Li Na sat facing backward on the leather Couch, resting her chin on her folded arms. The view through Li Jun's floor-to-ceiling windows was remarkable. From her position, she could see much of downtown and part of Lake that spread in Taipei. The trees of the city had changed color and were now dappled in gold and yellow and brilliant orange and red from the sunrays. They reminded Li Na of some of the greeny vegetation which is always wet due to the Morning dew drops.
She offered to assist Li Jun in cleaning up after breakfast, but he refused. He'd kissed her on the forehead and told her to chill out as if relaxing was really an option. While gazing at the Taipei horizon, she was able to focus on something magnificent while replaying in her thoughts her confession with Li Jun, which had set her free from her painful past.
Li Jun leaned up against the fireplace, staring at her. She appeared remarkably at home perched on his sofa, looking out his window like a little child who is fascinated with her surroundings. And her shoulders were not tensed with worry. He sat next to her, purposefully, not leaving a gap between them. When she made no move to inch closer to him or even to look at him, he extended his hand around her shoulders bring her closer to him.
Li Na felt like she was on the outside looking in on a couple who is comfortable with each other and familiar with each other as they sat together on the sofa with their wet hair and comfortable, loose-fitting T-shirts. It's reassuring, and it made her body full of unrepressed joy.
As Li Jun and Li Na were feeling comfortable and wrapped up in each other's presence, completely disregarding the world around them, the sound of the front door closing and a sharp gasp brings startles them as they crashed back down to reality from their lovey-dovey moments. Whipping their head up, Li Jun saw his sister standing in the doorway to the living room, a hand covering her mouth in shock. Lu Jia Li appears with a deep furrow on her face, "Gege! I'm her-e. What the fudge!!"She screams.
"What is happening here, Brother? Li Na?" Jia Li exclaimed as she looked between Li Jun, her brother, and Li Na who jumped from the couch where they were cuddling as they become beet-red from been caught red-handed.
Hurrying to stand, Li Na straightens her shirt which has been rolled up to her buttocks as she looks at Jia Li, feeling mortified. "Hi-Hi," she gasped as she gets to her feet.
Li Na's sinking heart collides with her somersaulting stomach in a massive explosion as she stares at Jia Li.
How was she going to explain to Jia Li what's happening? Where is she going to start?
Li Na felt like rushing into the toilet to throw up.
Li Jun gets up slower and stands behind Li Na, placing his hands on her shoulders in silent support and reassuring manner. " Why didn't you call me before barging into my house like this, early in the morning?" Li Jun glowered at Jia Li whose mouth was opened in shock.
Jia Li didn't answer him as she stares hard at the spot where his brother was touching on Li Na's shoulders, before finally meeting Li Na's eyes.
"Oh, my Lord, I now know why my brother smiles at himself whenever he sat in a corner at Grandpa's house recently, but wow!! Jia Li began walking towards a couch as a flood of emotions washed over her—worry, rage at her brother, glee, a little bit betrayed, and joy because she was now certain that the reason for her brother's happiness was due to a person, specifically someone she knew, after so many years of him being single.
Jai Li looked at the both of them as they stood in front of her like a student listening to their teacher reprimanding them."Crap! Brother, when did you and Professor Li Na started seeing each other?" Her voice was mellowed with shock at finding out about her brother's relationship with her friend.
She announces, exasperated. "My Gosh! I should have known when we had dinner last time, the two of you were stiff around each other, GeGe was walking around here as if something was stuck in his arse. And the way Li Na was talking is completely unnatural. But one of you needs to spill out what is going on between you two."
Li Na face was burning with embarrassment, but before she can answer, Li Jun says, his voice was rough at the sudden intrusion from his sister, "Jia Li, with all due respect I think an older brother should give his sister, we are both adults and what we were doing is our business. Not Yours"
She snorts in amusement" Damn, bro! Don't get all macho on me. I know that Professor Li Na is a good woman but I don't want you to get hurt again because of what you went through. I need the gist, or else I'm telling grandpa and Na Na on you."She shrugged at her brother who was grimacing at her.
