Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Yating's final decision on Director Murong's proposal was to accept becoming the lead actor in the movie. He still had tons of questions, doubt and hesitation in his skills. But there was Chyou behind him pushing and assuring him of the future.

He paused and wondered what Dream High's employees would think of this sudden decision by him. From being the Chief Editor, he would now enter the big silver screen as an actor. The transition could be a huge thing to digest.

But a bigger situation awaited him somewhere quietly.

Ever since he met Duan Ren, even if it was for a brief period, he couldn't shake it off his mind.

Why did she suddenly come to meet him?

What changed for her?

Was it a simple meeting or did it mean something more?

"Yating?"

Yating was lost in his thoughts so he didn't respond. Then there was a poke at his shoulder but he still didn't feel it.

Then the poke jabbed a little harder and he snapped out of his senses with,

"Ow!"

He rubbed the slightly painful spot and looked at the culprit before him.

"..."

"...Ai?" His eyes slightly widened, taken aback.

Ai blinked. "What were you thinking so deeply?"

"No I just…wait," he looked around and asked, "What are you doing at the set?"

She beamed. "I came here to meet Chyou. Not just me but Jun, Shui, Siying and Leina too."

"Oh. Is it to give her company?"

She nodded. "It's hard to forget betrayal but we want to be there for her. My idol cannot be alone," she sincerely bobbed her head.

He smiled. "That's great. Uncle Xiaosi was talking about a small get-together too just for Chyou to feel better."

"Hey."

"Heyyyyy!!"

They looked back and saw the group arrive too, Shui and Leina being the chirpiest.

"Gu Yating!!"

Shui and Leina immediately surrounded him, thoughtfully rubbing their chin. "So you will be the lead actor huh?"

Leina narrowed her eyes. "So you will be romancing Chyou huh?"

Yating coughed hard. "What? Why are you talking in that way?" He was left speechless.

"First of all, it's just acting. Second of all, my part is limited. The movie is predominantly about Chyou and her character."

Shui scoffed. "Don't act so cool. You are definitely jumping in joy."

Ai watched him with scrutiny and he felt his voice break. "I-It's the truth. Chyou will do her part and I will do mine. At least I will try to do my best."

Though somewhere in a tiny corner of his heart, he was happy to work with Chyou. He knew that acting would be just their work but the thought of spending time with her pumped his chest with joy. It felt as if after a long time, Chyou and he could be themselves.

Siying pinched his sister's ear and shook his head. "Stop teasing him."

Shui glared at him. "You are not fun at all!"

Then a shadow appeared behind Ai and tugged her back. "I know you like Gu Yating as a friend so please keep your distance from him as a friend too."

Ai looked up at a dangerously smiling Jun whose veins were popping and twitching on his forehead.

She beamed. "I think I got some good ideas for my next stories!"

"Don't think you can divert the topic."

"Tch."

"Did you just click your tongue?"

"You are hearing things."

Jun's gaze darkened. He then threw a look at Yating, squinting his eyes for a few long seconds. Then he said, "Hey."

Yating's jaw dropped. In all these meetings between them, the only end result was Jun spitting fire through his gaze and words whenever Yating would come even ten meters close to Ai. But strangely today, he got what he felt was a normal greeting from him.

"Are you drunk?" He couldn't help but ask.

Leina choked with laughter.

Jun's brow violently twitched. "What the hell?"

"How come you are not waging a war at me?" He furrowed his brows.

"Do I look like some maniac to you, killing people left and right?"

"Not a maniac, but a villain for sure. A villain who wouldn't let anybody near his woman," he smiled.

Shui giggled but one glare from Jun and she looked away, whistling.

Jun then smiled at him. "You are damn right about the villain part. Nobody can eye my Ai or he won't have any eyes left anymore."

Ai clapped her hands once in delight. "That's such a great dialogue. Can I use that line in my story?"

"Don't think you can divert the topic."

"Tch," Ai looked away as yet another tactic failed.

Jun sneered at her. He looked back at Yating and raised his brow. "Besides."

"Hm?"

"You aren't a threat to me anymore."

Yating grimaced. "I haven't been a threat to you for a long time now."

"You were," he smirked. "It's now that you have ceased to be a threat to me."

"What do you even mean by that?"

"I think you know that answer."

Siying chuckled, already catching onto the meaning and so did the others.

"Hey you all!"

Chyou was pleasantly surprised to see them together. Ai brightened and jumped to hug her. "Chyou."

"My cute Aiiiiii!!!"

Jun shot a deadly glare at her. "But you are still a threat to me!"

Chyou frowned. "I am the most innocent person out here. Don't blame accusations on me!"

"You keep charming people left and right here and you call yourself innocent?"

Siying said with grievance. "Sorry but I attest to this. When Nuo is with you, I just become a background," he shook his head.

Chyou harrumphed. "How is it my fault if you, as boyfriends, pale in comparison to me in the charm meter? You need to step up!"

"..."

She sheepishly grinned. "Should I take you two under my wings as my students?"

"No thanks!" Jun bitterly said.

Director Murong called out from afar. "Chyou! Yating! Are you ready? It's time for your first scene together~"