Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 76: Searching for the Mastermind

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Searching for the Mastermind

Fu Yihan didn’t say much. Watching Su Qingnuan’s excited expression, he waved his hand and returned to his room.

Having narrowly escaped a disaster, Su Qingnuan was overjoyed.

But what she needed to worry about next was the person who had drugged someone.

She still remembered the one who found the drug. She decided to ask about it later to figure out what was happening.

Su Qingnuan stayed in her room until it was mealtime, then accompanied Fu Yihan downstairs.

However, aside from the old master at the dining table, no one else was present.

"Grandfather." Su Qingnuan greeted politely.

The old master turned his head and smiled faintly. "Come, sit and eat."

Su Qingnuan sat down, glancing around, hesitant to speak.

"Don’t bother looking." The old master chuckled helplessly. "Yixing said he couldn’t feel fairness in this house and ran off. His mother went after him."

Her movements stilled momentarily. Su Qingnuan lowered her head and said apologetically, "I’m sorry, Grandfather. I didn’t take good care of the medicine."

As soon as she spoke, the old master quickly turned to look at Fu Yihan. Seeing no reaction from him, he sighed in relief.

"Ignorance is no sin. You didn’t know what it was, so it’s still my fault." The old master sighed deeply, mumbling, "I should have just done it like last time and mixed it into the milk."

"It is your fault."

Fu Yihan’s cold voice broke the silence. He picked up his knife and fork expressionlessly, letting out a sneering laugh. "Behaving so disgracefully at your age."

"..."

After coughing awkwardly a few times, the old master turned his head to Su Qingnuan.

"Yuerou, I’m afraid you’ll have to endure some grievances these days. Yixing isn’t exactly someone who lets things go easily."

Su Qingnuan nodded and smiled gently. "Don’t worry, Grandfather. I’ll bear it. He’s having a hard time, too."

"Good girl." Feeling comforted, the old master picked up some food and placed it on Su Qingnuan’s plate.

Su Qingnuan quickly took the food and ate happily.

With just the three of them at dinner, it was, surprisingly, more harmonious than when there were more people.

After finishing dinner, Su Qingnuan pushed Fu Yihan outside for a stroll.

But just as they reached the door, the wheelchair stopped moving.

Su Qingnuan leaned her head forward, puzzled.

"Go back," Fu Yihan suddenly ordered.

Su Qingnuan quickly pulled the wheelchair back inside with all her strength.

The servants bustling in and out were tidying up the dining room, leaving the other areas relatively quiet.

"Do you still remember what that person looked like?" Fu Yihan asked.

Su Qingnuan froze for a moment before glancing back.

Among the several servants, Su Qingnuan immediately recognized the person.

"It’s her, the one in the dress." Fearing Fu Yihan might act impulsively, Su Qingnuan pointed her out specifically.

Fu Yihan’s gaze flicked to her hand, and he slapped it down, speaking coldly. "Don’t point—I can see."

"...Oh."

After getting a good look at the person, Fu Yihan turned to Ah Qi.

"Go."

Ah Qi acknowledged the order and walked toward the group of servants.

"We’re going out now," Fu Yihan said again.

Before she could see what Ah Qi was doing, Su Qingnuan reluctantly shifted her gaze and pushed Fu Yihan outside.

The light outside still carried a faint haziness. Su Qingnuan positioned him near a bench in the courtyard and softly asked, "Here?"

"Mm. Sit."

Su Qingnuan sat down, tilting her head up to look at the distant sky.

Night was about to fall, and the world before her grew increasingly blurred.

"Over there—move!"

The quiet world was disrupted by a harsh voice.

Su Qingnuan turned her head to see Ah Qi bringing a woman in their direction.

As they got closer, Su Qingnuan recognized the woman as the one who had accused her earlier that day.

"Eldest Young Master!" The woman knelt before Fu Yihan, frantically kowtowing. "I really didn’t do anything! Please, have mercy on me!"

Fu Yihan’s icy gaze swept downward at the kneeling woman. He chuckled lightly. "Are you scared?"

His laugh was eerie, like that of a devil crawling out of hell.

The woman’s body trembled uncontrollably. She nodded nervously, "Sc-scared...!"

"Good. You should be." Fu Yihan lifted his gaze toward Ah Qi.

Ah Qi cracked his knuckles, the sound crisp and unsettling.

"If you’re scared, then you should know what to say and what not to say," Ah Qi sneered. "What did you do after picking up that drug?"

"I didn’t do anything!" the woman cried out. "I swear I didn’t! I just put the drug in the kitchen drawer. Then the second young master said there was something in the cup—he came down to investigate, and when the issue came up, I mentioned it belonged to the eldest young mistress! I really didn’t do anything!"

Though it was already autumn, beads of sweat covered the woman’s forehead. It was clear how terrified she was.

"Is there a surveillance camera in the kitchen?" Fu Yihan asked.

"Yes."

"Go."

"Yes."

With that brief exchange, Ah Qi pulled the woman and headed off toward the distance.

Su Qingnuan stared in stunned silence, unable to react for a moment.

Fu Yihan turned his head back, catching sight of her dazed expression. His brows furrowed. "What are you looking at?"

"...Nothing." Su Qingnuan quickly lowered her gaze and murmured, "Nothing."

She didn’t realize that her current demeanor—speaking softly, avoiding Fu Yihan’s gaze, and hanging her head—was strikingly similar to that of the woman earlier.

Frowning slightly, Fu Yihan commanded, "Raise your head."

Her body stiffened as she timidly lifted her head to meet his eyes.

Fu Yihan’s gaze was deep and piercing, and staring into them gave her the sensation of plunging into an abyss.

She quickly looked away, forcing a smile. "Mr. Fu, is there something you need?"

"Are you afraid of me?" Fu Yihan asked.

Su Qingnuan froze for a moment, then shook her head quickly. "No, Mr. Fu, you’re very kind. You even helped me solve this problem earlier. I feel—"

"You’re afraid of me."

A statement, not a question.

Su Qingnuan was stunned.

She was indeed a little afraid of him, though the fear wasn’t overwhelming—sometimes it felt negligible.

Seeing her hesitation, Fu Yihan sneered coldly.

"Being afraid is good."

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan’s brain stalled again, unable to process.

So Fu Yihan wanted her to be afraid of him?

"We’re in a partnership. If you’re afraid of me, you’ll cooperate better."

Suddenly, Fu Yihan extended his hand and gripped Su Qingnuan’s chin.

It hurt a little, but it was bearable.

Su Qingnuan stared at Fu Yihan in bewilderment, unsure of what to do.

"So remember how you feel right now—fear me."

"..."

Before Su Qingnuan could respond, Fu Yihan let go of her and wheeled himself back inside.

Rubbing her aching jaw, Su Qingnuan wondered if he was angry.

But from start to finish, she hadn’t said anything offensive, had she? Was he really this quick to anger?

Feeling a little dejected, Su Qingnuan resignedly stepped forward to catch up.

But the man didn’t wait for her at all. He wheeled himself into the house, took the elevator, and locked the door behind him.

Staring at the door, Su Qingnuan suddenly thought of when she had first arrived here—how he’d locked her outside, refusing to let her in.

So he really was angry, wasn’t he?

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