Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 53 Rumors

Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Rumors

Su Qingnuan was briefly stunned and looked down at the dress she was wearing.

The same checkered dress, the same light yellow school bag.

"Isn’t this me?" Su Qingnuan asked in confusion, "How is there a photo of this?"

Gu Xiaoxiao, her expression serious, clicked on the photo and said coldly, "This is a post on the school forum. Look at the original post."

The original post had a bold red character indicating it was "featured," a clear sign of its current popularity.

Passerby A: I’m so shocked! Our genius and campus beauty is actually being sponsored by someone!

Passerby B: Holy crap, the car in the photo—I’ve only ever seen it on TV!

Well Digger: I saw the campus beauty getting out of this car with my own eyes this morning. She looked so happy as she smiled!

.....

Comments like these made Su Qingnuan’s brows furrow tightly.

"What’s going on?" Gu Xiaoxiao leaned closer to Su Qingnuan’s ear and whispered, "Qingnuan, don’t you dare lie to me. I know your family’s situation—it’s not like you can afford that kind of car."

".....Actually..."

Su Qingnuan hesitated and put down her phone. It was only now that she understood why so many people had been watching her, why that girl had tried to secretly take her photo—it was all because of this post.

"Ugh! Stop hesitating!" Gu Xiaoxiao grabbed Su Qingnuan’s hand and frowned. "If there’s something going on, just tell me. Don’t let those troublemakers succeed!"

"..."

She still hadn’t figured out how to open up to this best friend of hers and recount the strange experiences of this past period.

Just then, the teacher entered the classroom, and Su Qingnuan quickly said, "After class. When we go to eat, I’ll tell you properly."

"Fine."

Gu Xiaoxiao didn’t press her further and turned her attention back to class.

During the lesson, though she appeared to be looking at the blackboard, Su Qingnuan’s gaze wandered, and she wasn’t as focused as she seemed.

In her heart, she was rehearsing how she should explain this matter to Gu Xiaoxiao.

The two periods passed quickly, and before Su Qingnuan could sort out her thoughts, the bell signaling the end of class had already rung.

"Hurry up, pack your things, let’s go to the cafeteria!" Gu Xiaoxiao urged.

Su Qingnuan nodded and swiftly gathered her belongings.

Leaving the classroom, Su Qingnuan noticed that the passersby around her, to varying degrees, directed their gazes at her.

Some were curious, some disdainful, and some outright scornful.

Su Qingnuan tightly gripped her backpack straps, her fingers turning pale.

Suddenly, a weight pressed down on her shoulder. Su Qingnuan turned her head to the side.

Gu Xiaoxiao’s arm was slung over her shoulder, and she looked completely listless.

"I’m so tired! Let me lean on you while we walk!"

Being slightly taller than Su Qingnuan, this position didn’t take much effort for Gu Xiaoxiao—in fact, she looked quite comfortable, her face full of satisfaction.

Carrying another person’s weight, Su Qingnuan was rather helpless.

"Are you trying to crush me? Do you not want my semester notes anymore?"

"..." Gu Xiaoxiao immediately stood upright and glared at her. "School just started, and you’re already talking about final exams. Have a little compassion, will you?"

"I’m just reminding you—it’ll be only one more year before we graduate. At that time....."

She sounded like a little adult, lecturing away without stopping.

Gu Xiaoxiao, having grown used to this side of Su Qingnuan, appeared a little exasperated but was secretly smiling with her eyes.

Talking and laughing all the way, the two finally arrived at the cafeteria, got their meals, and sat down.

"Alright, now it’s time to talk," Gu Xiaoxiao said seriously, staring at the person across from her. "Tell me the truth."

"....." Su Qingnuan put down her chopsticks and smiled helplessly. "Actually, the reason my mom applied for leave for me before was that I had to go home and get married."

Gu Xiaoxiao blinked and asked in confusion, "Excuse me? Did I mishear you? You said you...."

"Yes, I got married," Su Qingnuan said firmly. "You didn’t mishear me."

"..."

Gu Xiaoxiao stared blankly at Su Qingnuan, completely stunned.

"Xiaoxiao?" Su Qingnuan waved a hand in front of her face and sighed. "Snap out of it!"

Her hand was suddenly grabbed by Gu Xiaoxiao with considerable force.

"Ow—" Su Qingnuan winced and shook her hand free, bewildered. "What are you doing?"

"Does it hurt?"

"Of course it hurts!"

"So it’s not a dream?" Gu Xiaoxiao looked at her, utterly shocked.

Seeing her expression almost deformed from disbelief, Su Qingnuan couldn’t help but chuckle. "I’m being serious. It’s not a dream."

"But... how did you end up married?"

"Well, it wasn’t exactly voluntary. Circumstances forced my hand, okay?" Su Qingnuan sighed. "Anyway, just know that that car isn’t mine—it belongs to my husband’s family."

"Your husband’s family?" Gu Xiaoxiao leaned forward, hands on the table. "Who’s your husband? Is he good-looking? What’s his name?"

Thinking of that handsome face, Su Qingnuan glanced at Gu Xiaoxiao. "Do you really want to know?"

"Of course! My best friend’s married, and I don’t even know who her husband is. You can’t keep me in the dark!"

"...Fine." Su Qingnuan leaned close to Gu Xiaoxiao’s ear and whispered, "Fu Yihan."

"Fu Yihan? Who’s that?"

Gu Xiaoxiao looked puzzled.

Leaning back in her chair, Su Qingnuan chuckled. "Go look him up online."

True to her word, Gu Xiaoxiao whipped out her phone and started searching.

A moment later, she gasped audibly.

Su Qingnuan, who was eating, suddenly found her hand grabbed again.

"Qingnuan, are you alright? You’re not being abused, are you?"

Su Qingnuan laughed and slapped her hand away. "What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who’s being abused?"

"No, but... the way he’s described online is kind of terrifying."

Recalling her initial reaction to those online descriptions, Su Qingnuan realized her feelings weren’t much different from Gu Xiaoxiao’s.

"You’re overthinking it. It’s not that exaggerated." Su Qingnuan picked up her chopsticks again and smiled. "He’s really handsome. His temper isn’t great, but he wouldn’t go so far as to abuse me."

Gu Xiaoxiao frowned. "Why would you marry someone like that? Is he anything besides rich?"

For a moment, Su Qingnuan’s chopstick hand paused. Then she tilted her head and frowned back at her.

"Looks?"

"...What does he look like?" Gu Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

"Doesn’t it say online?" Su Qingnuan asked back.

"Nope."

"Too bad, I don’t have any pictures either."

"..." Gu Xiaoxiao glared at her indignantly. "Are you messing with me?"

"I’m not!" Su Qingnuan said with a faint smile. "I’m being honest. He doesn’t like taking photos, and our relationship... is a bit complicated. We’re not at the stage for that kind of thing yet."

"So your marriage is just in name, without any real substance?"

"Mm."

"Thank goodness!" Gu Xiaoxiao patted her chest in relief, then picked up her chopsticks and said through gritted teeth, "As long as you live long enough, you can outlast an old man. I trust you, Qingnuan!"

"....."

Did Gu Xiaoxiao have some kind of major misconception about Fu Yihan?

Just as Su Qingnuan was debating whether to explain things to her, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her back.

Su Qingnuan jumped to her feet.

"Ah! Clang—"

Her back felt a chill, but she didn’t have time to worry about it. She turned around to check.

A girl had fallen to the ground in a sorry state, an empty cafeteria tray lying beside her.

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