The Female Lead Keeps Forcing Me to Take My Meds [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: So Nervous 

“Ah!! Mommy, I fell down!”

Xi Hanran, softened by the spring atmosphere, was dozing with her chin propped in her hands. She was startled awake by a child’s loud cry and suddenly realized she was holding something: a kite spool.

She didn’t know when it had ended up in her hand. It felt as if it had grown there. By the time she noticed it, the kite was on the ground, and the two people next to her were gone. Xi Hanran couldn’t find them and was too lazy to move, so she continued to stare blankly and doze off in the folding chair.

Finally, Shangguan Yin, having run around to her heart’s content, picked up the fallen kite and temporarily took on the role of ‘mother hen,’ waking up the dozing Xi Hanran.

Shangguan Yin’s face was flushed from excitement. “That folding chair is so unstable, how did you manage to sleep?”

Xi Hanran raised an eyebrow. “Is it hard to sit still? Did you fall?”

Embarrassed, Shangguan Yin admitted, “I did. I fell flat on my back. My waist hurt for days.”

Xi Hanran laughed mercilessly. “Hahahaha! If you angle yourself, you can’t fall! And you actually fell? Hahahaha!”

Shangguan Yin: “…” This person is an idiot. She hugged the kites and quickly walked away.

…

The Pre-Exam Tension

The group stayed at the villa for three days and had to return on the third day because the start of the final year of high school was approaching.

Students were deeply unaccustomed to the school environment after the break, yawning in class, their minds lazy. To make matters worse, the third-year high school teachers had unanimously decided to hold a major exam to gauge their progress and get them back into study mode.

The teachers spoke with righteous conviction, while the students were crushed. A collective wailing broke out, proclaiming that life was too cruel.

Despite their protests, the exam arrived as scheduled. When the final bell rang, the repressed students burst out, gathering their things to leave.

Cheng Zhishu, who took the exam in her own classroom’s first row, stood up and returned to her regular seat. A few minutes later, the ghost-like Shangguan Yin shuffled in from the next class, looking like a squeezed-dry fruit.

Shangguan Yin grabbed Cheng Zhishu’s hand and wailed, “Three days! Do you know what I went through these three days?”

Cheng Zhishu held her arm high to type a message on her phone. “What did you go through?”

Shangguan Yin choked out, “Death and rebirth.”

Ding-dong. Cheng Zhishu opened a message.

[Snowflake]: Traffic jam today. Estimated arrival at school is five minutes late.

After reading and replying, Cheng Zhishu patted Shangguan Yin’s arm on the desk. “It’s okay. You tried your best, standing up after the test. The questions were really hard this time. The final problems were beyond the syllabus.”

Shangguan Yin was deeply moved. “Wuwuwu, Chengzi.”

…

An Awkward Encounter

If she could go back in time, Shangguan Yin, who was about to see the honor roll, wouldn’t believe a word Cheng Zhishu said. Cheng Zhishu was still in first place, again ten points ahead of the second-place student, cementing her dominant position.

Behind them, a student lamented, “I don’t believe it! She must have been secretly taking lessons during the winter break! Which teacher was it?! How did she solve that crazy problem? It had to be outside the syllabus!”

“Hey Wenyin, wait, you forgot your water bottle!”

The sounds of hurried footsteps passed, followed by a more measured gait. A wrist wearing a mechanical watch tugged on Shangguan Yin’s backpack strap.

Cheng Zhishu said, “My Sister is here to pick me up. I’m leaving now.”

Shangguan Yin looked back. She noticed that Cheng Zhishu seemed to have grown taller and her personality had changed a lot. Sometimes she felt she was sitting next to a miniature Xi Congshuang, a far cry from the slouching, long-banged Cheng Zhishu who first transferred. She looks so much better without bangs, like a pearl with the dust wiped off.

She stopped her before she could leave. “Oh, right. The 100-Day Pep Rally is soon. High School No. 1 invites parents to attend, and we’ll have the last parent-teacher conference. Have you told Miss Xi?”

Cheng Zhishu checked her wrist. “I told her. She said she’s coming.”

Shangguan Yin: “Alright, alright. We know your Sister is coming. Stop smiling so brightly. Be careful of the Heart-Shaped Candles.”

“Time to go. I’m leaving.” Cheng Zhishu immediately stopped smiling, glanced left and right, and scurried away like a thief.

Shangguan Yin caught up to her, laughing so hard she had to hold her sides. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s really funny, hahahahaha.”

Cheng Zhishu pushed her away. “Stay away from me. We’re not close.”

“Don’t be like that. Can you tell me the story of the heart-shaped candles again?” Shangguan Yin teased.

