As soon as he saw her instantly shed her disguise, looking like an angry little cat with puffed-up frustration, a flash of surprise crossed Fu Chengyan’s eyes before it was quickly replaced by deeper amusement.
Heh. So this was her real nature after all? What “gentle and virtuous,” what “soft and delicate”—this was it.
Fu Chengyan let out a cold laugh in his heart before speaking indifferently, “What? Not pretending anymore?”
Upon hearing this, Su Nuohan frowned slightly.
“Pretending? Pretending what?”
Fu Chengyan raised a brow. “Aren’t you always acting timid and shy? Why do you suddenly dare to speak to me like this now?”
“I’ve got nothing to be afraid of. You’re just a Young Marshal. If I respect you, I call you Young Marshal. If I don’t, you’re nothing but trash. Hmph!”
After saying that, she turned again to leave.
But Fu Chengyan called her back once more.
She stopped again, turning back with obvious impatience. “What exactly do you want?”
Seeing her reaction, Fu Chengyan did not get angry. Instead, he said calmly, “Take the bowl with you.”
That almost made her laugh in anger. What did he take her for? A maid he could summon and dismiss at will?
“Get lost. Take it yourself. Didn’t your teachers ever teach you to do your own things? You’re a Young Marshal and you can’t even do that—you’re worse than a primary school student. Hmph!”
After saying that, she did not linger and walked straight out of the Study Room.
“……”
Fu Chengyan watched her departing figure, veins faintly appearing on his forehead.
After leaving the Study Room, Su Nuohan was about to return to her room.
At that moment, a maidservant hurried upstairs.
“Young Madam, the Young Lady has returned. Madam asked me to inform you and the Young Master.”
The Young Lady?
Su Nuohan paused in confusion, then recalled what she had heard earlier from Madam Fu.
Madam Fu had mentioned that she also had a daughter. That daughter had once been injured by a bomb blast, leaving her legs disabled and forcing her to use a wheelchair.
But wasn’t she supposed to be studying? Why had she suddenly returned at this time? Was it the weekend?
Still irritated and without an outlet for her anger, Su Nuohan suppressed her emotions after hearing the report.
With that in mind, she adjusted her expression and nodded slightly.
“I understand. I’ll go down now.”
“Alright, Young Madam. Should I inform the Young Master, or will you tell him yourself?” the maidservant asked respectfully.
She glanced at the tightly closed Study Room door, thinking that Fu Chengyan must have already heard. She simply went downstairs with the maidservant.
The atmosphere in the living room below had already changed.
Madam Fu was holding the hand of a young girl sitting in a wheelchair, her eyes slightly red as she spoke with both heartache and joy.
The girl looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. She wore a clean, simple student outfit. Her features were delicate and refined, and there was a faint resemblance to Fu Chengyan between her brows. However, her face was slightly pale, and a thin blanket covered her legs, resting quietly across them.
Her gaze was gentle and obedient, carrying a scholarly air, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be an almost imperceptible trace of melancholy and fatigue hidden deep within her eyes.
So this was Fu Qianqian.
The Fu Family’s genes were truly exceptional—both siblings were strikingly perfect.
Su Nuohan quickly switched back into a well-behaved and endearing expression and walked forward slowly, bowing slightly to Madam Fu.
“Mother.”
Madam Fu waved at her warmly.
“Nuohan, come. This is Qianqian.”
Then she introduced her to the girl.
“Qianqian, this is your sister-in-law, Su Nuohan.”
Fu Qianqian raised her eyes and looked at Su Nuohan. Her gaze was clear, carrying a hint of amazement.
“Wow, Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful!”
Su Nuohan smiled in response. “Hello, little sister.”
“Hello, Sister-in-law,” Fu Qianqian replied with a smile.
At that moment, Fu Chengyan hurried downstairs.
The three of them simultaneously turned to look at him.
Fu Qianqian’s eyes lit up instantly, and a genuine smile blossomed on her face.
“Brother!”
Fu Chengyan quickly walked up to the wheelchair. His deep gaze carefully examined his sister from head to toe, his voice filled with undisguised concern and a trace of self-reproach.
“Qianqian, why did you suddenly come back? Is everything alright?”
Seeing him, Fu Qianqian’s smile brightened even more, as though all her gloom had been temporarily swept away.
She nodded vigorously.
“Brother, I’m fine.”
After speaking, she even jokingly lifted her arms, trying hard to appear relaxed.
However, her overly pale face and the lingering exhaustion in her eyes could not escape anyone’s notice.
Madam Fu’s eyes were filled with heartache.
She knew her daughter had always been sensible, always bearing everything alone and never bringing her troubles home—she only ever reported good news.
Fu Chengyan felt the same. His sister, who should have been enjoying her youth and pursuing her dreams, had been confined by those legs.
As for Su Nuohan, she silently sighed in her heart.
Madam Fu gently stroked Fu Qianqian’s head, her eyes red.
“Were you bullied at school?”
Upon hearing this, Fu Qianqian’s eyes flickered slightly.
“No… I just… just felt a little tired and missed home.”
“And brother got married, I didn’t come back to meet sister-in-law, so I thought I’d come back.”
After hearing this, Madam Fu sighed.
“Alright then.”
Fu Qianqian then spoke cautiously.
“Mother, brother… I want to take a break for a while…”
Her voice grew softer and softer, as if afraid of being reprimanded.
But both Madam Fu and Fu Chengyan knew exactly what kind of person she was.
They both nodded.
“Coming back to rest is good. You’re alone at school, and Mother has been worrying about you every day,” Madam Fu said lovingly.
Upon hearing this, Fu Qianqian’s eyes immediately reddened.
“I’m sorry, Mother… I’ve made you worry.”
Madam Fu wiped away her tears and forced a smile.
“Silly girl, what nonsense are you saying?”
Fu Chengyan closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath.
“Stay home and rest. With you under our eyes, Mother and I will feel more at ease. You don’t need to worry about school for now. If necessary, Brother will find you a tutor.”
Fu Qianqian nodded heavily.
“Mm! Thank you, Brother!”
Standing quietly at the side, Su Nuohan took in everything.
Fu Qianqian’s forced smile and evasive answers, Fu Chengyan’s tightly drawn jawline, and Madam Fu’s distressed expression…
She was almost certain that Fu Qianqian must have been bullied at school or treated unfairly.
At that moment, she also felt a pang of sympathy for her, especially looking at those legs tightly wrapped under the blanket, deprived of vitality.
Unable to hold back, she spoke softly.
“Qianqian, can sister-in-law take a look at your legs?”
As soon as she said this, the three members of the Fu family simultaneously turned to look at her.
Realizing she might have touched a taboo, Su Nuohan quickly explained.
“I… I didn’t mean it… I just…”