She didn’t stop her. She only said flatly to the driver, “Pull over by the curb. Let her out. Be careful, and escort Miss Jiang to wherever she needs to go.”
Her voice was calm and unruffled, betraying no emotion.
The car pulled smoothly to the side of the road.
Jiang Muyun grabbed her bag, got out without looking back, and slammed the door shut.
A dull thud echoed, sealing off the two spaces.
Su Qinghan didn’t watch her leave. She simply leaned back into the leather seat, raised a hand, and pressed hard against her throbbing temples.
Her phone lay silent on the seat beside her, its screen dark.
Yet, unbidden, the reply from Yan Yu flickered through her mind again.
Annoying.
She suddenly felt that some place deep inside her was hollow, yet tangled and chaotic.
—
After nearly an entire day of struggle, when the last cardboard box was finally pushed through the door, Ruo Xiaozhen used her last ounce of strength to slam it shut with a bang.
Then, as if all her bones had been pulled out, she collapsed straight backward into the only old sofa in the living room, letting out a soul-leaving sigh of exhaustion.
“Oh my god… moving… this is not human work…”
Their new rental was on the first floor, a small two-bedroom, one-living-room unit.
It was an old neighborhood, but clean, with a simple wheelchair-accessible ramp. Best of all, it was close to school, and the rent split evenly was within their budget.
The living room wasn’t big. The windows faced south, letting in the afternoon sunlight that spread warmly across the light beige tiles.
Most of the furniture was either left behind by the landlord or picked up cheap from a secondhand market: a slightly chipped wooden coffee table, two fabric-worn single-seat sofas, and a half-old bookshelf.
Yan Yu’s room faced east, a bit smaller, but with decent lighting. Ruo Xiaozhen had deliberately left the spot by the window with the best light for her desk.
Ruo Xiaozhen’s own room faced west, slightly larger, cluttered with her messy odds and ends and various trinkets.
Most of the heavy lifting, naturally, had been done by Ruo Xiaozhen, gritting her teeth.
Yan Yu could only help organize the lightest items or wheel herself around to hand over towels and water.
Even so, just moving and arranging her own clothes and a few painting supplies had left sweat beading on her temples, her chest tight, forcing her to stop and catch her breath several times.
Now, Ruo Xiaozhen lay sprawled on the sofa, her cheeks flushed red from exertion and heat, her bangs plastered to her skin by sweat.
She was lying spread-eagle, completely ungraceful, her chest still heaving violently. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling as she muttered on: “I knew it… I knew it would be this brutal, I should’ve just shelled out for movers… But then I think of my pitiful allowance, and next month’s textbook fees…
“Wah, my wallet’s bleeding, and my arms and legs are protesting too… Yan Yu, I feel like I’m about to fall apart…”
As she spoke, she weakly turned her head to look at Yan Yu in her wheelchair beside her. Her eyes were wet, like a giant dog exhausted after a long run.
Yan Yu leaned back in her wheelchair, her breathing not yet fully steady. A faint flush crept across her pale face.
But watching Ruo Xiaozhen like this—collapsed and complaining in her rambling way—some hard corner deep in her heart seemed to quietly soften, becoming tender.
Ever since she opened her eyes in this world, it had been nothing but pain, a wheelchair, cold calculations, and a cliché substitute plot.
Everyone seemed to have an agenda: Su Qinghan’s exploitation, Jiang Muyun’s hostility, the System’s coercion…
Only this girl in front of her, exhausted beyond all dignity, complaining about money while carrying the heaviest loads, had genuine concern.
Ruo Xiaozhen’s existence… was now the anchor that made Yan Yu feel alive in this absurd story.
“Thanks for the hard work, Zhenzhen.”
She said it softly, her voice a bit hoarse from fatigue, but carrying a warmth that was rare for her.
She turned her wheelchair and slowly moved to the small, half-old refrigerator.
It was the only big item they’d bought today. Inside were some simple ingredients and drinks.
Yan Yu opened the fridge door. Cold air mixed with the scent of food rushed out. She took out two bottles of plain yogurt, then wheeled back to the sofa.
“Here.” She handed one to Ruo Xiaozhen.
Ruo Xiaozhen froze for a moment, then struggled to sit up slightly. She took the cool bottle, and her eyes lit up. The fatigue on her face seemed to fade, washed away by this small surprise.
“Wow! Thank you! When did you buy these? I didn’t even know!”
“I picked them up on the way today.”
Yan Yu twisted open her own bottle and took a small sip. The cool, tangy liquid slid down her throat, relieving her thirst and fatigue.
Ruo Xiaozhen had already eagerly stuck in a straw and gulped down several big mouthfuls, letting out a satisfied sigh. “I’m alive again… Yan Yu, you’re the best!”
Seeing her face come back to life, the corner of Yan Yu’s mouth twitched into a faint smile—so slight and fleeting.
“Take your time drinking. Get some rest. I’m going to take a shower first.”
“Mhm mhm! Go ahead, go ahead!” Ruo Xiaozhen hugged the yogurt bottle and waved her hand, then collapsed back again. “Watch out for the slippery floor!”
Yan Yu wheeled into her small room.
The room still had a faint dusty smell, but the bed was made, the desk was placed by the window, and a few frequently used books and painting tools were neatly arranged.
She took out a clean set of pajamas and then wheeled into the narrow but clean bathroom.
In the rush of moving, many details had been overlooked.
For example, there was no plastic chair in the bathroom for her to sit on while showering, as she usually did.
Yan Yu stared at the smooth tiled floor and the showerhead on the wall, hesitating.
Her legs hadn’t completely lost the ability to stand.
With support, she could briefly stand and take a few steps. But she couldn’t last long. After a short while, her legs would grow weak, ache unbearably, and she’d easily lose her balance and fall.
So she usually showered sitting on that chair.
Now…
She bit her lower lip.
Her body was sticky and uncomfortable from a day of exertion, urgently needing to be cleaned.
If she moved fast, just a quick rinse… it should be fine… right?
After a moment of internal struggle, the desire for cleanliness won out over her concerns about the risk.
She locked the bathroom door behind her—even though she knew Ruo Xiaozhen wouldn’t barge in, it gave her a bit more security.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Yu pressed both hands firmly against the wheelchair’s armrests and slowly shifted her body’s weight onto her powerless legs.
The moment her soles touched the cool tiles, a faint numbness shot through her.
She steadied her breathing, quickly grabbing the edge of the nearby sink with her other hand, her fingertips turning slightly white.
She was stable.
But just standing like this already made her feel her calf muscles trembling slightly. The familiar dull ache began spreading from her joints.
She couldn’t delay.
Freeing one hand, she began unbuttoning her shirt.