Mr. Song Is Nearby

"Moreover..." Ji Ming stood in front of her as the rain poured onto his shoulder. It was soaking up his suit. "He said that it is late now. It's dangerous here especially for girls."

Her face was wet and she was soon stunned by what he had said.

It was clear that he was talking about Song Boyan.

She had never thought that she would meet him there.

Tang Li retorted with another question. "Is Mr. Song here too?"

Ji Ming tilted his head to one side when he heard her question. He was tilting his head in Mr. Song's direction.

There was a prestigious private club opposite the road.

She then looked up at the floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor of the club.

She saw Mr. Song standing there. 

There was an ancient table with a set of black-purple sand tea sets. A man in white was standing there. It seemed like he was covered in mist. It seemed rather relaxing and comfortable on the rainy night like this.

It seemed like there was a person sitting across Song Boyan.

But, the window blocked her view.

At that moment, Song Boyan tilted his head and looked at her as if he was on his guard.

Tang Li could not see his facial expression because it was quite far. He was looking down at her. But, from the way he was sitting there comfortably, she realized that he was not surprised at finding her there. 

Ji Ming raised his voice again next to her. "Now that I've passed you the umbrella, I'll hail a taxi for you."

Tang Li turned and looked at him. "Does this umbrella belong to Mr.Song?"

Ji Ming did not reply.

"What would happen to Mr. Song if I take the umbrella with me?"

Ji Ming had no choice but to reply, "I took the umbrella from the club. Miss Li, you don't have to worry. Mr. Song will leave the club from the underground parking lot. 

Tang Li knew what kind of reply she would get.

She raised another question after keeping quiet for a short moment. "Did Mr. Song order you to pass me the umbrella?"

Ji Ming felt that Miss Li was asking about something that she knew the answer to all along.

Tang Li did not wait for his reply but threw him another question. "Why did Mr. Song want to give me an umbrella?"

Ji Ming was speechless again.

He replied after a long silence, "Miss Li, you can treat it as a kind act rendered you by an elder."

Tang Li did not say anything to that. It seemed that she was agreeing to what he said.

Ji Ming took out his phone. He wanted to call a taxi for her. But, her gentle voice spoke again. "As a junior, I should really thank him properly for helping me before I go home."

Ji Ming was speechless again.

He turned around to look at Miss Li again.

He wanted to tell her that she did not have to do that. But, all that he wanted to say died in his throat when he saw the wound on the girl's forehead and her swollen face. 

He saw when Old Lady Li had slapped her.

That seemingly gentle old woman had used all the force she could muster when she slapped Tang Li.

Ji Ming also noticed Tang Li's purplish arms.

He did not understand what had happened in the Li family. But, his heart softened when he saw the girl who was covered in scars standing alone in the cold, dark night. "He's meeting a very important friend right now. He might not be able to meet you."

Tang Li had made up her mind. "I can wait for him."

Five minutes later, Ji Ming led her into the lift of the club.

Tang Li stood in the hallway when they had reached the door of the private room. Ji Ming went into the room first.

After around twenty minutes, Ji Ming appeared in front of her again.

Tang Li went into the room and the door was closed softly behind her.

It was rather quiet in the private room.

The man was shielded from a screen with an ink wash painting with flowers and birds on it. Tang Li saw the lone man who sat in front of the window. He had rolled his sleeves up and was holding a purple sand teapot in his right hand. He was pouring tea into the teacup in front of him.