Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Gu Rong's world was turned upside down. With Luo Liuxian's delicate mental and emotional condition, he had no choice but to keep her by his side.

But it was an immense mental burden on Gu Rong himself. He was forced to live with a woman who cheated on him. How was he supposed to bear living with a person he could never forgive?

Then there was Yating. Gu Rong hadn't yet decided what to do with him. Technically, he wasn't obligated to care for him because he wasn't his child. But then again there was a risk since Luo Liuxian had attempted on his life multiple times.

Yating was still a baby and she was in a fragile condition. The irony was that despite her trying to harm Yating, they both would have to live under the same roof because both depended on Gu Rong for their well-being.

After much thought, Gu Rong decided to move to a bigger villa where both would have their own space and distance. Even if they had to live in the same house, he wanted them to be as far apart as possible.

"Good morning, Mr. Gu."

A man bowed before him one certain day.

Gu Rong studied his profile and asked, "Mo Jiahao."

"Yes, Sir."

"Your profile is impressive. You can do housework and are well-versed with child-care too. I need someone capable to handle things after me."

Mo Jiahao curtly nodded. "I assure you that you will have no complaints from me."

After moving to a new house, Gu Rong then started to look for some househelp. At first, he thought to ask his mother but he refrained. They were anyway against his marriage and if they learned the truth, they would despise Luo Liuxian and Yating to no lengths.

From that day, Mo Jiahao became the Gu family's butler - Butler Mo.

With his addition, Gu Rong felt like a huge burden lifted off his shoulders.

But that didn't help him mentally.

"Rong!"

Luo Liuxian ran to hug him as he entered her room on the first floor. Gu Rong let them have separate floors to themselves.

A sour feeling crawled in his heart the moment she embraced him. He wanted to push her away, but he couldn't.

Luo Liuxian wiped her red and tired eyes. "I…"

She was tongue-tied. The Gu Rong, who was ready to divorce her, brought her back home. She was made aware of her own condition and was advised to not take any stress.

"You should rest," Gu Rong said, trying to be curt. "I will be on the couch here working. If you need anything, let me know."

He turned when she held his wrist. "I…!"

He stiffened, his brow slightly twitching with the contact. But he remained calm.

"Hm?"

She trembled, tears pooling in her eyes. "Rong, I-I promise I will…e-earn your forgiveness. I will atone for my mistakes…"

She knew in her heart that it was extremely painful for him to continue living with her. His support for her wasn't out of love but forced responsibility and humanity.

Gu Rong had his back turned to her so she couldn't see the faint, hopeless on his lips.

Atone how Liuxian? The trust is already…gone.

"Rest, Liuxian," it was the only thing he could reply.

He sat back on the couch, burying himself in his laptop. Luo Liuxian clasped her hands together, feeling slightly breathless. He was being curt and polite like how a stranger would towards another stranger. Nothing more, nothing less. It pricked her heart, but there was nothing she could do at least for now.

I will…I will definitely change things between us!

—

But even though a few months had passed, Gu Rong and Luo Liuxian's relationship remained at a standstill.

Yes, he attended to her and took care of her needs.

Yes, he spoke cordially to her and accompanied her in her therapy appointments.

Yes, he did everything that a supporting husband would do for his wife.

But none of his actions and intentions held the same love he had for her before. It was plain responsibility on his part. On the other hand, Luo Liuxian did everything she could to win him over and slowly make her place in his heart again, but the walls built around his heart refused to budge.

He couldn't forgive her and neither pretend that he could. Even if that meant it could potentially hamper her treatment, he couldn't bring himself to tell such a huge lie and give her hopes that things would improve between them. He wanted to support through her emotional turmoil, but he didn't want her to live in a delusion.

Luo Liuxian tried another attempt to bridge the distance between them one day.

"I-I made this for you…"

He looked at a plate of steaming noodles in her hands.

"Why did you take the trouble? Jiahao would have made it."

"I wanted to cook for you…!"

Gu Rong knew it was another one of her attempts to make things right between them. He pressed his lips and said, "I am sorry I am not really hungry."

She stiffened.

Gu Rong then got a work call and he headed outside to receive it. After hanging up, he went upstairs and stood at a distance from Yating's room. He could faintly see Butler Mo playing with Yating. His laughs and giggles pleasantly echoed in the room.

Gu Rong took one step forward but stopped. He shakily exhaled a breath. Whenever he saw Yating's face, the only thing he could think of was that he wasn't his father. That was another wall in his heart that he wasn't able to overcome.

In these past few months, he did his best to spend time with Yating, but he wasn't very successful. Reality would always crush him into smithereens. He slowly turned to the other side and wiped his eyelids.

"Gaaaaaa!!" Yating's chirpy and excited voice came from nearer him.

Gu Rong cleared his throat and sternly said, "Take him inside, Jiahao."

"M-Master, turn back…"

"Huh?"

Gu Rong turned, puzzled. "I told you to take him-"

He froze upon the scene he witnessed before him.

Yating was trying to take his first steps towards him. His legs wobbled and he flailed his arms sideways to balance himself. He was extremely focused on his task before him but his face was lit up like a Christmas tree at all times.

"Gaaaa…"

Gu Rong blinked rapidly.

He is…he is walking…

Yating was slow and cautious but he didn't lose his energy for a single moment. His goal was to reach Gu Rong and he wholeheartedly marched towards it.

Gu Rong wasn't sure how long time had passed but he finally felt a soft tug on his pants. "Gaaaaa!!!"

At first, it was a tug but then Yating wrapped his arms around his leg and laughed with his beautiful black irises sparkling gold as if he had found a treasure chest.

Butler Mo had tears in his eyes. "Young master took his first steps today…"

Gu Rong trembled hard. His heart and mind were in a mess and he felt dizzy. He clenched his fists, trying to stop a certain emotion from overwhelming him.

He whispered. "Jiahao... please take him inside."