Wen Shuyu had been assigned to assist Pei Jiangchen a little over half a month ago.
At that time, Pei Jiangchen had just been dumped by his high school girlfriend—a girl of mixed French and Soviet heritage. She had left him because she simply couldn’t tolerate the endless stream of rivals vying for his attention, nor could she bear his lack of attentiveness and consideration.
“Jason, I know you aren’t a man who plays the field. But what I want isn’t just loyalty; I want thoughtfulness and care. I want you to focus on me, be mindful of my moods, and provide me with emotional support.”
She was a beautiful girl from a family of artists who had studied classical music since childhood; her speech and mannerisms were always elegant and refined. Even while voicing her grievances, she maintained a graceful posture, her long, slender neck held high like that of a proud swan.
For a young man—even a ‘crown prince’ figure like Pei Jiangchen—having such a classy girlfriend was a real point of pride.
So, instead of acting on impulse and snapping at her right then and there, Pei Jiangchen carefully considered her complaints before asking, “But why do you need someone else to constantly focus on you, look after you, and provide emotional support? Can’t you stand on your own two feet? You’re eighteen, after all.”
That remark sent Elena storming off to Paris, effectively relegating Pei Jiangchen to the status of ‘ex-boyfriend.’
“She didn’t slap you?” Lian Yi roared with laughter upon hearing the story. “Look, while I think Elena was a bit full of herself, what you said was truly infuriating. If you’d just said a few soothing words—even if you were just humoring her—things wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Pei Jiangchen had never lacked girls throwing themselves at him, ever since his kindergarten days. Elena was just one in a long line of girlfriends, but she was the most impressive—and the one who made other guys the most envious.
That was why he decided to buy a diamond necklace and fly to Paris to win her back.
His high school finals were over, and he had already been accepted early into the Capital Naval and Land Academy six months prior. Although, as a highly valued scion of his family, he still had plenty of private tutoring sessions to attend, he happened to have a short break right then. However, his grandfather Pei Hao flatly refused his grandson’s request.
“I’ve just reviewed the report from the State Security Bureau; the recent activities of ‘Laia‘ have intensified again.”
As the head of a vast clan and a battle-hardened soldier with a distinguished military record, Old Man Pei never raised his voice; yet, his deep, resonant tone and steady manner could effortlessly command everyone’s undivided attention.
“The Legislative Council is convening soon, and it’s clear that Bill No. 7 won’t pass. Consequently, the situation is likely to remain unstable throughout the end of the year. I need you to stay put in the capital and take your security detail with you whenever you go out.”
Although the nation had been established for decades, the flames of war had never been completely extinguished on this island country.
Beyond the fierce, high-stakes political infighting between the two major parties, there was also the frequent activity of a radical group known as the ‘Laia.’
Backed by overseas forces, the Laia had once been brazenly aggressive. They launched terrorist attacks against civilians, assassinated high-ranking government officials and their families, and robbed banks and cutting-edge research institutes…
Twelve years ago, they stormed a nuclear physics laboratory at Suman National Defense University; after failing to seize nuclear materials, they shot and killed a professor and three of his students.
That professor was Pei Jiangchen’s father, Pei Jiakai.
So, when the old man cited this reason, Pei Jiangchen had no choice but to swallow the words he had been about to speak.
Like any young man, he possessed a rebellious streak and the drive to act on it, but on this particular issue, he always deferred to the old man before him.
Perhaps as a way of making amends, Old General Pei had given the young man named Wen Shuyu to his grandson.