Li Na leaned back in her chair after lunch, quietly adjusting the drawstring of her gown to relieve my aching belly. Li Na isn't sure if it's from the delicious homemade meal she ate too much of, or if she's just apprehensive about being alone with Mrs. Lu.
Mr. Lu and Li Jun, along with the rest of the group, had departed the dining room to do something.
"I see why he's so taken with you." Mrs. Lu smiled at her warmly and reclines in the chair beside the table.
Li Na's gaze wanders through the doorway of the room and lands on the t-shirt stretching across Li Jun's back. Sitting at the table with his granddad, he straddles the back of a chair, deep in conversation.
His voice vibrates through her and soothes Li Na like a seductive melody even though she can't see him or hear him. Li Jun turned around and winked at her as if he knew she was watching him.
Li Na cleared her throat. "I'm taken with him, too."
Mrs. Lu swirls her reddish wine in her glass, staring carefully at Li Na. It's so strange to see Li Jun's brown eyes set in such a calm and soft expression. She's intimidatingly gorgeous. Not a strand in her shoulder-length gray hair was out of place. And there are decades of wisdom in the way she looks at her, it's as if she can read her mind and make sense of it.
Mrs. Lu kept sipping her wine. "You both appear to be in good mood. Understandably, you are a little jittery, but you are delighted. How long have you known each other?"
"Almost seven weeks." Not that she was counting, Li Na thought.
Does she think that's insufficient? That seven-week isn't long enough to measure the seriousness of a relationship?
Li Na wanted to point out that they've been emotionally wrapped up in each for several months and the actual intimate part didn't happen until recently, but that will be an unnecessary info.
Mrs. Lu carries on like the most important thing on her mind is her stories about Li Jun's ornery childhood and how his parent's death made him a bit withdrawn.
Her kindness eventually opens Li Na up enough to share memories of what lead her to be interested in horticulture. Their comfortable exchange made Li Na relaxed, as if she is just a normal girlfriend, getting to know the family.
An hour later, Li Na was completely enraptured with Mrs. Lu. Her disposition is so weightless and refreshing. Her gentle eyes and sincere smile radiates the kind of serenity that only comes from deep-seated happiness.
She embodies the love and affection of a mother. This is such a stark contrast to her own mother. She makes Li Na feel accepted, loved, and...young, in the nicest possible way.
Mr. Lu rises from his chair in the other room, squeezes Li Jun's shoulder, and walks down the passage that leads deeper into the estate.
"If it's not too much trouble..." Mrs. Lu gets out of her chair. "I'm going to find out where my husband went." She leans down and grabs her hand as she walks past the room where Li Jun was sitting. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Li Na,".
Li Na let the tenderness of her words sink in. "You, too."
Li Jun stood up from his chair and came around Li Na and held her back slightly. When his grandma had disappeared into the estate with his grandma, he kept gazing down at her with a somewhat hungry look on his face. Li Na felt nervous all of a sudden and became intrigued by Li Jun's neck.
He reached down with one hand and popped the top button of her gown open, sliding his hand across her neck. "Were you nervous? Did she make you uncomfortable?" He asked as his hand kept sliding across her cheek.
Li Na kept fiddling with Li Jun's shirt." No, she didn't and I'm not nervous. I like her. She's way too cool."
Leaning in, Li Na loops her arms around his shoulders and press her upper body against his.
The last few weeks have drastically changed her perceptions about herself and her ability to do normal things with a man.
With his head tipped down, he wraps a large hand around both of her wrists, shackling them against his chest. "You are beautiful Li Na, I was looking at your lips as my father kept on talking to you about flowers and trees with you. Your lips reminded me of what they have been doing to a certain part of my body."
Shit, what if his family heard him. Li Na tries to lift her chest away, but he holds her still with his grip on my arms. Her attention flicks toward the empty hallway.
The tightening pressure of his fingers around her hands kicks up her pulse. His thumb strokes the underside of her wrist, and Li Na knew he can feel the thudding palpation of her heartbeat there.
She buried her nose in the soft hair behind his ear, inhaling the scent of rose from his scent. "What did you talk about with your granddad?"
"You. Our relationship."
Li Jun squeezed Li Na's hand as he brought his mouth close to her. "Li Na, look at me." He coaxed her chin upward with a single finger, gazing at her with affectionate eyes. "How about going to the end of the estate to visit my parents' graves." He asked.
Li Na eyes grew blurry at the reminder of Li Jun's parents she was happy that Li Jun allowed her to visit them with him.
"Wait here a moment." He disappeared into his bedroom, returning with a large-colored cashmere sweater. "This is for you." He handed it to her.
She accepted the sweater but gave him a puzzled look.
"I was worried that you wouldn't be warm enough. I thought maybe you could wear this to the place."
"Thank you. "She said as she wore it over her gown.
Li Na went with Li Jun to his parents' graves after he told his family that he is taking her to the place where his parents were buried, wrapping herself in the scent that was Li Jun and his cozy cashmere sweater, which permeated through her like a burst of warm sunshine.
The skies in the estate were sunny and bright, the weather as radiant as the faces of the couple walking through the vast land. Li Jun walked slowly with Li Na's arm tucked through his own while they ambled to two large headstones that had been erected almost four years ago. Li Jun tightened his hold on Li Na when the cleared area came into view.
Li Na clasped her palm over Li Jun's. "You okay?"
Li Jun nodded. "Seeing them like this is always the hardest and painful part." They walked across the path, closer to the grave. Li Jun moved closer to the graves and placed a bouquet of red roses which he plucked from his grandfather's garden when they were coming and he placed it against the black tile, Li Jun moved away and left him to his private moment.
Streaks of soft tear lines were visible down Li Jun's cheeks when Li Na saw him come towards her.
"Are you all right?"
A look of contentment surrounded Li Jun's eyes. "I am now," he replied, walking away. "Come greet them."
Li Na looked at the gold lettering on the marble stating the date of his parents' death. She pulled the sweater around herself and knelt down so she was at eye level with his parents' headstone.
"Hey, ma and sir," she whispered. "Thank you for giving birth to such a wonderful son." She smiled, as she kept her head bowed to the headstones. Lifting her face toward the angry sky, she closed her eyes. "I'm happy, I met him. He makes me feel right. You . . ." Li Jun's hand gripped the top of the marble.
"You have to know that he's a good man. He's missed you greatly and he drives me absolutely crazy, and his liveness that makes me alive. I just know it." Seeing Li Jun's parents' graves side by side made her smiled.
"I know that wherever you are, you're happy and looking out for him. For us. I can feel it. Please, I humble myself before you, that you accept me as a partner for your son. Thank you."
As the words left Li Na's mouth—for one split second—the wind blew softly whistling a soft rhythmic hum. The momentary warmth mixed with the wind hit her back, making her body relax. And as she blinked at the sun she knew, deep in her soul, that Li Jun's parent had given her and Li Jun their blessing.