Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

In this world, the only thing that made the mighty Tang Wei Sheng weaker was her tears.

"I am sorry sweetheart, I did not mean to hurt you. Please don't cry." Tang Wei Sheng repeatedly apologized to the girl who was crying in his arms.

Though Li Juan was tall, before Tang Wei Sheng's towering figure, she appeared like a soft little koala clinging to its mother,

"Sweetheart," Tang Wei Sheng called her once again, "It kills me to see you cry,"

He gently stroked her long curly hair and gave Li Juan some time to calm down when he felt that her quivering body gradually turning normal along with her tears,

Tang Wei Sheng gently released Li Juan from his brace and held her hands in his palms.

"Do you want to scold or beat me for stepping out of my boundaries?" He inquired with utmost honesty to the girl who remained silent,

Well, it was him who made it difficult for Li Juan to handle the situation, so he was obliged to receive any punishment,

"Okay, Sweetheart. If you prefer to remain quiet, then it is fine.  Let's stay like this for some more time and take even more time explaining our relationship to them," Tang Wei Sheng reminded her in a playful tone as he changed her attention to something more relevant,

He knew that changing the topic was the only way to get her over crying.

When Li Juan heard his words, she came back to her senses and immediately moved away from him, 

They were standing outside the private room, but they were still visible to the people sitting inside.

Yang Xiong and the research team were looking at the couple in an embrace with mortified looks,

Though Li Juan liked Tang Wei Sheng, she disliked making a fuss about the relationship she shared with the CEO of Tang Corporation.

Watching the sudden change on Li Juan's demeanour, Tang Wei Sheng's lips bloomed into a charming smile, spreading warmth to her muddled mind,

"Go, wash your face. I will order your favourite dessert. Go," Tang Wei Sheng instructed and led her to the washroom.

Watching the CEO of Tang Corporation's PDA, Professor Han and his assistants were left spellbound,

It was impossible to believe what they have just witnessed.

A stranger was hugging Li Juan and to their surprise, she did not show any protest or discomfort.

"Do they know each other?" Professor Han asked his assistants in puzzlement,

"I don't know. Do you know anything?" Cheng Tao threw the hot potato to Lee Tae Min who wobbled his head in "No"

Though they have seen Li Juan's vulnerable side a few times, she never ran into someone's arms.

"But he called her sweetheart. Who calls some random girl sweetheart?" Cheng Tao said to himself and looked at Yang Xiong for an answer,

"It's her! The mysterious woman who hugged Tang Wei Sheng at the birthday party," Yang Xiong finally recognized Li Juan when he saw the couple in embrace, "No wonder, she looked familiar,"

While all of them struggled to comprehend the meaning of Tang Wei Sheng's actions, he came back to his seat,

"I'm sorry," He kept his apology short and pressed the bell for the waiter,

Within few minutes, a waiter rushed to the private room,

"Can I get a Tiramisu?" Tang Wei Sheng placed and glanced at the rest of the people. "What about you guys? Do you need anything for desserts?"

Watching him acting as if nothing has happened, they were left dumbfounded. 

Tang Wei Sheng just made a tantrum all over the place by making Li Juan uncomfortable and now, he is ordering Tiramisu?

After a while, Li Juan returned to the table and quietly sat beside Tae Min. 

"Noona, are you okay?" Lee Tae Min asked out of concern when he saw her slightly red and swollen eyes,

Li Juan gave him a reassuring smile and gestured that she is alright.

All of sudden, Tang Wei Sheng stood up from his seat, gaining everyone's attention.

"Miss Li, I' m sorry that I made an insignificant remark about your appearance. I apologize for my ignorance and lack of manners," He bowed in front of them,

"CEO Tang," professor Han was almost choked watching him apologizing. It was the first time he witnessed a person who is in high status bowing and apologizing for a small mistake-especially to a woman.

"I am sorry that I made everyone uncomfortable. It was a mistake and I apologize for my rudeness," Tang Wei Sheng sounded sincere as he admitted his mistake,

"It's okay CEO Tang," finally, Li Juan spoke.

"There is no need for an apology. Sometimes I cannot get a hold of my emotions and I behaved like a child. I sincerely apologize for causing trouble for everyone," Li Juan slightly bowed her and apologized, 

However, once both of them apologized for their mistakes, the tense atmosphere that lingered in the room dissipated into nothingness,

Once again, the table became chatty as they continued the discussions about the upcoming site expedition.

