Chapter 622: Chapter 622: Do You Know About My Relationship With Tang Li?
Song Baiyan continued pouring the tea, then placed the teapot back on the bamboo tea tray.
The rough pottery teacup, with its ancient charm, produced a clear and crisp sound as the lid closed, particularly resonant within the office.
In the air, the scent of tea intertwined with a faint bamboo fragrance, adding an interesting twist.
Han Jifeng watched this scene and couldn’t help but remember the man under "house arrest" in his dream, when he and several other prosecutors pushed open the doors of the hospital room, only to find Song Baiyan sitting there making tea, his health deteriorating daily, yet he never displayed a trace of self-pity.
When he saw them, Song Baiyan’s previously knitted brows relaxed, the 36-year-old man could be described as having experienced many vicissitudes of life, yet the look in his eyes was unusually serene.
Han Jifeng remembered how Song Baiyan had lightly smiled in the dream, putting down the teapot and explaining, "I was just thinking that enjoying the Mingqian Longjing tea alone lacks a certain charm."
Even when trapped, he still seemed completely at ease.
Then, Song Baiyan’s steady voice came through: "Do you know about my relationship with Tang Li?"
Song Baiyan’s casual admission left Han Jifeng silent for a few seconds, before he heard Song Baiyan say: "Previously, Councilman Lai wanted to match-make you and Tang Li, but I found out that you had a past with his eldest daughter. If you were to associate with Tang Li, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out."
It was a long while before Han Jifeng finally spoke up, asking, "Does Your Excellency introduce to me Judge Ji’s daughter so that I won’t set my sights on Tang Li?"
Even though he had known the answer in his heart, now faced with Song Baiyan, he couldn’t help but seek confirmation in person: could the exalted President actually let personal feelings and office convenience sway him into meddling with matchmaking?
Song Baiyan didn’t answer but replied with a question: "You dislike Miss Ji from the Ji Family that much?"
From beginning to end, his gaze remained gentle.
Han Jifeng didn’t believe the goodwill Song Baiyan displayed and didn’t follow that thread, steering the conversation back to Tang Li: "The first time I met Tang Li was about two years ago. At the time, Lai Yuaner was preparing for college entrance exams, and I went to the Lai Family to tutor her. I ran into Tang Li at the staircase."
While speaking, Han Jifeng looked back at the man across from him, "You probably know more about Tang Li’s background than I do."
Song Baiyan did not deny it.
Han Jifeng added, "I had a dream."
"In the dream, Tang Li was my wife."
After saying this, he could feel Song Baiyan’s eyes on him, seemingly growing more profound, yet listening intently in silence.
Han Jifeng’s voice rang out again in the office: "Even if it’s just a dream, it’s still a warning. During the time I was tutoring Lai Yuaner, I would encounter Tang Li almost daily, whether in the hallways or on the stairs, whether by coincidence or design. I didn’t expect that she would outright reject this marriage later."
"At the state banquet, she approached the main table, and I thought she wanted to ask Your Excellency for help, until I saw those few pictures on Facebook."
Having gotten to this point, Han Jifeng remembered the dream where Song Baiyan and Tang Li were alone on the golf course, with Song Baiyan’s gaze on Tang Li warm and indulgent but void of love.
If in that lifetime Song Baiyan had never been moved by Tang Li, merely because she had once stopped his car outside of Tan Palace, why then in this life was Tang Li so intricately involved with him?
"Tang Li, who lived in the Lai Family, was sensitive and insecure, even though she has changed now, she’s still essentially a student with one foot still in the campus. Given Your Excellency’s age and experience, describing a girl like that, I can’t think of any other word but ’naive.’"