Chapter 142: The Qiao Family's Bankruptcy

Song Huan Yan fell silent.

Nan Gong Yu said again, "Anything you can't restrain is just an excuse your own selfishness creates. If he decided from the start to hide forever, he shouldn't rekindle unrealistic thoughts after you broke up. He should be like a true big brother—he may like you in his heart, but he must never show it. So in fact he harbors deep, heavy selfishness, merely waiting for a chance; all his forbearance is a grandiose pretext, a self‑deception, a fooling of himself. Therefore, he doesn't think of you as well as you think; he simply doesn't deserve you."

Hearing his words, Song Huan Yan raised her eyebrows in surprise; he truly is so perceptive, able to see the essence through appearances.

Song Huan Yan nodded, "Hmm. I understand."

She said nothing else.

Nan Gong Yu tugged at the high collar of his sweater, feeling a bit irritable, yet he didn't know where the irritation originated.

But after a moment, he composed his emotions completely and fell silent.

In the carriage, it had been a long time since such a hushed stillness.

Song Huan Yan turned her gaze toward the scenery outside the window, her complexion also looking off.

She thought that what he said… was correct.

But… she and Song Qicheng had, after all, more than ten years of brother‑sister affection.

The protection from childhood was genuine.

Her past reliance was also genuine.

Accompanying each other for over ten years, growing up together, that too was real.

Some feelings can't just be cut away by saying so.

Some matters and some people need not be handled with extreme finality.

When you look up you may not see, when you look down you will; keep a sliver of goodwill so you can meet again later.

Moreover, Song Qicheng has never taken extreme actions or done despicable things.

What inexplicably made Song Huan Yan a bit depressed was Nan Gong Yu losing his temper with her.

She thought, how can anyone be 100% emotionally stable? There's always that one percent that sometimes slips out of control.

She still thought that returning to the Song Residence today, the meal would be very enjoyable.

But she didn't expect that, while the surface seemed happy, inside it was a storm brewing.

Nan Gong Yu also remained sullen and silent; after all, his mood was quite bad.

Actually it wasn't a big deal; he could just speak to her properly, after all she was much younger than him.

No matter how icy‑smart and perceptive, there are still gaps in experience.

Why was he so harsh to her?

Earlier, Meng Zhangfeng naturally sensed that the two were… at odds.

But he didn't dare speak.

The carriage kept moving, and they entered the Yu Yuan Gate, yet the two still didn't utter a word.

Meng Zhangfeng glanced through the periscope and saw that the two were no longer holding each other.

That won't do!

After thinking, Meng Zhangfeng spoke, "Young Madam, please don't be angry; Lord Yu truly cares for you, his tone was just a bit harsh."

Song Huan Yan was momentarily stunned, raising her eyebrows as she looked over.

Meng Zhangfeng added, "You don't know. When we were still abroad, Lord Yu personally called Song Qicheng to scold him, berating him for expressing his feelings, which led to you being pushed out of the Song Family by your own hand."

"Lord Yu said that was your home. Song Qicheng, having received your parents' great kindness, should keep his thoughts hidden and protect you for a lifetime. Yet he couldn't restrain himself; instead of being your shield, he became the chief cause of your harm. You have to keep avoiding him, and the home is hard to return to. But that is your home, not his!"

"So Lord Yu suppressed all the projects he had in hand as a punishment!"

These words surprised Song Huan Yan, who said, "What are you saying? When you were abroad?"

Meng Zhangfeng nodded, "Yes! Lord Yu had intervened in this matter long ago. It's not something he's just saying now."

Song Huan Yan was somewhat shaken and turned her gaze toward Nan Gong Yu.

His emotions had already dissipated completely, showing no fluctuation; his extraordinarily handsome face bore a cold serenity.

However, Nan Gong Yu said nothing and did not look at her.

A moment later, Song Huan Yan lifted her eyelids and said to Meng Zhangfeng, "Hmm. Understood."

After speaking, although she didn't talk to Nan Gong Yu, the tremor in her heart lingered for a long time.

So he had cared for her that early?

It must have been… the last time Song Qicheng came drunk to her bedroom!

She originally thought that incident was over once it was over.

She didn't expect Nan Gong Yu to privately call and scold Song Qicheng.

Suppressing his projects stemmed from that as well.

So it seems that project was indeed suppressed for quite a while.

Lost in thought, the convoy entered the Underground Parking.

After parking, Meng Zhangfeng saw the two still silent and couldn't help but say, "Lord Yu…"

Nan Gong Yu finally spoke, flicking his fingers, "You all disperse first."

"Yes." Meng Zhangfeng bowed his head, opened the car door, got out, sent everyone away, and left himself.

Song Huan Yan looked at Nan Gong Yu, for a moment unsure how to begin, and after several seconds said, "Lord Yu…"

Nan Gong Yu turned his gaze to her, cutting her off, and said, "Sorry, I shouldn't have been harsh to you."

He admitted that he seemed a bit harsh, frightening the young lady so that she seemed unwilling or unable to speak.

"Huan Yan." Nan Gong Yu grasped her hand, "Don't be angry; I may have been impatient for a moment."

Song Huan Yan actually hadn't been angry for a while; not only was she not angry, she was quite moved.

Song Huan Yan hurriedly said, "I'm not angry. Lord Yu, I'm also very sorry; you have my best interests at heart… I think everything you said is correct. I understand now. However, I have more than ten years of brother‑sister affection with him, and I don't want to make it look too ugly."

