Rebirth: I Became Mr.President's Beloved-Chapter 1142: Mr. Song Asks: When Do You Plan to Come Back?
Tang Li took the cellphone and put it to her ear.
Before she could say anything, Song Baiyan spoke first, clearly having heard her ask Yuan Qin for the phone: "Why did you suddenly want to talk to me again?"
"..." Tang Li blushed at her fickleness, the indulgence evident in the man’s steady words also filled her heart with a greater desire to confide.
She wanted to tell him about Li Ruan’s arrival, yet when the words reached her mouth, she swallowed them back down.
She hadn’t forgotten, Song Baiyan was meeting the Siamese Prime Minister that morning, surely busy all day.
If she mentioned the Li Family’s matters now, it would just mean occupying Song Baiyan’s rest time.
So she changed her tone: "Are you at Tan Palace tomorrow?"
Song Baiyan said: "Is the cat being naughty again?"
Tang Li: "......"
Her little thoughts were clearly being thoroughly pondered over by the adult.
But Song Baiyan was accommodating her.
Even though he saw through her act, he was willing to go along with her.
This time, however, she didn’t plan to use the same trick again.
Tang Li recalled her overly deliberate performance from a few days ago, felt her face heating up more, glanced at Yuan Qin, and turned away: "The cat is very obedient, it’s the persimmons behind the villa that are ripe, I thought tomorrow morning I’d take Song Jingtian to school and, by the way, pick two baskets to take to Tan Palace."
Thinking of the astringent green persimmons on the hillside, Yuan Qin: "..."
Even if you pick them and ripen them overnight, it probably won’t be in time.
Although the persimmons are red like fire in September, this ’September’ refers to the lunar September.
And now, it’s only late lunar August.
What he knew, the gentleman naturally was clear about it too.
Originally thinking the gentleman would correct the madam, but instead he heard the madam say, "Then tomorrow I’ll drop by Tan Palace."
Which means—
The gentleman also believed the persimmons on the hillside were already ripe.
Yuan Qin: "......"
Tang Li hung up the phone, turned around, and handed the cellphone back to Yuan Qin.
When Yuan Qin took back the phone, Tang Li also instructed him, "Uncle Tan might not have rested yet, when you go downstairs, please tell him to send someone to pick two baskets of persimmons."
"Those persimmons don’t seem to have ripened yet." Yuan Qin couldn’t help but remind her.
"I know."
Tang Li looked very matter-of-fact: "After picking and putting them in the basket, add some bananas and apples, they’ll ripen in a few days."
Yuan Qin: "..."
After Yuan Qin left, Tang Li closed the room door.
Li Ruan didn’t appear again.
At night, Tang Li lay in bed, continuing to digest Ruan’s words.
As long as Isa remains at large, her grandfather will never be exonerated.
This was the message Li Ruan conveyed to her.
Probably also under Li Hao’s instruction.
Kun’s people believed she knew how to refine because her grandfather was a genius at refining.
Despite knowing she still had relatives in distant lands, Tang Li’s emotions didn’t fluctuate much, nor did she have a strong urge to return, perhaps because in this lifetime, she is no longer a rootless drifter, having already found a harbor that can shelter her.
Sitting up against the headboard, she took Tang Yin’s picture again.
Gazing at her mother’s full moon photograph from back then, Tang Li couldn’t help but wonder—
Thirteen years ago, if Tang Shen had successfully been rehabilitated, could Tang Yin have avoided that tragedy?
But then again, she was unwilling to make such assumptions.
If she and her mother had been brought to Siam by the Li Family early on, then years later, who would rescue the drowning and unconscious Song Baiyan?
Even if other villagers saved him, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t hand him over to the drug dealers who raided the village.
Or perhaps—
If he was saved by another young girl, would she then have no involvement?
Ultimately, in this world, it’s impossible for everything to be perfect.
Next morning, when Tang Li carried two fruit baskets onto the car, Song Jingtian saw about a dozen green persimmons, secretly sulking—they were originally meant to be ripened for persimmon cakes.
Live-streaming their sale would have cost nothing, could be considered a no-profit business.
Unexpectedly, Tang Li targeted them first.
Finding out the persimmons were being sent to Tan Palace, the little guy reached for a banana: "My older brother and mother don’t eat persimmons, don’t send them anymore."
Tang Li pushed his hand aside, saying matter-of-factly: "I like sending them."
Song Jingtian: "..."
Back and forth between the two, Tang Li noticed the little fellow seemed off today.
She cast her gaze on the lower half of Song Jingtian’s face: "Why wear a face mask in this weather?"
"..." Song Jingtian rolled his eyes in frustration.
Of course, he wasn’t going to tell Tang Li that when he glanced in the mirror that morning, he discovered someone had drawn a pig nose on him, and it couldn’t be washed off.
Fearing he’d cry, unknown who did the unscrupulous thing.
Later on, he found a sticker by the bedside.
With words written on it.
——Special medicated water, lasts for seven days.
The somewhat messy handwriting immediately indicated it came from a man’s hand.
He changed clothes, put on the mask, held the paper, and before Tang Li came downstairs, he asked all the men at the villa to write ’special medicated water lasts for seven days,’ but didn’t find a matching script.
Uncle Tan also said that after ten last night, nobody went upstairs.
The surveillance confirmed this.
So, he could only swallow this dumb loss.
After delivering Song Jingtian, Tang Li arrived at Tan Palace by seven-thirty in the morning.
Carrying the fruit basket, she passed security and went straight to the second floor.
At this time, Aunt Min was already setting breakfast in the dining room, Tang Li set down the two baskets of persimmons and didn’t head to the master bedroom, instead going to the tea room to juice oranges.
Aunt Min went to the kitchen to retrieve forgotten doughnuts, and Tang Li placed a pitcher of orange juice on the table.
Just as she was about to return to the tea room for some cups, a perfectly moderated force covered Tang Li’s shoulder, and from the corner of her eye, a steel watch regularly worn by a man entered her view.
Tang Li pursed her lips and stood rooted at the table.
From the dining room entrance, Xiao Minglan and Aunt Min’s voices came closer from afar.
Song Baiyan placed his hand on her shoulder, lingering just two or three seconds, yet Tang Li felt as if a century had transpired; when Song Baiyan and Xiao Minglan exchanged greetings, the residual warmth on her shoulder made her feel as if Song Baiyan’s hand had never left.
Seeing Tang Li return, Xiao Minglan inevitably asked about her work.
"It’s almost done." Tang Li half replied, while serving Xiao Minglan some orange juice.
When she moved to Yunqi Villa, her reason was to record a variety show near Fengyun Mountain, making staying at the villa more convenient.
After Xiao Minglan finished breakfast, she got up and took Aunt Min to the garden.
For a moment, the dining room had only two people left.
Tang Li extended her chopsticks, picked up a piece of potato pancake, Song Baiyan watched her eat with relish, still a bit like a bird pecking at food, yet not lethargic like previous days, still finding reasons to return, indicating a lingering attachment here.
Though chewing on a potato pancake, Tang Li noticed Song Baiyan had already set down his knife and fork.
Then, Song Baiyan initiated the conversation: "After nearly a week at the villa, when are you planning to come back?"
——
Li Ruan’s grandfather is actually Li Hao’s cousin, I made a mistake before, consider it corrected now.
Thanks to those who reminded and caught my errors, love you all! More Chapters will be added tonight.
