Chapter 9 The Young Lady in a Wheelchair 9: Are you settling in alright after the move?

"Miss Cheng, come with me, this way."

As the surroundings became more and more familiar, Cheng Zhishu, who had passed by several times, walked openly through that door and took the elevator to the third floor.

The elevator doors opened, and Cheng Zhishu followed behind the housekeeper, trying hard to remember the way. She didn't notice that the person in front of her had stopped at some point, and she almost bumped into the housekeeper's back.

Cheng Zhishu stopped in her tracks, looked up apologetically, and wondered if it was just her imagination, but the housekeeper seemed to smile slightly. Upon closer inspection, she had returned to her usual demeanor.

The butler opened the door: "Miss Shuang said the room next door is empty, so she wants you to stay here."

The scene inside the door came into view, and Cheng Zhishu was surprised for a moment. This place was much larger than the room she had stayed in before.

Sunlight streamed into the room from the balcony, and the white, sheer curtains were drawn up by the maid who had come in earlier. The room was spotless.

The people in the Xi residence were very efficient. The bookshelf behind the desk was already filled with books that Cheng Zhishu could use, and they had even thoughtfully left blank spaces for her to use.

Her sincerity was evident in the details. Cheng Zhishu had thought the room she was assigned would be similar to the previous ones, but now she felt a little flattered.

The butler carefully introduced each item, and at the end said, "Miss Cheng, if there's anything you're not satisfied with, just tell someone else to get it for you."

"I...I have no complaints, everything is fine."

"I want to ask Miss Shuang about her..." Cheng Zhishu felt she should thank the other party.

And even now, she still doesn't know the other person's name.

The housekeeper first raised her wrist to look at her silver wristwatch. She said, "It's Miss Shuang's nap time now. She's not feeling well and may not wake up for another two hours."

Cheng Zhishu remembered that Xi Congshuang was in the next room, so she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, "Then I'll look for her later."

The butler smiled politely and said, "Okay."

Xi Congshuang, who had been arguing with the system, was indeed taking a nap.

She had only been discharged from the hospital a few months ago and was still recovering from a serious illness, and was extremely sleepy.

But she didn't sleep for long, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and woke up two hours later, as the housekeeper had said.

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a while, Xi Congshuang finally remembered what she had done before going to sleep. She propped herself up and reached for her phone next to the bedside table.

Although the housekeeper told Cheng Zhishu that the house was very soundproof and that she didn't need to worry about waking Miss Shuang, Cheng Zhishu still subconsciously moved more quietly.

She took the clothes out of her schoolbag, preparing to put them in the closet. After opening the closet door with both hands, she was stunned for a moment by the clothes hanging inside.

"so much……"

Then she slammed the door shut, leaned against the cabinet door, and pondered whether the housekeeper had made a mistake and taken her to the wrong room, perhaps to Miss Shuang's dressing room next door.

Cheng Zhishu tried to open the cabinet door again to see if it was just her imagination, and heard a faint ringing.

"Where is that sound coming from?" She listened intently for a moment and confirmed that the sound was coming from her own room.

Then Cheng Zhishu stood in front of the desk, convinced that the sound was coming from there.

"Who left their phone behind?" My fingertips touched the cold handle, I grabbed it, pulled it open, and a phone screen appeared, ready to answer.

"Xi Congshuang?" Cheng Zhishu read the note softly, remembering that the housekeeper called that young lady Xi Congshuang.

Could it be a different cream?

With a suspicion in her mind, she reached for her phone, awkwardly swiped to answer, and brought it to her ear: "Hello?"

Sure enough, a lazy, slightly weary voice came from inside: "Did the housekeeper put his phone somewhere hard to find? You were a little slow to answer the phone."

Cheng Zhishu immediately replied, "No, I just didn't hear it, so I was a little slow to answer."

She was worried about causing trouble for others, so she answered quickly.

Xi Congshuang nestled in the soft blankets, leaning against the headboard. Her wide sleeves slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white wrist: "That's good."

"Are you settling in well after the move?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhishu was momentarily dazed.

To be honest, she didn't know how she should feel right now.

Having distanced herself from the bewildering Wen Can, the sadness of learning the truth—that she was a fake heiress who had usurped someone else's place—wasn't as pronounced.

At first, Cheng Zhishu's first reaction was that no wonder her parents forgot to change her surname; her life was one of constant abandonment.

Someone helped her get away from that place, so she wouldn't have to keep listening to those things.

