The guests in the Flowing Wind Slope Club maintained almost standard smiles as they looked at the emcee on the stage. From time to time, they would respond to the emcee's topic, making the smiles on their faces bigger or laughing out loud. As for whether they actually listened to those words, no one knew.
Shi Qinghai naturally wasn't in the mood to listen to this nonsense. His eyes lifted from the three ancient letters "LFP" embroidered on the white tablecloth and fell on Xu Le's face, confirming that he was still looking at the table in front of the rostrum. He said sarcastically, "She's not your woman. What's there to be upset about? The committee made her Nan Mingxiu's female companion. It's not as bad as you think. Your ex-girlfriend's beautiful appearance is mainly to fight back against the Federation's accusation of kidnapping. "
Xu Le glanced at him.
Shi Qinghai played with the stem of his cup and said, "I checked before I came. Last autumn's hearing and last month's second appearance made Zhang Xiaomeng very popular with the people of the Federation. She even felt like the spokesperson of the organization … Her appearance today is naturally to let the officials of the Federation and the media see that the young people who believe in George Carlinism … are all willing, not brainwashed by the mountain. "
"You should also believe in George Carlin," Xu Le said.
"I believe in them, but I didn't join them for some ideology. Do you remember the letter I left you? " Looking at Chairman Jin Jifan and President Pabre on the rostrum, his face suddenly calmed down, and there was a trace of regret between his charming eyebrows.
"In the past, the Federation heartlessly hurt my life, so I want to make this Federation better. People have to do something … But looking at these scenes that I would never have thought of in the past, I suddenly feel that I don't understand."
"In fact, I've always wondered if George Carlin, who is worshipped by countless people in the Federation, could be … someone I know."
The light of the giant crystal chandelier was soft and magnificent, but when it reached their table, it became a little dull, casting shadows on Xu Le's ordinary face. He said in a very soft voice, "It's just that this idea is too ridiculous. Although that guy's teeth are all rotten, he doesn't look that old."
Just as the two of them were sighing with mixed feelings, the charity banquet continued its own program and began to enter the auction process. The seats in the hall of Flowing Wind Slope Clubhouse were all fixed in advance. Only the worst seats in the outermost circle were not so strict. Of course, the guests sitting in such seats were not important figures.
Even so, the guests sitting at Xu Le's table were still famous people from South Dakota, Darcy, Hong Kong, and other places. What was even more amazing was that in the auction segment, the people who really raised their cards and threw money were all from these remote corners. It was probably because these people had money and status, but they had always lacked the opportunity to get close to the core of the federal power.
In this charity auction, the two items with the highest price were a windbreaker donated by President Pabre and a gun carried by the leader of South Water.
The dark windbreaker had accompanied the dark-skinned Mr. President on that tattered military transport aircraft. On a certain New Year's night, it flew directly to Green Dragon Mountain Airport and witnessed the birth of the Federation's reconciliation agreement. It had great historical significance on an occasion like this, and it was also particularly in line with the theme of today's banquet. As for the gun donated by the leader of South Water, it was full of rich symbolic meaning. The leader of the anti-government army had even handed over his gun. What did this mean …
Warm and sincere applause resounded in the hall.
Then came a series of award ceremonies. The special investigation team of the legal department and the editorial department of the Capital Daily received the Federation's special medal. Looking at Prosecutor Xiao Wenjing who excitedly received the award from Mr. President, Chief Editor Bob who had a calm expression, and reporter Wood who was still somewhat immobile, the audience was silent for a moment, and then there was warm applause.
Everyone knew what this special award ceremony represented. The people who received the award on the stage were the staunch promoters and investigators of the Medellin project. It was because of their tireless efforts that the Federation was able to nail Senator Medellin to the pillar of shame twenty days ago.
And to receive the award on such an occasion, there was no doubt that the Federation government and the anti-government army of Green Dragon Mountain had reached a consensus on this matter. It was even possible that it was because of this matter that the peace agreement between the two sides was signed so smoothly.
Xu Le and Shi Qinghai looked at each other. Looking at the excited Xiao Wenjing and the two respectable media people on the stage, they seriously applauded. In fact, compared to the people on the stage, the two of them should be on the stage to receive the award and bask in the warm and enthusiastic applause. It was just that no one would call their names, because the things they did would never see the light of day. They could only shine in the darkness.
"I like our president more and more," Shi Qinghai said with a smile while clapping.
Hearing this familiar name, Xu Le replied with a smile, "I like him too."
President Pabre's experience in the military was very poor. He was only a legal official who followed the army. During the election, he needed to reach a reconciliation agreement with the anti-government army. The reason he was able to successfully become the president was largely because of that explosive news incident. However, this dark-skinned president still upheld the promise he made back then. He didn't even hesitate to offend the interests of the Federation to investigate the Medellin case to the end. He gave many people … including Xu Le and Shi Qinghai, a clear explanation. This kind of tenacity and bright moral character had not been seen in a politician for a long time.