Cheng Zhishu: “…”

The Heart-Shaped Candles story: A student, who had given up on the college entrance exam, decided to make a dramatic confession before graduation. The target was Cheng Zhishu in the building across the way. He had only set up half the heart and hadn’t lit the candles when Cheng Zhishu, who had just finished dinner and was heading to evening study, saw her name written on the roses. Terrified, she immediately called her homeroom teacher for help. The teacher, who was in the dining hall, dropped his plate and appeared with the school security guards, along with the boy’s teacher. Before he was escorted away, the boy’s aborted confession included key phrases like: beautiful, smart, moving smile, and so cool, please date me.

Shangguan Yin had witnessed the entire event and was still laughing about it. Cheng Zhishu was deeply embarrassed and hadn’t dared to tell Xi Congshuang.

They reached the car, and Cheng Zhishu pulled the door open. “I’m getting in. You should go!”

“Okay.” Shangguan Yin was stifling her laughter when she accidentally looked past the door and froze.

Cheng Zhishu didn’t see her sudden change in expression. She leaned in to get into the car when a voice close to her said, “What did you encounter at school today, Zhishu? You two were laughing so happily. It looked harmonious.”

Then, her backpack was caught and pulled.

“…”

Cheng Zhishu froze, slowly turning her head to see Xi Congshuang smiling at her from inside the car.

“Sister, why are you sitting here? Weren’t you sitting on the other side before?” Cheng Zhishu tried to deflect.

Xi Congshuang: “Xiao Li changed the way he parked today. I chose the easiest side to get in. That’s my answer.” She then looked at Cheng Zhishu expectantly. I’ve given my answer. What’s yours?

“This, I’ll explain it to you once I’m inside.”

The culprit, Shangguan Yin, had vanished. Cheng Zhishu awkwardly got into the car from the other side and softly explained the incident. It wasn’t a major crime, but the embarrassment was “hell-level.”

Cheng Zhishu: “That’s basically what happened.” She was incredibly nervous and felt deeply humiliated.

Xi Congshuang: “That’s harassment. What happened next?” Huh? She’s not angry?

Cheng Zhishu quickly glanced at Xi Congshuang and reported honestly: “Teacher Wu told me that the student was given a major demerit, suspended, and won’t appear in front of me again.”

A hand landed gently on her head. Xi Congshuang asked, “And you? Do you feel vindicated?”

Cheng Zhishu, who was only embarrassed but not harmed, nodded. “Yes, I do.”

Xi Congshuang: “That’s good.”

Cheng Zhishu grew a little bolder, looking openly at Xi Congshuang. For some reason, she felt a little happy.

…

The 100-Day Pep Rally

On the day of the Pep Rally, Xi Congshuang arrived as promised, immediately drawing attention. Many looks of initial admiration quickly turned to pity—a glance that was not subtle.

The weather was warmer, and Xi Congshuang, who came straight from the company, wore a suit jacket, which she had accessorized with a black and white scarf before getting out of the car. The scarf made her look less severe and more casual.

The rally was held in the auditorium, so there was no worry about her getting cold from sitting outside for too long.

Cheng Zhishu, who hadn’t spoken yet, tried to persuade her. “Sister, why don’t you go sit in the media room next door? I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.” She didn’t want Xi Congshuang to be stared at because of her.

Xi Congshuang replied, “But I want to stay and watch your speech. I’ve never seen you give one.”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhishu nearly forgot her entire prepared speech. She slowly crouched down and rested her forehead on Xi Congshuang’s lap.

Xi Congshuang intended to pat her head but realized Cheng Zhishu was about to go on stage. She gently poked her head instead. “Nervous?”

The head resting on her lap nodded. It was true; with many strangers and parents attending, Cheng Zhishu was genuinely nervous. She had excellent eyesight and would be able to see the entire audience clearly.

If only I were nearsighted, I could take off my glasses and see only blurry shapes.

Xi Congshuang wore a woody perfume that day. Cheng Zhishu, who usually preferred Xi Congshuang’s natural scent, still found the base notes of the perfume soothing.

After a while, Cheng Zhishu looked up. “Sister, if it were you, would you be nervous?”

Having experienced such events too many times, Xi Congshuang shook her head.

Cheng Zhishu was insistent. “What if you were eighteen years old?”

Xi Congshuang recalled that she was already studying for her Master’s abroad at eighteen. High school speeches were a distant memory. She shook her head again. Fear was not in her dictionary.

“…” Cheng Zhishu buried her face again. “Just let me die.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Xi Congshuang advised her. “Try pretending the audience is just those balloon figures used to attract customers. They move around, just like people.”

Cheng Zhishu slowly melted onto her lap, much like Naonao often did. Xi Congshuang leaned down to check her expression. “Are you sure you want me to leave now? Should I go?” She moved the joystick, preparing to retreat.

“Wait!” Cheng Zhishu quickly grabbed Xi Congshuang. “Don’t go. I’m nervous.” Cheng Zhishu blushed and whispered, “Will you watch me from the audience? I’m truly nervous.”

Xi Congshuang nodded. “Yes.”

..

