Rebirth: Once Again With You

When they left the house, Li Chunhua walked briskly and left the three behind as if she was running from something. Li Caiyi sighed, looking at her sister's back but not chasing after her.

Li Caiyi did feel sorry for her, but she needed to say what she had to say, eventually. If she did not want to end up in the same fate as in her previous life, she had to face Li Chunhua face to face.

Although they were twins, they could not be together forever. Li Caiyi hoped Li Chunhua could understand that.

It did not look like she understood or was willing to understand that now, though. The current Li Chunhua was still bound by her fear, and her mind had yet to mature.

Meng Renshu and Li Junjie also felt the heavy atmosphere between the twins. Meng Renshu did not want to anger Li Caiyi accidentally, so he nudged his friend's arm and signaled him.

Li Junjie only gave a brief acknowledgment before he asked Li Caiyi.

"Aren't you going to chase her?"

"No. It's fine. This is bound to happen whether or not she likes it. Xiaohua needs time for herself."

Li Junjie stared at her sister with a stony expression, feeling that the girl in front of him was like an unfamiliar person. It was not a bad change, but the whole family became disarray lately. Li Junjie did not know if it was a good thing or not to break the balance of their family.

He was not blind to Li Jirong's mistreatment of Li Caiyi, so Li Junjie was not surprised when Li Caiyi finally snapped. What he did not expect was the change she brought to herself, which also influenced those around her. It would be good if she could keep her change in moderation.

"You have become maturer," Li Junjie said. "I'm glad."

Li Caiyi raised her head in surprise. Her older brother was actually praising her! How long had it been since the last time he praised her? Or anyone, for that matter?

"Th-thank you, Brother," Li Caiyi said bashfully. For some reason, it felt different when Li Junjie was the one who said it. He was usually very indifferent, so knowing that he paid attention to her made her heart skip a beat.

Li Junjie did not notice this and received another nudge from Meng Renshu. He understood what Meng Renshu was trying to do, so he wasted no more time and picked up his pace. "I have to do a review before class starts. I will go on ahead."

"What? Brother Jie, wait for me!" Li Caiyi did not want to be left alone with Meng Renshu, so she hurriedly wanted to chase after her brother, but she was held back by her bag by Meng Renshu.

Li Caiyi looked back and found Meng Renshu, who grinned mischievously at her. "Where do you think you are going?"

"To school, of course. Please let go of my bag, Brother Renshu."

"No, I can't do that. If I release you, who knows what you will do next to avoid me?" Meng Renshu smiled at her, but his eyes were not smiling.

Li Caiyi gulped nervously. Meng Renshu might look like an amicable and gentle person on the outside, but he could be very decisive and ruthless if he wanted to. It seemed he finally reached the limit of his patience. When he was like this, there was no use running away anymore.

Li Caiyi sighed. She sometimes hated herself for knowing Meng Renshu's personality too well. It resulted from years following him around like a loyal dog, so the habit had been ingrained in her body. Li Caiyi knew everything about this man, yet she knew almost nothing about Dai Shenqiang. It was frustrating.

"Fine. Let's talk as we walk," Li Caiyi relented. Meng Renshu smiled in satisfaction, and he finally let her go.

Meng Renshu walked beside her, but he could tell Li Caiyi scooted away from him to keep a safe distance. She looked like a feisty and cautious kitten. It was cute.

"You don't have to be so wary of me. I won't bite you," He chuckled.

Li Caiyi believed Meng Renshu was a gentleman, but she could not help it if her body refused to be anywhere within one meter from him.

"I feel more comfortable this way. You must have something to talk about if you even chase my brother away to have some time with me, right?"

"Oh? Have I been found out? Haha, it's a bit embarrassing," Meng Renshu scratched his cheek. "But you are right. We have something to talk about, don't we?"

Li Caiyi did not like to drag on this matter any longer, so she went straight to the point. "What is your purpose? From the way you kept appearing around me these days, I found it hard to believe that all of that was a mere coincidence."

"Did you always have so little trust in me? Most of our encounters were purely coincidental, I assure you. I'm a bit hurt you think of me as such a person, Xiaoyi."

"Then how about this morning? I doubted you wanted to go to the school together with us. If that's truly the reason, then why didn't you stop Xiaohua and Brother Jie from leaving ahead of us?"

Meng Renshu fell into a deep silence. Li Caiyi stared at his side profile and felt like it had been long since she last saw his face properly.

He used to be the person she loved the most in the world.

Li Caiyi thought they could live in harmony until they got old, even if he didn't love her. He did not love her, but Li Caiyi figured she could fill the gap between them with her love. Meng Renshu was kind, so he would not mistreat her if she stayed by his side loyally.

How wrong she could be. She was clearly overestimating her self-worth.

Meng Renshu was kind to her, as long as it did not concern the one he truly loved with all of his heart. Li Caiyi was the foolish one who thought that she got a place in his heart, even as a good friend or sister. His gentleness made her believe she was someone important to him too, so when he abandoned her without even wanting to see her for the last time, her hope and heart shattered for good.

That was until Dai Shenqiang came and picked up the pieces for her.

The current Li Caiyi was not that pathetic person who would nod her head to each of his requests anymore. If he would not answer, then she just needed to force him to talk.

"Is Uncle Yaozu the one who told you to do this?"

Meng Renshu's brows twitched.