Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Zhi, you have such smooth hair. Mother really likes to touch it."

"Hehe, I also like it when you caress my head, Mom. Your hand is very soft and warm."

"Is it? Then Mother will pat your head more from now on."

Dai Zhiqiang felt like he was floating, and old memories where everything was perfect resurfaced. If it was a dream, he wished to never wake up again.

Yue Ling called his name repeatedly, and it was very soothing to his ears. However, that voice slowly changed into the voice of someone else. The way they called him began to change, too.

Sensing that something was off, Dai Zhiqiang stirred in his sleep.

"Zhiqiang?" Li Caiyi gently patted his cheek upon noticing his eyelashes fluttered.

"Mhm?"

"You sleep so well, but it's time to wake up." Li Caiyi giggled and played with his smooth hair some more tenderly.

Dai Zhiqiang pried his eyes open. The light immediately assaulted his eyes, making him unconsciously shut them again.

Li Caiyi leaned forward to block the sunlight behind him before softly saying, "It's okay to open your eyes now."

The younger man slowly opened his eyes. Once his eyes were adjusted to the light, he was greeted by the sight of an angel smiling down at him.

Li Caiyi stared at him fondly with a beautiful smile adorning her lips. Her long hair, which fell over her shoulder, fell on his chest, tickling his skin and his heart under it simultaneously.

He could see a cute mole on her right earlobe from this proximity. The light behind her was like a halo of light, making her look holy and ethereal.

After a few seconds, he finally could regain his wits and recognized who that angel was. No, it was neither an angel nor his mother's face.

It was the face he longed to see in his dream.

"Caiyi…" Dai Zhiqiang called out her name carefully.

"Yes? Have you finally awakened? Sleepyhead." Li Caiyi giggled at his half-awake expression.

He didn't know he could miss her bright smile and gentle voice so severely when he only slept for a few hours. The dream he had just had was a terrible one, and he desperately wanted to feel her warmth now.

"Ah!"

The girl exclaimed when the young man suddenly sat up and gathered her in his arms. He wrapped his arm around her tightly, like he was trying to embed her body into him.

Li Caiyi's body was tense, but it gradually relaxed as more time passed. She returned his embrace and patted his back to calm him down.

"Are you having a nightmare? You frowned in your sleep earlier."

"Yeah, it was a very terrible dream."

"I see. It's okay now. Everything is just a dream. You are safe now."

"Yeah." Dai Zhiqiang felt lighter, and the suffocating feeling in his chest subsided a lot.

That dream left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. Half of it was like a flashback of what happened in his life, and he was very grateful the latter half was just a dream.

Dai Shenqiang didn't lose his hand, and Li Caiyi wasn't a distant person to him anymore. What he had in his arms right now was the proof of it.

After calming himself down, he slowly released his hold on her and pecked her forehead, causing a slight blush to creep up her cheeks.

"I'm fortunate to meet you." Dai Zhiqiang said sincerely.

"Me too." Li Caiyi smiled back at him with inexplicable emotion in her eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Caiyi, you sometimes look at me with an expression like you want to cry. Did something happen?"

Li Caiyi was stunned before chuckling. "It's nothing, actually. If anything, it was because every second I have with you is so precious to me. I'm so happy that I feel like crying."

Dai Zhiqiang was speechless because he could see a trace of sadness in her eyes when she said that. However, it disappeared as soon as it surfaced, like it was covered in a thin veil layer.

"I plan to let you sleep more since you seem exhausted, but the sky will get dark soon. So I have no choice but to wake you up. Sorry for that." Li Caiyi said as she rose from her seat.

​ "Shall we go back now? I think Uncle should have been awake by now."

"Yeah, we should. And don't worry about disturbing me. Seeing you first as I opened my eyes was the best wake-up method for me." Dai Zhiqiang said he smiled flirtatiously. "You should wake me up more often from now on."

Li Caiyi scoffed. "Now you are teasing me again."

"When I opened my eyes, I was astonished. I thought an angel had descended."

"Stop that. You are becoming more shameless now."

Dai Zhiqiang chuckled. "Why? You look like an angel because you are one of me."

"You are seriously…." Li Caiyi feigned an angry expression, but she was secretly elated inside.

Dai Zhiqiang reached out for her hand, which she held back almost immediately. They were slowly getting closer, and Dai Zhiqiang couldn't be happier.

In his dream, he was alone and lonely. Now he could see her smile if he looked to his side. Her existence grew bigger in his heart, and she became even more important to him now.

'I will never let this hand go.' Dai Zhiqiang made a vow to himself inwardly, hoping that she would also hold on to his hand like this forever.

***

Li Caiyi had been waiting for this day. When she woke up, the first thing she did was to check the calendar once again.

"Today is finally the day," Li Caiyi muttered in disbelief. "This is the day where the first step towards my dream has come true."

It took her one lifetime to get to where she was now. She finally arrived on the day when she could witness her books being sold in the bookstore.

Her heart was filled with anticipation and nervousness. Thanks to that, she could barely sleep a wink last night.

Despite that, she couldn't feel any exhaustion in her bones. She couldn't be more excited about starting her day.

While she was immersed in her happiness, her phone rang. She took it, and an even wider smile appeared on her face.

"Hello?"

"Good morning. How is your sleep?" From the other side of the phone, Dai Zhiqiang's voice sounded gentle.

"I slept very well. How about you?"

"Me too. Today is finally the day, right? How about we go check out the bookstore after school today?"

Li Caiyi had actually planned to ask him out, too, so his invitation was very much welcomed. "En. That would be great!"