The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Xie Chenjie looked at his son, speechless for a moment.

This child isn't a little kid anymore; he's grown up.

I don't know when, but it has grown into a mountain.

Firm, composed, and with their own backbone.

He sighed again, this time with a hint of compromise in his tone.

"Your grandfather is old and has a heart condition."

Xie Chenjie put the chess piece back in the jar. "This matter... needs to be considered carefully. We shouldn't provoke him."

Xie Ci nodded: "I know, I will find a suitable opportunity to talk to Grandpa."

"Pay attention to your manner and approach when you talk."

Xie Chenjie stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to them.

"Your grandfather's generation couldn't change their mindset. You can't force them to change; you have to work on them slowly."

"Um."

After finishing the last few stitches, Xie's mother bit off the end of the thread.

He held the scarf up to the light and said, "Thank you, this one is for Fu. I'll knit you another one tomorrow. It's getting cold, Fu, so wear it during training."

The beige scarf feels smooth and thick to the touch.

He accepted the gift with a gentle tone, saying, "Thank you, Mom."

"Silly child, why are you being so polite with your own mother?"

Mother Xie stood up and gathered her knitting needles and yarn: "You two can continue. I'll go prepare dinner. Son, are you eating at home tonight?"

"it is good."

Xie's mother went into the kitchen.

The father and son were left alone in the living room again.

Xie Chenjie sat back down at the chessboard, looking at the already decided game: "You won this game."

"Dad gave in to me."

"I didn't allow it."

Xie Chenjie began to collect the chess pieces. "Your playing style has changed. Before, you were good at defending but not good at attacking. Now... with something you have to defend, you're more decisive in your moves."

Xie Ci helped put away the chess pieces without saying a word.

"That child, Fu Hua,"

Xie Zhenguo suddenly said, "Next time, bring him home for a meal, and I'll meet him."

Xie Ci paused, then looked at his father.

Xie Chenjie didn't look at him, focusing only on collecting the black and white pieces: "Your mother is right. What era are we living in? Your mother and I went through the same thing back then."

The chess piece fell into the jar with a clinking sound.

As darkness fell outside the window, the streetlights began to illuminate the scene.

The sound of chopping vegetables came from the kitchen, and Xie's mother hummed "Sweet Honey" softly.

Xie Ci suddenly recalled that snowy night when Fu Hua played the cello.

The piano music was clean and resilient, just like her.

There will be many obstacles ahead.

Grandpa's attitude, the existence of the Xu family, the complexities of the Fu family...

He is not afraid.

Just like playing chess, as long as the goal is clear,

If you take it one step at a time, you'll always find a way to break the deadlock.

He absolutely had to win this game.

.........

New buds are sprouting from the plane trees at Peking University, and more than half a month of Fu Hua's university life has already passed.

Every day, I go between the classroom, the library, and the laboratory.

The days are as regular as a precision instrument.

It was Friday, and she had just walked out of the teaching building carrying two thick-covered textbooks.

Then I saw Xie Ci standing under the sycamore tree by the roadside.

Their military uniforms were crisp and straight, the epaulets gleaming softly in the warm sunlight.

"Comrade Xie, are you not busy today?"

Fu Hua walked over and smiled brightly.

"Come pick up classmate Fu."

Xie Ci took the book from her hand and said naturally, "The communications company is having a dinner party tonight, and Company Commander Yang specifically asked you to come."

Fu Hua raised an eyebrow: "Is it inappropriate for me to go to a military dinner?"

"You're the technical advisor for the communications unit, how can you be unsuitable?"

Xie Ci paused for a moment, then said, "I'm just a messenger. If you don't want to go, I'll go back and talk to the company commander, and I guarantee he won't have any objections."

Fu Hua thought for a moment.

I received several months' worth of military allowances, but I could count the number of times I actually went to solve problems on one hand.

They invited me sincerely; it would be pretentious to refuse.

"Go."

She asked, "What time?"

"6:30, the small canteen of the state-run restaurant."

"I'll go back to my apartment first and change my clothes."

