Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Xiaoyi, is it okay if we taunt Meng Shuchun like that? You know how she is," Li Chunhua said after they got some distance from the Mengs.

"Oh? It's not like you to be worried about things like these. You usually charge head-on first," Li Caiyi chuckled.

"Well, if it's just me, then I wouldn't be worried, but it seems Meng Shuchun bears a grudge towards you."

Li Caiyi shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "She is always like that to everyone. Even if we did nothing, she would always find a way to make things difficult for us."

Li Chunhua's expression was complicated as she stared at Li Caiyi, who seemed busy stuffing her mouth with various foods on the table. The more she observed her, the more she didn't understand her sister anymore. Usually, she would be the first to freak out whenever conflict happens, but now she seemed relaxed even if she was the one in the middle of that conflict.

"Xiaoyi, Xiaohua, you are here."

Li Caiyi turned her head and found Su Suyin and Li Jirong walking over to them together. They must have finished walking around if they approached them like this.

"Dad, Mom, where is Brother Jie?" Li Chunhua asked them.

"Your brother is there," Su Suyin pointed at one corner of the room, where a young man stood indifferently while leaning against the wall and playing with his phone. He was completely oblivious to the surrounding girls who gazed at him with a hungry gaze.

To be fair, Li Junjie was indeed an attractive young man, as long as he didn't open his mouth, so Li Caiyi could understand why those girls could be tricked. It would be a miracle if her brother would pay attention to those girls, though.

"More importantly, how is it, Xiaoyi?" Li Jirong suddenly asked her.

Li Cayi's brows raised in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about your relationship with Renshu, of course! Did he try to make a move on you?"

Li Caiyi was speechless. Was that the kind of question you would usually ask your daughter on occasion like this? This man really knew no boundaries.

"Father, how could he make a move on me when he isn't interested in me?"

Li Jirong snorted. "Are your eyes even functioning properly? There's no way he would do so much for you if he isn't interested in you. I already told you this, but let me tell you once again. Use this chance to grasp his heart properly, and everything will fit into the place. This is the least you can do for our family, so you have to do well."

Li Caiyi was too lazy to speak with him, so she cut the conversation short by saying, "Father, I don't think this is an appropriate time and place to discuss this. And I will also say this one more time. He is NOT interested in me, as much as I'm NOT interested in him."

Li Jirong clicked his tongue impatiently. "You are still so stubborn. Even now, you don't know what's best for you."

It felt like she was talking to a wall. Li Caiyi suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and continued stuffing her mouth. Fortunately, Li Jirong was also too lazy to argue, so he hurried away after saying his piece.

"Say, Xiaoyi…" Li Chunhua said in a low voice after their parents left.

"What is it?"

"Why do you think that Brother Renshu doesn't have any interest in you?"

Hearing that question coming from Li Chunhua felt strange for some reason. Wouldn't it be odd instead if she thought Meng Renshu would have any interest in her after what had happened in her previous life?

Of course, Li Caiyi couldn't explain the sudden change in Meng Renshu's behavior in this timeline. However, even if he acted more considerate or affectionate to her than in the past, that didn't mean he had a romantic attraction towards her. Only God knows how many times Li Caiyi was deluded into thinking that way in her previous life just because of his gentleness towards her.

In the end, that small hope was trampled ruthlessly, leaving her with disappointment.

Li Caiyi didn't want to become a fool twice, so she chose not to think deeply about the meaning behind Meng Renshu's action.

"Because I know who is it he truly interested in."

"Really? I have never heard about that. Do I know that person?" Li Chunhua asked curiously.

Li Caiyi didn't know if Li Chunhua just pretended not to know or if she was completely oblivious of Meng Renshu's feelings towards her. She said that she wasn't interested in Meng Renshu the other day, but Li Caiyi was still suspicious of her remarks. Li Chunhua probably just hadn't reached the level where her affection towards Meng Renshu had fully bloomed yet.

Either way, it was none of her business. If both of them were meant to be, they were bound to be together one day.

"I have an idea, but I won't tell you."

"Huh? Why?? Is it something you can't tell me? Sure enough, it was someone I know, right?!"

"Probably. You can ask Brother Renshu directly the next time you meet. I'm sure he will gladly tell you who it is."

"I'll ask him, then. How come I never knew about this?" Li Chunhua tilted her head in wonder.

'Because you are the person in his heart,' Li Caiyi answered inwardly. 'I hope they can truly be together in this timeline.'

***

The Li family remained at the party for the next two hours before they decided to take their leave. Currently, Meng Renshu and Qin Xiangjun were sending them off at the entrance.

"The party was amazing. Once again, congratulations for your coming-of-age, Renshu," Li Jirong laughed amiably as he patted Meng Renshu's shoulders a few times.

"Uncle and Auntie, thank you so much for coming today."

"Yes, thank you for celebrating Renshu's coming-of-age day with us," Qin Xiangjun smiled politely.

"It's not a big deal at all. Renshu is like our family member already, and I see him as my own son. How can we miss such an important day?" Li Jirong laughed merrily.

"Renshu, please come to our house again soon. Auntie will make something good for you," Su Suyin said gently.

"Yes, Auntie. I'll visit more often in the future," Meng Renshu replied. Then, he looked hesitantly towards Li Caiyi a few times before he asked, "I'm really sorry about this Auntie, Uncle, but can I ask you to let Xiaoyi stay longer? There's something I need to talk about with her."

Li Caiyi was stunned when she heard that. She had heard nothing about this beforehand. However, before she could reply, Li Jirong already went ahead of her with a wide grin on his face. "Of course, you can. I'm sure both of you have many things you want to talk about, being a partner and all!"

Li Caiyi could feel Qin Xiangjun's sharp gaze at her, and it made her hand feel clammy. She didn't want to accept, but rejecting it outright felt inappropriate right now. In the end, Li Caiyi only stood there, saying nothing.

"Thank you, Auntie and Uncle. I'll make sure to escort her safely after our business is finished." Meng Renshu said.

"Wait a minute!" Li Chunhua interrupted the conversation with a disapproving expression on her face. "If Xiaoyi stays behind, then I'll stay behind too!"

"Haha, please don't mind our Xiaohua. She is too attached to Xiaoyi, so she always wants to follow her sister whenever she goes." Li Jirong smiled awkwardly while sending an eye signal to Su Suyin, which the latter perceived almost immediately.

Li Chunhua couldn't understand what was so important to talk about that it couldn't wait until tomorrow at school. However, when Su Suyin held her hand while looking at her with an imploring and warning gaze, Li Chunhua could only swallow back her words.

Li Caiyi watched all that happened with an expressionless gaze. After listening to Meng Renshu's stories about his dream, Li Caiyi was actually curious about what he wanted to talk to her about.

Perhaps she could learn the reason if she stayed behind.