Using Me as a Substitute? Did You Know Your Best Friend Calls Me Wife?

Adrian Preston had a cool, proud aura. Paired with the inherent charm of the neo-Chinese style, he looked like the snow on a frigid mountain peak—timeless and unthawed.

With its subtle bamboo leaf pattern and metal frog buttons, the outfit made him look just like a dandy from the Republican era.

"Who picked this out for you?"

"I asked Theo Thorne for advice. He said that if we wore matching outfits, Grandpa would naturally believe we’re on good terms."

"That makes sense. I’ll go change then."

The subtle bamboo leaf pattern on her white blouse had a fine shimmer, and tassels dangled from the cuffs, perfectly complementing the Gold Inlaid Jade Peace Button around her neck.

Her hair was casually swept up and secured with a simple white jade hairpin.

The moment she came out, Adrian’s gaze was fixed on her, completely unable to look away.

She was beautiful, with a great figure; she could pull off any style of clothing.

Wearing it, she looked as if she had just stepped out of a painting.

"Do I look good?"

"You do."

He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

"What are you doing?"

She was a little nervous.

"We need to start getting used to this now. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll blow our cover at the nursing home."

With that, Adrian led her out the door with his arm still around her.

Shannon Preston had also meticulously dressed up. She wore a cute princess dress and her hair in pigtails, making her look like a teenager.

She had been eager to ask Adrian if she looked pretty, but then she saw the two of them emerge with his arm around Mia.

"Brother!"

She immediately ran over and latched onto his other arm.

"Do I look pretty today?"

"You do."

Adrian only spared her a glance before nodding.

It was clearly a half-hearted compliment.

Shannon was fuming. She pressed, "So who’s prettier, me or my sister-in-law?"

"It’s different. You’re both pretty."

"Even if we’re both pretty, one of us has to be the prettiest! So who is it, me or my sister-in-law?"

Mia Kane’s interest was piqued. ’This is a loaded question,’ she thought.

"Yes, I’d also like to know who’s prettier, me or Shannon."

Only then did Adrian take a serious look at Shannon. "Your sister-in-law is prettier."

"You’re not a little kid anymore. This style doesn’t suit you."

Mia nearly burst out laughing when she heard that. ’Isn’t that just a direct way of saying Shannon is trying too hard to look young?’

Shannon’s face went pale. She shoved Adrian hard, which made Mia, who was beside him, stumble and nearly fall down the steps.

Adrian quickly shielded her, but he ended up crashing into the guardrail himself.

She heard a muffled thud. That impact hadn’t been light.

"Are you okay?"

But he paid no mind to himself, instead looking anxiously at Mia.

"I’m fine. Are you okay?"

"Good." Then, Adrian’s gaze hardened as he looked at Shannon. "You’re too willful. You’re always pushing people. You’re not coming to see Grandpa today. Stay home and think about what you’ve done."

"Fine, I won’t go! I don’t care!"

’At her core, Shannon was still a spoiled, overbearing young lady who couldn’t stand being wronged. She had a bit of cunning, but hopefully, she didn’t have Vivian Lynch’s ability to swallow her pride and bide her time.’

’After putting up a front for a couple of days, her true colors would quickly show.’

Large teardrops streamed down Shannon’s face as she stormed upstairs.

Adrian said apologetically, "I’m the one who spoiled her."

"It’s fine. It’s nice to have someone who loves you unconditionally."

"You will too, someday."

Adrian said softly.

Mia didn’t think much of it, assuming he was just being polite.

Once they were in the car, Mia looked at him, puzzled. "I thought you would have praised Shannon."

"I was just telling the truth. She really isn’t as pretty as you."

’To be precise, in his heart, no one could compare to Mia.’

Mia gave him a strange look. ’Is he always this blunt?’

’How had I never noticed before?’

Theo Thorne was driving. As they were about to pull away from a red light, a little boy suddenly darted out into the street against the signal.

Startled, Theo yanked the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding an accident.

The powerful momentum sent Mia flying into Adrian’s arms, her hand pressing against his side.

They were so close she could clearly hear a soft, muffled grunt.

Something suddenly clicked for Mia. Once she had steadied herself, she immediately lifted his shirt. She discovered a large bruise spreading across his side and onto his back, with more of it disappearing below his belt.

She subconsciously started to pull his clothes down further to get a better look.

"Theo is still here. You can undress me later."

"Ma’am... I’m still here,"

Theo added, his face a mask of innocence.

The words exploded like a bombshell.

"No, no, you’ve got it all wrong! He hurt his side, I just wanted to check the injury."

"I was talking about the injury. What were you thinking about?"

The corners of Adrian’s lips curled as he watched her with amusement.

Theo chimed in, twisting the knife.

"Yeah, Adrian and I were on the same page."

Mia wanted to find a hole to crawl into. ’The boss and his subordinate are two peas in a pod!’

"Fine, I won’t look. Let him suffer for all I care."

Though she said that, when they passed a pharmacy, she still had Theo stop so she could buy some liniment for bruises and circulation.

It was too inconvenient to apply it in the car, so she’d have to wait until they got to the nursing home.

Mia felt a pang of guilt. Adrian had been injured while protecting her. If he hadn’t, she would have fallen down the stairs, and her injuries would likely have been much worse.

「Soon, they arrived at the nursing home.」

"My dear granddaughter-in-law is here!"

It was as if Donovan Preston couldn’t even see Adrian; his eyes were only for his beautiful, cute, and radiant granddaughter-in-law.

He couldn’t help but marvel at his own excellent taste!

"Mia, you’re here! Come in, come in. I sent my staff to the market first thing this morning to get all your favorite foods."

"Adrian... Adrian hasn’t come in yet."

Mia said, flustered.

"Oh, I forgot about him. Hey, nice outfits."

The old man couldn’t help but praise them. The matching outfits even made Adrian look quite dapper.

The old man’s suite was large and spacious, a full two hundred square meters, and came staffed with two doctors, four nurses, and three personal caretakers.

They sat down in the living room, and Donovan Preston called his grandson into the bedroom alone.

"How are things with Mia lately?"

"Can’t you see for yourself?"

Adrian said helplessly.

"So when are you going to give me a great-grandchild? I’m getting impatient!"

Adrian remained silent.

"Is it a problem on your end, or is it that she doesn’t want one?"

Hearing this, Adrian’s temples throbbed. ’Why is the option ’a problem on my end’ and not ’I don’t want one’?’

"It’s a problem on my end."

"I knew it was you!"

The old man stomped his foot in anger. "You look like such a sturdy young man! I didn’t expect you to be all bark and no bite, just for show! Is it a yin deficiency or a yang deficiency?"

"Both."

Adrian had decided to just go all in. If he said he didn’t want children, his grandfather wouldn’t listen. And he certainly couldn’t pin the blame on Mia. So, he might as well just say he was the problem.

"I can’t believe you’re in such a bad state!" Donovan Preston was utterly shocked. "But it’s okay! You’re still young, we can build you back up!"

The old man listed a long series of aphrodisiacs, but it all went in one of Adrian’s ears and out the other. He didn’t take it to heart. After all, once they left, his grandfather couldn’t control him.

The old man saw his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking.

’Looks like I’ll have to secretly slip him some restorative supplements!’