Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

969  If not her, then who?

"Here."

Nuo offered a fresh towel to Alix after washing her face with cold water.

"Thank you," she gently patted her face with the soft cloth.

Nuo scratched the top of her head. "I apologize again. We should have stopped you two before."

Alix looked in the mirror, gently checking her eye that was struck with the chopstick.

"Like I said, you are not at fault. Jin and I are not children for anybody to keep an eye on us."

Alix paused and turned to face Nuo. "I meant to say that it was fine even if something happened. We can handle it. This much is nothing," she pointed at her eye.

Nuo smiled. "You are right."

Alix returned to touching up her makeup. She felt something off about the silence between them and looked back at Nuo with a puzzling expression.

"Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Nuo glanced left and right and laughed with a little hesitation. "Nothing really."

"Why do I feel suspicious? Go ahead and ask whatever it is. I hardly feel offended," she shrugged.

She took a moment to think and carefully worded her question. "...How is Jin feeling?"

"About?" Alix then realized it. "Oh, you must be asking about Kang Yuze's confession to Shui."

Nuo simply hummed at that.

Alix said after much thought, "I believe that if Liu Jin had to do something, he would have done so yesterday."

"What if he changed his mind?"

"He has steeled himself, Mrs. Han. He had six years to change his mind, yesterday being the life changing day. I don't think we should underestimate his resolve anymore."

"You seem to understand it very well."

She put her make-up stuff back in her purse and was ready to leave.

"Can I ask you something else?"

She shrugged.

"You betted to have Jin join Shui's art therapy sessions because you wanted them to be closer, right?"

"Maybe?"

"Yesterday too at the exhibition, you drew Kang Yuze away to give Jin and Shui the privacy to talk. You have always been beside them as a good friend who wants to see them together, right?"

"Well, they are two birds in love so why not?"

"But you said so yourself that it's pointless to hope for Jin ever changing his mind. So why did you request to work at Liu Corps this time? Even if you keep trying, you won't achieve anything, right?"

Alix peered into Nuo's eyes for a long moment and looked away as if contemplating her own intentions.

"Hm, that's a good question."

Nuo waited as she paused to gather her thoughts.

"Let's just say that if Shui is the fate he is rejecting with every strain of his will then…I want to see what kind of fate he will accept with every bit of that same will. Where does his future lie if it's not Shui? If it's not her, then who is it?"

Alix smiled. "Don't worry. I know you adore your brother, so I will keep you posted."

She passed from Nuo's side and reached to hold the doorknob.

"What if it's you?"

Alix stopped the motion and tilted her head. "Hm?"

Nuo turned to face her and said, "If it's not Shui, then what if it's you?"

—

"Bro Jian, I think you have lost it today," Jin grimaced. "Why are you staring at me like a hooligan?"

Jian pouted. "What did I do? I am just highlighting your gentlemanly chivalry towards Ren Alix."

"I just helped her wipe her eye, that's all. Anybody would have done that. Why are you making a big deal out of it?"

"I thought Shui was the only woman to whom you would offer your chivalry."

Jin's gaze darkened. "I was literally sitting beside her. You think I should have kept still like a statue when she was hurting?"

"You always have for every woman except Shui."

"What is the point that you want to make?"

"Imagine my shock to learn that you were in a bar with Ren Alix."

"Is it a crime to have a couple of drinks?" He dryly asked.

"I don't think you even treat her as your acquaintance, much less your friend so why would my cute little brother invite her to a bar himself?"

Jin was dumbfounded. "I never invited her!"

He smiled. "Not directly but indirectly? I know how your mind works, my cute brother."

"Ugh!" Jin got up from his seat, throwing deadly glares at Jian. "You don't know anything other than to mess around with me, do you?"

He grumbled in frustration and stormed away in the direction of the washroom.

Silence returned at the table.

Jian pressed his lips as he clasped his hands together. He threw a glance at his father's side, who had calmly finished his meal and was now scrolling on his phone.

"Hm?"

"You saw the same thing as I did, right?"

Jinhai looked up and eyed his son.

"Why did you bring them here?"

"It was lunch time."

Jian pressed his lips again. "Why did you invite Ren Alix?"

"Apologize for Jin hitting on her forehead."

He blinked at him rapidly.

"Didn't she bump into some door?"

"Apparently, Jin's forehead can be as sturdy as the Liu Corps' doors too."

"...Why did he hit her?"

"Just fooling around."

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"I don't think it's just fooling around."

"Then what is it?"

Silence.

Jian rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze becoming complicated.

"Are Jin's feelings-"

"It's for him to decide."

Jian stiffened.

Jinhai looked at Jian with a dead serious expression. "It's for Jin to decide what his heart wants."

"You brought them here because you knew Nuo and I would see it too, right?"

"See it and decide on a stand."

He said nothing.

Jinhai placed the napkin back on the table and stood up. He turned to leave when Jian asked,

"What is your stand?"

Jinhai stared ahead, expressionless.

"Jin is my son. I want him to be happy, that's all. That is my stand."