Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire-Chapter 42: Provocation

A-Qi remained silent.

Seeing the elder’s expression grow darker by the second, Jiang Xiaoyuan smiled and spoke up: "Grandfather! I know how Yihan is—this is just how he is. I’m used to it, it’s no big deal."

"Grandfather." Su Qingnuan also sat down and said softly, "Yihan really is busy with work. You know that he wasn’t feeling well yesterday and didn’t go to the office..."

Under the persuasion of the two, the Old Master’s ashen face gradually softened.

"Daughters are still the best!" The Old Master sighed. "But alas, our Fu family has had generations of sons, yet not a single daughter."

"Grandfather!" Jiang Xiaoyuan pouted and looked at him in mock reproach. "So what you’re saying is, all these years of me calling you ’Grandfather’ have been for nothing?"

"Oh dear!" The Old Master’s smile returned. "Of course I’ve always treated you like my own granddaughter. But if your actual grandfather heard that, he might throw a childish tantrum at me."

"That’s no problem. Let him fuss if he wants. After all, having another grandfather to dote on me isn’t a bad thing at all."

With that, Jiang Xiaoyuan playfully winked, looking quite cheeky.

"Good, good!" The Old Master nodded with a laugh. "This granddaughter is wonderful. Grandfather likes it!"

The two chatted merrily. It was obvious the Old Master genuinely liked this girl named Jiang Xiaoyuan.

As a perfect supporting character, Su Qingnuan played her role impeccably.

Though seated on the sofa, she was essentially an invisible presence.

She had no intention of interjecting, nor even the slightest desire to speak.

If not for their occasional acknowledgment of someone else being in the room, Su Qingnuan could have sat quietly until their conversation ended.

"It’s time for the afternoon rest." The Old Master suddenly rose to his feet. "Xiaoyuan, why don’t you and Yue Rou chat for a bit? I’ll go take a nap."

"Alright." Jiang Xiaoyuan stood up as well, holding onto the Old Master’s arm. "Grandfather, let me help you over."

"Alright."

Su Qingnuan naturally stood and followed behind the two.

After escorting the Old Master to his room, only the two of them were left facing each other.

"Uh..." Su Qingnuan chuckled awkwardly. "Do you want to rest for a while too?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan glanced at her, the smile vanishing from her lips as she looked toward A-Qi.

"Where is Fu Yihan?"

"..."

Seeing A-Qi remain silent, Jiang Xiaoyuan raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Do you think that if you don’t talk, I won’t be able to find him?"

With that, she turned and headed toward the stairs.

"Miss Jiang!" A-Qi stepped in front of her, frowning slightly. "This is the Fu family."

"So what?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan’s demeanor was assertive and arrogant.

"..."

Unable to respond, A-Qi cast a pleading look at Su Qingnuan.

The latter froze for a moment, returning a confused gaze.

Noticing A-Qi’s glance, Jiang Xiaoyuan turned to look at Su Qingnuan as well.

"Are you the one stopping me from seeing him?" Jiang Xiaoyuan asked.

"Huh? I didn’t..."

Before she could finish, A-Qi interrupted her.

"Yes, the Eldest Young Madam said so. The Eldest Young Master isn’t feeling well and can’t see anyone."

"..." When had she ever said that?

Seeing the sincerity in A-Qi’s eyes, Su Qingnuan forced herself not to contradict him.

"So you’re stopping me?" The disdain in Jiang Xiaoyuan’s eyes was like a sharp blade, nearly piercing Su Qingnuan’s chest.

She clenched her teeth and nodded, "Yes, I’m stopping you."

"Haha!" Jiang Xiaoyuan let out a derisive laugh, giving her a contemptuous look. "Since when does the newly arrived Eldest Young Madam have such authority? Saying I can’t see him means I can’t see him?"

"Well..." Su Qingnuan looked toward A-Qi in distress.

"The Eldest Young Master said that the Eldest Young Madam’s word is his word. Everything is to follow her instructions!"