Spinning around, Jia Li turns to Li Na. "I want to know if this is just a fling or you really love him. I don't care about your status or age, What I care about is what you feel about my brother."
Li Na, Seeing Li Jun and his sister threatening each other jovially despite the tension still simmering around them made her a little bit relax.
Hearing what Jia Li says and her care for her brother and the fact that Jia li had not scream or shout at her for being with her brother is the first sign that this may not go as badly as she thought. She is praying and willing her to understand, not to judge but to be happy for them.
Moving closer to Lu Jia Li, Li Na sets her gaze on her"You know, Jia Li, It was recently we accepted to be in each other life . . .We were going to tell you when the time was right."
Unexpectedly defensive, Li Na continues with her explanation. " I'm in love with your brother and for the first time in my life, my heart feels whole. You need to know this is not an insignificant fling."
Li Na stares at Jia Li as she tried to read her expression, but she got nothing from her.
Jia Li finally lets out a long, drawn-out huff. "You know, Professor, I wish you had told me about it. I'm also happy that my brother is finally with someone after all this time but I hate that Gege and you, Li Na, had to keep your relationship a secret especially from me."
She leans back against the headrest as she pressed something on her iPhone. "I have a headache trying to wrap my brain around all of this. You're right,Gege. You are both Adults, but remember she's your supervising professor and this may land her in a hot mess. So how are you going to keep it under wraps?"
Li Jun sighs, shaking his head. "Jiali, I'm happy that you accept the situation on the ground easily, I know it's hard to take in. She's your friend and my professor, and no matter what, your opinion does matter to me. I also love being with her. I can't do without her. She makes me freaking happy. I will do everything in my power not to jeopardize her career because of our relationship."Li Jun was standing tall in front of Li Na when he finishes, and when Li Na looks around him at Jia Li.
Jia Li was smiling at her brother's declaration and her eyes were sparkling with respect and adoration for her brother.
Li Jun pulls Li Na to him, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side. He's staring at his sister with a smile on his face
Li Na's heart swells in her chest at his words. Both of them sat on the couch at the same time. Li Na Leaned her head against Li Jun's shoulder, she enjoys the closeness and reassurance.
Jia li smile at them as she looks like a huge weight has been taken off her shoulders and she realized how hard she wished her brother will be happy after the death of their parents.
It was the reason why she was always encouraging Ye Ye(her grandpa) to send the daughters of his friends to his brother but somehow he still shuns the girls' company and remains a monk. Thank God, it was Professor Li Na, she has known her as a good person when she took care of her during her fainting spells at the time she heard about the death of her parents.
Jia Li stood up from her seat, clutching her iPhone, and walks over to where her Gege and Li Na were sitting. She took Li Na's face in her hands and kissed her cheek before hugging her tightly. "I'm so happy for you," she says softly into her hair.
Li Na hugs her back, and Jia Li pulls away to do the same to her brother. "I'm going to go. I've got so many assignments, and I'm sure the two of you want to spend some time together."
Jia Li rose up and smiled as she touched the dial on her phone before proceeding to the room on the anteroom's side. She then abruptly turned around and gave her brother a smirking look. She grinned and said, "Big brother, Grandpa would like to say hello to you."
"You little shit, so grandpa was on the phone," Li Jun said as he immediately sprang up and ran towards her to take the phone from her. As he watched her shrug at him, he roared at her.
"Hello, Son! That is the way to go, my hǔ zǐ*. I will be expecting the both of you next weekend" Li Na's mouth was hanging agape as she listens to an old man's cheerful voice.
"Don't think you can create an excuse or you will see me on the next flight to your office. Professor Li Na, I'm looking forward to seeing you. Ha, finally" Li Jun can hear his Ye Ye hums gleefully.
" Grandpa, see…" the old man hangs up on Li Jun as he began, Jia Li then snatched the phone from him and ran inside the room and shut the door as she kept on laughing loudly and Li Jun turns to Li Na with a grin. "Well, that went way better than I was expecting. We are visiting my grandparents next weekend."