Stay here, with me

It has been five days since Li Juan came to Liang's vacation house. She somehow managed to get acquainted with Liang and his home and began to socialize more.

But in the deepest layer of her heart, Li Juan was unhappy. There were so many things that bothered her.

Firstly, the research- if she wasn't attacked, by now Professor Han and his team would have started the preparation for their expedition to find the lost city.

And most importantly the route map is still with her. Since the route map was drawn by hyrdochromic ink, it was still intact. Otherwise, it would've destroyed when she fell into the river.

Secondly, Tang Wei Sheng.

It has been almost a week since she contacted Tang Wei Sheng.

But weirdly enough, there wasn't any news of Tang Wei Sheng or not even a phone call.

"There is something wrong."

Li Juan thought as she came out of the room, looking for Liang. However, she couldn't find him inside the house.

"He must be in the garden."

Li Juan looked out of the window and found Liang, talking over a phone call. She slowly walked towards him without making any sound, without distrubing him.

Surprisingly enough, she found him conversing in the K language over the call.

"Are you sure about it? It is not fake news?

What about Li Juan? Is he aware of the fact that she is alive?

What about Professor Han and her team? are they aware of all these things?" Liang sounded anxious as he shot questions one after another over the call.

"We will wait and see."

He wrapped the phone call and turned around to meet with Li Juan's dubious eyes.

Did she hear his conversation? He was alarmed for a second.

"Yes, Miss Li." Liang tried to greet her with a radiant smile.

"Does Tang Wei Sheng know that I'm alive?" Li Juan asked him without any hesitation.

Liang's heart skipped a beat when he realised that she did hear the conversation.

"Miss Li."

"Please be honest. Does Wei Sheng Ge know that I'm alive?" Li Juan eyes turned red as she spoke. She was wondering why there weren't any calls from Tang Wei Sheng. What if he also believed that she is dead or went missing?

"I don't know." Liang replied with a stern face.

"What do you mean? You said that he told you to take care of me, to protect me?" Li Juan glared into Liang's cold eyes. Her doubts regarding him got stronger when she saw him hesitating to answer.

"Let me talk to Tang Wei Sheng." Her eyes shifted to Liang's mobile.

Liang let out a sigh.

"I don't think it is possible."

He looked aloof, but his eyes were cold and sharp as he spoke. It was a clear rejection.

Li Juan was shocked to see his response. It was the first time, she received such a response from him.

"Dr Liang."

"I don't have his contact number." He replied in a husky voice that lacked any emotion.

"Oh, come on! You guys are friends and how come you don't have his number?" Li Juan felt she was getting mocked by Liang. But still, there wasn't any response from Liang.

Li Juan looked at him in confusion as she felt that he was hiding something from her, otherwise, he would've replied.

"Please, Dr Liang, I have something important to share with him. It is extremely important." Li Juan looked at him with her puppy eyes, a vulnerable look that can make any man go easy on her .

"Li Juan, take a seat." Liang walked towards the bench and took a seat while Li Juan did the same.

"Li Juan, please pay attention to what I'm going to say." Liang looked into her pitch-black eyes and warned her.

"You have to be brave, no matter what happens to you, you have to think about yourself."

Li Juan eagerly waited for his words. Liang sounded like he was going to talk about something dangerous and grave. It felt like standing inside hellfire.

Her mind was filled with so many questions.

Is Tang Wei Sheng safe?

The gangsters who attacked her, did they attack him too?

"Dr Liang, is Wei Sheng Ge alright?" Li Juan asked in a worried tone.

Liang didn't reply. Instead of that, he slid his mobile phone towards Li Juan.

Li Juan took it and looked at the screen.

The moment she read whatever written on the screen, she felt like someone stabbed her with a red hot iron rod.

CEO of Tang Corporation is getting married.

Tang Wei Sheng, CEO of Tang corporation is getting married to leading actress Ning Jing. According to our sources, both of them have been dating for a while. Recently netizens have come across with the young couples who were having dinner and the word got out that they're dating. Later Tang Corporation's Chairman Tang Fei and Ning Corporation's Chairman Ning Ji Zhe has confirmed their relationship and released the date of the wedding.

Li Juan stood like a statue with her glued to the screen.

Her face remained expressionless, but deep down in her heart- she was in pain.

Her heart was shattering like a crystal bowl as she continued to read the articles.

Liang carefully observed Li Juan in awe.

He thought she would make a tantrum asking to contact Tang Wei Sheng after seeing the news.

She was in utter silence. She spoke no word or made any noise as she stared at the phone screen.

Li Juan's mind was in turmoil. She never thought that Tang Wei Sheng would cheat her.

After all, both of them liked each other for a long time.

So many things were buzzing in Li Juan's mind.

All those things Tang Wei Sheng told her, his words, his actions; everything reappeared in her mind.

Everything was real and felt genuine. Li Juan's mind didn't want to believe what she just saw.

There is no way Tang Wei Sheng would cheat Li Juan.

But those dating rumours, it was confirmed by Chairman Tang- Tang Wei Sheng's grandfather himself.

Then the whole dating story is must be real?

But that leaves Li Juan in a difficult position- what is her relation with Tang Wei Sheng?

He said that he loved Li Juan, the moment they met.

But this doesn't make any sense.

Did he lie to her? All those things Tang Wei Sheng told Li Juan, were a lie?

Lie!!! Li Juan unconsciously uttered that word.

Her mind only recognized that word.

Li Juan felt a thrumming pain arising from her temples and her sight began to blur.

Her heart started to beat faster.

Her face became pale like a ghost.

A small channel of blood oozed from her nose and the very next moment, Li Juan fell like a log.

