"Do you really plan to travel around for an entire year?"
"So, does that mean I won’t see you for a whole year?"
"The men of the Wen Family have the world in their hearts and their minds on the state. They wouldn’t be so caught up in personal emotions, would they?"
"Haha, even you’re spouting such cold and lofty words, Xiao Li."
Song Lili couldn’t quite detect the emotions in Wen Nian’s words.
Cold and lofty words? But in her view, they were the truth.
"I don’t want to talk anymore; I’m a bit tired today."
Song Lili just wanted to end the call quickly, and thankfully, Wen Nian didn’t prattle on.
Wen Nian hung up the phone just as Wei Yuandong happened to come in carrying coffee and snacks, casually asking, "You haven’t gotten through to Xiao Li’s phone yet?"
"Oh? Is Xiao Li’s trip going smoothly? Is she enjoying herself?"
Wen Nian leaned back in the leather chair with the coffee and laughed quietly.
Wei Yuandong couldn’t quite understand that laugh.
"Uncle Wei, what kind of world tour is she on if she hasn’t even left the country?"
Wen Nian’s lips curled into a smile as he sipped his coffee.
Wei Yuandong looked at Wen Nian, astonished, "Xiao Li didn’t go abroad? Then where did she go?"
"Xilin?!" Upon hearing this place name, Wei Yuandong became uneasy, "That place isn’t stable at all now!"
Wen Nian said indifferently, the smile slowly fading from his eyes, revealing unfathomable thoughts.
That was Xilin; any day without news from her left him restless.
Especially because it was Xilin...
"What’s Xiao Li doing there?"
"Xilin Military Academy."
Wen Nian stated simply.
Wei Yuandong gasped again, "She really wants to apply to the military academy? Really wants to be a soldier that much?"
"Yes, she’s gone to a place out of my reach for the time being."
Wen Nian set down his coffee cup.
Wei Yuandong glanced at Wen Nian’s expression and ventured, "Young Master Nian... when did you find out?"
"From the moment she boarded the train to Xilin."
"Knowing all along, yet pretending to be clueless..." Wei Yuandong was increasingly puzzled by this young couple.
"Uncle Wei, I can only share my true feelings with you..." Wen Nian sighed softly, "There might be a problem between Lili and me."
"I don’t know exactly where the problem is, but I can feel it. She’s avoiding me, even deliberately distancing and neglecting me."
"Maybe you’re overthinking it, Young Master Nian. Perhaps Xiao Li really does want to join the military and fears you wouldn’t agree, so she..."
Wen Nian stood up and walked to the window behind him. Under the dark gray night sky, a bright light illuminated the red bellflowers below, making them appear vehemently vibrant. He murmured,
"Uncle Wei, probably only you know how much I like her."
"That’s true. I’ve watched you and Xiao Li grow up together, from naive teenagers into loving partners."
"When she learned to walk, I was afraid she’d fall; when she began to speak, I was afraid she wouldn’t call out my name, so I taught her over and over... When she went to kindergarten, I was afraid she’d cry, so I skipped class to watch her secretly; when her father remarried, I was afraid she’d be sad, so I stayed with her day and night. As she grew more and more attractive, I feared others would take notice... I joined the military out of fear that she would forget me; I ran for President out of fear that she would drift away from me... Now that I am Mr. President, my fears are even greater... Too many to count."
"The deeper the love, the greater the fear. When love runs deep, even speaking becomes cautious... Mr. President, you love too deeply."
Wen Nian moved his lips, speaking to himself, "Twenty years... has she grown tired of me..."