Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

"Alix!"

Ai ignored Jin's fire-breathing aura and hopped over to Alix's side with a grin.

"You were so amazing, Alix! Whether your designs or how you handled Kang Yuze - it was so cool!" Her eyes sparkled. "You felt like the badass hero!"

"Zhou Ai, hold back your tongue. I am just now scolding-"

Ai giggled and whispered, "I heard that you hurt him where it hurt the most for a man hoho."

"..."

Ailun scrunched his brows. "I cannot hear that Mom. Don't tell me it's a wives-only talk again."

"Yes."

"But pastry aunt is single."

"Not for long," she muttered to herself.

Alix smiled at Ai but her words were meant for Jin. "Well at least somebody appreciates my valor."

Jin's gaze darkened. "I appreciate your instincts too but not your careless approach!"

Ailun's nostrils flared. "Don't talk so loudly with pastry aunt, Uncle. Grandma says it's not good to raise your voice."

"N-No that…"

Alix looked down at her guardian angel and raised a brow.

"Well at least somebody talks some sense too."

Jin clenched his jaw. "You are worried about me raising my voice? What about how you raised my blood pressure all this time!"

Ai scooted closer to Jin with a mischievous grin. "Why did it raise your blood pressure, Jin? See, I knew it. You are just like a coconut. Tough shell on the outside but soft heart in the inside~ That why you should be called Jin-cute as well."

"I will kill you, Zhou Ai."

"You shouldn't be so harsh towards a helpless, pregnant woman," she patted her bulging belly as she said it.

This time, even Alix couldn't stop herself from giving her a look.

What kind of drama goes on in that family I don't know…

"Why are you here in the first place?" He asked, a vein popping on his forehead.

"Oh, yes!" She clapped her hands in delight. "The venue manager is looking for you two. He wants you two to come on the stage and walk down the runway."

Alix blinked. "What walk? That was never discussed with us."

She nodded. "He knows that but considering the success of the fashion show and especially with Wang Ningli's stellar performance, it struck him at the last moment to end the show with the star designer and sponsor on the stage together. So tadah!"

"He is just looking out for marketing his hotel's brand name," Jin shrugged.

Alix frowned. "We are just supposed to walk like models?"

"Not necessarily like models but just face the camera flashlights to be precise."

"Yeah it's all for marketing."

Ailun beamed. "Pastry aunt, I will take your picture too! You will wear one of your designed clothes, right? That will be so cool."

The trio stared at him.

Ai gasped. "That is a wonderful idea! As expected of my son! You should definitely walk down the runway in your own creation. And the man besides her who sponsored her creation. Brilliant!"

Jin frowned next. "But Alix should be resting. Plus, it will become very chaotic if they see the bruises on her neck."

His gaze turned chilly again thinking of Yuze's violence.

"Oh…That's right."

The mother-son duo's faces dropped simultaneously.

"Why fear when Chyou is hereeee!!!"

Here comes another hyperactive existence, Jin closed his eyes, praying to God for his mental peace.

"Chyou!"

"Ai! Ailun my sweety!"

The trio twirled in pure bliss.

Alix stared at their tomfoolery and threw a glance at Jin. "Does this happen every time they come together?"

"What do you think?" He dryly remarked.

Chyou grinned. "Don't worry about the bruises at all~ I have seen all her designs and I have just the perfect prop with me!"

She took out a beautiful scarf from handbag. "Tadah! Alix can loosely wrap this around her neck. It won't hurt her and it also suits her clothes!"

Alix raised her brow. "Hmm, that's true. It will be a good combination."

Her nose elongated with pride. "My career as an actress has taught me some fashion tips here and there. I am multi-talented~"

Jin smiled. "Yeah, Gu Yating is very lucky."

"Hey! Why do I hear that snarkiness from your tone?" She glared.

"It's just your imagination."

"Well then let me work on my imagination and help get Alix ready. You shoo! You are already ready in that boring suit."

"..."

What is boring in my suit?

—

Jin sighed for the tenth time as he checked the time, his boot tapping continuously against the floor.

What is taking them so much time?

"Patience, Uncle Jin. Dad says that women taking time to get ready should be seen as a positive chance to improve our patience levels," Ailun nodded like a wise sage.

His brow twitched heavily.

How much has Bro suffered actually?

It brought a chuckle to his lips and he lifted Ailun in his arms. He pinched his chubby cheeks.

"So shall we meditate together?"

"Maybe."

"Why maybe?"

"I can see from here that Great-Grandpa is stuffing something delicious in his mouth and I am getting hungry."

He shrugged. "You will eventually become tolerant and immune to it. Patience, Ailun, patience."

"All ready!"

Chyou declared as she opened the door.

Finally!

"Let me present to you, Ren Alix! Clap, clap!" Chyou stepped aside and made way for Alix.

As she exited the green room, revealing herself in a red traditional wedding qipao, Jin felt his breath stuck in his throat. Dazed and stupefied, he watched her from head to toe with him failing to catch any words to describe his feelings at the moment.

"...It's a wedding cheongsam."

Jin had assumed it would be something similar to what Wang Ningli wore.

"Yes! Isn't it amazing?" Ai followed her, her eyes turning misty at her beauty.

"I couldn't believe it myself," Chyou sniffled.

Jin asked slowly, "When did you make a wedding attire?"

Alix simply shrugged. "I had some free time so I made it. I have always liked traditional Chinese weddings. Nowadays, people are opting for church weddings more and more. There is nothing wrong with it but I like the idea of a red cheongsam more. I saw my…" she cleared her throat, "mother's wedding pictures. Mom and Dad had held a traditional wedding so I thought about making one such outfit too."

She then paused, noticing his gaze. "Do I look strange in it? Should I wear something else?"

Jin wasn't too sure where to begin expressing his sentiments and where to end amidst his chaotic thoughts.

"No, you don't look strange at all…" he inhaled a silent but sharp breath feeling his heart pounding loudly in his ears.

"You look like a really…beautiful bride."