Rebirth: Once Again With You

Dai Zhiqiang's heart swelled with affection at her coquettish gesture. He interlocked their fingers together gently before replying.

"I was around here by chance, then I thought I should visit you for a while."

"What? Then does it mean you will go again soon?" Li Caiyi couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice.

"En. I'm sorry."

Li Caiyi bit her lips. Happiness has always been short-lived. Still, even if it was brief, she was happy having him here.

"Don't be sorry. Are you okay working throughout the summer break, though? We can't even go on a single date together. Do you visit your father regularly?"

"Yes, I visit him every weekend, although I can't stay for long too. I don't think we can have a date either."

"That's a shame. But there is nothing we can do about it. I guess I'll focus on my writing and homework."

"You haven't finished your homework yet? Do you need my help?" Dai Zhiqiang glanced at the book on top of the table beside them. He reached out to check it, but Li Caiyi gripped his hand.

"I haven't finished it yet, but I don't want to do my homework now. We rarely have time together like this. Can't we just focus on ourselves?"

Dai Zhiqiang could tell she was upset, and he immediately felt bad. "You're right. Sorry."

"Tell me, how many minutes do we still have?"

"20 minutes, I guess?"

Li Caiyi clenched his arm slightly. She felt 20 minutes would pass so quickly, so she wanted to make use of this time as much as possible.

"Then, for the next 20 minutes, promise me you won't move anywhere."

Dai Zhiqiang looked at Li Caiyi and felt there was indeed something different with her. She was being unusually clingy, and as much as he loved this, he'd hated it if something happened to her.

"Caiyi, is something wrong? You are not as spirited as usual today." He probed carefully.

Looking down at their intertwined hands, Li Caiyi almost blurted out all the pent-up stress inside her. But if she told her, Dai Zhiqiang surely would be very worried, right? He already had his hands full with his job and family; her problem would become an additional burden to him.

Still, they had promised not to hide anything from each other.

Before she could answer, Dai Zhiqiang spoke again.

"Oh yeah. I also wanted to thank you for listening to my brother's problem. He has been down for some time, but no matter how many times I ask, he never told me anything. I'm glad he seems to be open towards you, though."

"Shenqiang told you everything?"

"Yeah. He told me how you created an opportunity for him and even encouraged him to take the first step. You should have heard what he told me afterwards." Dai Zhiqiang chuckled.

"What is it?"

"He said I'd better treasure you well, or he will beat me up. That was the first time he ever threatened me with something. I feel like he likes you more than me now." Dai Zhiqiang complained, but there was no anger in his tone, only amusement.

Li Caiyi imagined how Dai Shenqiang threatened his brother, and a giggle escaped her. "It's a shame I can't see it with my own two eyes. With how often you went MIA on him, I wouldn't be surprised if he depends on me more than he depends on you."

"Ouch. That hurts." Dai Zhiqiang feigned a hurt expression before continuing.

"Thank you for being there with him when he needed it the most. I was anxious about him, but since he refused to tell me anything, I could do nothing even if I wanted to."

"You're welcome. Didn't I tell you to depend on me anytime?"

"I couldn't work properly whenever I thought of that kid, but now I can finally feel more at ease."

His last sentence stunned her. Li Caiyi was already very hesitant before this, and after she heard that, it convinced her she shouldn't tell him anything for now.

'That's right. His situation and mine are completely different. Besides, I already have Detective Tang investigating this matter, so it probably will be solved soon. I can tell him everything later.'

"Ah, sorry, I kept talking about myself. You haven't answered my question yet."

"You are imagining it. Nothing happened besides a lot of writing and homework to do. That's the reason for my sleep deprivation lately." Li Caiyi laughed at herself while inwardly praying for Dai Zhiqiang to not notice anything.

"Is that true? You are not hiding anything from me?"

"There is really nothing. Geez, you are really a worrywart."

Dai Zhiqiang stared at her with a deep and unfathomable gaze. Then, his gaze fell to the necklace he had given her. He touched it slightly before asking, "Did you always wear this?"

"Oh? Yeah. I like this very much, so I rarely took it off."

"Even when you are in a shower?" Dai Zhiqiang smirked.

"So what?" Li Caiyi harrumphed.

"Hehe, nothing. I'm happy. Always wear it so you will not miss me too much."

Dai Zhiqiang wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. "This is good. I can feel my energy return to me."

Li Caiyi chuckled. "You come all the way here to charge yourself? That's kind of inefficient."

"If only we live together, I can charge myself like this daily."

Li Caiyi's heart skipped a beat hearing that. This brat was barely 18 years old, yet he had already thought of moving in with her. As impossible as it was, she couldn't help but imagine various scenarios that could happen if they lived together.

She would wake up seeing his face for the first time in the morning.

They would cook breakfast and eat together.

They could sit and talk or watch a movie together when they were idle.

At night, they would cuddle under the same blanket, sharing warmth before falling asleep in each other's embrace.

How wonderful would that be!

"I bet you are imagining it right now." Dai Zhiqiang smirked playfully. "Do you mind telling me what kind of things you are imagining just now?"

"That's a secret."

It would be embarrassing if he knew she liked that idea very much.

"Then, should I tell you how I imagine how we spend our time if we live together?"

"Tell me!"

Dai Zhiqiang let his hold go and cupped her cheeks with one hand. Then, he looked at her intensely as if he was deciding the best way to devour her.

"I'm afraid my imagination is nowhere as pure as yours." Dai Zhiqiang slowly caressed her lips with his thumbs. "When we live together, I won't be able to hold the urge to touch you all day. I want to know everything about you. Both inside and outside. Every nook and cranny."

His deep and seductive voice sucked her soul away. Especially when his hand slowly went down and stopped on her nape. The cool touch on her skin made her body shiver, and his smile deepened seeing that.

"You should see the face you are making right now."

Li Caiyi's heart pounded in her chest. "What kind of face did I make?"

"Your face is like begging me to touch you, just like I did in my imagination."

"No. You are wrong."

"Wrong? Then shall we make a bet? Will you beg me for more or not after I finish having my way with you?"