Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

It was around 2 pm, When Ren finished tattooing. Since Li Juan is Liang's friend, Ren refused to take the payment for the tattoo. However, Li Juan was adamant on paying him for his hard work. Liang tried to mediate the argument between them and finally agreed on treating Ren with a meal as a gesture of gratitude.

While eating together, Li Juan came to know that Ren is a doctor who studied with Liang. Due to a medical mistake, one of Ren's patients lost his life and as a result, he got suspended from the hospital. Though, the hospital authorities and his family paid a hefty sum for the patient's family and stopped them from making it as a medical offence. However, when he went back to the hospital, the ostracism he felt in the workplace made him quit his career in the medical field. He went abroad for a year and came back as a tattoo artist and restarted his life with a newly found passion.

Li Juan's scholar brain couldn't comprehend the fact that Liang and Ren took a huge risk by quitting something they loved and rebuilding their life once again.

Will she ever be able to make a decision like that?

Quitting everything once she loved and starting a new life – is it possible for her?

While going back to home Li Juan's mind was filled with this thought.

On driving seat, Liang stole glances at Li Juan, who appeared calm and quiet. The silence in the car was too much to handle, only the grumbling of the engine and low breathing sounds were the only sounds filled in between them. After a few minutes, she put an end to her chain of thoughts and looked at Liang.

"Can you play some songs?" Li Juan asked him.

"Sure," Liang immediately agreed." what do you want to hear?"

"Anything is fine."

"Even if it some melancholic songs or foreign language?"

"Aye, I am open to every genre of songs." Li Juan doesn't care about the language and genre of music. If the music can touch the heart of the listener, then that's it.

"I will play something which I love, it is called "Tuberose, or hidden scent". Liang said and switched on the music system.

"The wind gently blows, my tears flow

All that's left is the scent of my heart, filled with loneliness

My love still hasn't faded away, it's stuck in my heart

I still smell my longing, inducing me to dream

I was once stuck by your side, clinging tightly to you

Under the reflection of the moonlight, my feelings are aroused, they haven't faded away

I hide them inside, deep down in my heart

Preserving you in there

All that has survived is just the scent that has never faded away

I still smell it like the old days when the wind blows

Only the past that will never return is left

I will hide you in my heart

Oh, tuberose, your scent cuts deeper than anyone

You smell too strong to resist, every time, I'm shaken

I will keep a hundred of you in a wreath and wear you in my heart

So I can smell you every time"

"This song is really good," The moment the song ended, Li Juan shared her opinion with the brightly lit face.

"What do you think about the lyrics?" Liang was curious to know Li Juan's interpretation of the song.

"The singer is comparing her love to the scent of tuberose, she wanted to hide it but the fragrance of the flower still lingers around." Li Juan said after thinking for a moment.

"Hmm," Liang agreed with her. " the hidden scent refers to the strong feelings she still holds for her former lover.

Even the music video of the song is beautiful and it tells a nice story in a minimalistic way." Liang started to explain,

"The girl knows there's no hope of getting back together, and she's not trying to patch things up. She is sad that things didn't work out, but that doesn't stops from holding on to the good memories left by her lover.

"Holding on to the good and forgetting the bad" Li Juan emphasized on that line.

"Liang," Li Juan suddenly called out his name. "Thank you"

"For the song?"

"No, for this," Li Juan pointed to her tattoo.

"Was that necessary? Liang asked her with a serious tone. "The tattoo on the shoulder?"

"Well, you were the one who shot me." Li Juan replied with a witty smile.

"I am sorry Li Juan," Liang immediately apologized," I had other options, but I still chose the crudest way to save you."

"Hey, it is alright if you haven't shot me, I would've died that day itself. I am alive only because of you" Li Juan said it with a genuine smile.

"Do you know who were they?"

"No idea, It is still a mystery," Liang lied to her, he didn't want her to know the truth. " You should be more careful."

"I believe that whoever tried to abduct me, they might have known by now that they made a mistake. They were targeting the wrong person." Li Juan smiled bitterly,

"If I tried to look at the good side, I am happy that I am still alive and living my life without any worries."

"Li Juan, sometimes I admire you because of your nonchalant attitude".

"Should I throw some tantrum and act like a spoiled brat?" Li Juan asked smilingly.

"Do as you wish, Just don't give up on things which makes you happy."

"Liang, I wish I had met you earlier. Li Juan said with glittering eyes. "I don't know, I like it whenever I am with you."

"Are you hitting on me, Miss Juan?" Liang said with a fake confusion on his face.

" Have not you thought about it? we are strangers and yet we are happy and feel at ease with each other's presence."

"Even in Xi city, I never doubted you. I believed and lived with a complete stranger who shot me." Li Juan said with all smiles.

"Well, that's why I admire you. If some others were in your place, they would've freaked out." Liang praised her.

"It is because I am emotionally dead inside." Li Juan tried to laugh it off.

"No, you are not; you just need people with a similar vibe so that you can have a proper heartfelt conversation with them." Liang tried to validate his point.

"That's why I suggest you live your life like the way you wanted. Stop hesitating.

