It took a lot to summon all her courage to get up later that night. Lin had one thing on her mind and that is to speak to Li Jun, confront him of her feelings. She had kept it to herself long enough to the point of driving her insane.
She climbed the long steps to the top floor of the mansion - that somehow seemed so difficult and so excruciating than before. She stopped just as she neared Li Jun’s bedroom, staring at it distantly. After three months, it felt unfamiliar to her now.
Li Jun had his door closed and she’d assumed he must be exhausted from all the traveling. Has he even thought about her when she didn’t show up for dinner? Or does he not care? Has he thought about her at all? She wondered. More thoughts crowding her mind uneasy.
She cleared her mind and walked some more until she made it close enough to the door to raise her fist. It took her a long time to knock on the door, feeling all the release of tension once her fist made contact on it. She knocked once.
To her surprise, there was a sound on the other side, Li Jun was awake after all, perhaps, waiting for her all along.
The door parted open, on the opposite side is Li Jun, still dressed formally, black trousers and white shirt, his feet pressed bare on the floor. She could still smell the scent of the ocean in him, and the scotch on his hand, he’d been drinking tonight.
“Li Jun…” She spoke.
Li Jun pushed the door wider, inviting her to come in.
She did so hesitantly while Li Jun stepped back sensing all the hesitation rippling though the stiffness of her movement.
He groaned and sat down on the edge of the bed, his bedroom was dark this evening with a single lampshade providing the light. Li Jun wasted no time inviting himself to start the conversation. “I know you’re mad at me.” He began.
“It that why you were gone so long?”
He nodded, he wasn’t going to lie to her, not when there’s so much involved. “I thought about giving you time. Things like that needed some time to settle.” He said calmly. “You can't run into a fire head on and not come out uninjured.”
“So, you know how I was going to react?”
He breathed and took another sip of his scotch to calm his nerves down. “I never meant for you to find out. I was only supposed to be gone for a week, to give myself time to reflect.”
“But I found out.”
“I knew you were going to, after I saw the headline. It's just a matter of time so I decided to stay gone a lot longer."
"You never thought about contacting me? Letting me know what you've been up to? I tried to get in touch with you so many times, I can't even remember."
"I had a lot on my mind. You don't understand."
"I was going out of my mind."
"Lin..." Li Jun's eyes softened.
“So, it was you?” Lin asked, her voice lifted to an accusing territory.
“It was just a business, Lin.” Li Jun murmured darkly, defensively. “Your father stole millions from me for the second time, killed my men, and tried to assassinate me! I can’t just let it go unpunished!"
“It’s business.” She repeated appalled. Li Jun used the word so carelessly, recalling that time when she was taken away from her own home to live in this mansion. “Was I business to you as well?”
Li Jun shook his head and looked at Lin with all kinds of passion and empathy. “You were never just business, Lin. I would have never taken you to my home if I didn’t want you here.”
She relaxed and gazed down the wooden floor. She believed him. It was reassuring to know that he had always cared for her.
“Does his death settled the debt then?” She asked, lifting her chin again and schooled her face to look serious at him.
“There’s never a debt anymore. You know that.” Answered Li Jun seriously. “You were free to come and go, spend my money as you wished. I loved you, you know I love you. I stayed away because of my conscience, I felt bad and I wished I haven't done it. I knew you were going to hate me for it so I ran away. I didn't want to be here when you finally learn about your father. I know your going to blame me and I don't think I can handle it. I'm not good with feelings."
Lin stood there and heaved deep breaths, trying to control her tears yet again. "You are a coward."
No one has ever called Li Jun a coward before. Her words stung and left heaviness in his heart. "I love you, Lin. If loving you turned me into a coward, so be it."
YOU ARE READING
LI JUN
RomanceThe only thing that annoys Li Jun about his perfect son is his secret relationship with their servant. So he did what any rich father would do, he sent his son overseas. Little did he know, how much he'd find her just as attractive, falling in love...
