Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Things seemed to have slowly improved for Alix in the following days. It wasn't that she joined every meal with the family as the discomfort remained but it wasn't like she also didn't show her face. It was a sort of equilibrium she had managed to achieve with the family.

Her relationship with the kids was especially flourishing, ever since she heroically, according to the kids, saved Aang and Taio. They were impressed with how she handled the crisis and also single-handedly confronted Jian, which was a feat not everybody could achieve. Needless to say, she upgraded from the cool to the coolest pastry aunt status.

The children adored her so much that they insisted on teaching them more subjects than just essays and also sleeping next to her at nights, much to Jin's dismay. He, who hoped had grown a little closer to Alix after she slept in his arms, wanted to work towards upgrading his own status as a husband too. But the devil kids would come in his way.

I love them a lot but they are hogging her at this point…

He sighed.

Slowly and steadily, slowly and steadily, he pacified himself.

Amidst all this, Alix had two thoughts swirling in her mind. One, where she had too much time on her hands. She wanted to work, otherwise she felt her brain and intelligence would rot. She believed she had given herself ample time to recharge herself since she stepped down from Ren Designs position. Now was the time to look for avenues she was interested in - And it reminded her of Xie Nuying's suggestion.

Teaching…

"Oh, you chopped the potatoes so well."

Her stupor broke when Nana gingerly hopped to her side with a bright smile.

Alix stared at her, feeling a tickle in her heart similar to how she would feel in Ren Cuifen's company. She had nothing better to do so she thought to come down and as it turned out, Nana was working on making a meal. She found it as a great chance to spend some private time with her.

"It's just so-so," she looked away.

"You should take the credit when it's due," she nodded.

Nana slid the chopped potatoes into the stew and merrily hummed a tune.

"You seemed lost in some thought just now. Is something bothering you?" She blinked at her while stirring the pot.

"No, nothing-" she stopped and pondered for a moment. Her eyes then squinted as she stared at Nana.

"Do you really think…I'm suited to become a teacher?"

"Oh!" Nana heaved a sigh of relief. "You were looking at with such an intense stare that I was worried back there…"

Crap, was I looking rude?

Nana said, "As far as I see, yes and I'm not saying this to make you feel better. You genuinely handle children very well. I think it's very easy for you to build a certain rapport with them. Oh but yes! I'm not only referring to children. Whether it be middle or high school or college kids, I believe students of any age will love you. How should I say this…You have a good unique lens of looking at things which is really fit for a teacher's profession."

Alix didn't know how to take that compliment.

"Is that so?" Her expression didn't change much but the skip of her heartbeats did.

Nana nodded. "I believe Miss. Xie saw the same thing in you, which is why she is so confident. Plus, you have worked as an editor and looking at Jun and Xing Bi working in the same field, I got the sense that editors eventually develop a knack of teaching along the way when they work with writers. They, too, kinda teach well just like how Chyou once told me that Yating is quite adept at it too."

Huh…

Alix had never thought of her editing career in that light but maybe Nana was right. Working with writers wasn't exactly the same as a teacher-student relationship but was indeed similar in many aspects. This copy comes from content on M|V|L0EMPYR.

The stew came to a boil and Nana turned off the gas flame. The delicious fragrance of the stew floated in the air.

"But of course, you shouldn't feel pressured," Nana smiled kindly. "Whether you truly want to take up teaching or not is your choice to make, but you shouldn't reject it based on an incorrect perception that you are not suited for it. These two are completely different feelings."

The familiar tickle filled her heart again and she looked away.

"I see. Thank you. I will think about it."

A shadow then approached them and Jinhai stood behind Nana. Alix straightened up, slightly uneasy. Though he never once showed any bias against her ever since she stepped in the Liu villa, she still found it hard to shed that image of the past where she and Lin had died by his hands.

"Jinhai! The stew is ready," Nana chirped.

"Mhm," he smiled dotingly. "I came following the scent. Can I taste some?"

"Of course!"

Nana eagerly took a spoonful of the stew and when she blew some air upon it to cool down, she fed it to Jinhai.

"How is it?" she asked anxiously.

He chuckled. "How many years has it been now that you are a chef? You still worry about the taste."

Her expression turned serious. "One must never slack off or get overconfident about their skills. Pride must never take the form of arrogance."

That's a good one, Alix thought.

Jinhai saw her beautiful face puffed up with seriousness and he leaned down to kiss her.

"*Ahem!*"

Nana mercilessly pushed him away, throwing a silent glare at him.

Alix is here!

"Not like we are making out too descriptively."

"..."

Alix found it an amusing choice of words.

Jinhai smiled. "The stew is delicious as usual."

Nana paused. "It's the truth, right? You are not saying this just to please me, right?"

"Never. I perfectly know how sincere you feel about cooking. I would never lie out of love."

She nodded satisfied. "You are a good husband."

And this was where Alix's mind wandered off to the second thought that had been swirling within her for quite some time. Jinhai felt an intense stare from a certain direction and tilted his head.

"Is something the matter?"