Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1178 - 100x pain

"Ziyu," Lin looked at him, expressionless.

"So you were here!"

"Yes."

Ugh, I feel there will be another round of a boxing match here...Shui was worried.

The tall and bulky man, Ziyu, lowered over Lin with a not-so-friendly expression.

"Um..." Shui intervened, hoping to diffuse the situation.

"You are here hanging out with a woman and I thought we will have a drinking party together!"

Ah?

"Not tonight, unfortunately. My brother is waiting for me."

"Well, so bring your brother too! Your girlfriend is also welcomed!"

Girlfriend? Who?

Shui took a look around and then back at him.

"It’s you I’m talking about."

"..."

Lin clarified. "She is not my girlfriend."

"Well, clearly she came to watch you and I saw her following you too! Well, whatever. You can be all secretive you want. But you cannot back out of our drinking party!"

Reading her apparent confusion, Lin said, "It’s just he who drinks. I have refreshments."

"That’s too soft," he harrumphed.

Lin looked back at him. "Next time for sure."

"Your brother is all grown up. Surely, he can be alone for a few hours."

"I have to buy some groceries and prep for tomorrow’s work."

Ziyu clicked his tongue. "Well next time you cannot back off!"

"Of course!"

"And you will properly introduce me to your girlfriend! I’m hurt that you have been hiding her from me! What about our years of friendship?"

Shui - "..."

"Miss. Han is not my girlfriend."

"Ah? You still speak so formally to each other?" Ziyu frowned.

"That’s because she is not my girlfriend."

"Whatever," he waved his hand in dismissal. "Introduce us properly. I will leave you alone for now! But next time I will drag you to the bar if I have to!"

The boxer Ziyu left as brashly as he had entered.

Shui had quite a few things to say once they were left alone.

"I thought this was gonna get ugly."

Lin blinked. "Why?"

"He looked salty to me."

"Because I couldn’t accompany him for drinking."

"I...cannot imagine you going to a bar," she slowly said.

"It’s a place to hang out just like a cafe is," he tilted his head.

"The vibe is totally different, okay?" Her brow twitched. "Also, I didn’t think you were on good terms with your rival."

"We actually met in prison. He just got recently released. Since then, he is doing odd jobs here and there and comes to this underground ring now and then. We used to fight in prison too. Friendly games," he nodded.

First Zhong Sihan and then now Ziyu...his life was quite colorful to say the least.

"Oh that reminds me when you mentioned the fights. Can I come to see more of your matches? It was fun watching you in the ring."

He paused. "You enjoyed..that kind of atmosphere?"

"You take me as some flowery princess who only loves shopping?" She folded her arms.

"No, but it’s a very brash and violent atmosphere."

"I had once visited the underground with Uncle Jinhai, just because I was curious. This much doesn’t faze me."

"I don’t mind if you don’t mind."

"Ooh, perfect! Then do call me next time!"

"I see...Although, don’t tell Cai. I’m not sure how he will take it."

Shui sighed. "You should trust your brother a little more. I’m sure he won’t take it the wrong way. He admires you a lot."

"I..."

Shui gave it a moment’s thought and pressed the cut on his cheek. "How are you going to explain these bruises to him?"

"I fell."

"..."

"Okay, I want you two to talk it out. Seriously. Cai didn’t tell you about Ru Yi and you are not talking about your boxing life. Such things make you grow more distant and distant, you know?"

She then slightly pressed his bruise more, causing his brows to furrow with a tingling pain. Then he gasped.

"Whenever you think something silly about going away or leaving Cai behind, then just remember this pain. And multiply it by 100x. That’s how much it will hurt both of you if you make the wrong decision."

By then the pain had numbed and he stared into her genuine eyes which shone with concern. She coughed and let him go.

"Sorry for doing that but we don’t understand some things till it gets a lot painful."

There was a moment of silence.

"Ah gotta go! I barely worked anything on my sketches today!"

She turned in a flash but retreated a moment later. "Don’t overthink about Ru Yi and Cai, okay? We will figure something out. If they like each other and want to be together, then we will definitely make that happen."

—

The door opened and Lin entered slowly, carrying the grocery bags with him.

"Bro!" Cai dashed and wrapped him in a tight hug. "I was so worried about you! I wasn’t able to reach you at all...You scared me! Don’t ever do that again!"

’And multiply it by 100x. That’s how much it will hurt both of you if you make the wrong decision.’

Lin smiled and patted his head. "I’m sorry. I just got busy somewhere."

"You could have picked up my calls."

"I’m sorry."

Cai harrumphed once and then gasped. "What happened to your face!?"

"I fell."

"..."

"...You got those bruises when you...fell?"

"Yes," this time, there was a moment’s hesitation, but he remained firm.

Cai frowned and almost looked offended. "I have grown up now, Bro. You should increase the quality of your lies."

He slightly stiffened. "I’m not..."

Cai sighed and took the grocery bags from his hand. "Well, you can tell me when you feel more comfortable, but don’t lie, okay? I’m not a brat anymore."

Maybe that’s why Miss. Han was looking at me so judgmentally...

Lin lowered his gaze. "I’m sorry. I won’t lie again."

He harrumphed. "Good. I will prep for tomorrow and you take rest. No ifs and buts!"

He hopped away and Lin stood still for a moment. His gaze fell on the three sketches that hung on the wall, which Shui had drawn. The sketch where the two brothers worked happily, joy beaming their faces.

Lin stared at the picture for a long moment and closed his eyes. Her face came to his mind and his lips curved into a soft but sure smile.