She had always felt incredibly comfortable around Lu Ziqing, closer than a friend, warmer than family, more trustworthy than a lover.
When she first arrived in Xilin, he lent her a place to stay, turning a completely foreign place into somewhere warm and familiar.
During the terrorist attack by Duan Shen, he disregarded his own safety and superior orders, charging into enemy territory alone to save her.
In the officer selection process, he bent the rules under the guise of fairness, saving her from a trap so she could pass the assessment.
Three years ago, at Wen Liangyu’s birthday banquet, had he not been there, she didn’t know where her soul would have ended up.
Over these three years, he was her instructor; through hellish training, he managed to dispel all her timidity, turning her into a brave soldier daring to charge and slay enemies on the battlefield!
He sent her to Germany for further study and allowed her to gain experience in the Navy Corps...
Tang Xiaohua looked at the lieutenant bars on her shoulders, then at the handsome young man sitting at the very front, her heart overflowing with gratitude beyond words.
The achievements she had today were all cultivated by Lu Ziqing’s own hands.
After the military rank award ceremony, she asked Lu Ziqing one extra question,
"Brother Lu, how long do you plan to stay in Anlin?"
"Why? Want to invite me to dinner?"
"Umm... I’ll have to check the time."
"You mean Mr. President’s time, right?"
Lu Ziqing smiled and said, "Go back first. I’ll contact you later. Minister Long Siyan is my mentor; we are quite acquainted."
"Okay, I’ll leave first then."
Tang Xiaohua drove away from the Anlin Military District and returned to the President Mansion at high noon.
"Mr. President is waiting for you in the dining room."
Qu Yu informed Tang Xiaohua upon her return.
Tang Xiaohua paused for a moment, then hurried to the dining room.
In the dining room, aside from a servant at the side, there was only Wen Nian sitting at a dining table, which was empty.
Wen Nian was holding a tablet, conducting a video conference with a department minister.
She greeted him and stood aside. Wen Nian looked up at her, sped up the meeting, and concluded it in a few minutes.
Putting down the tablet, he gestured,
Tang Xiaohua paused, surprised. Had Wen Nian not eaten yet?
Tang Xiaohua walked over, still dressed in her crisp Navy Corps uniform, the medals on her chest, and the lieutenant insignia on her shoulders.
She took off her military cap and wiped her hands with a damp cloth.
Tang Xiaohua looked up, meeting Wen Nian’s calm but not particularly welcoming gaze.
The interrogative tone made her uneasy.
"Commander Lu did not disappoint my expectations; after all, he has trained a group of outstanding young officers for me,"
Wen Nian stated flatly.
Food was brought from the kitchen, but Tang Xiaohua had already lost her appetite.
"The four-month mission to protect the President is over. Do you still want to go back to the ’Osprey’ assault team?"
"I’m not going back."
"Why? Do you want to stay on and continue as my personal bodyguard?"
"I will return to Xilin, to be Brother Lu’s right-hand man."
Wen Nian’s hand holding the cutlery paused, and then he continued to eat silently.
The silence made Tang Xiaohua reflect, wondering if she had been a bit too... bristly.
Taking a shallow breath, she whispered,
"Mr. President, there’s something I’d like to remind you of..."
"On March 28th, this Saturday, if there are no special circumstances, I hope Mr. President can stay inside the President Mansion and not go out,"
In her past life, the accident happened at a cinema—