Chapter 590: Chapter 590: Just Bring Yourself
She replied to the text message with an [OK].
The night before last, Tang Li discovered that Song Baiyan had returned to the country and knew that he was busy with official duties; similarly, she was busy filming herself.
Even though they couldn’t meet every day, Tang Li didn’t feel anxious about it.
On the contrary, she liked this state.
Perhaps it was because she knew that no matter what she was doing outside, there was already someone who had become her spiritual support. No matter when she went back, he would be there like a big tree, waiting for her, embracing her, giving her a sense of security that others couldn’t replace.
After finishing filming the next day, Tang Li received a phone call from Gao Wenlan.
“Still filming at Lishan?”
Tang Li took off her headpiece and placed it on the dressing table: “After shooting two more scenes tomorrow morning, we’ll wrap up. Do you need me for something?”
Gao Wenlan’s voice drifted over mysteriously: “Can’t I call you if there’s nothing wrong?”
“Of course, you can.” Tang Li’s response was somewhat ingratiating: “As long as I’m not filming, you can call me anytime.”
Gao Wenlan snorted coldly: “Sucking up now is too late!”
“…” Tang Li.
Gao Wenlan continued: “After you wrap up tomorrow, come straight to Shangbu.”
Before Tang Li could ask why, Gao Wenlan explained: “Tomorrow is Professor Wong’s birthday. We’re not planning a big celebration, just thinking of getting a few people together for a meal to celebrate.”
Tang Li said, “It doesn’t seem appropriate for me to go.”
By social status or seniority, she didn’t qualify.
“I told you to come, so you come. What are you being shy about?” Gao Wenlan’s words were firm, leaving no room for Tang Li to refuse: “With your brown-nosing skills, are you still afraid of being bullied? I’ll have someone book your high-speed train ticket. By the time you get to Shangbu, it’ll be just in time for dinner.”
Tang Li, in fact, had never met Wong Yangming in person.
Since he was Gao Wenlan’s husband, she often heard “Old Wang.” Knowing Wong Yangming was a strategic teaching research professor at Huangyan Military Academy, with the rank of major general and an expert in military history, she referred to him respectfully as “Professor Wong,” but in reality, she never interacted with him.
Gao Wenlan guessed Tang Li’s concern: “I asked Old Wang if you could join us for the meal, and he has agreed. If you don’t come, you’re not only letting me down but also dissing Old Wang’s face!”
Tang Li: “…”
“That’s settled then, I’ll have my assistant buy the ticket for you.”
Gao Wenlan had made the final decision.
In the end, Tang Li booked the ticket herself.
Adding her two lifetimes together, it was the first time Tang Li had been invited to an elder’s birthday dinner. Worried she wouldn’t have time to buy a gift tomorrow, she made a special trip to Lishan’s downtown area that night.
Yu Sui heard that Tang Li was looking for a birthday gift for an elder and volunteered to help, taking Tang Li shopping at MUJI. She picked up a U-shaped pillow and put it around her neck, asking Tang Li happily, “Isn’t this good? Older people all have bad cervical spines.”
Saying this, she ran off and quickly came back with a bath brush: “I bought this for my grandpa last year; he said it was very useful, no need to worry about straining the back when scrubbing.”
Tang Li pulled at the corner of her mouth.
All these gifts were reminders that the person was getting old.
Yu Sui had already sat down in the massage chair, whipped out her cellphone, scanned with WeChat, paid six yuan, and began enjoying her full-body massage.
Tang Li walked around some more, unable to make a decision, so she could only send a text message to seek help: “It’s Professor Wong’s birthday, Teacher Gao has asked me to come for a meal, and I don’t know what gift would be appropriate.”
It wasn’t long before Song Baiyan replied: “No need to buy anything, just bring yourself along.”