Rebirth: I Became Mr.President’s Beloved
Chapter 230: Living Next Door to Song Baiyan

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Living Next Door to Song Baiyan

"When my mother passed away, it was just me by her side. I didn’t have the means to hold a grand funeral for her, so I want to take this opportunity to stay here for a few more days and chant scriptures and pray for her."

As she spoke, Tang Li glanced at the bodyguards. "However, it seems that today is not the right time for me to come here."

But Song Baiyan said, "Since you want to stay, just stay."

Hearing this, Tang Li looked back at him.

"I will be staying in the mountains for a while, and you staying here doesn’t worry me." The look Song Baiyan gave her still resembled that of an elder looking at a younger one: "I’ll talk to the abbot later about your scripture chanting, and ask him to arrange it for you."

Then, Song Baiyan called Ji Ming over: "Ask the temple’s master to prepare another room, just say that we missed a female donor earlier."

Ji Ming nodded in agreement.

Watching Ji Ming turn and leave, Song Baiyan withdrew his gaze and did not continue to stay outside the main hall but walked toward the bamboo forest behind.

He took a few steps and did not hear footsteps behind him.

Song Baiyan stopped and looked back, finding that Tang Li was indeed still standing in the original spot.

"Not coming?" he asked.

Tang Li didn’t know what Song Baiyan was going to do, and fearing that it might be inappropriate to follow him rashly, she planned to wait for Ji Ming to return. Now hearing Song Baiyan say so, she followed him.

Song Baiyan took her to a courtyard behind the bamboo grove.

The courtyard was small, its vermilion gate was peeling.

Tang Li followed Song Baiyan through the gate. Inside, the blue-tiled house was old, similar to a quadrangle layout, its corridor columns under the overhanging eaves held a bamboo sieve, which gave it a sense of decay despite the absence of cobwebs.

Tang Li guessed that this was where the temple accommodated pilgrims.

It was indeed a bit rundown.

She hadn’t expected that with Song Baiyan’s status, he would also stay in such a place when coming to the mountain.

"The lodging conditions in this temple aren’t the best. There are a few ethnic minority villages at the foot of the mountain; if you’re not comfortable, you can stay there overnight and come back up during the day."

Tang Li turned to look at Song Baiyan. "Are you also going down the mountain?"

"I’ll be staying here," Song Baiyan said, indulgently smiling, "I’m different from you. I’ve slept outdoors before; this kind of house is nothing to me. Girls usually aren’t used to these places; none of the rooms have private toilets, making it inconvenient to go to the bathroom at night."

Glancing around, Tang Li had already made a rough assessment of the courtyard.

She knew Song Baiyan wasn’t deceiving her.

There was only one toilet in the yard, and it was unisex.

Since the door of the toilet was open, facing her directly, Tang Li saw clearly inside - no water heater, no washbasin, just a shower hose and a squat toilet. She had no doubt the flush button was broken.

Tang Li didn’t hesitate much, speaking out, "If you can stay here, so can I."

Worried that Song Baiyan might think she was acting tough, she added, "Back in my hometown in Diannan, the conditions aren’t much better than here."

Seeing her insistence, Song Baiyan said no more.

Finally, Tang Li chose a vacant room next to Song Baiyan’s.

The room was also very simple.

Aside from a single bed, there was just a small table, not even a chair.

At night, Tang Li lay in bed, smelling the musty bedding, and instead of finding it difficult to sleep, she felt an indescribable sense of peace.