Chapter 477: 448 Xiaonian, life is very long (first watch)
Despite his vague expression, Wen Nian had no difficulty in discerning his desire to resign.
Wen Nian’s gaze was fixed, his thin lips pressed together, and he found himself at a loss for words...
"How about it? Of course, as the Mayor of Anlin City, to suddenly make such a request to Mr. President must put you in quite a difficult position, right..."
Wen Nian smiled,
"At this juncture, it indeed is somewhat difficult, and I find it hard to think of a suitable successor for the Mayor of Anlin City immediately after your departure, although the Deputy Mayor is astute and competent, temperamentally, he isn’t ’my person.’"
"In a country like ours, where multiple parties govern, the struggle between political parties is an eternal issue. It’s not a concern if out of office, but while in office, one must always consider the balance between the parties."
Song Jiayu nodded and then smiled,
"I’m just mentioning it casually. From a public affairs perspective, I really should be considering for Mr. President. From a personal perspective, as your father-in-law, I ought to be supporting you even more."
Wen Nian poured tea for Song Jiayu,
"Actually, for you, being the Mayor of Anlin City is far from the end goal."
"Hahaha... because I am Mr. President’s father-in-law?"
"Dad..."
"Ah, I know, you don’t mean it that way."
Song Jiayu lightly patted Wen Nian’s back and let out a sigh, "Xiaonian, it’s shameful to say... but in some ways, I truly fall short compared to you and Lili."
"What are you talking about?"
"I’m telling the truth, what’s in my heart."
Holding the tea cup in both hands, hunching slightly, his posture was one of well-worn clichés, but the words that came out had never been shared with outsiders.
"Back in the military, I was just a Senior Noncommissioned Officer, fatefully becoming comrades with your father and receiving a life-saving favor from him. Having reached this age, from my thirties to now, it seems like I’ve been getting by better and better in Anlin, yet living increasingly tense, less and less enjoyable..."
"..."
"During these days, I’ve always been pondering what exactly one pursues in a lifetime, what I am doing in my life, and what I am chasing after..."
"Looking back, the truly joyful, delightful, and warm moments were all in Ruicheng, meeting Lili’s mom, getting to know and love each other, and standing by one another. That love was pure and fulfilling..."
"Back then, when Xiao Lan decided to marry me, her family and relatives were not very supportive, simply because being a military wife is indeed too hard."
"I was at the frontlines defending the country, while she stayed behind to watch over the home. This phrase is incredibly simple to say, yet it encompasses so much sweetness and bitterness, torment, ordeal, and waiting..."
"And yet, Xiao Lan was fearless, and Lili is like her mother, always considering others’ feelings first, often at the expense of her own. Such people are heart-wrenching, but their outcomes are not often good."
Song Jiayu’s words had struck a chord in Wen Nian’s heart.
In his past life, hadn’t Lili’s bitter death confirmed this very point?
"Truly, Xiao Lan was seriously ill, and I had no idea. She didn’t want me to worry, so she kept delaying, just kept delaying... wouldn’t you say that’s foolish?"
"...Foolish."
"After losing Xiao Lan, I really felt disheartened. I was injured in the legs during a mission and had to retire. The lump sum from the state couldn’t cover Lili’s college education. Your father suggested I move to Anlin."
"I then met Lerong, who was nothing like Xiao Lan. Xiao Lan was simple and unpretentious, the kind of girl who was truly genuine."
"Mrs. Song indeed was such a person."
Thinking of Xin Xiaolan, the fragments of memories Wen Nian had were also very warm, different from most people.
"Lerong, born into high society, was elegant and sophisticated, a naturally radiant beauty that commanded admiration and affection. She had many ideas, her own strong opinions... Her life was rich, her aspirations grand."
"After getting to know her, it felt as though I, a retired officer who could see his life’s limits at a glance, also had infinite possibilities for the future."
"I thought she truly loved my loyalty, loved me as a person, never imagining... she had long known of my connection to the Wen family."
Saying this much, Song Jiayu simply shrugged and laughed nonchalantly.
Wen Nian also realized that Song Jiayu’s current troubles didn’t arise out of thin air...
"Dad, it seems that my relationship with Lili has had a big impact on you too..."
Song Jiayu quickly waved his hands,
"Xiaonian, don’t overthink it."
He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat,
"The thing about you and Lili being together, I was just surprised, really surprised. I’ve been mingling in the official circles for years, and of course, there are those who remain true to their original aspirations and stick to their duties, but the higher you climb, the bigger people’s hearts get."
"Compared to a girl like Lili, I thought you would certainly find someone who could be of more help to you. The preciousness of childhood friendships and innocent love is often discarded in the face of power."
"What I mean by saying I’m not as good as you or Lili is exactly this... You two are so young, yet you always stick to your principles, clear about what you want most and what’s most precious."
"After I moved to Anlin from the military, and emerged from the pain of Xiao Lan’s death, I entered the gentle world of Lerong. Power and lust blinded me so much that I couldn’t even see my own daughter..."
Song Jiayu shook his head,
"If it weren’t for you, if you hadn’t held onto your relationship with Lili... tell me, what would Lili be like now?"
"There’s no such hypothetical."
Wen Nian said confidently.
Song Jiayu chuckled and looked at Wen Nian with a smile,
"Life is long... Xiaonian."
"...I know."
"Lili’s personality and temperament now are very different from when she was a child."
"Indeed."
"She might not be as obedient or clingy, and even a bit stubborn."
"Dad, I think Lili is great the way she is now."
Wen Nian stated once again with conviction.
"It’s me, this old fool... I’ve been too verbose. When I should have been caring for her, I was immersed in my own life. Now that you’re here, I’m saying all these unnecessary things..."
"Dad..."
"Hmm?"
"You’re not jealous of me, are you?"
"...Do I?"
"It sounds... a little."
Song Jiayu looked at him, his voice suddenly grew colder by two degrees, "Do I not have the right to be jealous?"
"No, not at all."
Wen Nian waved his hands repeatedly.
Song Jiayu was rarely serious, and as he watched Wen Nian’s sudden unease, his stern expression suddenly turned into a light chuckle,
"You know..."
Wen Nian also laughed along.
For Song Jiayu, Wen Nian was his son-in-law, yet also a young man he deeply respected.
Not even thirty, yet he saw through the ways of the world with incredible clarity.
Impulsive when he should be direct, decisive when it was time to make decisions, unrestrained in his love, and without regret when it was time to let go.