The car stopped suddenly. Lu Lijun gripped the staring tightly while Liwei held on to the handle of the door.
"What happened?" she asked, feeling worried.
Lu Lijun got back to his senses and looked at her, "Are you fine?"
She nodded, "And you?"
"I'm good."
"What happened suddenly?" she asked again.
Lu Lijun looked around and spoke, "Your home. We reached."
Liwei was so engrossed in the talk to realize they reached.
"I didn't realize."
As an apology to scare her with his rash driving, Lu Lijun stepped out of the car and opened the car door of Liwei.
Liwei stepped out of the car and spoke as she understood Lu Lijun. "You don't have to feel bad. I'm fine."
Feeling guilty, Lu Lijun replied, "Thank you."
"Will you come inside," she asked.
"Not today."
"Fine. But don't forget about the engagement again," Liwei teased.
Confused with so many things, Lu Lijun stared at the innocent girl in front of him who looked excited about the event the next day but didn't know what to say.
Before he could even react, Liwei stepped towards him and hugged him and spoke, "I never thought I'd do it on my own, but couldn't stop. I hope you will hug me next time."
Lu Lijun felt frozen. He couldn't hug her, and his hand stopped midway.
Liwei looked up at him and pecked on his cheek. "Good night."
She stepped back and turned to leave. Her face turned red, her heart beat faster, and she didn't dare to look back at Lu Lijun. She could feel butterflies in her stomach as the bright smile painted on her lips.
Not knowing what had just happened, Lu Lijun continued to be in a daze. All this was so sudden for him, and he didn't expect it.
Tomorrow was an engagement, and for the first time, Lu Lijun felt anxious about it. Till now, he took it lightly, not thinking about anything, but now he realized what he would face after it.
Lu Lijun returned home. His eyes only searched for Jiang Yuyan, but she was yet to return home.
He knew nothing but wished to see her. During dinner, they were finally together, and his heart was at peace.
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room and discussed the preparations for the next day's event.
"Yuyan, I hope you didn't ask An Tian to change anything," Ning Jiahui asked.
"I didn't, mother," Jiang Yuyan replied calmly.
Lu Bao spoke, "I'm excited to see Yuyan in a different dress other than just black."
"I'm sure as usual Yuyan would be the prettiest," Lu Bao added.
When all were excited to hear it and happy for Jiang Yuyan, she felt uncomfortable with the sudden praise and pulled out a light, awkward smile.
It reminded Lu Lijun about helping Jiang Yuyan at An Tian's place and how he couldn't take his eyes off her. Not just that, but he couldn't stop himself from going closer to her and expecting something more.
With his heart beating faster with it, Lu Lijun felt his throat turn dry and looked at Jiang Yuyan, who was busy talking to others.
'Why am I like this? Why I want to be closer to her and why..." he stopped, not willing to accept where his thoughts were taking him.
Not being able to cope up with his thoughts, Lu Lijun stood up. "Excuse me." He went upstairs while others thought about what happened.
"Is he shy because it's his engagement today?" Lu Boa commented.
"He worked a lot today. Must be tired," said Lu Jinhai.
Lu Lijun went to his room. He had water and went to the gallery to get fresh air. The entire family was happy but not him. As he only kept standing in the gallery and roaming in his room here and there, the time passed, feeling anxious.
What Liwei said to him in the car, every word rang in his ears. He realized, when Liwei hugged him and even pecked on his cheek, he felt nothing. And then remember those few moments whenever he was close to Jiang Yuyan. Just the thought of it was enough to make him crazy.
"It must be because I hated her, so it felt different," he mumbled, trying to calm down. "But I don't hate her now. So even if I hug her, it shouldn't feel like this. But how would I know? Should I hug her to check it?"
Lu Lijun looked at the time and then heard the footsteps from the staircase. He understood it was Jiang Yuyan and strode towards the door. He stepped out of the room and stood in the corridor only to see Jiang Yuyan coming towards him.
Not thinking even twice, he stepped towards her and hugged her.
It shocked Jiang Yuyan. "Lu Lijun. What...."
"Stay like this," he instructed and hugged her. His eyes closed as he felt the same thing as before. He didn't wish to let her go away, his heart and mind going crazy over just a simple hug.
With her hands stopped midway, which couldn't hug him and neither push him away, she stayed still, thinking something must have troubled him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I am not," he replied, still hugging her.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't know."
"First, let me go, and then we can talk," Jiang Yuyan suggested.
Lu Lijun let her go and looked at her, his eyes puzzled and his mind confused.
"Now tell me," she talked calmly as if consoling a child.
Lu Lijun could only look at her, but not a single word could come out.
"I think you are nervous because it's your engagement tomorrow. It seems like nothing, but it's an important turn in a person's life. You will be fine once it's over."
"Do you think so?" he asked.
"I'm sure. Just go and sleep for now," she said, and he just stared at her.
"Good night." Jiang Yuyan left, patting his arm.