Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1195: In the way

"By the way, why did you come here, Tian? You are here to watch your granddaughter’s downfall? That’s quite sadistic of you."

He scoffed. "Who will be yielding to who will be proved in a short time now, Sihan. Don’t get too cocky. I have full confidence in Shui. She is my granddaughter after all."

The crowd began to form near Jian and Lin’s joint outlet and they excused themselves.

"My future son, is there a discount for me!" Zhong Sihan waved his arm.

"That’s so childish," Tian grimaced.

Lin said, "No."

"Why not? I’m your future father!"

The guests threw dumbfounded gazes at him.

What is this old man even talking about?

On the other side, Ru Yi was throwing frequent glances toward Cai, who was helping out Nuo with the preparations. She clasped her hands together, looking hesitant for a long time.

Eventually she began to walk in his direction but was stopped by her brother. "Where are you going?" He frowned.

"What do you mean where? At the outlet, where else? I wanna try out their menu."

"Try out their menu or ogle at your past love?"

She glared at him. "Can you not use such crass words!"

"You are doing crass actions so why do I speaking crass things bother you!" His gaze darkened.

Their grandmother Anrui, parted the butting heads siblings. "That’s enough. Don’t make a scene here. We are at a public place."

"Tell my sister to forget that criminal’s brother and I will be happy."

Ru Yi gritted her teeth.

He turned to leave when his foot tripped upon something and he stumbled forward.

"What the hell!"

"Oh my, walk carefully."

Ru Yi saw a woman watching him with an arched brow. The look of boredom was so evident in her expression, yet there was a hint of sassiness in her gaze which clearly gave a signal to not mess with her.

He was dumbfounded. "You’re the one who’s not walking carefully! Your foot just struck mine!"

"Because you were in my way?" she yawned.

His expression twisted.

"Ah, that smells nice. I am hungry now."

She hummed and stepped into the outlet.

"What the hell? At least say sorry!"

He was about to approach her when a hand grabbed his shoulder and an instant chill settled in the air.

"Where do you think you are going?"

As soon as he turned, he met with a pair of cold eyes that swore to break his shoulder if he dared to take a step further.

"W-Who the hell are you?"

"Her husband."

"Well then, your wife just made me trip!"

"You were in her way."

"..."

What the hell is wrong with this couple!

Ru Yi tried to stop her brother when she heard the same woman ask her, "You want to join me?"

Her eyes widened. "I...We don’t know each other."

"But I know the man you were looking at."

She stiffened.

"Who seems to be also throwing glances at you. I am kinda bored with this hide and seek so we can just meet and clear up any misunderstanding then and there."

"Alix!"

Leaving Tian with Zhong Sihan, Shui walked up to Alix’s side, beaming with joy. "You came."

"Of course."

"Is it because of me or Lin?"

"How about both?"

She grimaced. "Don’t give a diplomatic answer."

"Well it’s your painting and his food," she shrugged. "There is no choice to be made. So, are you excited to make a certain old man eat dust?"

Her brow twitched. "It’s not a battle, Alix. Anyway."

She cleared her throat and looked at Ru Yi. "She is Alix and..."

She looked around and found Jin’s cold gaze still locked up with Ru Yi’s brother.

"Jin!"

His cold gaze shifted and immediately melted. "Shui."

Ri Yi’s brother wasn’t so thrilled.

What the hell? He was just threatening me and now he looks so jolly?

Shui continued. "He is Liu Jin, Alix’s husband."

Ru Yi bowed. "Hello."

She then looked back at Alix. "Y-You know...them?"

Alix paused. "Kind of, yes. You are interested in Cai, right?"

She stiffened and almost choked in her throat. "Th-That..."

"Oh. My bad. Are you interested in Lin instead?"

"No!" Shui facepalmed and glared at her.

"Why did you get so passionate about it, Shui?" Her eyes narrowed. "I sense some suspicion."

"Suspicion about what?"

"I don’t know."

Shui folded her arms and faced Jin. "Alix is too bored these days, isn’t she?"

Jin shrugged, then asked. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet. I will eat after doing my part," she rubbed the back of her neck. "I am so nervous. What if Mr. Zhong doesn’t like it?"

Alix raised a brow. "Just hypnotize him."

"..."

Shui smiled. "Thanks, Alix. Only you care about me in this world."

"He-he will definitely like it!" Ru Yi spoke her mind, albeit nervously.

Shui’s lips curved into a small smile at Ru Yi’s encouragement. "Thanks, Ru Yi. I will hold on to that optimism."

She nodded. "It doesn’t look like it but I feel...Granduncle likes art."

"Really?"

"I have seen him staring at a small portrait once. For a moment I thought...that it was Grandpa."

Shui thought back and remembered Tian telling him how he had gifted him a portrait of his brother after he went to jail.

Alix crossed her arms. "You are nervous because you have given it your all. That’s why it will work. If it doesn’t, then just brainwash him because he is clearly acting." Her words carried an odd gentleness that made Shui smile.

Jin nodded. "I have all kinds of contacts with me."

Lin approached just then, calm and quiet. "They are calling everyone to gather upstairs," he said, his tone steady but his eyes finding Shui’s for a brief moment.

Jin placed a hand on Alix’s shoulder. "Let’s go," he then cast a smile at Shui. "You will win, Shui. And if Zhong Sihan tries to play any tricks then like Alix said..I have many contacts with me."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Jin."

As they moved toward the main hall, Shui caught a glimpse of Zhong Sihan surrounded by a few reporters and Han Tian while Zhong Heng, his wife and mother stood at a distance. He looked tall and proud and unbothered, but Shui didn’t feel small beneath that presence.

Her drumming heartbeats steadied. She looked at her hands, the same ones that had poured every emotion into that canvas and exhaled slowly.

I can do this.