Professor Han and Cheng Tao were already familiar with Li Juan's mood swings, so they did not give much attention to what happened earlier.

However, for Lee Tae Min, it was different.

It was the first time he saw Li Juan crying. For him, she always remained a bright, cheerful person, but he never imagined that watching her vulnerable side was excruciating.

Lee Tae Min looked at Tang Wei Sheng coldly as if he is blaming the man who mentioned a sour topic, in the first place,

"Tae Min, why aren't you eating anything?" Li Juan's question pulled him back to reality,

Lee Tae Min shifted his eyes to Li Juan who was smiling at him as if nothing has happened.

"Eat some protein," Li Juan reminded him and kept a piece of meat on his plate.

"Hmm, He obediently ate the piece of meat. 

As soon as Li Juan's attention lifted from him, Lee Tae Min continued scrutinizing Tang Wei Sheng who sat opposite to him.

"At first glimpse, Tang Wei Sheng indeed gave off gentleman vibes, but after watching him more, why does he look like a cunning wolf in sheep's clothing?" He started his analysis inwardly and all of sudden Lee Tae Min's probing eyes caught the sight of a wet mark on Tang Wei Sheng's shirt. 

"Aren't those tear marks? How much did Noona cry?" Lee Tae Min wondered for a moment as his eyes travelled down and stuck on the evident impression of teeth mark on Tang Wei Sheng's shirt.

"Did Noona bit him? Damn, she bit a man in his chest,"

Lee Tae Min's eyes almost popped out of sockets,

He was aware of the fact that often biting was considered as a way to express reliance on someone,

Does that mean Li Juan wanted to rely on Tang Wei Sheng?

"No, that's not possible," He muttered under his breath as he took his cell phone,

"I won't allow that,"

He quickly typed a message "where are you" and send it the first number on the emergency dial,

The very next moment, the reply came, "I'm home,"

"I will stop by," Lee Tae Min replied and kept his mobile back in the pocket as he shifted his eyes back to Tang Wei Sheng.

His attention was on Li Juan silently enjoying her Tiramisu.

"What is this soft doting expression in his eyes? Don't tell me this Wolf has fallen for my pretty Noona!" Lee Tae Min argued in his mind,

It has been only six months since Lee Tae Min joined Han Guang's team.  However, even before that, he has heard about Li Juan from others.

Li Juan, the Ace of the archaeology department,

A senior who is loved and respected by every student in the department,

It was a well-known secret that every professor in the department wanted Li Juan in their team, but she ended up joining in Han Guang's nameless research project,

The entire school of humanities that Professor Han Guang and his scholars were like a family all of them were equally weird,

Since Lee Tae Min had difficulties socializing with others, it was difficult for Lee Tae Min to adjust to a new team. But luckily, with Li Juan's help, he gradually became a part of their family.

Over the time they have spent together, Lee Tae Min has personally witnessed the number of men who wanted to woo Li Juan, mostly juniors who mistook her kindness as some other feeling,

But to everyone's surprise, Li Juan never accepted anyone, no junior, no senior- she always remained immune to men.

He always wondered why she is not interested in any of the men who approached her? Was it because her standards were high as someone like Tang Wei Sheng?

"Well, it seems like Noona and CEO Tang know each other ahead of the time,

But haven't Noona has always claimed that her ideal type is someone like Zhang Zhi Jun? Does this CEO guy have any similarities with Zhang Zhi Jun?

Well, he looks better than Zhang Zhi Jun,

To be honest, they look great together,"  Lee Tae Min examined both of them and compared each other as a couple,

"Stop thinking like that Tae Min," He cursed himself when his thoughts started to wander, "He is a cunning wolf,"

No, he will never allow this guy to take advantage of his Noona.

The best thing to do is drifting them apart even before they get more close.

While Lee Tae Min made decisions in his mind, the rest of the people at the table has done with their meal.

"Thank you so much, professor, for lending your time," Tang Wei Sheng expressed his gratitude towards professor Han and his team.

"It is the other way. We are one's who are thankful that you spent time with us." Han Guang sincerely thanked him.

"Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you all," Tang Wei Sheng bid farewell and walked towards the entrance.

