Rebirth: Once Again With You

Stunned by his words, Li Caiyi's heart almost stopped for a moment.

In her opinion, all of Meng Renshu's affection towards her stemmed from guilt and misunderstanding. Now that he had regained his memories, he should be clear of who was the one he loved the most in the world and snap out from his confusion.

Yet he still said that. Li Caiyi couldn't understand what was going on in his head.

"Do you realize what you are saying right now? You know that is like a love confession to me, right?"

"Of course. That's why I said that."

"Then why are you doing that?"

"Why else? Because I like you." Meng Renshu said in a matter-of-fact tone, further confusing Li Caiyi.

"Didn't you say you remember some pieces of the past? Did you forget Xiaohua is the love of your life?"

Meng Renshu's face darkened, and it was almost like he was pissed when she said that. "You are still saying that? How often do I have to tell you before you understand that I have no romantic feelings toward Xiaohua anymore?"

"I mean, how am I supposed to believe that after what I have been through?"

Li Caiyi didn't mean to be sarcastic when she said that, but Meng Renshu's frown deepened as he gave her a warning look.

"I admitted that I once held some feelings for her, but the moment we got married, I stopped entertaining that feeling. Although our marriage didn't happen because of love, I have always respected you as my wife."

Looking at how Meng Renshu said those things righteously made Li Caiyi snort. She didn't want to care or think about past events, but hearing him saying that ignited various unpleasant emotions to build up inside her, to the point she couldn't help but become spiteful about it.

"If you were trying to tell a joke, congratulations, you succeeded. I'm sorry, but I probably misremember you as someone else because the person I married was certainly different from what you said. Not even close!"

"Xiaoyi, you might not believe me, but that's the truth." Meng Renshu said weakly. Sadness and regret were prominent in his eyes. "I was too stubborn and prideful to reach out to you first, but what I wanted since the beginning has always been the same. I want to live happily with you until we grow old."

When she heard his confession, Li Caiyi knew this conversation would end badly.

She dug her nails into her palm, trying not to jump forward and attack that handsomely pretty face. After he abandoned her ruthlessly in the past, the nerve of him to talk like that!

What she wanted wasn't revenge or seeking redemption from him. She just wanted him to leave her alone. If only he didn't say such things and forcefully opened the perfectly sealed box deep inside her heart, then she wouldn't feel miserable like this.

"Have you had enough?" Li Caiyi asked in a dangerously low voice. She forcefully suppressed the anger which threatened to make tears spill from her eyes and continued, "Meng Renshu, I have no interest in looking back to the past, so I'd appreciate it if you don't bring it up carelessly in front of me."

Meng Renshu studied her expression and said firmly, "No. I think you need to hear this. Xiaoyi, everything you think happened between Xiaohua and me was false. Although I did find her company comfortable, I never crossed the line I shouldn't."

"So what? You wanted me to grovel and thank you for that?" Li Caiyi sneered. "It didn't change the fact that you neglected me many times to accompany her."

'I hate this so much. I should stop. Please don't say anymore.'

"Xiaoyi, I rarely come home because I can't face you properly after our first night. Since you hated me so much you trembled at the sight of me, I thought I should keep my distance from you. I was drunk that night, but I genuinely believed our feelings were mutual, and we both enjoyed it."

"Ha. What a joke. You don't even know anything."

"Yes. I was a fool for not remembering my mistake that night. Anything I said right now will sound like an excuse, but I never took you as Xiaohua's substitute. That night, I touched you because it was you."

Meng Renshu gazed at her earnestly, like he was trying to convey every bit of his sincerity. Li Caiyi was initially shocked, knowing he remembered what happened that night. But she soon let out self-mocking laughter.

"Even if what you said is true, there is no turning back to the past. Meng Renshu, there is no point bringing up that now, don't you think?"

"I know. But I don't want you to keep misunderstanding my feelings towards you."

'I should really stop. There is no use talking about this. I don't want to feel this horrible feeling again.'

Li Caiyi repeated those lines in her head, trying to convince herself. If she let this continue, she would demand an explanation for every little thing in the end.

She knew that, yet she couldn't resist the urge to ask a question that had always been a thorn in her flesh.

"Why did you abandon me in the end, then?"

Meng Renshu had a painful expression on his face. He closed his eyes as he hung his head low. "That's not it."

"The handwriting in that divorce paper is undoubtedly yours. You said you want to live happily with me until we grow old, but the reality is you always have thought of divorcing me. Meng Renshu, do you take me for a fool?"

Meng Renshu had so much to say to her. So much feeling he wanted to convey. But at this moment, faced with Li Caiyi's heartbroken face, he couldn't utter any words.

The past Li Caiyi overlapped with her teenager self in front of him, and a piercing pain assaulted his heart.

Even though the divorce was initiated by Meng Shuchun, if he didn't keep that divorce paper with his signature inside his study room, that tragedy would never have happened. He should have ripped that paper or burned it while he had a chance.

Why did everything have to end like that? Meng Renshu regretted it so much that he wanted to bang his head on the wall every time he recalled the worst choice in his life, which cost him the life of the most precious person.

Li Caiyi swallowed the bitterness in her throat and took a deep breath. His silence was all confirmation she needed.

"Now you understand why it's useless to talk about this?"

There was no anger or reprimand in her tone. Only exhaustion and resignation. Meng Renshu's heart felt like it was ripped into pieces.

"Meng Renshu, let's just stop. Please let me live this time. I beg you." Li Caiyi implored softly before she rose from her seat and walked out of the room.

Left without words, Meng Renshu put his head on the table with a hooded expression. That girl probably didn't know how much damage she had brought upon him.

Li Caiyi not only defeated him but crushed him to the ground.

"She sure knows how to break a man's heart in the most hurtful way. What a vicious woman."

Meng Renshu let out a self-deprecating laugh in the still and silent room.