The Female Lead Keeps Forcing Me to Take My Meds [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Stay and Eat? 

The hour was late. The sun had completely set, and the bright moon shone in the sky.

In the garden, the overhead lights turned on, enveloping the figure at the table and softening her naturally cool demeanor.

The girl with the backpack, wearing a large school uniform, stood at the edge of the light. Her slightly long fringe hadn’t been trimmed, covering half of her eyes.

But this didn’t prevent Cheng Zhishu from getting a complete look at the person.

The person sitting at the table was cool and aristocratic. The table and chair beneath her were actually her wheelchair, and a thicker blanket was draped over her knees, extending down to the footrest.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Of course, Xi Congshuang knew who the person in front of her was; she was asking deliberately.

After a brief moment of surprise, the girl straightened her slender back, licked her dry lower lip, and stated her name: “Cheng Zhishu. The zhi from knowing, the shu from comfortable.”

Seeing the other party slightly furrow her brow, Cheng Zhishu realized what she wanted to ask was not that, and added: “My father is Cheng… Xi Wenyong.”

Just a few days ago, Cheng Wenyong had changed his surname to Xi, and his son, who was home on leave, also changed it. The family was delighted, and they completely forgot about Cheng Zhishu, who was boarding at school.

But Cheng Zhishu didn’t have strong feelings about changing her surname. A name was just a code. She felt it was quite fine to share a surname with her grandmother.

Sure enough, the slight crease in Xi Congshuang’s brow smoothed out. After a moment, Xi Congshuang asked again: “Who is Xi Wenyong?”

Cheng Zhishu: “…”

It made sense. The Xi Congshuang seen yesterday commanded such reverence from the Xi mansion servants; she must be the aloof Miss of the family. It was normal for her not to know who had been added to the household.

But such a direct inquiry still made Cheng Zhishu feel somewhat at a loss, unsure how to explain her origin.

Should I put it this way?

I’m the daughter of the illegitimate son of Miss Xi’s sixth uncle?

It sounded too much like an unwelcome takeover.

Young people are thin-skinned, and Cheng Zhishu couldn’t bring herself to say such a thing.

Xi Congshuang didn’t dwell on the question: “Cheng Zhishu, then why are you here alone? I’m waiting for my caregiver; what about you?”

“I’m looking for my room,” Cheng Zhishu said, a little embarrassed, twisting the strap of her backpack with her fingers. “This place is too big, and I’m not very good with directions.”

“Not good with directions?” Xi Congshuang was slightly surprised by the reason, her clear and soft voice showing a hint of astonishment. “Do you at least remember which building you live in?”

Cheng Zhishu: “I remember the plaque says Wencan Building.”

Xi Congshuang: “Then you’ve gone the wrong way. This is Wenhua Building, where I live.”

Cheng Zhishu gasped, looking around, but couldn’t distinguish any difference from the area around Wencan Building—both were elegant and luxurious: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to take the wrong path.”

Other families had different people living on each floor of a building. She hadn’t expected this Miss to live in an entire building alone.

She really is a Miss detached from the human world.

Xi Congshuang seemed to laugh once: “Do you have times when you intentionally take the wrong path?”

Young people are indeed thin-skinned. Cheng Zhishu didn’t notice her ears had turned red. She lowered her head, revealing the top of her fluffy head.

“Miss Xi, your meal is ready. I’ll push you back to eat,” Zheng Momo’s voice came from behind.

She approached from the blue brick path, saw someone standing in front of Xi Congshuang, head lowered: “Oh? Who are you, and why are you here?”

Cheng Zhishu dryly repeated her name, then stood perfectly straight, looking exactly like a well-behaved student at school.

As she got closer, Zheng Momo finally recognized the girl—the same one she saw yesterday. She was wearing a different school uniform today, so she almost didn’t recognize her.

Why is she always in a school uniform? Does she not have her own casual clothes?

She never thought Miss Xi would have the patience to talk to a stranger. She recalled the immense effort it took for her to get Xi Congshuang to accept her care.