However, suddenly Tang Wei Sheng stopped his tracks as if he forgot to say something and turned in the direction of Li Juan,

"Miss Li, my assistant will call you and give you the details of the trip," He informed Li Juan with a placid smile and got into his car.

The instant, his car left their sight, the research team walked towards the parking lot.

"How can someone be so down to earth? Oh God, he is so cool,"

Cheng Tao struggled to keep his mouth shut, wrapped his arm around Li Juan's shoulder and stated.

"I am impressed,"

Professor Han smiled in agreement and went on sharing his opinion about their investor, 

"Yes. That is true. All I have seen is cold mannered, temperamental CEO's never met someone like him. He is different," Professor Han sounded genuine as he praised Tang Wei Sheng,

While listened to their words, Li Juan felt a warmth spreading over her heart.

As far as she knew, there wasn't a single defect in Tang Wei Sheng's character. He always remained a bright person who radiates happiness and warmth where ever he went.

"Professor Han, can I take a half-day leave? Something came up," Lee Tae Min asked Han Guang with his usual cold self.

"What happened? Is everything alright?" Li Juan looked at his long face and felt something amiss,

"Nothing Noona, my brother came here for a business meeting. He asked me to drop by," He explained as he fished out his key from his jacket,

Though Lee Tae Min's family was in K country, his brother always made sure to visit him once in a while,

"You guys have been working overtime. You must be tired. Take today as a day off," Han Guang declared after a moment,

"All of us are going to be busy next week. So to meet the deadlines, we need to overwork. So take a day off and start working overtime from tomorrow,"

"This is so unfair," Cheng Tao complained as soon as his initial excitement died,

"We have to prepare a lot Cheng, so bear with it for this week," Han Guang consoled his oldest student, " We are just one step away from  achieving our dream,"

"Thank you, professor," Lee Tae Min replied right away as if he is waiting for Han Guang to conclude, "Have a nice journey and Noona, call me if you need anything,"  He looked at Li Juan with concern as he climbed on his bike,

"Sure, sure, you go and meet your brother, ah convey our regards too," Li Juan reminded and fixed the chin strap of his helmet, "Drive safely,"

Her actions made Lee Tae Min broke into a wide grin as he started the engine to ride away,

"By the way, Li Juan, do you know CEO Tang before?" Professor Han asked her as soon as they got into the car,

"Professor," Li Juan paused for a moment and continued,

"We went to the same school and his sister is my best friend,"

Though Tang Wei Sheng was more than a high school senior for Li Juan, she didn't want to spill the secret to her colleagues, at least for now,

"What?" Cheng Tao was left in stark shock. "You didn't tell us,"

"I didn't know that he was our investor until I saw him at the meeting. And CEO Tang keeps his professional life separately from his personal life. So I-" Li Juan explained.

"Oh, dear… when he called you sweetheart and hugged you. I thought something fishy is going between you guys. I was afraid that you might turn into some secret girlfriend of him and I almost had a heart attack when I remembered all those chidings I've given to you" Cheng Tao blurted out in a single breath.

Professor Han and Li Juan burst into laughter when they heard his blabber,

"Seriously, Cheng, you should become a writer with this kind of imagination," Professor Han commented.

Though she brushed off with laughter, deep in her heart she desired something like that,

For the last seven years, it was the only question she was afraid to ask. 

"Does he love her?"

During school days, Tang Wei Sheng has always helped her and took care of her.

Even though he hasn't confessed it yet, Li Juan was sure that Tang Wei Sheng treats her different than any other girl.

"Hey Lily, shall we go shopping? Cheng Tao asked Li Juan while driving. "I need to buy a new suit for the conference."

"Why are you buying suits? buy tuxedos," Han Guang suggested with a straight face. "So that you can have a wedding in J country,"

"What??? Do you have a girlfriend in J country? No wonder you remained a bachelor all these years," Cheng Tao just played along and teased his professor.

"Dum!!!!" Han Guang smacked Cheng Tao's head.

"Just buy something formal. Anyway, you are going to  sleep while attending the sessions, so it doesn't matter,

"Okay, then let's go to the ElleM Mall. Since they opened recently, I heard that they offer huge discounts," Cheng Tao explained,

"I will come, but you need to buy me food," Li Juan demanded with childish innocence,

"Sure, sure! When did I leave you starved?" Cheng Tao replied with a question,

Of course, with good food, anyone can get a free pass into Li Juan's heart,