The air was deathly silent.

Mr. Zhong's eyes sharpened; he seemed to have guessed something and looked at Zhong Qingya, "What do you mean?"

Zhong Qingya remained silent, it was unclear whether she was carefully considering her words or had other considerations.

Song Nuan couldn't help but glance at her.

Before meeting Zhong Qingya, she believed that Li Jingchen wasn't lying, and that Zhong Qingya might genuinely be sincere in wanting to annul the engagement. But the way she looked at Li Jingchen just now...

Song Nuan found it hard to describe the feeling, but she was absolutely certain that Zhong Qingya regretted it.

Logically speaking, she shouldn't have a say in this situation, but if she doesn't say something soon, her man will be betrothed to Zhong Qingya in this long silence.

"Miss Zhong, didn't you say you were going to come to Liangcheng in person to annul the engagement?"

Song Nuan smiled slightly, her demeanor both poised and aloof, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to this occasion."

Mr. Zhong looked at Song Nuan with slight displeasure.

Jiang Jieting spoke up: "Miss Song, we've met before. You're as quick-witted as ever, but today is a family matter for the Li family. Even if you are Jing Chen's girlfriend, you're still an outsider."

At first glance, her words seemed to be lecturing Song Nuan, but upon closer examination, it became clear that Jiang Jieting had acknowledged Song Nuan's status as Li Jingchen's girlfriend.

The Zhong family father and daughter couldn't understand, but Li Guanyu knew perfectly well.

He smiled, still with that refined and elegant demeanor, "It's normal for young people to have a few girlfriends, it won't affect their important matters. Jingchen and Qingya are both sensible young people."

Song Nuan smiled without changing her expression, but her hands under the table were already tightly gripping her clothes.

Acknowledge her, but don't give her status.

These words were practically a direct indication to Li Jingchen that he could continue being with her, but his wife in name could only be Zhong Qingya.

She sneered inwardly, anger rising from the soles of her feet and spreading throughout her body.

Song Nuan suddenly stood up.

Suddenly a hand grabbed her.

Immediately afterwards, the man's deep voice sounded beside her, saying emotionlessly, "Miss Zhong, I don't know why you chose to remain silent, but I told you my position from the beginning."

Zhong Qingya is as elegant as her name suggests.

Not only did she have a delicate and slender appearance, but she also spoke in a gentle and soft tone, "Mr. Li, you didn't tell me that you would bring your girlfriend."

She glanced at Song Nuan, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions, but one hint of disdain was particularly evident.

Song Nuan smiled.

The man who covets her has the nerve to look down on her?

What is the relationship between these two things?

His gaze swept lightly across everyone's faces before finally settling on Zhong's father.

"The annulment of the engagement was agreed upon by Ms. Zhong and me. If Mr. Zhong has any further questions, he can ask his daughter himself. I have other matters to attend to, so I will not keep you company any longer."

After saying that, he took Song Nuan's hand and prepared to leave.

Li Guanyu's face darkened. "Li Jingchen, you dare to try stepping out of this door!"

He remained unmoved.

Song Nuan stopped in her tracks.

Because he was holding her hand, Li Jingchen had no choice but to stop and turn his head to look at her in confusion.

Releasing his hand, Song Nuan turned back, walked up to Zhong Qingya, looked down at her with a faint, sweet smile on her lips.

"Miss Zhong."

She said calmly, “There’s nothing shameful about regretting it. Those two words aren’t that hard to say. I know how popular my man is. If you like him and don’t want to give him up, you can just say it directly.”

"I welcome you to compete with me fairly."

Li Jingchen's eyes darkened, and he stared at her with a gloomy expression, his eyes filled with grievance and anger.

"but--"

Suddenly changing the subject, Song Nuan smiled and said, "Since you agreed to break off the engagement, you shouldn't have gone back on your word at the last minute. So what if you use the engagement to bind him? You know very well that he likes me, not you."

Zhong Qingya gave a slight twitch of her lips and said calmly, "What does it matter? If I insist on not breaking off the engagement, he will most likely still become my husband."

That's utterly shameless.

Song Nuan chuckled softly, then turned to look at the man beside her, "You're willing to marry her?"

"impossible."

He answered without even thinking, his eyes even showing disdain.

No matter how strong a woman's mentality is, she will inevitably feel overwhelmed in such a situation.

Not to mention a prodigy like Zhong Qingya.

Although Zhong Qingya's appearance is somewhat delicate, her aura suddenly becomes strong when she puts on a cold face.

"Miss Zhong, do you still think he will marry you?"

Song Nuan admits that her behavior was petty and smug, but so what? Why don't victors flaunt their spoils?

Mr. Zhong couldn't bear to see his daughter being bullied like this. He could tolerate Li Jingchen, but what was this woman of unknown origin who dared to ride on his daughter's head?

"Guanyu, is this the successor your Li family has raised?"

He slammed his hand on the table to express his dissatisfaction, "Can just any woman interfere and give advice on the Li family's affairs? I'd like to ask which family's daughter she is."

The last sentence was clearly directed at Song Nuan.

She wouldn't do something as foolish as revealing her family background. If the Zhong family wanted to know, they would naturally send someone to investigate. There was no need for her to rush out and cause trouble for herself.

She said casually, "Does Mr. Zhong think I stole your son-in-law and want to retaliate against me?"

She so openly spoke of the unspoken rules of the industry, leaving Mr. Zhong somewhat at a loss.

"You're being petty."

Jiang Jieting sipped her tea in a good mood, quietly watching the farce unfold.

She didn't want Li Jingchen to marry into the Zhong family. He was already very difficult to deal with, and if the Zhong family helped her, she would have almost no chance of taking the Li family from him.

The best thing would be to lock up with Song Nuan.

Firstly, Song Nuan has no family background and cannot provide Li Jingchen with any assistance. Secondly, Li Jingchen genuinely likes her. Men are all the same; the more they like someone, the less restraint they have and the more crazy they become.

Jiang Jieting was happy to see Li Jingchen's crazy side.

The crazier he gets, the more he likes Song Nuan, the more chances she has to take back the Li family business.

Li Jingchen put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace, then looked down at her and said, "I've said everything I needed to say. I won't go back on my promise. Let's go home."

Song Nuan regretted it, "I haven't eaten yet."

"Do you want to eat?"

She looked at the sumptuous dishes on the table, received complicated and unfriendly glances from the Zhong father and daughter, and smiled nonchalantly, "Although the people at the table are a bit disgusted, it would be a waste not to eat, and I can't do something like wasting food."

Li Jingchen smiled helplessly, "If you want to eat, I'll open another private room and have the waiter bring the dishes over."

"Alright."

After thinking for a few seconds, she changed her mind again, "How about we ask the waiter to pack it up and take it home to eat? I want to eat your fried rice."

"Okay, whatever you say."

The two chatted casually, oblivious to the expressions of everyone else present.

Everyone except Jiang Jieting had the same sour face.