Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Dining Together

Before leaving, Su Qingnuan said a few words to Gu Xiaoxiao.

Gu Xiaoxiao was puzzled when she saw Manager Huang personally come looking for her.

"Is it about yesterday again?" Gu Xiaoxiao asked worriedly. "Have you thought it through? If not, you could ask Manager Huang for some more time."

Su Qingnuan nodded and smiled faintly, "I understand, don’t worry."

After speaking, Su Qingnuan followed Manager Huang out of the office.

As soon as she walked out, the office was immediately filled with murmurs of conversation.

"That Su Qingnuan, she’s only been here less than a month, yet she sticks to Manager Huang all the time. Who knows what Manager Huang sees in her."

"You didn’t hear? When she first joined, someone mentioned that she had someone backing her."

"Who’s that? I’ve asked around but couldn’t find out who she’s connected to."

"No idea, but it’s kept pretty secretive. From the looks of it now, could her backer actually be Manager Huang? You know Manager Huang is still unmarried, right?"

"Are you saying..."

A group of women huddled together, their topic predictably revolving around gossip, chatting away excitedly as amused listeners smiled nearby.

Jiang Yuan stared in the direction Su Qingnuan had disappeared, her gaze slightly fixed.

...

Upon reaching the top floor, Su Qingnuan instantly spotted Fu Yihan seated there.

Fu Yihan leaned his single hand against the armrest, holding his head up, his eyes shut tight.

"President Fu, Miss Su is here," Manager Huang said respectfully.

Heavy eyelids slowly lifted, revealing those deep, penetrating eyes.

The cool, familiar gaze fell on Su Qingnuan as she stepped forward two paces.

"Mr. Fu."

"Mm," Fu Yihan responded softly, then closed his eyes again. "Sit down. Rest for a while."

"...Alright."

Su Qingnuan walked over and sat on the sofa. Manager Huang took the opportunity to slip out through the door.

Once Su Qingnuan realized, all she heard was the sound of the door closing.

Looking at the tightly shut door, Su Qingnuan remembered—this wasn’t the first time she’d been here.

The room was infused with a fragrance, a scent Fu Yihan liked.

Su Qingnuan wasn’t familiar with using fragrant products and didn’t know what the scent was, but it smelled lovely.

"What do you want for lunch?"

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan snapped out of her thoughts, confused. "Manager Huang mentioned that Aqi brought food over..."

She assumed it was a simple matter of eating the food brought, but now it seemed there was an extra step.

Fu Yihan glanced at her, his smile enigmatic.

Meeting his gaze, Su Qingnuan hurriedly said, "I’ll eat whatever’s available!"

"Mm."

Retracting his gaze, Fu Yihan pushed his wheelchair forward: "Let’s go."

"Huh?"

Still puzzled, Su Qingnuan followed him forward.

"Today, we’re eating out."

Eating out?

She recalled that Fu Yihan wasn’t someone fond of dining out. Why today...?

The figure ahead didn’t give her time to think—he was already inside the elevator, blankly staring at her.

Su Qingnuan promptly followed him in.

The two descended straight to the parking lot. The driver wasn’t Aqi this time.

"To Taisong Inn." noveldrama

"Understood."

The car drove out of the company lot. Watching the building grow smaller in the distance, Su Qingnuan retracted her gaze.

Fu Yihan rested his head on the headrest, eyes closed.

He looked exhausted...

Involuntarily, Su Qingnuan’s gaze drifted to Fu Yihan’s legs.

The black suit pants revealed nothing about the condition of his knees.

"Mr. Fu," Su Qingnuan tentatively broke the silence.

"Hmm?" His response was casual and indifferent.

"How are your legs?"

Finally, those drowsy eyes opened lazily, casting a glance at Su Qingnuan.

There wasn’t any chilling emotion, just a calm scrutiny.

"They’re fine," Fu Yihan raised a brow. "Why? What’s the matter?"

Awkwardly, Su Qingnuan chuckled, "I was just thinking—your knee pads might need changing, and maybe it’s time to check the progress of recovery."

"...Mm." Closing his eyes again, Fu Yihan added, "We’ll deal with it after we get back."

Not daring to press further, Su Qingnuan wisely shut her mouth when she noticed he wasn’t responding anymore.

Taisong Inn was a family-style chain restaurant. The time they arrived happened to be its busiest hours, and there was already a long line outside.

Su Qingnuan was about to suggest switching to another restaurant when the waiter hurried over.

"Mr. Fu, you’re here!"

Glancing at the crowded entrance, Fu Yihan replied coolly, "Busy day."

"Yes indeed..." The waiter smiled. "Your seat is ready; please follow me this way."

The waiter led the pair through another door, unbothered by the line outside. This quieter passage was free of people waiting.

Observing the packed main hall, Su Qingnuan couldn’t help but marvel.

Although this establishment had been around for years, business was still as booming as ever.

The waiter opened a private room door and smiled, "Mr. Fu, please step inside."

Su Qingnuan wheeled Fu Yihan in.

With the door shut, the noise outside immediately faded away.

"The usual, Mr. Fu?" asked the waiter.

Fu Yihan turned to Su Qingnuan, "Anything in particular you’d like to eat?"

Su Qingnuan shook her head, "No, I’m fine with anything."

Apparently accustomed to her response, Fu Yihan said nothing further. He simply nodded at the waiter.

The dishes at Taisong Inn were served quickly. After merely two cups of tea, the food was brought in.

Su Qingnuan immediately sat upright, waiting for Fu Yihan to pick up his chopsticks before following suit.

She ate very seriously—something she had picked up during her time at the Fu household.

Because eating diligently and talking little could avoid most unnecessary trouble.

While this attitude would surely earn praise at the Fu household, it didn’t seem fitting for the current situation.

Watching someone’s bowed head devoted to eating, Fu Yihan’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you that hungry?"

Startled, Su Qingnuan swallowed her food and looked up, "After lunch, there’s still work in the afternoon..."

"Hmph!" Placing down his chopsticks, Fu Yihan’s gloomy eyes fixated on her.

What was wrong?

Panic-stricken, Su Qingnuan didn’t know where to place her hands and feet. Had she said something wrong again?

From the corner of her eye, she noticed—the food in Fu Yihan’s bowl remained untouched, almost as if he’d never started eating.

"Mr. Fu, do you enjoy fish?" Su Qingnuan asked carefully, attempting to ease the tension.

Fu Yihan raised a brow, "No."

"...What about beef?"

The braised beef with potatoes looked absolutely mouthwatering—surely he’d like that?

Fu Yihan sneered, "No."

"Then..."

Quickly scanning the dishes, Su Qingnuan tried again, "What about ribs?"

The red-braised ribs also appeared delectable!

This time, Fu Yihan didn’t reply; he simply watched her silently.

Summoning her courage, Su Qingnuan picked up a rib with her chopsticks and placed it into his bowl.

"These ribs are delicious—you should have some too, Mr. Fu."

Lowering his gaze to the ribs peacefully settled in his bowl, a trace of thought flickered in Fu Yihan’s expression.

Seeing him unmoved, Su Qingnuan grew anxious. "Mr. Fu, eat it! It’s not meant to be admired—why not try it?"