Rebirth: Once Again With You

It was very warm and pleasant to be in skin-to-skin contact with him. Li Caiyi's head got fuzzy from all the heat.

"Caiyi, are you sleepy?"

"En. I think I might fall asleep at this rate."

Dai Zhiqiang closed her eyes with his hand before adding, "Just sleep then. I don't think the rain will stop anytime soon. I'll keep watch."

Li Caiyi wanted to refuse initially. The times when they could leisurely spend time together like this had become so rare lately. She wanted to talk more and relish the moment in a sober state, but her body betrayed her wish.

Now that she wasn't alone and didn't need to be so alert anymore, all the tension left her body, and the weariness assaulted her.

"Then, can I sleep for a bit? You can sleep  too if you want."

"Don't worry about me. You have gone through a lot today. Rest."

Li Caiyi hummed comfortably when his big hand stroked her head repeatedly like he was trying to lull a child to sleep. It was actually a bit funny because she was supposed to be the adult one, but Li Caiyi was too tired to pay attention to that.

She scooted closer to him in search of a more comfortable position. That was when her hand accidentally brushed against his belly.

"Hm?" Li Caiyi looked down in puzzlement, wondering what that bumpy texture was just now.

Dai Zhiqiang let out a low growl when she began to fondle his firm belly. With a quick movement, he caught her hand in his.

"Didn't I tell you to behave yourself? By touching me like that, do you know what you sign yourself into?"

Li Caiyi blushed at his suggestive question and quickly replied, "No, it's not like that. I just felt something bumpy and wondered what it was! But why do you have a stitched wound on your belly?"

"I wasn't careful when dealing with troublemakers in the bar, so some glass fragments hurt me. That's all."

Li Caiyi's facial muscles tightened hearing that. She looked down again to examine his wound once again. "But this wound seems to be pretty wide. Does it still hurt?"

"Yes, it does. Stop touching me there."

"Ah, sorry!" Li Caiyi retracted her hand almost immediately. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Dai Zhiqiang sighed. "It hurts, but not that kind of hurt."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind. Just don't touch me carelessly anymore." Dai Zhiqiang averted his eyes, and Li Caiyi's eyes widened when she saw the redness on the tip of his ears.

Usually, it was him who teased her, and she would get flustered. But currently, the role was reversed. Dai Zhiqiang looked cute, acting all embarrassed like that; it made her heart swell with affection.

"Alright, I won't touch you. But why didn't you ever tell me about this before? All this time, I never knew you were secretly enduring the pain from a big wound like this." Li Caiyi said dejectedly.

"I just don't want you to worry about me."

"Do you think I wouldn't feel worried if I knew about it later? You are always keeping something from me and bear everything alone. Honestly, what do you take me for? Am I your girlfriend or not?"

Dai Zhiqiang could tell she was agitated. He shouldn't have accepted her offer to cuddle if he knew it would turn out like this. He didn't like it when she looked so upset and lonely like that.

"I know. It's my fault for not confiding in you. I'm very sorry for upsetting you."

"You said that. But I bet you will still do the same if things like this happen again."

"I won't. I promise I will tell you when I get hurt next time." Dai Zhiqiang pulled her into his embrace and kissed her on the forehead.

"Why don't you go to sleep? I bet you are exhausted now."

"Don't try to change the topic. I'm not done yet with you," Li Caiyi answered but made no attempt to shake him off. "I feel you don't trust me enough to tell me about important stuff like this. Even though you are very important to me."

"I'm sorry. I was too absorbed in my own matters and being inconsiderate towards you. You are so patient and understanding that I got too ahead of myself."

,m Li Caiyi said nothing, so Dai Zhiqiang continued. "This is why I don't want you to spoil me too much. If you do that, I'll become more greedy and selfish. It was my fault this time, so please forgive me."

All the hidden frustration she had been holding back all this time broke when she heard that. Thinking back, it wasn't because she was generous that she had never complained about it before. It was more because she was afraid Dai Zhiqiang would hate her if she was too clingy.

However, she wouldn't let him pass easily this time. Even when he got hurt badly, he refused to tell her anything. That was just too much.

"I know you are busy and have your own life, but I'm your girlfriend. Give me some credit and rely on me more, alright? Even if I can't help you, at least I want to know when you are hurt or just having a bad day. If not, then what am I to you?"

"Yeah. This is all my fault, so don't cry, okay? I can't see you cry. It will hurt me."

Li Caiyi didn't know if it was because she was too exhausted or it was because she never openly talked about what she felt about their relationship; she couldn't rein her emotions well.

Li Caiyi couldn't lift her head, knowing that her expression must have looked like a mess. The welled-up frustration just exploded at once.

Dai Zhiqiang only kept quiet when she heard a muffled sob from her. He pulled her closer to him, hoping it would give her a sense of comfort.

After a while, the sobbing quieted down. Li Caiyi's body was leaning limply on him, with her eyes closed tightly. Dai Zhiqiang smiled helplessly, looking at her sleeping face.

"Sleep well. I hope you have a good dream."

He dipped down and kissed her lips, relishing the warmth and softness of her lips before sighing in satisfaction. He felt a lot better compared to before.

Outside the cave, the rain was pouring heavily. Dai Zhiqiang silently planned the way to get out from there in his head.

After some time, he slowly nodded off too. How long has it been since the last time he was held and held someone so dearly like this? Ever since his mother left, he never experienced it again.

Only in front of this girl did he could lower his guard.

The smell of lavender and her warm temperature soothed his nerves, making his eyelids grow heavier with each second.

'Let's just take a shut-eye for a while.' He thought inwardly as she cradled her to a more comfortable position for both of them.

The rain turned into a raging storm outside, but Dai Zhiqiang couldn't feel any more peaceful place beside her side right then.