Miss Wheelchair - Chapter 17

Gu Ci was going out for a late-night rendezvous with another woman.

And a highly successful, mature older woman at that.

Tan Xin sensed extreme danger. She had read Five Years in the System, Three Years of Simulation over a dozen times, and it had never once mentioned Gu Ci having a girlfriend or a secret crush. This woman who had suddenly materialized out of nowhere was either an NPC generated by the system, or a real-world love rival who had entered the system to romance Gu Ci just like she had.

It was unscientific, unreasonable, and deeply inhumane.

In those dating sims that were popular all over the world, who didn’t end up with a harem? Since when did a game feature two women fighting over one wife?

How did Gu Ci view that woman? What was her favorability score? Had she also managed to break past the zero-point mark?

No, absolutely not.

They had literally just taken their relationship public, and now she was turning around to have a late-night rendezvous with another woman—two nights in a row, no less. To put it mildly, if the paparazzi caught wind of this, Gu Ci’s public reputation would plummet right back to rock bottom.

To put it dramatically, Tan Xin had spent a fortune to enter this system and experience romance, only to end up with a front-row seat to someone else’s love story.

She could not accept this.

“President Gu.”

Tan Xin caught up to her just as Gu Ci reached the entryway to swap into her outdoor wheelchair.

“Um, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’m not sure if it’s a post-surgery complication, but my chest feels incredibly tight.”

Rule number one of the “White Lotus” playbook: Play the victim and act fragile.

Gu Ci turned back and looked her up and down. A familiar chime echoed above Tan Xin’s head.

Ding!

Orange +10.

Orange = Confusion.

“It’s been so long since your surgery. How are you still having complications?” Gu Ci asked.

Tan Xin was a terrible liar, so she could only offer a weak defense, clutching her chest tightly. “I don’t know. I want to go to the hospital to get it checked out. Could you drive me there?”

If she could at least hijack the car, she could fake an epileptic fit once they arrived at the hospital. That way, Gu Ci wouldn’t be able to leave for her dinner.

Fortunately, Gu Ci was kind-hearted beneath her cold exterior and agreed immediately. “I’ll call the driver and have him come over.”

Oh yeah! Tan Xin cheered internally, her little scheme succeeding.

“I’m so sorry. I’m getting in the way of your plans.”

She made sure to sound deeply apologetic, painting a picture of a thoughtful, understanding partner. This was a surefire way to trigger the other party’s sympathy.

To her utter dismay, Gu Ci replied, “You’re not getting in the way. You go to the hospital, and I can still make it to my dinner.”

“Huh?” Tan Xin’s entire body stiffened. “You’re, you’re not coming with me?”

Gu Ci said, “No, the driver will be here to pick you up in a minute.”

“Then how are you going to get to your dinner? There’s only one car.”

Gu Ci, looking entirely serene and unbothered, stated calmly, “She’s picking me up.”

She?

She?!

SHE!!!

Tan Xin’s world went entirely blank, save for a massive, suffocating metaphorical mountain labeled “SHE” crashing down on her head, leaving her unable to breathe.

That same evening, a low-profile BMW pulled up near the back entrance of Hongkang Private Hospital. Tan Xin moved with lightning speed, her feet practically flying as she shot into the backseat like a bullet.

Zhang Huiqian was in full incognito mode, sporting a face mask, a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a bulky trench coat that completely obscured her figure. “How did you just walk out like that? Where’s your wheelchair?”

Tan Xin was frantic. “Forget about that! Let’s just get there first.”

Zhang Huiqian gave the driver the address and turned back to ask, “But what if we actually catch them? If they aren’t caught red-handed in bed, we won’t have any concrete proof.”

Tan Xin didn’t have a solid game plan either. “I’ll go spy on them first. If they really look overly intimate, I’ll think of something then. If they’re completely platonic, then making a massive scene would just be a waste of time, wouldn’t it?”

“You trust her that much?”

“It’s not so much a matter of trust as it is worry.”

“Worrying about what?”

“If someone that perfect truly loves her, I won’t be able to compete.”

Hearing this, a surge of protective fury rushed into Zhang Huiqian’s chest, and she slapped Tan Xin’s shoulder hard. “Get a grip and show some damn confidence!”

She then turned to the driver. “Sir, how long will it take us to get to this KTV?”

The driver replied, “About 40 minutes or so.”

“Can you make it any faster?”

“Why? Is it an emergency?”

Zhang Huiqian choked back a sob. “Yes. My friend’s husband is cheating on her, and we’re rushing over to catch him in the act. He’s cheating while she’s pregnant! Today, no matter what, the two of us are going to rip off that scumbag’s mask and make sure he leaves with absolutely nothing!”

If there was anyone in the world who loved helping someone catch a cheater, it was a taxi driver.

True to form, the moment Zhang Huiqian finished her sob story, the driver slammed the gas pedal all the way to the floor. A trip that normally took 45 minutes flashed by in less than 20.

It was a luxury KTV establishment. How could they tell? Because the words “LUXURY KTV” were written in massive, glittering letters across the grand entrance.

As a public figure, it wasn’t convenient for Zhang Huiqian to be seen entering entertainment venues. Before getting out of the car, she wrapped a silk scarf over her baseball cap. The receptionist at the front desk was utterly startled by her bizarre appearance, defensively holding the landline receiver against her chest like a weapon. “Excuse me, miss, are you looking to book a room or are you looking for someone?”

