The little guy took the wafer cookies, lowered his head to tear open the package, then hopped off the sofa, followed Tang Li into the kitchen while eating cookies: "Why are you the only one at home?"
"I live alone." After Tang Li spoke, she turned on the tap to wash her hands.
"You don’t spend New Year’s with your parents?"
Tang Li didn’t respond further, dried her hands, turned around and looked at him: "Once you finish the cookies, I’ll take you home."
"My butt hasn’t even warmed the seat yet, and you’re already asking me to leave." Song Jingtian was a bit dissatisfied and followed Tang Li out of the kitchen: "It’s still early, not even ten o’clock yet."
Fearing he might get thirsty from the cookies, Tang Li poured him a cup of warm water: "Your family will worry if you always run out ."
After speaking, she placed the water glass on the coffee table and picked up the synopsis of "Phoenix Concubine" to read.
The little guy leaned over: "What are you reading?"
"Something similar to a script."
Tang Li casually explained.
Song Jingtian seemed to somewhat understand and put down the bag of cookies, holding the water glass with both hands, he sat down beside Tang Li: "Are you an actress too?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Li turned her head and glanced at him.
The little guy took a sip of water and continued in his tender voice: "My previous girlfriend, who looked quite like you, was also an actress. Her goal was to become a big star like Marilyn Monroe, isn’t that great?"
"But we’ve broken up." Song Jingtian sighed, "Recently, I tried dating Lulu, but it didn’t work out. We folks from Old Song’s family are all hopelessly romantic; I must have inherited that trait."
This hopeless romanticism came unexpectedly.
"You’re only seven years old, she definitely sees you as a young relative, nothing more."
"Nonsense." The little guy glared at her, pouting his lips: "You, an outsider, aren’t aware of our situation, you wouldn’t understand the feelings between us."
Just as Tang Li was about to retort, ’Take a closer look at who I am’, Song Jingtian’s wristwatch rang with an incoming call. The little guy answered, on speaker mode, came a gentle mature female voice: "Why aren’t you at home, where did you run off to?"
"I’m at my friend’s house."
Song Jingtian added, "He lives at Huafu No.1, I’ll head back after I finish my cookies."
The caller, Xiao Minglan, concerned, asked for the address: "I’ll send Aunt Min to pick you up, just stay there and don’t run around."
Aunt Min appeared quite quickly.
She was a middle-aged woman. Seeing Tang Li, she gave a slight smile and taking Song Jingtian’s hand, she didn’t forget to express her gratitude.
After Song Jingtian left, Tang Li didn’t go out again.
As evening approached, the doorbell rang.
Opening the door, Tang Li saw Song Jingtian looking up with a grin, slightly startled, Aunt Min stood behind him, smiling, said: "The old lady heard you’re alone during the festive season, and since you are Second Master’s friend, she would like to invite you to our house for a meal."
Tang Li had already made excuses this morning, turning down Song Jingtian’s invitation for lunch; with Aunt Min coming over now, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse again.
Tang Li reluctantly grabbed a coat and followed them to Songlin Garden.
Upon arriving at the Song family’s doorstep, a parked Lexus with a familiar license plate made Tang Li slow her steps.
Just then, the driver’s door was pushed open.
Ji Ming saw Aunt Min and was about to greet them, when Song Jingtian spotted the man exiting from the back of the sedan and broke free from Aunt Min’s grip, rushing over: "Big brother, you’re back!"