Chapter 28 The Young Lady in a Wheelchair 28: Merry Christmas, Zhi Shu.
In the conference room, Ms. Wu had been waiting for a long time. She looked up when she heard the hushed conversation outside.
It was already time for evening self-study. The school was deserted, the atmosphere was quiet, and the shadows of the treetops swayed.
The conference room door was wide open, and you could see two figures walking towards you against the night breeze.
An elderly woman sat in a wheelchair, turning her head to talk to someone.
With the recent drop in temperature, she added a jacket over her long-sleeved shirt, and paired it with a white turtleneck sweater chain, which broke up the monotony and made it simple yet elegant.
A young girl, not yet fully grown and with a slightly slender figure, walked beside her, her head slightly lowered as she spoke to the person next to her.
The atmosphere between the two was harmonious. Although Cheng Zhishu felt a little guilty and embarrassed, she did not feel awkward.
She had initially thought that Miss Xi was very young and would be helpless in these matters, and that her handling of them would be either extreme or lax, but that was not the case.
Moreover, Ms. Wu did not expect that she would pay such special attention to Cheng Zhishu's education.
They personally visit the school every time to check on things, which is more responsible than most parents.
Soon, the two arrived at the office.
Xi Congshuang seemed calmer than expected, and she also saw the love letter.
Teacher Wu poured two cups of hot water, one for Xi Congshuang and one for Cheng Zhishu, and began to talk about puppy love.
Cheng Zhishu stood aside and obediently accepted the scolding. She thought to herself that she must have been bewitched to read love letters when the homeroom teacher could appear at any time. Moreover, she read love letters that she would never have read before and would have put directly into the shredder.
Alas, Heaven is against me.
Forgive her; some of these love letters are signed, some are unsigned, and they're all mixed together and hard to tell apart.
She used to send them back one by one according to the clues, but the situation only got worse because of it.
The love letters, which couldn't be contained, appeared in various corners. Once, during class, one fell out of the folder and was almost seen by the math teacher. The situation was dangerous, and Cheng Zhishu was so frightened that she almost lost her soul.
Cheng Zhishu was completely baffled by this, until Shangguan Yin told her that because personally returning the love letter would not deter the sender at all, she should not return it.
Unaware of the complexities of human nature, Cheng Zhishu asked in bewilderment why.
Some people say that receiving a love letter feels like being presented with a love letter in person by the number one player in the game; it's not sad, but rather subtly enjoyable.
"..."
Cheng Zhishu had never imagined there was such a way to solve the problem. While being amazed by the wide range of ideas that big cities indeed have, she silently put the paper into the shredder.
This situation was thus alleviated, and the worry of finding a love letter falling out of a book was no longer a concern.
But even the wisest can make a mistake, and she still died because of love letters.
He was caught reading a love letter by his homeroom teacher, who also called his parents in.
What could she have done wrong?
She just wanted a second chance at marriage.
Teacher Wu truly regarded Cheng Zhishu as her prized student, and spoke earnestly about the issue: "Actually, I also know that this problem cannot be blamed on Zhishu. She is still young, and her understanding of life may not be so clear yet."
“Indeed.” Xi Congshuang said seriously, as if she were carefully thinking along with her teacher’s train of thought.
Teacher Wu: "And now that she's in her final year of high school, if she continues to maintain her current grades, getting into A University will definitely not be difficult for her. This is great for Zhi Shu's future..."
Xi Congshuang: "You're right."
Her gaze fell on the papers on the table. In front of the teacher, she took the love letter and read it carefully.
Teacher Wu always had a good impression of parents who were very cooperative, so she talked a bit more, completely unaware that Cheng Zhishu wished she could find a crack in the meeting room, bury herself in it, and never show her face again.
Xi Congshuang said absentmindedly, "I agree with the teacher's opinion."
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes to look at the paper.
The handwriting on the paper is neat and clear, and the words and sentences are not explicit. Instead, they are as beautiful as a poem, conveying emotions through pen and ink.
The light-colored stationery, scented with a faint floral fragrance, easily evokes the image of a fresh and beautiful young woman.
Naïve, naive yet straightforward.
After reading it, she casually put the love letter back on the table. Her expression revealed nothing about her emotions, but Cheng Zhishu couldn't help but feel nervous.
