Seemingly afraid of Tang Li overhearing, he walked towards the kitchen and muttered into the cellphone, "I just went out for a stroll, then encountered some bad people. Luckily, I met Tang Li. I’m safe with her, so brother, you just focus on your meeting and don’t worry about me."
The dorm wasn’t big, and no matter how quietly Song Jingtian spoke, he couldn’t avoid being overheard by Tang Li and the others.
Wu Xuehan sighed, "Suddenly I feel even less competent than a child."
It wasn’t long before the little guy came back.
He handed the cellphone to Tang Li: "My big brother wants to talk to you."
Tang Li took the cellphone, and immediately Song Baiyan’s warm voice came through: "Is Jingtian causing any trouble over there?"
"..." Tang Li lifted her left hand, subconsciously fiddling with her hair by her ear, her emotions hard to describe. She turned away, leaning against the table and began, "It’s fine. He watches cartoons by himself when I’m doing homework, and Tiger Whip is very well-behaved."
"Caught a cold?" Song Baiyan asked her.
"No." Tang Li found her throat a bit dry and cleared it before continuing, "Just a bit thirsty, drinking some water will be fine."
On the other end of the phone, Song Baiyan said, "Jingtian told me that he wants to sleep over at your school dorm tonight. There’s no one at Songlin Garden these days, and he doesn’t want to go to his sister’s place."
"I’m in a double room now, it should be no problem to have a kid stay over."
As soon as she said that, Tang Li realized she agreed too hastily.
She added unnecessarily, "If he really wants to stay and his family is okay with it, I can discuss it with my roommate. If she agrees, I’ll let him sleep in my bed."
"Then, first ask your roommate for her opinion."
Tang Li covered the mouthpiece, turned her head to look at Wu Xuehan.
Wu Xuehan was crouched on a chair eating late-night snacks, the aromatic smell of stir-fried rice cakes with preserved veggies and pork wafting through the air.
Releasing the mouthpiece, Tang Li put the phone back to her ear, "She has no objections, if you’re comfortable with it, the child can stay here tonight."
"Later, I’ll send you a number," Song Baiyan’s voice seemed even more stable in the dead of night: "It’s the contact of Jingtian’s elder sister, call her if there’s anything. Tomorrow is Friday. I’ll have the driver pick Jingtian up at 7 AM for school."
"Okay." Tang Li agreed.
Song Baiyan continued: "You can also call me if there’s a problem, but I’m currently out of town, and might not be able to answer the phone during the day."
"A night should be manageable for me, no other issues, you go handle your things."
After that, both sides of the phone fell silent.
Tang Li didn’t hang up first.
Song Baiyan’s inquiry came through, "Why not hang up?"
"You hang up first," replied Tang Li.
Then, she seemed to hear Song Baiyan chuckle.
Her face grew warmer.
Through the receiver, Song Baiyan’s deep and magnetic voice rang out again: "Let’s hang up, ladies first."
The phrase "ladies first" made Tang Li’s lips curl into a smile.
Suddenly, a crashing noise came from the bathroom.
In the dorm, Song Jingtian was nowhere to be seen.
Tang Li immediately went to the bathroom.
As soon as she entered, she found Song Jingtian seated on his bottom in the shower.
The shower area was wet, and Song Jingtian was wearing just a pair of cartoon shorts, slick and slippery like a little mudfish, his head covered in white foam. Beside him swayed the shower head, clearly, shampoo had gotten into his eyes causing him to fall without notice.
Wu Xuehan muttered from the doorway, "I had no idea he sneaked into the bathroom to shower."
Tang Li had already helped him up.
She turned on the shower, adjusted the water temperature, and started to wash Jingtian’s face.