"What is your real identity? The prince of Huayun Group? The only son of the Jiang family?" Ning Nanxue was straightforward, with a biting chill in her voice.
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds before Jiang Tingchen slowly spoke: "Xue'er, I can explain."
"Explain? You've been deceiving me for so long, what else is there to explain?" Ning Nanxue tried hard to control her emotions. "From the very beginning, you've been hiding your true identity, right?"
"I didn't lie to you, I just didn't tell you everything." Jiang Tingchen defended.
"This is deception!" Ning Nanxue's voice suddenly rose. "Do you know who I met today? Zhou Changfeng, the lobbyist sent by your Jiang family, came to warn me to stay away from you, otherwise the Jiang family will harm the Fu family."
"What?" Jiang Tingchen's voice was filled with anger. "How could Grandpa do this? I'll come to you right away."
"No need." Ning Nanxue said coldly, "Let's keep our distance until the trust between you and me is completely restored."
"Xue'er, listen to my explanation." Jiang Tingchen said anxiously, "I have a reason for hiding my identity."
"What could have allowed you to deceive me for so long?" Ning Nanxue demanded, "Was it for the Jiang family's commercial interests, or did you simply enjoy watching me being kept in the dark?"
Jiang Tingchen's voice lowered: "I just want to be closer to you as my true self, not with the halo of the Jiang family heir."
"You simply don't understand." Ning Nanxue's voice was filled with deep disappointment. "The problem isn't who you are, but that you don't trust me enough, don't respect me enough, and don't think I'll change my opinion of you because of your family background."
"Xue'er..."
"I'll give you an answer after tomorrow's board meeting." Ning Nanxue interrupted him, "Before then, please don't contact me."
After saying that, she hung up the phone and let it vibrate on the table, showing that it was Jiang Tingchen calling, but she never picked it up.
Ning Nanxue looked at the incoming call from Jiang Tingchen on her phone screen, but ultimately didn't pick it up. She put the phone down and rubbed her temples, trying to relieve the increasingly severe headache.
The next afternoon, Ning Nanxue had just finished a difficult board meeting and walked out of the conference room when she saw the receptionist coming towards her with a nervous look on her face.
"Boss Ning, someone from the Jiang family is here again. They said they had an appointment."
Ning Nanxue frowned slightly: "I don't have any appointments."
"They said that it was specially arranged by Mr. Jiang, and he brought several young people from the family to visit you."
Ning Nanxue's face darkened. The Jiang family was pressing her step by step, forcing her to retreat.
She took a deep breath and said, "Please ask them to wait in the reception room."
In the reception room, Jiang family representative Zhou Changfeng was instructing several young people around him to appreciate the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.
When he saw Ning Nanxue come in, he immediately showed an official smile.
"Mr. Ning, I hope I haven't disturbed you by coming here." Zhou Changfeng said politely, "These people are from the younger generation of the Jiang family. They have always admired Mr. Ning's business talents and specifically requested to accompany you."
Ning Nanxue nodded calmly, her eyes sweeping across the faces of several young people. There was obvious scrutiny and contempt in their eyes.
"It's truly rare for the younger generation of the Jiang family to humble themselves and come learn." Ning Nanxue's tone was calm, but with a subtle hint of sarcasm.
"Mr. Ning, you're being too modest. Your achievements in the business world are obvious to all." Zhou Changfeng said with a smile, "From an unknown clerk to the current helmsman of Fu Group, your spirit of struggle is worthy of emulation for us young people."
"Yes, President Ning's experience is truly remarkable," a young man in a suit and tie interjected. "From housewife to CEO, this speed of advancement is truly...admirable."
His tone was full of ambiguity and sarcasm. Ning Nanxue's eyes turned slightly cold, but she did not refute immediately.
"Master Jiang, are you questioning my ability?" she asked calmly.
"I wouldn't dare, I just heard that President Ning is very close to our cousin Tingchen. As members of the family, we are naturally concerned about our cousin's...friends."
Zhou Changfeng feigned a cough and said, "Jiang Feng, watch your words."
The young man named Jiang Feng smiled disapprovingly: "Uncle Zhou, we are here to discuss business, why don't we get straight to the point?"
He turned to Ning Nanxue and said, "Mr. Ning, I think you should understand that the Jiang family will never accept your relationship with Cousin Tingchen. This is not directed at you personally, but the Jiang family needs the person they want to marry to have a matching family background."
Ning Nanxue clenched the folder in her hand: "So what Master Jiang means is that I am not worthy of Jiang Tingchen?"
"That's not the case. It's just that Cousin Tingchen is the only son of the Jiang family and shoulders the family's future." Jiang Feng chuckled, "Don't take it too seriously. Cousin has always been a playboy. You are just one of his many emotional games."
Another girl in a light pink dress also spoke up: "Boss Ning, how could a big family like the Jiang family accept a woman with such a complicated background? The relationship between you and Fu Chen has been a hot topic, and now you are entangled with Brother Tingchen..."
"Enough!" Ning Nanxue stood up suddenly, a cold light flashing in her eyes. "Mr. Zhou, I don't know how the Jiang family educates their descendants, but such rude remarks really make me doubt the Jiang family's integrity."
Zhou Changfeng looked embarrassed. "Please calm down, Mr. Ning. These kids are young and impulsive, and they speak without thinking."
"No, they said it very clearly." Ning Nanxue sneered, "The Jiang family thinks that my experience is complicated and I am not worthy of Jiang Tingchen, right?"
"Mr. Ning, you misunderstood." Zhou Changfeng tried to ease the atmosphere. "The old man is just worried that your relationship with Tingchen will affect the careers of both of you."
"No need to explain." Ning Nanxue looked directly at them. "Please tell Mr. Jiang that I, Ning Nanxue, have never tried to marry someone above my station in my life. Jiang Tingchen's choice to date me is his, and the Jiang family has no right to interfere."
Jiang Feng sneered, "Mr. Ning is too confident. Do you really think your cousin is serious? The women he dated in the past were much better off than you. It was just a play."
A trace of hurt flashed across Ning Nanxue's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger: "Master Jiang, your words are too much."
"I'm just telling the truth." Jiang Feng disagreed. "Our family knows exactly what my cousin feels about you. Believe it or not."
Seeing the situation was getting out of control, Zhou Changfeng quickly stood up and said, "It's getting late. We should leave. President Ning, I hope you can seriously consider our suggestions."
"No need to see you off." Ning Nanxue said coldly, turned around and left the reception room.
Back in the office, Ning Nanxue could no longer control her emotions and clenched her fists tightly.
Those contemptuous looks and harsh words kept echoing in her mind. What made it even more difficult for her to accept was that Jiang Tingchen had concealed his identity for so long. Could it be that, as Jiang Feng said, she was just one of his many playthings?
Secretary Chen knocked on the door gently: "Mr. Ning, Mr. Jiang is outside and said he must see you no matter what."
Ning Nanxue was silent for a moment, but finally wanted to hear Jiang Tingchen's own explanation: "Let him in."
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