Li Caiyi really didn't mean it.
Ever since Li Chunhua texted her about Meng Renshu coming to visit her, she couldn't calm herself down. She was so anxious about meeting the younger version of her ex-husband that she couldn't stay still.
When she heard the voice of laughter and pleasantries beyond the door, Li Caiyi could immediately discern Meng Renshu's voice. She thought she would feel hurt or sad when she heard it, but strangely, it cooled her head instead. When she heard him agreeing with Li Chunhua's request to see her, Li Caiyi was reminded once again that she had gone through rebirth.
Because the Meng Renshu she saw the last time couldn't possibly agree to meet her with a gentle voice like that. The Meng Renshu she knew in the past was cold and unfeeling towards the accusations directed at Li Caiyi, and he left her to fend for herself while he was busy worrying over Li Chunhua.
He was the one who taught her how cruel love could be and the final shackle for her freedom. That was why, when she met Shen Qiang, who treated her much better than Meng Renshu ever was in the past three years of their marriage, she finally could let him go, with every other thing as well.
Although Li Caiyi had calmed down a lot, she still wasn't ready to meet Meng Renshu just yet, so she unconsciously shut her eyes, pretending to sleep, but later she found it was silly for her to do so.
Why should she feel reluctant to meet him? In this timeline, nothing has happened between her and Meng Renshu yet. She had no reason to run or avoid him first.
Li Caiyi opened her eyes, and beside Li Chunhua, she noticed that Meng Renshu and Li Junjie had entered the room.
Meng Renshu as a teenager was still the same as she remembered. He had a tranquil and steady gaze, with a kind smile adorning his lips. His skin was fair, and his body was tall and slender. When he smiled, his droopy eyes would curve into a crescent shape, emphasizing his soft facial feature even more. Meng Renshu was a living example of a pretty boy, although the said person hated to be called pretty.
However, perhaps only Li Caiyi from the previous timeline knew how this man could change drastically when facing his enemy. Of course, the enemy here was Li Caiyi, who threatened the safety of his princess.
Meng Renshu back then was colder than winter on top of the mountain and as impenetrable as a mighty fortress. No amount of explanation could change his mind, and he never faltered even once when Li Caiyi begged him to believe her with tears. Li Caiyi could only endure his wrath silently.
Now that same person was standing in front of her, except that he was looking at her with the same gaze he used before their marriage. It was the gaze of a caring older brother.
Another difference she could point out was that she couldn't feel the same warmth in her heart whenever she met that gaze. The only thing remaining was a bitter and gut-wrenching feeling.
"Xiaoyi, how are you feeling? I heard you were sick, so I came here to visit you," Meng Renshu smiled as he approached her. Li Caiyi could see traces of genuine concern in those eyes, but her heart was unmoved.
"The fever had subsided a little. It's fine," Li Caiyi replied concisely.
"Really? But your face still looked very pale."
Li Caiyi saw how he raised his hand, and everything suddenly turned into a slow-motion movie before her. She remembered how that same hand pushed her roughly into the car before he slammed the door with a hateful gaze, almost breaking her fingers in the process.
'Is he going to push me again?!'
Before she knew it, Li Caiyi had taken a step aside and nearly tumbled down the bed, if not for her fast reaction. Her heart was thumping in fear, and her palm got sweaty.
"Xi-Xiaoyi?" Meng Renshu had an inexplicable expression on his face now.
Only then did Li Caiyi realize she had reacted impulsively on the spur of the moment. She quickly snapped out of it and regained her composure. "I'm sorry, Brother Renshu. I think it's because I just had a nightmare, so I reacted like that."
"Do you have a nightmare again?" It wasn't Meng Renshu who responded, but Li Chunhua.
"Yes, but it's not that bad."
"Is it about that Shen Qiang guy again?!"
Li Caiyi jolted upon hearing that familiar name came out of Li Chunhua's lips, and a weird feeling arose in her. That feeling wasn't enjoyable in the least. She found it intolerable to hear Shen Qiang's name come from her sister's mouth for some reason.
"Who's Shen Qiang?" Meng Renshu asked Li Chunhua.
"I don't know. When Xiaoyi regained consciousness yesterday, she suddenly grabbed me and asked me about Shen Qiang's whereabouts. Who's Shen Qiang, Xiaoyi?"
Even Li Junjie, who was usually aloof about most things, displayed a fair amount of curiosity about this. "Is it your friend's name?"
Technically, Shen Qiang was indeed her friend, but in the previous timeline. She had never met him in the current one, so they weren't acquaintances, much less a friend now.
However, Li Caiyi was determined to find Shen Qiang again in this timeline, so it wouldn't matter if she lied a bit, right?
"Yes. Shen Qiang is my friend."
"What? Impossible! We have always been together, but how come I never knew you have a friend with that name?" Li Chunhua exclaimed in shock, and Li Caiyi noticed that something swirled inside her usually bright eyes for a moment.
Li Caiyi paid no heed to Li Chunhua and feigned a tired look by holding her head. "It's true, but can we talk about this some other time? I'm still dizzy and want to rest more."
"Is that so? Have you taken your medicine?" This time, Li Junjie came forward and touched her forehead with his palm.
Li Caiyi murmured comfortably with closed eyes. "It's much better now, Brother Jie. I think I have almost fully recovered now."
"Good. Then we'll let you rest some more. Let's go Xiaohua, Renshu."
Li Chunhua whined about not having enough time with Li Caiyi, but Li Junjie dragged her out of the room, regardless. Li Caiyi was about to heave a sigh of relief when Meng Renshu suddenly turned around and spoke to her.
"Xiaoyi, did I perhaps do something wrong to you?"
Li Caiyi didn't expect him to ask that. "No, you didn't. Why are you asking me that?"
Meng Renshu stared at her for a few seconds before he shook his head. "Nothing. It's probably just my imagination, then. Rest well, Xiaoyi."
When he closed the door behind him, Li Caiyi felt restless. Did she make her aversion too obvious? Meng Renshu had known her since childhood, so it wouldn't be strange if he noticed something was off about her. Li Caiyi had to be more careful next time.
Anyone would feel suspicious if someone close to them suddenly changed her personality or way of doing things. Although Li Caiyi was sure no one would expect her to be someone who had returned to the past, there was no harm in being cautious.
She had to find Shen Qiang.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