Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

As the soft, fresh snow gently showered upon them, they closed their tear-filled eyes ever so gradually. Nobody really knew how it started.

But it was just…there.

The chilliness in the air made their lips tremble, but their warm breaths gave some comfort.

Was it loneliness? Or was it the pain they shared that led to this moment? They didn’t know. They didn’t want to know it either.

He kissed her. Tenderly moving his lips across hers in a gentle fluid motion as if a melancholic melody was playing. He slightly tilted her head, pressing his lips firmer upon hers but not making into a passionate kiss at the same time. His heart wasn’t pounding furiously in excitement as he traced her lips but instead, it seemed to feel at peace. His chaotic breaths settled down. His flowing tears came to a halt.

It had brought immense relief to him when Ai affirmed that she wasn’t afraid of him. Because he felt that if she had, something would have broken completely inside him.

Ai, on the other side, shared his sentiments. She felt his soft lips washing away all the gloom and anguish that Yating had left her with. She tasted the soft snowflakes that brushed across his lips. Its sweetness dissipated the bitterness that she went through tonight. She reached out her palm and gently tapped his chest as she kissed him back with the same pace as his. She found solace in his cold fingertips that brushed on her cheek.

Sensing his erratic heartbeats calm down, she felt her own heartbeats relax. She was deathly afraid to realize that she had wavered at Yating’s confession. But now that fear felt so momentary as if it never happened._.

Neither of them considered the kiss as something romantic. But it was a short, fleeting moment where they came to seek reassurance in one another. They knew how it felt to lose someone you had devoted your heart to. That somebody was there in this world who understood their side and cried along with them.

The glistening snow put a thin blanket on the garden with its pure white luster. Under the drizzling snow, Jun and Ai stood at its centre, sharing a long but delicate kiss. Their bodies were freezing with the chill, but their hearts were melting with warmth as if spring had arrived.

—

*Plop*

In the cold snow, Shui shed bitter tears remembering Jun’s harsh words. She had never fought with him like this before, and now a sense of loss and sorrow welled in her chest.

She hugged herself as the snow brought tremors to her body. Her breaths formed a small white mist as she exhaled. But she didn’t care about the freezing temperature. His cold words struck her so hard that the raining snow didn’t matter.

A few moments later, she felt a warm jacket over her shoulders. Her rigid and tense arms from the cold relaxed. She looked up and met Jin’s eyes through her blurry gaze. She turned her head away.

Jin sat beside her on the bench in silence.

“You will fall sick, Shui.”

She wiped her eyes. “I don’t care.”

“Bro does.”

Shui let out a forced smile. “Really now…”

Jin looked up towards the night sky. The snow felt like twinkling stars showering upon them.

“What did he say?”

‘Jin was always there!’

‘I am the one getting in the middle of your beautiful love story, isn’t it!?’

She clenched her trembling fists.

How could she possibly reveal that Jun accused them of having feelings for each other?

But thinking back to what Jun said, Shui couldn’t help but get slightly conscious of Jin’s presence now. She gave a sideway glance and found Jin keenly staring back at her with his deep black eyes. She hastily averted her gaze, sensing her cheeks grow warm.

Suddenly she felt a crisis coming, realizing what if what Jun said was true?

Impossible. I don’t like Jin. It was always Jun with me. We were supposed to get married in the future. There is no way I can have feelings for Jin…

For a moment, she wondered if Jin liked her back too.

Why am I even thinking about this!? It doesn’t matter! Jun is wrong! There is no way I will ever betray him…

The tip of her nose turned redder as she sniffled.

Jin repeated his question which brought her back from her stupor.

“What did bro say?”

Her lips formed a feeble smile. “We fought. It was the most horrible fight. Seems like we were…hurting each other all this time…” her eyes ached.

He shook his head. “Impossible! Don’t say that. You know how he is crazy for you, and you love him so much too. Maybe, you two need some time apart to calm down and resolve your differences. One day, it will be all okay. Trust me. Bro and you will be back together.”

After today’s big argument, Shui didn’t have much hope of that happening. But seeing Jin wanting Jun and her back together, she really questioned if Jun was right about Jin’s feelings for her. He didn’t seem to be hesitating in making them get back together.

She faintly smiled. “You still want us together? If you were there when we fought…you wouldn’t be so confident.”

Jin placed his palm on her head. “No matter how harsh it was, I believe this misunderstanding will end one day for sure. You don’t know how much bro loves you.”

“And you will be fine with it?” The question slipped out unconsciously.

Jin kept his gaze intact. “Nobody will be happier than me.”

‘Who is the one person most important to him that he absolutely cannot hurt at all?’

It was the question Nana had asked him.

A tender smile laced his lips.

There is no need to decide, Mom. It was always my brother. He is the most important person to me. And so does his love for Shui.

Always.