Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Jun blankly stared at her. He stood rooted as if ten thousand bolts of thunder just struck him.

Ai continued. “The day I met Sky’s editor, Sun Bai, I heard her talking that it was an order from the President that Sky wouldn’t take any writer from Dream High at any cost. She rejected one small author from Dream High right in front of me. Her pen name is Sparkles. I…” she lowered her gaze. “I had my own reasons to enter Sky. I was really desperate. I couldn’t afford Sky not to take me in. So, I lied and said that I was Butterfly.”

She quickly added. “But I wasn’t going to lie forever. Once I would gain their trust, I was going to confess and request them to forgive me. It was a risk, I know. But I was willing to take it.”

That’s how desperate Ai felt to join Sky to change her career in this life. She had died with regrets in her past life. No way she wanted to lose this chance just because of Sky’s one rule.

“I started writing as Butterfly. But that day when I was sick at your home, I accidentally submitted my story with MissImperfectlyFine’s account. Everything went downward after that…”

Ai looked away. “You confronted me at the library, and I realized the grave error I made. I wanted to confess that MissImperfectlyFine didn’t plagiarize at all. But it would have brought out my lie in the open. It would have compromised my position as Butterfly. I was conflicted on what to do. That was the time I was shocked to learn that you worked in Sky part time.”

Jun shut his eyes.

“That’s how Sky accused me of plagiarism because you had worked with me on the drafts, so you informed them.”

Ai clasped her hands together. “Then one day, I decided to tell you, but you were looking lost and sad over something. It was about your parents’ wedding anniversary, right?”_.

Jun stiffened. He recalled Ai peeking at him from outside his room with a solemn expression as if she had something very important to say to him.

“I heard your conversation and didn’t feel it was the right time to add to your stress. So, I changed the subject.”

That was an excuse she gave that she wanted to learn how to dance from Jun.

Ai bit her lip. “Then after your parents’ anniversary…”

The passionate time in the crescent swing had changed the dynamics between them and the very next day, Ai left his condo. There was no time and no place to bring that topic up again.

Ai wanted to add that she came to Sky once again to talk to Sun Bai or Yunru. But after the announcement, she couldn’t stay there any longer.

“No…” Jun finally whispered after a long time. “No, no, fucking no!”

He covered his face with his palms, his body trembling with frustration.

Ai blinked at him, confused about his reaction.

Why does he seem so troubled when I have made a mistake here?

Jun was cautious about not letting anybody from Dream High come to Sky because of the spy. But he never thought that his one order would make things spiral out of control so much for Ai.

Anger bubbled inside him, shaking his body even more. He had an urge to scold Ai for hiding her identity, but he wasn’t any less innocent on this matter either.

If he knew that she was MissImperfectlyFine or if she knew that Jun was the Sky CEO himself, then this whole chain of events would have never happened.

“Nooooo!!”

Ai was startled, witnessing him strangely and repeatedly mumbling only ‘No’ and nothing else. She felt as if she could see flames of fury bursting from him.

Ai pursed her lips.

Now, he would never want to talk to me again. Not that I want to talk to him either after he went back on his words.

Though the sentiment was shared, she didn’t want her house on fire because of Jun this time when it had just been repaired.

Jun breathed hard. He wanted to punch someone really badly. At this time, he wished the twins to be here so that they could be his punching bags.

He finally gathered his thoughts and faced Ai but stumbled two steps back in shock. He forgot all his frustration caused by Ai’s confession only to be replaced by another kind of resentment.

“What the hell is this!?”

He asked as he speechlessly stared at the thing in Ai’s hands which she just shoved right in front of his face.

“Why are you shoving a cactus plant in front of my face!? Do you want to stab me with the thorns!?”

Ai blinked. “I didn’t have that intention.”

His expression darkened. “Then what intention you might possibly have?”

“To calm down your anger.”

“…”

“Seeing something green in color is good to soothe your rage. It calms down your nerves,” Ai sincerely stated with the purest of intentions.

“…”

“Ignore the thorns and feel the greenness of the plant cool your fury. There,” she brought the cactus plant closer to him.

“…”

First, the cold water and cold wind, then the feather stick and now a cactus plant…

Jun angrily laughed, his fingers twitching with an urge to do something to her. He didn’t know what though.

“May I know, Miss. Zhou Ai, which planet have you been born on and what species are you?”

Ai frowned. “Naturally, it’s the earth and naturally, I am a human.”

“Then why don’t you use human-like methods!?” He glared at her.

“Because my methods work more efficiently,” she said with a hint of pride in her voice.

“Do they? Do they!? Because clearly, I am still angry! You could have poked my eye out with those thorns!” He steadied himself, still shooting deathly beams at her.

“I was being careful. I wouldn’t have poked your eye.”

He sneered.

“At the most, it would have poked your cheeks or chin. That isn’t as dangerous as hitting on the eyes,” she nodded.

“…”