Chapter 173 - Under The Same Roof

Lee Tae Yang collapsed on to the couch, chocked by Li Juan's words. 

"Are you saying that we should live together... like together?" He repeated the question to the woman who sat opposite, with an aloof face,

Li Juan's choices always has been straight forward and brazen. However, moving in together with a grown-up man, isn't it bit risky? 

They are no longer teenagers who would cherish a playful love. Both of them were adults, who are brimming with lust and desire.

"Only if you are willing to accommodate me..."Li Juan emphasized on it.

"It's your house, your private space. No matter how close we are..I cannot barge into your privacy," She crossed her arms over her chest and diplomatically spoke,

"No..no.. that's not what I meant,"  Lee Tae Yang immediately denied. He was checking whether he didn't misheard anything.

Three months ago, she brutally rejected him for bringing up the marriage and today, she pops out of nowhere and asking him whether he is willing to stay with her.

The night, Lee Tae Yang spent with Li Juan in S city, he gave up on his hermit-like life. He can no longer treat this enchantress as his little Li Juan,

Watching Lee Tae Yang's confused face, Li Juan tried hard to conceal her laughter,

Is he scared of her?

"If you don't like to stay with me, you can say that. I don't want to put you in a tough spot," Li Juan said,

"Why do you want to stay with me?" He straightened his posture and inquired, "Your cousins lives in this city, nah?"

Zhang Zhi Jun and Bai Yu stays in the Jing city for their work. So isn't it better for her to live with her family rather than living with a stranger?

"You know my cousins can be a handful," Li Juan beamed, "If I stay with first brother, he will not be able to spent time with his friends and since he is a celebrity, it may negatively affect his fame.

More than anything else, we are still not comfortable with each other. I guess you are aware of the fact that first brother was also one of my suitors. I don't want to put him in a tough situation," She concluded and focused her gaze on Lee Tae Yang who was carefully listening,

"To be honest, apart from my family, you are the only person I feel comfortable with living together," 

Hearing her words Lee Tae Yang's eyes lit like the fireworks display on the new year eve. 

She is comfortable living with him....

But what about her family? She is the young miss of Bai family, the Queen, aren't they planning her betrothal? will they allow her to live with a man without a wedlock? Lee Tae Yang's ceased his thoughts which were going wild,

"What about your family? How are you going to explain to them?" 

"I was looking for a house next to the university, since I don't like living alone, I moved in with a friend," Li Juan smiles at his flustered expression with glistening eyes,

"Do you think your family will believe it? We were supposed to-"

"They know you...they know me...and they clearly know that I will be safe with you,"

Her confident words somehow eased up his muddled mind,

"Ah okay then," Lee Tae Yang showed her the way to the guest room, "go to sleep now. I will see you tomorrow,"

"So we are living together from today?" She stopped in  her tracks and asked to confirm,

"Yes, we are living together from today." Once their dark eyes met with each other, Lee Tae Yang felt his cheeks firing up and he quickly averted his eyes from the woman, "Good night then,"

"Good night," Li Juan gently smiled and went inside the guest room with an aloof face.

However, the moment she shut the door, her charismatic face bloomed into a high voltage grin, her heart jumping out of joy.

Li Juan picked up her phone and hoped  onto the bed as if she is stepped into cloud nine.

Unable to hide her blushing cheeks, like a teenage girl in love, she typed a message and sent it to Lee Tae Min,

"New achievement unlocked- The player has moved to the next level,"

On the room next door, Lee Tae Yang merrily unwrapped the gift box which he received from Li Juan,

It was a key chain with a finger sized figurine toy of Lee Tae Yang, but with a shiny aura around his head.

He picked up the small card kept inside the box,

"Happy Birthday, Mr. Sun,"

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

Next morning,

When Lee Tae Yang came out of his room after getting ready for work, breakfast has already served on the table, 

Li Juan who was heating up the milk, turned around and gave him a warm smile,

"I should've helped you with the breakfast," He apologetically said and took out two glasses from the shelf, to pour out the milk,

"It is just a toast, what is there to help?" 

"It is your first day at university, I should have woke up earlier, so that you don't have to enter the kitchen first thing in the morning," He picked the hot milk glasses and walked towards the dining table,

"Uffo...we are living together, it is better that we help each other with house chores," Li Juan removed her apron and followed the man who was trying to hide his reddened face,

However instead of sitting down for breakfast, Lee Tae Yang darted towards the balcony to water his beloved plants.

Li Juan peeked a glance at the violet hydrangeas and yellow orchids growing in the balcony, her heart filling with a warmth.

