Song Lili followed Lu Ziqing out of the cinema. She went to the restroom to wash her face, and when she came out, there were no traces of tears left on her face.
She checked the time,
"Brother Lu, are you hungry?"
"You treated me to a movie, so I’ll treat you to a meal."
"What do you plan on treating me to?"
"Barbecue and beer, how does that sound?"
Lu Ziqing’s eyebrow raised again, his interest piqued as he glanced at her.
"Of course, you can also say no."
Not far from the shopping mall, there was a roadside barbecue stall, its savory aroma wafting from afar.
As night fell, the temperature dropped.
Lu Ziqing went to his car and took out his military jacket for Song Lili to wear.
Song Lili didn’t refuse...
The two walked side by side in the center of the town as the street lamps lit up. In Loshé, aside from this central area, the rest of the streets and villages would have their lights off after eight o’clock...
Following the narrow road and the scent of barbecue, they leisurely walked on.
"I’ve accompanied you through the movie, can I make my request now?"
"I plan on going back to Anlin tomorrow, and I’d like to take two days off next week."
Lu Ziqing unconsciously frowned and asked skeptically, "Why the sudden trip to Anlin?"
"My family called to say that my dad is sick — he’s been coughing, having fevers, and persistently working late at night. No matter how the family tries to persuade him, he won’t listen. They said it’s best if I come back... perhaps he’ll listen to me."
"I don’t think I have any magical cures since they couldn’t persuade him; I’m sure I can’t either. But thinking it over... I haven’t been home in half a year, and I really miss my dad, so..."
"I thought you were going to ask for something else..."
"So... do you agree?"
Lu Ziqing, hands in his pockets, his eyes like those of an eagle — sharp on the battlefield, yet on this leisurely street, walking beside Song Lili, he was just an ordinary man secretly in love, filled with melancholy...
"Do you... want to become the President’s wife?"
Song Lili was startled, momentarily struggling to react.
"Lili, at twenty years old... you’re not that young. I believe you understand my meaning."
"That day at home, when you bumped into Mr. President, you can’t imagine how shocked I was... I thought Song Lili was just Xiaoer’s best friend, a silly and cute ordinary girl. Who would have thought... such a girl, as I thought was silly and cute, would be Mr. President’s beloved."
Lu Ziqing spoke earnestly, this solemn way of speaking... was not really his style, it was just, he had just watched a movie.
Watching Song Lili’s complex expression, his heart was also filled with mixed feelings.
"The President’s wife, the highest-ranking woman in G country, adorned with supreme glory and the most dazzling halo, bestowed with a myriad of adorations... A young, capable, and extraordinarily handsome man like President Wen Nian, becoming the President’s wife is a very tempting status..."
"Brother Lu, I’m not interested in the role of the President’s wife."
"I don’t want to be any President’s wife and, Brother Lu, don’t think Mr. President fancies me so much. There are too many things in this world that, on the surface, seem and as people ’think’ are contrary."
Song Lili took a deep breath.
"Do you dare to say... that you don’t like him?"
Lu Ziqing stopped walking.
Song Lili, a few steps behind, stopped ahead of him.
Wearing his military jacket, Song Lili’s short hair to her ears gave her a neat appearance...
"Song Lili, do you dare to say that you have no romantic feelings for him?"