1111 Perplexed and Smitten 171 (1/2)
”Your father and I have really gotten over it. From now on, the future presidents of the country will still be members of the Tuoba family. Hence, once your Father steps down from his position, he shall hand over the duties to another qualified candidate, regardless of whether he's from the extended family or not. I understand that you're worried that having an extended family member be the president would be disadvantageous to us, but Xiaoning, I'm no longer afraid. There's nothing I fear now that I have you. If we start worrying now, wouldn't we be extremely tired all the time? I'm lucky enough to be able to reunite with you and your father. There's nothing else I have to wish for. I only hope that we'll be safe and sound for the rest of our lives.”
An Xiaoning's qualms vanished instantly, and she felt as if a boulder had been lifted off her shoulders.
”Mother, you're right.”
”Sons and daughters are all the same. You're my shoulder to lean on.”
”What's going to happen to him after you and Father move into the Autumn Palace?”
Shi Qingzhou was well aware that ”him” referred to Tuoba Rui.
”He has his own life to live too. I believe he's already prepared himself mentally for this. Xiaoning, Qingyan wanted me to bring this to you.” Shi Qingzhou handed her two bags of items and said, ”I was initially planning to bring you some clothes. However, he had beat me to it. He said that he had meticulously prepared these for you.”
An Xiaoning grabbed the bags and took out the boxes inside.
The clothes were in her favorite shade of red.
It was a long dress and a tassel cardigan that was suitable for the season.
The other box contained a pair of stilettos.
She fell in love with them at first sight.
”They're beautiful,” Shi Qingzhou complimented.
An Xiaoning agreed, ”Yes. Mother, Qingyan has always had great taste in clothing and a good sartorial sense. What time does the ceremony begin?”
”In an hour from now. It's time I changed into my outfit and dolled myself up. After we change into our outfits, there'll be professional makeup artists to help us with our makeup.”
—
Needless to say, all television channels in the nation would have to broadcast a live-stream of the ceremony, so as to raise awareness about the change of presidents.
Many of the citizens were watching the live-stream.
Fang Erlan was no exception. She sat on the couch and focused all her attention on the live-stream, keeping her eyes peeled to the television screen.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chenyang sat beside her with one arm on the couch. He was focusing his attention on Fang Erlan instead.
He was not in the least bit interested in what was going on in the live-stream.
Despite being extremely focused on the live-stream, she could not help but be a little distracted by his intense gaze.
”Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
”We'll have to go to the television studio later.”
”So?”
”I'm wondering where I should sleep at night once we join the unit.”
”In your own room, of course. There are surveillance cameras everywhere in the hotel that we'll be staying in. To everyone else, you're only my cousin and my bodyguard. Please be mindful of that and know your limits.”
”Know my limits? I don't.”
”If you don't, I can teach you.”
Xiao Chenyang shifted his gaze onto the television screen and said, ”Isn't that Hua… isn't that An Xiaoning?”
Fang Erlan cocked her head toward the side to face the screen and exclaimed excitedly, ”Ah! Sis Xiaoning is on television too. She's really beautiful, isn't she?”
”She's so-so.”
Glowering at him, Fang Erlan rebuked, ”What? So-so? Are you blind?”
He did not answer her and instead continued smiling. Baffled, Fang Erlan remarked, ”What are you smiling about? Weirdo.”