Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1153: Zhong Sihan

"Soooo is it practically possible to buy somebody?"

Everybody paused at the dinner table and looked at Shui, puzzled.

Siying said, "I think this is what happens when you lose touch with reality."

"Shut up, Bro! I’m serious," Shui glared.

"What kind of era are you living in where somebody buys somebody? Well, the illegal black market is a whole different topic altogether but I believe you aren’t talking about that."

"Nope. I’m talking about a man buying another man as his son."

"Huh?" Zhiyuan was speechless. "How’s that possible?"

"Something I hadn’t imagined either but it happened either way. And he knows you, Dad."

He drew his brows together.

"I met a man named Zhong Sihan at the plaza today."

Han Tian choked. "What? That bastard is out of prison?"

Shui hadn’t expected her grandfather’s severe reaction. "You know him too?"

"We were college roomies.... unfortunately," his face darkened by several shades of black. "What the hell is he upto? What do you mean by buying?"

"He said he wanted Hou Lin to agree to become his son. He bought the gaming plaza just to impress him. Then threatened at the end that he will buy his cafe."

Han Tian was left speechless. "As I see, the wires in his brain are still as messed up as ever!"

Xia Liqin, his wife, frowned. "Now calm down before you raise your blood pressure. Do you want to fall sick?"

Nuo was the most excited out of everybody. "Tell me, tell me more! He wants Hou Lin as his son? When did this happen?"

"They met in prison. I don’t know what kind of a relationship they share but...he is very adamant to make Hou Lin his son."

"That’s strange..." Xinyi said.

Han Tian said, "Well, he never got married. He doesn’t have any children. Is old age suddenly making him go senile?"

Nuo coughed. "You don’t seem to like him, Grandpa."

"Give me one reason to like that piece of shit."

Xinyi cleared her throat. "Muyang is here, Dad."

Muyang was happily absorbed in playing with his food. Han Tian. "He is too involved in his food to understand my curses. Anyway, I’m not going to call him by any other name."

"Just what did he do to you?"

"Mock my way of life for example?" He glared. "He always hated that I painted. Being an artist was boring for him. Too emotional and too weak. That’s why, he gelled so well with Dad," he grimaced.

"They were two very headstrong people. They only talked in terms of power and money. It’s probably why he never got married. He focused way too much on business and making money. He didn’t even want to think about love and relationships. Ugh, I hate him! Dad always used to say how he would rather have Sihan as his son than me. Sihan had all the qualities which he wanted in me," his gaze turned bitter.

Zhiyuan asked, "So why does he suddenly want to have a son now? That’s also a relationship."

He sighed. "Only he knows what goes inside his wicked brain. I don’t know. Maybe he is thinking he has too much fortune to spare. Who will he give it to? He is not the kind to do charity," he scoffed.

Shui blinked. "Why was he sent to prison?"

"Ah, it’s complicated with his family. There were lots of clashes with his brother. Business rivalry turned deadly...Eventually he killed himself. Obviously the widow hates Sihan. His children hate Sihan. His grandchildren hate Sihan. Everybody hates Sihan. That was bound to happen when he just likes to bulldoze through everything...Technically he should be taking Hou Lin as his grandson."

Han Tian rubbed his temple hard, as if even thinking about Zhong Sihan gave him a migraine. "If Hou Lin even dares to consider this nonsense, I’ll beat him into a pulp. Yes, I have nothing to do with him, but he better stays away from that psycho man as much as possible!"

"Hou Lin didn’t seem like he was swayed, but that man is persistent. It didn’t feel like an ordinary proposal. It was more like...an order. I think he will really consider targeting his cafe."

Han Tian sneered. "That’s his trademark. Bend or break. He is too arrogant to believe there is a third option."

Xinyi asked. "But if he is out of prison, does that mean he is planning to restart his empire?"

Zhiyuan exchanged glances with Siying. "And Hou Lin’s cafe is his dream. If Zhong Sihan threatens to ’buy’ it, he won’t stop until Hou Lin either gives up or fights back."

"That’s why I asked if it’s possible to ’buy’ a person," Shui muttered. "It’s ridiculous..."

Han Tian said, "I still can’t get over the fact that he wants to adopt someone. Nobody can ever please him, so I wonder why he is so fixated on Hou Lin."

"What was he like in college?" Nuo leaned forward, interested. "What was he like back then? More charming villain type? Or always this...chaotic? Why do I feel he would be more like Grandpa...?"

Han Tian snorted. "He was the golden boy. Professors hated him because he always had the right answer and made the boldest arguments. Students flocked to him because he threw the best parties. Underneath all that, he was ruthless. If you were useful, he kept you close. If you weren’t, you disappeared from his radar as if you never existed. He would probably sell his own shadow if someone paid enough."

"Sounds like a nightmare," Nuo whistled.

"Nightmare doesn’t even cover it, dear. He tried to ’buy’ loyalty back then too. He even once offered to pay me off so I would quit painting and join his business venture. Said art was a waste of time. Said I would thank him when I would get Dad’s approval," Han Tian’s lip curled. "I told him to shove his money where hell is."

Everyone chuckled awkwardly, but Shui’s expression remained serious. "If he really wants Hou Lin as his ’son,’ he won’t give up. And Hou Lin..." She frowned.

I don’t know how much he will be able to keep up with him.

He shrugged. "You should worry more about yourself, dear."

She blinked. "What do you mean?"