Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

When Jun and Mrs. Quan were having their secret conversation, Ai had quietly slipped out of the library, thinking of the question she had asked.

'Have you made any chocolate for Jun?'

Ai pursed her lips and clasped her hands together.

We are not in a relationship. It's not like I have to give him a chocolate with that meaning.

She contemplated.

But Jun has done a lot for me. I can give him some as my gratitude.

Or so she consoled herself with that motivation.

Ai had no time to make any chocolates and considering her baking experience, she decided against trying to even think of doing anything to make sweets.

At the very least, I can buy some good chocolates.

She searched for some good bakeries and found one with the highest reviews and popularity. None of the other bakeries could match up to it. So, Ai decided to visit the shop.

She stood in front of the shop named - Natukashi Bakery. But there was a huge rush inside. It was Valentine's week and Chocolate Day at that. Plus, it was super popular.

The result was a huge queue in front of the shop. Even from outside, she could see the staff working like crazy to manage the rush hour.

Disappointment hung on her face.

This might take the whole day.

But there was one way of salvation.

There was an announcement hung at the bakery's entrance which stated that whoever managed to solve the owner's aka the Head Pâtissier's problem would be allowed to enter the bakery without worrying about the queue. The customers inside the store would be able to shop for free if they won.

So, the ones at the very back outside the shop were trying their luck with this challenge. If they had any solution to give, they were to write on a piece of paper and display it in front of the camera fit at the entrance, and the owner would accept or reject it.

Until now, everybody was rejected.

Ai blinked.

This is weird.

She took two steps forward and read the problem in question.

'I have pissed off the woman I am interested in! I was just playing around and having fun, but it got her into trouble. She got really, really angry and doesn't want to see my handsome face ever! But I am interested in her, so I want to make it up to her without dying anytime soon! Give me a sensible solution, and the winner will be able to cut the line hahaha! The ones inside will get their sweets for free!'

"..."

Ai watched the other ladies in the queue eagerly showing their answers.

'Give her flowers! Girls really like flowers!' 

A certain owner sneered in disdain. "She will kill me and then use the same flowers to put on my tombstone! Out!"

'Sing a song for her!'

"She will strangle my throat before I even get to sing," he sobbed. "Out!"

Nian was munching on a pastry and watching the ladies outside the store hastily scribbling on papers. The customers from inside the shop forgot what they were here for and instead focused on the challenge. If they win, they could get the sweets for free!

Every single item in Natukashi Bakery was exquisite in taste and costly in price. Getting it free was like a big boon on everybody's pockets.

Nian then suddenly choked as he saw a familiar figure in front of the camera.

The hell…what is she doing here!?

Ai displayed her writing at the camera. It wasn't a solution, but a question instead.

'What do you mean by playing around?'

"..."

He spoke through the mike. "Playing around is playing around. What kind of a question is that?"

Ai pursed her lips and wrote again. 

'How? Did you lie to her? Did you make fun of her? Did you have fun at her expense? Did you pay not attention to her when she might be talking to you?'

His mouth twitched.

"...First one. I lied about my identity and pretended to be a servant because it seemed fun."

Ai wrote again.

'Isn't the solution simple? Confess that you lied and apologize."

His gaze darkened. "You think I didn't think of that? She will kill me if I confess!"

Ai blinked.

She wrote another question.

'Other than asking us, what solution had you thought of?'

Nian sheepishly grinned. "I would act pitiful and say that my owner fired me while begging her to let me stay at her house as I am homeless! Living together under one roof, and she would be bound to forgive me one day!"

The others praised.

"This is so cute!"

"Living together sounds so romantic…"

"You will definitely melt her heart!"

Nian proudly glanced at Ai through the camera only to find her giving a judgemental stare through it. She took another piece of paper and wrote.

'If you want to ask for forgiveness for lying to her by telling another LIE to her about homelessness, then good luck.'

"..."

He saw Ai walking away, but he screamed. "Hey! Wait! Don't just leave like that!"

Amidst the dissatisfaction of other customers, Ai was finally brought in where Nian was, and she blinked at him in surprise. "You…"

He is Jun's elder brother.

She recalled Jun saying that one of his elder brothers was a pâtissier and a sweets maniac.

"You are the owner?"

He proudly smiled. "Behold my excellence."

 "There is nothing to behold about your excellence who thought lying once again was a good option," she calmly stated which drilled big holes in his heart. He burned like charcoal.

"..."

Nian sighed in frustration. "You don't know! You didn't witness it with your eyes. She was so furious that she would have eaten me alive! If I meet her again, she is going to kick my ass so bad…"

Ai tilted her head. "Then apologize after that."

"..."

"If she figures you lied to her again to cover up for your first lie, she will twice kick your ass."

"..."

"Why do you want to agitate the already bursting volcano?"

He choked. After a pause, he asked, "Do you really think she will forgive me if I am honest?"

Ai nodded.

Nian raised his hands in defeat and mumbled. "...Fine. But if it doesn't work, then just see!" He harrumphed.

"If you sincerely apologize, then I don't see why it wouldn't work. Women like honesty. I do and so does my close friend who treats me as her sister," she softly smiled thinking about Xing Bi.

Nian gave it a thought and acceded. He then curiously looked at her up and down and asked, "So. Here to buy chocolates for a special someone?"