Chapter 050: A Coquettish Heiress

Chapter 050: A Coquettish Heiress

System: "This time, the role you're taking on is the male lead's crazy pursuer, a sweet-talking rich, beautiful heiress. At first, when the male lead is in a car accident and loses the use of his legs and ends up in a wheelchair, you pretend to care, but once you learn his condition is irreversible, you change your tune, give up on this diamond bachelor, and make a move on the male lead's younger brother. Together, you humiliate the male lead, dreaming of marrying into the super-rich Qin family as its young mistress."

Pu Shu mused, "I see. An annoying coquette who chirps like a sparrow. I'd probably be calling him 'brother' nonstop."

She cleared her throat, fell into character too quickly, tilted her face, blinked rapidly to throw seductive glances, and spoke in a sugary voice: "System brother~ I really like system brother~"

System: "Demon! Don't mess with me!"

It was terrifying. The system felt sorry for the male lead—his physical pain might not even compare to the psychological damage.

System: "This female supporting character's persona is basically standard: a rich, beautiful heiress, a drama queen, bad-tempered, only into diamond bachelors, and, of course, always looking to suck the Qin family dry. You act especially in front of the male lead, speaking sweetly enough to reach the heavens."

Pu Shu made an OK sign: "Got it!"

An image formed in her mind, and she quickly customized her avatar's face. Looking at the coquettish heiress on the screen, she thought, *Very pretty!*

"Deployment successful."

·

At the Ji family home.

Ji Pushu had just returned from a trip when she heard devastating news.

The man she had pursued for two years, Qin Ce, the eldest son of the Qin family, had been in a car accident, breaking both legs and left wheelchair-bound!

Aaaah! Ji Pushu was going crazy!

Qin Ce was her goal—the goal of every socialite in An City. Marrying him and becoming the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qin family meant having endless wealth to squander for generations. And with the Qin family's influence in An City, money was secondary; status and position were paramount!

No wonder! She had been sending 520 "Brother Ce~" messages every day, and even though he only replied with two words, "Shut up", at least there was a reaction! He must have had some interest in her; otherwise, why would he only reply to her and no one else?

But these past few days, there had been no movement at all. Her chat history was filled with her messages of "Brother Ce~," looking so lonely—not even a single "Shut up" from Qin Ce.

As for the fact that Qin Ce only replied with "Shut up" when he couldn't stand her chatter, Ji Pushu would never admit that. She only believed she had Qin Ce exactly where she wanted him in her perfect plan. And now, it was all ruined!

"Dad, are you sure Qin Ce can't be cured?" Ji Pushu still wouldn't give up, pestering her father for a definite answer.

She had pursued him for two years, on the verge of marrying into the Qin family and becoming the envy of the elite circle. Her shattered dream was unbearable.

Her father felt dizzy from being shaken so hard by her grip on his arm. "Stop, stop, stop. Don't shake me anymore, or my old bones will fall apart."

"I don't know the details either. The Qin family has kept the news under wraps, but it's true that Qin Ce had a car accident and broke his legs, needing a wheelchair."

The Ji family was only a third-rate wealthy family in An City, surrounded by powerful families everywhere. Their influence barely registered. Ji's father had only heard this much.

Ji Pushu's stepmother, Jiang Hui, spoke softly and gently, "Pushu, it's fine to talk about this at home, but don't mention it outside. It's a taboo subject for the Qin family. No one dares talk about it publicly for fear of provoking them."

Inside, she was relieved. This stepdaughter was already hard to deal with. If she had really latched onto the Qin family, she would have been even more arrogant.

"Yes, sister. Dad is already worried about the company every day. As children, we shouldn't add to his troubles," her stepsister, Jiang Hanwei, chimed in. She looked somewhat like her mother, with a calm, lotus-like expression. Her words seemed harmless but implied that Ji Pushu was being inconsiderate.

However, they had been at odds for over ten years, and this trick was old hat. Ji Pushu wouldn't even dignify it, rolling her eyes directly. "I'm talking to my father. What are you two butting in for? Say one more word, and I swear I'll slap both of you at once!"