Nan Gong Yu looked at her, "Hmm, I know your thoughts. But Huan Yan, you have considered your many years of brother‑sister bond with him—has he considered it? If he had, he should have restrained himself. In this world, some words must not be spoken; once spoken… they spiral out of control and cannot be undone."

Some words can never be spoken in a lifetime; once spoken, you must consider the consequences that will follow and whether you can bear them.

Whether one should say it.

Obviously Song Qicheng hadn't considered it.

Song Huan Yan pressed her lips together.

Nan Gong Yu added, "I just hope you can learn that when no one considers you, you shouldn't consider anyone either. You may leave a margin, but you don't need to worry about his feelings."

Song Huan Yan looked at him, her beautiful eyes trembling intensely, as if she were gazing at a sage, an excellent guide.

"Hmm, I understand!" Song Huan Yan nodded seriously.

For some reason, Nan Gong Yu finally let out a sigh of relief.

He was not a talkative person; he truly didn't know why he was a bit loquacious about this matter.

After thinking, he said coldly, "Later, just go home, no need to avoid suspicion. You don't need to avoid it; that's your family."

"Alright." Song Huan Yan nodded again, obedient as a taught elementary student.

That was truly too obedient.

Nan Gong Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, his deep eyes fixed on her, "Also, from now on you must not think he's good, nor say he's good."

Song Huan Yan was stunned, her eyebrows slowly lifting; for some reason, her heartbeat gradually quickened.

So his point of anger was… she said Song Qicheng was good?

Is… it like that?

Song Huan Yan was still pondering when the man suddenly leaned in, enveloping her with lingering wine scent.

The warm, wine‑sweet scented lips pressed onto hers, gradually parting and invading.

He whispered, "In short, you must not think anyone is good."

Song Huan Yan was blocked by his kiss, unable to speak.

The man's kiss was fiercer than any before.

It seemed he had never been like this before.

The two had never discussed feelings—whether they liked each other, loved, had any affection, or felt a spark.

Yet the affair proceeded just like a normal married couple.

From his return to the country to their first union, he said he would wait for her to accept him, but in fact gave her little time.

So although they did everything in the affair, he was still quite capable of handling it.

But he always retained some self‑restraint, yet at this moment… he seemed a bit out of control.

The out‑of‑control part, here, thinks…

Song Huan Yan had never experienced such a scene; she hadn't even dared to imagine it.

She hurriedly pushed him, "Lord Yu, stop… this is still…"

The man didn't wait for her to finish; he forcefully grasped her hand, his throat low and dominant, "Huan Yan, this is my territory."

Song Huan Yan's mind went blank.

The words were a double entendre.

The next day.

Qiao An, although she had lost the baby, still dared not delay filming.

These past two days she filmed quite diligently.

The facts proved that when a person is cornered, even if they can't bear it, they must grit their teeth and endure.

Now it was a lull, and she took a call.

It was her mother calling.

Qiao An answered, and her mother hurriedly said, "An An, something terrible happened at home!"

Qiao An was startled and anxiously asked, "What is it?"

Her mother sobbed a litany, leaving Qiao An stunned.

It turned out that in just these two short days, Qiao's company was on the brink, nearing bankruptcy.

For some reason, many firms acted together, snatching the projects from the Qiao family.

The companies that had originally agreed to cooperate also reneged one after another, causing the Qiao company's manufactured products to suddenly pile up.

The cash flow could not recirculate; the shortfall was hundreds of millions, and the operation instantly collapsed.

Still in shock, Qiao's mother cried, "You, you quickly tell Lord Jue! If the Nan Gong family steps in, it will definitely be solved."

That indeed put Qiao An in a bind.

She remained silent, not daring to say she had quarreled with Nan Gong Jue.

Her mother immediately stopped crying and said, "Right, right, what were your father and I nervous about? You're the second daughter‑in‑law of the Nan Gong family! Haven't you heard in this circle? How can any company still dare to attack the Qiao family?"

Qiao An's head throbbed, and she said with difficulty, "Mom… I… broke up with… Nan Gong Jue."

"What?" Qiao's mother was so shocked she collapsed onto the floor, and after a while managed, "It's over, it's over, it's over."

Then Qiao An heard a servant shout, "Madam, madam, call an ambulance!"

The servant then told her, "Miss, the lady has fainted."

Qiao An could only say, "Take her to the hospital quickly."

After hanging up, Qiao An's complexion turned pale, her spirit scattered.

How could the Qiao family suddenly be targeted by several companies at once?

The companies that had agreed also suddenly reneged?

Could it be… Nan Gong Jue's doing?

No, no, no, it couldn't be, it's impossible!

Nan Gong Jue didn't even block her; why go after the Qiao Family?

But the Qiao Family is on the brink of bankruptcy?

What should she do?

She's still on the set, she can't leave, and she doesn't understand the market, so she can't manage to turn the tide!

When she was burning with anxiety, someone suddenly called her, "Qiao Xiaohua, your fiancé is looking for you."

Qiao An immediately widened her eyes, "What? Brother Jue is looking for me?"

The person said, "Isn't Second Young Master Nan Gong your fiancé?"

At that banquet, many employees saw Nan Gong Jue; his face is unforgettable.

Hearing that, Qiao An bolted away.

Could it be that Nan Gong Jue has come to his senses, his anger has faded, so… he came to find her to make amends!

Great!

The Qiao Family now has hope!