Ming Industries.
Even after office hours were over, Ming Rusheng and Lu Lian were busy working. Once Lu Lian finished, Ming Rusheng went to her office.
Lu Lian was ready to leave when she heard the knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Ming Rusheng entered the office. She was a bit surprised to see him there. They were still only in the boss and employee relationship between them since that day when Ming Rusheng wanted to tell her everything but couldn't. Things didn't move ahead even a bit, even though in their hearts, both wanted each other.
"Are you leaving?" Ming Rusheng asked hesitantly.
After more than a month, he gathered the courage to come to her like this after contemplating when would be the right time to tell her everything. If not for Lu Lijun's engagement incident, he would have done it even before.
Lu Lian nodded, "Hmm! Mr. Ming needs something?"
"Are you in a hurry?" he asked, standing by the door.
"Not really. If there is something important, I can wait and work," she replied.
"How about dinner….?"
"Not possible," she interrupted him and said immediately. "Lu Lijun...it's his day... So…"
"I understand. You should be with him and celebrate," Ming Rusheng said, and there was a sudden silence.
"You can leave," he said and turned to leave.
"Mr. Ming," she called.
He turned to look at her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Maybe next time," she said.
Ming Rusheng nodded and left. Just as the door closed, Lu Lian didn't know what to do. Though she acted normal, it was not easy.
Lu Lijun returned home late after seeing off Liwei. The entire family was waiting for him to return as they were happy for his success. Finally, he proved himself and achieved one great success at just the start.
When Lu Lijun entered the living room, everyone was there.
"My lion is back," Elder Lu commented proudly and hugged his grandson, who went to them.
Lu Lijun didn't know how to react after seeing everyone happy and was just waiting for him to return home to shower him with praises. Moreover, his eyes were searching for someone who he expected to see on his return, but she was not there.
Everyone congratulated him, and he quietly accepted it.
"We got another smart brother. What to say now?" Lu Lian said.
Lu Bao agreed. "I am glad I am here, and my baby can see his smart uncles and try to be like them."
Everyone kept talking and how much this win meant for Lu Corporation.
"Always a business talk," Elder Lu frowned, looking at his two sons. "Can't you appreciate him without relating your business with it?"
"Apology, father," Lu Jinhai and Lu Chen turned silent.
Lu Feng patted Lu Lijun's shoulders as he looked at his younger brother, his eyes full of pride for his brother, and lips carried a pleasant and assuring smile. "Congrats!"
"Thanks, brother," said Lu Lijun, and he excused himself to go to his room.
Though he didn't show, all he wanted was to see Jiang Yuyan.
'Is she in her room?' he thought. Just as he reached the second floor, he looked at her room's door and thought to check, but the next moment dropped the plan.
'I should wait…." More like he didn't wish to trouble her, knowing what day they all had to see when the sun would be out the next morning- Lu Qiang's death anniversary.
'I should let her be….'
Lu Lijun went to his room. Until he got ready to go downstairs to join everyone for dinner, his mind wandered around how she must be.
'Is she hurt, sad and crying remembering that day? Is she alone? Should I go see her and be by her side?'
Should he go to her or to leave her alone, he couldn't decide. He thought it would be right to let her be alone to remember his brother and those memories, but on the other hand, he was worried if she needed someone by her side to handle her. Suddenly one more thought struck his mind.
'How was she all these years whenever that day arrived? How she dealt with it.'
Knowing how much she still loved his brother, he was sure it must be the toughest day of her life every year.
Lu Lijun had dinner with his family, where everyone discussed going to the temple the next day. Not seeing Jiang Yuyan at the dinner table, Lu Lijun was sure she was not home.
"You all are not going to the office tomorrow," said Grandma.
"Yes, mother. Mostly after half-day," Lu Jinhai informed.
"Did you talk to Yuyan? Is she coming home?" Elder Lu asked Lu Jinhai, and Lu Lijun's attention shifted towards them.
"I talked to her, and she said she would be there but didn't mention about returning home," Lu Jinhai informed.
'So, she is not coming home?' Lu Lijun concluded in his mind. 'It's fine!' He assured himself though he was disappointed inside. But the next moment, the stubborn and entitled man inside him talked... 'She will come. She knows I'm waiting for her.'
After dinner, spending some time with the family in the living room, Lu Lijun excused himself to go to his room. He just wanted to be alone as nothing was there he could do to feel better. Just as he stepped towards the staircase, he heard.
"Finally, she is here," Elder Lu spoke, and Lu Lijun turned to look.
Jiang Yuyan was there. She was still in her office attire and looked tired.
"Good to see you back, dear," elder Lu spoke.
"I had some work, so it took time," she informed.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm'So she was busy working,' Lu Lijun concluded as his sweetly shocked eyes stared at her.
"Dinner?" Ning Jiahui asked.
"I had it, mother," she replied.
"You look tired. You should rest," Ning Jiahui instructed, and Jiang Yuyan nodded.
Wishing everyone good night, she turned to leave as her sight noticed Lu Lijun standing near the staircase. He looked at her blankly as seeing her was enough for him.
Not having any expression on her face, she stepped ahead and stopped where he was before she could pass by him.
"Congratulations!" she said, her tone normal as if there was no excitement in her for his success.
"Thank you!" he said, and she stepped ahead to leave.
Lu Lijun followed her behind, maintaining some distance between them as he stared at the woman he waited to return.
Just as they reached the second floor, where Jiang Yuyan had already reached her room and was about to open the door without even looking at the person who walked behind her, Lu Lijun called her.
"Yuyan!"
She stopped at her door but didn't turn to look at him.
"Good night!" he said.
"Good night," she replied and entered her room but still didn't turn to look at him.
Lu Lijun too entered his room, unlike how he always found a chance to follow her.
Lying in his bed, Lu Lijun stared at the ceiling
'Did she return because of elder brother or for me?'
Both things came simultaneously that it was difficult for him to decide if she returned just because they had to go to the temple in the morning or did she really return for him just because he said to her he would wait for her to return if he won the project.