Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Jun and I both saw the golden clock, Ai was trying to organize her thoughts. And we both heard some voices. What did they mean though…?

"Is it related to past life memories?" she muttered under her breath.

"Past?" Yating asked.

She quickly shook her head. "It's nothing. Thanks for your help, Yating…"

Yating's voice floated in her mind as she stared at him.

"I am sorry, Ai…couldn't…anything…Between you and Dad…choose him…"

"I don't want to…live anymore…"

"Will you forgive…I truly…I failed…"

She could still feel the regret and shame through his words. His voice quivered with a genuinity that she had never before in her past life.

Between you and Dad…

He must be talking about the deal between them and how he chose Uncle Gu's condition.

She pinched her brows together, trying to recollect something else. There was a constant flow of voices in her head when that golden clock appeared. She could only clearly make out some of the snippets and conversations. But there was one part of Yating seemingly talking to Guiying.

"Had enough…this. Only…agreed…Dad. Wouldn't have…Cannot leave…him…state. I…there for…"

What was he trying to say? I cannot understand when half of the words are missing, she pursed her lips.

The more Ai kept her gaze fixed at him, the more Yating felt conscious. "Is there something on my face?"

She blinked. "No…"

From the second part that I remember, it doesn't feel like Yating chose Uncle Gu's decision only because of the deal though. It seems like I am missing something.

"How is your relationship with Uncle Gu?" The question slipped out before she knew it.

The question took him aback by surprise. It was a strange change in the topic.

Yating scratched his head. "Normal…I guess? It might not have looked like that until now because of the cold war between us. The deal," he sighed, "Seriously, that was so annoying. He kept harping about choosing my wife for me and questioning my career choice. He was so hell bent in making me the CEO. And those times, I would feel like if a Mom-like figure had been there, she might have knocked some sense into him."

Talking about Mom, she remembered meeting Duan Ren back at Xuanhua with Jun. Duan Ren - Gu Rong's ex-wife, the woman who was persistent to not break up with Yating and then had mysteriously started living a wealthy life all of a sudden one day.

"Your mom…you never talked about her."

Yating smiled. "There is nothing really to talk about. I was around eight years old when Mom and Dad divorced. I still don't know why they divorced though. But from Dad's behavior, I figured she had been asking for a lot of money. I don't understand why. We were rich. Our lives were already comfortable. Why would she need more? Then Dad started to keep me away from her and strictly warned me not to talk to her or let her approach me. I actually felt relieved with that."

"Not meeting your Mom? Why?"

"Mom was never really…" Yating felt a little embarrassed confessing it, "interested in me? Or even Dad for that matter. She was one of those socialites who was more interested in loving a lavish lifestyle with tons of shopping and partying rather than loving her family. She never paid much attention to me or Dad, so I couldn't get close to her. I tried many times, but she always brushed me off. But Dad always loved me," Yating's gaze was warm, reminiscing the old days.

"He would stay awake with me late at night to help me study or complete my school projects. He attended all the parents' meetings without fail. He would seriously talk to the teachers about my studies and future. He always looked so proud whenever I won any prizes and bragged about me in the company. He doted on me but was also strict and stern with me if I made mistakes.

Even with Ma Dong's accident, he refused to let me take any blame. He never once accused me of Ma Dong's accident, not because he was biased towards me but simply because I wasn't at fault. He had scolded me so harshly when I apologized to his parents. He said that I should never apologize for something when I am not at fault. Dad really…always had my back. He never let me feel the inadequacy of Mom's love or that it was supposed to feel lonely without her."

His lips curved into a beautiful smile. "It was just always Dad and me, yet my life was perfect. With him by my side, I never really felt that Mom was lacking in our lives. I did decide that I would take over Gu Corps after him. But as I grew, I found my interest in books. I thought Dad would understand and let me choose what I wanted. Even before, he always let me have whatever I wished. But this time, he didn't listen to me and for the first time, we started having fights. We finally agreed upon the deal, but I was too proud to patch up with him, especially when he seemed like he wouldn't accept you…"

Yating stiffened and coughed loudly. He quickly gained his composure. "Haha…Sorry for that. I kept babbling on nonsense for so long…You should have stopped me," he sweated and cleared his throat.

Ai gently spoke, "Don't apologize, and it's not nonsense. It felt good to hear this. I never knew anything about your family and relationships in such depth. Uncle Gu is a really good father."

"Yeah…" his gaze softly shone, "We have had our fair share of differences, but he has always been the best father to me."

—

Gu Rong slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if he was in a long dream. He wore a tranquil smile on his lips, thinking of those times when Yating was a child.

He picked up his phone, whose ringing had broken his dream. "Hello?"

"...It's me, Rong."

His eyes snapped open widely as he froze hard and straightened up in his seat. "The hell.. Ren?"