Tang Xiaohua’s expression, which had been quite spirited, suddenly turned cold upon seeing Wen Liangyu.
The meeting between grandfather and grandson never seemed to have a good look about it.
Wen Nian asked, puzzled.
"The weather has warmed, and I wanted to move my old bones. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, and you haven’t come home for a meal either."
It was still the same old small talk, yet Wen Liangyu seemed to tire of it not.
"Have you had lunch yet, Grandfather?"
Wen Liangyu replied straightforwardly.
"I wonder if Grandfather minds joining us for a meal."
Wen Liangyu didn’t understand who Wen Nian meant by "us."
Without any concealment, Wen Nian continued, "Guard Tang and I had planned to have lunch together. Since Grandfather hasn’t eaten yet, why not join us?"
Wen Liangyu’s eyebrows, already graying, suddenly furrowed. He narrowed his aged eyes at Wen Nian,
"You are the President. How can you dine with your guard? You are increasingly disregarding protocol."
"If Grandfather prefers not to join us, I can have the kitchen prepare something separately for you."
Wen Liangyu exclaimed sharply.
The shout made the staff at the President Mansion all look towards the door of the President’s Office.
"So... what would Grandfather like to do?"
Wen Nian asked softly, still maintaining a conciliatory tone.
Instead of answering Wen Nian directly, Wen Liangyu turned to Tang Xiaohua, "Guard Tang, you may go have your lunch now."
Tang Xiaohua lifted her head, staring straight at Wen Liangyu without moving.
"Do you not understand what I’m saying?"
"My apologies, Mr. Elder Wen, but I am the President’s guard, naturally, I only follow his orders," Tang Xiaohua spoke gently. Wen Liangyu’s gaze remained fixed on Tang Xiaohua, and Tang Xiaohua stood her ground.
"Wen Nian, this is the subordinate you carefully selected! Does she show any respect for the rules at all!"
Wen Liangyu’s cane thudded forcefully against the floor.
"Why such anger on your visit today, Grandfather?"
"Wen Nian, you had better remove this person from your side, otherwise..."
Before Wen Liangyu could finish, Wen Nian chuckled. Wen Liangyu’s expression abruptly darkened, "What are you laughing at!"
Wen Nian stepped closer, standing beside Wen Liangyu, and whispered into his ear, "Otherwise, will Grandfather sacrifice another driver and turn Guard Tang into a charred body as well?"
Wen Liangyu’s gaze was resolute, not uttering a word, his defiant expression seemingly affirming it.
"Grandfather has always denied what happened that year, and you’ve always thought I can do nothing about you, or perhaps, that I wouldn’t place justice above familial loyalty."
"Wen Nian, are you now threatening your own grandfather for this woman who looks like Song Lili?"
"Grandfather likes to use threats, and I find that tactic quite effective, too. It certainly enables one to keep tight control over others."
"I’ve kept all the evidence from when Grandfather conspired against Song Lili very carefully."
"If Grandfather dares to touch anyone close to me, even a single hair, Wen Nian will personally make sure you end up in prison."
"..." Wen Liangyu clutched his cane tightly, the cane firmly against the ground, for he truly could not stand steady otherwise.
"Since Grandfather is unwilling to join us for lunch, Wen Nian will not wait for you."
He took a slight step back and smiled gently at Tang Xiaohua, "Let’s go have lunch... Are you hungry?"
Tang Xiaohua followed behind Wen Nian, but Wen Nian insisted on slowing down to walk with her.
"You want me to become a thorn in your grandfather’s side again?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yawning, Wen Nian replied, "With the attitude you take when speaking to your grandfather, it’s clear you’re not afraid of him."
Wen Nian was in a good mood. He tried several times to hold her hand, but she dodged each attempt, leaving him looking quite aggrieved...
Seeing this, Tang Xiaohua couldn’t help but laugh at his childishness inside, but obviously, she was not going to appease him,
"I definitely don’t want to become a thorn in even more people’s sides."
"But you are destined to become a thorn in many people’s sides."
Wen Nian took a deep breath and said earnestly.
Tang Xiaohua felt the conversation heading towards a topic she didn’t want to touch upon at the moment, so she quickly steered it away,
"Were the interviews with the reporters this morning smooth? I saw that netizens had a lot of thoughts about last night’s incident, especially your appearance at the cinema dressed like that..."
"The article Qu Yu wrote was very good, the President is also a commoner."
"...But because you were there, many people felt that the thugs targeted you, and the moviegoers were just collateral damage."
"If I were to care about every single netizen’s comment, how could I ever be President?"
"The facts speak louder than words," he continued. "The President’s Mansion has done what it needed to do, and I’ve done what I needed to do. I delegate the more trivial matters to others, as the President’s work can never be accomplished alone."
"So, if you’re determined to become the President, you must cultivate your own power base, starting with the people close to you, gradually moving up to the Cabinet, then to the entire President’s Mansion and even further outward..."
Tang Xiaohua listened intently, her curiosity piqued, "But... how can you make talented and capable people believe in and be loyal to you?"
"That... requires years of experience and accumulation."
"In that case... Old Mr. Wen really paved a solid road for you."
"So... would you say that your current behavior towards your grandfather is ungrateful?"
"..." Tang Xiaohua was seeing someone admitting this so frankly for the first time, and with a slight pride.
When they reached the restaurant, the kitchen had already prepared lunch, just waiting for Mr. President to arrive.
Four dishes and a soup, very simple and homely.
Seeing the four dishes and a soup, Tang Xiaohua couldn’t help but laugh a little.
"Why? Have your tastes changed? Don’t you like these anymore?"
"I’m laughing because I like them!"
Tang Xiaohua glanced at him, first drank a bowl of soup, ate some dishes, then added some rice.
Seeing her eating heartily, Wen Nian’s appetite also increased significantly, "I was just worried that spending too long somewhere else might change your tastes."
"Do you know what my favorite dish is?"
With an expression that suggested he wouldn’t be stumped, Wen confidently said, "Salt and pepper prawns."
Tang Xiaohua waved her chopsticks, negating it.
"Is it a taste you’ve acquired in recent years?"
"My favorite dish... is smashed cucumbers with garlic."
"Isn’t that just smashed cucumbers?"
"Yeah, but it has to be the kind made personally by my mom."
"..." Wen Nian paused briefly, then seemed to remember something, "Is it your mother’s death anniversary?"
"Saturday. It just so happens to be the final speech of the elections."