Her mood was already sour, and they dared to dance in front of her. Did they think she wouldn't hit them? Her temper was naturally bad and willful. The only reason she acted sweet and coquettish was to chase Qin Ce. With everyone else, she was a firecracker.

The faces of Jiang Hui and Jiang Hanwei soured instantly. Jiang Hui looked at Ji's father, hoping he would say something, but he just glanced at her, then turned to Ji Pushu and said with feigned nonchalance, "Alright, alright. We don't know the details of the Qin family. When you have time, go and check on President Qin."

Between his biological daughter and an unrelated stepdaughter, it was clear who mattered. He wasn't foolish.

After Ji Pushu's mother passed away, he had married Jiang Hui not out of lingering affection for an old flame, but to avoid the Ji family arranging another marriage for him. Jiang Hui was just an ordinary person, without money or power, and wouldn't interfere with his philandering ways.

But no matter how he played around, he never fathered illegitimate children. In this life, he only had Ji Pushu as his daughter, so he doted on her. How could he let a stepdaughter outshine her?

"Brother Ce just woke up; he must miss me a lot. Dad is right. Tomorrow, I'll move over to take care of Brother Ce," Ji Pushu said, twirling her hair while scheming inwardly.

If Qin Ce was truly done for, there were still other men in the Qin family of similar age. Although none could compare to Qin Ce in physique, looks, or demeanor, she could still put up with the difference to become the Qin family's young madam.

Her father remained silent at her words. He thought, *With her way of talking, President Qin probably doesn't miss her at all.* That "Brother Ce~ I miss you so much~" was enough to scare even her own father. That's why, no matter how many mistresses he had outside, he never chose this type. It gave him the creeps.

"Dad, I just came back and don't have any nice clothes," Ji Pushu said, stopped shaking him and instead tugged at her father's hand to act spoiled.

Despite her deliberately syrupy tone, her voice was genuinely pleasant—like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family. She had a slightly chubby face, a short chin, and she had the look of a spoiled heiress. Her eyes sparkled like stars, making her seem like a clever little fox.

"Alright, alright. I'll have my assistant transfer you two million. Spend wisely. Once this allowance is gone, don't come asking for more this month," her father said, trying to maintain an air of authority, though the corners of his mouth were curling up.

When he first became a father, the novelty was strong. He had looked forward to her birth and raised her himself, creating a deep bond.

Of course, as she grew older, he came to understand the headache of having a little monster at home. She had aged him several years with her noise, and he dared not have any illegitimate children. He was sure that if his daughter found out, she would tear him apart and wreck the house—no doubt about it.

"Daddy is the best! The best!" Ji Pushu had secured her allowance, laughing sweetly. "Then, Dad, go eat and rest. I'll go change and visit Brother Ce. He must be waiting for me to see him. Oh, my poor Brother Ce~"

Ji Pushu raised her pinky finger in a delicate gesture, pressed the corner of her eye as if wiping away invisible tears, then went upstairs sobbing dramatically.

Watching her half-hearted performance, Jiang Hui hesitated to speak. But when she saw Ji's father answer a phone call and step aside to talk, she clenched her chopsticks in anger, almost losing her composed, virtuous facade.

Well, maintaining that mask was pointless anyway. Ji's father wasn't fooled; he had seen all kinds of women from his playboy days well into middle age.

After marrying into the family, her attempts to "praise to destroy" failed. Ji Pushu was too possessive; if she had something, she wouldn't let anyone else touch it. When Ji's father remarried, he had to bow and coax his daughter, which had cost him a lot of effort. It was a bitter memory.

"Mom," Jiang Hanwei said, a little unwilling, biting her lower lip as she glanced at Ji Pushu's cheerful back, a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Even though she knew life now was better than before—her stepfather wasn't close, but he gave her tens of thousands each month, which was more than most people had—the disparity was stark. Ji Pushu, on the other hand, could casually spend millions or tens of millions. That was a true heiress.

Jiang Hui was helpless. She whispered, "Don't worry. I'll find a way to have your dad buy you that gem necklace. As for Pushu, don't harbor any thoughts about her. In the future, we'll still have to rely on her." For now, the best they could do was extract as much property as possible, even if it meant wearing him down until they got it.

