Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 85 Happy Birthday

Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Happy Birthday

"Yihan, you know Lin An too, right? He grew up with Yuerou and the others, and they’re very close," Su Xiong said with a laugh.

"We’ve met," Fu Yihan said indifferently. "We’re not close."

"It doesn’t matter if you’re not close! Just chat more in the future, talk more, and you’ll be close in no time!" Su Xiong laughed heartily.

Su Qingnuan glanced at the person beside her, smiling faintly. "We’ll see about that later, Dad. Didn’t you say you wanted to try the new tea? I’ll get it for you!"

Su Xiong nodded. "Go ahead, I’m getting thirsty as well."

"Alright, I’ll get it right away!"

Heading to the tea room, Su Qingnuan observed the interactions in the living room. The two sides occupied their respective spaces.

Fu Yihan, for his part, didn’t look particularly cheerful, while Su Xiong, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear.

As for Shen Lin’an, his expression was exceedingly awkward.

Su Qingnuan sighed helplessly. After waiting a while in the tea room, she carried the tea out.

"Here’s this year’s new tea; have a taste, everyone."

After setting down the tea, Su Qingnuan turned and headed back into the tea room.

"Yuerou!" Su Xiong suddenly called out. "Come over here and chat with us for a while, don’t busy yourself."

Su Qingnuan smiled bitterly. "Dad, didn’t you just tell me earlier to go help in the kitchen?"

"No need. We have so many servants at home; there’s no reason for you to help." He patted the spot beside him, smiling warmly. "Come over here and sit."

Reluctantly putting down what she was holding, Su Qingnuan walked over to sit down.

"Lin An, look," Su Xiong said with a smile, holding Shen Lin’an’s hand lightly. "Both of my daughters now have good matches in life. I can finally rest easy."

Both?

Su Qingnuan looked towards Shen Lin’an, noting his helpless expression; she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Her father’s meaning was clear—he was talking about Su Yuerou’s arranged marriage to Shen Lin’an.

Currently, Su Qingnuan was acting under Su Yuerou’s name during the engagement negotiations. When it came time for Su Yuerou to marry, it would naturally be done under Su Qingnuan’s identity.

Everyone knew that Su Qingnuan and Shen Lin’an had been in love for many years, and their marriage was simply a matter of time.

"Uncle, please don’t put it like that..." Shen Lin’an said awkwardly. "Yuerou is sitting right here."

"What’s the matter?" Su Xiong chuckled. "It’s all out in the open; what is there to avoid?

"It’s not that..." Shen Lin’an glanced at Su Qingnuan hesitantly, as if words were caught in his throat.

"Mr. Su is really fortunate."

The sudden cool voice broke the awkward atmosphere.

Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling faintly. "To have two such wonderful daughters—beautiful, smart, and capable—how many people could possibly compete with that?"

The address "Mr. Su" already created a sense of distance, and the polite tone behind the words caused Su Xiong’s smile to freeze slightly.

"Yihan, what you’re saying, I..."

"Mr. Su, no need to be humble. Look at Mr. Shen over there, eagerly waiting to marry your daughter. Isn’t it obvious enough?"

"....."

The awkward atmosphere took on a strange, almost surreal air.

Everyone understood Su Qingnuan’s circumstances, yet when someone openly voiced them, it took on a different flavor entirely.

Glancing at Su Qingnuan, Su Xiong said in a low voice, "Qingnuan, is Yihan in a bad mood today?"

"....." Su Qingnuan shook her head, smiling faintly. "It’s fine. He’s always like this."

Su Xiong nodded silently, choosing not to dwell on it further.

The hidden undertones of the conversation had been entirely shifted in meaning by Fu Yihan’s interjection.

Su Qingnuan gave him a glance. His expression held no emotion, as if everything he had just said was nothing more than the most ordinary of remarks.

The tense atmosphere lingered all the way until it was time to eat, with Jiang Liwen loudly calling everyone over to the dining table.

Once seated, after the usual pleasantries, they finally began to discuss the main topics.

Although Su Qingnuan disliked the pretense of such occasions, she knew she couldn’t avoid them altogether.

"Yuerou! You need to eat more. Look at you, how have you gotten so thin?"

A piece of meat suddenly appeared in her bowl. Su Qingnuan froze for a moment, then looked up.

Jiang Liwen’s eyes squinted in a warm smile, her expression full of motherly affection.

In the past, Su Qingnuan might have allowed herself the comfort of convincing herself this was real. But now, she no longer needed to.

"I’m not thin." Su Qingnuan picked up the meat and placed it on the side of her bowl. "I haven’t had much appetite recently and don’t enjoy eating meat."

After speaking, she took her chopsticks and grabbed a small piece of fish instead.

Jiang Liwen’s face stiffened slightly, and the look in her eyes toward Su Qingnuan subtly changed.

"Just take what you’d like to eat," Su Xiong said, pressing gently on Jiang Liwen’s shoulder with a sigh. "You, really! The kids are grown; stop fussing."

"....." Jiang Liwen forced a smile, sighing softly. "No matter how old children get, in a parent’s eyes, they’ll always be kids."

"Yes, that’s true." Su Xiong sighed as well, casting a meaningful look at Su Qingnuan. "Qingnuan, you ought to be more understanding of your mother."

"Sure."

Su Qingnuan gave a muted response, continuing to eat her meal at her own unhurried pace.

After dinner, Jiang Liwen abruptly called Su Qingnuan to follow her upstairs.

Despite her inner reluctance, Su Qingnuan complied.

"Qingnuan." Jiang Liwen sat on the edge of the bed, holding her jewelry box in her hands. "Since you’re getting married, and I haven’t given you anything good, how about I give you this necklace?"

"I don’t need a necklace." Su Qingnuan lowered her gaze, her voice soft. "Yihan has already given me lots of jewelry."

Jiang Liwen’s expression faltered for a moment, her brow furrowing as she stared at Su Qingnuan.

"Su Qingnuan, you embarrassed me at the dining table earlier, and now you’re refusing to cooperate again?"

Su Qingnuan smiled faintly, curving her lips. "Mom, do you really need my cooperation? Isn’t Yuerou’s cooperation all that matters to you?"

"..."

Jiang Liwen gazed at her with growing coolness, while Su Qingnuan met her stare calmly, unyielding.

Despite being family, at this moment, there was an unmistakable feeling they were adversaries.

After some time, Jiang Liwen withdrew her gaze.

"Forget it. You’re just a child; I won’t hold it against you. But there’s something you must help with."

Su Qingnuan stayed silent, looking at her.

Jiang Liwen took out a shiny silver necklace from her jewelry box, holding it up with delight. "Isn’t this beautiful? I bought it myself a long time ago, and now I want to give it to you."

Seeing the jewelry being held out inches from her, Su Qingnuan didn’t reach out to take it; instead, she stepped back slightly.

"What is it you want?" Jiang Liwen asked.

Su Qingnuan smiled faintly. "Mom, I can’t accept something for nothing. Just tell me what you want me to do."

Jiang Liwen chuckled, patting Su Qingnuan’s arm. "Now that’s more like it."

She leaned closer to Su Qingnuan and whispered, "In a bit, I’ll have Lin An come upstairs. You’ve been close to him for so many years, so help me persuade him to marry Yuerou."

"Marry Yuerou?" Su Qingnuan raised her eyebrows, half-smiling. "Didn’t you say they were already engaged? Why aren’t they married yet?"

"It’s a long story. Anyway, all you need to do is listen to me and persuade Shen Lin’an."

"Just persuade him?" Su Qingnuan asked skeptically.