The Female Lead Keeps Forcing Me to Take My Meds [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Let’s Get Married

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

Cheng Zhishu naively thought she had concealed her emotions well, forgetting about the incident upon waking up and not hearing Xi Congshuang’s quiet words.

It wasn’t until the end of the semester, when Cheng Zhishu returned home with her head full of exam priorities, that she noticed people moving out. Initially, she didn’t realize who it was, sidestepping the busy servants and ignoring the glances directed her way.

She stepped onto the familiar path, walking toward the depths of the estate.

On her way back to Wen Hai, Cheng Zhishu rarely got lost.

She imagined herself as the valiant knight from a fairy tale, her schoolbag a heavy sword, hacking through the thorns to be reunited with the princess in the high tower.

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

No student would refuse a summer vacation. The final exam was over, and the holidays were beginning, so Cheng Zhishu was indeed in good spirits.

Cheng Zhishu nodded: “Yes.”

A slight smile touched Xi Congshuang’s lips: “That’s good.”

…

On the first weekend of the summer vacation, Xi Hanran, who had been flying around for nearly a month, showed up at Wen Hai, insisting on staying for dinner to express her gratitude.

Xi Congshuang: “Wen Can didn’t save you dinner again?”

Xi Hanran: “There’s no one left in there, so who would save me dinner?”

Xi Congshuang finally remembered what she had done: “Right.”

Xi Hanran had a little too much to drink, her face flushed with intoxication: “Some things I just can’t do myself; it always looks bad.”

“But thank you. I finally don’t have to see him waltzing around in front of me… This toast is to celebrate my embarrassing father finally moving out with his doubly embarrassing darling son!”

Xi Congshuang toasted with juice: “Don’t mention it. I didn’t do it for you.”

Xi Hanran, eyes blurred with alcohol, pointed a finger: “You’re getting more and more tsundere. Tsundere went out of style ages ago.”

“…” Xi Congshuang raised her voice: “Xiao Liu! Someone’s drunk. Take her to the guest room.”

Xiao Liu: “Aye, coming, coming!”

It was only then that Cheng Zhishu understood the true meaning of the question Xi Congshuang had asked that day.

—Are you happy because the person who annoyed you is gone?

Cheng Zhishu lowered her head to sip her juice, the tips of her ears turning red. She was afraid that if she didn’t keep her head down, her overly obvious smile would be noticed.

She hadn’t had any alcohol, but her mood was already tipsy.

“Corruption value -1.”

A familiar voice sounded in Xi Congshuang’s ear. The gem-red figure spun in front of her, reporting truthfully: “Current corruption value 21. Keep up the good work, Host.”

Xi Congshuang: “…”

For the first time, she found the system’s notification sound truly irritating.

…

Every time the season changed, Xi Congshuang used to suffer.

As a long-time patient, she believed she had enough experience, prepared in advance, and underwent rehabilitation seriously without any slack.

Things went well afterward; her leg condition recovered nicely, and her phantom pain greatly lessened.

However, Xi Congshuang relaxed her guard for a moment, neglected her “slacking-off-on-the-job” mission, and accidentally caught a cold during the seasonal transition.

Wen Hai fell into silence because of its owner’s illness. Director Xi also came for a visit, leaving late into the night.

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

Xi Congshuang felt like she had a long, deep sleep, and her entire body ached. When she first woke up, she forgot where she was and habitually called out: “Nurse Yang…”

The figure slumped by the bed stirred, groggily reaching out to touch Xi Congshuang’s hand: “Sister, you’re awake?”

Nurse Yang would never casually touch her, and Nurse Yang would certainly never call her “Sister.”

Xi Congshuang instantly became lucid, remembering where she was: “Zhishu? Why are you here?”

Her voice was hoarse from sleeping too long, startling Xi Congshuang herself. She cleared her throat with a few light coughs.

Cheng Zhishu rubbed her eyes: “You’ve been asleep all day. I took over for Sister Liu to stay here for a while. Is there anything uncomfortable?”