"Exactly!" Su Qingnuan echoed. "Everything follows my instructions."

"I don’t believe it!" Jiang Xiaoyuan frowned, pushing past A-Qi. "I’m going to see him right now. If I don’t, I might just flip your entire Fu family upside down!"

Such bold words!

"Miss Jiang." A-Qi’s expression darkened, his tone displeased. "This is the Fu family, not the Jiang family."

"So what?" Jiang Xiaoyuan sneered. "If I, Jiang Xiaoyuan, want to see someone, no one tells me I can’t."

With that, Jiang Xiaoyuan headed upstairs.

A-Qi did his utmost to block her path. But after all, she was the young lady of the Jiang family. He couldn’t touch her directly, nor could he risk letting anything happen to her. So for each step she took forward, he had no choice but to retreat a step. In this way, the two of them continued ascending the stairs.

Frowning slightly, A-Qi looked to Su Qingnuan for help.

Su Qingnuan was momentarily stunned before jogging to catch up.

"Miss Jiang." Su Qingnuan grabbed Jiang Xiaoyuan’s arm and smiled. "Our family has recently purchased some new tea. I heard the Jiang family is renowned in the art of tea. Why don’t you take a look for us?"

She gripped Jiang Xiaoyuan’s arm firmly, forcing the latter to turn back and look at her.

"Let go," Jiang Xiaoyuan said impatiently.

"Miss Jiang, let’s talk this through." Su Qingnuan released her grip with a pleasant smile and tried to reason with her. "Yihan is busy. Let’s not disturb him."

"Busy?" Jiang Xiaoyuan sneered. "He doesn’t usually seem busy. But the moment I show up, he’s suddenly swamped?"

"Miss Jiang," A-Qi said with visible displeasure. "You should know the Eldest Young Master’s attitude toward you. Please conduct yourself with dignity."

"Dignity?" Jiang Xiaoyuan smirked mockingly. "Sorry, I really don’t know how to spell that word. You just swindled ten shops out of me, and now you’re turning your back on me? Is that it?"

"Miss Jiang, the Eldest Young Master isn’t..."

"Then what do you want?"

The cold voice interrupted their conversation.

Looking up, they saw Fu Yihan seated at the top of the stairs, gazing down at them from above.

"Eldest Young Master!" A-Qi hurriedly ran up and stood by Fu Yihan’s side.

As for Jiang Xiaoyuan, upon seeing Fu Yihan, she suddenly lost her words.

Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow, his gaze still cold. "Weren’t you determined to see me? Now that you’ve seen me, what do you want to say?"

"..." Jiang Xiaoyuan’s brow furrowed slightly. "You have nothing to say to me?"

"No."

The heartless answer came without a shred of hesitation.

Jiang Xiaoyuan’s eyes flared with anger as she pointed at Su Qingnuan. "This is the person your family chose? I went to so much effort to get close to you, never once disdaining you, all because I wanted to marry you! And now your Fu family chooses someone like her?"

Feeling unjustly dragged into the fray, Su Qingnuan frowned at the finger nearly poking her.

"What makes me, Jiang Xiaoyuan, unworthy? What does your Fu family have against our Jiang family? Why not choose me?" Jiang Xiaoyuan’s tone grew increasingly suppressed.

"No reason." Fu Yihan looked at her calmly and said matter-of-factly, "This was the Old Master’s decision. You can take it up with him."

"..."

A moment of silence. Jiang Xiaoyuan grit her teeth and glared at him, her eyes reddened and burning with madness.

In contrast, Fu Yihan remained composed, his gaze like a calm sea after a storm, devoid of any emotion as he watched her quietly.

After a long pause, Jiang Xiaoyuan suddenly laughed.

"Are you sure you want to do this to me?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied.

His tone allowed no room for argument, his answer unwavering.

"Haha! Very well!" Jiang Xiaoyuan pointed at Fu Yihan, her eyes blazing with fury. "Fu Yihan, you will regret this!"ƒгeewёbnovel.com