The brutal summer heat in the west slowly passed, and the autumn air became rich with flavor.
The summer vacation at the military academy ended, and Xilin Military Academy greeted another school year at the beginning of October.
Meanwhile, in the south, Anlin City’s brief mild season had faded, ushering in early winter, but people’s hearts started to grow restless and uneasy.
The door to the President’s Office opened from the inside, and Wen Liangyu emerged, leaning on a cane, his old face iron blue.
In a single week, this was Wen Liangyu’s third visit to the President.
Each time, he returned dispirited.
Qu Yu escorted Wen Liangyu to his car, and Wen Liangyu gave him a meaningful glance, saying,
"Wen Nian is still young, you’re a few years older than him, and there are things that he still needs your advice on. Don’t be afraid to offer him your counsel just because he’s the President."
"If there are any situations, inform me promptly."
The car door closed, and Qu Yu glanced at the departing vehicle before turning back inside.
In the President’s Office, Wen Nian didn’t let the unpleasantness with his grandfather a moment earlier affect his work.
Several computers were open on his desk; he was participating in an international video conference.
When Qu Yu entered, he made a couple of gestures to indicate that he had seen Wen Liangyu off and casually began taking minutes of the meeting at a small desk on the side.
An hour later, the meeting ended, and Wen Nian stood up to pour himself a glass of water.
Qu Yu placed the organized meeting minutes on Wen Nian’s desk.
"Did grandfather say anything to you?"
Wen Nian leaned against the President’s desk, flipping through something on his smartphone...
"Your Excellency, are you thinking of the lady again?"
Wen Nian merely curved his lips faintly. The pictures saved on the phone were limited, the latest one being from the day he successfully proposed, the two of them crammed together for a selfie, but the angle made her face look round, and she clamored to retake it.
If she knew the last photo left on his phone was this round-faced one, she’d probably make a fuss about it...
Wen Nian thought, his raised eyebrows slowly sagging again.
If only she would make a fuss; he feared the current Song Lili wouldn’t even care to glance at this photo.
"Your Excellency... Do you really intend to let the lady stay in Xilin indefinitely?"
"If she wants to stay there, what can I do?"
Wen Nian put down his phone, holding a warm cup of tea, his face revealing a trace of weariness...
"You haven’t gone to Xilin for over a month. Is it because you’ve had a falling out... with the lady?"
Wen Nian caressed the warm cup, his eyes distant and unfocused.
Over the past month and more, the President had often shown such an expression, gazing at some indiscernible place, his thoughts unknown.
"Do you think that if someone falls out of love... it can still be salvaged?"
At Wen Nian’s words, Qu Yu was momentarily shocked, "Fall out of love? You mean... the lady? How can that be possible?"
"Qu Yu, there’s nothing impossible in this world..."
Wen Nian took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. He set down his cup and gazed at the floor shiny as a mirror,
"Lili... she might have truly fallen out of love... without me realizing it."
"Your Excellency, you..."
"Enough, let’s not talk about this. Investigate the woman grandfather mentioned."
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
A voice of inquiry came from outside the office door.