Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Husband, your clothes are wet. How about if you take a warm bath first before continuing your talk," Su Suyin said with a forced smile on her face. She tried to take his bag from him but was harshly deflected by him.

"What have you been doing all this time in the house? You can't even raise the kids properly. Look at what your daughter has turned into, a white-eyed wolf who thinks she knows everything in the world!" Li Jirong shouted while pointing his finger at her.

Su Suyin's whole body shook at hearing Li Jirong's reprimand. "I-I'm sorry…."

"D-dad, please don't be mad. Xiaoyi wasn't serious when she said that. How about I give you a massage? You must be tired after working outside today," Li Chunhua chirped to lighten the atmosphere, but Li Jirong ignored her and focused on Li Caiyi only.

"If you think living with your father is unbearable, why don't you leave? I don't need a useless daughter whose head was always in the cloud like you here."

"Father, please calm down," Li Junjie finally spoke, albeit he sounded tired. "Don't do anything that you will regret later."

Li Jirong laughed at that. "Regret? There is nothing to regret about losing a daughter who doesn't know her place! And I heard a part of your conversation before. Haven't you decided to pursue your dream to become a writer? I won't even bother arguing with you anymore. Our Li Family doesn't need someone like that, so pack your things and leave. I want to see how much you can hold on before you come back while crying."

"Husband, what are you saying? Are you trying to kick Xiaoyi out?" Su Suyin asked in disbelief.

"Better than letting her live a wronged life, just like she said! I don't even have the energy to get angry anymore. I just want her to leave quickly."

"Father, I think this isn't the right decision." Li Junjie added.

"SHUT UP! Anyone who still wants to speak up for her can leave anytime too!" Li Jirong shouted angrily at the top of his lungs, surprising everyone and automatically silencing them.

Li Jirong looked down at Li Caiyi and scoffed, "What's wrong? Did you suddenly lose your ability to talk? You moved your mouth carelessly just earlier, and now I intended to kick you out, you got a change of heart? With such a weak mindset, you have the gall to trash-talk your father?! Preposterous!"

Li Jirong was already in a very foul mood when he reached the Li family house. Aside from the swamping works, he also got into fights with Gu Xue these days, to the point where he didn't want to spend time in the hospital any longer. As soon as he finished his daily work, he immediately packed some of his dirty clothes and went home.

He wanted to dip himself in warm water and eat a delicious dinner with his family for once, but everything got ruined on his first step into the house.

Li Jirong was already displeased with Li Caiyi before this, and hearing her talking badly about him in front of her siblings and mother made his blood boil in anger. She was lucky he was too tired to deal with her rebellious period. If not, he probably wouldn't be able to restrain himself and beat her there and then.

As long as she apologized, Li Jirong wouldn't pursue the matter further. He probably would cut her allowance for a few months and end it with that. What can a useless girl like without her father's money?

Her silence only confirmed his thought, making him look down on her even more.

"If you already understand your place, now get back to your room and—"

"Alright."

"Then just go now, and don't make any more scenes here," Li Jirong impatiently waved his hand, but Li Caiyi's following sentence made him frozen in place.

"No, I mean, I will follow what you suggest. I shall leave this house immediately." Li Caiyi said once again firmly. She stared at Li Jirong straight in his eyes without hesitation.

Meanwhile, the rest of them were dumbstruck by how calm she was. Li Chunhua anxiously tugged on her sleeve. "What are you doing? Hurry and apologize to Dad, or he'll get angrier at you!"

Li Caiyi smiled reassuringly at her sister before gently prying her hand off her sleeve. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"Y-you insolent child. What did you just say?" Li Jirong's whole body shook in rage, not only because of her words but also because of her devil-may-care attitude. It was as if she had been waiting for this chance all along.

"I said I will leave the house, just like you suggested, Father. You are right. I don't think we will ever see eye to eye after this. Let me leave this house so it will give you peace of mind."

"PRESUMPTUOUS!" Li Jirong roared and finally snapped upon noticing the hint of mockery in her daughter's voice.

Li Caiyi expected this reaction from him, so it didn't surprise her when he raised his hand and was about to swing it down hard on her face. She subconsciously shut her eyes tight, and a fierce sound of a slap reverberated in the room a moment after.

However, there was no pain on her face at all. Li Caiyi pried her eyes open and was shocked when she saw her mother standing before her while holding her reddened cheeks.

"Mother!"

"Mom!"

The twins exclaimed together in horror as they moved forward together to catch Su Suyin's stumbling body.

"Mother, why did you stand in the way? You should have just let me be!" Li Caiyi couldn't help but reprimand her mother.

"No, you should have tried to at least dodge it too, Xiaoyi!" Li Chunhua corrected her sister's poor choice of words in disbelief.

Su Suyin took a deep breath before steadying her body and smiled reassuringly at the twins. "I'm okay. Thank you, both of you."

Then, she turned toward Li Jirong but immediately cast her gaze down when Li Jirong glared at her.

The frustrated Li Caiyi finally couldn't take it anymore and said angrily, "I already said I will leave. Why do you have to do that to Mother?! If you come back home just to vent your anger at your family, then it's better if you don't come back at all!"

"What? You worthless brat!" Li Jirong stepped forward and was about to grab Li Caiyi when someone grabbed his hand and blocked his way.

"Father, calm yourself down. Do you forget our promise?"

Li Junjie frowned deeply, and his voice was very cold as he said that.