CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 457: I’M HERE—ARE YOU STILL AFRAID SECURITY WILL THROW YOU OUT?

As the voice fell, Song Baiyan’s voice came through the receiver: "What time are you planning on coming over?"

"..." Tang Li hadn’t expected him to pick up with that line. After all, Tan Palace wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. Seeing that she didn’t immediately respond, Song Baiyan’s voice softened over the phone: "Changed your mind about coming?"

After a while, Tang Li asked uncertainly, "Can I really come over?"

The way she had spoken earlier was almost like "playing hooligan."

Even though she truly wanted to visit Tan Palace, she still had concerns about causing him trouble. However, upon hearing Song Baiyan’s response, her heart couldn’t help but flutter.

Without waiting for Song Baiyan’s answer, Tang Li went on: "If it’s not convenient, I won’t come over. Holding up your work is a big deal."

"Besides work, eating is also a top priority."

In the man’s deep and magnetic voice, Tang Li heard a hint of indulgence.

Holding her cellphone, the curve of her lips deepened.

Then she heard the slight sound of a drawer closing, followed by Song Baiyan’s instruction: "When you get to National Square, give me two rings, and I’ll have Ji Ming go out to meet you."

Tang Li couldn’t help but ask again: "Are you sure it’s okay for me to come over?"

"I’m here, are you afraid security will drag you out?"

"..."

Tang Li pursed her lips, and then said: "They won’t drag me out, but they might lock me up and even torture me."

Speaking, she changed the subject lightly: "Just to see you, even a little pain would be worth it."

Song Baiyan listened to her unadorned "fancy talk," closed the door of the bookshelf, and laughed: "No filter on that mouth, who have you been learning from? Getting less and less proper."

Tang Li continued: "When you meet someone you like, some things just come naturally without needing a teacher."

Song Baiyan didn’t continue the banter, and before ending the call, he reminded her to be careful on the way over, Tang Li obediently hung up without returning to the private room but turned around to head to the ordering area.

After she left, the hallway quieted down.

Han Jifeng stood at the corner, his right hand in his pocket, his gaze cast on the glass of the fire hydrant, reflecting the girl’s receding figure.

In his ears, it was as if those casual words overheard still lingered—

"Bringing dinner was just an excuse, actually, I wanted to see you."

"..."

"Just to see you, even a little pain would be worth it."

Ji Lan sat on the side of the restaurant, just having placed her napkin on her lap, when she looked up to see Han Jifeng returning, her face full of smiles: "You were on the phone for so long. Just now, when the waitress came by, I told her to hold off on serving the food."

Han Jifeng sat down, Ji Lan gestured to the waitress with her hand.

After the waitress left, Ji Lan looked at Han Jifeng across her again: "It should be around 8:30 after dinner. How about we go watch a movie?"

As she spoke, she picked up the cellphone beside her, scrolling through it: "My colleague told me an American blockbuster was just released yesterday. It has amazing special effects. We could book... the 9:10 PM show, there’s a cinema just down the street."

Ji Lan waited for a while for Han Jifeng’s reply but got none. Looking up, she saw Han Jifeng leaning back in his chair, his left hand flipping his cellphone back and forth on the table, not speaking a word. Seeing him like this, Ji Lan stopped searching for movie tickets and her smile gradually faded.

After a while, Han Jifeng finally spoke: "Miss Ji, I invited you out today because I wanted to clarify some things."

Ji Lan felt a premonition, her fingers clenching the phone slightly.

"You are a good person, but we’re not suited for each other."

[I’ve been feeling better these past two days, I’ll adjust the updates for the next two, I was out today and the update is late, thanks for waiting! Around 9 PM, everyone, refresh the Chapters.]