Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

The entire Sky Publishing was decorated the next day from the top CEO's office floor to the very first floor of entry as if it was a wedding celebration. For everybody in Sky, it was nothing less than that either.

Today was Sky Publishing's third anniversary since it came into existence. It had been three years since Jun built Sky by his own efforts and fulfilled his dream of making a career in the and publishing world.

It was just as joyous an event for the Sky employees as it was for the CEO himself. Part of it belonged to feeling emotional for being part of Sky for three years and part of the happiness was due to the hefty bonus they would be getting today.

"Brooooooo!"

Yunru hopped in Jun's office and jumped on his cousin's back with full swing. "Happy third anniversary!"

Jun ruffled his head. "Yup, happy third anniversary to you too. Though you were busy with your school studies when I built Sky, you always came to my help."

He grinned. "Of course! How can I not help my favorite Bro Jun!" He then pouted as he felt something different about him. "Bro, why do you look so tired?"

Jun shook his head. "I am good. Just…slept a little last night."

It wasn't only an important day for Sky but for Jun personally, today was an important day to talk to Guiying as well. After much discussion last evening, the next step to do was as clear as a day and that was to clarify Guiying's misunderstanding.

The meeting which Ai wanted to have with her culminated into even a bigger reason at the end. For that reason, Ai asked Guiying to visit Sky today where Chyou, Yating and most importantly, Zixin would be present too.

But as Ai checked her phone for the fifteenth time now, she was yet to receive a response from her. Her gaze dimmed as she stared at her phone in silence.

There was so much to talk to Guiying and Ai didn't know where she should be starting her conversation. She pursed her lips when she got a call from Xie Nuying.

She took a step aside and picked up the call. "Mom."

"Ai. Are you at Sky?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Good, good. I called to ask if you and Jun could have dinner with me tonight?" Her gentle voice spoke with warmth, "Since today is such an important day for Jun, I thought that we should celebrate."

Ai's eyes shone slightly. "En. That's a great idea. Jun would agree too."

"Excellent. Then I will get started with the preparations for the dinner. Also, if Yichen approaches you with any of his own plans, then don't hesitate to reject him. That man only knows how to copy me. He will definitely plan something shady to get you and my son-in-law to his side," Ai could hear the harrumph from her voice.

She smiled. "Yes, Mom. Don't worry."

Xie Nuying paused. "Are you worried about something, my dear? Your voice doesn't sound so cheery today."

Ai lowered her gaze. As expected of her mother, she never failed to catch her daughter's distress.

"I don't know how to talk to Guiying."

"Did you two have a fight?" She asked.

Her brows knitted at the center. It was a more complicated situation than having just a simple fight.

I wish it would have been just a simple argument instead…

"Fight…I don't know, Mom. It's more than just a fight. So many things…came in our way and we started to grow distant. We just went farther and farther away from each other. I came to realize that I wasn't being a good friend to her…" the corner of her eyes got misty as she held in her choke.

"There have been so many things going on in Guiying's life which I was unaware of. I felt like…I turned my back on her without trying to get to know her properly. I feel I have been ignorant about many things."

She remained silent for a few moments.

"I have decided to talk to her today, but I don't know how or what things I should say…"

Xie Nuying asked in a comforting voice, "What are you afraid of, Ai?"

Ai felt the tears in her eyes blurring her vision even more. "...I want to…I-I want us to be friends again. But it will be incredibly selfish of me to ask that. I am afraid that it's too late for us to start again."

"It's never too late to talk, Ai. Friendship is like any other relationship which has its ups and downs. Growing farther apart is scary but not more than not being able to ever talk. It's fine if you were unaware of certain aspects about Guiying's life. It's not your ignorance. It's just that it's not necessary for friends to know everything about each other. It doesn't mean that she treated you like a lesser friend, but people choose to keep certain things in their hearts."

Ai lowered her gaze, pondering over her mother's words. "What should I do?"

"What you have decided. Talk to Guiying, but don't decide on an outcome for your conversation like going back to being friends again. Just simply talk to her. About yourself. About her. What you feel about her. What you think she feels about you. Why did distance come between you two? What do you wish you could have done differently? Talk about the small small joys in your life. Talk about the important decisions of your life. Talk random things that won't make any sense. Talk like you were back in your high school days once again."

Ai rubbed her eyes, wiping her tears. "H-Hm…Thanks Mom."

Xie Nuying smiled on the other side. "That's like my daughter. Don't cry anymore or my son-in-law will become worried. I don't want to see him tense."

Ai chuckled. "We are not married yet, Mom."

"Aren't you living together? It's one and the same thing for me. Now go and support your husband for his big day today. And then, go and talk to your dear friend."