Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

While Alix was occupied in checking out the menu for her order, Jin and Yuze were busy throwing each other heated gazes.

"People are gonna misunderstand you two, you know?" Alix smoothly slipped in with her commentary.

Jin's gaze darkened. "You focus on the menu card."

There was a long moment of awkwardness after Alix and Jin joined them, so she attempted to dissipate it.

"So, Alix you were working till so late?"

"Napping, not working," she casually answered. "Actually at one point, Liu Jin was napping too."

She glanced at him with an amused smile. "And dreaming too. I wonder about-"

He snatched the menu card away from her and called the waiter. "One red braised pork belly please."

The waiter noted it down and left.

Alix asked, "Why did you order for me?"

He sneered. "You weren't looking at the menu card in the first place."

"You didn't order anything for yourself."

He squinted at Yuze. "I am not hungry."

And the tension returned. Jin was especially not so forgiving about his openly disdainful glances towards Yuze. He could be the one colluding with Mui and even be behind Alix's accident. Furthermore, he recalled Alix's flashes of dreams with an ugly and almost violent clashes with Yuze and the time at the art gallery's terrace where he tried to overwhelm her.

Such a man was now before him, casually having a meal with Shui.

Yuze asked, feeling his unsavory glares. "Is something the matter, Liu Jin?"

Shui slightly swallowed a nervous gulp, afraid of a possible confrontation between them.

Jin held an urge to grab him by his collar and force the answers out of him. The smile and poise on his face irked Jin to no end.

On one hand, he was probably still getting involved in Alix's life and on the other hand, he wanted to hold onto Shui too.

Just what does he want?

Jin smiled. "I heard your company will be one of the sponsors of the fashion show."

"Ah. Well, yes. I was telling Shui about just that."

"And it seems you will be working with Ren Mui for her own designs."

"Yes."

"Very kind of you to help out the sister who almost sank Ren family's company into a sea of losses."

"That-"

"And who wanted to ruin her own sister - your ex-girlfriend at your company party night," his lips curved into a mocking sneer.

A prickly silence ensued.

"Shui - who you have confessed your feelings to, have suffered because of her too. So Kang Yuze, I just wonder if Ren Mui really wants to turn over a new leaf by participating in this show or is this another attempt to get in Alix's way and humiliate her?"

Jin wasn't holding back with his punches at all.

Alix let out a cough as she sipped on some water. She had planned to indirectly nudge Yuze for some answers and make him lower his guard around his involvement. But Jin was vehemently pushing back with his direct approach.

"Don't you doubt her intentions at all? If she could cross the line at your party then…" Jin arched his brow, "I just cannot help but wonder what other things she might have done against Alix in the past? Do you really want to associate your company's brand name and reputation with such a person?"

Alix kicked him on his foot under the table.

Liu Jin! I want Kang Yuze to work with Mui for this fashion show. Don't you ruin it for me!

That was the best way for Alix to have both Mui and Yuze in the field along with her and nab them in their plans.

But would Jin's pointed questions deter Yuze?

The waiter then arrived and served dinner. Jin slid the plate of braised pork belly towards Alix and said, "You eat."

"..."

Alix felt like one of those times when a parent would tell their child to just shut up and quiet down while the adults did the talking.

Is he treating me like a child?

Yuze watched Jin carefully, his black eyes slightly squinting.

"I get your point, Liu Jin. You do make some valid arguments. Naturally, I had refused Mui at first. But she insisted and promised me that she wanted to change."

Yeah that sister of mine wants to change who wants to spy on me and know my secrets, Alix inwardly scoffed.

"So I thought that people should deserve a second chance-"

"No, they don't," Jin sharply voiced out.

He thought back to his own gritty past and smiled. "Some people don't deserve forgiveness or second chances. It's just a waste on them."

Shui stiffened as she looked into Jin's self-deprecating gaze. She understood that through Mui, he was actually talking about himself. Her eyelashes faintly trembled as she clenched her fists under the table.

"So if you think that Ren Mui is one of those on whom a second chance is not wasted, then good luck with that."

Jin then glanced at Alix. "You didn't even touch your meal."

You didn't give me a chance with that atmosphere!

"Guess it's a little hard to get hungry here," his gaze pointed at Yuze without any qualms.

Jin summoned the waiter again and asked, "Can you please pack this for me and bring it outside?"

"Sure, Sir."

He paid the bill to which Alix protested. "It's my dinner so I will pay-"

A stare from Jin was enough to get the message through Alix's head that this wasn't probably the best time to fight for the bill and exhibit gender equality.

"...Yeah I can pay you back later. Not like you are running away anywhere, hah."

Jin inhaled a small breath as he gathered his courage to meet Shui's gaze.

He tried to smile. "It was nice to see you again like this, Shui. Mom, Dad, Grandpa and everyone misses you. So…come to the villa when you get the time."

Shui faintly smiled back. "Of course."

Jin rose from his chair and threw a gaze at Alix. "You start walking too."

Alix muttered under her breath while flashing a smile at Shui and Yuze. "See you later."

I did not get to play any mind games at all! Damn it Liu Jin!