Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 97 Good News

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Good News

Su Qingnuan stayed in the hospital for two days before eagerly packing her things to go home.

Gu Xiaoxiao came to help and, noticing the smile on her lips, asked curiously, "Why are you so happy?"

"I’m discharged, of course I’m happy!" Su Qingnuan replied with a grin as she folded her clothes.

"No, something’s up." Gu Xiaoxiao sat down, poking the dimples at the corners of Su Qingnuan’s mouth, laughing as she said, "You’re way too happy—it’s a little excessive."

"What’s excessive about it?"

Swatting Gu Xiaoxiao’s hand away, Su Qingnuan leaned in close to her ear and whispered a few words.

"Really?" Gu Xiaoxiao’s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement.

Su Qingnuan nodded, barely able to hold back the smile spreading across her face. "So, when you get back, make sure you’re prepared. In a few days, our chance will come."

"Got it." Gu Xiaoxiao sped up, her tone excited. "This time, I’m going to try my best and make sure I stick with you."

"Good."

Carrying her things, Su Qingnuan walked out of the hospital room and noticed Ah Qi waiting by the elevator.

"Ah Qi, thank you for everything," Su Qingnuan said with a smile.

Ah Qi nodded and pressed the elevator button.

After dropping Gu Xiaoxiao back at school, Su Qingnuan finally returned to the Fu household.

The Fu family home, which was never lively, remained cold and quiet.

As Su Qingnuan passed through the living room, she only saw the old man seated there.

"Grandpa," Su Qingnuan said, standing properly next to the sofa with her bag in hand.

The old man glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as he frowned. "Yuerou, your health is far too frail. You’re heading to the hospital every other day."

Su Qingnuan forced a bitter smile. "Perhaps my luck’s just been bad lately."

"This isn’t good," he said, setting down his book, his worried gaze falling on Su Qingnuan. "Yihan’s health is already poor. If you mess yourself up too and you both end up at the hospital every day, what will happen?"

Su Qingnuan replied with an awkward smile, "Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll make sure to take care of my health."

"Don’t just say it," the old man admonished, his brows furrowing deeply. "If you can’t manage on your own, come with me to the hospital in a few days and I’ll find a senior doctor to have a proper look at you."

"... I can handle it myself."

"How can you handle it?" The old man scrutinized her with suspicion.

Hurriedly nodding, her gaze firm, Su Qingnuan replied, "I definitely can."

"Fine." With a hint of regret, the old man withdrew his gaze and picked up his book again. "You just got discharged today, so I won’t push you further. Go upstairs and rest."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Carrying her belongings, Su Qingnuan trotted upstairs.

Only after returning to her room did Su Qingnuan release a slow, deep breath.

Sure enough, the old man’s approval of her seemed tied entirely to how well she took care of Fu Yihan.

Clutching her chest, Su Qingnuan closed her eyes.

After her heartbeat gradually settled, Su Qingnuan opened her eyes again and straightened up.

No matter what, she had to get through the interview first.

On the first day of the new month, Su Qingnuan woke up early and wheeled Fu Yihan downstairs.

"Up so early today?" The old man remarked when he saw them. "Yuerou, you’ve just recovered from an illness. Aren’t you going to rest another couple of days?"

Su Qingnuan hurriedly patted her shoulder, smiling as she replied, "I’m fine now, Grandpa!"

Although her complexion was still a bit pale, there was a glimmer in her eyes, her entire demeanor vibrant and energetic.

"It’s good to know you’re fine," the old man remarked, shifting his gaze to Fu Yihan. "Yihan, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Fu Yihan quietly ate his breakfast, making no reply.

Seeing this, the old man awkwardly cleared his throat.

Fu Yihan raised his gaze, looking at him puzzled.

"It’s that—well, now that you’ve had plenty of rest... The matter of returning to the company..."

The atmosphere at the dining table instantly turned cold.

Fu Yixing clenched his chopsticks tightly and stared at the old man.

Remaining calm, Fu Yihan cast him a faint glance and continued eating without showing any emotion.

"Yihan... about the company..."

"Grandpa!" Fu Yixing cut him off loudly, anger blazing in his eyes.

The old man shot him a glare. "Why are you shouting? If you don’t rely on your older brother, how do you expect to resolve this matter?"

"Of course I can!" Fu Yixing suddenly stood, grabbing his coat and bag. "I’ve already said—I’ll handle this myself! I don’t need anyone’s help!"

"Yixing!" The old man rose as well, chasing after him.

He stole a subtle glance at Su Qingnuan, but she showed no reaction.

"What are you looking at?" Fu Yihan suddenly lifted his gaze, meeting Su Qingnuan’s probing look. He sneered coldly. "Got something to say?"

"No... nothing!"

Su Qingnuan quickly withdrew her gaze and resumed eating breakfast.

After a long pause, the person beside her set down his chopsticks, leaning quietly against his chair.

Noticing this, Su Qingnuan also placed her utensils down. "I’m finished."

"Alright, let’s go."

Su Qingnuan pushed Fu Yihan out the door.

By the car not far away, the old man was still speaking with Fu Yixing. Their exchange carried an air of tension.

"Focus on walking."

Startled, Su Qingnuan quickly redirected her attention, focusing on carefully pushing Fu Yihan to the car.

In the car, Fu Yihan took a file from the seat next to him and said quietly, "First, take the Young Madam to her school."

"Understood."

Su Qingnuan hugged her backpack, leaning against her seat, her demeanor much less restrained than before.

When the car stopped at the school gate, Fu Yihan finally looked up.

"There’s a dinner tonight. Once your classes are finished, Ah Qi will come to pick you up."

Su Qingnuan paused for a moment, surprised, but the car had already driven away by the time she came to her senses.

Fu Yihan wasn’t known for liking gatherings; his reluctance had been evident during the previous few occasions. But this dinner—initiated by him rather than the old man’s pressure—clearly carried significant importance.

"Hey, did you hear? Kong Rong got expelled!"

"Really? That little troublemaker?"

"Over by the bulletin board; they’ve already posted the announcement!"

Pausing mid-step, Su Qingnuan turned and walked toward the bulletin board.

A crowd had gathered there, chattering away, each sharing their speculations.

Standing on tiptoe, Su Qingnuan tried to make out the bulletin board’s content.

"Qingnuan?"

A hand touched her shoulder, and Su Qingnuan turned around.

Gu Xiaoxiao stood there with a bright smile, looking amused.

"Why do you always appear out of nowhere?" Su Qingnuan asked helplessly.

Leaning against Su Qingnuan’s shoulder, Gu Xiaoxiao whispered, "You’re here to check out the announcement about Kong Rong’s punishment, aren’t you?"

"Was she really punished?" Su Qingnuan asked, surprised. "What punishment?"

"Expulsion."

Gu Xiaoxiao pulled out her phone and handed it to Su Qingnuan. "Take a look. I snapped a photo earlier—the punishment was expulsion."

On the small screen, the photo clearly captured the bulletin board announcement in full.

"...It doesn’t say what she did wrong, just straight to expulsion?" Su Qingnuan frowned. "That doesn’t seem right."

"Exactly," Gu Xiaoxiao said, lowering her voice. "Everyone’s saying Kong Rong must’ve crossed someone powerful to get expelled like this. What do you think—it couldn’t have been your man, could it?"

Su Qingnuan froze, staying silent.

Back at the hospital, Su Qingnuan had sensed Fu Yihan’s dissatisfaction with how she handled things. But...