Substitute Bride to the Crippled Billionaire

Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Collaboration

"Take another look?" Su Qingnuan put down her chopsticks and asked quizzically, "Does that mean it’s still not confirmed yet?"

Gong Qi nodded. "Yeah, we need to wait a few more days for another checkup."

Su Qingnuan nodded knowingly and thoughtfully turned to Fu Yihan. "Then, Mr. Fu, why not take me with you next time you go for a checkup?"

Fu Yihan paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

"Look at this, such a newlywed couple!" Gong Qi teased. "So lovey-dovey, even a checkup has to be done together."

"..."

Su Qingnuan’s cheeks flushed slightly as she unconsciously glanced at Fu Yihan. noveldrama

He showed no expression, quietly eating his meal.

Seeing this, Su Qingnuan didn’t dare say anything further and focused on her meal.

She ate seriously, but others clearly weren’t taking it as seriously.

"Yihan, why don’t you stay in the hospital for the next few days? It would make observation easier." Qin Chuan suddenly suggested.

"No."

The response was as curt as ever, leaving Qin Chuan exasperated. "Why are you still so stubborn? Wouldn’t having people look after you at all times in the hospital be better?"

Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow, his tone cold. "It’s not better."

"..."

Rendered speechless, Qin Chuan turned to Gong Qi for help.

Gong Qi, however, merely smirked mischievously and said nothing.

"You’re laughing?" Qin Chuan frowned. "Come on, think of something!"

Gong Qi shrugged, helpless. "What can I possibly do? Are you just now realizing how bad his temper is?"

Qin Chuan furrowed his brows, his gaze drifting to Fu Yihan, who remained composed and unbothered. Almost instinctively, his eyes landed on Su Qingnuan.

Su Qingnuan, still earnestly eating, suddenly felt a pair of intense eyes on her, prompting her to look up.

Meeting Qin Chuan’s gaze, she froze briefly.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked, puzzled.

Fu Yihan tilted his head and glanced nonchalantly at Qin Chuan. "Nothing, just keep eating."

Qin Chuan: "..."

"Fu Yihan!" Qin Chuan called out in frustration.

Fu Yihan remained unmoved, placing another dish on Su Qingnuan’s plate. "Eat."

Su Qingnuan: "..."

Under Qin Chuan’s smoldering gaze, how could Su Qingnuan focus on eating?

Putting down her chopsticks, Su Qingnuan sighed lightly. "I feel like... treating an illness isn’t something that can be rushed, right?"

"Exactly." Gong Qi chimed in. "You can’t rush it. Besides, if there’s noticeable improvement, it shows Yihan’s current environment is good. Why force him to go to the hospital?"

Qin Chuan frowned, glaring at him.

"Why are you looking at me? I’m just stating facts, aren’t I, sister-in-law?"

"..." Su Qingnuan nodded awkwardly. "Yeah... that’s true."

Qin Chuan’s expression darkened even further, glaring at Gong Qi as though he were a ferocious beast.

Gong Qi sighed faintly. "Staring at me won’t help. If I could fix this, would I be sitting here wasting time?"

Qin Chuan withdrew his gaze and let out a helpless sigh.

Initially, Su Qingnuan hadn’t given this matter much thought, but as Qin Chuan’s eyes lingered, she began to feel guilty.

Glancing at the calm figure beside her, Su Qingnuan softly asked, "Honestly, Yihan, I think you could at least consider it. Qin Chuan’s doing it for your own good."

His chopsticks froze midair. Fu Yihan raised his eyes and quietly looked at Su Qingnuan.

Noticing things turning south, Su Qingnuan furrowed her brow slightly. "But we should also respect Yihan’s wishes. If he doesn’t like the idea, we shouldn’t push it."

"Exactly." Gong Qi grinned in agreement. "I don’t think Yihan is particularly fond of going. Let’s just let it go."

Qin Chuan: "..."

Su Qingnuan fell silent again, quickly lowering her head to resume eating.

"Yihan?" Qin Chuan pressed on, unwilling to give up. "You’re really not going?"

Fu Yihan looked at the woman burying herself in her food, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Not going."

"..."

This time, Qin Chuan finally gave up, dropping the topic entirely.

After the four of them finished eating, Su Qingnuan and Fu Yihan were the first to leave.

Staring daggers at the now-empty doorway, Qin Chuan gritted his teeth. "What a stubborn mule!"

"You’ve known him forever. Don’t you know by now that once he’s made up his mind, nothing can change it?" Gong Qi remarked lazily. "We could be worried sick, but it won’t help. This problem will only be solved when he cares enough to solve it himself."

Qin Chuan snorted coldly. "Waiting for him to have an epiphany? Might as well wait for pigs to fly."

"Well..." Gong Qi smirked knowingly. "It may have been impossible before, but now..."

"What is it?" Qin Chuan pressed eagerly.

Gong Qi chuckled. "Now, there might actually be someone who can persuade him."

"Who?"

"Over there!" Gong Qi motioned toward the empty doorway with his lips. "Weren’t we just talking about her?"

"Su Yuerou?" Qin Chuan was stunned. "She can do it?"

Gong Qi raised an eyebrow. "How will you know if you don’t try?"

"..."

Qin Chuan fell silent, staring skeptically at Gong Qi.

But Gong Qi wasn’t in any rush, sitting there leisurely as he waited.

After what seemed like an eternity, Qin Chuan finally spoke.

"Then let’s try?"

Gong Qi smiled and stood up. "Alright, let’s give it a shot."

...

After leaving the hotel, Su Qingnuan and Fu Yihan naturally headed home.

On the way back, Su Qingnuan kept observing Fu Yihan. Seeing his expressionless face, she couldn’t help but quietly ask, "Mr. Fu, why don’t you want to go to the hospital for observation?"

Fu Yihan raised his eyes, looking at her with a meaningful gaze. "Do you think I should stay in the hospital?"

"No." Su Qingnuan chuckled awkwardly. "I just think that being under professional care might yield better results?"

"It wouldn’t." Fu Yihan looked away, his tone detached. "I stayed there before; it didn’t help."

"...It didn’t help?" Su Qingnuan asked, confused. "But didn’t they say there was progress?"

Fu Yihan’s lips curled slightly. "It had nothing to do with the hospital."

"Huh?" Su Qingnuan looked even more puzzled. "Nothing to do with the hospital? Then...?"

Suddenly recalling her knee brace, Su Qingnuan’s confused expression turned to one of delight.

"Could it be... my knee brace worked?"

Fu Yihan raised an eyebrow, giving her a look filled with intrigue. "What do you think?"

Under his cryptic gaze, Su Qingnuan couldn’t figure him out, but she felt her guess was probably right.

"Mr. Fu, let me take another look when we get back!" Su Qingnuan said excitedly.

Fu Yihan nodded. "Alright."

Receiving his approval, Su Qingnuan grew even more elated.

Excitement almost made her want to jump for joy.

Luckily, the car stopped soon after. Unable to contain her eagerness, Su Qingnuan quickly got out and waited to help Fu Yihan inside.

Noticing her excitement, Fu Yihan said nothing.

Once out of the car, Su Qingnuan pushed Fu Yihan straight back to their room.

Stopping in the small sitting area inside, Su Qingnuan knelt down.

"Let me check your leg first."

With that, she reached out and rolled up his pant leg.

The mottled scars came into view, but Su Qingnuan paid them no mind. Her eyes were fixed on the knee brace.