Ning Nanxue felt a warm feeling in her heart when she heard his words, knowing that he was really protecting her.
But what follows is a deeper worry.
She held his hand in return, applying a little force with her fingertips.
"Tingchen, I believe you, and I know what you mean." She paused and lowered her voice.
"But, Su Yao..." She frowned slightly.
"She's not someone who gives up easily. Besides, she's in your circle...she grew up with you and is very familiar with your family and friends."
Although Jiang Tingchen never deliberately boasted about his family background, Ning Nanxue was not completely ignorant of it.
As an old friend of the Jiang family, Su Yao must have considerable influence in that circle.
Jiang Tingchen immediately understood her concerns.
"Xue'er, none of that matters." He emphasized, "What matters is my attitude. My family and my friends will respect my choice in the end."
"Grandpa, he admires you now too, doesn't he?"
Ning Nanxue nodded.
Mr. Jiang's attitude towards her had indeed changed, which made her feel a little relieved.
"But human hearts are hard to predict." Ning Nanxue said in a low voice.
"It's not that I don't believe you, Tingchen, I just..." She was a little speechless, not knowing how to express her complicated feelings.
I am afraid that this hard-earned happiness will be destroyed.
The Fu family's mess has not been completely cleaned up, the company's affairs are complicated, and now there is the potential threat posed by Su Yao.
"I just feel a little tired."
She finally confided softly, a hint of weariness unconsciously appearing in her eyes, and she rubbed her brows.
"There are a lot of things going on in the company. Fu Chen's issue hasn't been completely resolved yet, and now there's Su Yao..." She felt like a taut string that could break at any time.
Jiang Tingchen felt distressed when he saw how tired she looked.
He stood up, walked to her, and gently held her in his arms.
"Xue'er, I'm sorry." His voice was apologetic.
"You shouldn't have to endure all this. It's because I didn't handle our past relationship well that she had the opportunity to bother you."
Ning Nanxue leaned in his arms, feeling his warm body temperature and strong heartbeat, and her tense nerves relaxed a little.
"It's none of your business, Tingchen." She shook her head.
"Matters of the heart are never one-sided. She's just too obsessed. I know you've done a good job."
Jiang Tingchen tightened his arms and rested his chin lightly on the top of her head.
"Xue'er, listen to me, I will completely solve Su Yao's problem and won't let her have any chance to get close to you and affect your mood."
"As for the company's affairs and the Fu family's affairs, I will accompany you to face them together."
"You are not alone." His voice was low and gentle, with a reassuring power. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. With me here, the sky won't fall."
Ning Nanxue closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and her nose was filled with his fresh and pleasant scent.
"Yeah." She responded softly.
The worries in her heart have not completely dissipated. Su Yao is like an invisible thorn, piercing the corners that their relationship may touch.
The Jiang family's circle and the complicated interpersonal relationships have always been an unknown area for her.
But at this moment, leaning in Jiang Tingchen's arms, she temporarily chose to believe his promise.
"Let's eat, the food is getting cold."
Jiang Tingchen let her go, sat back down opposite her, picked up her bowl, and gave her some of her favorite dishes.
"Eat more. You've lost weight." His tone was doting.
Ning Nanxue looked at his gentle eyes and eyebrows, feeling a little warm in her heart, and picked up the chopsticks again.
"You should eat more too." The two of them ate quietly, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.
But Ning Nanxue knew that Su Yao's matter would probably not end so easily.
She needs to cheer up, not only for the company, but also to protect the precious relationship between her and Jiang Tingchen.
After having dinner with Ning Nanxue, Jiang Tingchen felt as if his heart was being gently tugged at by something when he saw the worry between her brows that was difficult to completely relax.
He knew that Su Yao's existence was like a time bomb that could explode at any time, damaging the trust and peace that he and Xue'er had worked so hard to build.
He could not tolerate this potential threat.
It must be resolved thoroughly.
The next day, Jiang Tingchen asked his assistant to make an appointment with Su Yao.
The location chosen was a cafe he had almost never been to, a quiet corner room that was isolated from the noise of the outside world and any unnecessary gazes from acquaintances.
He arrived early and sat by the window. Not long after, the door of the private room was pushed open.
Su Yao walked in with a carefully modified smile on her face, dressed elegantly and appropriately, and seemed to have some expectations for this meeting.
"Brother Tingchen, have you been waiting for a long time?" She sat down opposite him with a natural posture.
Jiang Tingchen raised his eyes, his gaze was calm, even with a hint of alienation.
"Su Yao." He spoke in a low voice, without any emotion.
"I asked you out today because I have something I want to make clear to you."
The smile on Su Yao's face froze slightly, but soon returned to normal.
"Hmm? What's so formal?"
She picked up the glass of water on the table and took a sip, trying to hide the fleeting uneasiness.
Jiang Tingchen didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point: "Regarding your recent behavior, I think it's necessary to talk to you."
His eyes fell on her face, scrutinizing her.
"Su Yao, we grew up together, and I will always remember this friendship. But this does not mean that you can interfere in my life, nor does it mean that you can disturb the people I care about." His voice turned cold.
"Brother Tingchen, how could you...what's so good about her? She's divorced and still entangled with Fu Chen. A woman like that..."
"Shut up!" Jiang Tingchen interrupted her abruptly, with obvious anger in his voice.
"Su Yao, you are not qualified to judge her like this. I know her past better than you. I love her now, the complete her."
He took a deep breath, tried to suppress the displeasure in his heart, and regained his previous calmness, but his tone was more resolute.
"I came to you today not to argue with you about whether Xue'er is good or bad, but just to tell you my decision."
"There is nothing between us except that vague friendship of our childhood. There was nothing in the past, there is not now, and there will be nothing in the future."
"I hope you understand this, completely."
Su Yao's eyes were red and tears were welling up in them.
"I don't understand!" Her voice suddenly rose, and she cried, "Brother Tingchen, how many years have we known each other? What is the relationship between our two families? Since we were young, everyone thought we were a couple, even Grandpa and the others..."
"That's someone else's idea, not mine." Jiang Tingchen ruthlessly punctured her fantasy, "Grandpa also admires Xue'er now."
He looked at her, every word clearly understood.
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