Rebirth: Once Again With You

At that time, Meng Renshu seemed like he wanted to say something, but she just rejected him completely. It caused a permanent crack in their marriage, an irreparable mistake.

After their fight, the amount of Meng Renshu coming home became less and less. She knew he was trying not to meet her as much, and although it stung her feelings, she also felt relieved at the same time.

Li Caiyi didn't know what to say to him, so in the few times they could meet in a month, they ended up not talking too much. It repeated many times, and rumors circulated that Meng Renshu and his wife weren't leading a harmonious marriage.

It was too late to do anything when Li Caiyi noticed everything had gone out of control.

Honestly, what happened during their first night was very traumatic to her. Nevertheless, she didn't expect her body to react so strongly, even after her rebirth. It was unexpected for her to collapse like that.

Seeing that dream about the past made her wonder what he wanted to say to her then?

"Yes? What did you just say?" Meng Renshu tilted his head.

Li Caiyi snapped out of her reverie when she realized she had just blurted out what she thought aloud. She shook her head before slowly retracting her hand from his hold.

"I said I'm fine, and you should go back to your class, Brother Renshu."

"Xiaoyi, what happened to you? You suddenly collapse like that. You scared me to death."

"I was just feeling under the weather today. I'm not sick or anything, just a bit tired. It would be fine if I rest some more."

Meng Renshu shook his head stubbornly. "No, I would feel uneasy all day if I left you. I'll accompany you here."

Li Caiyi was too drained to argue with him, so she turned her back on him and looked for the most comfortable position.

"Do as you please, but please don't disturb me."

"Yes, just take a rest."

Li Caiyi pulled the blanket, so it covered her whole body, feeling it was extremely cold around her. She tried to ignore Meng Renshu's presence behind her and shut her eyes tight. She hoped that this complicated feeling she had right now would disappear when she opened her eyes next.

***

Meng Renshu waited for a while, and after he made sure Li Caiyi was asleep, he moved to sit in front of her. Something must have been plaguing her mind if she could sleep so defenselessly like this while he was around. It was a pity that he wasn't someone she wanted to confide in.

He clasped her hand in his again and played with her hand a little. Looking at her peaceful sleeping face brought a sense of comfort to him.

,m "Why do you hate me so much?" Meng Renshu murmured.

He lay his head down on the bed, silently watching her sleep. The infirmary was so calm around this time, so Meng Renshu quickly felt sleepy and dozed off to the dreamland as well.

It was only two hours later did Li Caiyi finally woke up from her sleep. She tried to raise her hand so he could rub her eyes but found that something was holding her hand in place.

It surprised Li Caiyi to find Meng Renshu was still here and sleeping peacefully with his head lying on the bedside. He seemed to have developed a new hobby of holding her hand since he kept trying to do it whenever he saw the chance.

Li Caiyi sighed as she reached out to him, intending to wake him up, when his eyes suddenly opened before she could stir him awake. She flinched in surprise.

"Brother Renshu? We should go back to the classroom now." Li Caiyi said as she slid out her hand from his.

Meng Renshu: "...."

Unlike the last time, Meng Renshu said nothing. He just sat there blankly with his gaze nailed on Li Caiyi.

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?" Li Caiyi asked vigilantly.

"Is your body fine now?"

"Yeah, more or less. I'm going to return to my class, so you should do the same too."

"Yeah, I should." Meng Renshu stood up and reached for their bags on top of the bedside drawer but accidentally stumbled and almost fell on his knees, if not for his good reflexes.

The startled Li Caiyi exclaimed, "Hey, are you okay?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Meng Renshu replied, but it was clear that he wasn't focused, judging from how absentminded he was. Li Caiyi was bewildered, but she quickly brushed it off with the possibility that he still hadn't fully regained his wits after waking up.

Now that Li Caiyi had taken a complete rest, her muddled mind became clearer, and she could assess her situation more objectively. She remembered she had yet to thank him for bringing her to the infirmary, so after taking her bag from him, she politely said, "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Ah, yes. It's not a big deal."

"I'm really grateful for all your help, but there are things that would remain unchanged."

Li Caiyi took a deep breath before saying, "I can't return your feelings because I like someone else. I'm sorry."

Meng Renshu: "...."

Li Caiyi waited for a few seconds, but there was no response from him. Then again, what kind of response did she expect him to give? Anyway, she had made her points clear, and whatever he thought about it had nothing to do with her.

"That's all I can say. I'm sorry for disappointing you, but that's the truth. I will leave first, then." Li Caiyi pressed her bag against her chest before walking out of the infirmary.

Meng Renshu was rooted to his spot in silence, even when she glanced at him for the last time.

Li Caiyi couldn't help but wonder if her rejection gave him so much shock that he couldn't even budge? That didn't sound like the confident and bold Meng Renshu she knew, but she decided not to overthink it. It was none of her business.

With that in her mind, Li Caiyi left the room.

Meng Renshu plopped down in his seat and covered his eyes with his hands, feeling extremely horrible right now. His mind was in a mess, and her honest statement of liking some other guy didn't help his condition.

The amount of rejection kept piling up, but this might be the first time his tongue completely stiffened up, and he couldn't come up with anything to say.

"What was that dream just now?" Meng Renshu muttered uneasily.

His eyes bulged in disbelief as cold sweat ran down his spine. He was grateful that Li Caiyi didn't notice something was off with him. He used to be very confident that he could make her look his way, but he couldn't be so sure after having that dream.

Meng Renshu had always been anxious, but now that anxiety heightened to another level. His hand became clammy whenever he remembered what he had just seen.

"Is that why she hates me so much?" Meng Renshu laughed bitterly before covering his face with both hands in frustration.