Rebirth: Once Again With You

Li Chunhua couldn't calm down. Even she found it ridiculous.

'Why would I have to feel nervous over that silly guy? I didn't do anything wrong,' She convinced herself inwardly while trying to steady her treacherous and uncontrollable heartbeat.

Li Chunhua felt that he had committed a lifetime of embarrassment by crying and even agreeing to be lulled to sleep by Shao Jingfei. Of course, she was grateful for him, but when the shame that came after what happened fully sank to her, she was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

As a result, although she knew she should have thanked him first, she unconsciously tried to avoid him in school. Li Chunhua didn't know what face she should make to talk to him.

Should she act indifferently like nothing happened? Or should she thank him cheerfully like best friends? Li Chunhua never had a school friend as close as him, so she was at a loss on what to do.

Shao Jingfei waved at them to sit with him when the twins entered. On the table in front of him, varieties of cakes lined up nicely.

"Actually, you guys came at the right time. I just finished trying out a few new recipes. Help me test them out!"

Li Chunhua's head perked up at the mention of 'cakes'. Those who knew her must know that she was a sweet-tooth person with a deep love for cakes. Looking at the assortment of cakes on the table, she felt like drooling.

"You made all of these, Jingfei? I don't know you can bake so well." Li Caiyi was also pleasantly surprised. She wasn't a fan of sweets that much, but she didn't hate them either.

"Well, I can't cook, but I know a little about baking; I just thought it's about time I add something to the menu. I doubt any customers will come anytime soon, but it won't hurt to prepare."

"But still, there are 6 slices of cake here. Are you a fan of sweets too?"

"Not much, but my mother liked it. I used to bake something for her birthday every year, so the training is drilled into my body." Shao Jingfei chuckled while Li Chunhua stared at him.

By mother, he wasn't talking about his current stepmother, right? It was hard to think that way when she knew how much Shao Jingfei hated the Shao family. He must be talking about his biological mother, which cooled Li Chunhua's mind.

That was right. Shao Jingfei had lived a much more difficult life than hers, so he probably wouldn't think anything about her outburst the other day. Out of all people, he must have understood how it felt to have no one to rely on during your bleakest time.

Thinking that way made her feel better and that she was worried over nothing. Shao Jingfei was Li Chunhua's advisor, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about, even if she revealed her weakest side in front of him. On the contrary, that might be better since now she could always go to him for advice without restraint.

Li Chunhua's mood had been restored. Troubling over the simple thing made her hungry, so these cakes looked especially delectable to her.

"Well, what are we waiting for, then? Let's dig in!" Li Chunhua chirped with sparkling eyes. She had her eyes on the strawberry cake for a while, and she couldn't wait to taste it.

Her hand reached out to the strawberry cake first, as though she was afraid someone else would take it from her. "The strawberry one is mine!"

"Haha, so you like strawberries. You don't even look at the others." Shao Jingfei chuckled.

"I do. I like strawberries. Of course, I'll take a bite of everything later, too."

"You should try the chocolate one too. I guarantee the taste," Shao Jingfei puffed out his chest proudly.

"Sure, sure! Let me finish this one first!"

Li Caiyi watched their interactions and felt that the awkwardness between them had dissipated because of the cakes. She knew her sister's love for sweet things, but to think it would be this easy to make her mood better, Li Caiyi shook her head helplessly.

"I will take a shower first before eating," Li Caiyi announced, which was replied by a nod from both.

Li Chunhua was currently busy stuffing her mouth with the cake that she forgot about how she had clung to Li Caiyi just a moment ago. The older twin shrugged her shoulders before walking upstairs.

After Li Caiyi's departure, Shao Jingfei pulled the chair in front of Li Chunhua and propped his chin with his hand.

Li Chunhua munched the cake and smiled blissfully as the sweetness spread on her tongue. "Hmm, the cream is sweet and the sponge cake is so fluffy. This is so good."

"Really? I'm glad you like it."

"I don't mind becoming a tester for every new menu you want to add now. Call me anytime!"

"How can I? When you clearly avoided me in the past few days?"

Li Chunhua choked on the cake she swallowed and coughed violently. She beat her chest hard when her airway was blocked, prompting Shao Jingfei to run to fetch a glass of water before giving it to Li Chunhua.

"Eat slowly, will you? No one will take it from you." Shao Jingfei said, half-reprimanding and half-amused.

Li Chunhua thought she would die. Shao Jingfei attacked her out of nowhere right when she lowered her guard.

"Thanks, I'm fine now."

"Why are you so surprised? Did I say something wrong?"

Li Chunhua didn't know how to respond, so she looked away awkwardly.

Shao Jingfei sighed before putting his hands on his hips. "You are usually very upfront about your thoughts to me, so why the hesitation now? I'm not that dense to not notice you were deliberately avoiding me. I came to your class a few times to look for you, and I even waited for you in the backyard garden, but you never came."

"Well, I was busy. I can't always spend my time with you, can I?" Li Chunhua retorted.

Shao Jingfei frowned in irritation, looking at Li Chunhua's jittery state. He held the reprimand on the tip of his tongue and crouched down beside her chair instead, so he had to look up if he wanted to talk with her.

"I was very worried about you."