Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

There was an awkward silence in the lift.

Zhang Zhi Jun who found the so-called "Yangyang" kept an eye on Yang Xiong and watched out for his possible interactions with the Li Juan.

Though Yang Xiong remained unbothered, he occasionally glanced at the people in the elevator,

On the other hand, Li Juan appeared uncomfortable.

She was worried about the possibility of Yang Xiong informing Tang Wei Sheng about running into her in front of his condo.

What could possibly go wrong right now?

He asked Zhang Zi Zhong to take care of her and even confiscated her identification documents in order to stop her from leaving him.

Yu palace is a safe haven for her. But what if he comes looking for her in Yu palace?

What if he creates a scene in front of everyone?

Even though the Bai family accepted her as their own, that doesn't mean that they will accept her past life choices.

She was finally having a peace of my mind and is it going to be ruin again?

"Zhi Jun ah, how about we threw a party for everyone instead of celebrating among three of us?" Ye Ling asked.

"Let's do that bro, it's been a while that we had a get-together, Zhang Zhi Jun turned towards Li Juan who stood next to him with downcasted eyes. "What do you say, princess?" 

Li Juan who appeared lost in thoughts didn't hear his voice.

Her mind was filled with an uneasiness,

Li Juan has already closed her eyes and clenched her fists in anguish.

"Princess," he called her again.

"Bro Ling wants to throw a party for us. Would you like to go?" 

Li Juan's face was turning pale and sweat beads appeared on her forehead.

"Are you alright, princess? Zhang Zhi Jun touched her shoulders.

Li Juan looked at him with anxious eyes.

"Is everything alright, Xiao Juan?" Ye Ling asked her,

Li Juan tried to wipe the sweat with her palm "Yes, I forgot to take my medicines,"

She started to rummage her bag for medicines with trembling hands,

"I think she can't ride escalators," Ye Ling said to Zhang Zhi Jun. 

Li Juan appeared as if she is struggling to breathe, 

"Princess," Zhang Zhi Jun tried to touch her and she immediately reacted like a wounded animal, not allowing anyone to come closer.

Yang Xiong who has already seen Li Juan in her vulnerable state once quickly realized that she is going to have another anxiety attack,

As soon as the escalator reached the basement and Li Juan rushed out and crouched down panting. She opened the bag and dumped everything to find the medicines.

She fished out the bottle from the mess and gulped two tablets. 

Zhang Zhi Jun and Ye Ling were taken aback with her sudden change. 

Yang Xiong crouched down and fanned her using the file in his hand.

Within 15 minutes, Li Juan's condition got stabilized, 

She opened the bottle and drank a mouthful of water. 

She slowly came back to normal.

"Thank you," Li Juan said in a tired voice.

Yang Xiong smiled faintly.

"Princess, let's go to the hospital." Zhang Zhi Jun suggested.

"No, it's fine," Li Juan refused him.

"No, let's go,"

"Please don't…I don't want to go...I am okay."

"Mr Zhang," Yang Xiong called him and signalled him not to offend her. 

"Okay okay, let's go back and take rest."

"I need to go to university now," Li Juan suddenly become adamant.

"Yeah, let's go to university, let me take you to university." Ye Ling consoled li Juan and guided her towards the car.

"I don't know if I am qualified to say it, but you have to be gentle and understanding towards people like Miss Li." As soon as Li Juan was taken away, Yang Xiong said to Zhang Zhi Jun,

" I didn't know. It was the first time I've seen her like that," 

"You seem closer to Miss Li, hasn't she ever told that she is suffering from anxiety disorders?" Yang Xiong's tone of voice had a tinge of worry. "I don't know what is your relationship with her, but please, treat her well," 

"Hmm, thank you for helping us." Zhang Zhi Jun thanked him,

Yang Xiong bowed and walked towards his car.

Zhang Zhi Jun got into the car and looked at Li Juan's tired face. 

