Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 45: Layout

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Layout

"What are you standing there for?"

Fu Yihan’s voice was still as icy as ever, devoid of any warmth.

Su Qingnuan forced an awkward smile and walked forward.

"They’ve already chosen the dress," Su Qingnuan said softly.

"Hmm." Fu Yihan retracted his gaze and turned to A Qi across from him, saying, "Tell Qin Chuan to proceed as we originally planned."

"Alright."

A Qi jogged off.

Watching A Qi’s retreating figure, Su Qingnuan asked hesitantly, "Does A Qi also oversee external matters?"

"What external matters?"

Su Qingnuan gasped, caught off guard, and turned back to meet his gaze.

"Answer me!" Fu Yihan frowned tightly. "What are you staring at me for, like an idiot?"

Snapping out of her daze in a panic, Su Qingnuan quickly replied, "Oh, nothing, I was just talking to myself..."

"Talking to yourself?" Fu Yihan frowned. "That’s not a good habit. Change it."

"...Okay."

...

The designer was incredibly fast, delivering the dress the very next day.

Before Su Qingnuan had a chance to try it on, Fu Yihan picked one out and threw it directly into her arms.

"Put it on."

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan caught the dress hastily, confusion written all over her face.

"There’s a gathering this afternoon."

"Another gathering?"

A sharp glance swept over her.

Su Qingnuan quickly lowered her head and muttered to herself, "How am I supposed to wear this dress?"

Studying the dress as she walked, she headed inside.

Once in the bathroom, Su Qingnuan quickly closed the door.

She hurriedly changed into the dress and looked at her pale face in the mirror. Su Qingnuan patted her cheeks lightly and whispered to herself, "Come on, perk up!"

Opening the bathroom door, Su Qingnuan walked out.

Fu Yihan was reading the newspaper, but upon hearing the sound, he set it aside and looked over.

When the soft yellow of the dress caught his eye, the coldness in his expression cracked for a brief moment.

The dress’s spaghetti strap design exposed her neck and delicate shoulders.

The flowing skirt accentuated her gracefulness, though her slightly pale complexion detracted from it.

Retracting his gaze calmly, Fu Yihan remarked leisurely, "Your complexion doesn’t look good."

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan smacked her cheeks again and asked hopefully, "What about now?"

"Do you think your hand works as blush?" Fu Yihan said sharply. "Put on some makeup."

"..." Su Qingnuan lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting awkwardly, her voice growing timid. "I don’t know how to do makeup..."

Fu Yihan frowned slightly and looked up again.

"I really don’t know..."

She stood there, the pale face marked by her awkward smile.

"..." Fu Yihan walked toward the door.

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan hurriedly followed, gripping the handles of his wheelchair. "Mr. Fu, aren’t we skipping the makeup?"

"Outside."

"...Okay."

The house was empty as the two headed straight out.

Passing by the dining room, Su Qingnuan curiously glanced inside—it was still vacant.

"Why is the house empty today?"

"I already told you there’s a gathering. Everyone’s gone."

So it was a family gathering?

She had originally thought it was some business-related event.

If it’s just a family gathering, why dress so formally?

Not only formal—she had assumed Fu Yihan had been joking when he mentioned getting makeup done outside; she hadn’t expected him to actually go through with it.

Watching herself in the mirror as her complexion slowly began to look more lively, Su Qingnuan realized just how important this family gathering was.

The car pulled up in front of the hotel.

Su Qingnuan carefully pushed Fu Yihan as they moved inside.

"Mr. Fu, welcome!"

A loud, enthusiastic voice suddenly startled Su Qingnuan, causing her to look over in shock.

A man rushed over with a fawning expression.

Fu Yihan frowned slightly, eyeing the man. "What are you doing here?"

"Of course, I’m here to welcome you!" The man straightened up and, moving behind Fu Yihan, casually pushed Su Qingnuan aside.

Gripping the wheelchair’s handles tightly, he glanced at Su Qingnuan with clear disdain. "Who are you?"

"I’m..." Su Qingnuan glanced at Fu Yihan and, seeing him remain silent, hesitated before continuing, "Yihan’s wife."

"Wife?" The man’s frown deepened as he scrutinized Su Qingnuan. "You’re from the Su family? Aside from looks, you don’t seem to have any other redeeming qualities."

"...That’s not entirely fair..."

Su Qingnuan murmured softly.

"Listen to that tone! Completely lacking confidence!" The man leaned on the wheelchair, staring at her with disapproval. "I still don’t get why Grandpa chose you to be his wife."

Su Qingnuan stared at him blankly, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Fu Jia."

Fu Yihan’s authoritative tone sounded.

Fu Jia pouted. "What? Am I wrong?"

"She’s your sister-in-law. Remember to treat her with respect."

"Sister-in-law? I don’t acknowledge her as a sister-in-law!"

"...It’s fine." Su Qingnuan said softly. "It’s just that we’re not familiar yet. Once we get to know each other better, it’ll be fine."

"Spare me your sweet talk. Even if I get to know you, I won’t like you."

"..."

Su Qingnuan’s expression turned awkward. Bowing her head, she appeared unsure of what to do.

Watching her, an inexplicable anger rose within Fu Yihan.

His sharp gaze turned to Fu Jia.

"Call her ’Sister-in-law,’" he said quietly.

Fu Jia remained silent, glaring at him in dissatisfaction.

"Fu Jia!"

His expression grew increasingly grim.

Seeing the situation, Fu Jia stomped his foot in frustration and looked away.

"Sister-in-law!"

Su Qingnuan smiled faintly. "Hmm."

Upon getting her response, Fu Jia shot her a glare before hastily running off.

Watching this, Su Qingnuan looked helplessly at Fu Yihan.

"I don’t think I said anything..." she said pitifully.

Fu Yihan glanced at her briefly and said, in all seriousness, "There’s no need to say anything else. Just remember, in this household, the only person you need to respect is me. You don’t need to concern yourself with anyone else."

Such arrogance!

"...Alright."

Their supposed greeter had left abruptly, leaving no trace.

With no other choice, Su Qingnuan pushed Fu Yihan forward toward their destination.

They ascended directly to the top floor.

As the elevator doors opened, a rush of floral scent enveloped them.

Before them, colors bloomed in dazzling display, leaving Su Qingnuan momentarily overwhelmed.

"Why so many flowers..." Su Qingnuan whispered.

Fu Yihan frowned, turning to look at her.

Su Qingnuan quickly shut her mouth.

A seemingly endless path of flowers lay ahead, and Su Qingnuan pushed Fu Yihan along the trail.

Eventually, the sounds of chatter reached them.

"Why isn’t Yihan here yet?"

"Exactly! We came specifically to meet the new young madam today. Why hasn’t she been brought over yet?"

"They said they’re coming from the house, so it shouldn’t be much longer."

Gripping the wheelchair handles tightly, Su Qingnuan took a deep breath and stepped through the private room’s doors with Fu Yihan.

"Hey, hey, hey! He’s here!"

A flurry of hurried footsteps followed, as all eyes turned toward the doorway.

The opulence of the scene momentarily stunned Su Qingnuan, but she quickly regained her composure.