The downtown Restaurant was a landmark in Taipei, a famous and very expensive restaurant popular with the rich, well known and various other impressive personages.
Professor Li Na ate there because their food was top-notch to any other she had tried, and a friend she met at the gym was one of the top-rated cooks in the restaurant.
So it never occurred to her to take Lu Li Jun anywhere else.
"Bonjour! How are you Li Na? Looking beautiful as always" Albert greeted Li Na eagerly and kissed the back of Li Na's hands while he chattered away to her in very descriptive french language about her eyes, her hair, and her skin.
Li Na flushed and thanked him, bashfully but determinedly answering him in french language.
Li Na had a lovely voice, it was true, but Li Na speaking French was something celestial. Her wine-colored mouth opening and closing, the delicate way she almost sang the words, her tongue peeking out to wet her lips from time to time…
Li Jun had to remind himself to close his mouth after it had dropped open for he was entranced by her attractiveness.
Albert, the cuisinier soon realized that she was with someone who was looking at him with dark and angry eyes.
"Oh! Li Na, do you come with him?" he asked, Li Na answered him in an affirmative response.
He then greeted Li Jun formally with a firm handshake and a torrent of French. Li Jun not left behind responded equally indifferently, also in French.
Albert then quickly led them to the back of the restaurant where he provided them with his best table for two which was by the window.
Li Jun hovered over his chair reluctantly as he realized that Albert the Frenchman was still chatting with Li Na.
He did not Like the way Albert was taking up Li Na's time and he needed to tell him that he was wasting their time, but just as he cleared his throat to offer a rebuke, Albert asked Li Na if she would accept a bottle of very special vintage wine from his family's vineyard in Bordeaux.
Li Na thanked him profusely but explained that her guest might have other preferences.
She sat down quickly at the seat across from Li Jun and asked him what drink does he prefer from the menu but Li Jun said that anything is okay with him.
Not wanting to delay Albert, she said that she would be delighted with whatever Antonio offered. Albert beamed and quickly withdrew.
"Albert seems close to you." Li Jun asked crisply.
Julia smiled brightly and nodded. "Yes, when I just arrived in Taipei, I was looking around for a restaurant to deliver my meal. That was when I met him at the gym across the road and he introduces me to this place. We've been friends since then. He is friendly, jovial, and also the top chef and co-owner of this restaurant." Li Na was too busy looking at the menu to see the way that Li Jun's face was filled with irritation at the way she was praising Antonio.
"You have a Parisian French accent," she remarked absently, still not looking at him.
"Yes." He said a bit tersely.
"How did you come by that?"
"I spent a year in Florence."
"Your French is fairly advanced for just a year abroad."
"I had lessons on some languages, French been one of them." He looked across the small and intimate table and saw that she actively observed at him.
"Wow, that's good" she replied softly.
"Yep, so what are you eating?" He raised his head and asked her as her eyes darted to his with a questioning look.
"You are my guest. Order whatever you like, but please do order some meat." she felt the need to add that requirement since the express goal of their dinner was to fulfill the promise of buying him meat.
"I don't know what to choose."
"I could order for you if you prefer." She nodded and closed her menu, still nervously playing with her lip back and forth.
Albert returned just then and proudly displayed a bottle of wine with a handwritten label. Li Na smiled as he opened the bottle and poured a little into her glass.
Li Jun watched, almost breathless, as she swirled the wine in her glass expertly, then lifted it so that she could examine it more closely in the candlelight. She brought the glass to her nose, closed her eyes, and sniffed. Then she placed the glass to her plump lips and tasted the wine, holding it in her mouth for a while before swallowing. She opened her eyes, smiled even more widely, and thanked Albert for his precious gift.
Albert beamed enthusiastically and nodded at Li Jun as he filled both of their glasses with her favorite wine.
Meanwhile, Li Jun had been adjusting himself under the table because the sight of Li Na tasting wine was the most sensual thing he'd ever witnessed. She was not merely attractive; she was beautiful, like a lonely Lilly in a desert. And she wasn't merely beautiful; she was sensual and entrancing, but also impeccable.
