Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Back in Dream High, Ai was ready to leave Yating's office.

"I will give you a ride till the library," he offered.

Ai shook her head. "I am fine."

"What if you get that seizure again?"

"I won't."

Ai was sure for some reason that she won't experience that phenomenon again.

Yating was inwardly worried about her a lot, but he couldn't force her either. He nodded and smiled. "See you later."

"En."

The cat in her arms then suddenly hissed by the sight of an incoming figure towards them.

Zhan Yahui stopped before Ai and raised her brow. "Now that's a face I didn't expect to see today. Long time no see, Zhou Ai."

Ai nodded. "Hello."

*Meow!*

The cat wasn't shy to display his hostility towards her. His dark brown eyes expressed his strong dislike and he bared his small fangs at her.

"Sshh, shh," Ai cradled him to make him still.

What happened to him?

Zhan Yahui raised her brow. She eyed Yating and said, "Feisty little thing he is. But pets are not allowed in Dream High."

"It was just for sometime," he replied.

She smiled. "Be careful while breaking the rules, Gu Yating or people will mistake your intentions. You are the Chief editor and Zhou Ai doesn't work here anymore so…"

He narrowed his eyes. "I know what I am doing, Zhan Yahui."

"Doesn't hurt to remind you of that."

She then glanced at Ai. "How is your new life at Sky? And Xing Bi's? Somehow, we didn't get to chat in Shanghai."

Ai curtly answered. "It's going well."

"Well, good for you. Hope to see your new book soon."

"I am still working on it. I am in no hurry."

"Of course. Plus, you have Liu Jun's back. You have nothing to worry about."

Ai stared at her, strangely finding her words to be condescending as if she was depending solely on Jun's influence.

Yating said, "She doesn't have to worry about anything even if she doesn't have Liu Jun's back."

Zhan Yahui shot back. "So that you would?"

He squinted his eyes. "I meant that she is very capable on her own."

"Oh. My bad. Considering how you sprinted from your office till the entrance with so much concern for Zhou Ai, you stirred everyone here quite a bit with that race. I couldn't help but question."

"We are just friends, Zhan Yahui," Yating calmly stressed the fact but with a definite weight in his tone.

She chuckled. "Say that to yourself when you face the mirror. I think your expression will have a very different answer to give you."

Silence.

"Anyway, I gotta go. See you later."

The cat didn't stop hissing even once the whole time Zhan Yahui was present and while she left.

—

Zhan Yahui smiled as she was watching a particular video on her phone. "Nice work done," she whispered to herself.

"Zhan Yahui!"

She stopped. She locked her phone and turned to face Ai who had followed her till the lift. "Yes, Zhou Ai. How can I help you?"

"Jun will never use his influence for wrong reasons."

"Sorry?"

With a sense of displeasure that built in her heart with Zhan Yahui words, she faced her with a conviction to stand by Jun's side. "I don't care what people think about me. But regarding Jun…I won't bear people saying wrong things about him. All lies which hold no semblance to how he actually is. Jun is surely rich and powerful, but he will never use it to show partiality. He treats me as a writer just like he treats everybody else. As writers, everybody in Sky is equal to him."

Zhan Yahui took one step towards her, making the cat meow fiercely. He almost struck her with his paws.

"So do you mean that if Guiying decides to leave Dream High and if, by any chance, she wishes to join Sky - will Liu Jun take her in?"

Ai blinked. She couldn't answer her question not because there was any doubt about Jun's nature. But Guiying was far too involved with their tragedy in their past life and knowing that, he would never let an enemy inside his company.

It was nothing related to bias but unfortunately, this was something that Ai knew she wouldn't be able to explain to her.

She chuckled. "Guess your silence is the answer. Guiying is a star author by herself. Will he really let his girlfriend's rival join his company? Will he let her in solely based on her merits and not think about you at all? There is nobody in this world who won't show bias, Zhou Ai," Zhan Yahui smiled. "Especially not wealthy people like the Liu family. Families like them…" her expression slowly twisted to reflect her animosity, "leave no chance to do as they please at every step of their way. People like you and me are ants to them. We hold no worth."

"That's not the truth."

"Then you are blinding your eyes to reality, dear."

"Why would you say that? You belong to the Shi family yourself."

"Which is exactly why I know what I am talking about. And it seems my half-sister has grown quite chummy to you to share such a personal detail of her family."

Ai stared at her.

Her family…

Zhan Yahui wasn't recognizing the Shi family as her own.

"Now if I may, I am really getting late for my meeting. It's been only a few months so I hope you know where the exit is," she smiled and left.

*Meow!*

Ai ruffled his head. "Why are you so restless?"

The cat ignored her. She sighed.

I want to talk to Jun about what happened. Maybe we are closer to-

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar figure standing at a distance. It was Guiying who had her back to her. But as she turned, Ai's eyes widened as she saw her smoking a cigarette. She stared at her unblinkingly. Without noticing it herself, her feet automatically made their way towards.

'Guiying' felt someone's presence and as she turned, she cocked her brow. "Zhou Ai?"

Ai sharply stopped with her brows frowning heavily.

Zhou Ai? Why is she calling me by my full name?