"Li Juan!!!!" Liang called her and rushed to carry her.

--------------------------

When Li Juan opened her eyes, first thing she saw was Liang's deep eyes. He helped her to sit up and handed her a glass of water.

"How do you feel?" Liang asked as he sat next to her. But there was no response from Li Juan.

He wasn't disappointed with her silence. So he asked again.

"Li Juan, I'm asking you as a doctor. You hit your head when you fainted. Do you feel any pain?"

Before Liang could complete his question, Li Juan looked directly into his eyes. Her big black eyes were filled with tears as her cheeks appeared faint red.

"Li Juan!" Liang called her out.

A single drop of tear rolled down Li Juan's cheeks. She was in pain and it was unfathomable.

Teardrops continuously rolled down from her eyes like a waterfall.

"Juan," Liang couldn't control him- he threw his hands over her and embraced her.

She silently cried in his arms without uttering a single word.

"It's okay. It's okay." Liang gently stroked her curly hairs and consoled her.

Li Juan's fragile body shivered as she sank into deep despair.

She held on to Liang's strong shoulders.

Liang could felt a faint piercing pain on his shoulder.

Li Juan bit him.

He didn't stop her.

It was a sign.

She was in pain and she needs someone to rely upon.

Liang held Li Juan in his embrace until her sobs faded on its own. He didn't say anything neither did she. A calming silence filled in between them. The time passed by, but he didn't let go of her.

Liang gently looked at the girl who fell asleep in his arms.

His warmth spread like a protecting cloak over Li Juan's fragile body.

"Poor thing!" He couldn't help but think.

All of a sudden, Liang heard the buzzing sound of his mobile.

He slowly placed Li Juan on the bed and covered her with a quilt.

He looked at her sleeping face once again and placed a small peck on her forehead before leaving the room.

"She knows." Liang said as soon as he picked up the call.

"I told her."

He waited a moment to hear the reply from the other side and ended the phone call.

The next day Li Juan woke up earlier as if nothing happened to her and prepared breakfast for both of them. When Liang came out of the room, he was surprised to see Li Juan in the kitchen. Didn't she went through a heart break?

"Did you prepare breakfast?" Liang asked as he noticed the numerous dishes kept on the dining table. Li Juan replied with a faint smile and asked him to sit down as she began to serve the food. Unlike their usual routine of chit-chat, both of them had their breakfast silently.

However, Liang couldn't stop himself from looking at Li Juan's grief stricken face.She appeared gloomy and sluggish even though she tried hard to hide it. The eye bags under her beautiful eyes indicated continuous crying overnight.

He was hesitant to ask Li Juan about her condition, fearing that she might have a break down again.

"Dr Liang, I wish to return to Jing city." Li Juan said as she finally made up her mind.

"Hmm." Liang didn't tried to stop her, but went on to agree with her. "When do you want to leave?"

"As soon as possible." Li Juan was determined that she didn't want to stay here anymore, hiding. She wished to go back to Jing city, to her home, to her life before she met Tang Wei Sheng again.

"Let me check the availability of the boats." Liang walked towards the garden with his phone in hand.

"Dr Liang, if you don't mind, can I contact my friend?" Li Juan politely asked him as soon as he picked up his phone.

Liang ended his call and gave it to Li Juan without saying anything. She took his phone and dialled Lee Tae Min's contact number.

"Hello." Tae Min's soulful voice heard from the mobile at first ring itself.

Li Juan looked at Liang who sat on the sofa without any expression.

"Tae Min, it is me, Li Juan."

"Noona!" There was a shock in his voice.

"Where are you Noona? I couldn't contact you? Whose number is this?" Lee Tae Min anxiously bombarded her with questions.

"Tae Min, Professor is there?"

"No, Noona. Professor went to meet our investors.

What is the matter Noona? Are you okay?"

"I," Li Juan hesitated for a moment. "Tae Min, could you pick me up from here, please?" Her voice was calm, but melancholy filled in her eyes.

She just wanted to go back, but the idea of travelling alone scared her for the first time in her life.

Lee Tae Min felt that something amiss with Li Juan's words. So he didn't think more and agreed immediately.

"Yes. I'll come and pick you. Please tell me about the location and address." Li Juan handed over the phone to Liang and asked him to speak.

"Hello, I'm Liang, Li Juan's friend. Right now, she is with me right in the East sea island near Xi city." Liang briefly shared the location.

"She is still in the Xi city?" Lee Tae Min sounded confused. "I thought she came back already."

"I can bring her to Jing city. You don't have to worry." Liang assured him.

"No, no. I'll come over. Can you send me the location?"

"Yes, I will share the location. Please continue with Li Juan." Liang kept his conversation short and precise and handed over the cell phone to Li Juan.

"Noona, don't worry, I will come there as soon as possible and bring you back." Lee Tae Min assured her.

"Hmmm."

"Or should I take the next flight to Xi city?"

"You don't have to worry. Liang said that he will take me to Jing city, so you don't have to come over. He is someone I trust, so don't think too much and take care of yourself."

"But Noona, I don't..."

Li Juan ended the call abruptly and returned the mobile.

"Even if I say no, Tae Min will come to pick me." She said with a faint smile.

"Hmm, Let me share the location." Liang clicked the "share location " option and hesitated for a moment.

Li Juan is leaving!

She needs to go back.

She must return to Jing city.

He has no right to make her stay here, with him.

Liang looked at Li Juan's agonised eyes. Her suffering has no boundaries. Being with her closed ones would be the better option for her to ease the pain.

Yes, he has no right over her. He must let her go.

"Don't go, I want you to stay, with me..." Liang's heart screamed inside.