Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1053: Never forgotten

Alix leaned against the corridor's pillar in silence, staring at her faintly quivering palm. She exhaled, unsure of what to do about this feeling.

"Um…"

She stiffened and looked back to find Guiying awkwardly standing behind her.

"I am sorry if I disturbed you…" she quickly said.

"No, it's fine."

"Are you okay? You…seemed a little shaken back there."

"Ah, no. I am good."

She smiled. "I think it's your first time seeing a pregnancy up so close, right? More than that, feeling a baby's kick."

Alix pressed her lips.

"I understand your feelings. It all feels very magical and emotional, isn't it? No wonder we cry," she softly chuckled.

Alix stared at her for a long moment. "How…"

"Hm?" She blinked.

"How was it for you? Your pregnancy…"

Her gaze shone. "It was one of the happiest times of my life after my marriage with Zixin. Everything was more or less how it's going for Ai and Jun. Zixin barely went to the office anymore and started working from home most days. He wouldn't even let me lift a finger and do everything for me."

Seeing the light and joy on Guiying's face, Alix wondered…what had happened to her other self.

Was she still there inside her?

She was clueless about it. She wanted to know but she couldn't claim that she knew of 'Guiying's' existence. Though a tiny corner of her heart believed that 'she' was gone.

'Her' job was to protect Guiying but uniting with Zixin and his family, she didn't need that anymore. Alix had gauged that in those times she had worked with 'her' against the Liu family. 'Her' role was over and so was 'her' existence.

Alix pondered how Guiying would have handled the separation because she had never seen 'her' as a mere physical and emotional guard. 'Her' bidding farewell would have been devastating for Guiying.

"Hello?"

Her stupor broke seeing Guiying wave her hand in front of her.

"Hm?"

"You seemed lost somewhere," she blinked, worried.

Alix faintly smiled. "Just thinking about the past."

She then cast an expressionless gaze at her. "Are you happy in your life?"

Guiying looked surprised. "Oh yes. I am very happy. I have a loving husband and family. I have good friends who I can laugh and cry with. Only if…"

"If?"

Her lips held a complicated smile. "There are two people I…hold very dear to my heart. They were the complete opposite of me, but they were the ones who made me stronger and confident. They used to scold me a lot because of how timid I was."

Alix guessed who she was talking about.

"Must be a nuisance to always get scolded like that."

To Alix's surprise, traces of tears rimmed Guiying's eyelashes.

"No…They weren't a nuisance at all," she tried to smile through her tears. "They were the most genuine people I felt blessed to come across. One was a dear friend I…cannot explain about a lot. But she was always protected through my tough times."

Alix asked after a long moment, "What happened to her?"

"'She' left. 'She' had somewhere…far to go. I didn't want 'her' to leave but I had no choice," she quickly wiped her eyes.

Alix didn't respond.

"The other person…" Guiying clasped her hands, biting down on her lip, "was my previous editor."

Alix froze. Though she guessed that she was one of the two people Guiying was talking about, her heart still felt a discomforting feeling as if she didn't deserve to be remembered.

"She was also just like my other friend. Cool, calm, strong. At first, I was really afraid to work with her but I slowly realized how talented she was. She used to taunt me for my weakness and scold me for my bad writing but…she worked the hardest to improve me and push me to fame. And now…I really miss her scoldings a lot…" her voice trailed off at the end. "I really miss her."

Alix watched the tears she shed for Zhan Yahui while digging her nails in her palm.

What the hell…You are not supposed to miss a person who used you. You are an idiot as always.

Guiying quickly apologized. "I am so sorry. I just drove the conversation into a strange tangent. I didn't mean to make it awkward for you…"

Alix instead asked, "Are you working well with your new editor?"

"Yating has taken over since then. I…" she looked embarrassed, "co-couldn't really gel with other editors after her. In the end, he asked if I would like to work with him and I accepted. I feel bad for causing him trouble."

She snorted. "He is the chief editor. That's his job. Make it as difficult for him as you want."

She noticed Guiying's surprised look. "What?"

"N-Nothing. You just..talk and act a lot like my editor."

She stiffened.

Guiying's phone chimed and she gasped. "Ah, ah! I totally forgot! I will have to leave."

"An appointment?"

"Not an appointment," Guiying scratched her chin as if she didn't know how to explain the next part.

"Every month I go to Dream High to clean my editor's office."

Alix blinked rapidly. "Huh? I don't understand."

"After she pa-passed away," her voice choked slightly, "Yating never gave her office cabin to any other employee or editors. It always remained and still is Zhan Yahui's office. Her nameplate and other things are still on the desk."

She stared at her.

Guiying smiled. "So I visit her cabin every month and clean it myself. Yating helps out too."

"...Why would you do that?"

Her gaze warmed. "Because I love doing it. I thought it would be painful to keep visiting her office but it turns out that as time passed, I felt lighter and more at peace. Instead of trying to not miss her, I feel happier to be at the place where she worked. I talk to the walls as if she is still listening to me. She was an important part of my life and I don't want to forget her."

Alix saw her leave but she turned to face her again. "Oh yes! Please teach essay writing to Ruwen. I will be very happy if you teach him," she shone.

When she finally left, Alix felt like her knees lost all their strength. Her heart beat erratically and she stumbled back only to bump against someone. She looked up and peered into a pair of deep black irises staring at her.

"Alix," Jin whispered.