Chapter 200 - The New Blossom

As soon as Li Juan woke up next morning, she searched for the familiar warmth of Lee Tae Yang on the bed. 

However, she could only find a couple of pillows surrounding her frail body.

It has become a habit for her to search for Lee Tae Yang and snuggle on to his body as soon as she wakes. 

Since Lee Tae Yang was a morning person, he used to be the one who always wakes Li Juan with morning kisses and cuddles. In case Li Juan decides to sleep in, he always made sure to tuck her into blanket and surround her with his pillows so that she can sleep peacefully.

Li Juan ignored her aching head and gently sat up on the bed. 

For the last few days, she was having head aches and weariness as the first thing in the morning. And most of the times, a warm bath and a cup of hot coffee will come handy in help. 

Li Juan groggily rose into her feet and headed to the bathroom to wash off the tiredness shrouded over her. 

However, today was different.

After meeting Tang Wei Sheng and hearing his apology, Li Juan had a difficult time to cope up with the agonizing truth which almost shattered her heart.

Even after spending a quality time under the shower, Li Juan felt that she has became more tired. She somehow finished the bath and walked into the closet room with heavy steps.

"This has to be migraine," She mumbled as she picked up a toffee colored dress shirt and a brown pleated skirt from the shelves. 

As she started to wear the dress shirt, Li Juan was surprised to find that it no longer fits her. 

Li Juan took a glance at her reflection on the mirror with a hinge of dubiety.

She was aware of the fact that, due to Lee Tae Yang's diligent efforts to make her healthy, her skinny frame has started to gain weight, especially her chest area and belly. 

But how did she rapidly put on weight that she ended up in a phase where she can no longer wear her favorite clothes?

Li Juan removed the dress shirt and picked up an yellow over sized sweater to complement her skirt. 

"Of course, over sized clothes looks better on me,"

Li Juan gasped and changed her clothes. 

As soon as she stepped out of the bedroom, Li Juan's ears picked up the noises of utensils moving in the kitchen.

Perks of having a morning person as partner includes the opportunity to have a healthy breakfast for every single morning.

Li Juan smiled softly as she strode towards the kitchen, 

However, as she took a step forward, a momentary dizziness hit her and Li Juan grasped the door frame for a support when she felt that the ground under her feet seems to sway.

"How bad is this migraine that I am getting dizzy now ? Am I having another episode of relapse?" Li Juan's thoughts ran wild as she stood half away across the kitchen to steady her wavering stature. 

"YangYang, are you free now? Can you check my blood pressure?" Li Juan asked the man who was picking up the plates from the counter top.

"Xiao Li," Lee Tae Yang's cheerful voice heard from the balcony, "Come here for a moment," 

"Huh?" Li Juan tilted her head towards the balcony and met with Lee Tae Yang who was watering the plants.

If Lee Tae Yang is in the balcony, then who is in the kitchen?

She scanned the man in the kitchen in doubt.

Well, he does look Tae Yang at the first sight, but isn't this person little shorter than her boyfriend?

"Yangyang," She called in a feeble low voice,

"Oh Xiao Li, It is not Yangyang, it is Longlong," The man turned to face her as he replied with a cute expression. 

Guan Tian Long!!!

When did he came? 

"Yangyang," Li Juan repeatedly called the man who was in the balcony in a flustered voice.

"Yangyang, did you just call my brother Yangyang?" Guan Tian Long asked while trying to hold back his laughter, "Really Yangyang?"

"Why are you laughing?" Lee Tae Yang appeared without any delay and wrapped his arms on Li Juan who remained dazed. 

"Good morning, honey," He pulled her closer and planted a kiss on the hairline. "Did you sleep well?"

"Woahhh...turn down your PDA, I don't want to throw up on an empty stomach," Guan Tian Long shrieked as the couple began to show off their love,

"You got a problem?" Lee Tae Yang arched a brow at his brother who was looking away from them. 

"No, but I am hungry. How about we eat breakfast?" He asked and extended the plates towards Lee Tae Yang,

"And apologies for my lack of manners, majesty. Guan Tian Long of Guan family salutes the Queen," He dramatically bowed and greeted her. 

"Yangyang, can we go and check my eyesight?" Li Juan completely ignored her soon to be brother in law and demanded,

"I got confused you with him. How can I mistake you with gege?" Her lips curl into a pout, as she explained. 

"Honey, its because we have some similarities in physique. But don't you think I look better than him?" Lee Tae Yang asked sweetly, 

"You are more handsome," 

"Really?" He pulled Li Juan's chubby cheeks with an adorable smile,

"Hello hello...there is someone standing like a pillar here," Guan Tian Long interrupted them again,

"I am hungry. That doesn't mean that you have to give me dog food,"

"Then you shouldn't have barged here without any prior notice," Lee Tae Yang retorted without averting his gaze from Li Juan.

"Oh hello, I didn't came to meet you. I am here to handover the samples to miss Li Juan of department of archaeology. I just dropped at your door step on the way,"

"Samples?" Li Juan inquired as she picked up the term from Guan Tian Long's bickering.

"Yes, last night, Tae Min called me and asked to collect grandpa's hair samples for some tests,"

'"Gege, you brought the samples?" Li Juan's tired demeanor brightened up like a sunny morning. 

"Yes, he said it is something important so I flew early in the morning," He casually said while stretching his arms,

"Oh thank you so much Gege. You are the best. Why are you standing over there?," Li Juan asked while snatching the plates from her boy friend,

"Come, let's eat," 

Lee Tae Yang held his urge to laugh at the immediate change of Li Juan's behavior. Nothing can improve her mood than the works related to her research. He used to think that, Li Juan's memory loss might lead her to lose the interest in research, but to his surprise she became even more devoted to her work.