The soft bed beside her had been pressed down into a depression, and the sheet was wrinkled, like the lingering trace of a small animal curled up to sleep.

Xi Congshuang felt a moment of trance in the dim light. She couldn’t articulate what she felt in that instant, replying after a slight delay: “I don’t think so.”

That reaction didn’t suggest she was perfectly fine.

Cheng Zhishu was uneasy. She finally understood why Sister Liu was always so anxious about everything, and she couldn’t help but adopt the same attitude.

Xi Congshuang certainly had a strong will, but relatively speaking, her body was truly fragile.

She often took things lightly, only realizing she was sick when it was too late, yet still dismissed it.

This is exactly what it means to be more anxious than the actual person concerned.

Cheng Zhishu: “Doctor Qi is staying in the guest room upstairs. Should I call her down?”

“No need,” Xi Congshuang asked, “What time is it now, and what day?”

Cheng Zhishu felt for her phone on the nightstand and showed the screen to Xi Congshuang: “It’s eleven o’clock at night. You slept all day.”

She put her phone away: “Are you hungry, Sister? Do you want something to eat? I’ll go downstairs and…”

Xi Congshuang truly had no appetite right now. She grabbed Cheng Zhishu’s hand: “It’s late. You must be tired. Why don’t you go to bed?”

She had just seen the time on the phone. It was Sunday, and Cheng Zhishu had school tomorrow. There was no need for her to continue staying up with this patient.

She really was fine. She had just overdone it and would be better in a while.

“…?”

Cheng Zhishu paused, her sleep-numbed brain becoming tangled under Xi Congshuang’s gaze. She stammered: “…Th-that’s too embarrassing.”

Xi Congshuang was puzzled: “What’s so embarrassing about it? It’s just sleeping.”

Could it be that Cheng Zhishu is still stubbornly resisting returning to her own room to sleep, insisting on taking care of her, all out of a notion of repayment?

She wasn’t so ruthless as to exploit a high school student.

Cheng Zhishu: “…”

Her expression slowly became blank under Xi Congshuang’s gaze. After a moment of daze, it grew firm. She seemed to have made a decision and supported herself on the bed to stand up.

Xi Congshuang’s gaze moved upward. She couldn’t tell if it was an illusion, perhaps the room was too dark, but she felt that Cheng Zhishu’s ears were red.

Cheng Zhishu reached up to remove her hair tie, lowered her eyes, and let her long hair cascade over her shoulders and back. Her ears were hidden by her hair, making it even harder to see.

Then, a corner of Xi Congshuang’s duvet was lifted, and another body, carrying the scent of citrus, slid in, claiming the other pillow on the bed.

Xi Congshuang: “…………”

Huh?

Xi Congshuang, finally realizing what had happened, was stunned for a rare few seconds. She turned her head to look beside her.

However, Cheng Zhishu had already closed her eyes, her long lashes drooping, and distinct shadows beneath her eyes.

Not just shadows, but dark circles.

With her eyes open, she was always drawn to those bright amber eyes. Only with her eyes closed did she notice the obvious fatigue on her young face.

It made sense. Her studies were already demanding, and they would only get worse after she entered her final year of high school this summer.

To maintain her first-place ranking and secure her scholarship, Cheng Zhishu tried every night to secretly study until midnight, thinking she could hide it from the person in the next room.

She finally had a chance to rest on the weekend, yet she spent her hard-earned free time caring for her. How could she not be exhausted?

Xi Congshuang suddenly lost the urge to wake her up and send her back to her room. Instead of the hassle, she decided to let her continue sleeping. After all, her bed was large.

Just…

Her scrutinizing gaze slowly fell, quietly deepening.

Light and shadow cast a shade over Cheng Zhishu’s profile, delicate and smooth like glazed porcelain, faintly revealing the woman she would grow up to be.

What did that system say again?

High in status and power, uniquely aloof, alone at the peak, suffering from the cold of high places.

It sounded like a deeply tragic destiny. However, the current Cheng Zhishu had nothing to do with those descriptions. She was quite the clingy type.

