A Century of Illness, Ascending the Platform Alone

"Has he already been conquered by my feminine charm?"

Cornelia noticed Su Cheng secretly observing her, which made her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably. Her face flushed crimson, and she bit her lip lightly before exhaling a soft breath, quickly regaining her composure as she continued busying herself with her tasks.

To live up to the title of "lady of the house," she hadn’t just reviewed her mother’s cooking lessons a few times—she had even mentally replayed Li Guanqi’s household routines from memory. In the end, it was only through sheer determination (and perhaps a bit of her innate talent) that she barely managed to meet the current standard!

"I told you to rest, didn’t I?"

Suddenly, Cornelia shot him a deliberately displeased glance, though inwardly, she was overjoyed. Every cell in her body was practically dancing with glee as she watched Su Cheng’s dumbfounded expression.

"Uh, well… alright then. I’ll leave it to you."

Su Cheng scratched his head, watching as Cornelia busied herself without hesitation. Though his curiosity was nearly unbearable, he held back from asking anything—after all, she was in the middle of cooking, and interrupting her now would be rude.

"Mhm, go on now. Dinner will be ready soon."

Cornelia turned away, her smile growing even brighter, though she maintained a perfectly casual facade as she shooed him out of the kitchen.

Su Cheng nodded and retreated.

Once outside, he sank into the sofa, lost in thought again. Sure, her familiarity with his kitchenware suggested she might really be a reincarnator, but jumping to that conclusion based solely on that would be reckless.

What if she was just the previous owner of this apartment?

After all, the previous tenant had left behind some kitchenware.

That explanation made sense too. This alone wasn’t enough to prove she was a reincarnator, so he decided to observe further. If more evidence surfaced, he’d consider acknowledging it—or at least having a proper conversation.

Not long after—

"Oh no, I forgot to buy tea set."

Cornelia emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She glanced at the empty coffee table and suddenly smacked her forehead in frustration.

"If you want tea, regular cups will do. I do have some tea leaves here," Su Cheng quickly suggested.

"I know."

Cornelia walked over to a cabinet, opened it, and pulled out a packet of tea leaves. But after inspecting it, she frowned. "This tea is way too low-grade."

She turned to Su Cheng and proposed, "Let’s go shopping tomorrow. We still need to stock up on a few things."

Su Cheng immediately waved his hands in refusal. "No, no, you’ve already spent enough today. I’d feel terrible if you kept spending on me."

Cornelia shook her head, already starting to brew the tea as she spoke earnestly, "There’s no need for such formalities between us. It just makes things feel distant. We are husband and wife, after all."

Then, as if an afterthought, she added, "Besides, my mom will be visiting you soon. It’s only proper to have decent tea ready for her. She didn’t reincarnate like I did, so she might be a little disappointed if the hospitality isn’t up to par."

"Wait—your mom is coming?!"

Su Cheng couldn’t stay seated any longer. He shot up, staring at Cornelia in shock.

"Yep."

Cornelia poured hot water over the tea leaves, then carried the cup to the coffee table, kneeling to serve Su Cheng with a smile. "Our families actually live pretty close. In about a month, my mom will drop by for a visit."

As she handed him the cup with her slender, jade-like fingers, she dropped another bombshell that nearly made Su Cheng leap out of his skin:

"My mom already likes you."

Likes him?!

What kind of joke was this?

He was a penniless orphan—sure, he was decent-looking and did well in school, but that was about it. What else did he have going for him?

"Don’t worry, I’ll explain the whole reincarnation thing to her when the time comes. Once she understands your character and abilities, I’m sure she’ll adore you."

Noticing Su Cheng’s flustered reaction, Cornelia blinked playfully and reassured him, "Trust me!"

"Forgive me for asking, but…"

Su Cheng’s already tangled thoughts spiraled further into chaos, but he forced himself to stay calm and cautiously probed, "What does your mother do—no, wait, what’s your family background?"

"My mom’s just an ordinary lawyer, and my dad works overseas—nothing special. They’re rarely home anyway, so it’s always just been me. In the future, you were the one who took care of me."

Cornelia’s cheeks tinged pink as she lowered her gaze, her delicate fingertip tracing the rim of her cup. Shyly, she murmured, "Now that I’ve reincarnated, it’s my turn to look after you. That’s why I showed up as your wife right away. I know it seems sudden, but I’m glad you believed me."