Did she have no other thoughts after seeing it?
Or perhaps it was exactly the outcome Cheng Zhishu least wanted to see, that Xi Congshuang truly felt no sense of crisis whatsoever, treating her entirely as a junior.
Cheng Zhishu's mood continued to sink.
Unaware of the undercurrents in the meeting room, Ms. Wu continued to speak earnestly, hoping that Xi Congshuang would talk things out with Cheng Zhishu after returning home and not be too nervous.
Xi Congshuang watched as Teacher Wu took the love letter away, and smiled, "I will."
After leaving the conference room, Xi Congshuang did not let Cheng Zhishu push her; she maneuvered her wheelchair out herself.
After leaving the meeting room, with no one around, Xi Congshuang said, "No need to see me off, you go back to class first."
It's not time for school to end yet; Cheng Zhishu still has one class left to attend.
Cheng Zhishu clenched her fists at her sides and bowed her head apologetically: "I'm sorry, sister, I've disappointed you."
She still remembered that Xi Congshuang decided to take her away from Wencan and the reason she took her in was to provide her with financial support.
Now she's using Xi Congshuang's financial aid to run amok at school, and her parents have been called in several times.
It seems like she failed at everything.
Xi Congshuang pressed her palm against the armrest of her wheelchair. A few seconds later, amidst the students' reading aloud upstairs, she said, "Go to class. I'll wait for you outside after school."
After saying that, she started her wheelchair and left. Not far away, Li Mi picked up Xi Congshuang and took her to the car.
Cheng Zhishu returned to the classroom, sat down, and buried herself in her writing. Shangguan Yin wanted to talk to her, but seeing that she was in a bad mood, she kept quiet and also buried herself in her studies.
After school, Cheng Zhishu packed her schoolbag and silently followed the crowd out.
The car was still parked in the familiar spot, where she was responsible for picking up and dropping off students after evening self-study. But this time... Xi Congshuang was there too.
Cheng Zhishu took a deep breath, composed herself, stepped forward, and opened the car door.
The car's interior lights were on, and a familiar, slender figure sat to one side, looking up at the sound.
Cheng Zhishu stiffened, a little hesitant.
Xi Congshuang: "It's cold outside, let's get in the car first."
Without much hesitation, Cheng Zhishu got into the car, shutting out the autumn wind and turning off the interior lights.
Li Mi started the vehicle and drove in the designated direction.
Cheng Zhishu hesitated the whole way. She desperately wanted to salvage her image in Xi Congshuang's eyes, even if it was just as the younger sister in Shangguan Yin's eyes.
Cheng Zhishu really couldn't bear to return to a strange and distant relationship.
Xi Congshuang broke the silence before she could speak: "Have you been avoiding me lately because of that love letter?"
Cheng Zhishu choked, and denied it without thinking: "No."
Everyone's talking about that love letter, but it's completely fabricated. She doesn't even know who wrote it.
Xi Congshuang: "No, then why is that?"
"Although some people have told me that I should give you appropriate privacy, this is the first time I've done this, and I'm not sure how to strike the right balance. I also bear some responsibility for what happened today, so I shouldn't blame you."
"..."
Not to mention Cheng Zhishu, Li Mi, who was driving, also had mixed feelings and didn't know how to feel.
Xi Congshuang looked ahead: "On this matter, I actually agree with Teacher Wu's opinion, and I also think it's too early for you. If you want to start a relationship, it shouldn't be now."
The system's description only states that the female lead was alone until she went to prison, but she doesn't necessarily believe that the current Cheng Zhishu is the heartless and domineering young lady described in the description, who no longer torments her or squeezes her living space.
In a stable life, it's only natural to have emotional needs.
That's what she thought.
Xi Congshuang: "You don't need to apologize for this. I will not stop supporting you. I can sign a contract with you. This is not a threat."
Why are you still acting so serious at a time like this? Cheng Zhishu interrupted her, "And what about you?"
Xi Congshuang: "What?"
Sensing something was wrong and that a fight was about to break out, Li Mi quickly raised the barrier.
A driver with excellent professional skills should be able to distinguish between what kind of melons are acceptable and what kind are not.
However, she was still too slow, and that stubborn question floated out through the crack.
