Chapter 106

Zhong Ning really wanted to say, “You wish,” but as the words reached her lips, they turned into a puff of air and lightly landed on the bruised skin.

After applying the medicated oil, she washed her hands and took away the white nightgown, bringing back a black one instead. In fact, regardless of the color, once a nightgown was stained with the medicated oil, it became a disposable item. But Zhong Ning still retained the thriftiness of an ordinary person—white was hard to clean, black was easier.

Xie Shiqing rarely wore black. This particular short-sleeved nightgown was long, reaching down to her ankles.

It made her skin appear even paler. Her vacant eyes were half-closed, and the two small moles beneath them resembled tiny whirlpools—like a ghostly orchid blooming in a deep ravine, quiet and mysterious, irresistibly drawing the eye.

Zhong Ning held her and sat her down in the wheelchair, then wheeled her downstairs.

—Now that the Xie family had two wheelchairs, if something happened again, each of them could have one.

A bit like a hellish joke. This line popped up in Zhong Ning’s mind at the wrong time, and she quickly snuffed it out.

Breakfast was a light millet porridge. After a simple meal, the family doctor—who had long been waiting—stepped forward to change the dressing on Xie Shiqing’s arm and treat the wound on her forehead.

Zhong Ning took the chance to finally see what the wound looked like under the bandages.

Although Xie Shiqing had planned this as a self-inflicted injury to gain sympathy, the place where she fell was entirely up to chance—right beside a landscaped greenbelt. The concrete edging there was uneven and rough, and the bushes were just as stiff. Had she been wearing thick clothing, she might have just gotten bumped and scraped, but the weather was hot, and she had on a light, thin dress that offered little protection.

As a result, her arm had first been scratched by branches, then, driven by the force of the fall, slid forward harshly across the ground. It left a wound nearly ten centimeters long, wide and raw—the outer layer of skin was completely stripped, exposing bright red flesh beneath, a bloody mess to behold.

Zhong Ning took one glance and gasped sharply.

That must hurt so much!

The most painful thing she’d ever experienced was getting vaccinated.

Compared to something like a fracture, this injury wasn’t as severe, but the visual impact was far worse.

Zhong Ning couldn’t help but touch her own arm.

Xie Shiqing, however, didn’t flinch at all during the application of medicine, as if that arm wasn’t hers at all but a prosthetic limb. It was Zhong Ning who was gasping, whispering under her breath, and shielding her eyes with her hand, peeking through a narrow slit.

She didn’t even watch horror movies—only cartoons. This scene was already borderline R-rated for her.

Even as she gasped, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

She felt heartache for the wound, and heartache for Xie Shiqing.

She herself had never been injured, never suffered hardship, which was why such a wound seemed unbearable to her. Just how much physical pain had Xie Shiqing endured to become so numb and indifferent now?

Zhong Ning didn’t know.

Even though Xie Shiqing had spoken of her illness and trauma, if one hadn’t personally witnessed the nearly deranged state she’d fallen into yesterday, who could believe that someone like her—calm and composed—had suppressed such intense collapse?

Perhaps it was because she usually appeared so unfazed, so in control, that even the kind of torment that could destroy another person’s life seemed barely to affect her.

She was someone used to swallowing pain.

After breakfast, Zhong Ning had to go to class. She had already taken one day off—it really wouldn’t do to request another.

Xie Shiqing, ever considerate, expressed her understanding. Of course, studies were important. She seated herself in the wheelchair and personally escorted Zhong Ning to the door. Just before she got into the car, Xie Shiqing gently took her hand and placed a nearly reverent kiss on the back of it.

“Ning Ning, I’ll rest well at home and wait for your return.”

Zhong Ning opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, closed it again.

After the two morning classes, there was a break. One more class was scheduled for the evening. Zhong Ning was still deciding whether to visit Xie Shiqing or head to the Zhong Corporation.

As she hesitated, a very familiar sound suddenly reached her ears—the friction of a wheelchair rolling across the ground.

She turned around. Xie Shiqing was being pushed over by a bodyguard.

A tearful voice called out, “Ning Ning, why did you move out of home?”

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A person in a wheelchair walking down the road always drew glances—not out of malice, but mostly curiosity. Like spotting someone holding a helium balloon in the park—one couldn’t help but look a few more times.

And Xie Shiqing’s appearance was simply too striking—delicate and fragile, the very image of a sickly beauty—making her even more eye-catching.

Zhong Ning had no desire to become the subject of campus gossip. She quickly stepped forward and covered the woman’s mouth. “This isn’t the place to talk.”

As she spoke, she snatched the bodyguard’s spot and began pushing Xie Shiqing quickly toward the school gate.

They hadn’t gone far when she felt something wet on her hand.

She bent down for a look—tears had welled up in Xie Shiqing’s eyes, forming two large pools and falling like stars, one by one.

If crying required skill, then Xie Shiqing was undoubtedly a master at it.

There was an art to crying beautifully: the eyes should be slightly red, the tears large and swift, and there should be no snot—only elegance.

Only the best actors could cry like dewdrops falling from a lotus, touching and delicate.

Though Xie Shiqing wasn’t part of the entertainment industry, she clearly understood this art well.

When her emotions were steady and reason intact, she knew exactly how to use her looks to her advantage.

Zhong Ning had never seen anyone cry like this. If tears were a weapon, they would be the most destructive and invisible kind in the world.

She opened her mouth and closed it again. Truthfully, she had wanted to speak this morning. She had already moved out of the Xie family home. But when she saw this person’s pitiful appearance, she held her tongue.

Anyway, the butler would certainly inform her.

“I moved out yesterday.” She spoke with honesty. “I took your silence as tacit agreement to the breakup. Since that’s the case, what reason do I have to keep living in your home?”

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