Rebirth: Once Again With You

Despite saying something wicked, his voice sounded dangerously peaceful, almost hypnotizing.

Meng Yaoshu gently caressed his wife's hair fondly, but the latter quickly removed herself from him with disgust written all over her face.

"I knew it." Qing Xiangjun spat.

"So what if you know it? Would you go out and tell everyone the truth, and ruin our family? I know the reason you stick with me even when you hate me. You can't do anything."

Qing Xiangjun: "...."

"It's not that hard. You just need to pretend you didn't see anything, didn't hear anything, and knew nothing about the incident. Then we will be freed from our 'obligation' and reach a new level of greatness, with the annoying Li family finally out of the picture. Isn't it your wish to marry your children to great people too? Not a mere nobody like Li Caiyi?"

"...Alright. I'll do as you say."

Once again, Li Caiyi had to taste how bitter the reality was. Even if she went in and threw a tantrum, nothing would change. With her only supporter gone, she had no one to rely on.

She could try accusing Meng Yaoshu, but with no proof, people would only treat her as a joke.

It took all her time to move away from her spot and return to her room. There, she changed back to her original clothes before leaving the Meng residence.

The rain poured even harder than before and felt heavy on her shoulder. She had just warmed her body up from the bath, but it quickly dissipated under the relentless rain.

If only it could wash the anguish in her body away as well.

Li Caiyi didn't bother to stop the taxi and walked back to her house. It was the place where she lived with Meng Renshu for three years, yet it didn't quite feel like her home. However, that was the only place she could return to.

People looked at her weirdly as they passed by, as she strolled leisurely without an umbrella or raincoat as if she didn't care about the rain.

Li Caiyi had never felt reassured by having people look at her like that. At least it made her think she was there and not in some other place.

Honestly, she was confused by how she could still stand and walk, as she felt a part of her had died when she discovered the truth. Everything didn't feel real.

Everything she heard before put a heavy weight on her mind. If she wanted to prove her innocence, she had to face her father-in-law, and that feat was nearly impossible for her.

No one believed her or waited for her. Under this gloomy sky, she really was alone.

"Now, what should I do?" Li Caiyi muttered to herself. She gazed emptily at the busy road and watched vehicles go back and forth. A disturbing thought came to her mind.

If she jumped into the middle of the street, would she be able to end everything?

However, a second later, she flinched as if she had been snapped awake. Even though it was just a passing thought, it was still scary how she almost succumbed to her despair.

"No, I can't do that. I still have to correct this misunderstanding with Brother Renshu and my family. I also want to check on Xiaohua. I haven't seen her since that night. I hope she recuperates well."

Hugging herself to keep her warm, she stopped a taxi and told him to go to the hospital.

***

[The number you are dialing is not active...]

Li Caiyi's shoulder dropped in disappointment.

At first, she was relieved knowing her phone was still working even when her bag was drenched in the rain. She had tried to reach her husband many times, but apparently, he had turned his phone off. She needed to meet him and talk about what she had heard in Meng's residence.

Although she doubted he would believe her. It could even possibly make him despise her even more.

But in this situation, she had no other choice. If there was someone who could go against Meng Yaoshu, it was his son. Li Caiyi had no idea why her father-in-law was so adamant about stepping on the Li family, but whatever he planned must not be good.

Even if Meng Renshu didn't want to help her, there was no way he could turn his back on the love of his life and his best friend.

By this point, Li Caiyi was practically gambling on Meng Renshu's loyalty. She had no base for her trust, but she still had to do something.

Every servant in her house worked for her mother-in-law to monitor her movement. It felt uncomfortable being watched 24/7, so Li Caiyi mostly spent her time in her room.

Undoubtedly, those servants would report to Qing Xiangjun if she acted suspiciously. Hence, she had to do this carefully but swiftly.

Li Caiyi was drenched from hair to toe, inviting a displeased gaze from the driver when she created a puddle of water inside his taxi. But she couldn't help it, so she paid him handsomely when they arrived at her destination. The driver finally smiled and drove off.

The air conditioner inside the hospital building made her shiver from the cold. She gritted her teeth and went to find her sister's room.

When she finally found it, she was pleasantly surprised to see Meng Renshu standing outside the room. His face looked tired with an obvious eye bag under his eyes, but this was her first time seeing him again after almost a week, so she was happy.

Meng Renshu probably felt her stare at him because he suddenly turned his head. His facial countenance immediately darkened when he saw her. He briskly walked over with a scary look on his face.

Her happiness immediately died and was replaced with anxiety. As expected, he didn't like to see her there.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know the position you are currently in?" He asked her impatiently. His gaze seemed like it could pierce through her.

Overwhelmed by his intense hostility, Li Caiyi completely forgot what she wanted to say and stuttered, "I-I...S-Sorry, I was...."

"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear. And you shouldn't be here, either. Go home."

Her body felt so cold after being soaked in the rain, but he didn't even notice that. Moreover, the coldness on her body couldn't be compared to how unkind his words were to her. He looked at her as if he was looking at a nasty bug.

Li Caiyi felt like crying but realized it would only annoy him further. She already came this far, so she should at least finish what she wanted to do.

"Brother Renshu, can you just spare me a bit of your time?"

"I already said it wasn't necessary. Just go home and stay put."

"No, but this is very important. There is something you need to know about the case...."

"Li Caiyi! Don't make me repeat myself. This isn't a good time and place to talk about this." Meng Renshu scratched his head with an annoyed look. "Don't forget you are a suspect in this case. I can't let you loiter around Xiaohua, or who knows what will happen?"

Li Caiyi was stunned to hear that. Did he think she came here to hurt her sister? What kind of monster did he think of her?

His suspicion was like a blade slicing through her, chopping her flesh from her body bit by bit. The pain was excruciating, even though she had prepared herself for this. All she could do was endure.

In the end, the only one he cared about was Li Chunhua. He didn't even try to listen to her.

Holding back her tears, Li Caiyi moved her mouth and was about to speak again when the door of Li Chunhua's room was opened. Su Suyin came out from the inside, and Li Caiyi was surprised by how pale she was.

"Mother!" She unconsciously called out to her.

The older woman raised her head, and their gazes met. At first, there was only surprise, but then her eyes were filled with contempt and disdain.

"You still have the gall to come here? After you almost killed your sister off? HOW COULD YOU?!"

Su Suyin moved fast, and before Li Caiyi could register what was happening, she had already been thrown to the ground harshly.

Her body was wet from the rain, so it was easy for her to slip if someone were to push her. However, she didn't expect her usually tame and gentle mother would shove her like that.

The shocked Li Caiyi slowly looked up, and she saw her mother cry while looking down on her vengefully. "I can't believe I gave birth to someone like you! A monster!"

"Mother, please calm down. Don't cause a scene here. Xiaohua will be disturbed!" Meng Renshu tried to pull her back from attacking Li Caiyi again, and she barely held herself together.

But the damage had been appropriately delivered to Li Caiyi. Irreparable damage which etched deeply inside her heart.

Ah.

It seemed she had made the wrong choice.

There was no place for her anymore here. Why would anyone accept someone like her?

She shouldn't have come here, expecting someone would listen to her.

[I'll do my best to help you. Remember you are not alone in this].

Li Caiyi suddenly remembered what Meng Yaoshu had said to her before. Everything that came out of his mouth was lies. She realized how he must have had a blast ridiculing her then.

'No one will ever come to help me. I'm alone.'