Chapter Ten- “About Saturday…” 

Li Jun arrived on time for his afternoon appointment with Professor Li Na and knocked on her door.

"Come in" Li Na answered.

"Good Afternoon, Professor" Li Jun greeted.

Li Na blinked up at the realization that she was staring right through a blurry figure standing in her doorway. His voice was the first to reach her. Before her gaze cleared enough to bring him into sharp, astonishing view, she knew who'd come to her office. Her nerves were frazzled when she saw him standing on the threshold of her office. She was already agitated by his presence.

It was so stupid, and not simply because she was the professor and he was her student (how cliché). Li Jun was from a different world. He was a different species to her, and not because of he is younger than her and the boss of a large corporation, although these are definitely a factor. He was calm and modest. He was equally smart, and sensitive. Geez, what a mess.

Why couldn't he be a normal guy? Like Dr. Yang who was trying to flirt with her during the college forum this morning.

"For goodness sake, all she'd wanted to do was to thank him for taking her home when she was drunk and calmly tell him that the kiss was a mistake while she reviews his project topic with him". She thought.

Feeling disconcerted in her seat, she glanced wildly at him. "Yo-you can come in and take your seat," she said, gesturing for him to seat down.

He stepped inside and shut the door, sending her heart pounding in a panic, like a frightened bird desperate to escape its cage.

"I came to discuss the project topic that was chosen and what happened..."

Li Jun breathed in the flowery scent that permeated her office.

"Between us," he continued, "on Saturday night." Li Jun said softly as he watches Li Na feeling restless and watching him with huge dark eyes behind her desk.

Her black silky hair was tied in a bun, giving her a classy appearance that only enhanced his memory of how it felt when he wrapped his hand around it, reminding him of the kiss they shared that night.

Is she thinking about that night? He thought.

Li Na straightens her spine and raises her spectacles unconsciously, glaring at him for being so casual about bringing up the Saturday night gathering in her office.

Feeling exasperated, the fact was, after seeing Li Jun so . . . casual, as opposed to his suited self at the business gathering. Li Na was once again assailed by the sight of his hair and bright brown eyes, his body encased in a tight T-shirt and low-riding jeans, accosted Li Na once again. She loved the way the T-shirt even more stretched across Li Jun's wide chest and large biceps. She'd been unable to tear her eyes from his sturdy arms which she might add are sexy.

Rattled by the physical aspect of her attraction and disconcerted over the fact he wanted to discuss the incident, in her office, she stared at him through eyes that refused to blink.

"Mr. Li Jun, Let's talk about your project topic before we talk about the incident on Saturday" She coughed out; horrified to realize she couldn't control how quickly her breathing had picked up.

"Wow! Mr. Li Jun?" Li Jun questioned, tilting his head towards her.

"Why don't you start calling my name without adding Mr. to it, hmmm?" Li Jun remarked, his face furrowed...

"Li Jun your Project write up …" she started, shifting in her seat she looks at his project write up which he placed on her desk.

"You will be working on the effect of Agro-net cover and companion planting with basil and thyme on whitefly infestation yield and quality of tomato, right?" She confirmed.

"Yes, Professor, did you know that basil is a love symbol in Italy, whereas thyme is derived from the Greek term thymus, which means courage?" His gaze met Li Na's for a fraction of a second, but it was enough time for a burning-hot dagger of longing to pierce her body.

"Wh-what are you getting at?" she stammered.

Li Jun smiled with the right corner of his mouth. A knowing smile filtered across his lips. "You know, you have to have enough courage to take that step of love one step at a time." He looked at her.

"One represents . . . Love. The other represents the courage to pursue the love and overcome the risk." His brown eyes gaze at her.

What Li Na saw there made her heart almost stop. Generally, when Li Jun's eyes were on her, Li Na saw raw passion and desire.

It always tinged his irises, rendering them incomprehensible. That was still present, but it was overshadowed by a mild haze that encircled every inch of his pupils. It was so obvious that Li Na could tell how he was feeling without him saying anything. She, too, felt the same way. She had no idea how long they sat—looking at each other, lost in each other—and only returned to where she was when Li Jun moved around her desk, removed her glasses from her face, and touched her face.

His palm was warm and comfortable on the back of her hand, and the hot sparkle of energy that was always present between them breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed like forever since he'd touched her. Li Jun edged forward. "Li Na," he said, allowing his thumb to charm its way across her skin.

He kept his eyes on her flared skirt where their hands joined. His hands felt so good. Briefly, her mind began to imagine how it would feel on her. Her attraction to Li Jun was slowly turning into something more, something forbidding and irreversible.

She was tired of denying it, of course, but she still had to tread a careful path.

Li Jun's hand squeezed hers. "About Saturday…"

"It's fine." She whispered.

"No," he responded firmly. "It's not. It was… I mean, yeah, the kiss was . . ." He raised his eyebrows. "Look, whatever you think of me, I didn't kiss you just to manipulate your mind or blackmail you. Honestly."

"I know, I just—" Li Na said with her eyes blinking.

"The thing is." He paused, his brows almost meeting in the middle. "I'm serious about you. I want to be with you, like a man to a woman he wants"

Dizziness hounded Li Na, making her grip on Li Jun's hand tighten. "I know it's not the perfect situation." He pointed to himself. "I'm your student . . . and you're my professor but, I'm happy to have anything you're willing to give me at this moment. Just sitting and chatting here with you would be enough. "

The sincerity of his words made Li Na wants to fall into his arms and never leave them. Unable to make clear how hard her heart was beating, she simply uttered, "Okay."

Li Jun appeared satisfied with her answer. "Okay? No one will know if any of us didn't say anything about our relationship" She smiled.

"Are we good?" he asked quietly, watching her carefully. Li Na cleared her throat. "We're good."

Li Jun exhaled, seemingly torn. "I'm glad, but I need you to understand something, Li Na." He licked his lips. "I'm not sorry about the kiss, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Realizing she was staring and barely breathing, Li Na dragged her eyes from Li Jun and quickly pulled a folder full of papers from her drawer.

Oh my gosh. Let's Change the topic . . . she thought.

"Do you want these now?" She placed some folders on the table. Li Jun scowled. "And what are 'these'?" He slid the folders toward himself. "The references for the literature review for the project topic."

Li Jun blinked, confused. "I'm traveling outside the country," Li Na explained. "For a seminar, at Toronto University." She let her fingertips dance along the edging of the table. "It's the annual lecture for plant science professors around the world. I'll be out of town from Friday to Wednesday."

Li Jun's face changed subtly. He didn't look happy. After scratching the back of his neck, he slid his hands into his pockets. "Um, yeah, okay. I'll be waiting for you"

Li Na encouraged. "I will send you some references and research questions, and we will need to talk about how you will carry out the practical when I'm back ..."

When Li Jun's dark, solemn expression met hers, she trailed off. . "Text me," she said without thinking. "Or call me if you need any help. Don't hesitate. I…Yeah, just, call me."

"I will."

Li Na tried to smile but it was harder work than she expected. Leaving for the seminar she has wanted to attend was one thing; leaving Li Jun when they have just made clear their relationship for a whole week was another. She was suddenly felt lonely.