Ten minutes later, there were two bowls of rice on the coffee table.
Ji Ming, with the tray tucked under his arm, turned to leave after receiving Song Baiyan’s instructions. Just as he reached the door, he seemed to remember something, turned back and looked towards Song Baiyan: "Do you need me to make some juice for Miss Tang?"
Seated on the sofa, Tang Li replied before him: "There’s no need for such trouble; if I’m thirsty, your gentleman will pour water for me."
Ji Ming lowered his head, trying to suppress a smile.
Song Baiyan, leaning against the desk, smiled upon hearing this: "Am I your nanny now?"
Tang Li glanced at him, then told Ji Ming: "Then help me make a cup of soy milk."
Before Ji Ming could nod in agreement, Song Baiyan dismissed him.
"What about the soy milk..." Ji Ming asked.
Song Baiyan: "There’s a water dispenser in the office, the soy milk doesn’t need to be brought over yet."
Ji Ming closed the door and left, and Song Baiyan also took a seat on the sofa. Tang Li opened the takeaway boxes; she had bought braised pork and stir-fried lettuce, relatively homely dishes.
Song Baiyan guessed she hadn’t eaten well at the restaurant, that’s why he had Ji Ming bring over two bowls of rice. Tang Li, worried there wouldn’t be enough food, only took a few slices of lettuce, then obediently started eating her rice. Before long, a piece of braised pork appeared in her bowl. Tang Li stared at it for a few seconds before saying: "I only like to eat lean meat."
After a while, the braised pork was taken away.
When Song Baiyan returned it to her bowl, only a little lean meat was left.
After finishing the meal, Tang Li’s mouth felt a little salty.
When Ji Ming came over again, Tang Li was leaning on the sofa, holding Song Baiyan’s teacup, and sipping water little by little.
Tang Li put down the teacup and watched as Song Baiyan finished dealing with his documents before she spoke: "I’ve already bought the long-distance bus ticket, I’ll be leaving for Lishan tomorrow afternoon."
"Is everything packed?" Song Baiyan asked her.
Tang Li nodded, paused, and continued: "My assistant... the one you met last time, my classmate, originally she was going to go with me. However, she hasn’t fully recovered yet, so I’m going to Lishan first, and she’ll come over next week at the earliest."
"Isn’t your bodyguard going with you?"
"...Actually, he is going together."
Tang Li said this, observing Song Baiyan’s expression: "I intentionally left him out, didn’t expect you to notice."
Song Baiyan smiled faintly, his gaze landed warmly and seriously on her: "When it comes to your own personal safety, you can’t be negligent."
"Even with him accompanying me, it still feels lonely."
After a while, Tang Li added: "I grew up in Diannan. I don’t have a home here. Every time I leave, there is an indescribable feeling as if it doesn’t matter whether I come back or not. But... it’s different now."
She turned her head, under the light, those clear eyes once again settled on Song Baiyan, her gaze shifted from the man’s shirt to his neck, touched by the prominence of his Adam’s apple, feeling reassured: "As long as you are in the Capital, I will definitely come back."
At ten o’clock in the evening, Tang Li left Tan Palace first.
Ji Ming drove her personally.
On the way, Ji Ming suddenly asked: "Did Miss Tang move her household registration out of the Lai Family?"
Tang Li withdrew her gaze from the window, looking into the rearview mirror.
"Yesterday at noon, the principal of the Art College called me. I had dealt with Fu Si and your Principal Wang before, as well as when sir had me help you change your dormitory. I’ve already called the police station to inquire, there will be no more problems with you moving your household registration."