"Isn't my sister considering marriage?" Cheng Zhishu asked, forcing a smile. "Why are you asking me why I'm avoiding you? Is it because it's a complicated question, and you absolutely need to hear the answer?"
In fact, Cheng Zhishu regretted it as soon as she said it. She was too impulsive. Once some words are spoken, there is no going back.
A thousand thoughts flashed through Xi Congshuang's mind, but she caught the key point and frowned: "Who told you I was getting married?"
Cheng Zhishu was short of breath and turned her head to look out the car window, but met Xi Congshuang's gaze as she looked over: "No one told me, I heard it myself."
For the first time, Xi Congshuang felt like laughing in anger: "Just because of this, you've been avoiding me?"
"..."
Cheng Zhishu remained silent; she did not deny it.
She knew what she should and shouldn't do, but her tears and emotions just wouldn't cooperate.
Xi Congshuang reached out and grabbed her shoulder, turning her around. She used a soft, slightly cool handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had spilled from the corners of her eyes. Gently but firmly, she lifted her face and looked into her brown eyes.
The female lead, who was described as so powerful by the system, turned out to be a stubborn crybaby who couldn't hold back her tears.
That makes sense; being neglected by family members from a young age only makes one more attentive.
Although it may not be obvious on the surface, she will feel sad like an abandoned little animal once someone close to her establishes a close relationship that excludes her.
Xi Congshuang cupped her face in her hands, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her thumbs, and assured her, "I will not get married, and I will not marry anyone. You don't need to avoid me."
"..."
Cheng Zhishu almost burst into tears. Why did these words sound like she didn't even have a chance to remarry?
*
The autumn night rains arrive, and the torrential downpours usher in the late autumn season. Once the continuous autumn rains subside, winter will arrive.
Upon learning that Xi Congshuang would explain to Chairman Xi that she had no intention of getting married in the next few years, Cheng Zhishu began to tentatively approach Xi Congshuang again and then stick to her.
Things can go too far. If we were to tell Chairman Xi directly that we have no plans to get married in the future, it would only frighten her and make her even more prepared.
Therefore, Xi Congshuang followed the advice of most people and adopted the strategy of "delaying".
As for Ni An's advice, which is the most experienced in resisting pressure to get married, it is not within Xi Congshuang's scope of consideration for the time being.
A love letter suddenly appeared in a private space, parents were called in and they even had a fight. If Xi Congshuang continues to take her advice, she doesn't know what unexpected surprises her assistant will give her next.
Ni An dared not speak out against this, and tearfully took the blame for the slander that ruined the country.
Everyone makes mistakes in their career, so just bear with it and don't worry too much about it, since you didn't get your salary docked anyway.
Thinking about it this way, Ni An felt much better. She carried a bag of small cakes and milk tea into the elevator and delivered them to Xi Congshuang's office in front of everyone.
Don't get me wrong, Mr. Xi himself doesn't eat these things; the ones he eats are naturally someone else.
“Clatter.”
Cheng Zhishu, who was doing her homework in the office while waiting, turned around when she heard the voice. When she saw that it was Ni An, her eyes revealed disappointment.
Ni An put the things down beside her: "The boss is still in a meeting. She was worried you'd be bored, so she asked me to buy you something to eat. This is a new dessert from the dessert shop downstairs. It tastes pretty good. Try it."
Cheng Zhishu stepped out from behind her desk and came to the coffee table: "It's Christmas-themed packaging, it's beautiful."
Today is Christmas, and the festive atmosphere outside is in full swing. There are fireworks displays in the square not far from the CBD, and Cheng Zhishu came to join in the fun.
As soon as school was over, Li Mi took her to the Xi Group headquarters, only to find an empty office instead of the expected sight she was looking forward to.
Xi Congshuang had to attend a meeting and wouldn't be able to leave the company anytime soon, so she left a message telling her to finish her homework at her desk.
Ni An sat to one side drinking coffee, but what she was thinking about was something else entirely.
Life is full of surprises; one day, she was able to do her homework in Xi Congshuang's territory, which no one was allowed to touch.
She suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, the boss said the clothes he prepared for you are in the break room. Go and hang out there for a bit, and you can take a shower while you're at it."
