Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

When evening struck in the sky, Alix found herself standing at some distance from Lin's Cafe. She craned her neck a bit to take a look and found the rush hour to be even busier than usual.

Guess coming to the exhibition yesterday turned out to be a great marketing strategy, she thought.

She stared at Lin and Cai running and hopping around the cafe to take and manage the orders. She walked just a bit closer but didn't step in the cafe.

Why did I even come here?

Alix wasn't sure.

If not Shui, then what if it's you?

'What do you mean?' Alix had asked, feeling sincerely confused.

'Just asking,' Nuo replied. 'If it so happens that…something more than friendship forms between you and Jin, then I wonder what you will think about it?'

Alix's eyes slightly widened but then she burst into a chuckle.

'Liu Jin and me? Your imagination is taking quite the leap, Mrs. Han?'

'...Is it now?'

Nuo simply smiled at her, making Alix furrow her brows uncomfortably.

At present, Alix remained still, watching Lin in silence.

Love huh…? Why would she insinuate something like that? That too Liu Jin and me?

She laughed at herself sardonically.

That is not an equation that fits my life…

With anybody.

Alix exhaled a chilly breath and turned back.

"Excuse me!"

She froze.

Lin rushed outside towards her and stopped slightly breathlessly. "Hello. I…noticed you standing outside but then you didn't come in…"

Alix's fingers tightly clutched her purse. She didn't respond for a few long moments. She gradually turned to face him. Her complicated gaze met his bright and cheerful gaze.

Lin peered closer and said, "Your eye looks a little red. Are you okay?"

She shrugged. "Just a small accident. It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Ah, that's good," he breathed out in relief.

She smiled. "You look happy."

Lin blinked. "Happy? Ah maybe because today we got more customers than the previous days. It's quite the rush hour."

"Why it's a maybe? You are definitely happy because of a booming business."

"I am happy to see you too."

Alix slightly stiffened. She looked into his expectant eyes that shone with a hint of satisfaction.

"I was just passing by."

"Oh."

Lin asked hesitantly, clasping his hands together, "Would you like to come in for some coffee?"

She said nothing.

"Oh, please don't worry about the rush hour. We still have a table or two unoccupied."

Her lips quivered. She couldn't figure out if it was because of the chill or something else.

She smiled again. "Maybe some other time. Like I said, I was just passing by."

"Oh…"

The disappointment with which his gaze dropped was crystal-clear evident. But he respected it.

"Hope you come by again soon."

"Hm."

Alix had just half-turned when she looked back at him. "Did you sort out the stuff you wanted to with Liu Jin?"

"Huh?"

"The reason you were stalking us yesterday after the exhibition."

Lin cleared his throat in realization and faint embarrassment too.

"I did not talk to Sir Liu. But, I did talk to someone close to him."

Alix blinked once. "Oh."

Is it Liu Jun? She wondered.

"I don't know if it would change anything, but I did what my heart told me to."

She slightly arched her brow. "What did your heart say?"

His eyes searched hers, hoping to find a flicker of something familiar in her.

"To try to forgive myself and move forward."

Alix shakily breathed. The corner of her eye stung as if something massive and painful struck her.

Lin's eyes widened. "A-Are you crying?"

She pressed her handkerchief near the eyelashes, wiping the traces of any mistiness forming.

"No. It seems like the burning sensation from the chilly would linger for a while."

"You should come in if it's hurting. You can wash your face in the washroom."

She smiled. "It's already settling down. But good for you. I don't know what it is you want to forgive yourself for, but I pray for you to get what you want. Sometimes…the Gods fulfill our wishes, you know?"

Lin held her gaze with an unspeakable pain riling through his heart.

"It's pointless for me to pray, Mam. I have only one wish, but it cannot be fulfilled. The person I want to see…will never be here again. She is too far away from me to return to my side now," his voice shook.

Alix inwardly bit her lip, her eyes aching harsher than before. Her heart and mind buzzed with a battle of emotions.

"Ah…I am sorry. You should head back. I am getting late too."

Alix turned on her toes and walked away with quick steps, leaving at the earliest moment she could.

"W-Wait…!" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

Lin's arm raised to stop her but she was already gone. He slowly lowered it, pressing his lips in disappointment.

I didn't get to ask her name…

He stared at the empty space in front of him for a long moment.

"Broooo! Where did you run off to?"

Cai came running outside, crying buckets of tears.

"Why were you out for so long? I think my hands will fall off now!"

Lin calmed his emotions and looked at his brother. "They won't."

"It's a figure of speech! We have to hire some more help but until then, we sail this rush storm together," he nodded. "You cannot leave me alone!"

He smiled and ruffled the top of his head. "I won't. Let's go in."

"Finally!" He grinned and pressed his hands on his shoulders, pushing him forward.

As the brothers shut the door behind them, a man slid down his car's window which was parked some distance from the cafe. He swiftly tapped on his mobile screen and pressed the call button.

When it clicked to life, the voice on the other end asked, "Anything?"

"Mr. Jiang Yazhu is clean, Sir. He was in his office the whole time and wasn't anywhere near Miss. Han's office building today."

"I thought so. That man won't run his mouth. So? Was my guess right?"

He nodded. "Yes. Mr. Jiang didn't visit her but the cafe owner just across the street had in fact. He went to her office this morning to meet her."

On the other side of the call, Yuze leaned back on his chair, holding a glass of wine in his hand.

"Ah. I was right."

"How did you know, Sir?"

He smiled, staring at the wine rippling inside the glass.

"Shui knew the exact words that I said to Jiang Yazhu about Liu Jin. Only two people had heard that. Jiang Yazhu himself and…that cafe owner, who was oddly standing still at that time. I didn't give it much thought. But he was at the gallery exhibition yesterday too. And then today, Shui suddenly happened to learn about my involvement? No. It wasn't sudden. Somebody told her. If it wasn't Jiang Yazhu, then it could only be him."

"Understood, Sir."

Yuze tilted his head. "Lin's Coffee…Is that his name?"

"Yes, Sir. Hou Lin is his name."

He raised his brow. "Nice. Now that I know who the little wolf is, find out who he is exactly and how he is related to Shui."

"Only Miss. Han?"

"Who else then?"

"Not Miss. Ren too?"

Yuze blinked once. "...Why Alix?"

"Miss. Ren was here too until just a few minutes ago. She and Hou Lin were talking for quite some time and it looks to me like they know each other."

Yuze stared at the vacant air in front of him unblinkingly.

"Huh…Now that's interesting. Good suggestion. Find out what's cooking between them too."