Fu Si half-stuck his body in: "You’ve been in the restroom for so long, if you don’t come out soon, the freshly cooked lobster porridge... Uncle? What a coincidence you’re here too..."
Seeing his own uncle, Fu Si immediately stood up straight.
Song Baiyan looked at Fu Si through the mirror: "Did you ride the motorcycle over again tonight?"
"It’s just for convenience." Fu Si explained, "My mom went to celebrate New Year’s with my grandma and my younger uncle, my dad had social engagements, and my grandpa went traveling to Mauritius, leaving the only car at home taken by his assistant to be parked at the airport, so I had no choice."
Song Baiyan instructed: "When you go back later, take my car."
"What about my motorcycle?"
"I’ll have Rong Manor send it to your house tomorrow."
As his elder uncle put it that way, meaning there was no room for debate, Fu Si knew it was useless to say more and simply agreed. Once Song Baiyan left, he slipped into the restroom, asking Tang Li in a low voice, "Did my uncle say anything to you?"
Tang Li withdrew her hand from drying her cellphone: "He said you’re especially scared of slimy things, like snakes."
After they left the restroom, it took less than fifteen minutes for the card game to break up.
Watching the people behind the screen rise to their feet, Fu Si humphed, "A bunch of sycophants, playing mahjong, all scheming on how to lose to my uncle, now disbanding so suddenly, isn’t it just because of a word from my uncle? If my uncle wanted to play all night, they’d have to endure, no matter how sleepy, and gladly keep him company."
Having said that, he picked up a cup from the table, tilted his head back, and gulped down most of the soy milk, then urged Tang Li: "Hurry up and eat some more, don’t waste it."
Tang Li was already full.
Behind the screen partition, seven or eight men of various ages came out.
Song Baiyan was not the youngest among them, several were more than a decade older than him, yet even so, when he stood with those men without any screen blocking, he was still the most eye-catching, Tang Li thought, perhaps it was due to the command he had, and also the grace in every action.
Ji Ming, who had been away for a long time, also pushed the door and entered at that moment.
Seeing Fu Si and Tang Li on the sofa, Ji Ming was somewhat taken aback. Fu Si spotted the PSV in Ji Ming’s hand and immediately ran over, draping his arm over Ji Ming’s shoulder, chummy as can be, "Old Ji, what are you playing? Let’s compete sometime."
On the other side, someone volunteered to drive Song Baiyan back to Yunqi Villa, but Song Baiyan took his overcoat and refused: "With Ji Ming here, no need to trouble Director Li."
The man known as Director Li had no choice but to let it go.
Tang Li sat on the sofa, watching Song Baiyan and the others shake hands and say goodbye, comparing it to the entertainment and business sectors, the social interactions in official circles obviously required more mental effort and tested one’s perception more.
Sometimes, you may hate someone to death inside, but on the surface, you can still chat and laugh breezily.
Coming out of the private room, Tang Li and Fu Si walked together.
Watching the man talking to Song Baiyan, Fu Si murmured in Tang Li’s ear: "Definitely asking for a favor from my uncle, too embarrassed to speak up, dragging it all evening, probably can’t hold back now."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze suddenly turned towards a spot: "Isn’t that my dad? Is he here today too?"
Tang Li followed his gaze.
Indeed, it was Fu Jinliang, walking out with a few business friends.
With that, Fu Si was taken home by Fu Jinliang. As for Tang Li, Fu Si looked to his own uncle: "Uncle, you’re heading back to Yunqi Villa, and it’s on the way, could you give Tang Li a ride back to school?"