Cheng Zhishu swallowed a pearl: "The clothes prepared for me?"
Ni An looked over and said, "But it's windy here at night, and it will be very cold to wear the school uniform. If you don't want to change your clothes, you'll have to put on a jacket."
Cheng Zhishu: "I'll change."
Finally finishing her workday, Xi Congshuang chatted with people as she returned to her office. Her companions looked at her wheelchair with a hint of envy.
Being able to move around the company sitting down, and having people give way to you, how can that not be comfortable?
No one considers Xi Congshuang a helpless cripple anymore; they just feel sorry for her poor health, otherwise the Xi family business would very likely have been handed over to her.
Cheng Zhishu had already changed her clothes in the office and left as soon as the others returned.
Li Mi drove the car to the location and watched the two figures disappear into the crowd.
To be honest, she would never have believed that her boss would ever go out with someone.
In fact, Cheng Zhishu didn't quite believe it either. She hadn't originally planned to travel with Xi Congshuang, and their appearance here was just a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Yesterday, when Cheng Zhishu was walking home from school, she casually mentioned Christmas, holding a flyer that someone had handed to her, though she couldn't remember who it was.
Since tomorrow is Friday, everyone is planning to go out and have fun, including watching the fireworks display, to have a fulfilling weekend.
Xi Congshuang noticed the flyer in her hand and reached out to snatch it away: "You want to take a look?"
It would be a lie to say I don't want to watch it. Cheng Zhishu said, "I heard it's a big event, but there are so many people, it doesn't feel very safe. Watching the live stream online seems pretty good too."
Xi Congshuang flipped through the flyer to see the event time and location: "Tomorrow night, this place isn't far from the company, want to go?"
Once the decision was made, making plans became easier. Cheng Zhishu nodded, feeling dizzy, as if her sister's first marriage was beckoning to her.
How could I possibly refuse this invitation?
Once everyone was in the car and they arrived near the square, Cheng Zhishu's wavering emotions settled down, and she even considered backing out.
There were so many people outside that she almost developed trypophobia. With Christmas and the weekend, the square and the riverside were twice as crowded.
People of all ages and genders gathered near the business district. The fireworks display was held just across the street by the river, where there were even more people.
Getting to the front row of the viewing area to see the fireworks with no obstruction is practically impossible.
Cheng Zhishu gripped the armrests of the wheelchair tightly, thinking that maybe she should just give up. Fireworks or not didn't really matter; she just wanted more time alone with Xi Congshuang.
Seeing that this situation had absolutely nothing to do with being "alone," it was better to head home.
Before Cheng Zhishu could speak, Xi Congshuang said, "It's a bit crowded to watch it with everyone in the square. I've booked a spot, let's go up and watch it together."
As soon as the words were spoken, an elegantly dressed lady appeared before them: "Miss Xi, please come with me."
Guided by the staff, the two went up to the top floor of a tall building, which was originally an open-air restaurant with a view of the rippling river below.
Brightly lit ships sail on the river, and the faint sounds of melodious music or laughter from the high-rise buildings can be heard.
After the venue was booked out, only Xi Congshuang and Cheng Zhishu remained, making it very quiet.
The rest were staff members who served them, standing at a conspicuous distance, ready to follow orders at any time.
Cheng Zhishu hadn't expected this move; she directly took advantage of the location and booked out an entire rooftop restaurant.
She walked to the railing and looked down, then silently pulled her head back, turning back to Xi Congshuang and uttering the simplest of exclamations: "There are so many people down there."
Xi Congshuang picked up a cup of coffee, looking a little sleepy: "Aren't you afraid of heights?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhishu looked down again and said, "It's alright, I'm not that afraid of heights."
Xi Congshuang continued drinking coffee to shake off the drowsiness accumulated throughout the day.
On the other side, Cheng Zhishu was very curious about the open-air restaurant. After looking downstairs, she wandered around the area. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Sister, there's an infinity pool here... Ouch, the water is so cold."
Xi Congshuang propped her chin up and turned around. Cheng Zhishu had already expanded her exploration area to the performance area, where she had already made arrangements beforehand. No one was there, leaving only the instruments and chairs in place.
The huge black piano was placed in the most conspicuous place. Cheng Zhishu felt a little itchy and tapped the keys.
