Rebirth: Once Again With You

It shocked Li Caiyi when she saw the sender's name. Her surprise was so apparent that it caught Meng Renshu's attention.

"What is it?"

"It's Zhiqiang! He contacted me!" Li Caiyi smiled brightly.

Meng Renshu's brows twitched slightly, seeing her enthusiasm, but he maintained his smile on his face. "Really? It's good, then. What did he say?"

Li Caiyi had been waiting for his answer, so she opened it with a racing heart.

[Dai Zhiqiang: Sorry I forgot to tell you last night, but I suddenly need to take another job elsewhere. (╥﹏╥) My colleague recommended it to me because the payment is good. I probably will miss a few days of school because of that. I'm safe and sound, so don't worry.]

[Li Caiyi: Even so, how can you just leave without informing your brother about it? Can we talk by phone now? I want to hear your voice.]

Unlike previously, this time, he didn't reply instantly. Li Caiyi wondered if his work was so busy when she recalled that she still didn't know what Dai Zhiqiang's actual job was. She was tempted to ask him about that but worried the question would burden him instead.

"Hmm, I see you guys have exchanged a lot of messages before this."

"Kyaa!" Li Caiyi shrieked in surprise when the moist air suddenly hit her ear. She jumped to the side to find Meng Renshu, who was giggling in amusement.

"You are still weak when someone is whispering in your ears."

Li Cai's heart was still beating hard in her chest because she was shocked. "Stop scaring me like that! And why are you peeking on my phone? That's rude."

"Your fault for not noticing me standing beside you." Meng Renshu shrugged nonchalantly. "Anyway, don't you want to ask about his real job? If you ask me, his explanation is too suspicious. He explained, yet it revealed nothing about what he did and where he was. Strange, don't you think?"

"No one asks for your opinion," Li Caiyi snarled harshly, mainly because his attitude pissed her.

"You are pointing your claw at the wrong person. He was the one hiding things, while I'm just an innocent guy trying to give you some advice. I feel wronged."

"Even if you are right, there are still things that should and shouldn't be asked. I believe Zhiqiang has a good reason he has to hide it. I will wait for him to trust me enough to tell me everything."

"Well, I don't mind, because it will be more convenient for me. I can't let you two become closer than you already are."

Li Caiyi couldn't be bothered to hear his nonsense anymore. "Since Dai Zhiqiang already contacted me, then I guess we can call it a day. Thank you for your help today."

"Ah? After using me to the fullest today, you are going to get rid of me as soon as I no longer have any use for you. Cruel, you are too cruel, Xiaoyi." Meng Renshu feigned a hurt expression. He looked extremely pitiful while looking at her with his abandoned puppy's face.

'This guy sure can act. His face mostly does all the job, though,' Li Caiyi commented inwardly.

"Precisely because I have inconvenienced you a lot today. I can't bear to make you do more than this for me."

"There's no need to worry about that. I always have enough time and money for you. You just need to say the magic word."

Li Caiyi: "...."

She didn't know Meng Renshu could throw a cheesy pickup line like that. That was what the CEO in a web novel usually said. Hearing that line in real life made her cringe, though.

"I gave you a chance to make a one-time request, didn't I? It should be enough compensation for your work today." Li Caiyi argued.

"Hmm, that's true too. Then would you allow me to take you home?"

"No, thanks." Li Caiyi refused while making her stance, "Don't even think of hauling me like last time."

Meng Renshu laughed before correcting his blazer in a suave manner. "Haha, I know when it's time to retreat and advance. I think I have made enough moves on you today. I'll go easy on you and allow the reality to sink on you for now. Please think about what I said today thoroughly, or better yet, just think about me."

"Why are you pretending to be cool like that? If you want to go, then just go already."

"Oh? It hasn't been an hour, but you already see me in a cool light? My charm did work on you, as expected."

Li Caiyi was rendered speechless. The more she said something, the longer this guy would hang around her.

"Then, I'll leave first. Make sure to go home safely." Meng Renshu waved his hand before walking away. He didn't look back even once.

"What the hell is all that about?" Li Caiyi sighed as she watched him leave. She rechecked her phone, only to find that there was no new message yet. She contemplated whether to ask Dai Zhiqiang about his job but later realized that Meng Renshu's words had influenced her.

She vigorously shook his head to brush his annoying smirk away from her mind. "No, just forget what that guy said. Better yet, just forget about him altogether!" Li Caiyi harrumphed.

***

Meng Renshu watched over the girl standing on the side of the road until she stopped a taxi and went inside the car. Only then did he leisurely lean his back against the backrest before telling the driver to take off.

"Young Master, where are we going right now? Should we follow Miss Caiyi again?"

"No, let's head home. I'm tired." Meng Renshu whined while massaging his forehead. "Don't tell my mother about this."

"Yes? What do you mean by that, Young Master?" Mr. Mu asked in a fluster.

"I really appreciate you for taking care of me well since childhood. Although I know you are working for my family and not me specifically, I also have a low tolerance of people spying on me."

"....I'm very sorry, Young Master. Madam told me to report if you do anything out of the ordinary, but I never have the intention of betraying your trust. I wouldn't tell her about anything that happened today. Please believe me."

Meng Renshu laughed. "You don't have to be so tense. I'm not accusing you of anything for now because I believe in you. I want you to remain by my side for a long time. You can take this as a light warning from me."

"Young Master, thank you. I'm always grateful to work under someone as benevolent as you."

"Don't be because apparently, I'm not as benevolent as people claim me to be." Meng Renshu smiled bitterly as he recalled the words Li Caiyi had said to him earlier.

Hearing her saying that directly felt like a slap to his face. He probably had underestimated how much she was hurting due to people's negligence of her.

"It's my fault too, for taking her for granted…." Meng Renshu sighed as his headache got worse. He reached out to his bag and pulled out a small plastic container and a bottle of mineral water.

Mr. Mu, who watched all that from the rearview mirror, asked worriedly. "Young Master, don't you think you have been too reliant on medicine these days? It might be bad for your health in the long run."

Meng Renshu wiped the water on the corner of his mouth after he finished drinking his medicine. "Haha, I'm fine. Although the effect is not much, it helped me sleep better and reduced my headache as well."

"Pardon me, Young Master, but you seem to have a lot of things in your mind lately. Is it somehow related to Miss Caiyi?"

Meng Renshu didn't answer immediately. "Yes, it is deeply related to her."

"Then why don't you consult with her? I saw you two are fighting earlier, and Miss Caiyi seems to be on guard against you."

"Mr. Mu, can you please not rub salt on my wound like that?" Meng Renshu chuckled in amusement.

"I didn't mean it that way…."

"Haha, relax, I'm just joking." Meng Renshu smiled weakly and closed his eyes slowly. "She hates me. That's why I can't talk about this to her. And besides…"

Meng Renshu recalled her frightened and pale expression when he mentioned his theory.

"I think I already knew the answer, even without asking."