Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1243: Winning streak

"Why do you want to be with Han Shui?"

At present, Zhong Sihan faced them with a grimace to his lips. After meeting with the Han family, Lin decided to conclude this approval process by formally introducing Shui to Zhong Sihan and Hou Fa as well, though both were already well aware.

"Because I love her."

"She is that damn Tian’s granddaughter. I don’t like him."

Shui’s eyes gleamed. "Don’t worry, Grandpa doesn’t like you either. So, we can all live as a happy family, Grandpa- oops, I should call you Uncle, shouldn’t I? Your age gets a little confusing at times~"

Zhong Sihan sneered. "Heh, do you think I will feel offended because of some puny remark? I have weathered far more."

"Yes, like living a single life."

"By choice," his jaw slightly clenched.

"Now, now, we all know your struggles, Uncle," she nodded with sympathy, "I understand it was very difficult for you to find a suitable partner considering your unreasonable temper. By choice is only your way to console yourself."

He pointed at her and glared at Lin. "This is why I don’t accept her. She is Han Tian version 2.0 and I don’t want that in my life! He was infuriating enough."

"So are you, Uncle, but what can be done now?" She released a dramatic sigh. "We just have to learn to walk together. With that I remember, would you need a cane? I can see some weakness in your knees."

"Go check Tian’s knees, you fool. Living such a humble life as an artist must have hunched his back," he scoffed.

Lin alternated his gaze between the two. "I am not able to follow this conversation at all. Are we good or not?"

"Yes."

"No."

Shui pouted while Zhong Sihan glared.

"Don’t forget that he is my son now! I am not gonna let him date just anyone."

"I am not just anyone, I am your best friend’s granddaughter," she chirped.

His expression slowly contorted to horror. "Who is my best friend now?"

"The man that made your youth more colorful or it would have been doomed just like your single life."

"Doomed is his life who got divorced!"

"And also reunited. Don’t worry Uncle, I understand your frustration. But Grandpa and I will make sure to make your dull life colorful again! As artists, we are very good with colors~" Her eyes sparkled

The duo was kicked out without further ado and by the end of it all, Lin was still as confused as ever.

"I thought I understood him, but I didn’t get it if he was happy or not."

Shui rolled her eyes. "Don’t mind him. Acting loving and cheesy is out of syllabus for him, so he talks in the only most indirect language he knows. He is a lot like my great-grandpa when it comes to that snarky attitude. I am used to handling that."

"So he likes Grandpa Tian?" He tilted his head.

"No question about it," she chuckled. "They wouldn’t have hung around for that long otherwise, especially Mr. Zhong if he had really hated him. I mean Grandpa is saved as his emergency contact. What other proof do we need?"

"I see. Will you be alright?"

She laughed. "Or course, silly. Don’t tell him or he will kill me, but his love language is arguing and insulting the ones he loves. He will never talk straightforwardly, that’s just his personality."

He gave it a thought and agreed. "True."

"So it’s all good between us. He accepts me, but it will kill him to admit it because I am an artist granddaughter of his artist friend. I am sure Grandpa will endlessly stick it up on his face how we are family now despite him always constantly telling how he would have nothing to do with Grandpa. They are just two good old bickering friends."

"That will continue through you and him too," he blinked.

"Yes, I will do everything in my power to get on his nerves muahahaha!"

"..."

Lin leaned over and kissed her lips, taking her aback. When he withdrew, the top of her head spewed steam.

"W-What you-you..."

"You looked cute."

The blatant praise increased the intensity of the steam. "Do-don’t take me by surprise next time...!"

"Oh. Should I ask next time?"

She nodded. "Yes, that will be much better."

"Okay."

She cleared her throat. "By the way! We should celebrate. Since we have officially told everyone now, we should celebrate!"

"Of course. What do you want to do?"

"Hmmm..."

Shui thought about it for a long moment and then grinned. "Let’s go!"

—

They stood at the gaming plaza where the bowling arena was specifically locked out for them. Nobody other than them were present and they had complete privacy.

"Bowling?" He tilted his head, amused.

"Yup~ I realized that over time, this arcade became super important for us. We played our first bowling game here and you also," she coughed with a light blush, "had also confessed right here."

Flowers bloomed around his head as his gaze softened. "I will never forget it."

"So now it’s time to come back full circle. And this time, I will defeat your streak once and for all! Don’t you dare go easy on me! I will win fair and square."

They took two bowling lanes as a start - which happened to be the same lanes where they had their first bowling game together.

"I will finally taste complete victory today~"

Several rounds later, the result was slowly getting obvious that Shui was on the winning track.

"Hah! How do you feel, Mr. Hou?"

"Very proud of you. You will finally surpass me and become the bowling master," he nodded.

She beamed. "Really? Hehe, you are sweet~"

She clenched the ball slightly, ready to roll her last victory game.

"Shui."

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you?"

The ball slipped from her hand and rolled over to the edge, completely missing its mark.

Lin watched it from afar. "Ah. You missed it. A pity. Looks like my winning streak continues."