Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Haa…"

Li Caiyi heaved a long sigh. Her body felt heavy, but she forced herself to enter the teacher's office.

"Teacher Shi, do you call for me?"

The young teacher seemed to have a rough time too. Her face was riddled with fatigue, and she had heat patches pasted on her shoulder, peeking from her t-shirt.

"Li Caiyi, I have talked with your mother and brother about your problem. And the school board agreed that we will have Lu Ruan drop out of the school."

It was an expected result. Li Caiyi calmly nodded her head. "I see."

Teacher Shi looked up at her inquisitively. Her disheveled hair slightly swayed as she moved closer. She scratched  her cheeks with an awkward look on her face.

"Listen, I didn't mean to correct Lu Ruan's behavior, but do you think you can re-think your decision? She is…how should I say this? Lu Ruan isn't exactly growing up in a 'good' environment. You also saw how her parents treated her yesterday, right?"

"Teacher Shi, do you wish me to appeal for Lu Ruan's punishment reduction?"

"I know this might be a bit unfair for you, but I'll make sure Lu Ruan will receive a proper punishment, and she won't get a second chance. Can you find it in you to forgive her?"

Li Caiyi smiled. "To forgive is something you do when the other person apologizes to you. Lu Ruan clearly refused to reflect on her own mistake, so honestly, your request put me in a difficult position."

Teacher Shi was flustered. "Caiyi, please don't get me wrong. I was just trying to find a better solution to this problem. Do you think you can forgive her, suppose she apologizes to you?"

"Teacher Shi," Li Caiyi spoke mildly, with no urgency in her tone. "I believe you are a good teacher, but I don't think your judgment is fair in this. Lu Ruan didn't hurt me physically, so I should be thankful and forgive her for that? Should I bleed first before I can finally get her to repent?"

"No!" Teacher Shi said in fluster,  "I never said that your pain is invalid. I was hoping that both of you could discuss this and reconcile. That'd be the best outcome. I don't want to neglect any of you."

Li Caiyi recalled how she had constantly been belittled and neglected in her home. It was hard, but she would never vent her pain to an innocent person.

Ultimately, the environment couldn't be a valid reason to justify a person's bad behavior. Lu Ruan didn't even show slight remorse for what she had done, so there was no reason for Li Caiyi to go easy on her.

"I'm sorry, but you are still naive, Teacher Shi. Please don't let your personal emotion cloud your judgment, or you will lose the student's respect and trust in you in the future."

Teacher Shi was stunned. She probably never had a student lecture her like this before, but Li Caiyi was too tired to deal with this anymore.

"If that is all, I'll return to the classroom first." Li Caiyi bowed before walking away, leaving Teacher Shi, who was still in a daze.

***

Li Caiyi's mood plummeted after that. She had gone through so much trouble to gain evidence so she could justly condemn Lu Ruan, but should she forgive her just because of Lu Ruan's unfortunate situation?

Li Caiyi disagreed, but it would be a lie if she said she wasn't affected by it. Lu Ruan's situation was pretty similar to hers, after all.

"The verdict has been passed. I shouldn't think about it anymore." Li Caiyi shook her head.

"About what?"

Li Caiyi jumped at the sudden voice behind her. She turned and found Meng Renshu standing there while gently smiling at her. "What's with the long face? Did something happen again?"

"Don't sneak up behind me like that!" Li Caiyi snarled while rubbing her chest.

"I called you a few times, but you didn't hear me."

"Oh? Do you have some business with me?"

"I couldn't talk to you if nothing happened?" Meng Renshu chuckled when he saw  Li Caiyi get annoyed and raise his hands in defeat. "Okay, I will stop teasing you. I heard about the matter with Lu Ruan."

"The news had already been spread? That was quick."

"Yeah. Everyone was surprised, but it wasn't like they didn't expect this. In the end, you really come through this trouble by yourself. You put me to shame."

Li Caiyi scoffed. "I'm not that meek, easy to bully Li Caiyi anymore. I have had enough of playing nice in my previous life."

Meng Renshu's smile deepened. "You certainly are more decisive now. I thought you'd be content by just punishing her, but you go further than that."

"It's better this way. I can't continue attending school, knowing there is a person who wants me to suffer."

Meng Renshu didn't respond and only peered at her face instead. "I'm sorry for all the trouble you have been through. The reason why she is so hostile towards you is because of me."

"Good that you know," Li Caiyi wasn't going to let him have it easy. "With this incident, I hope you finally understand that many people are watching us. Please be mindful and keep some distance from me from now on."

The breeze from the hallway window blew his hair, making his feature look softer and fragile. He didn't try to make an excuse and instead said in a forlorn tone, "Yes. I'll be careful not to cause you any trouble."

That should be the answer she wanted to hear, yet she felt odd upon hearing it. Meng Renshu wasn't usually this obedient; it threw her off.

"O-oh, thanks." Li Caiyi felt awkward, and she unknowingly thanked him. "Uhm, did you approach me to apologize to me?"

"I should have done something to Lu Ruan once I knew she had her eyes on you. Because of me, you suffered again. I wanted to protect you, but that plan backfired. Not to me, but to you. Apologizing is the least thing I could do."

If he apologized so honestly like that, it felt weird instead. "Well, to be fair, not everything is your fault. Lu Ruan hates me, and that's not only because she thinks we have something going on between us. So, uhm…what I'm trying to say is…."

Looking at her, who tried hard to make him feel better, warmed his heart. "Thank you for saying that. Actually, that's not the only reason why I approached you."

"What is it?"

"Our last conversation was interrupted. Didn't you have something to say to me? Something about Xiaohua?"

"Ah," Li Caiyi exclaimed. She almost forgot about that. "That's right. Do you think we can talk about it today?"

"Sure. Just tell me the place and time. But will your boyfriend be okay with that? Last time, he seemed to be pretty upset seeing us together."

Li Caiyi hesitated for a moment. Li Chunhua's circumstances weren't something she could bring up that easily. She might put Dai Zhiqiang in danger if she acts carelessly.

When she woke up in the middle of the night, Dai Zhiqiang was already nowhere to be seen. He didn't attend school today, either.

In the end, they couldn't have a good talk yesterday. Worse yet, it ended with her venting her frustration and falling asleep again.

Also, there was that embarrassing episode of her 'attacking' him. Li Caiyi was ashamed of her lack of self-control. Perhaps it was good that she didn't have to meet him today.

"Earth to Xiaoyi? What are you thinking now?"

"Oh! My bad. I…will contact you later, is that okay?"

Meng Renshu smiled reassuringly. "Of course. It must be very important if you seek me out personally for it."

His words made it sound like she only came to him when it was convenient for her. Otherwise, she would chase him away like a fly.

Li Caiyi couldn't deny it and responded with dry laughter.

"Haha, don't mind it. I'm happy if you still need me in any way. I'll be waiting for good news from you, then. See you later."

Meng Renshu left with a wave of his hand. That went smoother than she thought. Thankfully, she didn't have to grovel and beg him to listen to her.

"Well, let's not think about it too deeply." She shrugged inwardly before making her way to the classroom.