Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

On the other side, Alix watched Ai gently wiping her eyelashes as she sniffled and composed herself.

"Shui is such an amazing artist, right?"

Alix then moved her gaze towards the painting too, expressionless. "Too amazing of an artist I must say. But she is wrong."

"Wrong?" Experience new tales on empire

"...Nothing," she then glanced at her. "Did the painting have that much effect on you?"

Ai held a faraway gaze. "Yes, it has. Time…It's strange, right? We don't realize its passing until it gets too late. We are only filled with regrets when we turn and face our lives and the decisions we made. I have been in that place. I have been very lucky that I got a golden chance to change my life. It was something very important bestowed upon me. That's why, I don't take my life and my blessings for granted anymore."

Alix said nothing.

"Pastry aunt!!!"

A euphoric ball of energy landed straight towards Alix's legs. She blinked down to see Ailun sparkling at her.

"Pastry aunt! You are here too!"

Alix wasn't sure how to respond to his energy. "Hello."

Jun followed him, making Alix squirm a little.

"I see you have been behaving."

Ai made a pout. "I always behave."

Jun didn't fail to notice the slight redness in her eyes and so did Ai too. They glanced at Jin, who they saw walking away with an uncomfortable expression.

"Pastry aunt, this gallery is so cool, right? So many amazing art works. Do you feel like having another competition with Aunt Shui and Uncle Jin?" His head tilted.

"I am not much of an art person. I would rather write," she shrugged.

Ai beamed. "Are you a writer?"

"Omo, are you a writer?" Xing Bi also joined in.

Alix's brow twitched. "No."

"Do you want to become a writer?"

She raised her brow. "Not really. Though…I have helped with a little editing and polishing here and there."

Xing Bi shone brighter.

This time, Jun was interested. "You have publishing experience? Like an editor?"

"Omo you are a fellow editor too? Me too!"

She slightly stiffened at that.

"...It's not much. I wouldn't really count that as an experience."

"Doesn't matter," Xing Bi chirped. "We can still chat over stories and stuff~"

"Hey, hey, Ren Alix!!! I am here, I am here!!"

She saw Jing waving his arm as if he would tear it off his body.

Why is everybody always so excited in this family?

"What are you doing here? This is not the time to waste!"

"Huh?"

Jing harrumphed. "Did you not ask to take you under my wing and help you with your business? So, so! There are a lot of people I know here~"

Alix's eyes squinted at that.

"You will help me meet with them?"

He smirked. "I can get you contracts too. Who do you think Liu Jing is? That is, of course, only when I see merit in how quickly you learn from me. But these people would be handy in the future~"

Jun arched his brow. "Wow, to see Uncle Jing having a generous heart."

"Shut up, brat! I was always and am super amazing!"

He snorted.

Ailun wasn't too happy with that. "But I wanted to see the gallery with pastry aunt!"

Ai gasped. "What about me?"

"You have Dad."

"..."

Alix frowned. "Why do you want to see the gallery with me?"

He raised his arms up. "Pastry aunt is fun!"

Jing nodded heavily. "Super fun."

Yukito rolled his eyes. "You are just saying because of the video."

Jing said, "You can join us too. It will be boring adult talk for you."

Ailun smiled. "It's okay. I will sneak away pastry aunt from your boring talk."

"You brat!" he glared.

He then looked around and asked, "Where is Jin?"

—

Jin was walking around the gallery aimlessly in a daze. He clenched his fists, his eyes aching with fatigue.

I shouldn't have come here…How long will this go on for?

From a distance, he recognized Shui's figure in the hallway. She was talking to somebody though he couldn't see his face.

Jin inhaled a shaky breath, staring at her for a long moment. He felt his heart clench, recalling the lone woman standing under the cherry tree, wishing for an impossible wish.

Shui…

A tear formed in the corner of his eye. He walked a few steps towards her, his feet moving without his notice.

Shui…

An urge gushed within him to hug her. Embrace her so firmly that there would be no chance of a distance between them. His heart sped in his chest as he moved closer and closer.

Shui…

But seeing Yuze approach her right in front of his eyes was akin to crash landing on a thick block of ice. He froze in his steps and forgot to breathe.

Jin saw the other man walking away. It seemed like Shui tried to stop him for a moment but he was already gone. Then Yuze whispered something closer to her ear as if asking Shui something.

Jin pressed his lips hard. He looked away here and there, not knowing what to do. Eventually, he turned and sped off in the opposite direction.

He walked faster and faster almost bumping into people many times. His chest heaved in breathlessness as he finally came to a stop.

Calm the fucking down, Jin!

He had a fair idea that Shui and Yuze getting together could be a very real possibility. He thought he had steeled his heart to accept that outcome.

But why did it still hurt so badly?

Jin took a few deep breaths and decided to return to his family's side. The more time he would be disappeared for, the more everybody would get suspicious.

As he raised his gaze, his eyes widened at a dense crowd forming in front of him. He thought it would be another painting that might impressed people but he was wrong.

A fragrant scent of fresh coffee beans invaded his nostrils and as he moved further that it was a coffee stall.

But it wasn't just another coffee shop.

It belonged to Lin's.