Compared with the noise of Fu Group, in Su's villa, after Xu Zhiru and others left, Su's mother and Su Yao were able to discuss carefully face to face.
Su's mother sat upright on the sofa, sipping tea in a dignified manner, with a hint of imperceptible thought between her brows.
Su Yao sat opposite her, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the bone china teacup.
"Mom," Su Yao spoke first, her voice tentative, "about Xu Zhiru..."
Mother Su put down the teacup with an elegant gesture, but looked at her daughter with clear disapproval: "Yaoyao, although Mom didn't refuse openly, I don't want you to get too close to her."
"I know you don't have a good impression of her," Su Yao quickly answered, leaning forward slightly, "but the situation is different now. She...she took the initiative to contact me, suggesting that we can help each other in some things."
Mother Su frowned slightly. "Helping each other? She's now involved with Fu Chen, and the Fu family has been involved in such a big technology leak scandal, their reputation is almost ruined. What good can we gain by being associated with such a person? There's no need for our Su family to wade into this mess."
She picked up the teacup but didn't drink. Her eyes fell on the tea swaying in the cup: "I really don't appreciate their way of doing things."
"Don't rush to deny it, Mom," Su Yao lowered her voice, with a persuasive tone, "Think about it, the Fu family must be in chaos now. Xu Zhiru can stay by Fu Chen's side, so she can always hear some rumors and get in touch with some levels that we can't. This may be useful to us... or to Tingchen."
When Jiang Tingchen was mentioned, Su's mother's eyes became sharper: "Tingchen? What does this have to do with Tingchen? Don't tell me you want to involve him."
"It's not about involvement, it's about protection!" Su Yao's tone became heavier. "Look, Tingchen is now wholeheartedly helping Ning Nanxue deal with Fu's mess. This technology leak is a fatal blow to Fu's. Ning Nanxue is in a mess, and Tingchen is trapped in it. What good is it for him? What if Ning Nanxue can't hold on and collapses, won't Tingchen be affected as well? How will others see him? "
Mother Su was silent for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "Although Ning Nanxue is in a difficult situation, I heard that she has been doing her best to cope with it and has not chosen to escape. This sense of responsibility is stronger than Xu Zhiru, who only relies on men. As for Fu Chen...what he did to Ning Nanxue, especially after the child was gone, was really chilling. I feel uncomfortable working with them."
"Mom, this is not about choosing who is kinder," Su Yao said anxiously. "This is reality! Ning Nanxue is a trouble now. She dragged Tingchen into the water! Xu Zhiru has bad intentions, but she is useful! She wants to integrate into our circle and get recognition. We can give her this step, so that she feels that it is face-saving and has practical benefits to be friends with us. In exchange, if there is any movement on her side, especially the news about Ning Nanxue and the internal struggle of the Fu family, we will be able to know it first. In this way, at least Tingchen can be reminded not to get too deep and not be used by Ning Nanxue without knowing it!"
Mother Su looked at her daughter and said, "So, you want to use Xu Zhiru to alienate Tingchen and Ning Nanxue?"
Su Yao's cheeks were slightly hot, but her eyes did not dodge: "I just don't want Tingchen to be implicated! Ning Nanxue can't protect herself now, why should she drag Tingchen down? Xu Zhiru is just a springboard, a channel for delivering information!"
"I know you look down on her, and I don't like her either, but this may be the only way for us to take the initiative and protect Tingchen from further repercussions." She softened her tone and pleaded, "Mom, we don't have to promise anything, we just want to understand the situation, okay? Just think of it as doing this for Tingchen?"
Mother Su stared at her daughter for a long time. She didn't want to get involved with someone like Xu Zhiru, but what Yaoyao said hit the nail on the head.
After a long while, Su's mother let out a barely perceptible breath, her eyes still quite complicated: "Alright, Yaoyao. I can meet with her. But, just this once. Whether it's Xu Zhiru or Fu Chen, their tactics are dirty. Don't get yourself into trouble instead of gaining any benefits. Our Su family doesn't do such shameful things. We can't afford to lose face."
Su Yao's heart finally relaxed a little, and a well-behaved smile immediately appeared on her face: "Thank you, Mom! Don't worry, I have a plan in mind! I won't do anything rash, I just want to listen more and see more, just in case there is anything I can do to help Brother Tingchen?"
Su's mother didn't say anything else. She picked up the teacup and took a sip, her eyes drifting out the window. No one knew what she was thinking, but her brows were almost imperceptibly furrowed.
It was dark at night, but the lights in the president's office on the top floor of the Fu Group building were still on.
Ning Nanxue stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, feeling only a lingering sense of fatigue and anxiety.
There was a pile of documents on the table, and none of them was good news: market share was still declining, the attitudes of several important partners were unclear, and the bank was starting to play it safe regarding new loans.
At this moment, the office door opened gently, and Jiang Tingchen came in with a cup of hot milk. He saw Ning Nanxue standing alone in front of the window and walked lightly.
"Xue'er, are you not done yet?" He walked over to her and handed her the cup. "Drink something and take a break. Things have to be done one by one."
Ning Nanxue took the cup and her tense nerves relaxed a little.
She turned around and leaned against the window, her voice a little hoarse as she replied, "I just spoke to the agent in Europe, and they're starting to hesitate as well."
Jiang Tingchen raised his hand and gently brushed away a strand of hair from her forehead. "I know you've worked hard, Xue'er. You've done well enough."
Ning Nanxue shook her head and pulled the corner of her mouth, as if to mock herself: "What's the point of doing well? The effect is not great. The funding gap is getting bigger and bigger. Several projects that look good have to be put on hold because they have no money. If this continues..."
She didn't say the rest of the words, but everyone understood the heavy meaning behind them.
Jiang Tingchen looked at her without saying a word, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
He knew how much pressure Ning Nanxue was under, and he also knew how difficult it would be to clean up the mess that the Fu family was in now.
He stood with her quietly for a while, and the only sounds in the office were the breathing of the two people.
After a while, Jiang Tingchen finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but very clear, with a hint of desperation: "Xue'er, maybe... we should try another approach."
Ning Nanxue looked up at him: "What method?"
Jiang Tingchen looked into her eyes and said seriously, "Let Fu Chen come back."
These words were like a stone thrown into the water, and Ning Nanxue's heart was suddenly in turmoil.
She looked at Jiang Tingchen, unable to believe her ears, and her voice changed: "What did you say? Who do you want to come back? Fu Chen?"
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