Emerging from the restroom, Tang Li had already prepared her mental draft.
In the office, two men were sitting on the sofa talking. She cast her glance at Song Baiyan, and just as she was about to take her leave, Song Baiyan, sensing her, lifted his head. His eyes were gentle as he looked towards her; his voice deep and magnetic: "Are you heading back to school now?"
"Yes." Tang Li didn’t look at the other man, and answered Song Baiyan: "Teacher Gao has some matter to attend to on Yuanhai Road. I can take a taxi back by myself."
Song Baiyan had already stood up: "I’ll have someone send you back to the school."
After saying that, he went over to the large desk and picked up the office phone to make a call.
Tang Li wanted to refuse, but the words got stuck in her throat. As she watched Song Baiyan’s broad and straight back, she realized once again that whenever she was around him, she would somehow become tongue-tied, unable to discern whether it was the age gap influencing her, or something else...
Five minutes later, Tang Li stepped into the open elevator.
When she turned to look outside the elevator, Song Baiyan was standing there with his hands behind his back, seeing her off, but until the elevator doors closed, she hadn’t said a word.
Watching the elevator reach the first floor, Song Baiyan then returned to his office.
As soon as the door was closed, Bai Yiqian couldn’t wait to ask: "Has the person been sent off?"
Song Baiyan picked up his own teacup and discovered the tea had gone cold. He poured it into the trash and brewed a fresh cup with the purple clay teapot.
"Is she the girl who called you before?" Seeing Song Baiyan leisurely pouring tea, Bai Yiqian couldn’t resist saying: "The little girl is quite pretty, just looks a bit young. But being young has its advantages, more dependent and won’t constantly check up on your whereabouts."
Song Baiyan understood his implication. While putting the teapot back, he said: "Mind your words. She is just a junior I met years ago in Diannan."
"A junior?" Bai Yiqian teased: "I don’t think she’s that young anymore, she’s already looking at you with the eyes a woman has for a man."
"You might see her as a junior, but who knows what she’s considering you as in her heart. Don’t all the young girls these days fancy older men? At her age, they just love your ’Uncle’ age bracket."
"The more you talk, the less sense you make." Song Baiyan began to give the hint to leave: "If you have nothing else, you should head back first."
"Don’t tell me you really have no idea." Leaning forward, Bai Yiqian spoke with implied depth: "You must have done something to lead her on. Between a man and a woman, there’s always that bit of business. If you ask me... it’s quite good. If she’s considered young at this age, then what about those fourteen or fifteen-year-olds in relationships?"
"If you’re interested, next time you see her, just drop a hint. Girls her age can’t withstand much temptation. Before long, without you having to take much initiative, she’ll be the one cuddling into your arms."
Song Baiyan lit a cigarette and then threw the lighter back onto the coffee table.
Bai Yiqian, perseverant in his talk: "You really should find yourself a woman. Sitting in the position of the Finance Minister, yet living like a monk. Do you know how people were gossiping about you before? They said that the wounds you received back in Diannan were so numerous, they led to problems down there..."
He was staring at the crotch of Song Baiyan’s trousers as he spoke.
Song Baiyan not only wasn’t angry, but he even smiled and tapped his cigarette ash into the ashtray: "If they can gossip like that, it surely isn’t without cause."
Song Baiyan looked up at him: "Do you want me to strip down for you to see?"
"No, no." Bai Yiqian quickly waved his hands and picked up the cup to drink water, but couldn’t contain his curiosity, worryingly looking at Song Baiyan: "Then, don’t you want to go to the hospital to check it out?"
Then, he was ushered out.