He led her to a room that seems to be his study, but which he had converted into a comfortable working study by installing dark wood bookshelves from floor to ceiling. Li Na gaped at all the books—titles new and rare and mostly hard-covered in Chinese, Italian, Latin, French, English, and German. The room, like the rest of his condo, was intentionally masculine. The same dark grey curtains, the same dark hardwood, with an antique rug placed at the center of the room.
Li Jun stood behind his ornate and rather large oak desk. "Do you like it?" He gestured to his converted room.
"Very much," said Li Na. "It's exquisite "
She reached out to stroke the velvet of the red wing-back, the mate to the chair she had admired by the fireplace.
"That's my favorite chair. It's quite comfortable if you'd like to try it."
Li Na smiled as if he'd given her a present and eagerly sat in it, pulling her legs under herself and curling up like a cat.
Li Jun smiled as he heard her purring as a cat in the chair. He smiled at the sight of her, momentarily relaxed and happy over such a trivial event. On a whim, he decided to show her one of his most valuable things.
"Here's something for you to see." He waved her over, and she came to stand in front of his desk.
He pressed a button attached to the shelf Suddenly, a greenhouse built with Polycarbonate plastic was shown.
He opened a drawer and withdrew two sets of white cotton gloves.
"Put these on." He handed her a pair, which she accepted mutely, copying his movements as he pulled them over his long fingers.
"This is where most of my favorite plants and flowers are grown," he explained, as he opened the door to the greenhouse that was filled with different exotic plants. Li Na was amazed for the place was beautiful and amazing, she thought if they were referencing the hanging garden Li Jun's garden will be the one to describe it.
He walked towards the plants as he withdrew the hose that was attached to the wall to water them. He carefully separated the plants until he found the flower he wanted, then he removed something, cradling it in both hands.
Li Na gasped at the sight of it.
Li Jun smiled with pride. "Do you recognize it?"
"Of course! But this…this Encephalartos Woodii? it's one of the rarest plants in the world. How do you come by it? "
He chuckled softly. "My father got it as a gift for me at an auction house in Africa, when he saw my interest in plants and flowers. "
" It must cost a fortune," Li Na said sounding envious.
" It did cost a fortune," Li Jun said as he walked back to the study and went to the shelf to grab a box. He opened the box and withdrew what looked like a book. Opening it, it became evident that it was a series of stiff paper sleeves accordioned together, each labeled in English. He leafed through it carefully until he found the sleeve he wanted, then he removed something, cradling it in both hands
He held in his hand a copy of a famous illustration of flowers in a terracotta vase on a balustrade and flowers in a glass vase on a stone tablet, the original having been drawn in Baroque art style by Rachel Ruysch. The illustration was about fifteen inches by twenty inches and even though it was only ink on parchment, the detail was breathtaking.
"How did you get this? I didn't know there were any copies."
"Not only are they copies, but they were also probably done by Rachel Ruysch herself. But this is one of the two paintings of flowers from the 33 illustrations she painted with the Baroque art style. Rachel Ruysch painted various illustrations of flowers in the vase. I have the full complement."
Li Na's eyes grew wide and round, shining in excitement. "You're kidding."
Li Jun laughed. "No, I'm not."
"I went to see the originals at the National Gallery in London four years ago."She said as she admired the paintings
" I thought you'd appreciate them." Li Jun smiled.
"But I've never seen the one with the Basket of Flowers."
"No one has. I've got a copy. Let me show you."
Time flew by as Li Jun showed Li Na his treasures, and she was very quiet in her admiration until Jia Li's voice called to them from the hall.
"Gege, get Li Na a drink, would you? And stop boring her with your flower and plant crap!"
He rolled his eyes, and Li Na giggled.
"How did you get them? Why aren't they in a museum?" she asked as she watched him store his illustrations in their respective sleeves.
He pressed his lips together. "They aren't in a museum because I refuse to give them up. And no one knows I have them but my lawyer, my insurance agent, and now you."
He set his jaw as if he was shutting down all further discussion, so Li Na decided not to press him.
It was probable that the illustrations had not be certified by the museum and that Li Jun had purchased them through secret means. That would explain his reluctance in revealing their existence to the world. Li Na came to realize that she had seen what less than half a dozen people in the world had seen. And they were so breathtakingly beautiful—a true masterpiece.
"Li Jun…" Jia li stood in the doorway, scolding him.
"Fine, fine. What would you like to drink, Li Na?" They exited the study, and he walked to the wine refrigerator in the kitchen.
Jia Li started at the way he breathed Li Na's name from his lips. Jia li also noticed Li Na's strange reaction as she disappeared into a cabinet searching for her brother's pots and pans.
"Anything would be fine, thank you Li Jun." Li Na said as she settled herself on one of the elegant stools at the breakfast bar.
Li Jun removed a bottle of wine and set it on the counter. "I'll let it come up to room temperature," he explained to no one in particular. He excused himself and disappeared, presumably to change into more casual clothes.
"Li Na," Jia li said, putting a pile of vegetables into one side of the double sink. "Did my brother offend you? Why is he so stiff around you?"
"I don't know. You need to ask him that."Li Na smiled.
"I plan on it. But why is he acting so weird?" Jia li murmured as she walked back to the kitchenette.
When Li Jun returned, he eagerly opened the wine, smiling to himself wickedly. He was in for a treat, and he knew it. He knew how Li Na looked when she tasted the wine, and now he would have a repeat of her sensual performance from the other night. He felt himself twitch more than once in anticipation and wished that he had a camera secretly placed in his apartment somewhere. It would probably be too obvious to pull his camera out and take snapshots of her(Man, he felt like a pervert.)
He showed her the bottle first, noting with approval the stunned expression that passed across her face when she read the label. He'd brought this special vintage back from China, and it would have pained him to waste it on an undiscerning palate. He poured a little into her glass and stood back, watching, and trying very hard not to grin.
Just as before, Li Na swirled the wine slowly. She examined it in the light. She closed her eyes and sniffed. Then she wrapped her lips around the rim of the drinking glass and tasted it slowly, holding the wine in her mouth for a moment or two before swallowing.
Li Jun sighed, watching her as the wine traveled down her long and elegant throat.