Ye Linchen knew that Huo Yunlan might have misunderstood her meaning, but she didn't have the mind to explain now.

She simply hummed in response and hung up the phone, returning dejectedly to Lin Xiaojuan and Feng Linlin's side.

Both of them were worried when they saw Ye Linchen happily answer the phone but return in this state.

"Xiao Chen, what's wrong?" Lin Xiaojuan asked. "Is something wrong? Do you need our help?"

Ye Linchen glanced at the two of them and opened his mouth as if to say something.

But before she could say anything, tears started falling.

The two were even more startled when they saw Ye Linchen like this.

Since they met Ye Linchen, they have almost never seen him cry.

What exactly happened to make Ye Linchen so sad?

The two quickly comforted Ye Linchen.

After a long while, Ye Linchen finally calmed down and said in a choked voice, "Gu Jingran and I may have to break up."

Upon hearing Ye Linchen's words, the two found it even more strange.

Ye Linchen and Gu Jingran's relationship was going well, so why did they suddenly want to break up?

"Did Gu Jingran do something to wrong you?" This thought immediately popped into Feng Linlin's mind.

Ye Linchen shook his head, not wanting to talk about it anymore: "This matter is a bit complicated, let's go home and talk about it."

Back at Ye Linchen's rented apartment, the two girls didn't even bother to eat, and pulled Ye Linchen to sit down on the sofa.

"Xiao Chen, what exactly happened?" Feng Linlin asked earnestly. "No matter what happened, we are on your side. If Gu Jingran really did something to wrong you, we will never let him get away with it."

Lin Xiaojuan also said, "Yes, Xiaochen, if something's wrong, tell us. Don't keep it bottled up inside and suffer."

Seeing how much his two friends cared about him, Ye Linchen felt a little better.

She thought for a moment and then explained, "It's not about Gu Jingran, it's about his mother."

Ye Linchen briefly recounted his conversation with Huo Yunlan that day to Lin Xiaojuan and Feng Linlin.

Both of them were shocked.

"You mean, Gu Jingran's mother wants you to give up your business and marry Gu Jingran while you're still in school?" Feng Linlin couldn't believe her ears.

Ye Linchen nodded: "I just don't know whether it's Gu Jingran's idea or his mother's idea."

"But I also feel that his mother was a career woman who built her career on her own when she was young, so it shouldn't be her idea."

“But this doesn’t seem like Gu Jingran’s idea.” Lin Xiaojuan immediately stated, “I was involved in this startup project, and I know clearly how much help Gu Jingran has provided you along the way. If he didn’t want you to start your own business, he wouldn’t have been willing to help you in the first place.”

Feng Linlin agreed: "Yes, and based on my understanding of Brother Gu, if he really had such thoughts, he would have come directly to you, instead of having his mother pressure you."

Feng Linlin thought for a moment and offered her suggestion: "Xiao Chen, I think instead of suffering like this, you should have a good talk with Brother Gu and listen to what he thinks. If he really wants you to give up your business and marry him, then you should break up with him, and I will fully support you."

“Yes.” Lin Xiaojuan supported Feng Linlin’s point of view. “If that’s not what he thinks, you can ask him to go back and talk to his parents. It’s better for the two of them to have a clear conversation than to break up like this without any explanation.”

“Yes, finding someone you like and get along with is not easy.” Seeing the hesitation on Ye Linchen’s face, Feng Linlin added fuel to the fire, “I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked to get here, and I don’t want your hard-won happiness to be ruined like this.”

After listening to the advice of his two friends, Ye Linchen suddenly understood.

Yes, instead of condemning this relationship to death yourself, you should have a good talk with Gu Jingran and listen to his thoughts.

If marriage is truly his idea, and he wants you to sacrifice yourself, then there's no need to be sad anymore; just end this relationship amicably.

Thinking this, Ye Linchen stood up.

"I'll go downstairs and call him."

Feng Linlin and Lin Xiaojuan naturally supported it.

"Go quickly, Xiaojuan and I are going to cook."

Gu Jingran had just finished a meeting when he received Ye Linchen's call.

"What's wrong, Xiao Chen? Is something the matter?"

Ye Linchen hummed in agreement: "Jingran, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you in person. Are you free tonight?"

Gu Jingran replied, "I'm free. A new barbecue restaurant just opened near the company, and the employees say it's pretty good. How about we go try it together?"

Ye Linchen sighed, "Jingran, I don't think a restaurant is suitable. Let's meet at your company after you get off work."

Gu Jingran had a bad feeling, but he still agreed.

For the rest of the afternoon, Ye Linchen was somewhat absent-minded, repeatedly thinking about what to say to Gu Jingran when they met.

Finally, when it was almost time to get off work, Ye Linchen went out and took the bus to Gu Jingran's company.

The receptionist at Gu Jingran's company already knew Ye Linchen, and upon seeing Ye Linchen arrive, she warmly ushered her into Gu Jingran's office.

"President Gu is still in a meeting, it will be over soon, please wait a moment."

Ye Linchen thanked him and sat down on the sofa in Gu Jingran's office.

Looking at the scene in the office and thinking about their past, Ye Linchen felt very sad.

Perhaps after this conversation ends, the two will part ways and never see each other again, never come to this office again.

Ye Linchen felt waves of pain in his heart.

But compared to giving up one's ideals, this pain is nothing.

Just then, Gu Jingran pushed the door open and came in.

Seeing Ye Linchen sitting on the sofa, he quickly put down the documents in his hand, sat down next to Ye Linchen, and asked impatiently.

"Xiao Chen, what do you want to tell me?"

Ye Linchen looked at Gu Jingran's face, thought for a moment, and decided to cut to the chase and get straight to the point.

"Jingran, your mother said a few things to me during your trip to Beijing."

Upon hearing this opening, Gu Jingran's uneasy feeling returned.

"Did she propose to you?"

Ye Linchen paused for a moment, then nodded.

Did she also mention giving up on starting her own business?

Ye Linchen's heart tightened, but he still hummed in agreement.

Gu Jingran closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Just as I expected.

No wonder Ye Linchen was in such a bad mood the day he left Beijing.

A sense of guilt rose in Gu Jingran's heart.

If it weren't for him, Ye Linchen wouldn't have had to go through all this pain.

Gu Jingran steadied himself, opened his eyes, and spoke very seriously.

"Xiao Chen, those words of hers were not what I meant."