Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1179: Pointless celebration?

A few days later, Shui hopped in Lin’s cafe again with a hopeful spirit.

"I think I got my inspiration for my painting!"

Lin blinked. "Is that so?"

She nodded. "I talked to Grandpa again and then investigated a few things about Mr. Zhong Sihan and his brother. Yijun helped me too."

"What did you find out?"

"Mhmm, you will know during the next exhibition! I’m planning to tell Mr. Yang to arrange it in two weeks, which will give me enough time to do my painting. And, and, there will be a surprise for Mr. Zhong too~"

"That’s good. I’m sure Mr. Zhong will back off seeing your art."

"You are that confident in me?"

"I have seen your paintings, so yes, I know you will do it. There is no doubt about it."

She cleared her throat. "Th-Thanks. By the way, your bruises are all healed up now."

"Yes, they are."

Then Lin stared at her and glanced away.

Did he just look at me and avert his gaze or was I imagining things?

"Please have a seat. What do you want to eat? Oh, we have some new additions on the menu."

"Oh cool! I would love to try them. By the way, why does the cafe look so different," she scanned around, "Is it some special day today?"

Lin was about to answer when he noticed a figure standing at the corner outside, hesitant and thoughtful. He had noticed the shadow before as well.

Shui blinked and followed his line of sight. She looked at the same figure and frowned for a moment. Then her eyes widened in recognition. She sped outside and craned her neck.

"Alix?"

She stiffened and turned back slowly.

"So it was you!"

"...Hello."

Shui, too, then realized the hint of awkwardness that settled between them. But she was quick on her feet.

"Why are you standing outside like that?"

"Nothing. Just thought I caught him at the wrong time."

"There is no wrong time. Please come in," Lin said, who was also outside now behind Shui.

Alix went in and took a glance at the customers. She felt happy to see Lin’s cafe taking off so well in the popularity index.

On the other hand, Shui felt uncomfortable, wondering if she should leave Lin and Alix alone to talk.

Oh, shit. I think I should leave...

"Well, I will take my leave."

Alix frowned. "Why?"

"I have work."

"You seem pretty free now."

Get a hint, will you? She was dumbfounded.

Lin blinked. "I was about to make the new menu items for you."

"Ah, yes..."

She coughed and took a chair beside Alix’s. She didn’t want the silence to linger any longer so she quickly asked, "I heard you joined Ailun’s school as a teacher. How is it going over there?"

"...Teaching is not easy," she grimaced.

"Something is actually difficult for you?" Shui couldn’t believe it.

"Who do you think I am?"

"You seem like a person who could pretty much do anything like a superwoman."

"I’m not."

She shrugged. "You will get the hang of it eventually. Anyway, did you come to try out the new menu items too?"

"...No."

Alix slowly looked up at Lin and said, "Happy Birthday."

Shui choked. "Huh, what? What, what, what? It’s your birthday today!?"

"Yes."

She was speechless. "J-Just a simple yes? Where is the enthusiasm? Wait, that’s why the cafe is so decorated today!"

"Cai did it, didn’t he?" Alix’s question was more of a confirmation. "You never bother with celebration."

"Why didn’t you tell me!" She gasped. "So when I asked if anything was new today, you couldn’t say that it was your birthday?"

"I don’t think it’s that important."

"Idiot! Birthdays are super important," she glared. "Right, Alix?"

Alix blinked in confusion and just shrugged. "So-So I guess."

"You two..."

"After Mom passed away...my mom..."Alix said, "I didn’t bother much with birthdays and celebrations. Lin’s parents were mostly busy with their jobs, not like they cared about him much anyway. It was pointless celebration," she shrugged. "Only Cai was the hyperactive one in the group."

Shui pursed her lips.

I judged too soon.

"Well, I understand the past was difficult...but we should definitely start celebrating the birthdays now!"

"That feels like a pain," Alix made a face.

Her brow twitched. "That’s because you haven’t seen the charm. Besides, do you think Jin and the Liu family will skip celebrating your birthday? You will love it so much that you will start looking forward to them..."

For a moment, Shui thought that talking to Alix about Jin would make her uncomfortable, but strangely enough her heart didn’t prickle like thorns stabbing it.

Suddenly, from the reflection at the reception’s desk, Shui noticed one head peeking from outside.

Oh my God...

Shui dragged herself outside, much to Alix and Lin’s puzzlement. She stood outside, hands on her waist.

"You two really don’t have to be like two peas in a pod, you know?"

Jin almost felt his soul fly away seeing Shui standing at the back.

"Sh-Shui!"

She grimaced, grabbed his arm and pushed him in the cafe quite violently.

"Peeking is a bad habit."

"Sir," Lin’s eyes slightly widened.

He smiled awkwardly. "Hey..."

"I thought you had back-to-back meetings," Alix blinked.

He averted his gaze. "They got cancelled for some reason."

"All of them?"

"Surprising, isn’t it?"

Shui threw him a dry look.

He is hopeless.

"So what are you doing here?"

He clasped his hands together. "You said...it’s Hou Lin’s birthday...so I thought...I would come to...wish him too..."

"Oh. I see."

Shui was dumbfounded.

And you believe it?

Well, that may be a part of the reason, but he definitely came here more because he was a teensy-tiny bit worried about you visiting Lin! I mean, he cancelled all the meetings! It’s not teensy-tiny!

So naive, she shook her head.

"Oh, by the way it’s not just me," Jin said. "They will also come soon enough."

"Who?"

The door opened once again and this time entered Jun and Ai, walking toward him.

Jun faced Lin and smiled. "Happy birthday."