The following Wednesday, Li Na was walking out of the department building after the seminar she had with the undergrad students when she heard a familiar voice call to her.
"Miss Li Na? Miss Xu Li Na, is that you?"
She whipped around and was drawn into a hug that was so tight she thought she'd choke.
"Jia Li," she managed as she fought for air.
The thin, dark-haired girl squealed loudly and hugged Li Na again. "I've missed you. I can't believe it has been so long! I searched for you in your office but you were not there. Why didn't you tell me you were traveling back to Taipei?"
"I traveled back because of some matters, How are you? What are you doing here?"
"I came back to Taiwan with my brother since our parents' accident and I decided to transfer to this school."
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about your parents' death and…everything. "Li Na said.
Two of them were quiet in their shared sorrow and held one another for a long time.
"I'm sorry I left suddenly without checking up on you at the hospital. How's your health and your brother? " Julia asked.
"No problem, Miss Li Na. We are lost without them in our lives. I'm okay and my brother's holding up.
"He's studying Horticulture in Masters Degree. I was admitted into the department of biology. Oh, there he is… gēge come and say hello to My Friend." Jia Li signals happily to her brother.
Li Na's eyes shifted uncomfortably from her Bubbly Cute friend to Li Jun, who had just exited the building and was gaping at her like a codfish.
"Hurry! This is the guidance counselor who stayed with me at the hospital, Miss Li Na and this is my Brother LI Jun."
"Hello, Miss Li Na." Li Jun coughed.
"Ha! Hello, Li Jun" she smiled as she nervously moves her foot from one place to another.
Jia Li, who by all accounts was very intelligent, noticed the strange and somewhat interesting energy radiating between her brother and her friend, but for the moment she overlooked it.
"I was just telling gēge that I'm going to cook for him tonight. Come home with us."
Li Na was surprised by the invitation, and she looked mildly flustered.
Li Jun cleared his throat. "Ah, Jia Li, I'm sure Professor Li Na is busy and has other plans."
Li Na caught his look, pregnant with meaning, and began to nod obediently.
Jia Li whirled around. "Professor Li Na?"
"Yes, I became a Professor a while back" Li Na answered.
Jia Li smiled. "Wow! Congratulation! So? Should I address you as Professor Li Na or can I call you Li Na? She asked.
"You can call me Li Na. We should meet for lunch, another time. I'm sure your brother wants you all to himself." Li Na smiled slightly, conscious of the fact that Li Jun was staring at her with hooded eyes over his sister's head"
Jia li then turn back to her brother "Didn't I tell you about her? She was my lifesaver when I needed one or I could have gone off the road like y….", Li Na abruptly stops as she searched her brother's eyes which was looking at her coldly, to see if he remembered what she said about her mysterious helper who stayed with her in the hospital when she fainted after the news of her parent's demise.
"Hey! Jia li, stop pestering The Professor. She likely has somewhere to go." Li Jun said
She blinked prettily "Really? Li Na, are you busy? You could just grab dinner at my brother's place pretty please."
She whirled back around to see Professor Li Na trying not to laugh with her hand over her mouth. Or at least that's what it looked like she was doing, as she almost turned blue and began to cough.
Jia Li narrowed her eyes. "He's Just my brother, Li Na. I don't care for his opinion. Come on" she urged as she grabbed Li Na's hand
"Will you stop fooling around or I'll leave you to walk home by yourself." Li Jun said angrily.
Jia Li narrowed her eyes. "Hey, gēge, What's wrong with you? I'm the one inviting her for dinner."
"She's my professor and supervisor. There are rules." Li Jun's tone began to grow increasingly unfriendly towards Jia Li's insistence.
"She's my friend and lifesaver, Li Jun. And I say screw the rules!" Jia Li looked between her brother and Li Na and saw Li Na gazing at her with delight and Li Jun scowling at her at the same time. "What do you say, Li Na?"
Li Na shrugged and accepted her invitation to dinner.
"Well, that's it. Let's go Li Na." Jia Li grabbed Li Na's hand and dragged her toward the car.
Jia Li was nothing like her brother. In appearance, Jia Li was fine-featured and willowy, with straight, long hair, a mole at the side of her left eye, and a darker shade of brown eyes. She was also very outgoing, which sometimes exasperated her older, introverted brother.
Li Jun kept his lips firmly pressed together during the drive to his condo, as the two women chatted in the back seat like a couple of high school girls, giggling and reminiscing. He didn't expect to spend an evening with both of them, especially knowing that Li Na was the woman who took care of his sister when she collapsed was a surprise to him, he never imagined such a coincidence.
Soon the trio was riding the elevator in one of the buildings at Xinyi district, an impressive luxury high-rise apartment. As they exited the elevator on the top floor, Li Na noticed that only four doors were opening onto the hallway.
Once Li Na entered the condo and followed Li Jun through the small foyer into the central and open-concept living space, she realized that his spacious apartment boasted floor-to-ceiling windows hung with dramatic ice-blue silk curtains. The floors were rich, dark hardwood, with Persian rugs adorning them, and the walls were light taupe.
His living room furniture looked as if it had been chosen from an antique shop, and ranged from a large chocolate brown leather sofa with nail-head detailing, to two matching leather chairs, to red velvet, a wing-backed chair that was angled next to the fireplace.
Li Na looked at the lovely red chair and its matching low upholstered seat with more than a little envy. It would be the perfect place to sit on a rainy day while sipping a cup of tea and reading a favorite book. Not that she would ever have that opportunity with how busy she is.
The fireplace had a gas insert, and Li Jun had suspended a flat plasma screen television over the mantle as if it were a painting. Various pieces of art, oil paintings of flowers adorned the walls and some of the furniture. He had museum-quality pieces of Chinese ceramics and Roman pottery inserted with reproductions of famous flower paintings, including the Gustav Klimt, Sunflower, and Claude Monet, Water Lilies. Li Na was intrigued by the collection of flower paintings, he had entirely too many paintings of flowers.
But there were no personal photographs. Li Na considered it a good deal more than strange that there were black and white pictures of a girl who was facing the National Palace Museum in Taiwan has her back was turned away from the camera, but no photos of the parents, not even the grandparents.
In the next room, near the large and formal dining table, stood an ebony sideboard. Li Na took in its richness and expanse appreciatively. It was bare except for a large crystal vase and an ornate silver tray that held various decanters containing amber-colored liquids, an ice chest, and old-fashioned crystal glasses. In short, Li Jun's apartment was aesthetically pleasing, tastefully decorated, scrupulously clean, intentionally masculine, and very, very cold.
Jia Li immediately preheated the oven and washed her hands. "Gege, why don't you give Li Na the grand tour while I start dinner."
Li Jun took Li Na's bag out of her hands and placed it on a small table. She smiled at him in appreciation, and he found himself smiling back at her as he took her hand.