Rebirth: Once Again With You

Li Caiyi felt dizzy after being dragged away so suddenly. However, she turned sober again when she heard a very familiar voice.

When she looked up, she found Meng Renshu with a face red from anger and stood up in front of them. He glared menacingly at Dai Zhiqiang, but the latter only stared at him blankly, unbothered by his abrupt arrival.

"B-Brother Renshu, why are you here?" Li Caiyi stuttered, without knowing whether she should feel relieved or embarrassed at the moment.

Meng Renshu must have seen that steamy scene. She felt mortified and wanted nothing but to leave both of them and lock herself inside her room.

"That's not important right now. Xiaoyi, you shouldn't get close to him. He is dangerous."

Meng Renshu reached out his hand with an urgent look on his face. He stood with a vigilant stance, preparing for a sudden incoming attack.

The grip on her shoulders tightened again. Any more than this, and it would probably leave a bruise. Li Caiyi had to grit her teeth so she wouldn't cringe in pain.

"Brother Renshu, I'm sorry you have to see an ugly scene like that, but I'm fine. We are just arguing a bit, and we will settle it ourselves. Thank you very much."

"No! Can't you see what he had done to you? He was trying to force himself on you!"

Li Caiyi couldn't deny that, but she had to. "We will take care of this by ourselves. Please go ahead if you don't have anything to say to me."

Meng Renshu looked at her in bafflement. Li Caiyi avoided his eyes out of guilt while he glared furiously at Dai Zhiqiang, who remained expressionless, with his arms encircling her slender body, like vines.

"Bastard. You finally show your true color. I know you can't be trusted from the beginning."

If looks could kill, then Dai Zhiqiang probably had already torn to pieces by now. Meng Renshu hated him very much. If Li Caiyi's theory was correct, then Dai Zhiqiang was the last person who saw her alive, and he didn't even try to stop her.

Who could guarantee he wouldn't do the same this time? Li Caiyi clearly refused his advance just now, but he persisted. If he were to drag her to her death again, Meng Renshu would completely lose it this time.

"Senior Meng, you seem can't understand the current situation. You are the unwanted third party, so can I ask you to kindly leave us alone?"

Meng Renshu scoffed. "Ha. Trying to provoke me? Too bad, but you can't stop me. Xiaoyi will come with me whether she likes it or not."

"She already refused you. Are you that desperate you even want to force her to do something she doesn't like?"

"Look who's speaking. A scoundrel who forced himself on a weak girl has no right to say that."

Li Caiyi watched as they threw knives at each other. There was no space for her to interrupt at all.

"But are we really the same? Yi Yi is just too shy, but she never said she didn't like it." Dai Zhiqiang smirked before pressing his lips on her neck again.

He kissed her on the place where he bit her, and it was still sensitive from his assault before. Li Caiyi shuddered, and her face flushed instantly. Dai Zhiqiang smiled victoriously.

"See? She would enjoy it more if it weren't for a tactless person who didn't know his place broke the mood."

Meng Renshu clenched his fist. He wanted nothing but to lunge forward and give him a fierce beating. But he wasn't stupid enough to fall for his trick. Dai Zhiqiang must have wanted him to lose control, making her opinion of him plummet.

"Stop that. You are making her uncomfortable. She can't even lift her head anymore. And in case you didn't notice, you almost made her cry. Venting your frustration on your innocent girlfriend, just how despicable can you be? I will not forgive you if you make her cry. You are unworthy!"

Li Caiyi could feel him twitch a bit. This time, Dai Zhiqiang didn't respond but only stared at Meng Renshu coldly. The air was thick with tension and full of friction, prickling her skin.

Should a fight break out here, she would be the one getting scolded. Using Dai Zhiqiang's momentary distraction, Li Caiyi wiggled his way out of his embrace.

Both boys were taken aback when she stood between them while giving each of them a scowl.

"Leave now, both of you. Why are you causing a stir at other people's places? If you don't leave now, I'll call security!"

"Xiaoyi—"

"Yi Yi—"

"Shut up, just go away! I'm tired and have no energy to deal with you guys! You'd better leave when I ask you nicely, or I will have to ask security to escort you out!

Li Caiyi didn't spare them a look again as he entered her room and slammed the door in front of them.

She felt so annoyed. What's with them? Talking about her as if she was some kind of property.

"Hmph, they can go fight all they want. I don't care anymore."

***

For the rest of the week, Li Caiyi refused to respond to Dai Zhiqiang. He would call and send a bunch of texts, but she felt no inclination to reply.

Thinking back, he was the one who never had time for her. So why did he get so angry when he was left in the dark? It wasn't like she did it on purpose. She had a reason why she couldn't tell him, and wasn't he the one who was filled with secrets here?

Li Caiyi was in a grumpy mood, and it even scared her friends away. Thankfully they were considerate enough to give her some space, unlike a certain someone.

Because of him, she had to wear a turtleneck under her uniform again.

"Shit, I feel like crap. What is he, an animal? He can't speak with words, so he bites me instead?"

​ She hadn't forgiven him for doing that to her without her consent, and he just made it worse by showing off in front of Meng Renshu. It was so humiliating.

That was why she refused to talk to him until he reflected on his action. So far, it didn't seem like he was aware of his fault. So far, his messages only asked her how she was doing or whether she had eaten yet.

This was their first 'cold war', and Li Caiyi wouldn't surrender until he apologized.

In contrast to her dark face, Li Chunhua beamed like the lightest bulb in the box. She had been pointing at a good birthday plan for their birthday, but Li Caiyi was very unresponsive. Her sister only replied with vague 'Yes', or 'Sounds good', and it began to irk her.

"Xiaoyi, can't you be more serious about this?" Li Chunhua sulked.

Li Caiyi felt bad for her, but she really wasn't in the mood for this. "Sorry, but I have a lot of things on my mind right now. I'm sure everything you decided on is great, so can I leave it to you?"

"Did something happen? We have kicked Lu Ruan out, so what else could you possibly have in mind?" Li Chunhua squints suspiciously at her, "Don't tell me you are having a fight with that nerd loner?"

As sharp as always. Li Caiyi sighed in exasperation. "I wouldn't call it a fight, but I don't want to talk to him for the time being."

Li Chunhua beamed even brighter when she heard that. "Really?"

"Why do you look so happy?"

"Ah? Did I? Geez, there's no way." Li Chunhua waved her hand, but her smile grew even wider. Her mood seemed better than when she chirped about their birthday plan. "So what did he do? Did he finally unleash his true color and attack you like a beast?"

Li Caiyi almost choked. What is she? A psychic?

"He is always eyeing you with lustful eyes, so I won't be surprised if he couldn't take it anymore. He acted like a harmless puppy in front of you, but I know he is actually a wolf. No, all men are wolves! You can't trust them! Ever!"

Listening to her sister's words made her head ache more, so Li Caiyi silently slipped away while she was too busy preaching.