Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Jun stared at his phone for a second and put it away. He brushed his fingers along the gift box in silence. In the end, he opened a drawer and tucked the gift inside it.

Ai studied his figure that exuded a hint of loneliness. His eyes that always looked so acute and cold now seemed faint and dim. Her heart stung watching him keep away that gift.

He then received another call from Yunru to which he replied to him, "...I am a little busy. Not in the mood to talk right now. Call me back later, okay?"

A moment later, he tried to give a smile, after hearing Yunru's question. "I am fine. Just a little tired."

Ai saw him hanging up the call and lowered her gaze.

"What?

Startled, she looked up. Jun seemed the usual as before, his brow raised questioningly at her presence. "Why are you peeking like this?"

Ai was here to confess about her matter, but she couldn't when Jun just clearly mentioned to someone that he wanted to be left alone.

Instead, she asked, "That gift. Who is it for?"

Jun stiffened.

"Oh. so you saw that," he shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "Nothing important."

Liar. If it's not important, then you wouldn't look so wistful. It is important. It's for your parents, right?

She contemplated.

Jun seemed to have a good relationship with his family with the way he talked about his siblings and the others. Only not with Jin who fell for his ex-girlfriend.

So, why would he not be allowed to be part of his parents' wedding anniversary celebration? Isn't he already living apart from them?

Ai noticed a wave of displeasure seeping within her.

No matter what, he is still their son. It's not fair for his father to exclude him like this.

She knew how it felt living a life without a complete family. Her parents were separated, and even if she never expressed it, she wished to live with them together again.

Jun tilted his head. Ai was making some quite funny expressions as if she was talking to herself. He lightly chuckled and waved his hand in front of her eyes. "Are you even here?"

She broke out of her stupor and peered into his beautiful dark brown eyes. She tiptoed and patted his head. "You don't have to look so brave. If something is bothering you, you should let it out. It's fine if you feel sad and weak. Don't pretend to be so courageous," her voice was stern at the end as if she was scolding him.

First, he had to lose the woman he loved to his brother. Now he is not allowed to be at his parents' anniversary celebration day either. Why is Jun always targeted like this?

Jun rapidly blinked his eyes. He lifted his gaze and saw her delicate palm patting his head. It was a sudden and unexpected gesture. Sudden, but it was filled with warmth and concern.

His eyelashes trembled for a moment.

How did she know I was pretending?

He caught her hand and slowly lowered it, his hawk-like gaze penetrating hers. The tips of her fingers lightly caressed his cheek, urging him to clutch it firmer. He smiled. "So you got the guts to touch me now?"

Ai blinked. "You had also trapped me on the couch that day."

Jun coughed hard. It was a fact that cut his argument as smoothly as butter. She slipped it so naturally like, 'You touched me too. So…'

He let go of her and cleared his throat. "It was just…"

"Just?" She probed.

He glared at her. "Nothing! Forget it. Why are you here?"

"That…"

"Hm?"

She randomly caught a book on his shelf where it showed a couple in a dancing pose on the cover. "Dance."

"What?"

She asked, "Can you teach me…how to dance?"

Jun was speechless. "Where did this come from?"

"Well, I am writing a dance scene for my leads. But I don't know how to dance. So, I cannot really envision it."

He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Really?"

"Of course," Ai looked confident.

"Why do I feel as if you are lying?"

"Why would I lie? It's a sincere request."

"Rejected."

Her mouth twitched. "Why?"

Jun bore his gaze into her. He had an inkling that if he were to be that intimate with Ai, he would let his side out which he showed when he trapped her on the couch. It was a baffling feeling - one which he never felt for another woman. The more chances he would get to be closer to her, the more he would feel pulled towards her.

He didn't want his heart to be swallowed by those dangerous feelings again.

Desire, craving, possessiveness…he didn't want himself to even remotely have these feelings touch him again. Not in this life. He wanted to stay far, far away from love.

"No reason. I cannot teach you," he answered with finality.

Ai nodded. "I see."

It is a lie anyway.

Even so, she felt bummed out.

"I will watch some dance videos. That will help me."

Jun squinted his eyes, noticing a trace of discouragement in her voice.

She turned and left, giving him an urge to stop her. He almost raised his hand to grab her shoulder. In the end, he couldn't.

He gradually retreated his hand, his gaze complicated.

This is for the best.

—

Sky Publishing.

Yunru was leisurely watching a video on his mobile when it suddenly rang with a call.

"Hey! Give me a warning…" He complained.

He didn't recognize the number and frowned. "Hello?"

"Am I speaking to Sky's President Chen Yunru?" A chilling voice pointed.

Yunru was dissatisfied by the stranger's tone. "Yeah. Who is it?"

"I am Gu Yating, Chief Editor of Dream High Publishing."

Yunru cocked a brow curiously. "Hoo…Why would Dream High's Chief Editor call me?"

"Retract the statement Sky posted about MissImperfectlyfine." It was a cold command.

Yunru slapped his palm on his desk. "Never! The nerve of that writer to plagiarize someone's work and submit it to us! To Sky! Who does she think she is?"

The temperature on the other side was rapidly dropping. "I won't bother to explain who she is and what she means to Dream High. Sky only has one option. Retract the statement and apologize to her, or don't expect me to be merciful."