Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Hou Lin tilted his head, and he tapped on her shoulder. "Miss. Xing."

That broke the string of her thoughts, making her breaths return to normal. But her heartbeats were still running erratically wild.

"You seem to keep losing your focus."

Xing Bi sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "I didn't get much sleep last night so my mind keeps hopping here and there..."

"I see. That's not good. A good sleep is very important," he said with all earnesty. "You can take an early day off and go home."

She waved her hand. "That's not necessary really. I have to check on Ai's new drafts too."

"If that's what you want. But don't overwork yourself."

She nodded.

"I will take my leave," he bowed. He then noticed that Xing Bi looked as if she wanted to ask something.

"Is there something you want to ask me?"

She parted her lips to almost ask if he somehow knew Zhan Yahui, but the question never escaped her lips.

"Nothing," she shook her head.

Hou Lin stared at her for a moment and nodded. "Good day then."

"Good day to you too," she smiled.

As he passed by her, Xing Bi felt a light shiver, making the hair on her skin tingle and straighten up as goosebumps came upon them.

Hou Lin is so caring and polite...How can I even think that his voice matched with my strange memories?

"He is so dedicated too just like Sun Bai..." she muttered under her breath, "It's impossible that a good man like him will even think to hurt anybody."

She released a loud sigh. "Ah I think I really need some good sleep."

The tapping of her heels sounded farther and farther away, making a certain someone step out of the shadows. He watched her back becoming smaller and then it completely disappeared from his sight.

Hou Lin continued to gaze at that space for a long time before he took out his phone and typed a message.

'Cui Fen turned out to be quite intuitive. She thinks an insider from Sky was threatening her.'

He got no response.

'Miss. Xing was definitely tense after she heard her. It seemed she wanted to ask me about the possibility of a traitor in Sky, but she didn't.'

His phone still didn't chime with any reply. He paused and typed another message.

'I know the plan failed, but we will figure something out.'

Hou Lin could imagine Zhan Yahui's fury at this moment. He released a soft breath and closed his eyes, not getting any response yet.

It seems I will have to personally meet her.

--

Liu villa.

"Jun!" Nana warmly embraced her son, greeting him with a sparkling, satisfied smile. "I saw the press conference today. I am so happy to see that you resolved all the misgivings against Sky."

He smiled back. "Thanks, Mom."

She proudly patted his shoulders. "You all have worked really hard. I think you and Ai should take a few days off and relax after struggling through such a serious incident. Mental rest is equally important."

Ai promptly nodded.

Liu Hai and Jing burst out with joy and mischief. "Hoho, Jun-cute~ Doesn't this mean that you should cook a grand feast for all of us and treat us to celebrate this great news!"

"It's been a while since I ate my dearest nephew's hand cooked meal~" Jing winked.

The corner of Jun's lips twitched. "You two didn't lift a single finger to help me. Why should I bother you with a treat?"

They gasped dramatically. "How-how mean Jun-cute! We were cheering you on with positivity from the sidelines! Isn't that such great help from us?"

Liu Hai shed fake tears and sniffled. "Young people these days just don't appreciate their elders' goodwill."

Jun rolled his eyes.

Nana shook her head with another banter already starting.

Ai came up to her and asked, "Mom, Where is Dad?"

The question made Nana's expression turn sour, which Ai couldn't figure out why.

"In his study."

"I see...By the way, I noticed that I don't see Dad outside much for the last couple of days."

She smiled. "Don't worry, dear. He is occupied with a very important task. So he shuts himself in his study."

"Oh. I will go and meet him in the study then."

"Sure. Just don't listen to any nonsense request of his," the smile on her lips never left.

Ai finally felt a tremor passing through the back of her neck as if danger alarms were going off somewhere.

Mom seems a little strange today...and angry too.

She climbed upstairs and softly knocked on Jinhai's study door.

"Come in..."

Ai blinked her eyes, hearing a very feeble response from inside as if that voice had no strength. It was when she stepped inside that she saw that not only his voice but the whole of Jinhai's existence felt sapped out of all its strength too.

"Dad?"

Words weren't enough to describe how lost and hopeless Jinhai looked. To the point that he was just randomly pressing a button on his laptop's keyboard, unaware of what he was really doing.

"What happened, Dad? Why do you look so...sorry but so dead?"

He lifted his head with a dreary gaze falling upon Ai. "Because I feel dead. If you were made to live away from Jun for God knows how long, you would start looking like a zombie too."

She blinked twice

Away from Jun?

"You are staying away from Mom...?" She guessed.

That flashed a look of an excruciating pain in his eyes as if Ai just stabbed upon his deep wound all over again.

"But aren't you living in the same house?"

"In the same house. Not in the same room anymore..." Jinhai collapsed back on his chair in defeat. "There is a huge difference, and I am at my limits now."

"But why not in the same room? Oh, Mom said that you are focusing on a very important task so you stay in your study these days."

His brow twitched. "I don't stay here by my own will."

"So?"

"Nana has kicked me out of our room."

"..."