When Zhou Nuan arrived at the Tea House, Li Huanying was already waiting for her.
“You must be Teacher Zhou Nuan, right?” Li Huanying spoke first.
“Yes. And you are?”
“I’m Jiang Hao’s mother. My surname is Li.”
“Hello, Aunt Li,” Zhou Nuan greeted politely.
“Sit.” Li Huanying gestured to the sofa chair opposite her.
“Thank you.”
“What would you like to drink?” Li Huanying asked with a smile as Zhou Nuan sat down.
“It’s okay, I won’t drink. If you have something to say, just say it.” Zhou Nuan waved her hand.
“No rush. Since you’re here, let’s have some tea.” Li Huanying looked at the young woman, speaking with the authority of someone in a higher position.
“Alright then, please bring me a cup of Biluochun.” Zhou Nuan stopped hesitating since they weren’t going anywhere quickly.
While waiting for the tea, Li Huanying subtly examined Zhou Nuan.
The young woman was in her early twenties, sweet-looking, fair-skinned, with a slender figure. Even without makeup, she perfectly embodied the words “youthful and beautiful.” No wonder Jiang Hao had fallen head over heels.
At the same time, Zhou Nuan was discreetly observing Li Huanying.
The woman before her had her hair neatly tied into a high bun, wearing a professional suit that exuded quality in both material and craftsmanship. Her delicate makeup made her look energetic, but her eyes carried a sharp, scrutinizing edge—the aura of someone long accustomed to being in power.
“Teacher Zhou, do you know why I called you here today?” Li Huanying cut to the point, retracting her gaze.
“No, I don’t. Please tell me,” Zhou Nuan shook her head.
“Alright, I’ll be brief.” Li Huanying straightened in her seat, hands crossed on the table, looking Zhou Nuan in the eyes as she spoke each word clearly: “I hope you will break up with Jiang Hao.”
Boom! Although she had anticipated this and prepared herself mentally, hearing it spoken aloud made Zhou Nuan’s heart involuntarily ache.
A sense of rejection and disrespect rose within her. She didn’t know what to say at first.
After all, being told this face-to-face by her boyfriend’s mother would make anyone feel embarrassed and saddened.
“What? You don’t want to?” Li Huanying asked in a deep voice when Zhou Nuan remained silent.
“No, I’m not unwilling.” Zhou Nuan finally reacted.
She blinked her slightly stinging eyes, trying to appear less sad, and softly said, “I’ll agree with you.”
“Huh?” Perhaps she hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer from the young woman. Li Huanying was momentarily stunned.
“You don’t want to ask why?” she frowned.
She had expected the girl to cry and make a scene.
“No.” Zhou Nuan shook her head again.
What was the point of asking? In the end, the reasons would always be the same. Better not to ask and avoid the embarrassment.
“Heh, I didn’t expect you to be so smart. What a pity…” Li Huanying sighed regretfully.
A pity for being born into the wrong family.
“Since you are so cooperative, I’m not unreasonable.” Li Huanying took a card from her bag and pushed it across the table to Zhou Nuan.
“This card has 500,000 yuan. Consider it compensation for breaking up with Jiang Hao.”
“No, Auntie, I can’t accept this money.” Zhou Nuan waved her hands repeatedly, as if the card were a hot potato, pushing it back.
“Why?” This time Li Huanying was puzzled. “I thought your family might really need this money.”
Before coming, she had investigated Zhou Nuan’s family situation and prepared the card, in case the girl refused. It could be used as a temptation or leverage.
Years in business had taught her: know your opponent, and you can win any battle.
But she seemed to have underestimated the young woman…
“Yes, my family isn’t well-off, and we do need money. But Auntie, my relationship with Jiang Hao has never been about his money. During our time together, I’ve never spent a single extra cent of his.” Zhou Nuan looked Li Huanying in the eyes, speaking with dignity.
“If you don’t approve of our relationship, that’s your choice. But I absolutely cannot accept this money.” Her tone was gentle, as if talking about something ordinary, yet her words carried an unyielding strength.
“Teacher Zhou, in today’s society, idealism alone won’t put food on the table.” Li Huanying sipped her tea and spoke meaningfully, seeing Zhou Nuan’s stubborn refusal.
“I understand.” Zhou Nuan glanced at Li Huanying, then lowered her head, softly saying, “Just consider it the last trace of dignity I allow myself.”
Zhou Nuan’s words deeply shocked Li Huanying.
She suddenly felt that, if family background were set aside, her son might truly be unworthy of the young woman before her.
But her son didn’t need someone with mere self-respect; he needed someone who could aid his career and ambitions.
Before leaving, Zhou Nuan made a request: do not let Jiang Hao come looking for her.
She could control herself from seeking him out, but she couldn’t stop him from coming to her!
Li Huanying agreed, understanding the young teacher’s concern for propriety.
Zhou Nuan didn’t know how she got back to her apartment.
She threw herself onto the bed, sprawling on her back, staring straight at the ceiling, motionless.
Until Su Xiao called her.
“Nuan Nuan, what have you been doing today? You haven’t called me all day. Didn’t we agree to meet this weekend?” Su Xiao scolded gently over the phone.
“Sorry, Xiao Xiao, I was held up today.” Zhou Nuan cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice normal.
But Su Xiao immediately sensed something was off.
“What’s wrong, Nuan Nuan? Your voice sounds hoarse. Do you have a cold?” she asked, concerned.
“No.” Zhou Nuan quickly denied it.
“Then why? Did something happen?” Su Xiao asked again, feeling Zhou Nuan wasn’t herself.
“Nothing, Xiao Xiao, I… I’m just a little tired.” Zhou Nuan tried to control her emotions, but the waves of grievance kept rising.
“No, Nuan Nuan, don’t lie to me. Something must have happened. Tell me quickly.” Su Xiao grew anxious.
“Really, it’s nothing.” Zhou Nuan denied again, though her nose tingled and her voice immediately grew hoarse.
“Wait for me. I’m coming right now.”
Su Xiao realized something was wrong and hung up, rushing to Zhou Nuan’s apartment.