Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Alix stood still at the gallery's terrace, staring at the setting sun in the sky at the horizon. Jin had left, leaving a heavy silence behind him.

This wasn't how this was supposed to happen, she thought.

"This ruins everything…" she muttered under her breath.

"Ruins what Alix?"

She turned and saw Yuze standing before her. Her eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

"Some answers."

He took a step closer and asked, "Before when we were walking…why did you panic so suddenly and shake me off?"

"I think I was clear that I didn't like you rudely grabbing my hand like that."

"I was only concerned for you but didn't your reaction feel a little extreme?"

Alix grimaced. "Can you leave? I am really not in a mood to talk about your offended feelings."

He let out a scornful smile. "Sure. Then are you in a mood to talk about what you are doing?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Sorry?"

"Interfering in Shui and my relationship?"

"There is no relationship between you two."

He stared at her. "We are friends which I would like to become something more but without caring about my feelings, you wanted Liu Jin to be with Shui. Even now, I heard your conversation with him here. You are angry at him for not doing anything and letting Shui go. Why are you doing this?"

Alix smiled. "Because it makes sense that they get together?"

He chuckled. "What sense, Alix? Liu Jin left Shui on his own accord six years ago. He made it clear that he didn't want anything more than friendship with her. He returned but he hasn't changed his stance. So why are you so invested in bringing them together?"

"None of your business."

"It is. I like Shui and want to pursue her. But you are not letting me and frankly speaking, there is no reason for you to delve into this matter so much."

Alix tried to leave but he blocked her way. "Or is it that you are so desperate for Liu Jin and Shui to get together because you don't want Shui and me to get together?"

She stared at him, bursting into a peal of laughter. "You know, I have partial memory loss but it feels like you are the patient instead because you clearly forgot the fact that we have broken up."

His eyes narrowed. "I haven't forgotten Alix but it seems like you are not able to move on. Tell me the truth. Are you hanging around Liu Jin a lot these days as a tactic to make me jealous while also trying to get me out of his way?"

"You have some serious delusions."

"The only conclusion I could reach after your constant interference is that you still like me despite what you claim."

She scoffed in disbelief. "You are really something else huh? Twisting my intentions to suit your convenience."

"So stop trying to bring them together and prove me wrong."

She sneered. "I can do whatever I want, Mr. Kang. I don't care what you think or believe."

He took one icy, threatening step towards her, making her jolt. "You should, Ren Alix."

Her breathing abruptly came to a halt as if a thorn got stuck in her throat. A sense of chilliness enveloped her.

What the…It's not like I am afraid of this man but why do I feel such dread?

Alix chastized this feeling. She hated feeling fear which cropped out of nowhere without a rhyme or reason.

"You are just creating unnecessary problems between me and Shui. I know you still like me but you have to stop. You cannot do this."

'You cannot do this.'

A distant voice from somewhere whispering the same words echoed in her ears and her breaths grew more laborious. She gnashed her jaw, matching her gaze with equal iciness.

"I was clear to-"

He cut her off. "You said not to touch you which I am not. Now are you restricting me from talking too? Even when you are hampering my interests?"

She felt a chill zap her again, mistying her eyes a bit.

What the hell is happening to me?

"I am very serious about Shui so…" he inched towards her with another ominous step, bringing a wave of dizziness within her.

But suddenly a firm palm pressed onto Yuze's chest, pushing him a few steps back. He blinked, taken aback and so did Alix.

"Are you that threatened by Alix's actions that you have to resort to such an uncouth behavior?" Jin threw him a frosty glare.

"Excuse me?" Yuze looked peeved.

"I don't care what problems you have with her but cornering a woman into giving to you is not so gentlemanly. Especially considering that you two dated once upon a time. Have a little respect towards your ex-girlfriend."

He gave a strained smile. "I wasn't trying to threaten or hurt Alix, but I want to make a point that I don't appreciate-"

"Then give up on Shui," he sneered.

"Huh?"

"Don't assume another meaning behind what I said. If a little interference shakes you up this much, then you better give up right now.

Ultimately…" his eyes flickered for a bit, "it's Shui's decision. If she genuinely wants to be with you, then it doesn't matter if it's Alix or a hundred other women interfering in your love life. She would still choose to be with you. She is smart and sensible. But if little pebbles on your path are enough to make you trip like this, then better give up before you actually fall flat on your face. Loving somebody is more than just dealing with little annoyances."

He smiled. "So am I not allowed to feel afraid of losing Shui?"

"Feel afraid all you want," Jin's eyes squinted his eyes. "I am saying not to take that fear out on somebody else. Alix is not the problem. Your lack of confidence is."

Yuze's expression didn't look so good. He stared at Alix for a moment. He then gave a long, hard stare at Jin and quietly left the terrace.

Jin snorted in disdain. He looked back at Alix, who seemed to be calm now.

"What happened to you so suddenly looking terrified like that? Aren't you invincible?"

"..."