Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

The scuffle lasted for a few minutes and every moment was getting difficult to handle for ‘Guiying’. Cai Lingyun’s fury added to his strength as he pushed her harshly.

“Let me go!”

“Guiying, you cannot do this to me! J-Just look at me! My l-life is such a mess. Liu Jun ruined everything for me and he took Ai away from me! You think I am supposed to live shitty like this forever!?” He exclaimed, seeing how even his sister wanted to give up on him.

‘Guiying’s’ scalp was aching with how harshly he had pulled her hair.

Fucking beast!

She tried to stand steady, but she felt pain in her ankle which had twisted when he pushed her.

Cai Lingyun grabbed her arms. “Tell me that you will talk to Ai about me, right? You two are best friends. She-she will listen to you…”

“Stop dreaming, Cai Lingyun!” She roared. “And enough is enough! You dare pull my hair…I will kill you! Don’t think that I am that weak Guiying who would just duck her head in fear!”

The sound of his teeth grinding became sharper and fiercer. “You-“

*Ring ring ring*

The doorbell was once again ringing incessantly accompanied by loud banging of the door this time.

‘Guiying’ didn’t know who it was, but ‘she’ could finally breathe. She limped her way to attend when Cai Lingyun grabbed her again and stopped her from leaving. “Wh-where are you going? You have to help me…Are you saying you are leaving me alone?”

Somebody outside was still banging on the door with no intention to leave.

‘She’ sneered. “You were never of much use anyway. The idiot inside me might still have some feelings for you as a sister but don’t expect any mercy from me with all the years of abuse and the freaking slap just now.”

Cai Lingyun’s expression turned even deadlier. With Ai gone and Guiying leaving his side too, he could see a dark future ahead of him.

“GUIYING!”

A second later when Cai Lingyun screamed, the door suddenly broke open with a loud and deafening roar. There was another second pause after which he was pulled away from Guiying and a punch landed on his cheeks. It gave a deep and menacing cut which oozed blood and made him cough hard.

Cai Lingyun easily collapsed because of the drunken state he was already in. Dizziness and darkness surrounded his eyes.

‘Guiying’ tilted her head and raised her gaze up to see Zixin standing right in front of her. His palm and fingers were curled into a fist and the outline of veins became visible on his knuckles. His expression seemed impassive, but his eyes gave away the frostiness with which he shot deathly glares at Cai Lingyun.

The chilliness disappeared as if it was never there when his gaze fell on Guiying. Instead, his beautiful black irises were marred with worry and concern. He gave her a quick glance from head to toe and noticed three things. She was slightly limping where she stood, her right cheek was reddish and swollen with the trace of fingerprints on her skin, and her hair looked messy as if somebody had pulled them forcibly.

Zixin’s temper sparked through the roof and this time, his expression was not so calm and composed. He trembled where he stood with a strange and murderous emotion enveloping his heart. He was still very quiet but within him, numerous emotions and thoughts were causing chaos.

He thought that nothing never or could faze him to the point of getting so furious that he might wish to kill someone. He imagined himself to be poised in that sense. But Cai Lingyun proved him wrong.

Cai Lingyun was already passed out, so Zixin didn’t pay him much attention. For now.

Instead he hurried towards Guiying and anxiously said, “I will take you to the hospital.”

‘She’ remained silent. Sure, ‘she’ saw him punching the shit out of her brother and it really did hit the satisfaction spot in her heart. But she couldn’t forget that he was related to Jun as well.

Why is this cousin here?

‘Guiying’ heard some furious whispers outside the door and noticed the neighbors peeking in her apartment.

“Who was shouting so much?”

“Gosh, this man was causing such a ruckus…”

“Poor Guiying to have such a brother. Look how messy he looks.”

“You need treatment. I will take you to the hospital,” Zixin said again, snapping her attention back to him.

‘She’ shrugged. “No. I am fine. If you could help me just one more time, please throw this trash out of my house.”

Zixin’s icy gaze landed at Cai Lingyun, and he whispered threateningly in his lips. “That I will do for sure.”