The silence on the other end had been going on for a while. Xi Congshuang propped herself up on the bed with one hand and adjusted her position: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Cheng Zhishu mustered her courage and said, "Miss Shuang, may I come to see you?"

After saying the words, Cheng Zhishu gripped her phone tightly, a little nervously.

The voice on the other end of the phone was as languid as ever: "Of course, I'm in the room right next to yours."

Cheng Zhishu casually placed her phone on the table, went out, and walked to Xi Congshuang's door. Before touching the doorknob, she remembered that it would be impolite, so she knocked on the door solemnly.

A muffled voice came from inside: "Come in."

Turn the doorknob, and the curtains in the room slowly open, letting in the light of day.

Cheng Zhishu saw the figure sitting on the bed and looked surprised.

Because the room here is a bit smaller than the one next door, the large bed takes up most of the room, and there are auxiliary tools installed everywhere.

There is relatively little furniture inside, and most of it is of a special size, making it more suitable for people who move around while seated.

Before stepping into the room, Cheng Zhishu was still wondering how her room could be so small. Then she realized that if it were too big, she wouldn't be able to move back to a safe area properly if she fell.

Xi Congshuang turned her head and said to the girl who was hesitating not far away, "Wait a moment."

Cheng Zhishu: "?" She didn't understand what she was waiting for.

Then she saw the person sitting on the bed lift the blanket, revealing slender legs under a long nightgown, and reach over to pull the wheelchair next to the bed, adjusting its angle.

With one hand braced against the bed surface beneath her soft long sleeves and the other hand holding onto the headboard, Cheng Zhishu realized that Xi Congshuang was trying to sit in a wheelchair!

Cheng Zhishu subconsciously quickened her pace, wanting to lend a helping hand.

Without even looking up, Xi Congshuang said first, "No need."

Cheng Zhishu paused her outstretched hand. After only a moment's hesitation, Xi Congshuang sat steadily in the wheelchair, placed her legs properly with her hands, and casually pulled a light-colored blanket from the cabinet to cover her knees.

Her legs were covered again under the long skirt, and Cheng Zhishu couldn't see what they looked like.

At a quick glance, it just seemed too white.

The housekeeper had said the room was very soundproof, and Cheng Zhishu finally understood just how good it was.

When she doesn't make any noise, she can even hear her own heartbeat, pounding against her eardrums.

The only two sounds inside the room were the sound of Xi Congshuang starting her wheelchair.

She maneuvered her wheelchair to the table by the window. Xi Congshuang sat down and looked up at her, saying, "You sit down too."

Cheng Zhishu sat down as if on pins and needles. Xi Congshuang opened the refrigerator next to her and took out a bottle of beverage: "What do you like to drink? Is juice okay?"

"Can."

Xi Congshuang then brought out two bottles of juice and asked, "Would you like some cake? Matcha or blueberry?"

"Blueberry cake." Cheng Zhishu had tried it once when she was working part-time, and it was delicious, so she said it instinctively.

After a while, Xi Congshuang asked again, "The fruit slices are still quite fresh. I only ate a little bit before going to bed. You don't mind, do you?"

"I don't mind."

Xi Congshuang continued searching: "I remember there was ice cream too, did you give it to Zheng Momo?"

"..." Cheng Zhishu stared blankly and bewildered as the young lady kept taking things out of the refrigerator. Finally, she couldn't help but peek over in confusion.

I thought to myself, the refrigerator isn't that tall, how could she take so many things out of it?

Moreover, the quantity was rather astonishing. Cheng Zhishu stepped in to stop Xi Congshuang's treasure chest-like behavior: "Miss Shuang, I think this is enough, it's a bit too much."

"That's enough?" Xi Congshuang regretfully stopped eating, closed the refrigerator door and said, "My rehabilitation doctor doesn't allow me to eat too much of this. Luckily you're here today, so it's okay to eat a little more."

Cheng Zhishu: "Why?"

Xi Congshuang: "It's normal for the two of them to consume more energy when they eat together. Zheng Momo will fail to lock on, so I can't say anything."

Cheng Zhishu: "..."

Having found a scapegoat to share the blame for her gluttony, Xi Congshuang was in a good mood.

She never had these conditions before; she often had to receive intravenous nutrition to stay alive and rarely ate any normal food.

Not to mention raw or cold fruits and sweet cakes, these are things she needs to avoid.

Although Xi Congshuang can't eat too much, the supply is still there. It used to be kept in the refrigerator downstairs, but now it's kept in the refrigerator in her room so she can take it whenever she wants.