Her daughter was getting older and needed to dress well to find a good match.

There were plenty of eligible young men in the circle, but the good ones, destined to be the next family heads, would definitely marry into equally prestigious families. It wouldn't be her daughter's turn. Don't talk about free love or not caring about status—those were lies. The richer and more established a family, the more carefully they choose marriages.

"Thank you, Mom. I know," Jiang Hanwei said, exhaling slowly. She suppressed her resentment and tried to calm down.

If Ji Pushu were easy to bully, she'd be a soft, pink little peach blossom—but she was sharp and fiery. If anything was off, she could sniff it out.

Still, over the years, although Ji Pushu disliked her, she hadn't deliberately targeted her. It was just that her words weren't pleasant. Speaking of that, Jiang Hanwei sighed.

Did her sister have to speak in such a deliberately syrupy tone!

It even left her, a modest white lotus, silent in bewilderment. How could President Qin stand it!

At this thought, Jiang Hanwei felt balanced.

Look at the mighty eldest Qin heir, being spiritually tormented by Ji Pushu. Her own small grievances meant nothing.

·

Ji Pushu couldn't care less about their inner thoughts.

She changed out of her beautiful dress and put on a soft pink dress that fell below her knees, simply tied her hair up in a bun, and cheerfully headed out.

When she drove to the hospital entrance, after a moment's thought, she went to buy a basket of fruit. Oh, by the way, out of habit, she only bought what she liked to eat. Hmm... it should be fine, right? Brother Ce is a patient and can't really eat much anyway.

Brother Ce: Room 888

Qin Ce had woken up the day before yesterday, much to the disappointment of many people. He was in good spirits, and aside from having to stay in bed, he didn't look like someone who couldn't walk.

But Ji Pushu's voice messages were just too noisy. Every single one had "Brother Ce~" in it. After hearing them so many times, he started to feel like he was an old hen clucking, with the mental damage maxed out. So he absolutely couldn't reply to her warmly; he had to be cold, otherwise, the daily mental attacks would be even worse.

But every time, he would still open them and let them play automatically. Noisy as they were, he'd listen all the way through. It was kind of magical, because they could help him sleep.

That was also why, two years ago, when Ji Pushu added him and sent 520 messages in a row confessing her love—making Qin Ce think his phone had a virus, only to realize it was just Ji Pushu's pursuit—he didn't delete her.

Earlier, when Ji Pushu asked for his room number, saying she was coming to take care of him, Qin Ce figured that even if he didn't tell her, she would find her own way.

Sure enough, before she even entered the ward, her sweet, cooing voice came from outside the door—crisp and melodious, and actually quite pleasant to listen to, just too cutesy. Not in an unpleasant way, but rather, quite adorable.

"Brother Ce~"

The assistant, who was inside reporting, shuddered all over, quickly packed up his laptop, and stood stiffly to the side like a wooden dummy, throwing Qin Ce a "hang in there, boss" look. His friend, Dr. Zhuang Baixuan, who was pretending to examine Qin Ce, couldn't help but chuckle and deliberately mimicked, "Brother Ce~ your Miss Ji is here looking for you~"

The assistant, holding back his laughter, covered his mouth and turned his head away, shoulders shaking.

"..." Qin Ce rubbed his temple. "Get out!"

"Alright, alright, the two of us will get lost, won't disturb you and Miss Ji's private time." Zhuang Baixuan stood up. In his white coat, his smile was warm and friendly.

"Brother Ce~" Ji Pushu pushed the door open and saw Qin Ce lying on the hospital bed. She fluttered over like a pink butterfly, threw herself into his arms, and sobbed, "Brother Ce~ Shushu was so worried about you, boohoo, how is it, Brother Ce, does it hurt? Shushu will blow on it, pain, pain, go away~"

She looked up, trying hard to squeeze out two tears. The corners of her eyes were flushed like dew on peach petals. She pursed her red lips, not like she was blowing, but more like she was tempting him to take a bite.

"...Be quiet, and talk normally." Qin Ce's head was buzzing—so freaking noisy. He couldn't understand where she got so much to say every day.

