"Both of your clothes are in the same room. You can change," An Tian instructed.
"Do we need to?" Jake asked, giving a meaningful sight to his brother.
"We will know soon," said An Tian.
"I'm tired of changing into other clothes. We shouldn't have to," Noah commented.
"I am always here to help you," Jake said as he carried the teasing smile.
"Fuck off," Noah frowned.
The time passed by as the three waited for Lu Lijun to come out, but he didn't.
"You two should check on him," An Tian suggested.
The two agreed and went to Lu Lijun's room. Lu Lijun was sitting on the couch leaning forward; his head lowered down as the elbows rested on his legs. He was ready in the suit but didn't look ready to go out.
The two friends looked at each other, and Jake signaled Noah to talk to Lu Lijun.
"It's time, Lijun. We have to leave soon," said Noah as he looked at anxious Lu Lijun.
Not getting any answer from him, Jake asked, "Are you okay, Lijun?"
"No, I am not, and I don't know what to do, Jake," said Lu Lijun frustratingly in a loud voice.
He loosened the bow around his neck and threw it away. He looked confused and lost.
The two friends knew what was going on with Lu Lijun. They looked at each other to assure something and spoke together.
"Then just run away."
Lu Lijun looked at them in shock, and both said again in a firm voice to assure him that he heard them right. "Yes, Run."
As if it was what Lu Lijun wished to hear all along, he stood up but still looked worried about what would happen once he would leave.
"Don't worry about anything else," said Jake.
"Everything would be fine," Noah assured.
Lu Lijun still didn't buzz from his place, and Jake said again. "We never said it to you, but you too know what you want."
"Do we still need to say it aloud?" Noah asked.
"No. I know now," said Lu Lijun, being ready to go out but stopped again.
"Liwei, it will hurt her," said Lu Lijun.
Noah sighed, "Thank god you still have your conscience alive."
"If you go with this engagement, later it will hurt her even more. Runaway before it's too late," Jake suggested.
To feel assured, Lu Lijun looked at his friends, Noah and Jake, and both nodded again, agreeing to what they had suggested to him.
"I can't. I need to talk to Liwei first," Lu Lijun mumbled.
"Go then. Talk to her and tell her. She is in the same hotel," said Noah, and Lijun dashed out of the room.
He went out where An Tian waited for him. Before Lu Lijun could ask him something, An Tian answered his unspoken question, "She is in the room just above yours."
Lu Lijun hurried out and went to the elevator. Getting into it, he went to one floor up and went to the concerned room.
Standing in front of the room's door, Lu Lijun knew what he was about to do would hurt an innocent girl. He was apologetic towards her but could do nothing at this moment. He had to tell her before it's too late.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Lijun knocked on the door. A girl similar to Liwei's age opened the door, and she recognized Lu Lijun.
Seeing Lu Lijun, she teased, "Mr. Lu, you are not allowed here. Our girl is getting ready to shock you soon."
Li Lijun ignored what she said. "I want to talk to Liwei."
"You can't. She is getting ready…."
"Let him in," instructed a soft voice that came from inside the room.
The woman at the door didn't agree to it, "Liwei, but…."
"Let him in, and you all go out," the soft voice instructed again.
The girl opened the door for Lu Lijun to let him inside and others in the room stepped out.
Feeling guilty, Lu Lijun entered the room as he heard Liwei again, "Close the door."
Lu Lijunclosed the door and stood looking at Liwei, who stood in front of the mirror looking at him through it.
She was ready in her engagement dress, and even the makeup was done.
"Say it," she instructed, her voice was cold as if she already expected why he was there.
"I can't go with this engagement…" Lu Lijun informed, as he stopped and waited for her to react, but she was calm and waited for him to continue.
"Because I….," the words couldn't make their way out.
The truth he wished to say to her, he was yet to accept it completely, and he was still in a shock with the realization he had.
"Liwei, I can't because I…" he stopped again.
The confident man, who never thought before saying what he felt regardless of it might hurt someone, stood there struggling to find a word.
"Because you love her," Liwei said as she turned to look at him.
Lu Lijun stood shocked hearing it from her, and Liwei continued, "I am glad you realized it early, or things would be complicated after our engagement."
"How do you…."
"I guess, just like you, I couldn't see it early," Liwei added.
"I am sorry. I know it hurt you."
"You should leave before I stop you from doing so," Liwei warned.
She was calm, but it was evident that she was hurt and suppressed her feelings.
"Will you be fine?" he asked.
"I won't, but I can't stand a man who loves someone else but not me, so just leave," said Liwei as she turned her back to him, "Just leave before it's too late."
Though Lu Lijun felt bad for Liwei and it was all his mistake, he had no other option but to leave. Going with the engagement process meant hurting others even more.
He left the hotel in a hurry, grabbed the cab, and left the venue.