Her pretty eyes reflected a depth of feeling and radiant clarity that he had never noticed before. He had to drag his eyes away from her as he adjusted himself once more for good measure, suddenly feeling a little abashed and gratified at the same time of the reaction she was unknowingly eliciting from him.
She ordered their meals, making sure that she requested the largest possible portions of filet steak.
Li Jun was amazed at what she ordered for him as she encouraged him to eat his fill.
This was the first time apart from his grandmother someone has fed him with a large portion of food and enjoyed it.
For her part, Li Na was happy to be with him. She wanted to talk to him, ask him about his family, and how he was coping with the company.
But with his eyes happily fixed on the food and him scarfing down the food in a heartbeat, She wondered what could have happened for the CEO of the largest company in Taipei to be starving to the extent he didn't care for his table manner".
So she smiled and play around with the silverware," when was the last time you ate?" she asked.
"Hmm, I think I ate late in the afternoon yesterday" Julia gasped.
Her eyes grew wide, and her beautiful red mouth hung open. "Are you kidding me? What were you doing yesterday or this morning that you can't find time in your schedule to have a quick breakfast?"
Li Jun's eyebrows furrowed at her reaction "I had a meeting with some stakeholders and clients". he shrugged.
"So what? Food is important for your well-being. Next time, make sure you take a chance to eat something or order some food to be delivered to your office. Okay"
"Okay, Mam" he smiled.
"You know, you sound like a nagging wife " he added playfully
She reddened at his banter and began to fold and refold the linen napkin in her lap, a few loose curls hanging forward around her oval-shaped face.
"Li Na, How was your trip abroad?" he prompted, allowing himself to memorize her beauty.
"It was very interesting and educating. I was expecting your call, you know." She said in between bites of steak.
"I didn't want to disturb you because you seem happy about the conference."
Julia looked up and smiled prettily. "Oh. Thank you for your consideration."
Throughout the meal the clearly charmed Albert spent more time than was necessary at their table, chatting occasionally in French with Li Na and he proceeded to invite her to his brother's gym which he just opened recently to teach people especially women self-defense next Saturday.
She accepted his invitation graciously and was rewarded later with tiramisu, espresso, Beef noodles, Minced Pork Rice, and finally, a small chocolate Baci, in an unhurried succession.
Li Jun was not rewarded with these delights, and so he just sat there, brooding, as he watched Professor Li Na enjoy herself.
By the end of the evening, Albert had pressed something that resembled a large food hamper into her hands and would not allow her to refuse it.
He kissed her cheeks several times after he reminded her not to forget visiting and trying out his brother's gym this Saturday.
Li Jun stood up and straightened his shoulders and fixed Albert with a stony glare. "Thank you for the meal," he said stiffly.
Turning on his heel, he exited the restaurant and waited for Li Na.
"This is heavy. I'll carry it for you." He said, as he collected her heavy food hamper and she walked beside him silently.
As he watched the mismatched pair depart, Albert wondered if Li Na and the guy she had lunch with was her boyfriend, looking all the while as if he were in pain as he thought that he might have lost a chance to ask her out.
Li Jun escorted Li Na to the front porch of the building and waited while she unlocked the door.
Then he handed her the food. She began to examine her shoes, and her cheeks grew warm as she thought of what she needed to say.
"Thank you, Li Jun, for a nice evening. It was really exciting." she smiled gently.
"Li Na," he interrupted, "I should be the one to thank you. Thank you for the Lunch, it was satisfying. Take care of yourself and rest well.
Don't be weighed down by the accident of your father but rather keep calm. All will be well" He held out his hand, and she took it.
He kissed the knuckle of her hand, as he reluctantly ignored the thrill that coursed through his veins at the feel of her soft and delicate skin against his. "Good night, Professor Li Na."
"Good night, Li Jun." And with that, she disappeared into her building, leaving Li Jun waving at her as she entered the elevator.