But work and life are different, right? Just as Zheng Momo thought this, she heard Xi Congshuang ask: “It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay and eat before you leave?”

“You’ll just have to put up with the bland nutritional meal of a patient.”

Cheng Zhishu only took this as adult politeness. She wouldn’t genuinely accept, shaking her head: “My family is waiting for me. I should go back and eat. Thank you.”

Very polite, very well-behaved. It’s impossible to see that she will grow up to hate Xi Congshuang enough to personally kill her.

Xi Congshuang said: “She lives in Wencan Building. Zheng Momo, please take her back.”

In truth, Cheng Zhishu wasn’t mistaken; Xi Congshuang hadn’t genuinely considered keeping her for a meal. She disliked having too many people encroach on her personal space.

When she was critically ill before, she had no choice, but now she would only live life the way she liked.

Zheng Momo: “What about you, Miss Xi?”

Xi Congshuang: “I’ll drive the wheelchair back myself.”

Since the employer said so, Zheng Momo had no choice but to comply and personally escort the girl back.

She just wondered if it was her imagination, but Xi Congshuang’s tone sounded entirely eager. She seemed to really want to drive the wheelchair back herself.

Wait, can you use the word ‘drive’ for a wheelchair?

Zheng Momo recalled how Xi Congshuang, never having done manual labor, had refused to accept the fact of her paralysis and had never learned how to operate the wheelchair.

In a few short seconds, countless scenarios flashed through Zheng Momo’s mind, including, but not limited to: Miss Xi losing control of the wheelchair and hitting a rock and falling, the wheels getting caught in something and falling, failing to climb the stairs and falling… in short, all kinds of falling!

If that happened, her career would be ruined!

She couldn’t help but quicken her pace. Cheng Zhishu, confused, also sped up her walking.

After escorting the girl near Wencan Building, she pointed the way: “Follow this path to the end, and you’ll be there. I need to rush back to take care of Miss Xi.”

With that, she turned and left, walking briskly.

Cheng Zhishu, having wrestled with herself the whole way, still hadn’t managed to ask who the caregiver was. She just stood there, watching the person leave.

…

Putting the tablet away on her lap, Xi Congshuang moved the joystick backward, heading back the way she came.

The night wind was cool, only feeling refreshing on the skin, but Xi Congshuang felt a bit cold.

Suddenly, the wind beside her intensified, and the entirely red Red Apple reappeared: “You’ve met the person. What’s your plan?”

Xi Congshuang countered: “What about you? Do you have any constructive suggestions?”

Red Apple: “Generally, there are countless solutions to this situation, but they boil down to two types.”

Xi Congshuang: “I’m listening.”

The Red Apple got excited, flapping its wings as it flew along: “The first is to continue the original Xi Congshuang’s malicious Miss route: publicly abuse and mock her, but privately only allow her close and only rely on her, achieving a ‘two wrongs make a right’ effect.”

“The second is to win her over before things escalate: treat her extremely well, indulge her every whim, solve all her problems, be tolerant of her, and protect her until her corruption value drops to within the safe range.”

Xi Congshuang continued to push the joystick forward: “Those are indeed very constructive suggestions.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

Xi Congshuang: “No.”

“If you’re not, why aren’t you turning your head to look at me?”

Xi Congshuang: “I need to watch the road.”

Red Apple: “So, which method—A or B—will you choose?”

Xi Congshuang had reached the back door of her residence. The servants came out to meet her and didn’t hear Xi Congshuang reply: “I choose both.”

The Red Apple was so angry its wings flapped loudly: “…”

She was already pushed inside. When Xi Congshuang looked back, the furiously flapping Red Apple had vanished.

It was always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, following its mood. Xi Congshuang was quite curious about where it went.

Did it stay invisible nearby or live inside her head?

If she shook her head, would it fall out?

Xi Congshuang tried it, but only the surprised voice of a servant responded: “Miss, are you not having the corn and pork rib soup today? How about lotus root instead?”