At this, she lifted her head, her doll-like face brimming with sincerity and hope—like a golden retriever puppy waiting eagerly for a pat on the head.

But under such an earnest gaze, Su Cheng turned away, avoiding her expectant eyes. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "There’s… a lot to process here. I need some time to sort things out."

"Of course. Take your time. Have some tea and think it over. I’ll go finish dinner."

Cornelia set her cup down, stood up, and headed back to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Su Cheng sat frozen on the sofa, clutching the warm teacup as he stared blankly at Cornelia’s retreating figure, his emotions in complete turmoil.

The whole "wife" thing? He didn’t buy it for a second. But the reincarnation theory still needed verification. And now, the bombshell about her mother visiting? That was a whole new headache.

Just when he thought things couldn’t get more complicated, a reincarnator’s mom had to enter the picture?

So now he had a potential mother-in-law too?

What kind of absurd situation was this?!

Su Cheng groaned inwardly. Right now, he almost wished this was all just an elaborate prank. But the unsettling part was… he was starting to believe she might actually be a reincarnator.

"Yesss!"

The moment she stepped into the kitchen, Cornelia couldn’t contain her excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she recalled Su Cheng’s adorable moment of shyness—a memory she treasured deeply.

"All that rehearsing paid off!"

"Too bad I didn’t record it!"

"Time for the next step!"

"Wait… what was the next step again?"

She pulled a small note from her skirt pocket and skimmed it. The instruction read: At dinner, call out to Su Cheng: "Honey, dinner’s ready~"

Just reading those words made her face burn. She instinctively covered her cheeks, letting out a tiny whimper before forcing herself to act natural and resume cooking.

Just as she was about to continue cooking, she realized her pantyhose were starting to slip, and she couldn't help but mutter in frustration, "I should've worn an extra pair of leggings underneath."

She reached under her skirt to adjust the slipping black pantyhose—which weren’t hers but her mother’s. The fit was a bit loose. Before coming to Su Cheng’s place today, she had deliberately dressed up, aiming to project the image of a mature and dependable wife.

After all, if she showed up in white stockings and twin braids, she’d look like a child. How could she expect Su Cheng to take her seriously then? Most importantly, she had resolved to leave behind her childish appearance and present herself in this new light.

At the thought, the corners of her lips curled slightly, her cheeks flushing with warmth as her heart swelled with sweetness. Shaking off the distraction, she focused on preparing the dishes—whatever the case, dinner had to be finished first.

Before long—

The dining table was laden with five or six dishes, each vibrant and aromatic. Her petite figure, wrapped in an apron, looked every bit the dutiful wife as she carried out the final bowl of soup.

"Honey, dinner’s ready~"

Seeing Su Cheng sitting blankly on the sofa, Cornelia called out without thinking. But the moment the words left her mouth, her face burned crimson, and she was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

Before Su Cheng could even turn around, she hurriedly spun back toward the kitchen, pretending to busy herself again, splashing cold water on her scorching cheeks.

"Huh? Were you talking to me?"

Su Cheng looked utterly bewildered but still stood up and headed for the bathroom. Midway, however, he paused abruptly—because he noticed the table was covered with dishes.

And every single one was his favorite!

He gulped, his heart pounding wildly. Could it be…?

No, she must’ve done some research beforehand.

With that in mind, he washed his hands in the bathroom. When he emerged, he found Cornelia standing by the rice cooker, scooping rice into a bowl for him.

Her gaze seemed to brim with expectation, as if waiting for his praise, leaving him at a loss. Finally, he managed an awkward, "Uh… thanks for the effort. I had no idea you were such a skilled cook."

"Alright, sit down already."

Cornelia set the table neatly before pulling out a chair and taking her seat, her face bright with a radiant smile. "Go on, try it! Let me know if it suits your taste. Oh, and would you like wine or something else to drink?"

"Water’s fine," Su Cheng replied as he sat down.

"Got it."

Cornelia placed the rice bowl in front of him and swiftly turned to pour water. In seconds, she returned with a full glass.

"Thanks."

Su Cheng thanked her politely—after all, she’d gone out of her way for him, so it was only right to show some appreciation.

Cornelia smiled shyly and handed him the glass. "No need to be so formal. Dig in!"

"Uh… you should eat too."

Su Cheng, however, hesitated, refusing to take the first bite. Caution never hurt.

"Sure, let’s eat together."

Cornelia nodded and began eating gracefully beside him.