Lee Tae Yang wiped his hands on a towel and sat opposite to Li Juan,

"Thanks for the breakfast," 

Since she was already put the toast and bacon on the plate, both of them started to eat,

Li Juan silently stole glances at the man who sat beside her,

"I will drop you at your university," He suddenly offered,

"It is only walk able distance from here," She retorted,

"I am going on the same way,"

Once they finished their breakfast, Lee Tae Yang volunteered to clean the dishes, so that Li Juan can get ready,

Within ten minutes, she came back after changing into a simple red and black flannel shirt and jeans.

She maybe the Queen of Yu palace, however when it comes dressing in casual and comfy clothes, no one can beat Li Juan.

"Can we leave now?" Lee Tae Yang picked up his car key and stood up,

"Yeah," Li Juan wore the lap top bag on her shoulders and hoped towards the door like an enthusiastic kid,

Both of them rode the empty elevator towards the parking lot and got on to Lee Tae Yang's matte black Audi R8,

"Thanks for the birthday gift," He showed the key chain to her,

"It is nothing much...I was totally confused to buy a gift for you..You are the CEO of Lee Corporations and you have everything...So I just made something random,"

"I loved it." His eyes sparkling in joy as he caressed the key chain, "I never got a gift like this,"

Li Juan sheepishly smiled, 

She was worried about gifting a thirty year old man, a childish key chain, however, Lee Tae Yang's brightened face was enough to convey that he loved her cute gesture.

Dark emperor of Lee Corporation, aren't you too easy to please?

"This the key and password of the condo," He handed over a key and memo,

"0707," Li Juan's eyes widened in bewilderment as she read out the numbers on the memo and gave him a sidelong glance.

Isn't it her birthday? Seventh of July. The pass code of Lee Tae Yang's condo is her birthday? How love struck is this guy about her?

"If you are working over time, call me. I will come and pick you," Lee Tae Yang suggested without averting his eyes from the door,

Within ten minutes, they reached the giant entrance of Jing university. Rather than leaving her at the entrance, Lee Tae Yang drove his car towards the school of humanities,

Since it was the morning hours, the university ground was filled with students and some of them were scanning out the eye-catchy car passing before their eyes,

"I studied here for seven years and yet everything feels new for me," Li Juan gasped as she looked at the white washed buildings, through the tinted glass,

"Just think it is your second chance to experience the colorful university life," Lee Tae Yang pulled over the car, right in front of the archaeology department.

"You seem to be familiar with the university grounds," Li Juan picked up her bag, preparing to get down,

"I used to come here to visit you,"

"Really?"

"Do you want me to walk you to your department?" He asked with a pleasant smile,

"No, no," Li Juan swept a glance across the surroundings and found that the students were curiously checking out the car parked, in front of the staircase leading to archaeology department. If she get down with Lee Tae Yang, it will become a burning news among the students.

"Thanks for the trip, bye drive safe,"

Li Juan thanked him and stepped down from the car,

"Bye then, have a good day,"

The moment Li Juan's slender silhouette came visible, the curious kids waiting on the steps gasped loudly,

"Woahhhh, it is senior Li," Someone commented, "Senior Li!!!!" A group of students waved at her and walked towards the car.

Li Juan immediately bent down and waved her hands at Lee Tae Yang, gesturing him to leave before someone come over.

"Senior Li, when did you return?" One of the students asked her with a cheerful face,

Even though Li Juan had no memory of her university life, she returned their greetings with a smile,

"Yesterday, how are you all?"

"Semester exam is almost here, you should help us with professor Jiang's portions," A cute looking boy grabbed Li Juan's arms and pleaded, "Only you can help us,"

Li Juan cried inside her mind, she barely managed to study all the information and notes which is useful for her research work, other than that her knowledge about archaeology was zero.

"Senior, can you teach us from tomorrow?"

"Didn't you hear that their samples reached here? Senior Li is going to be busy," Some girl rescued Li Juan from the awkward situation, "Can you show us the samples, Senior Li?"

"Ahhh," Li Juan hesitated for a moment, "Let me ask professor Han whether it is possible,"

"Ofcourse, Senior Li is the best." Someone praised her, "Just think about it? She is the ace of our department and she lived up to her name."

"If someone else was on her place, I don't think they would have the guts to dedicate their studies and career in search of a lost city?"

"You finally accomplished your dream, we are proud to have a senior like you,"

In the middle of their praises, Li Juan stood perplexed,

They were right, It was her dream and she accomplished it with the help of her loved ones,

Her professor, her colleagues, her family...everyone helped her and she will be always grateful for them.

Yet, in the myriad of her vague memories, an exquisite masculine face, shone like a bright sun,

The one who believed in her,

The one who waited for her,

Yangyang!!!