Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire-Chapter 188 Su Qingnuan’s Life
Helping Fu Yihan into a seat, Su Yuerou picked up the menu and smiled, asking, "Mr. Fu, what would you like to eat?"
Fu Yihan pushed the menu aside, his expression still indifferent.
"You choose."
"Me?" Su Yuerou paused in surprise.
"You’re more familiar with this place. Pick something you think is good."
"Alright."
This restaurant was one Su Yuerou used to frequent during her sophomore year in university. Back then, she had more time, so she came here often. But starting her junior year, her visits had become scarce.
One reason was the distance, which made her too lazy to come, and another was that she wasn’t particularly a foodie. Without the craving, the thought rarely crossed her mind.
She selected a few items she thought were decent and smiled as she recommended them, "Their clams are good, very cleanly prepared, and also..."
Fu Yihan nodded, quietly watching her.
She didn’t realize that as she talked about these dishes, her eyes lit up, and she became more animated, shedding the pale and weary look she typically carried.
In this vibrant state, Su Yuerou captivated Fu Yihan, making him unable to look away.
"If Mr. Fu likes this, we can try it next time as well..."
She rambled on, and yet Fu Yihan didn’t find her bothersome, listening serenely.
Until Su Yuerou realized she might be talking too much and abruptly stopped herself.
"Am I being too chatty?" Su Yuerou covered her mouth and asked softly.
Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow, "It’s fine."
It’s fine?
But the tables around them had already turned their heads to look, perhaps finding her too noisy?
Regardless of what Fu Yihan said, Su Yuerou dared not speak anymore, blushing as silence took over.
Her shy demeanor fell into Fu Yihan’s gaze, causing his expression to subtly shift as he stared at her peculiarly.
Not until the dishes they had ordered were served did Fu Yihan pull his gaze away.
Su Yuerou deftly grabbed her chopsticks and adjusted the dishes in front of Fu Yihan—her familiarity with the place evident.
Fu Yihan lowered his head, eyes fixed on the clams in front of him, but didn’t move to pick them up.
"Mr. Fu?" Su Yuerou asked curiously. "You don’t like clams? Or can’t eat spicy food?"
Fu Yihan looked up slightly and replied leisurely, "At home, clams are served with the meat directly."
"..."
Predictably, the sheltered Eldest Young Master.
Su Yuerou understood instantly and picked up her chopsticks. She extracted the clam meat from the shells, placing it into Fu Yihan’s bowl before discarding the empty shells.
She only prepared a few pieces before stopping, watching Fu Yihan pick up his chopsticks and start eating.
Even while eating street food, Fu Yihan maintained his refined manners, chewing slowly and deliberately.
"How is it?" Su Yuerou looked at him expectantly.
Fu Yihan blinked, a strange emotion flickering across his face.
"Very... very odd."
"Odd?" Su Yuerou paused, taking a piece for herself and tasting it.
Slightly spicy but fresh and flavorful—nothing unusual.
"Mr. Fu, perhaps you’re not used to this flavor. Let’s try something else. Let me check..."
"No." Su Yuerou’s hand holding the chopsticks was stopped. Fu Yihan pointed at the clams, frowning slightly. "I want to eat this."
"...Are you certain?"
"Yes."
Seeing the serious look on Fu Yihan’s face, Su Yuerou chuckled, "Alright."
Lowering her head, she focused on preparing clam meat for Fu Yihan while he patiently waited to eat.
Between the two of them, they quickly finished the large plate of clams.
Afterward, the owner brought over more snacks, and Fu Yihan ate quite a bit.
Having had his fill, Fu Yihan leaned lazily against his chair.
"Do you often come to places like this?" Fu Yihan suddenly asked.
Su Yuerou nodded, "I used to come here during my freshman and sophomore years with Xiaoxiao quite often."
Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow, "I thought people like us rarely showed up in places like this."
"People like us?" Su Yuerou froze, her eyes staring blankly at the table.
"Yes." Fu Yihan nodded, his distracted gaze drifting towards the doorway. "Living a life of privilege inevitably draws countless eyes, making our presence in places like this unacceptable to our families."
"I suppose..." Su Yuerou smiled wryly, "My parents don’t really care about me. Honestly, I don’t know how people like us are supposed to live."
From what she remembered, her mother was strict with Su Yuerou’s elder sister, demanding the best in food and lifestyle. For Su Yuerou, merely surviving seemed to be considered adequate parenting.
"I heard you stayed in the dorms during college?" Fu Yihan asked.
"Yes." Su Yuerou held her chopsticks, poking at the clam shells scattered across the table, each jab harder than the last. "I only moved back home during the first semester of my junior year."
Life on campus had always been more liberating than life at home.
Of course, this wasn’t something Su Yuerou could confess to Fu Yihan.
What Su Yuerou was unaware of, however, was how the faint sadness on her face had betrayed her emotions.
Fu Yihan frowned slightly and averted his gaze.
"Let’s go. Walk straight ahead for a while, and then we’ll head back."
"Alright."
Su Yuerou stood up and supported Fu Yihan as they walked forward.
It was the peak hour at the night market, thrumming with bustling university students.
Blending into the crowd, they didn’t feel out of place at all.
Su Yuerou found nothing odd about this lively chaos.
But Fu Yihan’s expression grew increasingly grim. With his arm brushed yet again by a passerby, he suddenly stopped.
"Mr. Fu?" Su Yuerou noticed him standing still and reminded him.
Fu Yihan’s face darkened as he turned to Ah Qi, "Bring the car over. We’re not walking any farther."
"Okay."
The two of them waited by the roadside for Ah Qi to bring the car around.
Even so, it didn’t prevent the occasional passerby from bumping into Fu Yihan.
The chaotic smells in the air grew increasingly unbearable, deepening the lines of frustration etched on Fu Yihan’s brow.
A crowd surged toward them, and Fu Yihan tightened his grip on his cane.
If they came any closer, he wouldn’t hesitate to swing the cane to keep them away.
His iron-clad demeanor alarmed Su Yuerou.
Following his line of sight, Su Yuerou suddenly understood his anger.
As the crowd drew near, Su Yuerou abruptly stepped back and positioned herself behind Fu Yihan, wrapping her arms around him.
Fu Yihan stiffened in surprise and turned slightly to look.
Su Yuerou’s lips curled into a smile as she whispered, "Mr. Fu, does this take some of the strain off your leg?"
She tightened her hold around his waist, easing some of the pressure on his leg.
Her action also shielded Fu Yihan from the crowd, preventing anyone from brushing against his arms or back.
When they had exited the car earlier, Fu Yihan hadn’t worn a jacket, leaving him in just a light dress shirt.
Her warmth, soft and comforting, permeated his shirt and reached his back.
Gentle... and warm...
Fu Yihan suddenly lowered his head, his thick lashes shielding the tumultuous emotions in his eyes.
"Mr. Fu?"
"Mm."
Hearing his acknowledgment, Su Yuerou’s smile deepened as she adeptly kept the crowd at bay.
By the time Ah Qi arrived with the car, the tidal wave of people had receded.
"Mr. Fu, get in the car," Su Yuerou said softly, supporting Fu Yihan.