“…” Xi Congshuang: “Hmm, that’s fine.”

The experimental result was: it was neither of the above.

…

Following the path Zheng Momo pointed out, Cheng Zhishu arrived at the familiar Wencan Building.

It was already late, and most of the servants had returned to their quarters to rest; there weren’t many people around.

She had heard other servants mention that Miss Xi (the family head) was very busy recently and wouldn’t be home, so there were even fewer people out.

Cheng Zhishu went upstairs alone, reaching the third floor. She turned left and walked all the way to her room at the end.

Passing a certain room door, Cheng Zhishu stopped, hesitating whether to knock and talk to someone.

It was her first day transferring schools, and she was unfamiliar with many things, instinctively seeking comfort from those she felt close to.

Her raised hand hesitated for a long time, unable to knock. Cheng Zhishu carefully pressed her ear against the door and finally heard some voices.

After dinner, the family of three was talking inside.

“Xiao Yao is so amazing, knowing so many words. Why don’t you read this text to Mommy?”

“No, I’m already very tired today. I don’t want to read.”

“Okay, okay, no reading today. These two small cakes are all yours.”

“Xiao Yao, you have two cakes. What if you can’t finish them? Give Daddy a bite.”

“No! If I can’t finish them, I’ll put them in the fridge for tonight. If I still can’t finish them, I’ll eat them tomorrow. If I still can’t finish them, I’ll throw them away. Expired things can’t be eaten…”

“Xiao Yao even knows to throw away the trash. So amazing…”

Cheng Zhishu didn’t listen to the whole conversation. She straightened up and walked toward her own room.

A thermal bag was placed in front of her room door, containing a meal box.

Her room was locked, and she couldn’t get in, so the kitchen staff had put the food in a thermal box and left it at her door.

When she returned, she would take it inside to eat.

The servants in the Xi mansion, considering Cheng Zhishu was still a student, and they were also employees, saw no reason to treat a child harshly.

As for the grudges of the employer and the issues of legitimate versus illegitimate birth, none of that concerned them.

The amount of food was sufficient anyway, so there was no need to target an insignificant child.

Moreover, the people living in the Wencan Building hadn’t complained, so they certainly wouldn’t say anything.

The young Cheng Zhishu had no idea of the unspoken rules in the building. She sat down and quietly ate her meal, then washed the container and returned it to the kitchen.

She was accustomed to going anywhere without causing trouble for anyone.

The kitchen staff were a little surprised. They told Cheng Zhishu to just leave the items and instructed her not to bring them back herself next time; someone would clean them up.

Cheng Zhishu asked: “Will this increase your workload?”

The kitchen lady smiled: “This is our job. There’s no such thing as increasing the workload. Go back and study.”

She was handed a clean apple and turned to walk back.

The chef, who was washing his hands, suddenly called out to her: “Did you eat the dessert we sent over today? Was it good?”

Cheng Zhishu nodded: “It was delicious.”

The chef smiled: “My food is definitely delicious. You can go back now.”

Cheng Zhishu returned. As she walked up the stairs, someone was coming down.

High heels made almost no sound on the carpeted stairs. She was dressed in a sharp black suit, descending the steps, her expressionless face exuding pressure.

Cheng Zhishu stopped in place, ready to let the other person pass first.

The staircase was wide enough for two people, but Cheng Zhishu was still unaccustomed to that and chose to yield.

Moreover…

The person was the young woman who had been looking down from the flower room window yesterday—her father’s “hard-to-get-along-with” sister.

Xi Hanran, the young woman with crossed arms, looked down at Cheng Zhishu. Her light-colored eyes made her seem emotionally detached. Her gaze swept over Cheng Zhishu’s face.

Xi Hanran said: “Are you really Cheng Wenyong’s daughter?”

She stepped down, stopping a step above Cheng Zhishu, and leaned in: “How come I look at you, and you don’t resemble them at all?”