Lu Bojing nodded.

"But I still didn't have any dreams even after meeting him," Lihua said.

"It's not n-necessary for everybody to have dreams. And Mr. Jiang was also careful not to let anything slip. He didn't act like he knew you at all."

That was true, which was partly why Lihua had so much trouble believing that they had met before. Wei literally treated her as a stranger.

"Bojing..do you think what Jiang Zhen said about my parents was true?"

He was silent.

"Y-You don't have to believe him. No, you mustn't believe him at all! He just wants to enjoy our pain... D-Don't give him the reason to laugh at you. You should only believe what Mr. Jiang has to say."

She faintly smiled. "Wei? He is the one who hid everything from me for so long. Would he really tell me the truth if I ask him?"

Lu Bojing hesitated.

"Everybody really likes hiding stuff from me, right? Sis did. Then Wei did. Even Dad knew something, but he also didn't tell me anything. I am always, always kept in the dark.."

He stiffened. He knew that even he was keeping her in the dark about Jia's truth. Wasn't he the culprit just like Wei and Jia?

His heart raced in fear.

I-I don't want her to hate me...She will be so disappointed to know that I am hiding something from her too.

S-she treats me like her little brother. She always protected me like an elder sister. Then h-how can I hurt her?

He nervously fidgeted with his fingers.

What should I do? Should I tell her?

But Boss ordered me not to say anything..

Then he was worried about her health too. Lihua didn't look like she would be able to take another major shock at this point. Jia being alive was a heavy thing to digest.

Sweat covered his forehead.

He thought of all those times when Lihua looked so sad for Jia even though she didn't have to. Jia was alive and with a few words from him, she could have met her again. She would have been so happy.

But was it the right time to tell her now? What if it excited her too much, causing harm to her baby?

Suddenly, Lu Bojing burst into tears, unable to think of any solution.

Qingqing looked at him, puzzed.

Why is this human crying again?

Lihua widened her eyes. "Why are you crying? Did you remember something about Li Dong?"

He shook his head. "N-No.."

"Then what is it?"

Lu Bojing cried harder, making Lihua speechless.

What is happening?

"I...I... Please don't hate me.."

Lihua frowned. "Why would I hate you? How did this question come so suddenly?"

Lu Bojing clasped his hands together. "I...you always treated me like your little brother."

"Yes. You are my cute little brother."

His eyes teared up more, feeling the warmth in her voice. In the outside world, Lihua was the only one who treated him respectfully and even stood up for him.

"I am sorry. I am really sorry...I am hiding something from you too. B-But I don't want to anymore because I don't want you to h-hate me. You have always cherished me so much, and I don't want to be-betray you anymore."

Lihua slowly got up and patted his head. "Bojing, I don't understand what you are talking about? What are you hiding from me? I already know that you work for Mingshen, and you stayed beside me under his orders. What else is there?"

Lu Bojing gulped. "There is a r-really big thing. B-But I don't know if you will be able to take it. Too many things have happened already today.."

Lihua frowned. She really couldn't think of any other thing that might affect her as much as coming to know about her parents and Wei's history with her did.

She was an adopted daughter. Her real family was also dead. And Wei and she had shared some part in their childhood.

What else could be more severe than this?

"I don't want to agitate you... B-But I cannot hide it for any longer. The more I do, the guiltier I will feel.." he cried.

Lihua patted his hand. "If it's really that important, then please tell me, Bojing. Please, please don't hide anything from me. I am really tired of everyone keeping secrets from me. I feel as if I am so weak. As if I cannot handle it. I don't want my life to just be a big illusion. If there is something wrong with my life, then I want to know about it. I want to face it. I want to be strong because I want to teach my child to be strong too. Truth hurts sometimes. I know that. So everybody doesn't need to protect me so much. I know life is not a happy merry-go-round."

She smiled. "I lived in a small apartment. I have been raised without parents' love and presence in my life. I have faced a shortage of money. I have compromised and given up on a lot of things I always wished I had in my growing up years. I haven't lived a sheltered life, so I know what it means to have a fair share of ups and downs. Yet somehow, people always think that I need to be protected. I don't want you to think of me like that. Please, Bojing."

Lu Bojing felt his heart ache by her words. He nodded.

"O-okay. But promise me that you will be calm!"

"I will. I promise," she sincerely said.

Lu Bojing nervously rubbed his palms together. They were beginning to sweat by now as he thought about Lihua's reaction.

historical

"I-It's about your...s-s-s.."

"S-s-s?"

Qingqing narrowed her eyes.

Should I use my paws so that you will begin to use proper words, human?

Lu Bojing trembled.. He took a deep breath and confessed everything in one go. "It's about your sister, Song Jia! She is alive!"