Naturally, the reception couldn't always be seated. After the first half of the program ended, the service staff of the Flowing Wind Slope Club quickly and cleanly changed the venue. The dance floor in the middle was empty, and countless people in luxurious clothes began to exchange pleasantries with each other. President Pabre had already left in advance. Chairman Jin Jifan from Green Dragon Mountain and the son of the leader of Nanshui naturally became the focus of everyone's attention.
No one knew how the anti-government army from Green Dragon Mountain would enter the Federation after the reconciliation, and what kind of changes it would bring to the current political situation. No one even dared to confirm whether these mountain guerrillas could grow into some kind of political force. However, no matter if it was a politician or a businessman, they had to show their goodwill and friendliness in advance in this chaotic and uncertain situation.
Shi Qinghai held a bottle of red wine and leaned against the wall in the corner with Xu Le. He drank while watching everything unfold in a bored manner. Suddenly, he saw a waiter's hand gesture under a silver plate not far away. He narrowed his eyes and whispered something to Xu Le before leaving the scene.
Someone was looking for Mr. Shi. Xu Le leaned against the wall with his head down and held the bottle of red wine in boredom. He didn't know if he should leave. Why did the Ministry of National Defense want him to come to this reception? Who on earth wanted to see him?
He wasn't a person who liked to drink alone, and he wasn't interested in squatting in the corner and drawing circles. Although the wallpaper pattern of Flowing Wind Slope Club was beautiful and moving, he couldn't study it for too long. In particular, when he looked at the area surrounded by people in front of the reception, at the smear of blue and the proud face of the leader's son, he felt a little frustrated. He casually put down the bottle of red wine by his feet and strolled out of the hall to the side of the terrace.
The autumn night was refreshing. Occasionally, a gust of wind would come, but it actually felt a little cold. Xu Le gently held the stone railing with both hands and narrowed his eyes to look at the forest in front of him. The stars above the trees, the Charter Square across from the forest, and those ignorant five-person group statues. He was about to be quiet for a moment when he heard hesitant footsteps behind him.
…
…
He turned around and looked at Zhang Xiaomeng in the blue off-shoulder dress. After a moment of silence, he said, "Long time no see."
"Last year at the entrance of the Parliament building."
Zhang Xiaomeng looked at him with a trace of nervousness and uneasiness. Her knuckles holding the wine glass were a little white. She tidied the hair floating in front of her forehead and bravely took a step forward, getting a little closer to Xu Le.
In many cases, it was difficult for young men and women to find a topic to break the silence. Perhaps they would talk about the weather or the moon, but Xu Le.
He just calmly looked at this familiar and elegant face, thinking of the happiness, sadness, and deceit he once had. He directly said, "On the clock tower, you once said to me that you insisted on your beliefs, so you gave up on the relationship between us. If George Carlin found out that you appeared in the house of the seven great families, would he jump out of his grave in anger and scold you? "
He didn't question her deceit, nor did he describe what he had done to avenge her. He just asked this question so casually. However, it was this question that unabashedly revealed the depth of his heart about certain things.
"The late autumn night is cold. You wore a thin dress to the balcony, but you didn't have to worry about the cold … because the Tai family's clubhouse is extremely extravagant with the warm air." Xu Le reached out his hand and waved gently in the warm air. "Even the balcony has a warm air. Think about the days in Green Dragon Mountain. Isn't it very different?"
Zhang Xiaomeng lowered her head slightly to hide the moisture in her eyes. She came to the balcony to say this to Xu Le, but it seemed that Xu Le didn't want to give her a chance to speak. She tightly gripped the edge of her dress with her fists. She didn't have the calm beauty in front of the Federation's television cameras. Instead, she was more like that fake mature girl from back then who was actually very stupid and naive.
"You should know very well that it's not like that. The Empire's invasion is imminent …" she quietly explained. It wasn't clear whether she was explaining for the anti-government forces or for her own choice.
"No, it's Green Dragon Mountain that can't hold on any longer, so they chose to reconcile." Xu Le stared into her eyes and said somewhat angrily, "Don't forget, I knew about this matter from the beginning. I know it better than anyone!"
"Even if what you said is true, so what?" Xu Le looked at the girl he once loved the most and lowered his eyes slightly. With a trace of mockery, he said in a deep voice, "For the sake of faith, you can give up love. For the sake of the greater good of human society, you can give up faith. Then what exactly is there that you can't give up?"
"Faith wants you to find Tai Zhiyuan, so you go find him. Faith wants you to accompany the leader's son, so you go accompany …" Xu Le raised his head and continued in a cold voice. "In the past, your faith was Macklin. Now, your faith is Green Dragon Mountain. Have you ever figured out what faith is?"
Every word cut to the heart, every sentence harsh. Zhang Xiaomeng looked at this man's face that she had never forgotten. She was in a daze and didn't say a word. She didn't argue, nor did she get angry. She pursed her lips and smiled. Two streams of sparkling and translucent tears slid down her cheeks as she smiled.
She knew better than anyone what a warm and honest man he was, yet he said such harsh words. How deeply had she hurt him? How much suffering had she caused him?
At this moment, the balcony door was pushed open again.
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