Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 57 Questioning

Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Questioning

The figure approached against the light, like a hunter emerging from darkness, step by step, closing in on their prey.

Su Qingnuan frowned slightly and stood up.

"Qingnuan." His voice softened, sounding incredibly pleasing to the ear.

However, this familiar voice, when heard by Su Qingnuan, did not carry the same charm.

"Why are you here?" Su Qingnuan frowned, looking at the person, her expression far from happy.

Shen Lin’an paused, his lips maintaining a smile. "What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see me here?"

Of course not!

Su Qingnuan furrowed her brows and turned away.

"This is a school. Why are you here without reason?"

The cold, hard tone was nothing like the bright-eyed warmth she once greeted him with.

Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, Shen Lin’an chuckled faintly, "Qingnuan, I’m here just to see you."

"See me?" Su Qingnuan sneered, "To laugh at me, perhaps? That day at the Su family’s house, I believe we made things clear."

.....

Shen Lin’an clenched his fists tightly, staring at Su Qingnuan for a long moment.

Su Qingnuan refused to back down, meeting his gaze with a glimmer of determination in her eyes.

After a while, his fists loosened, and Shen Lin’an smiled faintly, "I simply came to see you. You don’t need to be so defensive."

Defensive? How could she not be?

A man who chose to abandon her, who said such cruel words—how could Su Qingnuan not be cautious?

Her lips curled with a mocking smile that remained unshaken.

"Shen Lin’an, the words you uttered back then still ring in my ears, and now you’re telling me not to be on guard?"

Shen Lin’an’s expression shifted abruptly.

Su Qingnuan cast him a glance, turned around, and said, "I have class, I’m leaving."

"Qingnuan!"

He reached out to stop her, but Su Qingnuan didn’t look pleased at all.

"Do you still have something to say?" she asked.

"Please sit down. I truly have something to discuss with you."

Under Shen Lin’an’s guidance, Su Qingnuan sat down but maintained a consistently cold demeanor.

"Whatever it is, say it quickly."

Shen Lin’an smiled, leaning in close to her.

"Qingnuan, we grew up together. After all these years, I think I understand you fairly well."

Su Qingnuan lowered her gaze, quietly listening without commenting.

"Even now, I can empathize with your difficulties. But who is Fu Yihan, really? He’s nothing but a ruthless and wicked man. Staying with the Fu family is like being trapped in a den of wolves."

Suddenly, he reached out, gripping Su Qingnuan’s arm desperately. "I’m figuring out a way to get you out of there. Would that be okay?"

"Get me out?" Su Qingnuan’s heartbeat quickened as she turned to look at Shen Lin’an.

His gaze was sincere, his eyes fixed on her earnestly—with even a trace of hope.

"You..."

"I know you still have feelings for me!" Shen Lin’an pulled Su Qingnuan by her shoulders, turning her to face him, his smile unwavering. "Let me take you away from the Fu family, and we can run off together, alright?"

The flicker of madness and obsession in his eyes rendered Su Qingnuan momentarily stunned.

"Shen Lin’an?" Su Qingnuan pushed his hands away, speaking calmly, "You should go back."

Not even mentioning Shen family’s standing—how would he take her away?

Judging by his current state, it was obvious he was not thinking clearly.

"Qingnuan!"

Her hands were seized once more as Shen Lin’an pulled her into his arms, almost frantically.

"I know I went too far before. I won’t say such things anymore. Please, come with me, alright?"

.....

She forcefully shoved the crazed Shen Lin’an away, raising her voice.

"Shen Lin’an! You still don’t understand the situation, do you?" Su Qingnuan said sharply. "Do you know why I married into the Fu family? It wasn’t out of my own choice! Instead of standing here saying useless nonsense to me, why don’t you go ask Su Yuerou? Find out how she managed to send me off to get married!"

"What... What do you mean?" Shen Lin’an’s eyes widened as he stared at Su Qingnuan.

Su Qingnuan brushed off his hand, picked up her backpack, and stood.

"I’ve told you everything I need to. If you want to know more, go ask your new girlfriend."

With that, Su Qingnuan ran off.

After covering some distance, she looked back to see that he hadn’t followed her. Su Qingnuan held her chest, leaning against a wall and gasping softly.

She hadn’t expected him to show up at school.

Memories of the past surged relentlessly.

The "Lin’an brother" who had once doted on her was gone.

Su Qingnuan suddenly started shaking her head, only stopping when she felt dizzy.

Smoothing out her hair, she began walking forward.

...

"Qingnuan, where did you just go?" Gu Xiaoxiao ran over, complaining, "I’ve been waiting in the classroom for you forever."

"It’s nothing," Su Qingnuan replied helplessly. "I was talking in the principal’s office for a while."

"Talking about what? For so long that your food’s gone cold."

She held a lunchbox, which looked heavy.

"I’m not really hungry." Su Qingnuan took the lunchbox and smiled, "Let’s go rest for a bit since classes don’t start until the afternoon."

"Alright, let’s go."

The two walked slowly back to the dormitory.

Passing by the road she had just left, Su Qingnuan couldn’t help turning her head to look.

"What are you looking at?"

Su Qingnuan withdrew her gaze and chuckled lightly. "It’s... it’s nothing."

At a moment like this, she actually still held onto hope. How laughable.

After a brief midday nap in the dorm, they returned to class as usual.

When the last class ended, Su Qingnuan carried her lunchbox and bid Gu Xiaoxiao goodbye.

At the school gate, she saw a familiar car and heard the murmuring discussions again.

Su Qingnuan shielded her face and walked over.

Opening the rear car door, she found someone already inside.

"Mr. Fu?" Su Qingnuan asked with surprise. "Why are you..."

Realizing it was his car, Su Qingnuan quickly stopped, smiled slightly, and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

With that, she got in.

Fu Yihan toyed with his phone, ignoring her completely.

Carefully placing the lunchbox aside, Su Qingnuan smiled faintly, "Mr. Fu, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

"Say it."

"Well... Actually, I think riding my bike to school works pretty well on my own. There’s no need for Ah Qi to drive me."

When she finished speaking, Su Qingnuan twisted the hem of her shirt nervously and looked at Fu Yihan.

Fu Yihan raised his eyes from his phone, glanced at her, and asked indifferently, "Why?"

"It’s... it’s nothing really..." Su Qingnuan lowered her gaze and murmured, "I just think it’s a bit too conspicuous. It doesn’t feel appropriate to stand out so much at school... So I thought... maybe I could be just like all the other students."

Setting his phone aside, Fu Yihan looked at her with a smirk. "I see your point. What you mean is that we’re being too wasteful?"

"That’s not what I meant!" Su Qingnuan said anxiously. "It’s just..."

She fumbled to find the right words, opening her mouth but saying nothing.