A waiter immediately came forward and asked, "Would you like some music, miss?"
Cheng Zhishu immediately waved her hand: "No need, no need, I'm just taking a look."
Strolling around, Cheng Zhishu returned to Xi Congshuang's side, looking up and waiting to see when the fireworks would begin.
Xi Congshuang rested her chin on her hand and looked at him: "Have you had enough fun?"
Cheng Zhishu scratched her face: "I'm a little hungry."
Xi Congshuang almost forgot: "Actually, I'm hungry too."
The two smiled at each other, and Xi Congshuang raised her hand to call the waiter to order.
Since only two people needed to be served, the dishes were served quickly, and soon after, the fireworks were lit.
With a long, drawn-out "whoosh," a spark shot into the sky before everyone's eyes, turning the dark blue night sky into a canvas for its vibrant bloom.
This firework was just the beginning; once it started, many more fireworks followed, vying to bloom in the night sky.
If fireworks were compared to real flowers, Cheng Zhishu felt that the fireworks in front of her were as numerous as a spring garden.
Cheng Zhishu was amazed. It was the first time she had ever seen fireworks from this angle. It felt so close, like she could reach out and pluck the stars.
A slight stirring in her heart, Cheng Zhishu glanced at the person beside her out of the corner of her eye.
After finishing her meal, Xi Congshuang leaned back in her chair, tilted her head back, and lowered her eyes slightly, as if a dazzling firework had bloomed in her smoky gray pupils.
She seemed to be watching, yet remained detached, utterly bored.
Xi Congshuang is that kind of person. She seems so close, like you could reach out and pluck the stars from the sky, but only the person reaching out knows how far away she really is.
The waiter who brought the drinks also brought over a few boxes of sparklers. She said that many people downstairs buy them, and they look beautiful in photos. She suggested that the waiter could help if needed.
Xi Congshuang reached out, took the package, and opened it, waving it in front of Cheng Zhishu: "Want to play?"
Cheng Zhishu would certainly not refuse Xi Congshuang's invitation.
The lighter was placed to the side. Xi Congshuang lit a sparkler. The sparkler, held by a wire, crackled and burned, and her eyes seemed to light up as well.
Seeing Cheng Zhishu standing there in a daze, he urged, "Come on, what are you daydreaming about?"
Cheng Zhishu snapped out of her daze, grabbed the sparkler, and moved closer. The sparkler in her hand also crackled and burned.
"So this is what it feels like to light this thing. It won't burn for more than a minute." Xi Congshuang held a sparkler and drew a circle in the air.
Cheng Zhishu imitated her movements, drawing in mid-air, but only hearts. She drew countless hearts right in front of her.
Xi Congshuang suddenly asked, "Do you think wasting even a minute counts as indulging in trivial pursuits and neglecting one's duties?"
Cheng Zhishu subconsciously said, "I don't think so. One minute is only enough for me to read the question."
The fireworks were still blooming in the sky, but neither of them looked up. They were both looking down and huddled together, busy lighting the sparklers that the waiter had brought.
I even forgot when the fireworks temporarily stopped; all I felt was a sudden quiet, so quiet that I could hear my own heart pounding.
Xi Congshuang threw away the burnt-out sparkler in her hand and took out a paper bag from her shirt pocket.
"I almost forgot to give you this," Xi Congshuang said. "I don't know if you'll like it."
Cheng Zhishu still held the sparkler in her fingertips, which was about to burn out and was giving off its last bit of light.
Xi Congshuang took the box out of the paper bag, opened it, and showed it to her.
Inside the long, rectangular box lay a platinum necklace, resting on deep blue velvet, refracting delicate sparkles under the light.
Xi Congshuang: "Your chain clasp broke before, and since you didn't buy a new one, I had a necklace made. I think it suits you very well."
“I originally intended to give it to you directly last night, but you said you wanted to see fireworks, so I thought using fireworks as a accompaniment would be nice. This is my gift to you.”
Merry Christmas, Zhi Shu.
Cheng Zhishu was stunned. Behind her, the unfinished fireworks burst open again, with a loud bang, sparks flying everywhere in the air.
"Thud." The sparkler in her hand burned out and fell onto the pile of sparklers on the ground.
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Fireworks are just background music.
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