Chapter 143: Do not approach him rashly, do you understand!

He Xia was truly taken aback by Nan Shiqing’s appearance and immediately spoke up, "Just look at yourself! What have you become?"

Nan Shiqing blinked, bewildered. "What do you mean, 'what have I become'?"

He Xia frowned, looking at her daughter with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Look at you. Is this how a daughter of mine should behave? You are a young lady of the He family."

"A young lady?" Nan Shiqing let out a cold, sharp laugh. "What kind of young lady am I now? Look at what Mu Yinyin has done to our company. Our new products are still delayed, and who knows how much more we’ll be bullied in the days to come!"

"Stay composed! The one thing you lack right now is a steady state of mind!" He Xia shook her head, looking utterly helpless.

Nan Shiqing was so angry she laughed. "Mom, look at what time it is! If this were the past, with Fu Siye constantly circling around me, then everything would be fine. But look at things now—it’s an emergency!"

"If you continue to be this volatile, he won't be yours for much longer." He Xia looked at her daughter calmly, delivering the harshest truth.

Nan Shiqing’s heart skipped a beat, and she was plunged into a state of panic. "What do I do? What should I do? If I keep acting reserved, if I say nothing and ask nothing, he won’t contact me at all. As time passes, he might just forget about me!"

"Then find a way to make him see your value, to make him understand what you’ve done for him, rather than just offering these empty complaints." He Xia’s voice was cold, yet resolute.

Nan Shiqing looked at her mother with frustration, her eyes clouded with deep irritation. "I wish I knew how to make him turn his gaze back to me, how to make him give me all his attention."

He Xia frowned again. Seeing her daughter’s intelligence seemingly slipping away, she said in a low voice, "I told you, find a way to make him recognize your devotion."

Nan Shiqing looked up at her immediately. "Mom, you have a plan, don't you? Just tell me. Stop keeping me in suspense. I’m dying of anxiety; every day is like torture. I’m in so much pain."

He Xia sighed helplessly. "Fine. Leave the rest to me. Don't worry about it anymore."

"You’re going to handle it?" Nan Shiqing looked at her mother, her eyes full of scrutiny and deep doubt. "How are you going to communicate with him? What are you planning to do?"

She felt that she was the one with the charm; her mother was older and their family influence wasn't strong enough to earn Fu Siye’s respect. What good would it do for her mother to speak to him? At least if she went, there would be some level of attraction. Nan Shiqing was deeply skeptical, but she couldn't be certain.

He Xia clearly saw what her daughter was thinking and was exasperated. "Can you try to think about something normal for once?"

"How am I being abnormal?" Nan Shiqing asked, feeling defensive and embarrassed at being called out.

He Xia shook her head again, sighing. "Enough. Just stay home and wait. Stop contacting Fu Siye. It’s clear he doesn't like this approach, so stop doing it. I will make him contact you."

"What... what exactly is your plan?" Nan Shiqing asked anxiously. "Just tell me! Why are you hiding it from me? If I knew, I would at least have some peace of mind."

Seeing how unable her daughter was to keep her composure, He Xia said helplessly, "I told you, I’m afraid you’ll only get more anxious if you know."

Nan Shiqing frowned, but before she could speak, He Xia cut her off. "That’s enough. Just listen to me. Don't overthink it, and leave everything to me."

Nan Shiqing fell silent. She knew that if her mother didn't want to talk, she wouldn't get a single word out of her. With no other choice, she sat on the sofa, staring at her phone, though she couldn't process a single word on the screen.

After a pause, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you want me to stop contacting him entirely? How many days will this take?"

"It won't take long," He Xia said slowly. She looked at Nan Shiqing and added, "Alright, stop dwelling on this. While our main goal is to make Fu Siye your husband, you must understand that you cannot rely on him alone. You need to find ways to improve yourself instead of focusing all your attention on him every day."

Nan Shiqing stared at her mother in disbelief. Seeing her mother’s nonchalant attitude, she suddenly grew angry.

"Back at the Lu family banquet, you told me I needed to do everything in my power to marry Fu Siye. Now you’re telling me not to revolve my life around him? What exactly do you want from me? Mom, do you think my happiness and my future are just optional?"

Nan Shiqing’s voice trembled—not from tears, but from the anger her mother had ignited.

He Xia frowned tightly, looking at her daughter with frustration. "Have you lost your mind?"

Nan Shiqing laughed in disbelief, pointing at herself. "I’ve lost my mind?"

He Xia’s eyes grew cold as she said in a low voice, "Times change. Do you really think that is your only 'lifelong happiness'? Is marrying the person you love the only way to be happy?"

Nan Shiqing looked at her mother, bewildered, unable to find the words to respond. She didn't understand why her mother would say such things.

Before she could dwell on it, He Xia continued, "You must remember, you can love him, but you cannot lose your reason because of that love. You cannot let your emotions lead you to do irrational things. Our priority is to develop our business, to ensure the He family prospers, and to secure a better life for yourself. You need to make him fall for you, not become a love-struck fool."

Nan Shiqing’s eyelashes fluttered. She understood her mother’s intent, but said irritably, "I know."

"If you know, then do it. You must consider the future." Despite her frustration, He Xia only had this one daughter. She softened her tone slightly. "Shiqing, keep yourself in check. If he reaches out to you, tell me immediately. I will teach you how to respond. Do not contact him rashly, do you hear me?"