Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1246: Picture perfect

"This is...not the kind of service we provide, dear customer."

"I think I am a special exception..."

His low voice echoed between them, his thumb sultrily caressing the corner of her lip. "I prefer this kind of service more."

"That’s quite shameless."

His fingers pressed the back of her neck until their lips touched, then touched some more, which then blossomed into a full-blown kiss. Ticklish butterflies took flight in her neck down to her stomach as a slight fever took root in her cheeks.

As he withdrew, he whispered, "What can I do? I am an upright man, but you manage to bring my shameless side out."

So it’s my fault? Her brow twitched.

He kissed her again, this time tracing his lips from hers to her cheek, to the tips of her ears that took him down to the nape of her neck. A light tremble from her squeezed his chest with the same intoxication that didn’t allow him to stop. The deeper he went, the harder it got to take control over his senses again. It was as if he could keep downing glasses upon glasses of alcohol with no sight to end.

The seconds ticked by quietly with their breaths becoming messy and chaotic and so did their clothes that looked ruffled up as if a storm had gripped them. By the time his face was buried in her almost half-naked chest, the crimson flushing across her face was beyond indescribable.

"Do-doesn’t it feel a little scandalous to do this?"

Dropping a feathery peck to her left bounciness, he looked up, curious. "Scandalous how?"

"It’s your cafe and we are..." she coughed.

"We are closed for the day."

"Still..."

"The curtains are drawn."

"Obviously."

He smiled. "Then there is no reason to hesitate now, is there?"

His index finger traced the outline of her chest, bringing another shudder to her.

"But I get why you might feel doubtful, which is why I have a suprise for you."

"Ooo? I like surprises!" The light in her eyes brightened.

Gently helping her off his lap, he straightened her and his own shirts.

"Wait here."

He climbed up the stairs, disappearing into the corridor while Shui waited. A few minutes later, he hopped down the steps once again, carrying a sort of frame in his hand.

"What is that?"

Lin raised his palm to bring a stop to her eager hopping. She waited back, pouting.

He turned the frame to the front side, revealing a beautiful, mellow sketch of Shui’s, a placid and the most breathtaking smile kissing her lips. The flicker of pure joy in her eyes was unmistakable. The locks of her silky hair fluttered past her cheeks with the gentle wind’s rhythm as she stood in a field full of flowers.

A delicate sunflower was perched amidst her fingers that bloomed to its full glory, accompanied with a butterfly that softly sat atop the side of her head as if it was an ornament. The shine sparkling across Shui’s face wasn’t any different than the sunflower’s that glittered as radiant as the sun.

Shui studied every stroke and every detail of that picture until her lips parted, stunned.

"...You drew this?"

He nodded.

Shui was aware that Lin did have some artistic talent, but this level and skill was beyond her imagination.

Lin smiled and took her hand in his, guiding her towards the wall. Two sketches on the walls were already neatly framed upon it - the ones Shui drew of Lin’s and Cai’s working in the cafe. He steadied Shui’s picture frame and hung it at the center right between his and Lin’s frames.

"This cafe is just as much yours as Cai’s and mine."

"Lin..."

Though words formed on her lips, her quivering voice couldn’t get them out. The wall looked so picture-perfect that it brimmed her eyes with tears. She had drawn and painted countless imaginations as an artist, but for the first time, she was looking at herself through Lin’s eyes and mind. How he saw and felt her in his heart was drawn right to its perfection which captured every little detail of her essence.

Framing her picture upon his cafe’s wall felt like carving their future together forever. Clear words weren’t necessary to be said out loud, yet Shui knew that this gesture wasn’t any different than a heartfelt proposal. There wasn’t a ring of promise, but a painting of hope that was enough to convey Lin’s true intentions. The future of a forever and togetherness.

"Now you won’t feel awkward or embarrassed when we make out."

"..."

"Don’t ruin the beautiful moment!"

"How did I ruin it?" He pursed his lips. "I am just highlighting a convenient conclusion we should know."

Back-to-back smacks landed on his chest to which he only laughed heartily.

Shui huffed, still hitting his chest lightly, but her strength soon melted away. She dropped her forehead against him instead, fists clutching onto his shirt as her breath trembled.

"You really are unfair," she murmured. "Who does something like this and then acts so casually about it?"

His laughter softened, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her securely and firmly, as if this was the most natural place for her to be.

"I’m not casual. I just thought I wouldn’t want to waste more time when I know what we want."

Thinking about Hou Luli and Hou Fa and the family they could have become but didn’t, the time that slipped past their hands like sand, yet they could do nothing but to stop it, had only reinforced Lin’s determination to never let time slip past them again. To not stand back and keep waiting for a happy future to arrive but to walk towards it and grab it with his own hands.

She lifted her head and looked at the wall again with an ache in her eyes, the three frames hung side by side, steady and unchanging. Her heart felt impossibly overwhelming and overflowing.

"You know," she said after a moment, "I have always painted futures I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t reach."

"And now?" he asked.

"Now, I don’t feel like I need to imagine anymore," she smiled faintly. "I just want to...live it."

Lin pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. There was no rush in the gesture, only warmth and certainty as he held her tight in the peaceful quiet of the night.

"Shui."

"Hm?"

"Do you want to complete the rest of the service upstairs?"

"...You really are one shameless man, you know that?"

"Thank you."

"It wasn’t a compliment!"

"So it’s a no?"

She mumbled. "I didn’t say that..."

He smiled, then dropped a kiss on her lips. "Then what are we waiting for?"