A warmth enveloped her wrist as Yun Meifeng leaned over amicably, smiling faintly at her.
"The moment I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity. Surely, this is fate," she said.
Su Qingnuan discreetly withdrew her hand, offering only a perfunctory smile in response.
"I suppose so," she replied.
"Such a pity…" Yun Meifeng sighed, seemingly unintentionally. "The Fu family didn't even bother to prepare a wedding for you this time. It must have been hard for you to agree to marry into this household…"
Her seemingly casual lament hit straight at the nerve, leaving no room to retaliate.
In an old-fashioned family like the ones in S City, marriage wasn't just about matchmaking and ceremonial rituals. The traditions included tea ceremonies, six ceremonial gifts, and ancestral worship, all of which signified a true rite of passage into a new home.
Someone like Su Qingnuan, who was practically drugged and delivered here directly, was akin to someone in ancient times who engaged in illicit unions without proper arrangements.
The servants nearby fully understood the implications of Yun Meifeng's jab. Their expressions turned slightly awkward as they quietly glanced at the new bride.
Su Qingnuan, however, simply pursed her lips into a faint smile and strode briskly back to the man behind her, placing a hand on Fu Yihan's shoulder.
She spoke nonchalantly, "Aunt, you're joking. I wanted to come early to familiarize myself with Yihan. Wasn't it Grandpa Fu who had already sent the bride price to my family long ago?"
Feeling the man's back stiffen beneath her touch, Su Qingnuan subtly patted him to signal that he shouldn't expose her act.
Then, she blinked innocently and countered, "Besides… Isn't love what matters? Rites and ceremonies only exist for the sake of appearances. When you divorced, Aunt, you didn't bother with ceremonies either, did you?"
The lingering note of her remark reverberated in everyone's ears.
Fu Yihan's sharp brows flickered with a hint of surprise—he hadn't expected Su Qingnuan to be capable of this level of insinuation.
If one ignored her tightly clenched fingers, anyone would have easily believed they were a picture-perfect, loving couple.
He shielded his mouth with his fist, letting out a light cough.
Su Qingnuan released a small breath and smiled at him with a trace of nervousness.
Her studying of the Fu family's tangled relationships hadn't been in vain; only with that preparation did she manage to deliver such a cutting blow.
Their teamwork was seamless, but in the eyes of those who saw through it, it was far from an ideal harmony.
Fu Yixing's cold laugh cut through the atmosphere, his sinister gaze sweeping across the two of them. If it weren't for being in front of the old man's study, he might have slapped Su Qingnuan on the spot.
…
Dining table.
Since Fu Yihan's leg injury, he rarely visited the Fu residence. His once-primary seat had been reassigned to the far end of the table.
Su Qingnuan followed him and sat down beside him. Just as she managed to muster a smile meant to ingratiate herself, the man interrupted her blandly, "I'm not used to eating with others."
Her fingers stiffened slightly; instinctively, her body shifted farther away.
In her mind, she quietly wondered: Had she offended him somehow?
Fu Lao Yezi's stern gaze swept across the room, momentarily resting on Su Qingnuan's face. His brows faintly creased as he remarked, "Are you feeling unwell? Why does your complexion look so poor?"
Su Qingnuan's hand tensed and loosened on her lap repeatedly before she shook her head. "Apologies, I might have caught a chill yesterday and am not feeling well today."
"Young people should take care of their health," Fu Lao Yezi admonished, his once-relaxed brows furrowing tightly again.
"Bringing you into the family was so you could properly take care of Yihan. And yet…"
His sentence trailed off, but the implicit dissatisfaction was unmistakable.
Suddenly, someone let out a soft, deliberate scoff.
"I find this curious…"
Sitting with a graciously elegant posture, Fu Yixing leaned against his chair back. His sharp gaze cut across her face like a blade, settling on Su Qingnuan's pale lips.
"Is this the same sister-in-law Grandpa so meticulously selected? Earlier, I'd heard stories about how versatile Sister-in-law is—skilled in fencing, adept at dancing. And yet now that she's entered the Fu household, she looks like she's been living off rationed meals for years."
"Also…" He sneered faintly. "Could it be the information supplied by the Su family was inaccurate?"
He didn't even bother hiding his disdain and mockery. He was clearly waiting for Fu Yihan to defend his little wife—but Fu Yihan remained indifferent, showing no intention of coming to Su Qingnuan's aid.
"What's going on here?" Fu Lao Yezi's probing gaze landed squarely on Su Qingnuan. He didn't recall the Su family's daughter having any physical ailments.
Did the Su family deceive him?
His penetrating gaze practically pinned Su Qingnuan in place. She knew she couldn't let things continue like this. Though marrying into the Fu family hadn't been her choice, if things escalated further, her situation could turn even grimmer.
Su Qingnuan shivered and sought help from the unresponsive Fu Yihan, lightly tugging at his sleeve with her alabaster hand.
"I can take care of you—truly…" she said hurriedly, a blush creeping across her pale cheeks like crimson blossoms blooming amidst a snowy landscape—beautiful and striking.
Fu Yihan's gaze lingered on the two faint blushes. Something shifted faintly in his chest.
"Oh? Is that so?" he asked.
Su Qingnuan nodded anxiously. Afraid he wouldn't believe her, she rushed to offer multiple examples.
Though she lacked experience in caring for others, she'd had plenty of encounters being cared for. Recalling the actions of various caregivers from her past, she listed these one by one.
"Wherever you want to go, I can push you there. I can assist you with washing up, serve you meals, and if necessary…" She hesitated, her cheeks burning red like ripened apples.
But to safely navigate through this ordeal, she gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and blurted, "…I can even help you bathe."
Her voice was almost inaudible, but Fu Yihan still caught every word. Startled, he glanced at her.
Noticing his gaze, Su Qingnuan became increasingly embarrassed and flustered. She wished she could disappear into thin air as she stammered, "What—what are you looking at?"
"To stay by my side, you're certainly willing to go to extremes." His tone carried an ambiguous mix—part mocking, part contemplative.
After speaking, he shifted his gaze away without saying anything further.
Su Qingnuan cautiously sneaked a look at him, unsure whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied. Had she managed to weather this storm?
Meanwhile, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Fu Yixing's lips, though his eyes gleamed with an icy intent.
Fortunately, Fu Lao Yezi finally offered her a lifeline.
"It's enough as long as you have the heart for it. Let's eat." He was pleased with her attitude, as long as she prioritized his grandson above all else. The finer details could be verified in due time.
"Let's eat."