"We only have one life, why waste it?"

"As I've told you earlier, this tattoo is a new beginning for me. I want to confront things which scare me and obviously Wei Sheng ge- we need to clarify the misunderstandings" Li Juan was determined about her new decision.

"Whatever decision you take, I will always root for you." Liang flashed a gentle smile at her.

"Can I ask one last favour from you?"

"Go ahead,"

"I want to visit someplace, will you come with me?"

"Sure!"

Li Juan gave directions to a flower shop in the city.

"Is this the place you wanted to visit?" Liang asked her.

"Not really, I will be back in a minute."

Li Juan got down from the car and walked towards the flower shop.

Since it was the end of the winter season, the shop was filled with a wide variety of imported flowers.

"How can I help you?"

I am looking for flowering plants, not flowers. Do you have yellow orchid plants and Tuberose? Li Juan clearly notified her requirements.

"Yes, ma'am." While the florist was picking the plants, Li Juan stood there examining various flowers and plants in the shop.

When Li Juan was about to pay the bill, someone entered the shop with hurried steps.

"Can I have a floral bouquet?" A silvery voice of a man heard in the shop.

Why does this voice sound familiar?

Li Juan turned back to see the owner of the voice.

It was Lu Gui Meng, the CEO of ElleM mall, the one who is interested in Li Juan.

"You!!!!" There was a surprise in Lu Gui Meng's face when he realised the women who stood in front of his eyes was Li Juan.

Lu Gui Meng looked at Li Juan with an overwhelming smile. For the last few weeks, he has been searching for Li Juan. He even went to her home, but she was nowhere to find.

Li Juan gave him a light bow and walked outside in quick paces.

"What flowers do you need in the bouquet?"

"Ah, She is leaving," Lu Gui Meng said to the florist and immediately followed Li Juan.

"Hey, Li Juan,"

Li Juan has already crossed the flower shops door when Lu Gui Meng called her. She stopped in tracks and looked at him.

"Do you remember me?"

"Hmm, that day in the shopping mall."

"Yes, I wanted to personally apologize you for the inconvenience you had at our mall. I even tried to visit you a few times, but your neighbour said that you went to hometown."

"What?" Li Juan was dumbfounded, "Did you come to my home?"

"Yes, I was planning to visit you today, it is good that we ran into each other. Lu Gui Meng explained," I would like to apologize,"

"There is no need for you to apologize. It was that girl's fault and she already apologized to me and the staff." Li Juan tried to avoid him.

"Is there is nothing else?"

"Are you free now?" Lu Gui Meng was not ready to throw away his opportunity.

"Sorry, I need to go now," Li Juan tried to walk ahead. Suddenly Lu Gui Meng grabbed Li Juan's arm and stopped her.

"We need to talk,"

"About?"

"That day, I said I am interested in you, I would like it to say it again"

"I also said that I am not interested in you. Why it is so difficult to accept a " NO"?" Li Juan was annoyed with him.

"Both of us are single and compatible, so what is wrong with chasing you?"

"Who said I am single?"

"Ah, Don't try to fool me this time" Lu Gui Meng chortled.

"I know that you are single."

Really? Li Juan looked at him with sceptic eyes.

"It is alright that you want to play hard to get, but it has been a month and I am,"

"I have a boyfriend." Li Juan interrupted him.

"Who is this time? Your other friend?"

"Is there any problem, Lily?" Liang who was supposed to wait in the car suddenly popped up near Li Juan.

"Who is this new guy?" Lu Gui Meng asked in a mocking smile.

"That is my boyfriend." Li Juan replied on a whim.

"Boyfriend?"

"I am her boyfriend, you got a problem with that?" Liang played along with her and moved Li Juan away from Lu Gui Meng.

"Chill bro, I just had a chat with your girlfriend." Lu Gui Meng also played along. He wanted to know who was this guy and how far will this play go.

"Did you get the flowers, honey?" Liang asked Li Juan and took her hand walked towards the car without even saying anything to a flabbergasted Lu Gui Meng.

"Thank you and sorry for that." Li Juan said as soon as they got into the car.

"Who is that?"

"I don't know actually, we met at a party and from that day, he is trying to impress me."

"Is he disturbing you?" Liang's face turned a shade dark.

"No, he just wanted to know whether I am single or not." Li Juan assured him. "He is not going to come back again."

"Are you sure Li Juan?"

"Yes, I am 100 per cent sure about, believe me how long he is going to be interested in nobody," Li Juan sounded confident.

"Hmm,"

Liang looked at the rearview mirror and found the lone figure of the Lu Gui Meng in the roadside, staring at their car.

The longing expression in Lu Gui Meng's eyes was familiar to him.

"No, Li Juan is wrong, he will come back again," Liang said in his mind.

Though Li Juan claims that she is a nobody, but in reality, Li Juan doesn't know the bewitching effect she leaves on people who come closer to her.

Though she appears as a pure and delicate lily, on a closer look one can realize that she is nothing but tuberose which gives off an intoxicating fragrance which arouses primordial passion on those who come across her.