However, most of the food had been brought in and served in the same way, and Xi Congshuang, who had no appetite or interest in it, wouldn't touch it.

Until a few days ago, Xi Congshuang, who was detached from worldly affairs, suddenly became interested in these things, and Zheng Momo began a life of strict dietary restrictions and precautions for the patient.

A small piece of the exquisitely crafted cake was cut with a gleaming silver fork and put into a mouthful.

Xi Congshuang narrowed her eyes, having already made up her mind that regardless of whether the mission was completed or not, she would try as many things as possible in her limited life.

A sweet aroma wafted to her nose, but Cheng Zhishu picked up a silver fork without tasting it, feeling the cool touch on her palm.

Looking up and seeing Xi Congshuang across from her, practically starving, her tense mood suddenly relaxed considerably. She tried to speak: "Miss Shuang..."

Xi Congshuang was used to not talking while eating. She put down her fork and said, "You don't need to call me Miss Shuang. How old are you?"

Cheng Zhishu: "17".

Xi Congshuang: "Then I'm five years older than you, so you can call me Sister Shuang, just like my younger sisters do."

The Xi family had many descendants, and it was impossible to distinguish them by their proximity or distance, let alone by including the collateral branches. They were all distinguished by the last character of their names.

Now, Cheng Zhishu will agree to whatever the other person says, she's incredibly obedient.

Finally remembering that the person sitting in front of her was the female lead, Xi Congshuang racked her brains to come up with some tenderness and patiently comforted her: "You don't need to feel burdened. Xi's Group sponsors many outstanding students every year, and they will work for Xi's Group after graduation. According to the assessment criteria, you can be selected for Xi's Group's sponsorship list."

Cheng Zhishu looked at Xi Congshuang suspiciously. She was only seventeen years old and couldn't accurately discern the truthfulness of the other person's words.

Biting her lower lip, Cheng Zhishu asked, "Do you know my grades?"

Xi Congshuang replied matter-of-factly, "I don't know, but you look like you're a very good student."

Cheng Zhishu: "..."

The girl's pretty face showed a puzzled and confused expression, then she seemed to understand but not quite.

Every time Xi Congshuang saw the other person, she felt a sense of wonder. The pretty girl had light-colored hair and bangs on her forehead. When she spoke, she always stared straight at people with her clear and light-colored eyes.

After looking at it for a while, Xi Congshuang would think of the little dog that the girl in the next ward had when she was hospitalized.

It's fluffy and shaggy, always staring at people with its clean eyes, yet shy but bold, sometimes baring its little teeth at unfamiliar nurses.

After being picked up by its owner, it will tilt its head and look at people with a puzzled expression.

After a long while, Xi Congshuang, who was about to drink some juice, heard the person opposite her say, "I understand. I will study hard and live up to your expectations."

"Ugh, cough cough..."

Xi Congshuang choked on a mouthful of water and quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief to avoid being impolite.

After finishing her meal, Cheng Zhishu, suddenly filled with fighting spirit, returned to her room and earnestly assured Xi Congshuang, "I will definitely not let Sister Shuang down!"

No one had ever been so sure of her, so she would never let them down.

"..."

Xi Congshuang, sitting in a wheelchair, offered an encouraging smile.

I don't know what the other party is thinking, but it's a good thing they're willing to keep it... I guess.

Looking at the Honkai value again, it hadn't decreased.

"We can't rush things," Xi Congshuang told herself as she closed the door.

*

This weekend felt especially long.

After breakfast, Cheng Zhishu was persuaded to go back to her room to continue studying, and she finally had time to go downstairs to continue her upper body training.

After a night's sleep, Cheng Zhishu, who had recovered her senses, noticed that the corners of her eyes were a little red. However, she managed to muster her spirits in front of strangers and went back to her room after being advised to do so.

After training, Xi Congshuang took a shower in the bathroom provided by the training room, changed her clothes, and went downstairs for a walk.

She spends less time being pushed around by others each day, enjoying the sunshine on her own.

Under the intense summer sun, Xi Congshuang raised her hand, her fingertips glistening in the sunlight, her eyes slightly narrowed in the shade of the tree.

Occasionally, she still feels that the world is very unrealistic.

Even though the sun was warm and the flowers were fragrant, she felt as if her soul was floating, wondering if it was all just a fantasy she had before she died, nothing more than an empty dream.

Why are you alone?

She heard voices behind her and turned around to see someone walking through the flower path to her.

The person who came was Xi Hanran, who, according to seniority, should be her aunt.