Relieved, Su Cheng slowly joined in, though he ate sparingly—mostly taking a bite of vegetables with two large mouthfuls of rice, occasionally sampling the meat. He was wary of overeating and triggering a spike in blood pressure or other discomforts.

But his cautious eating didn’t escape Cornelia’s notice. To her, it seemed like he was forcing himself or finding the food unpalatable, stirring doubt in her heart.

"Is it… not good?"

"No, it’s delicious."

"Then eat more."

With that, she started picking dishes for him.

"Ah, thanks."

Su Cheng looked up, startled, offering an awkward yet polite smile.

"Finish everything. It’d be a waste otherwise."

"I can’t eat that much. We can save leftovers for tomorrow."

"No, I’ll be back tomorrow."

"Alright… but you should eat more too."

In the end, Su Cheng gave in and focused on his meal.

Of course, once the ingredients she’d bought ran out, he’d find a way to decline.

Soon, the meal was finished. Staring at the empty plates and dishes, Su Cheng felt a surreal daze. Just as he stood to clear the table, a sharp pain stabbed through his chest, his limbs going limp as he slumped back into his seat.

Cornelia rushed to his side in concern. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Hah—"

Su Cheng took a deep breath, fighting to stay conscious, and shook his head. "It’s nothing. Just ate too much after so long. I’ll be fine after resting a bit."

Hearing this, Cornelia relaxed. "Let me get you some tea, then. Rest up."

"Mm, okay." Su Cheng nodded, but soon his brow furrowed—his head grew heavier, his vision blurring.

Before long, a cup of tea was placed before him.

"I’ll clean up now!"

Thrilled that her cooking had left him stuffed, Cornelia cheerfully set about tidying.

She washed the dishes, dried them, and put everything away.

Once done, she exhaled in satisfaction, a soft smile lingering on her lips.

But that smile froze within seconds, replaced by shock and panic—because Su Cheng remained motionless in his seat, exactly as before, as if he’d fallen asleep.

"Su Cheng? Su Cheng!!"

Cornelia shook him frantically, but there was no response. Just as panic set in, Su Cheng’s hand suddenly gripped her wrist.

"Eating too much diverts blood to the digestive system. Makes people drowsy. Pretty normal, don’t you think?"

He chuckled weakly, as if joking.

"You’re such a pig, passing out after a meal," Cornelia teased, though relief colored her voice. Then, hesitantly, she added, "Um… do you want me to—"

But Su Cheng cut her off.

"No need. Just sitting here is enough."

He shook his head lightly and looked up. "Haven’t been this full in ages. I’ll recover soon. It’s getting late—you should head home."

Though still uneasy, Cornelia recalled how energetic Su Cheng usually was—even winning archery competitions—and dismissed her worries. Assuming he was just exhausted from overeating, she nodded obediently. "Alright, I’ll go then. Get some rest, and don’t stay up too late. I’ll come by tomorrow morning."

Su Cheng nodded.

Cornelia gathered her things and prepared to leave.

But at the door, she hesitated, fiddling with her fingers before murmuring, "Actually… I could stay over. If you’re uncomfortable, we can sleep in separate rooms."

However, what awaited him was not Su Cheng's response, but rather the sound of someone falling from a chair to the floor. Cornelia froze for a moment before rushing outside to check.

As she approached, she saw Su Cheng lying curled up on the ground, his eyes tightly shut, his face pale, and his expression twisted in pain as he clutched his chest. Instantly terrified, Cornelia rushed forward to help him up, her voice trembling with panic as she asked, "What's wrong with you?!"

In that moment, she could no longer maintain the composed demeanor of a wife. Her voice cracked with tears, reverting to the fragile, helpless state she had once been in.

………………

The ambulance arrived, and the medical staff lifted Su Cheng onto a stretcher before rushing him to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Outside the emergency room.

A doctor stepped out.

"Doctor… Doctor… What's wrong with him?" Cornelia asked anxiously, her face etched with worry.

"Are you a relative of the patient?"

The doctor removed his mask, his expression grave.

"Yes, I'm his girlfriend!"

Cornelia nodded urgently before pressing further, "Doctor, how is he? Is it serious? Will he be alright?"

"After our examination and evaluation, I regret to inform you that your boyfriend is suffering from a severe case of 'Coronary Atherosclerosis.' This episode was likely triggered by a myocardial infarction caused by prolonged excessive use of hormonal substances. This is an extremely critical condition. Please notify his family members as soon as possible—we need to face this together."