Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1241: The summon

Lin didn’t rush it. He paused just a breath away, close enough that Shui could feel the warmth of him and close enough that her eyelashes fluttered instinctively. There was no urgency in his movement, no hunger pulling him forward - only a quiet certainty, as if he was making sure she was still there, still willing. When his lips finally touched hers, it was soft, almost tentative.

Shui’s fingers tightened lightly around his sleeve. A second of predicament enveloped her of whether to pull him closer or not. But she stood still, letting herself simply anchor in that moment. She felt lightheaded, as if wings sprouted on her back and she was flying in the endless expanse of sky.

The kiss lingered, unhurried, carrying the unspoken words they didn’t say out aloud. The simple relief of having found their way back to each other felt like a gentle chime rang in their ears. The despair that had once gripped them about a hopeless future, about a dark future where they would probably walk alone for the rest of their lives now melted away as their lips found each other. On the same path where they once walked all by themselves, now had a shadow quietly accompanying each other, their hands interlocked.

Lin rested his forehead against hers when he pulled back, his thumb brushing gently against her knuckles.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

She nodded, her lips curving faintly. "I am."

The sound of a soft thud broke their attention and they glanced to the side, only to see Hou Fa standing frozen to his place.

An awkward silence ensued which made Shui instinctively push him back.

"U-Uncle..." She cleared her throat.

Hou Fa couldn’t quite look at the two, so he kept his gaze glued at the box that he held - or which had fallen onto the floor now.

"I didn’t mean to...disturb..." the words could hardly escape his lips.

"No, no, no, no, no," she hastily waved her hand, "You weren’t disturbing anything."

"...I was. I am sorry."

Another awkward silence ensued, which Lin couldn’t understand. He picked up the box from the floor and kept it aside. He noticed a very odd look in his eyes.

"Why do you look so strange?"

Hou Fa was taken aback by the audacity of that question.

I just almost caught you two making out and you are asking me why I look so strange? Shouldn’t you feel at least a little bit embarrassed? I feel like I want to die!

"...I was just trying to remember if I left something."

Shui lowered her head, mentally rolling back and forth.

Somebody save me from this situation...

"Shuiiii!!"

Siying came rushing, putting a brake to the atmosphere, much to her relief. A relief which didn’t last for too long.

"Dad is calling you back home."

Shui blinked. "Me?"

"And Hou Lin too."

Lin pointed at himself. "Me too?"

"What happened?"

"Well...."

"Broooo," Shui’s eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"

Siying gasped. "I didn’t do anything! I am completely innocent in this."

"Something has happened, now tell me before I strangle you. I am getting a bad feeling!"

Siying coughed. "Well, Dad came to know about...you and...Hou Lin."

"..."

"Broooo!!!!"

"I know, I know! I guess he already had some suspicions..."

"He did?" Her eyes widened.

"I mean it felt like that to me...Nuo had said the same thing."

"So why didn’t you tell me!" She glared.

"We didn’t think it was such a big deal really. You know how Dad always has been. He is always a little possessive when it comes to you."

Shui’s brow twitched. "So why...is he inviting Lin?"

"It’s more of a summon, little sister."

Siying approached Lin and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked into his eyes for several long moments, only to shake his head.

"Good luck, brother."

"I don’t understand. Why do you look like the world is about to end?" Lin asked, puzzled.

"He wants to meet you."

"I have met him before."

"Formally as Shui’s boyfriend?"

"...No."

"Then that’s what this is. He is ready to skin you alive for going out with his precious daughter."

He blinked twice. "Didn’t Sir Jun go out with her at one point in time? I see him doing okay."

The siblings - "..."

Siying’s brow twitched heavily. "You are seriously considering Bro Jun and Shui...now?"

"It’s a valid argument. I think I will be fine. He just needs to know that I am serious about Shui, which I am. I suppose he wouldn’t have a problem once I would express my sincerity."

They couldn’t figure out if they should applaud his confidence or feel pitiful about it.

Hou Fa cleared his throat, who had been listening to their exchange.

"Is Mr. Han really that strict? I mean..."

It was something simple he wanted to offer - that was to accompany Lin in meeting Shui’s family. He thought he would probably be of some help as a parent. But he couldn’t put forth that question so easily as if they lived like a loving family all this time. Acting like a father now felt more shameless than ever.

Siying shrugged. "He is actually cool, it’s just that he has always doted upon Shui. A tad too much."

She frowned. "I smell jealousy."

Siying teased her by sticking out his tongue.

Lin studied Hou Fa’s eyes and could faintly tell what he was feeling.

"Right now, he just wants to meet me probably. Just to talk to me. We can arrange another meeting with the parents once everything is settled."

Hou Fa stiffened, unsure of how to contain the joy that had leapt in his heart. The corner of his eyes stung and he quickly looked away.

Shui was speechless. "You really want to meet him now? We can postpone it, you know? This is quite sudden."

"Not really," he blinked. "I had planned to discuss this with you anyway - about meeting your parents once I settle Dad in his new apartment. So I feel it’s the right time now. Let’s meet Mr. and Mrs. Han."