Rebirth: I Became Mr.President's Beloved-Chapter 1155: Are You Afraid of Being Judged?

Chapter 1155: Chapter 1155: Are You Afraid of Being Judged?

"Your lack of fear doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist."

Xiao Minglan, although not involved in politics herself, was still part of the environment, "I heard that Bai Chongming’s guards came to the Tan Palace late at night recently?"

Song Baiyan did not deny it.

"I don’t understand political matters enough to comment rashly, but if Bai Chongming is willing to come to you, apart from the Zuo Family, I can’t think of anyone else." Xiao Minglan looked at her son: "The words Zuo Bin said at Remembering the South were obviously aimed at you."

Song Baiyan took the kettle from the small table and poured a cup for Xiao Minglan, "Zuo Hong’s international trading company in Yun Province had two batches of tobacco seized at customs, due to smuggling suspicions and the large amount involved, the subordinates didn’t dare release them. The local customs office was troubled several times and probably isn’t ready to give up yet."

Xiao Minglan understood her son’s meaning.

This Zuo Bin was essentially a vanguard for his elder brother, Zuo Hong.

Zuo Bin spreading such words was likely under Zuo Hong’s orders.

Song Baiyan handed the water cup to Xiao Minglan, "The Zuo Family’s business at the border is getting too aggressive; it’s necessary to give them a warning."

"How do you plan to warn them?" Xiao Minglan asked. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Coincidentally, to address the frequent smuggling problems in the south, setting an example is required."

And the Zuo Family was the most suitable example.

Tang Li finished lunch, but instead of going to the living room with Song Jingtian, she lingered in the corridor leading to Xiao Minglan’s bedroom.

Before long, she met Song Baiyan.

Song Baiyan closed the door behind him, noticing the sneaky figure not far away standing behind a flower stand, trying to hide yet seemingly wanting to be discovered.

Tang Li dared not get too close, fearing Xiao Minglan would come out from her room.

She waited to the side but didn’t hear any footsteps.

Unable to resist, she peeked through the foliage and found the area in front of Xiao Minglan’s door empty.

...She was sure she saw Song Baiyan come out.

It was definitely not an illusion.

Tang Li no longer hid behind the flower stand, walking a bit forward.

Pausing slightly at Xiao Minglan’s door, did Song Baiyan go back inside?

If so, why was there no sound of the door opening or closing?

Tang Li stopped by the door, not sneaking like Song Jingtian to eavesdrop but just listening quietly.

Listening for two or three minutes, she couldn’t make anything out.

Her peripheral vision glanced along the hallway ahead.

The corridor on the second floor was open in both directions.

So, did he take this route?

How could Song Baiyan not see her, a living person?

Tang Li couldn’t help but look back at the flower stand; surely, she hadn’t hidden too well.

Having missed him, it was pointless to dwell on it.

Tang Li decided not to go back the way she came, choosing to walk forward, planning to loop back to the living room. As she reached the corner, she saw the person she was waiting for.

Song Baiyan stood behind the wall at the corner, a lighter in his left hand and a cigarette in his right, yet to be lit, as if caught sneaking a smoke by her; seeing her appear, Song Baiyan’s face showed interest with a touch of indulgence, asking her, "Why have you come here?"

"Just a walk after lunch," Tang Li said, touching her belly.

Finishing her words, her cheeks blushed.

Because she noticed, at this corner, there was a hydrant.

The glass on the hydrant perfectly reflected the area in front of Xiao Minglan’s door.

Which means—

Her previous sneaky behavior...

But she couldn’t believe Song Baiyan was so bored as to hide here watching her silly antics, so it must have been a coincidence, right?

Comforting herself, she offered an excuse, "I stood there for a while after eating too much."

As she spoke, she pointed in the direction of Xiao Minglan’s room.

Song Baiyan smiled, still holding the cigarette in his right hand, "Indeed, better to stand a bit longer, lest you burst."

"..." Tang Li.

With both hands rubbing her belly, her gaze was fixed on Song Baiyan’s hand, "Actually, you don’t have to hide it from me. It’s just secondhand smoke, no big deal, at most a lung cancer risk."

Song Baiyan: "..."

The words were considerate yet piercing.

It was just shy of accusing him of risking her life.

He just put away the cigarette when Tang Li took the lighter away, "I’ll keep this for you."

This was a permanent keeping.

"Shall I keep the cigarettes too?" said Tang Li.

Song Baiyan let her search his pants pocket; as they got closer, Tang Li’s small hand rummaged through his trouser pocket.

Actually, there weren’t many things in a man’s pocket.

Tang Li had just felt the cigarette box when she heard Song Baiyan’s warm voice, "Where are you touching?"

Tang Li: "..."

Realizing her fingers overstepped, she grabbed the cigarette box and withdrew her hand, pretending the previous moment of embarrassment never occurred, merely holding the spoils and turning her back, "I’ll keep this for you, just come to me when you want a smoke."

She then remembered she had a ’purpose’ waiting for Song Baiyan at Xiao Minglan’s door.

Tang Li turned back, holding the items, "Lai Yuaner has told the Zuo Family all about my origins."

Xiao Minglan had called Song Baiyan over to discuss the ancestral rites in the hometown, and since the matter discussed in the living room in the morning would undoubtedly be told to Song Baiyan, she straightforwardly revealed the confirmed results.

"Lai Yuaner also recognized the third master of the Zuo Family as her godfather."

She wasn’t familiar with the Zuo Family’s inner workings, but Song Baiyan was.

Therefore, Tang Li did not explain further.

Indeed—

Song Baiyan wasn’t surprised; instead, he asked her, "Are you afraid of being pointed at and judged?"

Before Li Ruan’s arrival, she was afraid, but now, knowing Tang Shen was an undercover agent for Siamese, her long-repressed identity as a ’Drug Lord’s descendant’ was no longer valid.

Meeting Song Baiyan’s gaze, Tang Li shook her head.

She wasn’t afraid of being questioned or scolded, only of affecting him.

"Since you’re not afraid, then there’s nothing to worry about."

The simplest way to handle Tang Li’s background issue was to have the internet office compel major platforms to block related keywords, but this would mean the end of Tang Li’s acting career, and she couldn’t live freely like she does now.

A strong heart is more crucial than any measures.

Tang Li returned to the master bedroom, her mind still dwelling on the question Song Baiyan later asked her.

Song Baiyan asked her if she still wanted to continue acting.

She hadn’t answered immediately at the time.

Tang Li knew her answer would entail two completely different outcomes.

Even if Song Baiyan intervened to prohibit discussion of her background online, it wouldn’t mean people wouldn’t know; the more suppression, the stronger the backlash; she feared protests like those in country H.

If she allowed her background to spread online, it would also directly affect Song Baiyan.

It seemed everything was wrong, one way or another.

However—

Before she could speak, Song Baiyan said he already knew.

Song Baiyan placed his large hand on her head, "Then it’s just like before, do whatever you want."

——

I went to two hospitals today, updating was delayed.

Good night, everyone!