"Are you sure that you don't want to go to the hospital?" He actually felt bad for her,

"Yes, I am sorry for making you guys worried. I had been in an accident and after that, I have been having this kind of..." Li Juan tried to explain.

"Hey, it's okay." Ye Ling told her. 

"It is common among people. My sister has claustrophobia, So I thought...you don't have to feel sorry."

Three of them remained silent in the car. After dropping Ye Ling at his villa and they drove to Jing University. 

Since it was morning class hours, the campus was extremely quiet. 

Li Juan glanced at Zhang Zhi Jun who is walking beside her. Though he was wearing a mask and hoodie, it couldn't hide his tall and muscular body which gathered the attention from the passerby.

"Are you sure that you want to tag along?" Li Juan asked him, "I don't think this disguise is going to help you."

"Why?"

"You know, in movies and dramas serial killers are often depicted as people who wear a black hoodie and mask," 

"Well, nobody will come closer to a serial killer," He casually said,

"Fine, you win."

Li Juan smiled and led him to the archaeology department. She wanted to meet the department head to discuss about rejoining the research team. 

"Senior Li," a cute looking boy ran towards her with a big smile. "Why are you here?"

"Meng Yao, what are you doing here, don't you have class?" Li Juan asked him. Meng Yao was a second-year student in the department of archaeology.

"I got kicked out from professor Lu is class," He scratched his hair and said with a goofy smile. "Why are you here senior Li, aren't you supposed to be with your team?"

"I got kicked out from the team," Li Juan replied with the same energy.

"What?" His small eyes bulged in shock.

" Na, na, I failed in the medical tests, so I was asked to join the second phase," Li Juan cleverly hid her worries. 

"That's sick," Meng Yao commented and glanced at the man who stood beside Li Juan. "Who is he?"

"He is my cousin," 

"Wow," Meng Yao examined him top to bottom, "God, it is true that tall genes run in your family. Hi big brother, I am Meng Yao,"

"Bai Jun,"

"Huh, you sound like Zhang Zhi Jun,"

"Yeah, everyone says so," he said casually,

"It is just amazing, I thought Zhang Zhi Jun's voice is rare," Meng Yao smiled and turned towards Li Juan." Where are you going senior Li?"

"To meet HOD,"

"You go, I will give company to big brother," Meng Yao assured her. 

Li Juan looked at Zhang Zhi Jun in doubt,

"You go, I will wait with little Meng," 

"Okay," Li Juan walked towards the department head's office.

--------------------------

Department Head Song Yan looked at Li Juan with a worried face, he was hesitant to share the one of the worst news to his student. 

"I'm sorry, Li Juan. Your scholarship has been cancelled." 

"They said you are not medically fit to continue the research programme and,"

"Its alright, professor, can I use the satellite phone facility to contact Professor Han?" 

Li Juan was expecting that since the day she met Tang Fei and she was even asked to leave the research team, so no wonder they cancelled her scholarship.

Looking at Li Juan's calm attitude, Song Yan was startled. Her scholarship was cancelled, how can she remain unbothered?

"I want to know whether I can rejoin the team." Li Juan inquired. 

"Without the fund, your research,"

"I think I can manage it, professor," Li Juan assured him, Even though it was not a huge amount, the deposit of her house would be enough to manage the current crisis. 

"If you are sure about it, then go and ask assistant Jiang to connect you to professor Han,"

"Thank you, professor," 

Li Juan came out of the office with an aloof face but the moment she saw the empty chair, her face got filled with worry. Zhang Zhi Jun was nowhere to see, where did they go? 

She immediately dialled Meng Yao's contact number and asked their whereabouts. They were roaming around the research labs in the archaeological department. Li Juan asked them to wait there and rushed towards the lab.

"Everything went well?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked Li Juan who appeared anxious.

"Yes, I just need to talk to my professor,"

"Senior Li, are you going to use the satellite phone? Can I tag along?" Meng Yao asked in an excited voice.

Li Juan nodded in agreement and led them to the Lab assistant who takes care of lab equipment and other apparatus which is used by the researchers.