"Both of you sit down and I will bring the dishes,"

Lee Tae Yang asked as he picked up the pipping hot breakfasts and served for three of them,

"Yaaaa, when did you cook these many dishes?" Guan Tian Long eyes almost popped out of the sockets as he looked at the dishes in the dining table.

"This is what happens every single morning, Gege. I was planning to go on a diet from today,"

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Lee Tae Yang preached as he placed more greens on Li Juan's bowl. "You can start your diet later, now eat this," 

"I don't want to eat it...I am getting fat," 

"Just eat a little bit," 

"You always says that in the beginning and places more food on bowl in order to make me fat," Li Juan sulked like a child.

"You are not going get fat by eating greens,"

Guan Tian Long looked at the couple in bewilderment. His brother was very famous for being an ice king. His cold behavior was on par with their strict military general grandfather. But that ice king was nowhere to see.

"So you guys are living together now?" He asked to confirm. 

"Is that a problem?"

"Why bro?" Guan Tian Long sneered, "Why do you have to cut me down every single time I open my mouth.I am just clarifying my doubts. I thought Xiao Li was staying somewhere else and I decided to crash here like the old days," He raised his shoulders and interrogated,

"I mean how would I know that my good for nothing brother hid the fact that he is living with his girlfriend?"

"Yangyang, you didn't tell Gege?" Li Juan was caught in shock,

"Of course, he didn't tell me anything. On New year night, he dragged me all the way to Yun city, just because he needs a driver. And when grandpa caught us sneaking in, he immediately changed the topic to his marriage and sacked grandpa," Guan Tian Long let go of his heavy stock of complaints against his brother. "I am telling you, Xiao Li...he is not a good boy as he pretends to be,"

"Yangyang," Li Juan stared at the man who sat with a sheepish look. 

"Yangyang, God, I seriously can't believe that my brother who hates pet names actually responds to the pompous pet name that ever existed in the entire world,"

"Will you shut up or should I do something that you won't open your mouth for a while?" Lee Tae Yang shot a murderous glare at his blabbering cousin and turned to face Li Juan who stopped eating.

"Honey, you didn't eat anything," He tried to cajole Li Juan.

"I don't feel like eating,"

"Are you okay, honey..is there anything wrong?" Lee Tae Yang touched her cheeks, "Take a day off,"

"No, no, I can't take a day off. Tian Gege even came here to handover the samples. I must not disrespect his effort,"

"Work can wait, you must take care of your health, Xiao Li," Guan Tian Long supported his cousin on this matter. 

"Nope, absolutely not," Li Juan stood up from her seat,

"Okay then, I will pack something, eat it with your team mates,"

Li Juan nodded in agreement and ruffled his hair as Lee Tae Yang wrapped his arms over her waist,

"My eyes!!!! my poor eyes....I am leaving this place right now," Guan Tian Long covered his eyes and yelled,

"Just don't mind him, he is only a commando by name....his true nature is to be an ultimate drama queen," Lee Tae Yang released her arms over her, "You go and get ready. I will do the dishes,"

"I can help you," Li Juan volunteered to help him,

"He is here. I can make him do the dishes,"

"I am not doing it," Guan Tian Long retorted,

"He will do it, you just go,"

"Hmmm, okay then," 

"Dry your hair properly," Lee Tae Yang reminded Li Juan as she headed towards the bedroom.

As soon as the moment Li Juan left their sights, the jovial mood lingered in the dining area dissipated into thin air, 

"She seems fine to me," Guan Tian Long said with a serious face.

"Xiao Li is keeping a brave front before everyone. She fears that if she breaks down now, it might affect her health," Lee Tae Yang put down the chopsticks and stated,

"So are you going to pretend that the entire Tang family is innocent for the sake of her? They are criminals, Tae Yang, they needs to be punished,"

"Xiao Li refuses to take any legal actions," He said while picking up the used plates and bowls, "She believes that they have already started to repent for their crimes,"

"That's absolute nonsense. Why is she being nice to people who tried to kill her not only a single time, but freaking four times?" Guan Tian Long followed his brother's suit and walked towards the kitchen to clean.

Both of them shared their views and conversed while cleaning the plates.

"She sympathize with Tang Wei Sheng," Lee Tae Yang stopped and stared at the water flowing from the tap, "And as for Tang family, she believes that the legal actions will negatively affect her friend, Tang Wei Lan's life,"

"Xiao Li is on another level when it comes to magnanimity," Guan Tian Long wiped the last plate which was cleaned by his brother.

"Hmm that's what scares me the most. Xiao Li has always been benevolent to the people who mistreated her and give them a chance to back stab her....again,"

"Yangyang, are you done?" Li Juan asked as she came out of the bedroom after getting ready for work.

"Yes, honey," He turned off the tap and wiped his hands on a dry towel, "Just give me a minute, I will change now,"

"I am not in a hurry, take your time,"

"Ahhh, honey..go and take a look at our balcony," Lee Tae Yang told her as he moved towards the bed room, "there is something I want to show you,"

Li Juan's eyes sparkled as she heard his words.

"Did she bloom?"

"See it yourself,"

Li Juan rushed towards the balcony without any delay.

She was welcomed by the sight of the freshly bloomed pink hydrangeas.

She gently touched the heart shaped petals of the flowers with beaming smile. It was the plant which she gifted Lee Tae Yang as a promise to remember. All these years, he nurtured it with love and care.

"Hi there, little beauties,"

However, the moment Li Juan bent towards the flowers, a churning sensation raised from her lower abdomen, which is followed by a wave of nausea,

She immediately covered her mouth to stop herself from throwing up,

Huh? there is no fragrance in these flowers and why is my migraine getting triggered on?

"What the hell is happening to my body?"