The spring sunshine was warm, and a gentle breeze caressed her face. Fu Hua sat in the jeep, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying the moment.

He glanced back after saying thank you, and couldn't help but smile.

At 6:30, the jeep stopped in front of the restaurant.

Following Xie Ci, Fu Hua entered the small canteen in the backyard of the state-run restaurant.

There were already seven or eight people inside, all familiar faces.

Several key members of the communications company, including Company Commander Yang Yu, were also present.

"Consultant Fu, you've finally arrived!"

Yang Yu stood up, his voice booming, "Quickly, sit here! We've been waiting for you!"

Fu Hua smiled and nodded, her gaze sweeping across the edge of the table before she suddenly paused.

I also saw the thank-you note.

His expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

There was an unfamiliar face at the table.

The female soldier, probably around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, wore her uniform impeccably.

The shoulder insignia indicate that he is a newly graduated second lieutenant.

She sat upright, her hair neatly pulled back under her military cap.

He revealed a handsome face with a touch of heroism, but unfortunately his eyes were too hazy.

Yang Yu enthusiastically introduced: "Let me introduce you, this is Comrade Xu Jing."

A top student who graduated from the National Defense University with a major in communications has just been assigned to our communications department!

Today's meal serves two purposes: first, to welcome Comrade Xu Jing; and second, it's a good opportunity for our communications company to get to know each other since we'll be working together in the future.

Xu Jing stood up and first gave Yang Yu and several veteran comrades a standard military salute.

Then, turning her gaze to Xie Ci, she smiled and said in a perfectly timed smile, "Xie Ci, it's been a long time."

Xie Ci nodded: "Xu Jing."

"You two know each other?"

Yang Yu was surprised.

Xu Jing laughed, her demeanor poised and confident: "It's more than just knowing each other. My family and the Xie family are old friends. Xie Ci and I grew up together. He wasn't as serious as he is now when he was little. Once..."

"Xu Jing".

Her words of thanks interrupted her, her voice calm.

"Let's eat first. Fu Hua, you sit here."

He pulled out the chair next to him.

Fu Hua sat down, her expression unchanged.

Xu Jing's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze lingering on Fu Hua for two seconds before she sat down as well.

Continuing from where we left off: "Once, Xie Ci climbed a tree to raid a bird's nest, but he couldn't get down. I had to run to get an adult. When Uncle Xie arrived, he saw Xie Ci up in the tree, and angrily circled around him three times before finally saying, 'You can stay up there!'"

Everyone at the table laughed.

Yang Yu joked, "I didn't expect Staff Officer Xie to be so mischievous as a child!"

Xie Ci didn't laugh. He had already stopped her once. Did she really not understand, or was she doing it on purpose?

Xie Ci turned his head to look at Fu Hua and saw that she was tidying up her napkins with no expression on her face.

My heart was pounding with anxiety.

Will she be angry?

"Comrade Fu Hua, right?"

Xu Jing took the initiative to speak, "I heard from Company Commander Yang that you are the technical advisor of the communications company and are still in school. You are so young, it's really amazing."

"You flatter me."

Fu Hua looked up at her and smiled, "Comrade Xu, you're already a fresh graduate and you've already been assigned to the communications department, that's real talent."

"No, it was all arranged by the organization."

As Xu Jing spoke, she naturally changed the subject, "By the way, Xie Ci, how is Grandpa Xie's health? I visited him last week, and he was still talking about you."

Xie Ci hummed in agreement: "That's good."

The dishes were served one after another.

Braised pork, steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a large bowl of white steamed buns.

There aren't many formalities when it comes to meals in the army. Yang Yu gave a signal, and everyone started eating.

During the meal, Yang Yu mentioned Xu Jing again: "Although Comrade Xu has just arrived, she has already helped us solve two long-standing problems! From now on, our communications company is in luck; we won't have to worry about technical issues going unresolved!"

Several veteran comrades chimed in, "Yes, Comrade Xu is highly skilled and has a great attitude!"

Fu Hua's eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up into a faint smile.