Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1161: Criminal

Cai placed the juice glass on the table and stepped back. Only a perfunctory smile was on his lips as he stood by his brother’s side.

The woman, whose name now Shui knew was Ru Yi, frequently threw glances at Cai.

Lin cast a stern look at him. "Cai."

"Yes, Bro!"

"You didn’t tell me you knew her."

He stiffened.

"You didn’t introduce us. That’s very rude towards your friend."

Cai tried hard for his smile to not fall. "A-Ah yes...That’s right. We are just acquaintances though."

Shui clearly saw his words striking her with pain. The tip of the glass remained frozen on her lips and she slightly trembled.

Lin frowned. "Acquaintances or friends, you shouldn’t act avoidant."

"You are right..." he looked away and cleared his throat. "Oh yeah! I completely forgot. Uncle Wang was coming to deliver the groceries. Don’t know where he got stuck...I’ll go and check with him."

Cai zapped back in the kitchen and left the three back alone again. He hadn’t glanced Ru Yi’’s way even once this entire time. It was as if he was looking anywhere except meeting her eyes.

Lin frowned. He looked back at her. "I’m sorry."

"No, you don’t have to be sorry..!" She bit her lip. "I know why he is angry and he is not at fault..."

Before something more could have developed them, Cai had understood the harsh reality of his expectations. Hardly anybody would be happy to know that his closest family member was in jail. It cast a certain impression that Cai wasn’t happy at all to see Ru Yi’s brother’s eyes the one time they had met.

That was what Ru Yi had wanted to believe in, but she knew her own truth too - that she had faltered. It wasn’t just her brother who had hesitated but she had too. She couldn’t fight her brother about their friendship when she was wavering herself.

Cai had tried to explain it to her. But some things were not meant to happen.

Ru Yi finished drinking and placed the empty glass back on the table.

"Thank you so much..."

She wished she could look Lin in the eye but couldn’t. An overwhelming guilt rushed within her

"I will take my leave!"

"Will you be okay?"

"I’m fine. I’ll just book a cab..."

She peeked in the kitchen’s direction but Cai never stepped out again.

"Wait," Shui gave her number and said, "Just in case. My cousin is a cop. If you ever need help with that stalker, don’t hesitate to give me a call."

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

As she left, Shui glanced at Lin, whose gaze looked complicated and held a tinge of...sorrow.

Is he blaming himself...that they drifted apart?

It was all too clear that Cai and Ru Yi held feelings more than just friendship. Before it could culminate into something, everything had gone off the rails for them.

Ru Yi wasn’t just Cai’s friend - she could have been his girlfriend, and who knew if their relationship would have blossomed into marriage?

So had his actions ruined his brother’s life for him?

Shui barely raised her hand toward him but stopped in an awkward position. "That..."

The haze in Lin’s eyes dissipated and he looked at her. "Yes, Miss. Han."

He sounded closed off, that was evident to her. It wasn’t like she knew what to say to him.

"I’m at fault."

Her eyes slightly widened.

"Neither Miss. Ru Yi is at fault here, nor Cai. It is shameful that I committed some mistakes that made me guilty."

Her heart still held a storm of emotions. She didn’t want to see Lin feel guilty but the words failed to form. She could see the torment etched across his face, the helplessness of a man who believed his last ruined his brother’s life.

He had thought he would begin a new life with Cai, but he failed to realize how the six years would have been for him. Though he regularly met Lin at times, he had never once mentioned about befriending Ru Yi.

The prison walls...hadn’t only confined Lin but his brother too in ways he couldn’t even begin to understand.

Now he did. A story had ended before it could even take root.

Lin’s lips held a faint smile. "I will talk to Cai. He shouldn’t be hard on her. He shouldn’t be angry at her for the wrong reasons."

Shui didn’t respond, feeling at crossroads herself.

With what right could she say not to blame himself when she had cursed him for ruining her and Jin’s life herself? The exhibition day was still fresh in her mind, and she was sure it was fresh in Lin’s mind as well.

She had no absolution to offer to ease his heart.

—

"You are back? Where have you been for so long?"

Ru Yi was tired. "Nowhere."

"What kind of an answer is that?" Her brother grimaced. "Da-Fu had called by the way. He was very angry. I cannot believe you are cheating on him. With whom?"

Ru Yi gritted her teeth. "I’m not cheating! How about asking your sister’s opinion first before readily believing a stalker!"

He was dumbfounded. "What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Wasn’t your relationship going well with him? Or...oh God, don’t tell me you are still hung up on that mediocre man whose brother is in prison! I told you to forget about him!"

"He is not in prison anymore! And he is a kind and decent man who is running his business with all sincerity. I feel like a fool now that I fell for your poison and..."

She trembled.

And misunderstood Cai and his brother...

"Poison? Were you born just yesterday? Do you not know what we went through for all these years? Do you not know who a criminal is?"

"Oh dear, do tell me who a criminal is~ This sounds like an interesting conversation."

They froze.

Zhong Sihan walked towards the siblings and took a seat on the couch royally as if he was the king of the world. His chin lightly rested upon his fingers as he enjoyed their reactions.

"Tell me, my dear grand-niece and nephew - who do you think a criminal is?"