Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Calm down, everyone. When I said she should get out of the house, I didn't mean it permanently. We can book a room for her in a hotel for a while. At least until Father became too busy to come home for a while again." Li Junjie explained slowly.

"But still….Xiaoyi is a girl, and the world outside is too dangerous for her alone!" Li Chunhua stubbornly stood her ground.

"If you would rather she becomes Father's target to vent his anger, then be my guest."

"Ugh…"

Su Suyin shook her head slowly. "I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe Jie is right."

"Mother! Why are you agreeing with Big Brother's stupid plan now?"

"Xiaohua, at this rate, there won't be any peace in the house until your father goes back to the hospital. It shouldn't be a problem if it's only one or two days. You know your father never stays home for long. We just need to be patient for now."

Li Chunhua pressed her lips into a hard line but found it difficult to refute her mother. She could act like a brat in front of her brother, but she was reluctant to go against her mother.

"Yes, I think that's the best option for now," Li Caiyi concluded the argument. "Let me pack my stuff real quick, then I will go to the nearby hotel for now."

Su Suyin contemplated a bit before she asked her eldest daughter, "Xiaoyi, don't you have a lot of good friends? Do you think you can ask them to let you stay over at their place temporarily? I feel more at ease if you have some other people with you."

"Oh, I didn't even think about that," Li Caiyi lightly smacked her head. "I will try to contact one of them, then."

Su Suyin sighed in relief. "Good. Tell me your friend's name and her address when you find someone."

"Yes, Mother. Then, I'll go pack my things first."

"Let me help you!" Li Chunhua volunteered herself and followed Li Caiyi to her room.

The twins worked without sound and kept stuffing things into Li Caiyi's mini-suitcase.

Li Chunhua tacitly understood what her sister needed in the back of her mind, so she didn't need to ask her to know. With good teamwork, it didn't take long until Li Caiyi finished packing her things. She had also changed her pajama into a plain t-shirt with a thick cotton sweater above it and a pair of long, comfortable-looking black pants.

"Xiaoyi, I'm still reluctant to let you go," Li Chunhua couldn't help herself and blurt out. "Why do you agree to leave the house anyway? I don't like this a bit."

Li Caiyi chuckled and patted her sister's head to reassure her. "Don't worry, this will only be temporary, and we will still meet in the school anyway."

"....I think I'm starting to understand what you mean about Father. I don't think there is anything wrong with a father disciplining his children before, but now…I don't know anymore." Li Chunhua grabbed a handful of her hair and clutched it tightly.

"Xiaohua, you don't have to force yourself to understand. Just take it slowly, and you will reach your answer soon," Li Caiyi tenderly pried her hand open and squeezed it.

"Please watch over Mother while I'm away."

"Yes, of course!" Li Chunhua nodded firmly. "By the way, have you decided where will you stay tonight?"

Li Caiyi pondered for a while. "As far as I know, Feng Nian has a lot of family members in her house, and Chen Ruolan lived a little too far from here. The most plausible option is Zhao Ya's, but I'm afraid I will inconvenience her too because her house is a restaurant, after all."

Li Chunhua stared at Li Caiyi's troubled face when an idea suddenly came to her. "I know a good place! It's not too far, with fewer people, and definitely has room for you!"

"Really? You know such a place?"

Li Chunhua grinned from ear to ear. "Let me call that person first to confirm things. Just wait, I will prepare a good place for you to sleep tonight!"

***

Li Caiyi planned to leave Li family's house sooner or later, but she didn't expect it to happen so suddenly, and with her family member sending her off too at that. Definitely not the kind of parting she had in mind.

With her suitcase in hand, Li Caiyi bade goodbye to her mother.

"Xiaoyi, have you brought your toiletries? What about blankets and towels? And your school stuff?" Su Suyin tightened Li Caiyi's jacket to keep her body as warm as possible.

Li Caiyi smiled. "I have all of them in my suitcase or my backpack. Don't worry, Mother."

"Where are you going to stay tonight?"

Actually, she hadn't heard about it yet, so she glanced at Li Chunhua, who had already prepared the answer.

"Unfortunately, Li Caiyi's friends couldn't be reached right now, so I asked one of my friends about it, and she agreed with me."

Su Suyin sighed in relief. "Really? What's her name and where is her house? I should thank her for accepting our Xiaoyi later."

"Mom, it's already gotten so late. I will tell you that later. For now, I will accompany Xiaoyi to my friend's house."

"Then, take your brother with you. It's very dangerous to have two vulnerable girls wandering outside this late."

"The place is very close, it only takes 10 minutes to drive from here, and we will take a taxi there. Don't worry, Mom!" Li Chunhua winked and dragged Li Caiyi outside before they would get questioned again. "We are leaving first, then!"

"Be careful!" Su Suyin waved her hand, hoping that everything would turn out alright.

Meanwhile, Li Chunhua couldn't help but feel excited about this. Li Caiyi, who sat beside her in the taxi, was curious why she would grin so happily.

"Xiaohua, you seem to be in a good mood. What's wrong?"

Li Chunhua giggled mysteriously. "You will know once you get there."