The Peak of the Mission

The rally began with stirring music. Xi Congshuang was seated in the first row, with an unobstructed view of the stage and the students and parents of Class 1 directly behind her. Shangguan Yin and her mother were also nearby.

The lighting shifted. The teacher on stage announced, “Now, let’s welcome the student representative to speak.”

Shangguan Yin whispered, “Here she comes.”

The moment the words fell, Xi Congshuang’s eyes, which had been unfocused, lifted, taking in the scene. The girl in the dark blue uniform ascended the stairs, poised and composed, and walked to the podium.

Only Xi Congshuang knew Cheng Zhishu was nervous. She noticed a slight movement—Cheng Zhishu almost reached up to touch the necklace under her collar. When she was nervous, she’d touch the necklace to calm herself. If she wasn’t wearing it, she’d put her hand in the pocket where she usually kept it. Xi Congshuang knew this tiny habit, though Cheng Zhishu herself probably didn’t.

After a few seconds, Cheng Zhishu looked up under the stage lights and met Xi Congshuang’s gaze.

Across the distance, their eyes locked.

Cheng Zhishu felt instant relief. Her frantic, pounding heart settled. Her world went silent, centered only on Xi Congshuang. It’s okay. Just treat them all like those balloons.

She took a deep breath and began her speech. “Respected teachers…”

The speech felt much faster than Cheng Zhishu expected. She kept her eyes on Xi Congshuang for almost the entire duration, feeling a sense of immense relief when she finished.

“I haven’t been this distracted in a meeting in a long time; I actually felt time pass quickly.” That was Xi Congshuang’s first thought.

The quiet auditorium erupted in applause. As Xi Congshuang clapped, Cheng Zhishu couldn’t help but flash a grateful smile before turning to descend the stairs.

Xi Congshuang’s movement faltered, and her smile instantly vanished.

“Congratulations, congratulations! Annihilation Value -4!!!”

The Red Apple System was ecstatic, its stiff electronic voice nearly breaking with excitement. “Current Annihilation Value: 11! Keep up the great work, Host!!! You’re so close to completing the mission! Victory is at hand! I was right about you!”

“…”

In the midst of the applause, a chill spread from Xi Congshuang’s back throughout her body. She looked in a trance as someone rushed up to her, happily saying something. She barely heard a word. Her senses were dulled, encased in an invisible glass barrier.

She instinctively smiled back, and no one noticed anything was wrong. But nothing is wrong. Eliminating the Annihilation Value was her original goal. The mission was almost complete; she should be happy. There is nothing to be sad about.

…

A Glimpse into the Future

After the rally, the parents headed to the classrooms for the final parent-teacher conference.

“Thank you so much to your Zhishu these days. If she hadn’t tutored my Yinyin, she wouldn’t have improved so much,” said Shangguan Yin’s mother, seated next to Xi Congshuang.

Xi Congshuang resisted the urge to look away and replied politely, “They have a good relationship.” Shangguan Yin’s mother, chatty and eager to share, resembled her daughter.

Xi Congshuang pretended to listen but kept her attention on the window next to Cheng Zhishu’s seat. Through the glass, she could see a row of students chatting. Cheng Zhishu was there, sitting backward on her chair, her arms wrapped around the backrest, talking to Shangguan Yin.

Their voices drifted in. Xi Congshuang pieced together that they were discussing college applications and the future.

Shangguan Yin, feeling lost, asked Cheng Zhishu what her wildest, most unexpected plans were.

Cheng Zhishu rested her chin on the chair back. “I used to want to study abroad, the farther away the better. I wanted to see the world and avoid thinking about the deep-seated problems I couldn’t solve.”

Shangguan Yin was confused. “What problems couldn’t you solve? If you couldn’t solve them, then—”

A parent in the front row suddenly shivered, muttered about the cold, and closed the window, cutting off the sound.

Outside, Shangguan Yin’s voice continued, unheard by Xi Congshuang: “—If you couldn’t solve them, you should just ask your Sister. She’d definitely help you. She’d slay gods and Buddhas for you, shoo-shoo-shoo—” Having grown up in a stable family, Shangguan Yin was naive and accustomed to seeking help from family.

Cheng Zhishu rested her chin on the chair back. “I said used to. That problem has already been solved.” She was no longer stuck in the mud, constantly questioning why her parents didn’t love her or what she did wrong. Someone loved her now, and that was enough.

Shangguan Yin understood and repeated her question: “So, what’s your craziest future plan?”

Cheng Zhishu: “After dropping the last one, it’s to stay by Xi Congshuang’s side forever.”

“No matter the capacity, I don’t want to leave. I just want to be with her.”

Shangguan Yin didn’t understand that depth of emotion. She instinctively copied Xi Hanran’s gesture, rubbing her arm as if she had goosebumps. “I can’t stand you sometimes,” she teased.

Cheng Zhishu sighed. “I can’t stand this feeling either. I just need to grow up quickly.”