Rebirth: I Became Mr.President's Beloved-Chapter 1188: All You Can Bring to Tang Li Is Danger
The video call ended, and Guo Li handed over the files in his hand.
Song Baiyan took the Xue family’s dossier, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and, under the light of the overhead incandescent lamp, began to read about Xue Ya’s personal background.
This man was chosen by himself.
Originally intended for his use, now has become a sharp knife pointed at him.
Ji Ming believed some matters could no longer be delayed, and proactively spoke: "Sir, when Yuan Qin encountered trouble, he sent me a short recording."
It was probably sent secretly when Xue Ya wasn’t paying attention.
Yuan Qin’s severe injuries likely had something to do with exposing Xue Ya.
As a Special Agent, Yuan Qin was competent.
Upon realizing Xue Ya was no longer loyal to his sir, he chose to deliver the message at the first instant.
However, as a bodyguard, Yuan Qin undoubtedly made a grave mistake this time.
...also violated his sir’s strict rules.
His sir sent him to accompany his wife to Chiang Mai Prefecture, and Yuan Qin should have prioritized her safety over taking matters into his own hands.
Following orders is the duty of a soldier.
Even if Yuan Qin acted for his sir, he still violated the discipline.
The recipient of Yuan Qin’s audio message was two people, with Ji Ming being merely his ’backup plan.’
Ji Ming received the message, and Song Baiyan naturally saw it too.
Or else, he wouldn’t have connected it to Jin Lihua.
Li Hao mentioned in the video call that Xue Ya was shot at the airport by a bodyguard around Tang Li; without asking further, Song Baiyan guessed the whole story—
Xue Ya had seen Yuan Qin before.
Agents have extraordinary memory.
Upon realizing no escape was possible, Yuan Qin took desperate measures to attempt to eliminate Xue Ya on the spot.
The tragedies in Xue Ya’s family, though sympathetic, cannot justify his treachery against the nation.
Tang Li returned to Siam, not truly followed only by Yuan Qin.
However, the others dispatched by Song Baiyan encountered interception midway.
This shows Xue Ya’s plan to kidnap Tang Li wasn’t on a whim.
It was premeditated and planned.
Even more meticulously than the scheme in Diannan five years ago.
Back then, he was Finance Minister, and demolition was tied to national finance.
Xue Ya’s hatred towards him, now appears to have a long history.
Regarding Qin Wenwa mentioned by Li Hao.
Song Baiyan slowly closed the file, Li Hao admitted orchestrating the Steinway Primary School accident because Qin Wenwa wanted to bring back his grandson, while Song Jingtian happened to ’perish’ in the explosion; as Li Hao described, Qin Wenwa’s age seems extremely similar to Jin Lihua...
Xue Ya’s betrayal forces one to consider who might be behind it.
"Sir, I can lead a team to Nanwa." Ji Ming proposed.
He heard all of Li Hao’s words earlier.
—The wife is currently in Nanwa State.
Nanwa State belongs to the Wa State Army, which has always managed itself independently, not under Burma’s official control.
The previous village is incomparable to Nanwa State.
Wa State Army is Burma’s strongest local armed force, boasting tens of thousands of troops.
Sir can go to the village to retrieve people, but cannot venture recklessly into Nanwa State.
The opponent’s intention in abducting the wife is still unclear.
If the opponent is targeting the sir, it would be difficult for him to retreat safely from Nanwa.
This is a risk that cannot be taken.
However, Ji Ming’s suggestion went unresponded.
Just as Song Baiyan placed the files back on the long table, the meeting hall door was knocked, and Guo Li went to open it. A clerk from the secretary’s office, when asked by Guo Li about the matter, replied, "The booth called in, saying a local Councilman named Han Jifeng is outside, requesting to see the sir."
These days, the sir has been busy handling the Steinway incident, with no time to meet local politicians.
Just as Guo Li intended to dismiss the clerk, he heard the sir’s instruction—
"Bring him to the garden."
Han Jifeng had anticipated possibly not seeing Song Baiyan today.
But the riot at Chiang Mai Airport was still vivid in his mind.
Even though the online discussion was deliberately suppressed, news of a certain Tang-named female star from S Country being abducted at a Siamese airport still spread unnoticed.
Under the V BBS topic #Chiang Mai Airport Riot#, self-proclaimed eyewitness netizens commented that the star’s bodyguard was shot multiple times, currently still being rescued in the hospital, and as for the star, she was dragged onto a helicopter by the culprits, likely headed to some Southeast Asian corner to grow sugarcane.
Currently, there aren’t many Tang-named female artists in the entertainment circle.
Not long ago, Tang Li disappeared for a few days during the recording of a parent-child program.
Han Jifeng had an old classmate working within the Yun Province public [0] security system, who later revealed to him that Tang Li was indeed kidnapped but was rescued by the border forces, along with the child named Xiao Huawan. However, this matter was instructed from above to not be explored further, or else disciplinary actions would follow, and even the case record had been deleted.
Knowing the inside story, it’s hard not to connect this Chiang Mai riot to Tang Li.
Northern Myanmar and Chiang Mai Prefecture are not far apart.
Seeing the clerk come out, Han Jifeng suppressed his doubts.
Upon entering the garden, he immediately saw Song Baiyan.
Song Baiyan was standing with his hands behind his back, in front of a cluster of violet flowers, with no second person around. Hearing footsteps, Song Baiyan turned and said, "Here?"
The Steinway incident seemingly hadn’t affected Song Baiyan.
Unlike his serious demeanor on TV, at present, Song Baiyan appeared calm and composed.
For a brief moment, it made Han Jifeng suspect—suspect that the female star in the Chiang Mai Airport incident wasn’t Tang Li.
Yet he soon shrugged off this layer of doubt.
In politics, who doesn’t have multiple misleading facades?
The more calmly composed Song Baiyan appeared, the more Han Jifeng was convinced the rumors were true.
Facing Song Baiyan, he had long chosen to be ’open and upfront,’ so directly meeting Song Baiyan’s deep eyes, Han Jifeng straightforwardly stated, "Tang Li encountered trouble at Chiang Mai."
It wasn’t a question but a factual confirmation.
Song Baiyan did not deny it.
A few seconds later, he spoke: "When Xu Junwen promoted you, it seems he was negligent."
This was implying Xu Junwen did not teach him the rules.
Han Jifeng did not defend himself, merely said: "The political situation in Southeast Asia is complex, often intertwined with bandits, and coupled with rampant drugs, if hostages are not rescued in time, I’m afraid—"
He did not mention the worst possible outcome.
"Did none of your dreams warn you about what Tang Li would face?"
In response to Song Baiyan’s question, Han Jifeng couldn’t answer.
Many events had already diverged from what he witnessed in his dreams.
"Since you can’t say," Song Baiyan issued a dismissal order: "Then you should go back for now."
As Song Baiyan intended to leave, Han Jifeng spoke again: "If the sir isn’t concerned about Tang Li, why keep her bound?"
This remark successfully made Song Baiyan pause.
Han Jifeng continued: "The sir can only bring danger to Tang Li."
In his dreams, Tang Li never experienced these.
The fact that Tang Li was with Song Baiyan was known to few, but it didn’t mean no one knew.
"As the sir launched large-scale anti-drug operations, cutting off the Golden Triangle drug lord’s financial routes, retaliation was inevitable. Among the S Country top officials, some may secretly be aiding the enemy."
