Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

They went inside, and Ai served her a cup of tea. Xing Bi pulled her wrist and forced her to sit on the couch. "You look so pale, Ai. Do you feel sick? Should I take you to the hospital?"

She shook her head. "No, I am fine."

She narrowed her eyes. "It doesn't look like that. Now, spill it out. There is something bothering you."

Ai relented and confessed that she went to Sky to meet the CEO. Xing Bi's face shone with hope. "That's great! Did you get to meet him?"

"No."

"President Chen Yunru?"

"No."

"Maybe the editor Sun Bai?"

"No."

"Ah? Then how did you resolve the misunderstanding?"

"I didn't. I couldn't…" Ai lowered her gaze. "But I don't need to anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I have decided I won't go to Sky anymore."

That took Xing Bi aback. "Really? I understand that Sky is being difficult right now, but it's because of the confusion you caused. To be honest, we cannot blame Sky. No publishing company will tolerate plagiarism."

Ai nodded. "Yes. But…"

It was difficult to explain her reasons when she had trouble grasping it herself. She wanted to avoid Sky because of Jun's connection with it.

She already wanted to put distance between them after her last night in his condo. What happened today only made her resolve firmer than before.

I have already come between Guiying and Yating once.

She was afraid that these unknown emotions within her would make the tragic history repeat. Even as the last thing, she didn't want to interfere in Jun and Shui's relationship.

Ai reluctantly smiled. "I have thought about this carefully. It's for the best if I don't go to Sky."

Xing Bi said, "But you are not comfortable working in Dream High either. And honestly, I don't want you to work with smaller publishing houses. Only Sky can give you the needed leverage apart from Dream High."

"I understand."

"Also, it's not just about choosing a publishing company. The plagiarism charge against you is still there. Even if you opt for a smaller company, they won't take you in until the matter is cleared."

Ai nodded. "That's why I have decided to publicly admit everything. Until now, I hoped to talk with the CEO…"

Sky CEO, whose identity was MrPerfect on Reading Point, had threatened her to destroy her career. He certainly was doing a good job.

"I hoped to talk with him and discuss measures we could take to get out of this mess. But I decided not to join Sky. I couldn't talk to them, but I have to resolve this misunderstanding."

She took a deep breath and asserted with conviction. "I will confess everything."

Xing Bi widened her eyes. "Ai, even if you confess that you are MissImperfectlyFine herself, it is going to raise another set of questions. The Sky CEO thinks that this story should belong to Butterfly. Sky will grill you like crazy as to why you posed as Butterfly for this whole time. Sun Bai will testify about this. You faked your identity to enter Sky. Just like plagiarism, you will drown in flames in no time."

She clasped her temples. "We are in a shitfire no matter what we do. If you confess, you will be in trouble. If you don't, you are still in trouble."

"I am sorry, Xing Bi…" Ai trembled and clenched a portion of her skirt in her fist. "I was desperate to enter Sky. My only hope was Sky to redeem myself."

She reminisced about her past life. Her career went into a downward spiral, her hopes of becoming the best writer and proving herself, Xing Bi's life - everything collapsed being in Dream High. She couldn't move forward no matter what she did.

Within the darkness that surrounded her, the only flicker of light shining at a distance was Sky. She wanted to grab that light at any cost. She wanted to make her life right.

But why did life throw her in such a predicament in her second chance too?

"No, no!" Xing Bi smashed Ai into her hug like a mother bear hugging her cub. "I am sorry! I didn't mean to blame you! I know you are a very responsible person, Ai. You dislike lying. It must have been tough when you lied about your identity to Sun Bai and if someone like you forced yourself to do that, then you must have your own reasons. Publishing the story as MissImperfectlyFine was an accident. Don't be hard on yourself, or I will twist your ear," she scolded.

Ai's eyes teared up, and she hugged her back. Being with Xing Bi always provided her with assurance like an elder sister. It was Xing Bi who didn't let Ai miss her mother, who lived in another city.

Xing Bi smiled and brushed her fingers along her hair. "Ai, I will always be with you. Even if the world turns against you. That's what you did for me when you entered Dream High, right? You were the award winner of the Best Newcomer writer. You were given the freedom to choose your editor. You could have chosen any, but you chose me. All the other writers were afraid of me because of my height."

At five feet and nine inches, Xing Bi was a tall woman among her peers or the society in general. She was always bullied because of her height and given humiliating names in her school and college days. Even the new writers in Dream High used to steer clear from her, finding her intimidating.

But Ai chose her without a second thought.

Xing Bi had asked Ai, who was dumbfounded at being chosen, "Are you sure? You can…you can choose Zhan Yahui-"

"I want to work with you only," an eighteen years old Ai answered in front of everyone, who was offered to join Dream High after winning the award.

Instead of fear or disdain, her pure eyes sparkled with admiration as she studied her.

"But why?" She awkwardly smiled.

"Because you are so cute."

Xing Bi choked and so did the others.

People find her intimidating, and you say she is cute?

"You are so tall," her eyes shone brighter, "I wish I could have been as tall as you. Your height suits you so well. You are so beautiful."

Xing Bi froze.

What?