"...I guess so."

What do you mean by "consider it?"

Song Nuan remained silent.

Ouyang Zhoujing's call came suddenly. She hadn't even thought about how to bring it up. Suddenly, he took the initiative, leaving her feeling completely lost.

The person on the other end sighed softly.

"I know now may not be the time to say these things, but I still want to remind you, Song Nuan, to think carefully."

"It's not too late for you to regret it now."

“Even if you don’t take any action, Zhong Qingya will definitely spread the news, or at least let him know,” Ouyang Zhoujing said. “You know what the consequences will be.”

Her fingernails were deeply embedded in her palm, but Song Nuan felt no pain.

The "he" that Ouyang Zhoujing was referring to was none other than Li Jingchen.

She knew all of this, but she didn't understand why things had developed to this point. She had no choice at all; she was forced to make choices at every step.

"I told you, I won't force you."

“I know you have no feelings for me. If you’re just worried about the Song family and the Zhong family, I’ll help you resolve that. You don’t need to sacrifice your own happiness.”

Song Nuan lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly, "It's no use."

Ouyang Zhoujing immediately sensed something was off about her tone. "Did Zhong Qingya threaten you with something else?"

“I’ve made up my mind,” she changed the subject, “Zhou Jing, let’s get married.”

Snap—

Suddenly, the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground came from behind her. The loud bang startled Song Nuan, making her tremble instinctively.

I turned my head and met two pairs of eyes.

It was none other than Fang Yu and Xu Yiran.

The two women stood at the doorway, their faces filled with shock. Song Nuan gripped her phone tightly, guessing that they had overheard her conversation with Ouyang Zhoujing.

"Warm and cozy?"

Ouyang Zhoujing's voice, filled with doubt, rang out.

Song Nuan responded with an "Mmm".

He chuckled softly, like a clear spring, his voice brimming with undisguised amusement. "Where are you? I'll come find you. Some things are better said face to face."

"I have something to do right now, let's meet at the World Trade Center later."

"good."

Hanging up the call and putting down her phone, Song Nuan looked up at the two people outside the door. "Aren't you coming in?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yiran glanced at Fang Yu, looking lost. Seeing that Fang Yu didn't move, she silently reached out and nudged her, letting Fang Yu walk in front of her.

Fang Yu glared at her without saying a word.

The group sat on the sofa, looking at each other, especially Xu Yiran, who looked completely stiff.

Song Nuan broke the silence, "I have something I want to tell you."

Xu Yiran picked at her fingers, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Fang Yu pursed her lips and said, "Song Nuan, I think there's something you need to know first."

Song Nuan knew what she was going to say.

"I already know about what happened at the company."

"You know?" Fang Yu was surprised, but quickly regained her composure. "I should have gone to that dinner party with them, but I had something to do that day, so I asked the project leader to take Su Yin with me."

"I didn't expect Su Yin to let Song Zhiren get the official seal and sign the contract beyond his authority."

Speaking of this matter, Fang Yu could only sigh endlessly.

While scolding Su Yin at the company, she was also blaming herself.

“I take responsibility for this. I have suspended Su Yin from her duties, and the punishment will have to wait for the board of directors.”

Fang Yu lowered her eyes, not daring to look Song Nuan in the eye. "As for me... whatever punishment the board of directors decides to give me, whether it's dismissal or compensation, I will accept it all."

Song Nuan stared at her.

She could hardly believe that the person sitting in front of her would offer to help Zhong Qingya bring down the Song family in order to clear away any potential obstacles in the future.

They were even willing to risk their own future.

Song Nuan found it difficult to describe her feelings at this moment; they were heavy and complicated.

“I don’t blame you.” She said to Fang Yu, “I underestimated how much Song Zhiren likes Su Yin. I really didn’t expect him to care so much about a mistress.”

Even more unexpectedly, Song Zhiren was able to obtain the Song family's official seal.

"That project..."

"It's impossible to pay the penalty for breach of contract."

With so much money involved, Song Nuan couldn't possibly swallow this loss silently.

"Do you have a solution?"

Song Nuan shook her head. There was no solution, but she could look for one. "Check Yuanzheng's research team. Based on Yuanzheng's development in recent years, it's impossible for them to have the money to support a top-notch research team."

Fang Yu instantly understood what she meant.

As long as Yuanzheng has its own problems and forces them to terminate the contract voluntarily, the Song family can escape this calamity.

Seeing that they had finished discussing business, Xu Yiran asked hesitantly, "Um, Song Nuan, who did you just say you were going to marry?"

Fang Yu perked up.

Two pairs of eyes stared intently at Song Nuan, their thirst for knowledge like a rope around her neck—not too tight, not too loose, not suffocating, but with a distinct foreign sensation.

After a silence of more than ten seconds, she finally spoke, "With Ouyang Zhoujing."

A deathly silence.

Even Xu Yiran, who is usually loud and boisterous, fell silent. She got up and paced around the room, her anxiety written all over her face.

"Why?"

Xu Yiran finally couldn't help but ask, she really didn't understand what was wrong with Song Nuan, "Do you like him? No... for you to decide to marry him, it's more than just liking him, right?"

Song Nuan: "..."

Fang Yu gave Xu Yiran a look.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?" Xu Yiran's temper flared up immediately. "Song Nuan, I know you. Was it Ouyang Zhoujing who forced you?"

"It was my own choice."

"Voluntary my ass!"

Xu Yiran could no longer contain her anger. "You clearly like Li Jingchen. Of course, I'm not saying that guy surnamed Li is any better. They're both equally bad, like trying to find the best in the worst!"

"Have you forgotten how Ouyang Chengyi bullied you and how Ouyang Zhoujing sided with his sister?"

Song Nuan certainly hadn't forgotten.

But now is not the time to dwell on these things.

No matter how troublesome Ouyang Chengyi is, he can only resort to some boring little tricks, unlike Zhong Qingya.

Zhong Qingya's punches were brutally realistic.

"Yiran, if you still consider me a friend, then believe me and wish me well."

Xu Yiran laughed in exasperation.

Unable to vent her anger anywhere, she kicked over a chair with a bang, rushed into the bathroom, grabbed a mirror, and shoved it in front of Song Nuan.

"Look at yourself. Your face is full of bitterness. Even your smile looks like you're suffering. How can I wish you well?"

Song Nuan moved silently, avoiding the mirror.

Her constant avoidance and silence prevented Xu Yiran from starting an argument.

It's like punching cotton.

Instead of getting discouraged, he was filled with a nameless rage!

Suppressing her anger, Xu Yiran patiently asked, "When do you plan to meet your parents?"

"the day after tomorrow."

"the day after tomorrow?!"

Song Nuan nodded, thought it over, and decided to tell her, "The day after tomorrow is my engagement banquet with Zhou Jing. It's probably too late to send out invitations, but I still hope you can come, after all..."

"Damn! I think you've really gone mad!"

Xu Yiran cursed under her breath, interrupted her, and turned to leave.

Song Nuan opened her mouth silently.

After all, Xu Yiran was her only good friend.