Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1196: The two swallows

The exhibition hall at the upper floor glowed in soft golden lights, falling upon the edges of the canvases.

At the center of it all walked Zhong Sihan, his sharp but bored eyes scanning the walls like a hawk ready to tear down his opponent. Some people who recognized him murmured in hushed voices, stunned to see him at the gallery today.

"Isn’t that Zhong Sihan who killed his brother? Wasn’t he in prison?"

"He has been out for quite some time now. I think this is the first public appearance he has made since his release."

"I cannot believe his brother’s family is also here! Don’t they hate each other?"

"That seems messed up..."

Sihan paused before a landscape depicting a fog-covered mountain range. The painter’s attempt at melancholy was apparent, but his eyes lingered only for a moment before he turned away.

"Technically decent," he muttered, "Just barely enough though."

Behind him, Han Tian followed at a slower pace, hands clasped behind his back. He watched Sihan’s reactions carefully, his lips twitching with a grimace.

"You are hard to please, as always," he remarked with an edgy tone. "Better not show that attitude toward my granddaughter’s art."

Sihan smirked. "If mediocrity pleased me, I wouldn’t be who I am."

A few guests exchanged uneasy looks. The news had already spread in the circle that Blooming would probably be sold. Every art enthusiast present knew that today wasn’t just about paintings but about who would win Blooming’s fate.

They moved further down the gallery. Each wall held a piece of work that represented delicate florals and experimental abstracts. Yet Zhong Sihan’s gaze drifted past them all, unimpressed. He had seen too much, bought too much, conquered too much. To him, art was a simple waste of time.

As he walked more, he noticed that no paintings displayed the artist’s name on it.

"Don’t tell me..."

Tian scoffed. "I won’t let you act or pretend. It’s better if you don’t know the artist behind the art. At least for sometime."

"Hah! So you don’t believe in your granddaughter."

"I don’t believe in you actually."

Zhong Sihan then stopped before a large canvas almost abruptly.

At first glance, the painting looked simple.

A single swallow rested inside a delicate golden cage suspended in mid-air. The cage door was slightly ajar, just wide enough to suggest the possibility of escape. Yet the bird didn’t move. Its dark feathers glistened with a faint bluish sheen. Its small head tilted upward, eyes fixed on another swallow flying beyond the cage in the vast sky. One of its wings hung lower than the other, slightly wounded.

The background stretched into a boundless horizon of light, the hues shifting from deep indigo near the bottom to soft gold above as if it was the end of a long night. In that radiant sky, the second swallow soared freely, but it barely seemed to be looking back at the caged bird.

Zhong Sihan stared at the swallows and a distant voice crept in his mind despite his resistance.

’Bro, look what I found! It’s a swallow!’ Yuhang ran toward his brother.

’So? Not like it’s a rare bird,’ Young Sihan grimaced.

’Isn’t it so cute? But I think he has injured his wing,’ his shoulders dropped.

’We are not veterinarians.’

’But we can take him to one!’

’I have better things to do.’

’You have already topped your class! You have nothing better to do actually so come with meeee! We cannot leave him alone,’ Yuhang frowned. ’He is struggling and in pain.’

’Not our fault.’

’But we can help!’ he harrumphed.

’What a pain you are! Fine. Let’s take him to a doctor, but we are not keeping him as a pet.’

It was one week later when the swallow’s injured wing slowly healed and he was starting to take small flights.

Sihan glanced at what Yuhang was up to and sat beside him on the grass. ’We are not keeping him as a pet.’

He glared in return. ’I know! You don’t have to keep reminding me...That’s why I’m drawing him so that we don’t miss him.’

Yuhang happily grinned and spread his drawing book in front of him. ’How is it?’

He yawned, seeing the messy strokes. ’Is that really this swallow? Is it...any bird for that matter? Whatever. I am not going to miss him either way.’

Yuhang’s gaze dropped. ’Why are you so harsh, Bro? It’s such a cute bird. What if I leave you one day just like this swallow? Will you not miss me even a little bit!’

He glanced at him lazily. ’Why would you leave me? Brothers stick together forever, idiot. I will have no chance to miss you because you will be stuck to me like glue.’

’Hehe, that’s true~ We should help this swallow fly! Wait!’

Yuhang carefully took the swallow in his palms and hopped his arms in the air, giving him a jumpstart. The swallow’s little wings fluttered and it took the most beautiful flight Yuhang had ever seen.

’Hehe, it flew so well this time! What do you think, Bro? Will it come back to us?’

Sihan stared at the flying swallow getting more and more distant.

’Who knows...’

Staring at the painting in the present, the past came crashing into his mind without his permission. His cheeks ached and his eyes began to redden, refusing to blink. The more he drilled holes into the painting with his gaze, the more his breaths grew messier.

"Who the hell drew this? Who the hell drew swallows here!"

His sudden harsh and loud voice jolted the peaceful walks of the other guests. Zhong Sihan, who was barely showing any interest in the art until now, suddenly seemed to be riled up.

"Tell me, who the hell drew this!"

Han Tian calmly said, "What’s the matter, Sihan? It’s just a painting like any other painting."

"No, it’s not just any other painting - it’s a painting of swallows!"

"So? Is there a problem with swallows?" He blinked.

Zhong Sihan stared at him hard. It was an incident that he was sure he hadn’t shared with Han Tian.

So probably somebody from the family...

He turned around, his seething cold gaze catching Zhong Heng and his family.

"Somebody broke into my room and messed with my stuff. Who was it? Who was it!?"