Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 69: Too Many People, Too Much Chatter

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Too Many People, Too Much Chatter

"Too many people, too much chatter." Su Qingnuan said helplessly, "We’re just going to the competition, taking a taxi will be more convenient."

Lian Yi hesitated, looking at her.

"It’s fine." Su Qingnuan chuckled softly, "Aren’t you going with me? What’s there to be afraid of?"

"Alright then." Lian Yi said begrudgingly, "But Eldest Young Madam must follow me closely. If I lose you, I wouldn’t dare go back!"

"Got it!" Su Qingnuan said with a smile, looping her arm through Lian Yi’s and reassured her: "I’ll make sure to keep a good eye on you!"

"Mm!"

The competition venue was set at a neighboring school.

The three of them gathered at the school gate, and then Su Qingnuan and Gu Xiaoxiao entered the competition grounds, while Lian Yi waited outside for them.

The format of this competition was divided into a written test and a practical test.

The written test would eliminate a portion of the participants, while the practical test would weed out even more. Ultimately, only six people would make it to the finals.

It was only then that participants could showcase their creativity and talent.

For Su Qingnuan, the most challenging part was the creativity aspect.

Although she had a firm grasp of the knowledge in the textbooks, she seldom encountered new things. So creativity, for her, remained an elusive luxury.

"Good luck!" Gu Xiaoxiao said enthusiastically, patting Su Qingnuan on the shoulder.

"Okay."

The exam rooms here were all separate. Su Qingnuan entered one of the narrow rooms and sat down.

Before long, someone brought in the test paper.

"Begin."

"Alright."

The allotted time for the test was just over an hour. Su Qingnuan finished everything within an hour.

Afterwards, she was taken to another classroom.

This classroom had quite a few people—about a dozen after a careful count.

"Now, we will proceed with the practical test."

Following the staff’s instructions, Su Qingnuan sat down and focused on her practical work.

Thanks to her prior practice, the practical test was relatively easy.

Once the practical round was over, Su Qingnuan was escorted out.

Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Lian Yi stretching out her arms, waving excitedly.

"Eldest Young Madam! Over here!"

Su Qingnuan quickly walked over and lowered her voice: "Lian Yi! Let’s discuss something. Don’t call me Eldest Young Madam so loudly!"

"Huh?" Lian Yi asked, puzzled. "Why not?"

"...Just don’t, alright?" Su Qingnuan said resignedly, "Look around, there are people everywhere. Nowadays, who still goes around calling someone Eldest Young Madam in public? Instead, just call me..."

Su Qingnuan suddenly paused.

If she had Lian Yi call her by her name, wouldn’t her identity be exposed?

But if she didn’t, and Lian Yi kept addressing her as Eldest Young Madam, she herself couldn’t stand it.

After pondering for some time and finding no better solution, Su Qingnuan sighed and waved it off: "Forget it, just call me whatever you want!"

"Then how about I call you Sister-in-law?"

"Hm?" Su Qingnuan looked at her in confusion.

"Well, you see, Mr. Fu is older than me. If I call you Miss Su, it feels too distant. So why not call you Sister-in-law? No one would gossip that way, right?"

"...Alright." Facing Lian Yi’s genuine expression, Su Qingnuan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law it is."

"Got it!"

"But don’t use that title back at home!" Su Qingnuan reminded cautiously.

"Okay."

The two of them waited outside for a while. When they saw Gu Xiaoxiao come out, they immediately rushed up to her.

"How did it go?" Su Qingnuan asked.

Gu Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly: "I did my best."

Seeing her deflated expression, Su Qingnuan quickly said, "It’s okay! There’s still hope."

Gu Xiaoxiao chuckled softly, looping her arm through Su Qingnuan’s: "It’s alright. I mainly came to keep you company. As long as you have hope, then there’s hope."

"Don’t say that." Su Qingnuan frowned, "I hope we can both make it to the finals."

"Alright then!" Gu Xiaoxiao beamed, "The list for the finals won’t be announced until tomorrow. Since we’re not in a bad mood yet, let’s go have a feast first!"

"Yay!" Lian Yi responded enthusiastically.

Seeing Gu Xiaoxiao’s not-too-disheartened expression, Su Qingnuan nodded and smiled, "Let’s go."

The three of them laughed and chatted as they left the building. However, just as they reached the exit, they saw a somewhat familiar figure.

The three of them stopped simultaneously. Lian Yi stood at the front with a frown: "What do you want?"

Shen Lin’an ignored her, his eyes fixed on Su Qingnuan behind her.

"Qingnuan, how did it go today?"

Su Qingnuan glanced at him briefly, her expression indifferent: "Not bad."

"From the way you’re saying it, it sounds like you have a chance of making it to the finals?"

"Not sure." Su Qingnuan looked away, "That’s something for the final results to determine."

Her cold demeanor stung Shen Lin’an deeply.

Clenching his teeth, Shen Lin’an continued, "Qingnuan, I’d like to take you out for a meal."

"No need." Su Qingnuan, still holding Gu Xiaoxiao’s arm, smiled and said, "We already made prior plans."

Shen Lin’an chuckled lightly: "Then let’s do it tomorrow."

"...Tomorrow we still have..."

"Or perhaps you’d prefer for my father to invite you personally?" Shen Lin’an interrupted her rudely.

Su Qingnuan froze slightly, her eyes showing surprise.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Shen Lin’an smiled faintly, seemingly pleased: "My father is very concerned about you and hopes to see you."

"If he wants to see me, he can contact me directly." Su Qingnuan frowned slightly, "There’s no need for you to relay the message."

"Qingnuan..." Shen Lin’an sighed helplessly, "You know your family’s situation. If he could come to see you openly, why would he need to go through me?"

"..."

Her family had always been dictated by that woman. If she didn’t want her father to come, there was nothing he could do.

Su Qingnuan hesitated, the word "father" tugging at her emotions.

Shen Lin’an clearly noticed her wavering and pressed on: "If you’re unsure, you can call my father to confirm. Though he might not tell you the truth."

"..."

Her hand instinctively reached into her pocket, feeling the hard edge of her phone, but she lacked the courage to take it out.

Did he really want to see her?

Su Qingnuan couldn’t help but wonder—should she give him a chance?

"Qingnuan, how about..."

"No need!" Lian Yi intercepted Shen Lin’an, her tone severe: "Whether Eldest Young Madam sees her parents or not is her own business. She doesn’t need you interfering. Now move along!"

Shen Lin’an’s expression darkened, his gaze shadowed with anger.

"Didn’t you understand what I said?" Lian Yi tilted her head back, a mocking smile on her face, "Or are you saying that the great Eldest Young Master of the Shen family can’t find a wife and has to stoop to stealing someone else’s?"

"Watch your mouth!"

Shen Lin’an, who valued his reputation above all, flushed with anger at her words.

"I’m just speaking the truth!" Lian Yi said seriously, staring him down. "If you disagree, then leave now! Stop standing here and bothering us."

"..."

Shen Lin’an gritted his teeth in frustration, pointing at Lian Yi, too furious to form a rebuttal.

"You should go." Su Qingnuan suddenly spoke, "I’ll reach out to Father myself."

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