Rebirth: Once Again With You

As soon as they parted, Li Caiyi saw Dai Zhiqiang licking his lips while gazing hungrily at her. She could have melted just from that fire in his eyes alone.

"Zhiqiang?" Li Caiyi called out amid her pants.

Dai Zhiqiang didn't seem to lose his breath at all. He looked eager to continue, and for the first time since she met him, she felt intimidated by the swirling darkness in his eyes.

If she didn't do something, she knew they would cross a line they would regret in the future.

Li Caiyi pushed him back with a flushed face as she tried to collect her scattered thoughts together.

"Zhiqiang, we should stop here."

"Why?" Dai Zhiqiang held on to her and grew tighter as he dipped his head again. Li Caiyi quickly prevented him by pushing his head.

"Wait! The rain has stopped, and we really need to get going. Everyone is probably waiting for us!" She said, almost half-shouting in panic.

Dai Zhiqiang didn't say anything, but she knew he was unhappy from how the corner of his lips slightly drooped. That pout was so cute that it almost softened her resolve again.

'Get a hold of yourself, Li Caiyi! Enough is enough!'

Li Caiyi berated herself inwardly before squirming her way out of his embrace. Dai Zhiqiang was clearly reluctant but couldn't prevent her from leaving. She almost could see the dog ears on his head flattened in disappointment.

He was like a big dog who was angry for getting robbed of his treat.

"Zhiqiang, I'm sorry, but we should get going now."

"I know," Dai Zhiqiang replied hoarsely. He cleared his throat and took his slightly damp clothes before wearing them again.

Li Caiyi studied his expression closely. She couldn't let him get his way every time, or he would become increasingly unruly. Nevertheless, looking at her sulky figure, she couldn't help but want to spoil him again.

"Uhm, thank you, Zhiqiang, for coming here to save me. I realized I hadn't said this yet yesterday. I was so shocked and relieved. I forgot about it."

"You don't have to thank me. When you were missing, I was always distraught, so I had to search for you myself. Or I will be driven crazy from worry."

Li Caiyi's heart warmed up hearing that. "You found me so quickly. What made you so sure that I would be below this cliff?"

"I found something on the cliff's edge, which I assumed was yours. And there was a weird crack on the tree branches near the cliff, like something had fallen through it." Dai Zhiqiang explained as he rummaged through his bag. "Is this yours?"

Li Caiyi looked down at her tumbler in Dai Zhiqiang's hand. Come to think of it, she was holding this thing all the time when she ran down the mountain. After falling, she felt it was thrown out somewhere, but she didn't expect Dai Zhiqiang to find it.

"Every sign was obvious, and I didn't want to waste time by telling others about it. So I searched for a way to get to the bottom of the cliff. That was when the weather got worse, and I saw this cave."

"I see. That is such a coincidence. I thought the rain hindered us, but it turned out to be the exact thing that made you find me," Li Caiyi laughed sheepishly.

"Yeah, maybe. But even without that rain, I don't have any intention of leaving this place before finding you. If I have to flip every leaf and stone in this mountain to find you, I'll do just that."

Dai Zhiqiang gazed at her deeply before reaching her hand. "Please don't disappear like that again. It scared me to death. If something happens to you, then I…."

His words trailed off. It seemed like he couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. Li Caiyi felt a sweet squeeze in her chest, hearing how much he had gone through to save her.

"If you are not here, I will be worried sick too." Li Caiyi calmly replied. "That's what I felt whenever you went MIA on me without words. Now that you have a taste of it, let's stop making each other worry, alright?"

"Yeah. I will not do that anymore. And also…" Dai Zhiqiang looked away from her restlessly. "About what happened just now, I won't apologize."

"Ah?" Li Caiyi tilted her head in puzzlement.

"It was your fault for being so cute in front of me. I have warned you repeatedly not to test my patience. So even if you don't like it, I won't apologize for that."

Li Caiyi suppressed the urge to burst out in laughter. Especially when Dai Zhiqiang pouted after he said that.

So even after saying all that, he was still unwilling to let that go? Li Caiyi thought she had successfully diverted his attention, but he seemed more hung up about it than she imagined.

Dai Zhiqiang used to be pretty reclusive, but as the wall around him began to crumble, he slowly revealed his different sides to her. It was like she was opening a box of gifts with many layers. And she would be pleasantly surprised by what he showed her every time.

Li Caiyi couldn't hold back the urge to pat his head.

"No, you are the cute one, you know that?"

"What's with that? Are you making fun of me?"

"How can I make fun of you? And it's not like I stopped you because I don't like it."

"Then, why? Did I scare you?"

Li Caiyi scratched her cheek awkwardly, troubled over what she should say to explain this. Meanwhile, Dai Zhiqiang gazed at her eagerly, waiting for her answer. She had no choice but to admit it now.

"I'm afraid we won't be able to stop if we continue." Li Caiyi covered her mouth as she said this, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "What are you making me say this? This is so embarrassing!"

"No, it's not embarrassing at all," Dai Zhiqiang squeezed her hand. He didn't look upset anymore and instead smiled brightly. "I'm glad to hear it's not only me who wants to go further. Thanks for being honest with me."

"What?! Don't tell me you already knew from the start, but you still make me say this?!"

"I just want to make sure. And I honestly need to thank you for that. I wasn't confident I could stop if we continued."

Dai Zhiqiang leaned in closer and whispered seductively. "I will wait until you beg me to continue."

Li Caiyi felt like her heart going to burst.