Chapter 19

"Um... have you gone to the hospital? You should check up on your health if you're not feeling well," Pei Qian asked softly. Her voice traveled to Li Shaoze's ear and it caused him to feel slightly itchy in his heart.

"... You don't need to worry about that," he said slowly. But once he received a smack on the shoulder, he realized he might come off rude again.

"... I've already taken my meds," he replied again with a dry cough, trying to sound unperturbed.

Pei Qian suddenly didn't feel much better even after hearing his words. Her heart felt sad over him because she had heard some stories about how Li Shaoze was not a son acknowledged by the Li's.

Before she made the call, she tried looking into Li Shaoze. She was quite surprised that people of the upper circle seemed to be discussing him ever since he reappeared again after 12 years at Li Junfeng's funeral.

Being three years younger than him, Pei Qian had never intersected with Li Shaoze even in school even though she knew they went to the same school for wealthy families. She heard some unsavory rumors about him being an outcast and avoided by his peers.

He must have had a terrible experience from young and him disappearing abroad for 12 years was proof of it.

Adding to the rumors floating around, Pei Qian unknowingly felt worse once she knew he was sick. He must be staying at home alone without anyone's care.

Thinking it over, Pei Qian suddenly had an urge to do something different from what she usually would do. She stood up immediately and took her expensive handbag in hand.

"I'll visit you now so please wait. By the way, where's your unit? Oh, I guess I can find it if I go over the lake," she answered her own question as she walked out from her office.

Li Shaoze was dumbfounded and had to pause his brain for a few seconds to think. When he was about to reply with a 'no need', Pei Qian had already hung up.

Li Shaoze had a funny expression on his face as he stared at the black screen of his phone. Li Junfeng also stayed still and was inwardly applauding his lover for being so kind. He knew she would be concerned over Li Shaoze so he made his brother talk for a while on the phone so that she could catch on to his illness.

"... She's coming?" Li Shaoze finally could find his voice after a hard time trying.

"She is," Li Junfeng answered with a face full of excitement. He was over the moon because Pei Qian finally took the initiative.

"... But why?" Li Shaoze obviously didn't understand. He didn't know why a woman who was a stranger to him suddenly became concerned over his health.

"Why not? She knows you and you know her. You two even talked by the lake together," hearing this, Li Shaoze pursed his lips, feeling incredulous.

"We did talk. But it's hardly a conversation. We're not close enough to be concerned for each other like this," Li Shaoze's mind was immediately sober after what he himself said so he couldn't proceed to sleep. He sighed as he sat up on the bed.

"Why are you so negative? You don't know about human relationship well enough to be saying that. Just trust me, Pei Qian is a good woman and I know her on a personal level. She's worth getting close to,"

Li Shaoze's frown marred on his face as he looked at his brother. He didn't understand why Li Junfeng was acting casual with this thing that was going on. He looked as if he wasn't Pei Qian's boyfriend and fiance at all.

"Why do you want me to be close with your lover?" Li Shaoze didn't notice that his voice was actually a little bit higher than he intended to. This made Li Junfeng realize that he was actually angry.

"Wait, are you mad? I just want you guys to be close so that I won't worry about you. Pei Qian can be a good friend to you and she will care for you in my stead," Li Junfeng explained.

"So that's the reason you asked me to give my business card," Li Shaoze would never go out of his way to give his number to others except for his business associates. But he already broke the rules for Li Junfeng.

Now that he knew Li Junfeng's intention, he felt very uncomfortable, as if he was being led on while blind.

Li Junfeng saw that his brother's apprehension towards making a new relationship, any sort of relationship, was high. He didn't look as if he would try climbing over his own walls. Li Junfeng felt this would lead to a failed attempt if he rushed things with Pei Qian. So he went for a soft approach.

"Brother, look... I understand your idea about making friends. But could you please be kind to Pei Qian for me? Her whole family is kind people... it won't hurt to get to know her. I'm already dead so I can't stay in this world forever. I'll leave when the time comes. But before that, I want you to have someone you're close to and someone I can trust," he tried to reason while holding back some bubbling sadness in his heart.

"And I'm sorry for choosing my lover to be that someone. I know I've stepped over the line but trust me... she'll be a reliable company to you just like she was to me," Li Junfeng said with a low tone, indicating his emotions.

"I won't feel rest assured if you go on like this but I'm sure you'll be fine once you get to know Pei Qian,"

"I get it. But though I understand your concern and try to do everything you ask, I don't like it when you use it against me," Li Shaoze got up and went past Li Junfeng. His mood became worse and he didn't intend to talk anymore.

"Brother!" Li Junfeng flew over towards Li Shaoze and tried to stop him. However, Li Shaoze was adamant on cutting off the conversation.

Li Junfeng was left alone in the room when his brother walked out on him. He didn't try to chase after him but he began to reconsider his decision again. However, Li Junfeng still didn't want to give up on pairing Pei Qian together with Li Shaoze.