Tang Li sat in the corner, turning her head to lock eyes with the little boy, as if they were having a staring contest.
The security guard first called the boy’s mother.
As for Tang Li, when she was brought here, she held her cellphone with a moment’s hesitation, realizing she genuinely couldn’t think of any reliable older guardian to call on, so in the end, she sent a text to Song Baiyan: "Something unexpected happened, I’m now in the security room of the Ministry of Finance."
She thought Ji Ming would be the one to come and deal with the situation for her.
A few minutes passed—
Hearing the security guard suddenly exclaim in surprise, "Finance Minister," as if uncertain yet respectful, Tang Li turned her head to look and indeed saw Song Baiyan entering the security room.
Unusually, Ji Ming wasn’t by his side.
Watching the person in charge go to talk to Song Baiyan, Tang Li remembered her own deeds and felt her ears heat up slightly, suddenly wanting to hide herself.
"Is this your family member?" the little boy asked on the side.
Before his words ended, Song Baiyan had already dismissed the person in charge, his gaze shifting toward them.
Tang Li instinctively lowered her head even more.
Then, a pair of leather shoes appeared in her field of vision, stopping in front of her, and Song Baiyan’s hearty voice rang in her ear, tinged with a hint of amusement: "You’ve caused trouble, and now you can’t even look me in the eye?"
"..." Tang Li raised her head.
Meeting Song Baiyan’s smiling eyes, she was still embarrassed, but a warm current also passed through her heart, and she softly defended, "It’s not really causing trouble; I just vandalized the city’s image a bit."
The security guard had already lectured her and the little boy earlier.
Especially since she, an adult, followed a child in random graffiti, the guard’s look at her was like seeing a potential danger who could easily retaliate against society.
To some extent, National Square is a historic monument to the spirit of S country.
Ordinarily, even if the square wasn’t closed off, even those who put up ads would choose to bypass it, and her casual scribble on the square with chalk, in the eyes of the security, transformed into her dissatisfaction with the state, which is why they didn’t fine her but rather asked her to call an elder from home who could take responsibility.
Now that Song Baiyan had arrived, the person in charge of the security room stood respectfully on the side, no longer daring to entertain the thought of having "a proper talk with this girl’s parents."
Afterward, Tang Li followed Song Baiyan out of the security room.
Her footsteps dragged a little.
Passing through the corridor and looking down through the glass window—
—the "Heart" and the two letters were already gone.
Beside the fountain, cleaning staff were operating a floor scrubber to clean the square tiles.
As they approached the elevator hall, the employees coming face to face with Song Baiyan all stopped in their tracks, greeting him with utmost respect as "Finance Minister."
They noticed the girl behind the Finance Minister with curious sideways glances.
Tang Li felt awkward under their gaze and couldn’t help but pick up her pace, catching up to Song Baiyan’s steps, and after entering the elevator, she took the initiative: "Did you notice anything earlier, when you were by the office window?"
Hitting the number "3" and the close door button on the elevator, Song Baiyan responded with a question instead of answering: "What should I have noticed?"
The man’s mellow voice caused Tang Li’s cheeks to warm.
She couldn’t help but remember the kiss from last night.
"Nothing really." Tang Li’s hands were stuffed in her coat pockets, her demeanor uncomfortable: "I originally drew something on the square to show you."
"That big red Heart?"
Hearing this, Tang Li lifted her eyes to Song Baiyan.
Feeling her face growing hotter, she discreetly moved closer to Song Baiyan, the right hand she pulled out of her pocket, carrying a hint of shyness, resting on the elevator wall beside Song Baiyan: "...Actually, there were also two letters."