangled hair.

After a moment of silence for her precious hair, Cheng Zhishu gently touched her aching head.

It really hurts; my scalp aches, and my heart aches too.

After tidying her hair, she casually tossed the tangled strands into the trash can and quickly left.

Unbeknownst to her, after she left, the sound of running water stopped. Flora took a tissue to dry her hands and picked up a strand of hair that had fallen beside the sink.

Upon closer inspection under the light, I was fortunate enough to discover that it was a hair with a follicle still attached.

But one is far from enough.

When Bo Manqing grew impatient and came looking for her herself, she was shocked to see Flora rummaging through the trash can.

Although the trash can was very clean and empty, it was definitely a trash can.

Bo Manqing: "Flora, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Flora took the pinky ring out of the trash can and put it in her pocket along with the hair ball in her palm: "My ring fell in there. It was a gift from the head of the family, so I can't throw it away."

Bo Manqing: "So that's how it is. I thought you were doing something stupid and rummaging through the trash can."

Flora stood up and washed her hands: "I'm not thinking anything of doing anything, don't worry."

Bo Manqing: "I'm not that worried about you."

After wiping the water off their hands, the two left the restroom together and continued attending the banquet.

The hostess of the banquet finally appeared, looking as elegant as ever in a royal blue gown.

From the moment she appeared, the atmosphere of the banquet reached its peak, becoming exceptionally lively, and it did not completely end until the moon was high in the sky.

Xi Congshuang didn't go downstairs again that night, but stayed in the upstairs lounge. Cheng Zhishu, who was tired from playing, was asleep on the sofa next to her.

She wore an off-the-shoulder dress today, showing off her fair and long legs.

She was curled up on the sofa playing on her phone when she unknowingly fell asleep. Her phone fell to the floor with a thud, startling Xi Congshuang, who was reading a book nearby.

Sleeping people are always more sensitive to the temperature around them. Cheng Zhishu couldn't find any warm blankets on her body, so she subconsciously curled up into a ball, hugged her arms, and muttered that she was cold.

In her daze, Cheng Zhishu, who was feeling cold, felt a heat source approaching. Something soft and warm covered her body, warming her cold limbs.

Unconsciously, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and her drowsy consciousness sank deeper into the ground. Cheng Zhishu fell into a deep sleep, dozing off against the sofa.

Xi Congshuang, who had covered Cheng Zhishu with a blanket, looked down at the phone on the ground. She could only cover Cheng Zhishu with the blanket, but she couldn't pick up the phone for her.

She lost interest in continuing to read and instead wheeled herself to the window and looked down.

It seemed the banquet was coming to an end, and the guests were leaving one after another, including Flora, who had striking blonde hair.

Bo Manqing stood next to her, the two of them only half a step apart, talking in hushed tones.

Flora asked Bo Manqing, "Don't you think the girl Xi Congshuang is close to looks a bit familiar? She looks like..."

As for who she resembles, Flora couldn't come to a conclusion.

Bo Manqing was slightly drunk: "Huh? I didn't hear what you just said."

Flora shook her head: "You're drunk. Remember to take hangover medicine when you get back to the hotel, or you'll have a headache from the hangover."

Bo Manqing laughed and said, "Don't worry, I won't have a hangover headache, so you don't need to take care of me with the same meticulous care you would show the head of the family."

Flora said expressionlessly, "I'm used to it."

The head of the household has been ill in recent years, and she is not only his capable assistant but also responsible for taking care of his health.

only……

Flora pressed her palm against the side pocket of her clothes, which contained hair with follicles, though she wasn't sure if it was real.

If it were true, then the head of the family… Flora suddenly felt a chill and turned around to look.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the manor under the moon had a unique charm, but Flora saw nothing, as if being watched was just her own illusion.

Cheng Zhishu seemed to have stepped into thin air and suddenly woke up with a cold sweat on her back.

As she moved, the blanket slipped off her shoulders, revealing her rounded shoulders, and she was still a little shaken.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Cheng Zhishu realized that her hands were empty; the phone she had been holding before going to bed was lying on the floor.

She held onto the handrail, bent down to pick up her phone to check the time, and turned to look for Xi Congshuang.

I remember she was reading next to me before I fell asleep, with a floor lamp beside her. Where is she now?

After searching around, Cheng Zhishu finally saw someone by the window; it was none other than Xi Congshuang.

Cheng Zhishu called out "Sister," but the other person remained looking out the window and did not respond. This made Cheng Zhishu feel subtly dissatisfied, so she got up and walked towards her.

Standing beside her, Cheng Zhishu felt a jolt in her heart.

The cool moonlight shone on Xi Congshuang's face, which was devoid of joy or sorrow, so serene that she almost blended into the moonlight, as if she were about to gracefully depart at any moment.

Cheng Zhishu looked on, her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she called out, "Sister?"

A figure moved by the window, and she turned around: "Hmm?"

"..."

Cheng Zhishu stared at her face without saying a word.

For some reason, she had a chilling feeling that Xi Congshuang was about to vanish with the moonlight.

Xi Congshuang noticed that something was wrong with her and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine."

Cheng Zhishu bent her knees and squatted down, her skirt spreading out like flower petals. She leaned on Xi Congshuang's lap and whispered, "Let's go back, let's leave now."

She suddenly disliked the place and wanted to leave as soon as possible.

There are many reasons, such as the large number of people here, or the fact that her room is not in the same room as Xi Congshuang's...

Xi Congshuang put her hand on her shoulder to comfort her: "We're not going home until tomorrow, and you want to go back now? Are you in a bad mood? Why?"

Cheng Zhishu nodded and said in a low voice, "Yeah, I haven't seen Naonao for two days, I miss it."

Xi Congshuang chuckled, surprised by this reason: "Didn't we just video chat with Naonao today? You're already missing it again?"

It was supposed to be a video call with the cat. The first half of the video showed Xiao Liu chasing after Nao Nao all over the place, while the second half showed Nao Nao scratching at the phone with its paws and pressing its mouth against the camera. The cat's face was only visible for a few seconds.

If Xiao Liu hadn't known it was a cat, he would have thought the young lady was keeping a monkey.

Cheng Zhishu thought to herself, "I don't care," and raised her face to meet Xi Congshuang's gaze: "Let's go, sister, let's go, okay?"

Just as Cheng Zhishu could never refuse Xi Congshuang's requests, Xi Congshuang was the same, and returned to Wenhai that very night.

After washing up and playing with Nao Nao for a while, Cheng Zhishu lay on the bed deep in thought.

Not knowing why the cat toy in front of her had stopped moving, Nao Nao climbed onto Cheng Zhishu's back and kneaded her breasts.

Cheng Zhishu winced in pain, picked up the cat, quickly trimmed its nails, and then, satisfied, carried the cat to the next room.

In the next room, Xi Congshuang was still awake. Hearing the knocking, she knew without a doubt who it was.

Xi Congshuang closed her notebook, and the Ander Group's official website page flashed by on the screen.

He personally opened the door in his wheelchair, and sure enough, Cheng Zhishu was standing outside.

A girl in light-colored pajamas stood in the doorway, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, cradling a white cat in her arms, and said pitifully:

"Sister, the citywide joint exam is tomorrow, I'm a little nervous, can I sleep with you?"

Xi Congshuang asked helplessly, "Am I your tranquilizer?"

Cheng Zhishu lifted the cat up with both hands, its playful blue eyes looking at Xi Congshuang, and opened its mouth: "Meow."

Cheng Zhishu: "Meow."

After a brief standoff, Xi Congshuang stepped back and said, "Come in."

————————

Meow [calico cat emoji]