Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Upon this realization, Yating strangely felt fidgety and jittery at her presence. He glanced around and stiffened.

Shit my bedroom is so messy!

Now, he was having more of a headache just seeing the state of his room. Some files from Gu Corps while some papers from Dream High were just lying around in a not so organized manner.

Before he could explain, Ai got up and began to pick all the files and other stuff.

Yating widened his eyes. "What are you doing?"

Ai blinked. "Sorting out all the things here. You will feel more sick if the room is messy."

He felt that jab hard and lacked tears to shed.

"Oh. I am sorry. Is this all confidential? I won't touch it then-"

"No, no!" He swiftly clarified. "You don't have to worry about that stuff."

"Really?"

He smiled. "Yeah, really. Confidential or not-" he coughed hard.

"What?"

Confidential or not, it doesn't matter if it's you, Ai, he thought.

"Nothing. I am so sorry. This is the first time you are here and you are cleaning my place…" he wanted to disappear into some never ending void.

Ai shook her head. "That's fine. I have cleaned Dad's place many times. It was even more hopeless than your room. So, I am a pro at cleaning now."

"..."

I am supposed to feel comforted, right?

Yating wanted to help, but Ai sternly ordered him to stay put. Finally, as she was done, searched his medicine cabinet for pills. She found one and gave it to Yating.

"Eat this and then go to sleep. You will feel better since you have eaten porridge now."

"Yeah…"

He took the medicine and Ai helped him with pulling the blanket over him. "You should not work too hard," she pursed her lips. "Be responsible towards your own health. If you were feeling sick, you should have taken the day off. Your assistant also said that you pulled frequent entire nights to complete your work. That's not helping," she narrowed her eyes.

She recalled that in her past life, Yating always looked tired and overworked like this. It was now that she understood that he used to take the stress all alone and all upon himself.

Hearing Ai's concern made his heart unconsciously flutter a bit. He knew her concern was just as his friend and so, he forced his heart not to think too deeply about it. But the more he did so, the more it only pained him.

He tried to smile. "I know. It's fine now. Dad is also back. I will be mostly focusing on only Dream High now."

"Good." Ai smiled. "You should sleep now."

"Are you leaving?" He sounded slightly panicked.

"Yes. Guiying might be coming back anytime soon too."

Yating's smile faltered. His hand had instinctively reached out to hold hers, but he forced himself to retreat at the last moment. He mocked himself inwardly.

What was I trying to do? She is already so…far away.

Was it his sickness or something else, he didn't know. But a sense of vulnerability gripped his chest. He kept his gaze fixed at her in a trance, desperately wishing to hug her.

Just once…Just once let me hug you, Ai…

But he also knew that he didn't even have that liberty anymore.

Watching Ai cook in the kitchen, cleaning his house and taking care of him…Yating wished for time to just stop here. He felt so peaceful with her presence.

Had Jun not entered her life, he wondered if his life with Ai would have been like this?

It felt so warm and comforting to imagine her by his side.

"You should leave," he said in a hoarse voice. "I am-"

The doorbell rang again but this time, it was filled with a deadly and gloomy force.

Yating frowned. "Who the hell is ringing the doorbell like a monster?"

Ai quickly stepped out in the living room and opened the door, feeling her ears going deaf with the incessant ringing.

She was about to scold the person but upon recognizing the man in front of her, who emanated a lethal aura in the air, she was taken aback. "Jun?"

Jun gave a not so pleasant smile. "Yes, Miss. Zhou. It's me."

"What are you doing here?"

"Where do you think I should be when I see your message?"

"Back at the condo?"

He gritted his teeth. "You really think I will happily go back home when I read that you are at Gu Yating's house?"

After his meeting ended, Jun received a big blow when he read Ai's message.

'Yating doesn't seem to be doing well. He called for my help, so I am going to check on him. It will be quick. I will meet you directly at home.'

Jun almost broke his phone reading that.

Yating came out to see what the fuss was all about when his gaze darkened upon seeing Jun. "It was you…I was right in calling you a monster."

Jun barged in and with an extremely icy voice that froze temperature, he exclaimed in anger. "Then what are you, Gu Yating? Are you feigning to be sick to get Ai's attention?"

"Excuse me?"

Ai quickly came between them. "That's not it, Jun. He is really sick."

His expression turned uglier. "And? He didn't have to ask you for help. He is Gu Yating. He can call anybody to take care of him. But no. He specifically asked you."

Yating glared at him as he felt breathless. "I didn't realize I was texting Ai. It was when she came here that I realized it was an accident."

Jun sneered. "It's not so believable coming from you of all people. An accident? Very convenient, isn't it?"

"I don't give a fuck if you believe me or not, Liu Jun! This is my house. Get out!"

"As if I am anymore interested in this place!"

Jun dragged the assistant editor from outside, who was crying buckets and trembling in fear of his life. Jun suddenly dragged him out of Dream High and dumped him here. "Next time, call your assistant to tend to you rather than calling my girlfriend," he warned.

Yating stiffened and clenched his fists. "I know. I already know, Liu Jun. You don't have to keep reminding me that."