Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

948  Confessions and confusions

Lin retired to one of the back rooms, putting his apron aside. He slowly sat down on one of the chairs and breathed out. He couldn't help but keep thinking about Alix.

Even though it was a face he had never seen before, he still felt a hint of familiarity. The feeling of familiarity only hurt his heart though.

I don't…I don't want to feel this way…!

He clasped his hands together, his breathing growing shallow.

"Bro, are you alright?" He felt a hand on his shoulder. His eyes widened seeing him on the verge of tears.

"Bro! What's wrong?" Cai asked urgently.

Lin trembled further and he clenched his jaw. "She…That woman with Sir Jin…"

"Yes?"

"S-She keeps reminding me of...her. Her tastes, gestures, posture, gaze…everything feels like…her."

Cai stiffened. He exhaled a shaky breath too. He slowly held his hand and softly said, "It's okay, Bro."

"It's not okay," he breathed sharply, "I shouldn't think about a person who doesn't exist anymore."

Cai smiled sadly. "Our hearts don't work like that Bro."

He slightly gritted his teeth. "It should. I…I-I hate this feeling. Even after six years, it doesn't go away. I hate it. I…don't want to feel this anymore."

"Bro, bro, calm down," Cai patted his shoulders to pacify him because of how suffocating Lin looked to be. "It's okay. We will…get through this together."

Lin looked at his brother with a glint of desperation and tiredness.

Cai faintly smiled. "You can do this, Bro. You opened your own cafe and are handling it so well. Look, you have become so popular now! Just like this…" his voice quivered a little, "step by step, we will move on."

He grabbed his hands and pulled him up. "Let's go back, Bro. The more you sit here, the more you will mope around."

"I-I cannot deal with the customers anymore…" he looked away nervously, "Too crowded and excited."

He pouted. "That's because they like your coffee and your face too. You are actually walking on the right path, hoho! Okay, now enough talks. Go back, go back."

His brother practically pushed him out in the open, making Lin softly sigh. He saw the shadows of two figures approaching and he breathed in to get into his service mode.

He bowed. "Hello. Welcome to Lin's coffee."

He looked up, his eyes slightly stretching wide. His lips parted a bit seeing Shui and Yuze standing in front of him.

On the other side, Shui slightly stiffened too. Her eyes squinted seeing Lin at the gallery.

He is here too…?

Yuze looked at Lin, frowning for a moment.

Have I seen him before?

Lin stared back at him, pressing his lips together.

No, he didn't. He saw a chance to hoard a beneficial deal for himself and use your company to propel his own. You would have gotten peanuts.

Big companies like the Liu Corps only know how to crush developing startups like yours. I should say you have saved your self-respect.

Lin recalled the conversation Yuze had with Jiang Yazhu at his cafe that day.

He is the same man who was talking about Sir Jin in a bad light…What is he doing here?

"One espresso and one cappuccino."

Lin broke from his stupor and continued to stare at him.

Yuze frowned again. "Any problem?"

He didn't recognize me…?

But then again, Lin remembered how Yuze had barely even acknowledged his presence.

He glanced at Shui who accompanied him.

What is Miss. Han doing with him? Does she know him?

Too many questions jumbled back and forth in his mind and he didn't know which to focus on.

"Hello?" Yuze waved his hand in front of him. "Are you okay?"

Lin replied. "I am. I will make your coffee right away."

He turned back farther towards his counter but with his ears still focusing on their conversation.

Yuze noticed Shui's odd expression and sighed. "Please don't make that expression, Shui."

"H-Huh? Expression?"

Yuze scratched his chin. "I…I am sorry if I put you on the spot before. I just couldn't help myself today, especially after seeing your painting."

Shui didn't know how to answer. On one hand, her heart held Jin but on the other side, she also knew that their relationship seemed impossible.

19:30

Lin slightly knitted his brows.

What is he talking about?

"Ah…" Shui remembered.

Yuze smiled. "It's okay. There is no pressure. I asked you out because that's how I feel about you. I didn't want to keep those feelings in my heart anymore. I just hope to get one chance."

Shui didn't respond.

Lin almost dropped the spoon from his hand in shock.

Huh…? Asked her out? n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

How he feels about her?

Is he…Did he confess to Miss. Han?

But how? That's not possible. Aren't Miss. Han and Sir Jin together?

"I know about your feelings for Liu Jin. But…I still don't want to give up, Shui. You can reject me if you truly cannot go forward. But after thinking long and hard about it, I decided that I don't want to give up doing nothing."

The cup slightly clinked against the platform as Lin's hand slipped.

The man who was talking negatively about Sir Jin is confessing to Miss. Han? W-what is going on?

What about Miss. Han and Sir Jin then?

Shui didn't know how to answer. On one hand, her heart held Jin but on the other side, she also knew that their relationship seemed impossible.

Yet she wanted to hope but recalling the man's words from before, she didn't know what to think about anymore. It was just one difficult decisions on top of the other.

*Clink*

Her daze fell apart when Lin placed the two coffee cups on the counter. She found Lin staring at her with a complicated expression.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Yuze took the cups, paid for them and offered the cappuccino to Shui. He smiled. "Cheer up. Don't worry, even if you reject me, I am ready. My heart is as strong as a steel wall."

Shui faintly smiled.

"Let's go. I want to see the other paintings with you if you don't mind."

"Sure."

Shui glanced at Lin, who didn't look too comfortable.

As she went away, Lin exhaled a heavy breath. Cai, who stepped out, asked, "What happened, Bro?"

Lin trembled. "I…I don't know. I don't know what's happening. But…But I don't think that man who was with Miss. Han just now…is up to any good."