Song Lili wiped her mouth, straightened her back, and looked at him, "Wen Nian, I want to apply to a military academy. I want to join the army."
"..."
————
Wei Yuandong was called to the master bedroom again by the servants, and from afar, he could hear the intense argument inside.
Pan Qin looked towards Wei Yuandong with a panicked expression,
"Old Butler, what... who exactly is this Miss Song? How dare she argue with Mr. President like this?"
Wei Yuandong glanced at Pan Qin, his voice cold and stern,
"What you shouldn't know, don't ask. Do I need to teach you the rules of the Wen Family again?"
"Yes, yes!"
Pan Qin quickly stepped back several paces.
Wei Yuandong stood in front of the door, raising his hand to knock,
"Young Master Nian?"
Wei Yuandong's knocking and calling were drowned out by the fierce argument inside.
"This has been my dream since I was a child. I just want to join the army!"
"What dream! I've never heard you mention it. I don't agree."
Wen Nian glanced at her.
"Even if you don't agree, I'll still go. My legs are my own, no one can stop me."
"I think you just want to be dramatic!"
"Say what you want, my mind is made up."
"I'll say it again, I don't agree."
"On what grounds?"
Wen Nian narrowed his eyes, his voice low, "Because I am your husband."
"You can't even say out loud that you are my husband. Wen Nian, what kind of husband are you?"
"You…"
"One cannot be so selfish. You have your ideals, and I have mine. If the cost of marrying you is to give up all of my dreams and beliefs, then I refuse to marry. I change my mind."
"What did you say?"
"Wen Nian, if you really think about it, the Wen Family doesn't like me, doesn't support us being together. Your citizens have huge expectations for your marriage, almost as much as for your political achievements. There are so many opposing voices outside, we really should listen to them. Maybe most of them... make sense."
Song Lili looked at him, speaking so logically that Wen Nian was at a loss for words.
Wasn't this all agreed upon? How could she change her face overnight?
Wen Nian didn't know who the woman in front of him really was...
"What's wrong with you? How can such words come out of your mouth? Fine, I guarantee, I promise that nothing will interfere with our arrangements, okay?"
He looked much younger, his face clean and unlined. He didn't look like a president, but rather more like a top-quality star, his noble lineage seeping out from his bones.
Song Lili took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the mixed feelings inside her as she faced him,
"I want to apply to a military academy, no other demands."
Wen Nian also took a deep breath, calming himself down, wanting to reason with her,
"The international political situation is unstable now. Our country and neighboring countries have ongoing minor conflicts, and a war could break out at any moment in the next few years."
"I know."
That was exactly why she wanted to join the military.
Wen Nian's judgment on both domestic and international situations was always accurate.
His eyebrows furrowed, his gaze from above falling on her, his eyes darkening as he called her full name,
"Song Lili!"
In the past...
She had always been afraid when he called her like this, it meant she had done something wrong and he had caught her, it had always been like this...
But this time, she was not intimidated by his authority, she firmly said,
"I want to apply to the military academy. I want to join the army."
The door was slammed shut, leaving only Song Lili inside the room.
She loosened her clenched fists, her standing body seemed to unwind, and she sat back on the chair like a fool.