Zhang Huiqian slid down her sunglasses and slapped a gold card onto the desk. “Book me the room right next to 8892.”

The main lobby had been styled into a lounge bar, where a resident singer strummed a guitar and sang folk melodies on stage, while patrons chatted at scattered tables. To the left of the stage lay a dimly lit corridor, which led down to the private rooms.

Zhang Huiqian entered the lobby first. After scanning the area and seeing no sign of Gu Ci or her assistant, she texted Tan Xin to come inside.

“Your assistant is incredible. She even managed to dig up the exact room number?” Tan Xin was thoroughly impressed by Zhang Huiqian’s intelligence network.

“It’s nothing. When it comes to Gu Ci stepping out on you, I will always have your back.”

“It’s not exactly stepping out. She and I aren’t a real couple to begin with. Going public was just a PR stunt to promote the company’s products.”

“Exactly! Since you guys already took it public, she should be even more careful. If she gets caught by paparazzi with another girlfriend, how is her company supposed to survive?”

“Just don’t do anything reckless later. It’d be incredibly awkward if we made a mistake.”

“Don’t worry, I play a legendary support role. If you don’t move, I promise I won’t move.”

The two of them walked further down the corridor. Because the path was dark and it was hard to recognize faces, Zhang Huiqian took off her mask.

However, the moment she took it off, a drunkard staggering past recognized her.

“Hey? Aren’t you, aren’t you that celebrity?”

The man reeked of alcohol, his steps unsteady and his gaze glassy. “Aren’t you that Zhang Huiqian?”

Zhang Huiqian quickly pulled her silk scarf up to cover her face. “No, I’m not. You have the wrong person.”

“Hey, wait a minute! You’re not allowed to leave. Come chat with me for a bit.”

As they tried to walk away, the drunkard yanked her back, tightly pinching her slender arm to prevent her from leaving.

“Ah!” Zhang Huiqian cried out in pain from his grip. “Let go of me!”

Seeing this, Tan Xin immediately stepped forward to push the drunkard away. “What do you think you’re doing? Take your hands off her! Let go!”

Instead of releasing his grip, the drunkard leaned in even closer, his greasy face reflecting the foul sheen of lard under the dim lights.

“What are you running for? Aren’t you a celebrity? Is taking a little touch from me going to take a piece of your flesh off, or—OW!”

He let out a sharp shriek, instantly releasing his painful grip on Zhang Huiqian’s arm.

Tan Xin had accurately pinpointed the pressure point on his wrist, delivering a swift, sharp hand-chop that forced him to let go.

The sharp flash of pain drove away most of his alcohol-induced stupor. The man shook his head twice, staring at the two slender, petite women in front of him, his bloated face twisting into a furious shade of maroon.

“Fuck! You dare hit me? You have no idea who you’re messing with, do you?”

Tan Xin spread her arms wide, blocking Zhang Huiqian behind her like an unyielding shield. “This is a public place. Mind your manners and get out of here right now, or I’m calling the police immediately.”

The man let out a cold sneer. “Threatening me? You think being a fucking celebrity makes you special? Today, I’m going to show you exactly who I am! Ahhh.”

With a roaring shout, he lunged straight toward Tan Xin.

Completely unfazed, Tan Xin waved Zhang Huiqian out of the way. She locked her eyes onto the rushing man, timing his speed perfectly. The moment he was just two paces away, she darted forward, seized his arm, and executed a fierce, sudden pivot.

A National Taekwondo Runner-Up title was nothing to scoff at.

Under the sudden glare of the corridor lights, the man was hoisted high into the air by Tan Xin. His hefty body traced a semi-circle in mid-air before crashing heavily onto the floor.

THUD!

Two hundred pounds of dead weight hit the floorboards with a deafening slam. In the main lounge, the resident singer’s guitar strumming came to a dead halt, and every single head snapped toward the corridor.

A man was curled up on the ground groaning in agony. Beside him stood a slender woman nonchalantly dusting off her hands, while another woman with a silk scarf wrapped around her head frantically clutched her phone to call the police.

And just like that, their grand plan to catch a cheater transformed into a heroic act of public safety.

“Great job, girl!”

“Go over and help, don’t just stand there!”

“Exactly! We must resolutely say no to sexual harassment. Don’t worry, ladies, I saw the whole thing just now. I’ll be your witness!”

In that fleeting second, Tan Xin felt an aura of divine light radiating around her, basking in absolute glory as she gracefully accepted the heartfelt praises of the onlookers.

That was, until the door at the very end of the corridor swung open, and a wheelchair rolled out to investigate the noise.

Meeting those sharp, familiar eyes, Tan Xin was violently jolted back to reality, remembering her original purpose for coming to the KTV tonight.

In an instant, her body froze from head to toe. She stared blankly at Gu Ci, and then, following the path of that freezing glaze, she looked down at her own two perfectly healthy, straight-standing legs.

“Ah.”

She paled instantly and plopped herself onto the floor. Clutching her already fully healed right leg, her notoriously terrible acting skills hit an all-time low:

“My leg hurts so baaad.”