Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 82 Racking One’s Brains

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Racking One’s Brains

Su Qingnuan: "..."

Blinking her eyes, the old man chuckled warmly and said, "Waiting for your good news!"

With that, the old man stood up and walked toward the bedroom.

Only when the old man’s figure disappeared did Su Qingnuan lower her gaze to her hands.

There were several round pills in her palm; it was hard to tell what they were.

Su Qingnuan sighed softly, clenched her fingers tightly, and went upstairs.

...

Fu Yihan was reading through documents when a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Su Qingnuan cautiously pushed the door open, noticing the busyness of the man inside. She asked softly, "Mr. Fu, may I say a few words to you?"

"Hm."

Stepping lightly into the study, Su Qingnuan placed the pills in her hand on the desk.

Glancing at the pills out of the corner of his eye, Fu Yihan asked nonchalantly, "What are these?"

"...Grandfather gave me the medicine."

The hand flipping through the documents stopped. Fu Yihan lifted his gaze to look at Su Qingnuan.

Su Qingnuan forced a bitter smile and said, "He handed it to me downstairs just now, without giving me a chance to refuse."

Frowning slightly, Fu Yihan’s gaze lingered on the white pills for a long time in contemplation.

"I understand. You can leave now."

With that, he lowered his head again and resumed flipping through the documents.

Seeing how busy he was, Su Qingnuan decided not to disturb him further.

"By the way."

Fu Yihan suddenly looked up, his gaze landing on her as she approached the door. He raised his eyebrows and sneered coldly, "The Su family sent an invitation. It’s your sister’s birthday; they want you to attend the birthday party."

"...."

Su Qingnuan lowered her head silently.

"Technically, I should accompany you, but you probably don’t want me to go with you, right?" Fu Yihan watched her with a half-smile, quietly waiting for her reaction.

After a while, Su Qingnuan finally looked up with a faint smile and replied, "Don’t worry, Mr. Fu. I won’t trouble you."

Her smile stiffened slightly, and the door closed resolutely. The expression on Fu Yihan’s face was far from pleasant.

He had initially intended to watch her squirm, but he hadn’t expected her to be so composed—miscalculation.

What Fu Yihan didn’t know was that the moment the door closed, the smile on Su Qingnuan’s lips vanished.

Her birthday and Su Yuerou’s birthday were close, just a few days apart.

Yet everyone in the Su family only remembered Su Yuerou’s birthday.

Su Qingnuan smiled bitterly.

There was no way she would attend. With so many people present, it would be impossible to keep her cover.

Rather than risk going back, it was better not to go at all. Thus, Su Qingnuan didn’t give the matter any more thought.

On the very day, Su Qingnuan slung her bag over her shoulder and headed to school. Fu Yihan noticed and stopped her.

"Not going to the Su family?" Fu Yihan asked.

Su Qingnuan shook her head, replying earnestly, "The finals are in a few days. I need to focus on my studies right now. I’ve already discussed this with my father, and they won’t mind."

Skeptical, Fu Yihan scrutinized her without saying a word.

"I mean it!" Su Qingnuan pulled out her phone and showed him the text she sent to her father. "Look. My father already agreed."

The text contained only two parts: Su Qingnuan’s lengthy message and her father’s curt reply—one single word, "Fine."

Retracting his gaze, Fu Yihan frowned slightly. "Even if you’re not going, the formalities shouldn’t be skipped."

"Mm, I understand."

He didn’t press Su Qingnuan further and gestured for her to go about her business.

Su Qingnuan grabbed her bag hurriedly and headed out.

Once in the car, she urged Ah Qi to take her to school.

In truth, there were no classes or review sessions at school today; Su Qingnuan simply didn’t want to go to the Su family.

In her rush to disembark, Su Qingnuan dashed directly into Gu Xiaoxiao’s dorm room.

At the time, Gu Xiaoxiao was still asleep. In a haze, hearing sounds, she jolted upright and demanded sharply, "Who’s there?"

Turning back, Su Qingnuan looked at Gu Xiaoxiao in surprise.

Gu Xiaoxiao froze for a moment, staring blankly at Su Qingnuan.

"What are you doing?" Su Qingnuan teased with a laugh, waving a hand. "You don’t recognize me anymore?"

"Qingnuan?" Gu Xiaoxiao frowned. "Isn’t today the weekend? Why are you here?"

"I’m here to study with you." Calmly setting her things down, Su Qingnuan took a seat. "Aren’t you going to get up?"

"...You really came to study?" Sliding off the ladder with resignation, Gu Xiaoxiao said, "I thought you might have come to hang out."

"Wishful thinking. I’m here to oversee your studies."

As she spoke, Su Qingnuan laid out all the materials she had brought on the desk, smiling faintly. "Don’t struggle. Hurry over."

Gu Xiaoxiao sighed and gave up, taking a seat.

The two of them pored over the competition materials together until noon.

Time flies quickest when one is busy.

Standing up and stretching lazily, Gu Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. "Alright, it’s lunchtime. Let’s go out for lunch first."

"Mm, hold on. I need to finish up..."

"Stop looking!" Gu Xiaoxiao pulled the book away from in front of Su Qingnuan, exasperated. "At the rate you’re going, we might end up having dinner instead."

Snapping back to reality, Su Qingnuan chuckled wryly. "Alright then. Let’s have lunch first."

After tidying up briefly, the two of them laughed and chatted as they headed downstairs.

"Su Qingnuan!"

A sudden voice made them stop in their tracks.

Su Yuerou stood under the dormitory building, her posture arrogant as she stared at Su Qingnuan.

Su Qingnuan frowned slightly, lowering her voice. "Why are you here?"

"What’s wrong? Afraid of me coming here?" Su Yuerou sneered. "Did you do something guilty and fear having it exposed?"

"...Stop making trouble!" Su Qingnuan pulled Gu Xiaoxiao along to bypass Su Yuerou. "Let’s go. Don’t pay her any mind."

Su Yuerou quickly moved to block their path.

"Leave? What are you thinking?" Su Yuerou squinted at her, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes. "Today is my birthday. Why aren’t you coming?"

"I have a competition to prepare for. I don’t have time."

Facing Su Qingnuan’s indifferent demeanor, Su Yuerou scoffed coldly. "Saying you don’t have time—it’s all an excuse! You know that if you don’t go, Lin An won’t go either!"

Her brows furrowed again, Su Qingnuan sighed helplessly and looked at Su Yuerou.

"Lin An and I are just friends now. Whether he goes or not has nothing to do with me."

"Friends? Who are you trying to fool with that ’friends’ nonsense?" Su Yuerou’s lips curled spitefully, her expression contorted. "I never would’ve thought, Su Qingnuan—looking all frail and sickly on the outside—you’d actually be so skilled at stringing men along!"

Su Qingnuan froze momentarily, clenching her teeth as she stared down Su Yuerou.

"Watch your mouth!" Gu Xiaoxiao couldn’t stand it any longer. She stepped forward to shield Su Qingnuan and reprimanded harshly, "She’s your elder sister. Is this how you talk to your sister?"

"I don’t have such a shameless sister! Married but still scheming to seduce her childhood sweetheart!" Her disdainful gaze landed on Su Qingnuan, and she sneered coldly, "Whore!"

"Slap—"

The sharp sound of the slap echoed in front of the quiet dormitory entrance.

Su Qingnuan’s hand trembled slightly. She lowered her gaze to her reddened palm, silent.

Su Yuerou turned her face to the side, covering her cheek as she stared at her in shock.

Even Gu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but show a look of astonishment.

"You actually hit me?" Su Yuerou asked.