"Don't go," said Jiang Yuyan.
Coming out of the sweet little shock, Lu Lijun looked at her as if he heard it wrong and gave her a questioning look.
"Stay here with the family," she answered his unspoken question.
Lu Lijun stopped getting into the bed and stood facing her as he tucked his hands in his pajama's pockets.
"Family, huh?" he asked sarcastically.
Jiang Yuyan nodded and looked at him, "After sending you away, no one was happy. They all missed you."
"They?" he spoke as if he was not happy with what she said and wished to hear something else from her.
He wished to hear that she missed him, but her words didn't convey the same thing. She was there to plead to him for the sake of the family.
He stared into her emotionless eyes as if his sight silently asked her, "Haven't you missed me? Don't you want me to stay? Can't you say you missed me and want me to stay here with you? Am I nobody to you?'
Sighing deeply, he averted his sight and chuckled, 'What was I thinking again. Why would she...?'
Jiang Yuyan continued looking at him to know what he would say, but the way he chuckled suddenly puzzled her, and heard him.
"First, I would like to know where you have been since you left the farmhouse?" Lu Lijun asked, staring straight in her eyes.
It was the time he would like to get the answers to his question and didn't wish to keep doubt in his mind that he misunderstood her.
"You don't need to know it," Jiang Yuyan countered.
"If you want me to stay here, then answer me," Lu Lijun said firmly.
"It has nothing to do with you to know about it…."
"Will you tell it or not?" he interrupted her, not willing to get the excuses.
"No."
"Or was it like you wanted me to present the project so that you can start the plan of making me the next president?" he asked.
"You are free to think what you want," she replied calmly.
"I am also free to do what I want." Saying Lu Lijun turned around and climbed the bed. "You should rest too," he instructed and lay in the bed as he closed his eyes.
Not arguing, Jiang Yuyan turned to leave, switched off the light in the room, and left.
Just as she left, Lu Lijun opened his eyes and sat in the bed, resting at the headboard. He continued staring in the dark blankly, not knowing what to think about.
'Why am I like this? Why do I expect anything from her? If she asks me to stay, would I listen to her? Why would I? She is just nobody.'
Feeling confused at his own forced thoughts, Lu Lijun banged the back of his head on the headboard as he cursed himself for being like this.
-------
The next day after breakfast, Lu Lijun went to his grandma.
"Why are you standing at the door? Come inside," grandma instructed as she saw Lu Lijun standing at the door.
Lu Lijun entered the room and sat on the couch where his grandma sat.
"When are you leaving?" Grandma asked, smiling lightly as she looked at silent Lu Lijun.
It shocked Lu Lijun. 'I didn't tell anyone that he was leaving then; how come grandma knows this? Did she tell grandma?" he thought.
"Grandma already knows it," he commented.
"The way you were standing at the door as if you were guilty about something and was hesitant to enter the room was enough for me to understand," Grandma answered.
"That...I have decided to return," he informed.
"Hmm, but why do you look sad?" grandma countered.
"I am not sad. It's just…"
"Are you worried that I would be sad? If so, then you don't need to be. Just do as your heart says and don't listen to others if they stop you for my sake. I am fine," said grandma.
"Thank you, grandma."
"You don't need to. Just be happy with what you do."
"I will."
"When are you leaving?"
"Evening," he replied.
Getting permission from his grandma that he was worried about, lu Lijun went to the living room where others sat and talked about Lu Zhilan returned her home with her family after spending weekends with them and how they all missed little guy Weiwei.
"Father, I want to tell you all something," Lu Lijun said, standing near the sofa.
"Yes," Lu Jinhai permitted him.
"I am returning to England. The flight is in the evening," Lu Lijun informed calmly, but he looked firm on what he had decided.
It left everyone speechless.
"Lu Lijun, why are you going back? It's your home, your family," Ning Jiahui said.
"Mother, I don't wish to argue, and please don't stop me," Lu Lijun replied.
"Lu Lijun, won't you listen to your grandpa," elder Lu said.
"I can't disobey grandpa's words. But if I stay against my will, I know grandpa won't like it," Lu Lijun countered, and elder Lu didn't insist further.
"Lu Lijun. Won't you forgive us ever?" Lu Jinhai finally asked what he wished, "Don't go. Father, apologize for…"
"I don't need anything other than permission to return, father," Lu Lijun interrupted.
Lu Jinhai could say nothing. Forcing him to stay was not an option as it would only make him a rebel and take him away forever from the family.
Just then, Jiang Yuyan came downstairs who heard it all. The others found the hope that Lu Lijun would listen to her.
Ning Jiahui looked at her with the hope, "Yuyan, he is….."
"I'm leaving for the office."
Bowing a little to elders, she left not saying a single word about what Lu Lijun said, and others saw their hopes crashing down. The atmosphere turned into an emotional one.
Lu Lijun continued staring at her retreating back, and once she disappeared, he turned and went upstairs.
Going to his room, Lu Lijun packed his stuff and decided to spend his day in the home. Out of which, most of his time was for his grandma as he wished to make up for making her sad.
They talked as grandma told him stories from his childhood days, and Lu Lijun told her things from England. When these two were happy together, the others were sad as if something bad had happened and they can do nothing.
In the evening, finally, it was time for Lu Lijun to leave. Everyone waited for him to bid farewell in the living room, feeling emotional, but Lu Lijun was stubborn to react to it even after noticing.
"Take care and make sure to visit your grandma once in a while," grandma said.
Smiling lightly at his grandma, Lu Lijun nodded and bowed to others, "I will go alone."
His words were clear that he didn't wish anyone to accompany him to the airport.
Looking at the mansion and especially staring at a particular room expecting to see her who was not there, Lu Lijun left in the car with the driver while the family could look at him leaving the mansion.
Ning Jiahui couldn't stop her tears, and Lu Jinhai consoled her.