"Huh, Li Juan you are already here? Professor Song just informed me that you will drop by," The lab assistant Jiang was elated to see her.

"Good morning assistant Jiang, can you connect me to professor Han Guang?"

"Wait a minute," Assistant Jiang took out the satellite phone and dialled the number of satellite phone which is used by Han Guang's team. "Three-four days ago, they called and informed that the weather condition is turned really bad and they temporarily halted the journey," Assistant Jiang reported to her, "ah it is connecting, Hello, this is Jiang Zhujiu from Jing university,"

"Yes assistant Jiang, Han Guang speaking,"

"Professor Han, your assistant is here, she wants to talk to you,"

Jiang handed over the phone to Li Juan.

"Li Juan, where are, huh you went back to Jing city?" Han Guang stuttered in surprise.

"Yes, Professor. Professor, how are you, I heard from assistant Jiang that expedition is halted due to bad weather?"

"We are good. The weather is fine for the last two days, we are planning to start again,"

"Professor, I wanted to ask you something, can I rejoin?"

"Li Juan," Professor Han Guang stopped for a moment.

"My health is better now, I think it won't be a problem to rejoin," 

"I heard that your scholarship got cancelled, Miss Li?" An arrogant female voice heard from the other side.

"Miss Ning,"

"Getting sacked from your team and losing your scholarship, I heard that your life is hitting rock bottom?" Her voice had a mockery."Youshould've thought about all the possible outcomes before you had an illicit affair."

"I've already said that it is over between us, so what is wrong with me rejoining the team?" 

"I think I have already made it clear that I don't want to see you goofing around my fiancé anymore."

"Miss Ning, how can you blame Li Juan?" Han Guang's agitated voice interrupted the conversation.

"I can and I will." Ning Jing sounded as if she is determined to make Li Juan's life miserable.

"Miss Ning, Li Juan is part of my team. You don't have any right to kick her out of the team. "

"Did I kick her out? She left her own."

"It is because you threatened her."

"Why are you siding with a homewrecker, professor Han? If you care for her more than your research, feel free to leave the team."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I am giving you the options; we do have a good bunch of archaeologists."

Han Guang argued with Ning Jing. 

"Professor," Li Juan who was quiet all the time called Han Guang.

"Let it be, I don't want to return."

"Li Juan?"

"It is okay Professor; please go ahead with the expedition. Thank you."

Li Juan ended the call and give the phone back to the assistant Jiang,

"What happened?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked her.

"Ah nothing, I think my work here is over now. Why don't we go back?"

"Hmm, okay,"

Li Juan thanked the lab assistant and walked out of the research lab. Meng Yao escorted them towards the parking lot,

"Senior Li, please don't worry, everything will be alright," Even though he was unaware of the content of the conversation with Han Guang and Li Juan, he understood that Li Juan is unable to rejoin her team.

Li Juan faintly smiled and ruffled his hair,

"Oh I forgot to ask, did you have breakfast?"

"Hmm, big brother bought me food,"

Li Juan looked at Zhang Zhi Jun,

"We became friends in a short time,"

"Really?"

"Yes,"

"Okay then, we will leave now, don't skip the next class."

"Yes, senior Li. Bye-bye big brother,"

Zhang Zhi Jun started the car, while Li Juan remained lost in thoughts. 

"I got some work at my agency, do you wanna come with me?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked her. 

"Can I take a raincheck on it?"

" It is totally fine, you do look like dog-tired, I will drop you and go back," He assured her. 

"Hmm, thank you,"

Zhang Zhi Jun drove his car to Sky castle, Li Juan got down from the car and walked towards the driver's seat.

"Please drive safe,"

"About the party in the evening, should I ask brother Ling to cancel it?"

"No, I will be alright if I sleep it out. Li Juan gently smiled.

"Sure. I will come and pick you up."

"No, it is fine. Just text me the address and I will come."

"Are you sure?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked to clarify,

"Yes, technically today is going to be my last day in Jing city and I wanted to leave with some good memories."