Rebirth: Once Again With You

After having dinner together, Li Caiyi left the hospital. She didn't immediately return to Shao Jingfei's place but wandered around to take her mind off things.

Li Caiyi was only planning to take a breather, but her feet had brought her to Rose Bar before she knew it. The sense of emptiness was still there, even after spending some time with her family. She wanted to talk to someone; however, she didn't want to tell her friends about this.

The only one that came to her mind was him.

Li Caiyi looked up at the building, foolishly hoping that Dai Zhiqiang would suddenly appear before her again, like last time.

He told her not to wander around alone too much there, but she couldn't resist the urge to meet him right now.

Li Caiyi took out her phone and dialed his number, but sure enough, he didn't pick up again. It had been a while since Li Caiyi felt disappointed for not hearing things from him.

She didn't know if there was any use, but she still sent a message to him nonetheless.

[Li Caiyi: What are you doing? Can you come out for a moment? Please don't be mad, but I want to see you].

After the message was sent, she realized how stupid she was behaving. Dai Zhiqiang had told her he wouldn't be able to reply, so what was the point of doing this?

Li Caiyi sighed before pocketing her phone and casting the last look towards the building before walking away. She had just taken a step when a droplet of water hit her nose. It seemed like it was going to rain soon.

"Just my luck," Li Caiyi sighed as she opened her palm while looking at the starless sky above. This was probably the sign from heaven, telling her to go home soon. It made her feel more depressed.

Her mind was murky, and her body was tired. She would kill to have a relaxing dip in warm water right now.

Li Caiyi didn't understand why she felt like this. She thought she would be happy if Li Jirong finally left their life, but forget about joy; she didn't even feel the slightest bit of satisfaction. The relief only lasted for a while before emptiness replaced it.

"At least those three wouldn't feel pressured by that man anymore. That is a good thing, at least." Li Caiyi murmured to no one.

She was too distraught by her thoughts and just let people pass by her as she walked slowly. Everyone scattered around to seek shelter, yet Li Caiyi couldn't even be bothered to do that. Perhaps she would feel better after letting the rain wash away this gloomy feeling.

With that train of thought, it didn't take long for her shoulder to be soaked wet. She might catch a cold after this, but that probably would be better because she needed time to process everything right now.

Then, as she walked, she noticed that the rain seemed to stop pouring above her. Li Caiyi looked up, only to find a black umbrella covering her. Her mind instantly regained its sharpness as she jerked her head behind, wanting to know who the person who sneaked up behind her was without her noticing.

When she turned her head, Li Caiyi was astonished to find a face she longed to see standing behind her.

This time, he didn't wear a cat mask or anything. Perhaps that was why Li Caiyi felt so emotional as her gaze met with that pair of black eyes, which were darker than the starless sky above them.

"Why are you strolling when it's raining? You'll get a cold." Dai Zhiqiang said with the familiar deep voice she knew. Now, his voice wasn't muffled by the mask, so it sounded very pleasant to her ears.

Li Caiyi was so overwhelmed she was at a loss for words to say.

Dai Zhiqiang noticed something was amiss immediately, judging from her downcast look. "What happened? Why are you looking so sad?"

Did she look like that? But she didn't feel sad at all.

Dai Zhiqiang reached out to hold her hand gently. "Come. Let's look for a shelter first."

He pulled her to follow him, and like a weightless feather, Li Caiyi let him pull her. As long as it was with him, anywhere was better.

Dai Zhiqiang took her to a quiet and secluded place from the crowded street. It was more like the narrow alley between two stores rather than a place of shelter. But the rain didn't reach there, so it would do for them.

The alley was pretty dim with minimal lighting, but Li Caiyi could still clearly see Dai Zhiqiang's figure. Or more precisely, he was the only thing she could see in her eyes right now.

Dai Zhiqiang folded his umbrella before turning his head to her. He squinted when she noticed her wet outerwear.

"Take it off."

It took Li Caiyi a few seconds to be able to let out a response. "HUH???"

Her cold body immediately heated when she finally registered what he had told her. They were currently in a secluded and dimly lit place. A boy and a girl with no one around. She couldn't help but feel self-conscious when she suddenly heard such a line come out of his mouth.

Li Caiyi subconsciously crossed her hand in front of her chest. "W-what are you talking about?"

"Your cardigan. It's wet. You should take it off for now and wear this." Dai Zhiqiang said before taking off his blazer, revealing the white shirt he wore beneath.

"Oh!" Li Caiyi exclaimed in embarrassment. Her face flushed even harder, knowing that she was the only one overthinking things.

Thinking back, she once told Dai Zhiqiang to 'take his clothes off', and he seemed to act weirdly then. Now she understood the reason.

She cleared her throat awkwardly before saying, "Thank you, but it's okay. My cardigan is not that drenched, and you'll feel cold if you only wear a piece of clothing."

"I'm different from you. I won't feel cold easily. If you keep wearing wet clothes, you'll catch a cold." Dai Zhiqiang insisted on a finality tone, which didn't allow any rebuttal.

Li Caiyi let out a small smile, feeling happy about his care. She didn't argue anymore and accepted his blazer. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt the lingering warmth of his body on that blazer.

"Thank you, Zhiqiang." Li Caiyi said shyly before turning her body slightly and taking off her cardigan.

Dai Zhiqiang watched her slowly unbutton her cardigan, not knowing why he couldn't take his eyes off her, despite knowing he should.

His gaze followed her finger's movement closely, and Li Caiyi, who was oblivious to that, casually took off her cardigan. She wore a light blue shirt underneath, and the top part of it was drenched from the rain, making it glued to her skin and transparent.

Dai Zhiqiang's gaze darkened when he could faintly see her bra line under her shirt through the drenched part.

He could see how her wet shirt hugged her form tightly and how strands of her hair stuck onto her fair nape from where he stood. Droplets of water also rolled down from her hair to her neck.

The sight was very charming, with subtle sensuality, and Dai Zhiqiang felt he had sinned from staring too fervently.