Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Zhou Family’s Young Madam, Not Just Anyone Can Replace

"What’s wrong, Ah Lin?" Xu Zhenzhen asked in her gentle voice touched with a hint of laughter.

Zhou Lin turned off his phone, his emotions instantly contained, as he looked over with a gentle gaze, "It’s the work briefing sent by my assistant."

Xu Zhenzhen sighed lightly, "This time, Zhuzhu has caused such a big mess, and it’s affected you too. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have asked you to take care of Zhuzhu for me."

"Don’t say that, I’m happy to."

"If you have things to deal with, go ahead to the company. The driver can just drop me off at Zhuzhu’s place," Xu Zhenzhen was very understanding.

"It’s just some minor things, they can handle it," Zhou Lin said indifferently.

"That’s good."

...

By the time Cheng Zhiwei returned to Sparkling Sky City, it was already eight in the evening. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her long hair was a mess, making her look quite disheveled.

"Young Madam," Wang Mei quickly greeted her.

Cheng Zhiwei spoke in a hoarse voice, though her emotions had already stabilized; she feigned ignorance and asked, "Is everything at home taken care of?"

Wang Mei helped Cheng Zhiwei take a seat and brought a towel to wipe her face; she whispered, "Madam heard that Xu Zhenzhen has returned and didn’t want Young Madam to worry unnecessarily so she sent me back to check on you."

Although Lin Yu was far away overseas, she was aware of what was happening back home. Unable to return immediately, she had Wang Mei come back to take care of Cheng Zhiwei.

"I’m fine." Cheng Zhiwei covered her face with the hot towel, the steam making her eyes water as if to encourage more tears to fall.

Wang Mei asked Cheng Zhiwei what she wanted to eat for dinner. Cheng Zhiwei shook her head slightly and stood up to head upstairs, "I’m not hungry, don’t bother with me."

"Young Madam, look to the future. The master and madam care for you," Wang Mei counseled. "You are the legitimate Young Madam of the Zhou family, the daughter-in-law that master and madam have accepted. Not just anyone can replace you."

These were also the words Lin Yu wanted Wang Mei to convey.

Cheng Zhiwei paused in her steps, her heart souring even more sharply. She said "Thank you" in a dry voice and then swiftly disappeared around the corner of the staircase.

After closing the door to the master bedroom, Cheng Zhiwei leaned against it in the pitch-dark room. She crouched down weakly, covering her face, with her mind filled with incidents from three years ago.

Three years ago, back when her relationship with Xu Zhenzhen was still good—after all, Xu Zhenzhen had lived in her home for nine years, and their day-to-day interactions were as close as sisters—it wouldn’t have been an exaggeration.

Back then, she had been secretly in love with Zhou Lin for many years and finally made some actual progress. She was ready to confess, but then, the day before they were to meet, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly confessed with great guilt that she and Zhou Lin were in a relationship.

The feeling that Cheng Zhiwei experienced at that moment was like a bolt from the blue, crashing down upon her.

Heartache like a vice grip, Cheng Zhiwei still decided to wish Xu Zhenzhen happiness.

Once their relationship was confirmed, Zhou Lin was very public about showing their affection, always involving Xu Zhenzhen in everything. Naturally, Xu Zhenzhen would pull Cheng Zhiwei along, and she would always refuse, but Xu Zhenzhen always had reasons she couldn’t say no to.

After all, Xu Zhenzhen grew up in an orphanage and would say that she didn’t deserve Zhou Lin, her inferiority complex was severe. Cheng Zhiwei’s internal suffering was tumultuous, yet she still endured it to help her. Over time, they started hanging out together, and even Zhou Lin’s friends would call Cheng Zhiwei a "lickspittle" since many were aware of her affection for Zhou Lin.

On the eve of their graduation, since Zhou Lin liked Xu Zhenzhen, he generously combined the graduation ceremonies of two classes.

That night was truly lively. Zhou Lin and Xu Zhenzhen were the center of attention, cutting the cake together, drinking together, dancing together... Bold and high-profile.

Cheng Zhiwei sat in a corner, her heart bitter, so she drank one glass after another. She didn’t know how much she had drunk; the world spun, and when she woke up, she found herself in bed aching all over with Zhou Lin beside her. Before she could figure out what had happened, Xu Zhenzhen burst into the room.

That was the beginning of all the tragedy.

Seo Zhenzhen let out a cry and rushed out, and Zhou Lin didn’t even bother with the bewildered Cheng Zhiwei on the bed, hastily putting on clothes and chasing after her in a hurry.

The next day, Cheng Zhiwei found out that Seo Zhenzhen had been in a car accident.

Reflecting on this, Cheng Zhiwei gave a bitter smile. She wanted to curse herself for being a fool. Seo Zhenzhen had been in such a serious car accident that any normal person should have known how much Zhou Lin hated her and kept a distance,

But at that time, she had not thought for a moment that Zhou Lin would hate her. She only felt that they were both victims in this matter, and since Zhou Lin was willing to marry her, it proved that he was a responsible man, and so she foolishly delivered herself into Zhou Lin’s hands.

She really was asking for trouble.

"Ding ding ding..."

The ringing suddenly broke the silence of the room.

Cheng Zhiwei snapped back to reality, moved her stiff body from staying in the same position for too long, and took out her phone. Seeing the caller ID, she bit her lip before answering.

After hanging up the phone, she remained motionless for a couple of seconds before standing up, leaning on the door for support.

After changing her clothes and stepping out, Wang Mei just happened to come upstairs, carrying a bowl of soup, and exclaimed in surprise, "It’s so late, are you going out?"

Cheng Zhiwei paused for a few seconds, then said, "Yes, I’m going back for a bit."

"Going back?"

"Is that soup for me?" Cheng Zhiwei asked, her tone now natural, even showing a hint of a smile on her face.

Wang Mei quickly handed Cheng Zhiwei the soup, "Please try it."

Cheng Zhiwei drank it down in one gulp, returned the bowl to Wang Mei, and then left.

The call was to have dinner, but she knew that dinner was probably not going to be enjoyable. It was better to have a bowl of soup to fill her stomach first.

Forty minutes later, taking a deep breath, she raised her hand to press the doorbell.

The door opened quickly, and the slightly plump face of a middle-aged woman appeared. Seeing Cheng Zhiwei, she immediately closed the door behind her and asked in a worried whisper, "Why are you back?"

This was Cheng Zhiwei’s mother, Guo Cuihua.

Cheng Zhiwei, looking down, said awkwardly, "Dad called me to come back for dinner."

"He calls and you just come back? Do you know..." Guo Cuihua, thinking of the situation inside the house, felt overwhelmed and pushed Cheng Zhiwei towards the door. "You go back first, I’ll explain to your father..."

The slightly ajar door was suddenly opened by someone. Cheng Shang’s always stern and serious face appeared, cutting off Guo Cuihua’s words. He scanned Cheng Zhiwei coldly and said icily, "Come in."

Cheng Zhiwei walked in silently.

With just one look, she saw the wheelchair beside the couch, the very same one she had seen during the day. When she looked up, she met a pair of gentle eyes filled with a calm smile.

"Zhiwei, long time no see."

It was Seo Zhenzhen.

She sat on the couch, her pale pink long dress hiding her ankles, making it impossible to tell the condition of her legs.

Cheng Zhiwei glanced at her only briefly before averting her gaze, her fingernails digging into her palm. The faint pain helped to suppress the waves of emotion and reminded her to stay calm at this moment.

She nodded slightly, her voice a bit low, "Yes, it’s been a long time."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read