Rebirth: Once Again With You

The attractions Dai Zhiqiang chose for them were all surprisingly in line with her taste. Li Caiyi only went along with him at first. But soon, she found herself smiling and laughing as she enjoyed the rides.

Beside her, Dai Zhiqiang gazed at her fondly while occasionally putting his hand in front of her protectively. The ride could be wild sometimes, and he was worried she would get hurt.

Li Caiyi noticed his attentiveness and felt the warmth spreading inside her. She was also aware that their hands kept naturally searching for each other throughout their date.

It felt like they had returned to the past, making her extremely happy.

The time passed by quickly when you were having fun. The sky had turned dark before she knew it, and she had lost count of how many times they made a trip around the park.

After walking down from the rollercoaster, they sat on the bench nearby, and Dai Zhiqiang offered to buy them a drink. Li Caiyi agreed, and he immediately went to get it. Stretching out her arms leisurely, she felt so free and relaxed.

It had been so long since Li Caiyi went to an amusement park. Perhaps this might be the first time she came here after her regression. That must be why it felt so nostalgic, and she found this place more endearing than before.

Thinking back, she and Dai Zhiqiang also went to the amusement park on their first and last date in their previous life. At that time, she was the one who pulled him all over the place, so it was funny that the opposite happened now.

However, Li Caiyi didn't dislike proactive Dai Zhiqiang. On the contrary, she liked it so much that she hoped this happy time would last forever.

Not long after that, Dai Zhiqiang came back with two cups of drink in his hand. He gave one of them to her before sitting down beside her.

"Ah. This is so fresh!" Li Caiyi exclaimed in bliss. Dai Zhiqiang noticed she emptied half of her cup in one sip. She must be very thirsty.

"If you want, you can drink mine too. I'm not too thirsty."

"Eh, it's okay. You finish it. Besides, it's about time we returned after all. I had such a blast today, and it's all thanks to you. Do you have fun too?"

"En. I have fun for the first time in a long time," Dai Zhiqiang said softly while looking at her intensely. "Li Caiyi, you are prettier when you smile. I hope you keep smiling like you do today."

That line almost made her choke on her drink. It came out of nowhere and caught her off guard.

"W-What?"

"I meant what I said. I always hope you will forever have a smile on your face, and only happiness will come your way. That's why I want you to stay far away from me if being with me is painful for you."

"I don't understand. Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

A sense of melancholy tinted his eyes before he smiled vaguely. "I don't know either. Maybe I'm just too tired, so I'm speaking nonsense."

Li Caiyi was somehow at a loss for words to say. What did he mean by that? It was like he was deliberately implying that she shouldn't expect too much from him because she would be unhappy when she was with him.

When he said it like that, Li Caiyi suddenly felt upset.

"Are you going to leave far away again? Because you thought it's the best for us? For me?"

Dai Zhiqiang: "...."

"No wonder you acted differently today. Is it like a parting gift for me or something?"

"You are wrong. I just…." Dai Zhiqiang's words trailed off. "I don't know how to make it up for all the pain I caused you in the last six years."

"Dai Zhiqiang, we have already broken up. Do you want to know why I didn't push you away even after the wound you inflicted on me?"

Dai Zhiqiang didn't answer, so Li Caiyi continued after taking a deep breath, "Because I feel unhappier when you aren't with me. I know I'm being stupid, and I should bury my feelings for you, but this isn't something I can control. That's why can you stop saying things like you will disappear on me again? Why must you hurt me like this?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean like that."

"If you are sorry, stop saying things you didn't mean and start acting on what you truly mean!" Li Caiyi turned away from him in frustration.

However, Dai Zhiqiang firmly grabbed her chin and forced her to look his way.

"En. I will show you what I mean then."

A second later, a warm kiss descended on her lips. It was a gentle kiss filled with longing that lasted only briefly before he pulled away, but it was enough to elevate her soul to the sky.

Dai Zhiqiang seemed embarrassed as well because people were watching them. He usually looked calm and indifferent, so the blush on his face tugged on her heartstring.

"Why?" Li Caiyi asked in the middle of her daze.

"You said I should show you what I mean, and that's what I did. I have always wanted to kiss you since the first time we met again."

Oblivious to how his words almost made her heart burst, Dai Zhiqiang shifted his gaze to her again. This time he held her hand gently. "Li Caiyi, I also feel unhappy when I can't see you. I shouldn't have met you at that party. If it weren't for that, my yearning for you wouldn't have become this bad."

Li Caiyi gulped nervously. Does that mean he wanted to get back together with her?

She almost got conceited ideas again, but then Xia Rouyue's face came into her mind, popping all her fantasy bubbles.

"But what about Xia Rouyue? You said you have no romantic relationship with her, but why did you two come back together?"

"It's not like you think," Dai Zhiqiang's hold on her tightened. "I…owed Xia Rouyue a big time. And I need her help with something. Just like me, Xia Rouyue doesn't think of me as anything but a friend. You don't have to worry about that."

"Owe her something? Can I ask what that is?"

Dai Zhiqiang was reluctant as he replied, "She saved me once in the past. And because of that, she had to lose something precious to her. I want to do anything I can to help her this time."

Li Caiyi silently listened to his explanation. Was there really nothing between them other than that? Dai Zhiqiang was probably telling the truth about how he felt nothing but gratitude for her, but what about Xia Rouyue?

Li Caiyi had some doubts, but she didn't want to overcomplicate things anymore. If she intended to prevent Dai Zhiqiang's road of destruction, she had to stick by his side from now on.

Suppressing the discomfort in her, she smiled, "Thank you for explaining to me. I believe in you."

Dai Zhiqiang brightened up hearing that. He pulled her to him and hugged her gently.

"Thank you. I know it must be hard for you to trust me again, so I won't ask for us to get back together for now. Let's slowly mend up our relationships, alright?"

Li Caiyi only nodded her head, prompting him to release her. "Are you hungry? How about if we have dinner next?"