Forget it. Let it be.

Xi Congshuang, feeling the creeping exhaustion, also closed her eyes to sleep. In her grogginess, she wondered if she had said something that was misinterpreted.

She must have, otherwise, why would Cheng Zhishu have misunderstood…

…

After she closed her eyes, Cheng Zhishu opened her eyes a crack. Seeing Xi Congshuang’s eyes closed, she finally let out a sigh of relief. She opened her eyes fully and carefully took a deep breath.

She hugged the duvet and looked at the person beside her. Her hand stretched out, hesitated several times, and finally retreated, clutching the duvet instead.

Although they were sharing a bed, Xi Congshuang slept very straight and properly. Even in her sleep, she didn’t move around, maintaining a distance between them.

But Cheng Zhishu was already content. She lowered her head, breathing with her nose pressed against the duvet, and slowly closed her eyes.

She thought she would suffer from insomnia because she was sharing a bed with Xi Congshuang and had prepared to drink coffee for energy tomorrow. She never expected that being enveloped by Xi Congshuang’s scent would make her feel so safe that she slept soundly, straight through until morning.

…

Illness often makes a person vulnerable. Xi Congshuang, for once, dreamed of the past.

The dreams were fragmented, coming from nowhere in particular.

Many were things Xi Congshuang thought she had long forgotten, suppressed deep within her mind for too long. They surged up, restless and persistent, taking advantage of her weakness to disturb her peace.

“You are our only child. Your father and mother place great hope in you.”

“Congshuang, we are very disappointed in you. You have always been excellent. Why are you in second place?”

“You cannot stay stagnant. Although you achieved first place this time, don’t you think your overall performance is worse than before?”

“Developing unnecessary feelings for irrelevant people and asking the nanny for a hug are signs of great weakness.”

“What are you doing? Xi Congshuang, you’ve disappointed us greatly!”

“…”

Even though she had long been indifferent and unaffected by these words, Xi Congshuang still awoke abruptly, slowly feeling her heart clench and struggle to beat within her chest.

It was morning now. The spot beside her was already empty. Reaching out, the area was already cold.

Xi Congshuang pulled her hand back from the chilled bedding and pressed it to her forehead, her thin eyelids lowered.

“Monday. I’ll take the day off.”

…

After sleeping through the entire weekend, Xi Congshuang finally gathered the strength to leave the bed, wheeling her chair downstairs for a walk.

Xiao Liu draped a jacket over her arm, ready for Xi Congshuang to add a layer at any moment. Although Xi Congshuang was already wearing a jacket, it was necessary to be prepared.

Zheng Momo also followed behind, determined to be one of Xi Congshuang’s two great guardians alongside Xiao Liu.

When two people with a tendency to worry gather, they easily strike up a conversation, discussing Xi Congshuang’s recovery plan in earnest.

Xi Congshuang listened distractedly, resting her face in her hand, trying to find a reason to politely dismiss them both.

Before she could speak, her problem was solved for her. The two voluntarily retreated, keeping watch from a near distance.

It was because Director Xi had returned. Shortly after arriving home, she came straight to Wen Hai to talk to her.

“You look much better.” Director Xi came alone and slowly sat down, her ageless eyes filled with relief.

Xi Congshuang: “I made Grandma worry. It was just a small issue. A few days of rest is all I need.”

Director Xi sighed: “Truthfully, I was too hasty. I only thought the project would be more perfect in your hands and forgot about your health.”

She had come to visit Xi Congshuang, the patient, but ended up being comforted by Xi Congshuang. Xi Congshuang was just short of swearing she wouldn’t do it again, just to reassure Director Xi.

Director Xi, however, said: “Congshuang, I’ve been thinking about one thing these past few days, and I’ve been looking at some people.”

She looked up at Xi Congshuang across the table: “If there’s anyone you fancy among them, I hope you will get married.”

Xi Congshuang was astonished: “Grandma, why would you suddenly think of that?”

