Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Alix frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I certainly hadn't expected a woman who could threaten twenty million out of me to cower like that in front of her ex-boyfriend," he raised his brow.

"I wasn't cowering."

"If the meaning of cowering has changed, then please let me know. I will update my dictionary," he smiled.

She sneered. "Why did you come back? Oh, is it probably because you realize the error in your ways?"

He pressed his lips into a thin line. "I only came back to tell you that I won't be a part of Shui's art classes anymore. Not that I can be when…I have clearly drawn a line between us now."

"Did you happen to draw it with chalk? Then you can just wipe it off, you know?" she innocently blinked.

"..."

"...Chalk? Seriously?"

She clicked her tongue. "So you used a permanent marker? Not cool."

He stared at her with clear disdain in his eyes. "What do you think lines drawn in relationships are?"

She shrugged. "Fickle?"

"...You know I…sometimes don't understand just how to hold a conversation with you."

She smiled. "You just don't understand the merit in my awesome thoughts."

"I don't want to."

He then diverted the topic. "What was with Kang Yuze? Why did he suddenly get so confrontational?"

"Apparently, he thinks I am still into him so I want Shui out of his way by bringing you together with her."

"How much truth is in that?"

"The latter part is but not for the reason he thinks."

"But I am also curious," he frowned. "Why are you invested in us? You and Shui are good friends but I don't think you two are that close yet."

"I am a good Samaritan by nature."

He scoffed. "A person who threatens cannot be a good Samaritan. At least tell me why you were so close to crying."

Her gaze darkened. "I wasn't crying, okay?"

"You were close to."

"No, I wasn't."

He paused. "Why do you want to deny it so much?"

"Crying makes you weak."

"Crying makes you human," he shot back.

"...I am human?"

His brow twitched. "What species do you think you are?"

"Monster?" She smiled. "That was what I was for a long time. I am not sure what I am right now."

Jin couldn't respond to that though he wasn't sure why Alix felt that way.

They exited the terrace together and reached the gallery's lobby. A man in a driver's uniform hastily approached Alix.

"Mam, I am so sorry but our car has broken down…I have already called in for the mechanic but it will take some time for repair."

"Is there another car available?"

"Unfortunately, no. Miss. Mui is out with the second car."

She shrugged. "Guess I will use the public transport then."

"H-How can you, Mam…?" He anxiously asked.

"...I know how to navigate through public transport."

"I-I didn't mean that! I meant-"

"I know what you mean and I will be fine," she rolled her eyes. "I am not some helpless princess who will cry because of a broken car."

She looked back at Jin, who seemed to make a face as if he was thinking about something really hard.

"Why are you waiting here? Is your car broken too?"

"I was just thinking if I should be nice to you and offer to drop you home. But now I think I should take that consideration back."

"Oh! I graciously accept it then," she nodded.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Didn't you just say you are not a helpless princess?"

"See, if I am getting offered the comfort and convenience of a car, then why should I bother with public transport?"

"Your convictions are very fickle."

"Just like the lines drawn in relationships are."

"You have a comeback for everything, don't you?" He grimaced.

"You will always lose that competition, dear, so don't even bother," she smiled casually. "Go, go, bring your car."

He glared at her.

I really shouldn't have bothered…

When he left, Alix felt a shadow swiftly move somewhere at a distance. She quickly looked back, squinting her eyes. She stepped in the lobby area again. She noticed a faint silhouette behind a pillar and tilted her head.

Alix grabbed her purse and looked down at it, casually walking in that direction as if her attention was on her purse. When she reached near the pillar, abruptly turned out of nowhere.

The figure standing behind it jolted in surprise.

Alix stiffened, recognizing that man.

Lin's breaths slowly calmed down and he looked at her. He bowed. "Hello."

She didn't say much for a long moment.

"I was wondering who was spying on me but turns out it was the cafe owner."

He blinked once. "Spy?"

"You were staring at me."

He pressed his lips upon realizing that he got caught. "...I…I wasn't-"

"You cannot lie so let's skip it."

He looked at her with an unreadable look.

"What?"

"...How do you know?"

Alix looked away for a moment.

Did I say too much out of the line? She wondered.

She shrugged and looked calm. "Your innocent face screams of your inability to lie."

Lin said nothing.

"So why were you stalking me?"

His brows furrowed. "I wasn't stalking."

"What do you call a person secretly looking at somebody from behind the pillar then?"

"I…"

Lin clasped his hands together.

"I wasn't just looking at you, Mam. I was also…looking at Sir Liu."

"Very honest," she smiled.

But her brow twitched for a moment.

"Liu Jin? Why were you looking at him? Do you know him?"

Lin couldn't say. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jin's car with him in the driver seat stopping near the entrance.

'There is nothing you can say or do now, Hou Lin. I don't want to hear a word from you.'

'Just stay the hell away from our lives. Whether it's me or Jin or Jun…don't ever try to cross paths with us again.'

'You just live your life and let us live ours!'

Lin tremblingly breathed in and quickly said, "No. I don't know him."

He quickly turned and left without explaining anything further.

Alix frowned.

Like I said, you cannot lie so why…?

She heard the sound of a car horn honking and she turned. She stared at Jin, who signaled her to take the passenger seat.

She slowly walked towards the car in a daze wondering to herself.

What was Lin doing staring at Liu Jin? What does he want to do?