Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire
Chapter 150: The Most Beloved

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: The Most Beloved

"...Actually, it’s not that exaggerated." Gu Xiaoxiao sniffled and sighed, "I just can’t accept it for the time being."

"I can’t accept it either." Putting away the paper, Su Qingnuan straightened up, "Alright, you go handle your work first. We’ll head upstairs after lunch."

"Okay."

The two split up and got busy with their tasks.

When lunchtime came, after hurriedly finishing their meal, Su Qingnuan took Gu Xiaoxiao to the office.

Before they came, Su Qingnuan had checked and confirmed that Manager Huang was still in the office.

Looking at the closed door of the office, Su Qingnuan turned to Gu Xiaoxiao.

"You wait outside for me."

Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head, "No way, if we’re going in, we go in together."

"What do you think I’m going to do?" Su Qingnuan chuckled, "I’m not there to argue. If things can’t be settled, at worst we just pay the penalty. I’ll cover your part for you."

"No way!" Gu Xiaoxiao shook her head firmly, "This is an issue concerning both of us. I can’t let you shoulder it alone."

Seeing her determined expression, Su Qingnuan smiled bitterly, "I’m not going to fight, don’t you get it? If I go in alone, there’s room for negotiation. If you follow me in, Manager Huang might think we’re jointly trying to pressure her. Understand?"

"...Is that so?" Gu Xiaoxiao stared at Su Qingnuan blankly.

"Yes." Su Qingnuan held her hand cautiously, "That’s why you’ll stay here and wait for me to come out."

After a moment of silence, Gu Xiaoxiao finally let go.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you."

"Okay."

Taking a deep breath, Su Qingnuan grabbed the penalty notice and knocked on the door.

There was a brief silence inside the room before a voice eventually came through.

"Come in."

Su Qingnuan quietly opened the door and walked in.

Upon seeing the situation inside the office, Su Qingnuan froze.

Fu Yihan was sitting leisurely on the sofa, drinking tea, while Manager Huang was seated beside him, wearing a fawning smile.

"Su Qingnuan?" Manager Huang glanced at the person beside her, unconsciously softening her tone, "Why aren’t you having lunch? What brings you here?"

Clutching the penalty notice tightly in her hand, Su Qingnuan hesitated before speaking, "Manager Huang, I have some questions regarding the decision you made this morning."

"Oh, that..." Manager Huang blinked and chuckled, "It’s been invalidated."

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan widened her eyes in shock, dumbfounded.

Manager Huang laughed lightly, "It’s invalidated, don’t worry about it. As for the notice, just toss it if you want."

"...It’s canceled?" Su Qingnuan asked in disbelief.

"Yes, canceled." Manager Huang looked at Fu Yihan with a faint smile, "It’s Fu’s decision. Young people like you tend to face challenges; there’s no need to make things so hard on you."

Fu Yihan?

Su Qingnuan’s gaze fell on Fu Yihan, who was drinking tea at a leisurely pace as if she didn’t exist.

"Mr. Fu." Su Qingnuan quickly turned and bowed to him, "Thank you, sir."

"Hmm."

Fu Yihan calmly set down his teacup, his casual gaze finally landing on her, "Have you had lunch yet?"

Su Qingnuan nodded hastily.

His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at her disapprovingly, "I haven’t eaten yet."

"...."

"Mr. Fu! I’ve already ordered food; it’ll be delivered shortly." Manager Huang quickly stood up, smiling, "You two chat, I won’t interrupt."

Saying that, she had already moved to the door and was nearly out.

"Wait!"

Manager Huang turned back with a smiling face, "Mr. Fu, is there anything else you need?"

"Take that little one outside down with you," Fu Yihan replied.

Su Qingnuan blinked in surprise and turned her head.

Through the crack in the door, she could see Gu Xiaoxiao peeking inside curiously.

"Got it!"

As the door closed, Gu Xiaoxiao disappeared from sight.

"What are you still looking at?" A chilling tone broke the silence, and Fu Yihan glared at her, "Come here."

"...Okay."

Su Qingnuan walked over and sat down uneasily.

Her entire body was tense, sitting rigidly upright.

"Hmph!" A scoffing sound came from his nose as Fu Yihan withdrew his gaze, "Were you really planning to pay the fine?"

"No..." Su Qingnuan gripped the penalty notice tightly, "I just thought the fine seemed excessive and wanted to discuss reducing it with Manager Huang."

"Excessive fine?" Fu Yihan sneered, "Ever considered that you shouldn’t have been fined at all?"

Su Qingnuan shook her head, "I understand where Manager Huang’s coming from. While this wasn’t entirely our fault, the company did lose a major deal. If we don’t get penalized, others within the company might follow suit in the future. That’d make managing things difficult."

After silently watching her for a long moment, Fu Yihan smirked mockingly, "You’ve got a knack for giving them excuses."

Su Qingnuan smiled bitterly, "It’s not about making excuses. It’s just that when you remove personal feelings, this approach seems most reasonable and fair."

"So, you’re saying you blame me for meddling?" Fu Yihan teased, raising an eyebrow.

"No!" Su Qingnuan exclaimed in panic, "Mr. Fu, I didn’t mean that!"

Her sudden flustered demeanor amused Fu Yihan immensely.

"Alright, so you didn’t mean that."

"...Huh?" Su Qingnuan stared blankly at him, feeling utterly confused. Was he deliberately baiting her with his earlier comments?

Seeing her dazed expression, Fu Yihan tapped the sofa and said, "Go pour me some water."

"Huh? Oh... Okay."

Su Qingnuan got up.

Manager Huang’s office had its own water dispenser. Keeping her head down, Su Qingnuan poured a cup of warm water.

When she handed the cup back, Fu Yihan took it and sipped casually, his gaze flickering.

Su Qingnuan fidgeted with the hem of her shirt nervously, looking as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

The atmosphere turned awkward. Su Qingnuan opened her mouth but couldn’t manage to utter anything.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Su Qingnuan quickly went over to answer it.

"Hello, your food delivery."

Su Qingnuan hadn’t ordered food, but looking back at the figure sitting calmly inside, she accepted the delivery and walked back.

"Mr. Fu, your food has arrived."

Fu Yihan’s indifferent gaze swept across the bag in her hand, and his brows furrowed.

Noticing his reaction, Su Qingnuan swiftly tore the bag open and began unpacking the food inside.

Although it was wrapped in a delivery bag, the exquisite packaging indicated this was no ordinary food order.

Most likely, Manager Huang had called some fancy restaurant to have it delivered specifically.

"I don’t eat carrots," Fu Yihan abruptly said.

Su Qingnuan paused and stared at the dish of braised carrots and meat, momentarily not knowing what to do.

"Then... should we skip this dish?" Su Qingnuan asked tentatively.

Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a meaningful expression.

Su Qingnuan froze, her eyes darting between him and the dish. After a long moment, she said, "I’ll pick the carrots out."

"Mm."

Leaning back into the sofa comfortably, he closed his eyes and waited patiently.

"...."

He eats everything at home, doesn’t he? Why is he suddenly picky now?