Director Xi: “Your health is poor. You need a close person to care for you. That responsibility should fall on me, but I often cannot be by your side in time to properly look after you.”

“So I thought that if you were married, someone could replace me and care for you wholeheartedly. I don’t care who it is, as long as you like them.”

The woman who had controlled the Xi Group for many years seemed to have noticed something, hinting subtly.

Xi Congshuang avoided the topic: “Xiao Liu, Dr. Zheng, and Dr. Qi all take care of me. I don’t feel neglected.”

Director Xi: “No, it’s not the same.”

People who choose to remain single don’t necessarily oppose marriage. Director Xi was an exception; she preferred to be married to her career rather than a person.

In her youth, she even used her own marriage as a bargaining chip to secure the position of CEO more smoothly. Later, she realized she could have done it without the engagement. Less than three months after the engagement party, she broke it off.

At times, she was no different from any ordinary elder, believing that marriage would ensure Xi Congshuang was cared for.

Even if they couldn’t be wholehearted, she would use means to ensure they had to be.

Xi Congshuang was the opposite. She had never considered marriage, nor had she considered forming intimate relationships with anyone.

Moreover, she wouldn’t stay here for long. Once the mission was complete, she would disappear from this world. Why create unnecessary complications?

Xi Congshuang said: “But I don’t think there’s any difference. It’s all the same.”

Rather than being connected by marriage, she trusted the doctors and caregivers hired with genuine money far more than someone who would ‘wholeheartedly’ care for her.

Their professionalism was far superior to ‘wholeheartedness.’

But she had no intention of arguing with Director Xi. She wouldn’t try to persuade a stubborn person.

Director Xi: “Grandma knows that event was a great blow to you, and it’s too much to ask you to immediately snap out of it. But Congshuang, haven’t you noticed you’ve been distancing yourself from us?”

The smile on Xi Congshuang’s face faded slightly. She countered: “Have I? I don’t think so.”

The old fox is the sharpest. Director Xi easily saw through her evasiveness: “See? You’re being perfunctory with Grandma again. I’m not Hanran or your Fourth Aunt; I’m not that easy to fool.”

Xi Congshuang: “…”

…

The sun was setting. Cheng Zhishu stepped into the house, bathed in the lingering rays of early autumn. She was eager to see Xi Congshuang and didn’t notice the strange atmosphere at Wen Hai today.

She took off her earphones before entering. Her steps quickened as she rushed inside: “Sister, I’m home…”

Seeing the scene inside, Cheng Zhishu’s sentence got stuck after “I’m,” and the final “home” sounded incredibly meek. She wanted to disappear into the ground right there.

Cheng Zhishu mentally spiraled: Why didn’t anyone tell her that Sister’s grandmother was here!

It’s so awkward! I don’t know why, but it’s just so awkward!

Will Sister’s grandmother think I’m annoying, childish, and completely rude?

Aaaah, I’m losing it. I should have peeked inside before coming in.

Director Xi sat gracefully in a single armchair, sipping tea. She looked up at the doorway. Her gaze paused as she remembered who the young girl before her was.

When Xi Congshuang proposed taking the girl in, she hadn’t objected. It was just one child. The Xi family wasn’t so poor that they had to force a minor out.

Back then, the girl was silent and gloomy. After only a short time apart, she had changed greatly.

She was much brighter than before. Not the same face, but she almost didn’t recognize her. Still very young and green, though.

Xi Congshuang was sitting on the other side and smiled at her: “Zhishu is home. Grandma brought some pastries. Do you want to try some?”

Cheng Zhishu finally reacted: “Hello, Director Xi.”

Director Xi beckoned: “Mhm. Do you want this pastry?”

Cheng Zhishu shuffled over and took a piece: “Thank you, Director Xi.”

“It’s nothing. Congshuang used to love this too, but she wasn’t as obedient as you.” Director Xi said to Xi Congshuang, “I regret sending you abroad to study so early. I didn’t get to see you much when you were a teenager.”

