CHAPTER 573: IF YOU DON’T COME, YOU WILL DEFINITELY REGRET IT!

Wen Nian chuckled softly, taking over the conversation, "Like you."

Song Lili still just quietly watched him, time trickling by in the exchange of their gazes...

"Lili, do you... still want to go back to the military?"

Song Lili grasped his hand, intertwining their fingers,

"Only he who knows me, Ah Nian, too."

"...Do you still feel uncomfortable at the President Mansion?"

Song Lili shook her head, "It’s not about discomfort, it’s just too easy."

Wen Nian was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood.

Lili always felt that her past life was too comfortable, and that was why she lost everything in the end.

She had suffered from "ease," so she was vigilant at all times.

"The life you have now is not the same as the one you speak of from your past life, even though you hold a high position, even though you are the First Lady."

"..."

"Lili, ease your mind a bit. Over these days, have you truly felt at ease?"

Song Lili pursed her lips tightly.

Wen Nian did not know how long it would take for Song Lili to step out of the shadows of her past life, but no matter how long, he would patiently accompany her.

He took a deep breath,

"Beyond the walls of the President Mansion, who knows how many factions are watching our position, every move outside the walls is watched by the eyes of the public. You are the Mother of the Country; imperceptibly, you have already taken on so much."

"You handle the affairs inside the President Mansion better than before. You’re also better at attending various banquets and international summits. Being adept means no fear, and without fear, you feel relaxed, but this is not ease..."

"Xiao Li, look at your own eyes, you didn’t have such deep dark circles under your eyes before."

"..."

Wen Nian reached out to touch her eyes,

"Called away on business at a moment’s notice, you fly around the world with me, helping me organize my gear, learning foreign languages for me, and diligently recording everything you know."

"When you finally have a moment of rest, you are wholeheartedly devoted to Qichen."

"Princess Chinian came to stay at the President Mansion, and you took care to attend to her dutifully..."

"You have never allowed yourself to be at ease, Xiao Li..."

Wen Nian gently kneaded her temples, her head,

"You’ve always been working hard, never letting yourself relax. Others may not see it, but I do."

Song Lili’s lips trembled lightly; she may have truly never thought... that Wen Nian would see her concerns so clearly.

Some emotions, even she herself didn’t detect, but he saw them all.

She smiled at Wen Nian,

"Listening to you... does it mean that I’m actually doing a decent job as the President’s wife?"

Wen Nian pulled her onto himself,

"Far more than just adequate, you’re excellent."

Wen Nian encouraged her.

Song Lili felt sweet inside and very happy.

She leaned into his embrace and after a while said,

"I heard from the national history professor that Princess Chinian was truly serious when studying our country’s history."

"Oh?"

"Not only that..."

"..."

"The professor said, Princess Chinian has a very thorough understanding of our G country’s history."

"Is that so? It seems Chinian really loves our country’s history."

"Ah Nian, what the professor meant is... she has enough understanding of our national history that she really does not need to study it specially anymore, and more so... she seems to be deliberately concealing her level of knowledge about it."

"..."

Wen Nian narrowed his eyes slightly and fixed his gaze on Song Lili.

"Maybe it would be good to have a chat with Chinian when we get the chance."

"...Okay, we’ll do as you suggest."

Song Lili also nodded slightly and continued to lean on Wen Nian’s shoulder. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the adjoining hall bloomed clusters of colorful flowers.

"Clear next weekend, okay?"

"Next weekend?"

Song Lili paused for a moment, "Is something happening?"

"Requesting a date."

Wen Nian whispered in her ear, after which he playfully bit her earlobe, causing a slight shiver.

Song Lili quietly counted the days, and involuntarily laughed.

Again, it was March 28th of another year.

————

Dusk fell.

The appointed time was eight o’clock, but Lu Xiaoer had already arrived at the Kasi Hotel at six-thirty.

She confirmed the candlelit dinner menu with the hotel’s waiters in advance and made sure the room decorations were in order.

"Miss Lu, rest assured, all the arrangements are as you instructed at noon."

"Thank you, your efforts are appreciated."

"Miss Lu, you..."

"What is it?"

Lu Xiaoer saw the waiter hesitating and panicked for a moment, asking quickly, "Is my makeup too strange?"

With that question, the waiter suddenly burst into laughter,

"Miss Lu, you’ve misunderstood. I wanted to say that your outfit looks really beautiful today."

Lu Xiaoer also paused for a second, then shyly smiled,

"Thank you."

Hotel staff accompanied Lu Xiaoer into the reserved Room 520,

"Miss Lu, are you planning to confess tonight?"

"...Is it too obvious?"

Lu Xiaoer swallowed nervously and asked.

The waiter, finding Lu Xiaoer truly straightforward, couldn’t help but laugh and said,

"Whether it’s the intention behind Room 520’s number or the carefully prepared candlelit dinner, lovers’ suite, even your meticulous attire, it’s hard for anyone not to guess, right?"

Lu Xiaoer touched her nose,

"If you all can figure it out... then he will certainly be able to as well."

"Miss Lu, then let me wish you success in your confession in advance."

The waiter opened the room’s door for Lu Xiaoer; red rose petals were strewn across the floor, and a carefully arranged bouquet of tulips stood at the porch.

As soon as she entered the door, she smelled the serene fragrance.

In the center of the living room, near the floor-to-ceiling windows, stood a rectangular dining table with already lit candles and incense.

"Every detail is according to your instructions, Miss Lu."

Lu Xiaoer took a deep breath. Even though Zhongli Wuzhi hadn’t arrived yet, and even though... she didn’t know if he would come at all, Lu Xiaoer began to feel nervous.

The bedroom’s bed was neatly made, looked very soft, but most importantly... it was big enough.

She remembered the bed in Zhongli Wuzhi’s side courtyard; his bed was very large.

He liked sleeping in a big bed, so the days he spent sleeping on the sofa in her small apartment must have been quite uncomfortable for him.

On the bed lay a big heart-shaped gift box.

She approached it and looked at the big gift box...

"It was indeed a bit of a hassle to find a set box at the last minute, but luckily, the hotel manager put in some effort and found one for you."

"Thank you. Please convey my thanks to your hotel manager."

"It’s our duty."

The waiter stood respectfully to one side, smiling slightly.

"That... please step out for a moment."

"Of course, Miss Lu."

After the waiter left, Lu Xiaoer sat on the bed’s edge and took a small box from her backpack, placing it inside the big box on the bed...

Zhongli Wuzhi, if you don’t come tonight... you’ll surely regret it.