He looked at Guiying and worriedly expressed. “But you need first aid too.”

“I am fine.”

‘Guiying’ smiled at the neighbors. “I apologize for all this mess. This won’t happen again.”

“Are you okay?”

One gasped. “This man clearly beat you up. Preposterous!”

“He is your brother at that. Has he lost it?”

‘She’ smiled again. “What can I say? Life turns some people very shitty.”

One of the neighbors who clearly didn’t want to be a part of or get entangled in any possible police case, promptly left her apartment. Seeing that, others quickly left too after assuring her that they would always be there to help her.

‘Guiying’ rolled her eyes. “Such terrible acting…”

‘She’ glanced at Zixin who was still standing at his same spot and staring at her with concern.

“You won’t leave?” ‘She’ raised her brow.

He pursed his lips. “I cannot leave you alone in this condition. You need treatment. Let me take you to the hospital.”

‘Guiying’ folded her arms and scrutinized him. “I appreciate you helping me. I needed that save. But I don’t need anything more than that. If I want treatment, I will go alone.”

“Why? Is it so disagreeable for me to help you?” He softly asked.

‘Guiying’ felt a strong resistance from within her. Clearly, Guiying wasn’t pleased with her alter ego’s behavior.

“Yes,” ‘she’ stared straight at him. “You or anybody related to you – I prefer to keep my distance from all of you.”

He said nothing.

‘Guiying’ sighed in pain and limped her way to the place where the medicine box was kept. She took out a cream for sprain and sat on the couch.

Zixin observed her tending to herself in silence. She then applied some ointment to her cheek to reduce the stinging. He glanced at Cai Lingyun, unable to control his urge to kill him yet again.

Why am I so riled up? It feels uncomfortable and so frustrating…

‘I prefer to keep my distance from all of you.’

Zixin was contemplating his own feelings. He felt a little lost hearing that.

At the banquet, she didn’t seem like that. He observed her and wondered why Guiying seemed to act warm at times and why so hostile at other times.

He said, “Let me at least help you put the ointment.”

‘She’ furrowed her brows. “I am almost done anyway. So, no thanks.”

His expression dropped. But he didn’t give up. “Can I sit beside you?”

‘Guiying’ felt like she could hear an additional word at least in his question too.

‘Can I ‘at least’ sit beside you?’

‘Her’ mouth twitched. “Be my guest.”

Zixin’s face blossomed and he sat beside her in a perfect and elegant position.

Both had questions in their minds, and ‘Guiying’ went ahead first. “Why are you here at my place anyway?”

He answered with sincerity. “To help you with your novel. We decided to meet and brainstorm some ideas together.”

‘Her’ eyes widened. “You came for that?”

“Yes.”

“Wait, you remember that?”

“Yes.”

“And you took that seriously?”

“Is there a reason for me not to?”

‘She’ raised her brow. “Does the CEO of Chen Corps have the time to waste upon an author with brainstorming ideas? I am sure you have a lot more important work than that.”

He blinked twice. “This is important or I wouldn’t have promised you. Also, I like your books very much and I am serious about helping you. I really do want to know how the whole process works and how you work as a writer. You don’t have to consider me as a CEO.”

“Then what should I consider you?”

Zixin softly smiled. “Your fan.”

“…”

‘Guiying’ shrugged and went back to giving herself first aid.

It was a few moments later when Zixin asked the burning question he had in his mind, “This man really is your brother?”

‘She’ paused and smiled. “Certainly the relationship is different from the normal siblings you have seen.”

“Has he hit you before?”

“This has got nothing to do with you.”

He stiffened.

“…Why not?”

‘She’ frowned. “Why are you so inquisitive? Are we friends?”

Zixin gave it a thought. “I guess I didn’t officially ask you that question.”

“So you are not my friend. You are here in the capacity as my fan, and I cannot go on spilling my personal life to my fans even though you might be concerned about me. Do you ever see movie stars revealing their life and past to their fans?”

“No.”

“There is your answer.”

He stayed silent because she had a valid point. Then he asked after some considerable amount of time passed, “Can I be your friend?”

“…”