Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

"Not at all. Alix was not taking the class seriously anyway."

He chuckled. "She wouldn\'t like your classes anyway. She hated art back in college. I feel guilty though. Xiao is dragging you into all this."

"Don\'t worry about it. In fact, I feel happy though. Alix seems serious enough to be wanting Jin to join the art classes too," she slightly pressed her lips at that.

"Hm? Wait, I don\'t understand. How does…Liu Jin come here?"

"Well, I am at the Liu villa right now. Alix is here too."

"Oh…"

"Yes. We were just having a silly competition and Alix won," the taste of defeat was still bitter on her tongue, "So she asked Jin to accompany her for art classes too."

"Ah. So what did Liu Jin have to say?" He asked with a slow pace.

"I don\'t really know. But Alix won the competition so that\'s her demand. She seems to have made up her mind," she released a sigh. "Anyway, what did you call me for?"

"A-Ah? Oh yes…" he cleared his throat. "I just called to ask if you could join me in my company\'s small party. My company has been performing exceptionally well since the last two quarters so I thought to organize a small celebration for the employees."

"That\'s sweet."

"Yup, Mui will be there too. You know our companies are partners and of course Xiao will be there as my sister. I am pretty sure she would drag Alix in there too, so she would most definitely call you too. I am inviting you before she will."

She chuckled. "Okay. I will be there."

"I am sorry though. I know you don\'t like to attend parties so much and we just had the Summit," he sighed.

"Don\'t be like that. I am happy to join."

"Great. Then…shall I drop by the Han villa to pick you up?"

"S-sure," Shui quickly replied and immediately bit on her tongue in lament.

I didn\'t want to trouble him…

"Perfect! Then I will be there by seven. Catch up with you later."

"See ya. Oh wait-"

But Yuze had already hung up by then. She softly sighed.

I will ask him later…

Shui breathed out in silence and turned in a daze. "Ah!"

She gasped out with Jin\'s broad chest suddenly coming up in a close up view before her eyes. She placed her palm on her chest. "Y-you scared me!"

—

Yuze stared at his phone for a long moment before he placed it back on his desk. Resting his head back on the chair, he looked up at the ceiling. .net

"Liu Jin…will now participate in Shui\'s classes too huh," he murmured to himself.

He continuously tapped his finger on his desk, a sense of discomfort spreading across his chest.

He just returned and already…

"Bro?" Xiao peeked with her head partially leaning in his room.

"Little sister," he smiled. "You decided on your dress for the party?"

"Yup," she answered while stepping in. "By the way, I will invite Alix and Shui too-"

"No need. I mean only regarding Shui. I already called her just now. She will be at the party too."

"Ah, cool."

He paused and stared at her with an unreadable gaze. "Since Alix has woken up from her coma, has she…been close to Liu Jin?"

Xiao blinked. "Liu Jin? I don\'t think so…Why did you ask?"

"Apparently, she wants him to join her in her art classes."

"What!?" Xiao\'s eyes widened. "So suddenly? B-But…" She looked away, thinking about something.

"Sometimes I don\'t understand what Alix thinks and wants," he said with a wry smile. "All this time, she constantly chased after me. Now somehow Liu Jin is suddenly coming into the picture despite them not really knowing each other."

She slightly stiffened. "You…don\'t like it?"

He released another sigh. "I had hoped he and I would be our separate ways. But with Liu Jin probably attending Shui\'s classes now…I don\'t know where this would go."

—

Liu villa.

"It\'s only me. Why would you get scared as if I am a ghost?" Jin\'s brow twitched.

"You just popped out of nowhere!"

He snorted. "Well, then somebody isn\'t paying enough attention. My footsteps were loud enough. Were you so lost in your conversation with Kang Yuze that you couldn\'t hear somebody coming?"

"Rude," she scowled. "I was just thinking about something."

"I see…So…" he cleared his throat, randomly looking left and right. "Y-you going out somewhere?"

Jin tried to sound as casual as he could.

"Yes. Kang Yuze is holding a small celebration party for his company tonight and he asked me to join."

His heart dropped at that. He had already seen their closeness at the Summit and now Shui would be going to his party as well.

I have nothing to do with it, he calmed himself. I am past my feelings.

So he told himself.

Kang Yuze could have his own intentions in getting close to Shui.

Perhaps, he is taking advantage of Shui and Xiao\'s friendship to weave his place in her heart.

Alix\'s words echoed in his ears like some curse and anxiety spilled in his heart.

"Party? Do I hear a party?"

Ai popped in from behind, her face glowing with happiness. "I want to go too!"

She scurried towards them and brightly looked at Shui. "Can I join in too?"

Jin frowned. "Why are you so excited? We don\'t really have anything to do with the Kang family."

"I like parties and gatherings. I get a lot of inspiration and writing material."

"So basically, we are guinea pigs for you."

She nodded and his gaze darkened.

Shui said, "I can ask Kang Yuze. I don\'t think it will be a problem but are you sure? Shouldn\'t you be resting?"

She pouted. "I am bored. Either it\'s the house or Sky office for me."

Jin sneered. "Is it really boredom or are you eyeing the mocktails over there?"

Her brow twitched. "I don\'t go to parties for mocktails…"

"Then why did Bro have to scold you for it?"

"It\'s not nice to be hung up on the past, you know."

He scoffed.

Shui shook her head. "Well, I will drop him a message. You would be a welcome addition."

Ai clapped her hands in delight. "Perfect!" She wrapped her arms around Jin\'s and chirped. "It will be a fun evening, Jin!"

Shui\'s eyes widened and Jin, too, looked at her, dumbfounded. "Say what? Why am I included in this?"

"Jun is busy tonight and he would definitely want a bodyguard to keep an eye on me even though I really don\'t need any guarding," she mumbled the last part, "So you take his place. He wouldn\'t mind me going if you will be there too."

He was speechless. "Not interested-"

Ai sneakily pinched his arm, making his brow twitch heavily.

"That is a yes, right?" Ai narrowed her eyes.

He gritted his teeth.

How dare she threaten me!

"...Fine! I will come with you too!"