WARNING! Tsundere President

“Your records have been all cleared while your achievement has been announced. From now on, the whole country will never pursue your past ever again.”

It was Huo Chen’s plan the whole time—especially the announcement of Wen He’s achievement. She was in fact the key person to their victory after all. Therefore, the authority approved his proposition. The news caused another round of commotion online as comments flooded each article—most of them were applause and contained positivity. There were still a handful of people who held grudges against her for “using” Huo Chen’s love back then.

They recognized what she achieved but that did not mean that they would forget what she had done to their hero before.

“…” Wen He stumbled upon the statement, only to smile wryly after.

Yeah, sure, Wen He, now you are the heroine of the country. Happily ever after with your dream prince before. Woohoo. Scream. 

… yeah scream … 

Hurray when what you have now is based upon Gu Jinzhi’s life. 

I can’t take this… 

“Ma’am?” Yang Yi was expecting her to at least put on a bright smile but it turned out that she was not happy, not even the slightest. He thought she was the air-headed, hot-tempered woman who expressed every joy and fury on her face but—she seemed to have changed.

He took a look at Huo Chen, spent the next minute to word his thoughts but it still came out vague, “Huo Chen, considering your work, the military will no longer interfere with your *certain decision*.”

It was immediately understood as Huo Chen nodded, beaming at Wen He.

“Thank you, sir.” He then led Wen He to the camp, during which she asked, “When is Gu Jinzhi’s funeral?”

“That’ll be tomorrow.”

The capital was on a rather warm season back then. The body could not be stored for long.

“Okay…” She closed her eyes, “I’ll be there.”

“Alright.” And then they silently headed to the apartment next to the camp. Both of them had hardly exchanged a word as Wen He sneaked into the bedroom straight after dropping her boots at the porch. She let the door weakly shut itself as the tapping sound rang like her entity. She sat at the edge of the bed, lifted her legs so that she could wrap her knees. For the next few hours, her posture remained the same. Before she could notice, daybreak arrived and she was lying over her bed, all curled up.

They had to attend the funeral and she picked a random dress, put on her lipstick briefly before heading out in Huo Chen’s car to the airport.

The hall was deserted when they arrived at the city. There was only Gu Jinzhi’s portrait surrounded by yellow flowers on the white porcelain table next to which the butler stood. They both exchanged brief greetings and Wen He did not even dare to lay her sight upon the man in the portrait. According to the butler, the actual grave was at a rather secluded spot in the rural area to the west.

The same situation was encountered at the hall that they reached first. The place was empty. There were no guests.

“Mister.” Wen He greeted upon seeing the butler, all alone, standing next to the tombstone again.

“Ma’am.” He bowed and forced a smile.

She walked a few steps ahead and her head regretfully lowered as if dropped, “I’m sorry!”

“It’s what the young master has decided. I won’t blame you.” The butler shook his head.

“It was because of me…”

“…” The butler did not respond to her statement, only to pass her the stack of paper money as offerings. She squatted and gradually added the papers into the burning pot. The gentle breeze slid through her face and brought the burned ashes into the sky, leading her to make the first eye contact with the man in the portrait.

Gu Jinzhi was still the perfect gentleman with refined features in the frame.

A kind of nobility she remembered.

She also remembered—the final look of his when he fell into her embrace, all pale and lifeless—during which she could no longer hold her years.

“Gu Jinzhi…” She took a deep breath, “Why are you so kind with me?” She squatted down to the height of his tomb.

We have—*we had* been friends. Really close friends. So close on words yet behaving like acquaintances. You were my boss, my friend, the annoying man who made jokes on the worst timing.

But why? Why would you choose to save me over yourself? I’m not that important to you, am I? 

Gu Jinzhi, what were you thinking, I wonder? 

Those final words you uttered to me, those out-of-context jokes you said— what is this feeling inside me? 

Why, Gu Jinzhi? 

I’ll never know the answer… 

Now that you’re gone.

Wen He thought as her fingers stroked the framed photo on the tomb. They slid down to fondle the engraved name below for the next hour.