Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

"How is Mrs. Ren now?" Jin asked in a low voice.

"Slight anemia,"

Alix tiredly pinched her brows and exhaled restlessly. She stared at the floor but felt like she was peering into an abyss. Her brows crinkled with this strange emotion. The thought that the wellbeing of the original Alix's parents would affect her to this extent was puzzling to her.

Jin pressed his lips, slightly hesitating at first, but slowly wrapped his arm around her back, patting her shoulder.

"She will be fine."

Alix blinked twice and realized to her horror that she had been casually leaning against Jin. She broke contact and stepped away at the same time as the Ren family came outside.

"Liu Jin," Ren Luoyang slightly widened his eyes in surprise. "You are here too?"

Jin stared at Alix for a moment, who looked uncomfortable and frustrated at herself for falling weak.

"Yes, Mr. Ren. Mom is here for a checkup so I tagged along with her and Dad," he smiled and then moved his gaze towards Ren Cuifen.

"How are you now Mrs. Ren? You almost brought Alix a heart attack with the news."

Alix threw him a vicious glare.

Don't talk nonsense in front of them!

Ren Cuifen pursed her lips, feeling guilty. "I am really fine now. There was no need to worry so much. I just fainted that's all…"

Alix bit her lip. "Healthy people don't faint…"

"Healthy people don't faint, Mom!" Mui exclaimed what Alix had been murmuring to herself.

"Oof!" Ren Cuifen softly glared at her. "This is the hospital, Mui. Quiet down."

"Then you should take better care of yourself!"

"Ah…I feel like I will get a headache now…" she held her temple.

She scoffed. "Trying to run away now, aren't you?"

Ren Luoyang said, "Come, come, let's head back home and rest. I will prepare some healthy snacks for you. Mui, go to the pharmacy and buy everything that's required."

Alix said, "Give me the prescription. I'll go."

"It's okay, it's okay, dear. You should be with Liu Jin."

She blinked once.

Ren Luoyang glanced at Jin. "I am sorry. I should meet your parents since they are here too but with Cuifen so weak…"

"No, Mr. Ren, please don't apologize. Mrs. Ren's health is more important."

He smiled at her. "Please take good care of yourself. Your daughters," he threw a glance at her, "care about you a lot."

Alix gritted her teeth.

He is talking too much today.

Ren Cuifen said, "Alix, you should accompany Liu Jin. Since you now regularly visit the villa, you should be here with him. Mr. Liu and Mrs. Liu takes good care of you, after all."

"That…" she pressed her lips hard. "I am really not-"

"That's a great idea. Everybody loves to have Alix around. Mom and Dad will like her company more than mine," Jin said.

I will kill him today. Yes, you have to die, Liu Jin, Alix mentally decided.

Mui stepped away to the pharmacy and Alix took this chance to disappear. "I have some things to ask the pharmacist so I'll go with her."

Jin's brow twitched with her futile attempt to escape but he didn't respond. Ren Cuifen's voice brought him back to their conversation.

"Um…" she nervously clasped her hands as she watched Alix walk away with Mui.

"Is something the matter?" Jin blinked, puzzled.

"I…don't know how to ask but did Alix…r-really panic upon hearing the news of my health?"

Jin didn't understand her confusion at first but it then occurred to her how the couple was actually aware of Alix's truth - that she wasn't their real daughter. So as somebody else residing in her body who didn't share the same emotional connection with them as the original Alix did, Mrs. Ren's question felt valid to him.

He faintly smiled. "Panic is actually a small world, Mrs. Ren. She looked like her entire world had crashed."

"Oh…"

Her eyes slightly brimmed with tears. She always wondered if Ren Luoyang and her would ever be able to make a place in her heart and experience her love and care like any other parents did.

She quickly wiped her eyes. "I am sorry. I know the question might have sounded a little foolish."

Jin remained silent for a long moment, contemplating something. Then he slowly said, "I know…Alix's truth, Mrs. Ren."

The couple stared at him. "...What?"

"I think you know which truth I am talking about. She told me when I confessed to her."

They looked at him, dumbfounded. It took them several moments to process what he just said.

Ren Luoyang parted his lips. "...And you believe her?"

"Yes. I cannot explain you very clearly but I…have gone through something similar to her."

Ren Cuifen gasped. "S-So you are n-not the real Liu Jin either…?"

"Ah, no, no!" His eyes widened. "I am Liu Jin. It's not exactly what Alix went through but I have…passed through time too but in a different way than her. That's why I believe her."

They inhaled sharp breaths in turn. Never did they imagine that there was somebody else in this world to go through something like Alix did.

"That's why, I want to tell you to take good care of yourself," he slightly balled his fist. "Her past with her parents is complicated…"

They stiffened. Ren Luoyang struggled to speak. "You..you know her real identity?"

He paused and then nodded. "Yes."

"W-Who is she?" Ren Cuifen asked with a shaky voice.

Jin held a perplexed countenance. "I can tell you but I think Alix should be the one to reveal that herself. It's her identity, after all."

"I see…No, you are right," her gaze lowered.

"I revealed my knowledge to you to make you aware of her past with her parents which is…anything but happy. To be honest, I take this as her second chance to finally experience the joy of having loving parents who care about their child. So please take care of your health. She might not show it but..she cares about you two in her own way and if anything happens to you, she won't be able to face such a setback the second time."