Xi Congshuang looked resigned: “Then look at Zhishu more. She’s much cuter than I am.”

Director Xi gave her a chiding look: “Stop dragging others into your excuses. How did Grandma not know you were so young and full of bad ideas?”

The topic was diverted. Feeling the pressure of Director Xi’s aura, Cheng Zhishu quietly slipped away.

She planned to cautiously go upstairs but was caught by Xiao Liu, who was passing by: “Zhishu is back! There’s cut-up pink pineapple in the kitchen, waiting for you to eat.”

Without much struggle, she was pulled away by her schoolbag strap and taken to the kitchen.

The full name of the pineapple was a long string, which Cheng Zhishu often forgot, so she and Xiao Liu collectively called it pink pineapple.

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

She ate the pink pineapple to tide her over while waiting for dinner, sniffing the delicious aromas. Since Director Xi was staying for dinner today, the preparation time would be a bit longer than usual.

Xiao Liu poured a glass of freshly squeezed juice from the refrigerator: “It was just squeezed this afternoon. Try it… I wouldn’t lie to you. Dr. Zheng and I both heard it. Director Xi said she hopes the Young Miss will get married so someone can care for her wholeheartedly.”

The first sentence was directed at Cheng Zhishu; the second was for the kitchen helper picking vegetables nearby.

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

Xiao Liu: “Actually, I think… Zhishu, be careful! Why are you choking? Give me a tissue.”

“Cough, cough, cough, cough!” Cheng Zhishu grabbed a tissue, covering her mouth with the other hand, coughing incessantly. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to look up.

She could no longer pay attention to Sister Liu’s anxious words. Her heart sank rapidly, yet it beat more violently than ever.

It was only then that she finally remembered the question she had been deliberately ignoring.

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

If Xi Congshuang found out about her delusion, would she be disgusted?

She probably would.

Maybe she would even think I’m being an ingrate—the person who was saved developing feelings for her benefactor.

Cheng Zhishu leaned on the countertop, face down, breathing heavily. An immense feeling of bitterness threatened to drown her. Emotions surged toward her from all directions like seawater, nearly suffocating her.

Hearing the sudden news that Xi Congshuang might get married was utterly shocking, yet Cheng Zhishu had no recourse, no standing to stop it.

She was absolutely no one to Xi Congshuang.

Xiao Liu was so startled that she stood up, patting her back to help her breathe: “Do you want some water?”

Cheng Zhishu nodded frantically, took the offered cup of water, and drank it all in one gulp. She casually wiped the tears from her face with the tissue, trying to pretend nothing had happened.

But the kitchen light was too bright. As soon as she looked up, her eyes stung, and her vision blurred.

She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. She still had to compose herself and go out to eat.

…

The dinner table with Director Xi present was quieter than usual. Neither the grandmother nor the granddaughter had a habit of talking during meals. Only the occasional clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard in the dining room.

After the meal, Director Xi stood up, ready to leave.

“It’s getting late. Grandma will head back now and won’t disturb your rest,” Director Xi said. “You should take another day off tomorrow. That project is finished. Just let Assistant Ni handle it.”

“I will.”

Xi Congshuang went to see her off. Director Xi stopped her at the dining room entrance and told her: “Grandma hopes you will seriously consider this matter.”

She sincerely hoped Xi Congshuang could be happier, not so melancholy.

She was also worried about her own advancing age and lack of energy to look after Xi Congshuang.

She just needed someone, anyone, to be by her side.

Xi Congshuang nodded: “I will, Grandma.”

First, just placate her.

Knowing that things couldn’t be rushed, Director Xi said no more and left.

After she was gone, Xi Congshuang looked at the already empty seat.

Cheng Zhishu hadn’t sat beside her for dinner today but across from her, facing her.

She kept her head down throughout the meal. When Director Xi left her seat, Cheng Zhishu followed suit and was likely back upstairs now.

Xi Congshuang thought that perhaps Director Xi’s presence was too intense, and Cheng Zhishu felt uncomfortable.