Rebirth: Once Again With You

The following day, the first thing Li Caiyi did was check her phone. This had become her daily routine every day. She didn't do that to check on the time but to check if someone had texted her or not.

Like the other morning, Li Caiyi had to swallow her disappointment when there was still no news from Dai Zhiqiang. However, she received a lot of messages from Li Chunhua.

Li Caiyi decided to check it later and opted to prepare herself for school first.

It didn't take a long time for her to finish preparing herself. She could faintly hear some voices coming from downstairs, so she went down after she was ready.

Li Caiyi didn't expect to be greeted with dozens of fluffy cats as soon as she arrived. Her heart melted when some of them rubbed their head lovingly on her leg.

"So cute!"

She crouched down and gave each of them a pat on the head with an adoring smile on her face.

"Haha, so you like cats."

Shao Jingfei appeared beside her with an apron covering his school uniform and two bowls of cat food in his hand. The cats immediately jumped away from Li Caiyi to crowd around Shao Jingfei, who immediately gave them their breakfast.

"Good morning, Jingfei."

"Yeah, good morning. Let's eat breakfast first, then we can go to school together."

Li Caiyi nodded her head, and both of them had a pleasant breakfast together. After they finished, Shao Jingfei made sure he had locked the door properly before going to school immediately. They walked to the school together since the distance wasn't that far off and arrived after 20 minutes of walking.

"Oh? Look who is waiting for you so early in the morning." Shao Jingfei chuckled.

Li Caiyi followed his line of sight and found Li Chunhua, who was standing in front of the school gate while occasionally glancing around as though waiting for someone.

"I have already said not to wait for me. She is not listening to me at all." Li Caiyi said helplessly.

"Looking at you two reminded me of sticky rice sometimes because you are too close and inseparable."

"It's not necessarily a good thing, actually. Because of that, our world becomes small, and we keep chasing after each other in a circle…." Li Caiyi's words trailed off when Li Chunhua noticed their arrival. She waved her hand with a bright smile on her face.

A small smile escaped Li Caiyi's lips before she added, "But I can't seem to leave her alone. I'm sure she also feels the same as me. I'm thrilled knowing she has someone she can trust besides her family now. Thank you, Jingfei."

"Now, you will make me blush if you say that. I totally thought she hated me at some point. Maybe because she thinks I'm stupid and annoying."

"Haha, I don't think so. Trust me." Li Caiyi said before waving back at Li Chunhua.

"You guys are so slow!" Li Chunhua complained as soon as they walked over.

"My babies didn't let me go, so I have to coax them to let me go. I'm just that popular." Shao Jingfei smiled smugly.

"Hmph, I don't really care about you. I just can't sit still before I make sure Xiaoyi is fine. It's your fault for making me panic last night."

"How is it my fault again?" Shao Jingfei groaned.

Li Caiyi giggled at their friendly bickering. "Xiaohua, you came even earlier than usual. Did Brother Jie also come with you?"

"No, he said I could go ahead if I wanted to." Li Chunhua harrumphed. "I can't believe him. How can he be so calm and not even slightly worried about you? He is heartless!"

"Well, it would be scarier if he suddenly showed concern for me."

"....Fair point." Li Chunhua nodded her head.

"What are you guys doing gathering in front of the gate so early in the morning?"

The trio turned their heads simultaneously to the source of the voice and saw Meng Renshu walking toward them with a smile on his lips. However, that smile didn't reach his eyes, as it radiated coldness she had never seen from him.

Li Caiyi was stiffened when his gaze fell on her. She could sense that something unpleasant would happen soon.

"Xiaoyi, I'm sorry this is so sudden, but can we talk for a bit?" He asked, without even bothering to greet Shao Jingfei.

"I-If there is something you want to say, then just say it here," Li Caiyi answered.

"No, can't do. I need to speak with you ALONE." Meng Renshu emphasized the last word, making Shao Jingfei and Li Chunhua exchange a confused glance at each other.

Li Caiyi studied Meng Renshu's expression and knew that he wouldn't take a no as an answer, so she reluctantly let Shao Jingfei and Li Chunhua first before turning her head to Meng Renshu.

"Brother Renshu, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"Not here." Meng Renshu grabbed her hand and pulled her to follow him. "I want to speak without disturbance."

Li Caiyi groaned inwardly and wanted to hide her face when she noticed many students were staring at them. Meng Renshu didn't seem to care and brought her to the backyard garden before he let go of her hand.

"What do you want to talk to me about so early in the morning?"

"You, why don't you come to my place? Where did you stay last night?" Meng Renshu asked with a hint of dismay and agitation in his tone.

Li Caiyi rubbed her arms uncomfortably under his demanding gaze before replying, "Brother Renshu, this has nothing to do with you."

"I already heard the gist of the story from Xiaohua and Junjie. I just want to ask, why don't you come to my place instead?"

"How can I do that? I'm not that senseless to impose on you after….everything. And it would be uncomfortable for me as well."

"Xiaoyi, you remember when I said you can come to me whenever you are in trouble, right?"

"Yeah, but I don't remember ever agreeing to that! Everything happened so suddenly last night, so I jumped on the first option available."

"Then? Where is this first option you are talking about? I saw you came to the school with that boy earlier. Don't tell me you stayed at his place?" Meng Renshu's eyes narrowed down dangerously as he asked that.

​ His face darkened so much it scared her. The pressure she got from him was no joke.

Li Caiyi: "...."

She didn't feel there was anything wrong with staying with Shao Jingfei since nothing would have happened. Despite knowing that, she couldn't bring herself to say it, as she was afraid of provoking him further.

Meng Renshu perceived her silence as an admission. His countenance became so ugly that no one would consider him pretty if one saw his face now.

"Xiaoyi, you know I have a way to find out, even if you don't tell me anything. I advised you to confess everything truthfully before I handle this my way."

"W-why should I tell you that? I already said it is none of your business."

"So you really want me to use force, huh?" Meng Renshu sneered. "Fine, if you are not telling me, don't come complaining to me about what happened later."

"What are you planning to do?" Li Caiyi was alerted by his scary smile and asked in a panic.

"I don't know. Maybe I should tell Auntie and Uncle about this? Let's see if you can still stay there or not."

"Y-you are threatening me again!"

"Xiaoyi, my patience is limited. How do you expect me to react when I know the girl I like spending a night with another guy? I'm very irritated right now, so please don't agitate me any further than this."

Li Caiyi: "!!"