Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1204: A lesson too close

"Are you ready?"

Shui stared at the ball in her hand and then at the bowling pins faraway.

"I’ve practiced hard for this day. Victory is mine!"

Shui pumped her fist as her ball rolled straight down the lane, knocking over eight pins. "Yes!"

She turned toward Lin with the brightest, most self-satisfied grin on her lips. "See? I told you. Today is my day."

He looked at her cheeky grin for a pause. Then Lin nodded, entirely unfazed. "Good throw."

Good throw? Just that? She muttered under her breath, grabbing another ball.

The next round began with Lin stepping forward. He lifted his wrist in a smooth, steady movement that effortlessly glided the ball down the center, making it hit all ten pins like they owed him money.

A strike.

Shui’s brow twitched. "Again? What’s with you and perfect scores?"

He tilted his head. "It’s the goal, isn’t it?"

Her gaze darkened. It was the goal. Naturally, it’s supposed to be a hit. His matter of fact tone, once again, irked the hell out of her.

As if I don’t know that! Are you rubbing salt on my wounds?

He returned to sit beside her, calm as ever. She resisted the urge to shove him aside.

The match continued. Lin followed with nine, then cleaned up the last pin. She made a daring gamble for a split and succeeded, drawing a few impressed glances from nearby players. Her lips curved with a proud smirk at that.

At one point, they were tied. Shui almost couldn’t believe it that she reached this far and wiped her emotional tears. The endless practice had paid off. She peeked a glance at Lin, who as always, wasn’t breaking even half a drop of sweat. He stood still as if the final round was just another round for him.

I will seriously wipe that attitude off of him today!

When the final round arrived, Shui steadied herself, wiped her hands and approached the lane with a determination she hadn’t felt in ages. She exhaled a long breath and released the ball with perfect timing.

It veered slightly.

She held her breath.

It slammed into the right side.

Come on...

The ball struck and the pins wobbled.

Shui clasped her anxious, slightly sweaty hands together. It was the moment of truth.

Three pins fell first followed by another two. It felt like time had stopped but not before knocking out three more pins in the process. Seven pins fell in total.

Shui closed her eyes and groaned silently, shoulders drooping. "Just two more."

Lin rose for his turn. The moment he took his stance, Shui felt her confidence unraveling. He threw with the same infuriating composure and the pins crashed again. Another strike like they had forgotten to pay the interest over their debts. Crisp, clean and final.

Shui stood there with her ball still in hand, staring at the pins as if they had betrayed her.

Ahhhh!! How can this happen! This was supposed to be my day today!

Thinking that Zhong Sihan had finally caved in, she had hoped that stars were on her side today. She overcame one hurdle, so overcoming Hou Lin wouldn’t be impossible after all.

She turned her back to the lane facing him, crossing her arms. "I swear they gave you the easier side."

Lin raised a brow. "The lane was the same."

She narrowed her eyes at him and harrumphed in displeasure. "Fineeee! I thought I was so close! You win. Happy?"

He shook his head. "Not really."

She blinked. "Why?"

"You look like you want to explode."

"I’m not exploding," she said through gritted teeth while trying to maintain a calm, reasonable smile, full of sportsmanship.

"Is that your calm, reasonable smile full of sportsmanship?"

"Yeah. You got a problem with that?" She glared. Losing was extremely frustrating and she wanted to vent out more.

Before she could complain further, he approached the side of her lane and extended his hand. "Let’s try again."

She mumbled. "There’s no use now."

"There is. Practice never ends. Try it correctly this time."

She squinted at him. "Are you insulting my technique?"

"I’m stating facts."

She gasped but closed her lips back. "What do you want to do? Teach me?"

"Help you refine your technique."

"It’s a little unbearable to learn from the winner."

He paused. "I didn’t think Miss. Han had an ego that stopped her from learning towards the path of her flourishing success."

"..."

"Who are you calling egoistic!"

Shui grabbed the ball again in a huff, and he smiled faintly.

"Show me how you are holding it," he said.

She lifted the ball slightly, jamming her three fingers into it. He didn’t comment, but she sensed the disapproval from his silence.

"What?"

Lin moved behind her, close, but not touching. The close proximity came as a surprise, and the faint warmth of him made her shoulders tense. He took another step, his shadow overlapping hers. His fingers brushed her wrist, adjusting the angle lightly.

"Your grip is too tight."

She stared at his long arm hovering over her dainty one.

"Relax your shoulders."

She tried but failed.

"They are still stiff."

"I-I’m trying."

"I see. Until then..."

He slid his hand down her forearm, barely touching but enough to make her lose her focus. "Don’t bend forward too much. You will lose your center." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Once again, she could smell the faint cologne from him, same as the one from before.

"Miss. Han."

"Yes, I am listening."

His other hand hovered near her waist. "Align your hips toward the pocket."

She pressed her lips. "This is supposed to be bowling, not martial arts training."

"The form helps."

She exhaled slightly shakily, feeling a twitch at her waist. He guided her arm back, slow and measured.

"Don’t swing with frustration," he said quietly. "Swing with balance, light and without too much force."

Her fingers tightened on the ball, and she wasn’t sure if she was really concentrating on the lane. It almost felt ridiculous that something as simple as a tutorial was making her unsettled.

"Ready?" he asked.

I don’t think so.

"Yes."

This time, he pressed his hand on the back of hers, guiding her wrist to roll at the angle, soft and smooth. She swung and released. The ball rolled straight, centered and unwavering. And struck all ten pins.

Shui gasped, staring at the lane as if she had witnessed a miracle. "T-This is the first time I hit all ten pins...Did you see that!"

She turned towards him, eyes gleaming with victory and lips curving into a brilliant smile as if she had conquered the world.

Lin stared at her, unsure of why he could see the entire galaxy shimmering in her eyes.

"...Yes."