But as someone of equal standing, Zong Rulin was clearly one of the people best able to understand her.
The turmoil deep in her heart lasted only an instant before Shen Lu forcibly suppressed it.
To rise to the upper ranks of the Spokesperson for the Three Powers camp, Shen Lu had to possess considerable ability of her own, quite apart from the backing she had.
Shen Lu understood that Zong Rulin might genuinely understand her.
But his words just now had mostly been a ploy to attack her psychologically!
This "interesting piece of news" had originally been one of Shen Lu's spears, meant to try to break through Zong Rulin's defenses.
She hadn't expected that not only would the spear barely affect Zong Rulin, but he would turn the tables on her, nearly breaking through her own defenses.
As expected, old ginger really was spicier.
"Uncle Zong~ you really hit me where it hurts."
Shen Lu quickly composed herself and chided him in a half-playful, almost coquettish tone.
Not the kind of coquettishness between a man and a woman, but the sort a junior showed an elder.
At last, Zong Rulin could no longer keep his expression calm, and smiled helplessly.
Shen Lu hadn't called him "Uncle" without reason.
He had been on good terms with Shen Lu's mother—of course, that was before the civil war in the New Song Kingdom began.
As the civil war grew more intense, they found themselves on opposing sides, and their old friendship had long since faded.
But he really had watched Shen Lu grow up.
He couldn't ignore her after she called him "Uncle Zong."
"President Shen, there's no point in saying more.
As long as I'm alive, the Snow-like Defense Line won't retreat a single step."
Zong Rulin spoke gently to