And when she talked, what was she doing with one hand roaming all over his chest? Qin Ce had a strong suspicion that Ji Pushu was not only a sparrow turned into a spirit, but also a total nympho.

Ji Pushu pouted, looking wronged. "Brother Ce, you're being mean to me!"

"I just asked you to be quiet." Qin Ce was always resolute and ruthless; his blank face could scare kids. But now, every time, he ended up giving in helplessly to Ji Pushu, and even his tone softened.

"You're being mean again! You won't even let me talk! Brother Ce is so bad!"

"I'm not saying you can't talk, but can you say something normal?" See, Boss Qin was even using a negotiating tone. This was no longer the "Devil of the Business World."

"What's not normal about it?" Ji Pushu was very unconvinced. Then she cupped her cheeks, looking at Qin Ce shyly, "Every time I think of Brother Ce, I have endless love words to say."

Qin Ce "..."

He looked at Ji Pushu with an expression of utter speechlessness, shut his mouth, and gave up.

Forget it. He had been brainwashed by her sweet talk for two years; he was used to it now.

He had no idea where Ji Pushu had learned her "pursuit techniques," but she must have studied the wrong course.

The assistant and Dr. Zhuang didn't dare make eye contact; they each looked away, afraid they would burst out laughing.

Every time they saw Qin Ce and Ji Pushu together, Qin Ce's helpless expression was hilarious.

"Ahem, President Qin, your recovery is going well. You need to stay a few more days for observation and remember to rest. I won't disturb you two." Zhuang Baixuan said quickly and left the ward.

"Boss, I'll be off too." The assistant followed closely.

The two reached the door, closed it, and finally let themselves laugh.

The two had almost become like ninja turtles holding back their laughter.

"Brother Ce~ Brother Ce~"

Here it comes again. Qin Ce pressed down on the adorable, naive face leaning in, looked away, and said, "Didn't you say you were coming to take care of me? Peel a fruit for me to eat..."

As he spoke, he saw the fruit Ji Pushu had brought, and his voice died away. He fell silent for a moment. Every single item was something he, as a "patient," couldn't eat!

"Go call the assistant back." Qin Ce thought that if he was under Ji Pushu's care, he'd definitely be dead within a few days.

"No. Brother Ce has me, isn't that enough? What do you need an assistant for? I'll keep you company, Brother Ce~" Ji Pushu blinked.

Qin Ce's eye twitched. It wasn't that she wasn't enough—she was way too much.

"What about when I need to go to the bathroom? Do you want to accompany me then?" He took a deep breath, trying to stay composed and dignified.

Ji Pushu furrowed her delicate brows. After a few seconds, she nodded seriously, "I heard guys need to hold it when they pee. I can help Brother Ce hold it."

She wanted to check if it was functional. If it did, even if just his legs didn't work, it could still be used! After seeing Qin Ce's face, she'd gotten super picky with other guys. If it really didn't work, she could always find someone else.

Qin Ce "..."

He'd really dug himself into a hole.

"Go call the assistant, or the nurse." Qin Ce pressed his temple again, telling himself to stay calm.

He hadn't planned to go, but as they talked, the urge came. At that moment, he hated that guys had to pee, and that he had let this noisy, cutesy woman in!

"No!" Ji Pushu's face hardened, with a strong possessiveness, "Only I can see Brother Ce's little brother! No one else! Not even the assistant!"

"Watch your language. What do you mean 'little brother only I can see'? Nonsense." When Qin Ce heard this, his head ached. He wanted to cover her mouth, and his ears were even a little red.

"It's true." Ji Pushu pulled down his hand. "Oh, Brother Ce~ Don't be shy. I'd be happy to help hold it for you. I'll be very careful and won't hurt you."

Qin Ce "..." It's not about hurting or not hurting.

"Don't move! I'll do it myself!" Qin Ce's hand shot out and grabbed Ji Pushu's hand as she aggressively reached for his pants. He almost did a carp leap to get up.

After a few moments of tugging, Qin Ce finally gave up. With a completely resigned look, he let Ji Pushu push him into the bathroom. And she stared at him with intense curiosity.

He was convinced that during the rest of his recovery, as long as this cutesy troublemaker was around, he would never have a moment of peace.