Chapter 976 - The Birthday...
Lu Lijun reached the office half-hour early, where the security guards were surprised to see him. He straight went to his office and sat in his chair while leaning back into the chair with his eyes closed.
He was angry, anxious, frustrated but didn't know why. He tried to calm himself, but all the efforts went in vain.
Just then, his cellphone rang. Jake's name flashed on the screen, and Lu Lijun picked up the call without a second delay as if it was his way out from everything.
"Hello."
"Are you sick?" Jake asked, seeing how dull Lijun sounded.
"I'm fine, but it seems like you are not. Again, not able to sleep?" Lu Lijun asked, knowing it was a late night in London.
"I'm sure you are the same," Jake countered.
"I'm in the office," said Lu Lijun.
"That explains the things," said Jake and asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing."
"As expected, the same answer," Jake frowned.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Noah entered the office.
"Morning, fourth young master," said Noah as he put a coffee mug in front of Lu Lijun and sat in the chair holding another mug.
Jake recognized the voice and went into silent mode.
"You are early here," said Lu Lijun, holding the cellphone to his ear, and Jake heard their conversation.
"When my boss is early, how can I be late?" Noah commented.
"How do you know I'm here?" Lu Lijun asked.
"When President Lu is still not back...cough…"
Lu Lijun glared at Noah.
Noah continued, "Cough...I mean, you have all the responsibilities in the president's absence, so I know my friend would want to work more," he had a sip of coffee, "This coffee is so refreshing."
Lu Lijun smirked, "Let me make it even refreshing," and put the cellphone on speaker, "What were you saying, Jake?"
Noah got a little surprised and looked at Lu Lijun.
Jake, who was silently listening to the two while smiling over sweet mocking between his two friends, asked, "How is president Lu now?" He referred to the accident a month back.
"She is fine now," Lu Lijun replied, "By the way, Noah is here.
"Hmm," came the reply from Jake while Noah looked somewhere else.
Lu Lijun stood up and went towards the glass wall behind him as he stared outside somewhere far away.
There was silence for a moment as no one talked. Finally, Noah picked up the phone and turned off the speaker as he spoke, "Why are you awake at this hour?"
Jake smiled as he liked the way Noah talked. It showed he cared about him. "I think now I can sleep," said Jake.
Noah didn't want to understand the underlying meaning and said, "Sleep then."
Jaked agreed, "Hmm, first tell me what's going on with him?"
Noah looked at Lu Lijun, who stood frozen, looking outside, and replied, "What do you think?"
"Still the same?" Jake asked.
"Hmm."
Jake and Noah continued talking for some time while Lu Lijun was still the same, not knowing what was going through his mind.
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The office hours started, and Xiao Min entered Lu Lijun's office after getting to know he was already there.
Noah just hung up the call and bowed to greet Xiao Min. Nodding to it, Xiao Min looked at Lu Lijun, who stood near the glass wall, staring outside, and Xiao Min could see his side face.
For a moment, Xiao Min felt like that was Lu Qiang. Lu Lijun looked calm but aloof that made it hard to guess what was in his mind. His face had no expression, but his eyes showed he was not calm at all.
"Good Morning, fourth young master," said Xiao Min.
The voice surprised Lu Lijun and he turned to look at Xiao Min, "When did you return?" Lu Lijun asked
"Previous night."
"Your boss?" Lu Lijun asked again.
"Boss would return in the day after tomorrow," Xiao Min replied.
"Why did you leave her alone," Lu Lijun asked.
"Mr. Wen is with the boss, so we don't have to worry, and there are few argent things, so the boss asked me to take care of it," Xiao Min explained.
Lu Lijun clenched his fists, but his hands were tucked in his pants pocket so no one could see it. He turned back and resumed what he was doing, staring blankly outside of the window.
Xiao Min left, signaling Noah to follow him as they had work to do.
Lu Lijun spent the day while working recklessly as if he had nothing to do.
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Two more days passed by, and finally, Yuyan returned the night of the second day. It was a late night, and Lu Lijun was standing in his room gallery, knowing it was the time she would return, and he waited for her.
One car entered the Lu mansion, and Jiang Yuyan stepped out of the car. As if he got what he needed, Lu Lijun felt relieved to see her, but the next moment, anger painted on his face when he saw one man step out of the car too.
That was Wen Zac. He went on the other side of the car where Jiang Yuyan stepped out and talked something with her that Lu Lijun couldn't hear as he was far away from them.
The butler who stood there to welcome Jiang Yuyan looked towards the mansion, where he noticed Lu Lijun standing in his room's gallery.
Wen Zac left, and Jiang Yuyan stepped towards the mansion and went to her room.
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The next morning, on the breakfast table, elder Lu commented, "You went to Florence all of a sudden."
"Had some personal work to do," Jiang Yuyan replied.
Lu Lijun waited for his grandpa to ask what personal work but the elder didn't ask.
Others knew that she would have explained beforehand if she wished to tell, but she didn't, so no one asked.
They went to the office, but Jiang Yuyan was busy with her work, and Lu Lijun was busy with his work.
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After two days, it was Lu Lijun's birthday, so the entire family thought to hold the party. Lu Jinhai called Lu Lijun to his office.
"In the next two days, it's your birthday. I'm planning to hold a party and invite some important people, so everyone will know you."
"I'm not a kid to have birthday parties."
"I know, but it's a way to show your presence to everyone."
"I'll do that through my work," Lu Lijun countered.
"But…"
"I have a plan, and I won't be in the city," Lu Lijun informed.
"Where are you going?" Lu Jinhai asked.
"To meet someone that I should have done even before," replied Lu Lijun and stood up, "Father, I have work to do."
Lu Jinhai didn't stop him, almost guessing what Lu Lijun was up to.
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The night before the birthday, Lu Lijun didn't return home, and no one could wish him at midnight when the new day started.
"Call him," elder Lu instructed.
"His cellphone is not reachable," Lu Jinhai informed.
In a while, Lu Jinhai got the information that Lu Lijun left the city.
"Father, he was talking about going somewhere on his birthday," said Lu Jinhai.
"Do you think he...?" elder Lu concluded.
"Hmm," Lu Jinhai nodded.
"Good, he didn't visit him since he is back," said elder Lu, and others agreed.
"He left alone. He hasn't been there for a long. will he be fine?" Ning Jiahui looked worried.
"He is not a kid," Lu Jinhai assured and asked, "Where is Yuyan?" Lu Jinhai asked as he looked at Ning Jiahui.
"We know she is never home on this date," Ning Jiahui replied.
"It's Lu Qiang's birthday, so how can she be home," grandma spoke.
The atmosphere turned silent as everyone wished a happy birthday to Lu Qiang in their hearts.
"We never disturb her by going with her, but this time Lu Lijun would be there," said Ning Jiahui.
"Did they leave together?" elder Lu asked.
"I don't think so. Those two don't even talk properly," Lu Jinhai looked concerned about it.
To everyone, it was clear that Lu Lijun and Jiang Yuyan were still like strangers and Lu Lijun was yet angry with her. Everyone ignored the fact, leaving it on them to sort it out. They were sure it won't last for long and soon the two would be like in the past.
"Everything would be fine soon," elder Lu assured.
All these years, Jiang Yuyan went to visit Lu Qiang on his birthday. No one from the family followed her, letting her spend time alone with Lu Qiang.