Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Indeed, Grown Up

Song Baiyan did not respond.

Tang Li naturally had no idea.

If she remembered that on the night of the Lai family’s birthday banquet, outside Lai Wenyan’s study, she wouldn’t have been so guarded, and that little face of hers, in addition to surprise, showed no sign of familiar recognition upon seeing an old acquaintance.

When he had Ji Ming deliver an umbrella to her, and she followed Ji Ming to the clubhouse, it wasn’t because she recognized him, but simply because she wanted to “curry favor” with him.

Seeing the red string on his wrist, all she thought about was that she too once had one.

Cao Liang could guess the answer from Song Baiyan’s demeanor: “She didn’t recognize you, so why didn’t you tell her?”

“After all, it was just an act of kindness. Since she can’t remember, there’s no need to intentionally remind her. Sometimes, it’s not about expecting a reward that makes things difficult.”

These words of Song Baiyan won Cao Liang’s approval: “The cleaner she has forgotten, the more it shows that her saving you was truly a thoughtless act, with no intention of gaining anything from you.

For instance, if I happened to save someone without thinking and one day he suddenly came to thank me, it would actually make me uncomfortable. That feeling, like being put on a pedestal, especially in terms of morality, is like an invisible shackle. It makes me feel like not doing good deeds in the future is a sin.

Besides—”

Cao Liang’s gaze returned to Song Baiyan: “Given your status today, if you truly wanted to ‘repay the favor,’ you could certainly do so discreetly. Being too overt about it would actually be ungraceful.”

Song Baiyan smiled faintly.

Cao Liang continued, “But it really is ‘girls change so much as they grow.’ I can’t see at all the appearance you described back then. She looks more like a tomboy. Back in our hometown, a girl at her age should be getting married.”

Hearing this, Song Baiyan’s smoking gesture paused momentarily.

Then, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened slightly, and when he turned his head to look at Tang Li again, he said in a slow voice: “Indeed, she has grown up.”

Following the instructor’s orders, Tang Li maintained the position of holding the gun for ten minutes. When she turned her head to look at the protective netting again, there was no one outside the net.

A tinge of disappointment arose in her heart.

However, thinking of the late-night snack, she was instantly revitalized.

Actually, at first, Tang Li thought Song Baiyan would definitely reject her. After all, she had done something very impulsive that night, and he had more than once told her to get her mentality right, not to consider reliance as the entirety of her feelings. But now, he had agreed.

Or is it—

He plans to ‘brainwash’ her while eating the late-night snack?

Just like that time in Fuyuan.

Thinking this way, the joy in Tang Li’s heart diminished considerably.

During the break in the middle, she left the training ground and went to the administrative building with a stroke of luck, as she didn’t know if Song Baiyan was still there.

Walking on the pebble path, Tang Li happened to see Song Baiyan coming downstairs, car keys in hand, walking towards the military jeep parked in front of the building. Just as he pulled open the driver’s door, he spotted Tang Li not far away, and to his surprise, he stopped beside the vehicle.

Seeing this, Tang Li ran over without hesitation.

Just about to reach him, she tripped on a rock and knelt down.

Literally knelt on the ground.

“…” Tang Li.

Her knees were fiercely jabbed by a pile of small pebbles, and even her hands pressed down on the ground, bringing pain.

Before she could get up, her ears and neck had already turned red.

Then, Combat Boots appeared beneath her eyelids.

“Can you get up by yourself?” Song Baiyan’s voice came from above her head.

Tang Li nodded, and immediately got up in silence without making a sound.

Just as she stood up straight, she felt a sore ache in her right ankle.

Song Baiyan noticed her slight wobble and his deep gaze fell on her feet: “Did you twist your ankle?”