Chapter 1146 - Tears
Lu Lijun was in Jiang Yuyan's room since he returned with her the previous night. He looked after her while sitting on the couch as his eyes never left her. He could have slept or sat on her bed too but preferred to be away knowing what she had been going through, and he should give her some space to deal with it. He didn't want her to panic seeing him beside her the moment she woke up.
He fell asleep on the couch. When he woke up, she was still sleeping, and the sun was bright outside. Lu Lijun went to her and checked if she had a fever by touching her forehead, but she looked normal, and he felt relieved.
There was a knock on the door, and Lu Lijun hurried to open it before anyone could enter the room and disturb Jiang Yuyan's sleep. Opening the door, he saw his mother was there, but he didn't act differently like how Jiang Yuyan was scared last time when Ning Jiahui saw him in her room.
Lu Lijun stepped out of the room and closed the door so that their talk won't disturb Jiang Yuyan's sleep.
"How is she?" Ning Jiahui asked in a low voice; she looked worried.
Lu Lijun understood his mother knew what happened the previous night and replied. "She is fine now. Might wake up soon."
"We are leaving for the temple for some early rituals. Bring her with you once she is awake," Ning Jiahui instructed.
Lu Lijun nodded, and Ning Jiahui was about to leave but stopped and patted her son's hand softly. "You did well by taking care of her."
Lu Lijun just nodded lightly, and his mother left.
Lu Lijun went to his room to get ready as they had to leave once Jiang Yuyan was awake. After getting ready in a black suit when he returned to Jiang Yuyan's room, she was still sleeping, and he thought to let her be.
Just then, his sight followed the wardrobe where he saw the winter coat hanging inside it. It was always there, but today as it's Lu Qiang's day, he couldn't help but go towards it.
Getting it out of the wardrobe, he touched it as if he could feel his brother's presence in it. He remembered his handsome brother, who wore this coat years back, and the last winter they had spent together.
That day Jiang Yuyan bought clothes for both of them. At that time, Lu Lijun liked this winter coat, but it was too big for him, and he was sad.
To console him, his brother said, "When you will grow up, you can get this."
His brother already allowed him to get it, so how could he not wear it. Getting it out of the hanger, Lu Lijun removed his suit jacket and wore the coat.
While buttoning it up, he also remembered he received a similar winter coat as a gift when he went to England, and he knew Jiang Yuyan sent that. It was not hard for him to guess who had sent that coat for him, and he couldn't deny how happy he was to get that gift though he never showed it. That gift always made him feel like she was always with him.
Once he wore the coat, it was perfect on him. He had a similar body built like his brother, so it was given. The one who would see them from behind would definitely mistake him for Lu Qiang.
'I should use it this winter,' Lu Lijun thought, and just then, a pair of hands back hugged him.
He was immersed in his thoughts that he didn't realize someone got out of the bed and strode towards him.
It surprised him to know who that was. Even before he could celebrate the happiness of that back hug in his heart, he heard something and understood it was not meant for him.
"Lu Qiang. Where were you? How much I missed you?"
He heard the joyful voice of Jiang Yuyan. Lu Lijun gulped and felt worried that she would be heartbroken once she knew he was not Lu Qiang. Once Jiang Yuyan loosened her grip around him, he turned, and as expected, she was shocked.
"Lu Lijun!" She stepped back in shock, and her weak body was about to miss the step, but Lu Lijun held her before she would fall.
Her dazed eyes still looked at him as if hoping he was Lu Qiang, and she mistook him as Lu Lijun.
"It's me," he spoke, and the next moment the happy bubble she had in mind disappeared to nothingness.
She pushed him away lightly, and he let her go. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"You were not well last night. You were drenched in the rain," he replied.
Jiang Yuyan remembered things from the previous night and understood he was not lying. She looked at her own clothes as they were changed in the night pajamas and her eyes turned anxious while thinking about something.
Just as she looked at Lu Lijun, he spoke. "We have female servants at home to help you with it."
Lu Lijun knew what was on her mind and answered her unspoken question. Jiang Yuyan felt relieved, and he spoke again, "Not that I mind doing it for you, but I don't wish you to get angry at anything when you are not well."
She glared at him and looked at the winter coat he wore. "Why are you wearing it?"
"Elder brother told me back then- 'once I grow up, I can take it,' and I think it's time," he replied.
Jiang Yuyan could say nothing as it was the truth, and at that time, she too agreed to it.
"By the way, the one you sent me as a gift, I have that one too, but that's too small for me now."
Jiang Yuyan looked at him in surprise and thought, 'So he knew it.'
'I don't know what you are talking about,' she retorted.
Lu Lijun didn't stretch it much and said, "We need to leave for the temple."
Jiang Yuyan looked at the clock and realized she had woken up so late and frowned as she held her head. "How can I be late on this day?" She looked like she had made a big mistake.
"Calm down. You are not late. Get ready; I'll take you there," saying Lu Lijun opened Jiang Yuyan's wardrobe. "Which dress would you like to wear?"
"I-I will do it." She stepped towards the wardrobe, and he stepped back.
"You can leave. I'll be out once I'm ready," she instructed.
"Will you be fine?" he asked.
She nodded. "Don't worry."
Lu Lijun went out of Jiang Yuyan's room to let her take her time to get ready as it was the day she would like to be ready for his brother.
Lu Lijun waited outside of the room, in the corridor. After some time, Jiang Yuyan stepped out of the room, wearing a simple black dress, wearing the same jewelry gifted by Lu Qiang, and with her hair tied in a bun like always.
She saw Lu Lijun and in the corridor who looked at her too and stepped towards her. It surprised her to think why he stepped towards her instead of leading her way ahead. Was he again up to something? She took a step back, and Lu Lijun went closer.
To her surprise, Lu Lijun moved his hand to the back of her head, and the next moment her hair left loose and fell along her shoulders.
She furrowed her brows and was ready to say why he did it, but Lu Lijun spoke before her, "Elder brother liked your hair like this."
The words Jiang Yuyan was about to say, she swallowed them, and her eyes turned teary in a single moment.
He ran his fingers through her hair to set them, and she continued to look at him with her teary eyes.
"But he sure didn't like to see tears in your eyes," Lu Lijun said as he wiped her tears, looking at her lovingly.
Jiang Yuyan felt speechless as her throat felt heavy to talk even.
"We should leave now," said Lu Lijun and held her hand to take her with him.
Jiang Yuyan didn't pull her hand out of his hold and walked with him like an obedient kid.