Rebirth: Once Again With You

Li Caiyi didn't know how long she had been asleep, but she woke up feeling refreshed.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Dai Zhiqiang's close-up sleeping face. It seemed he also fell asleep while waiting for the rain to subside. He cradled her in his arm carefully, so Li Caiyi could look at his side profile deliciously.

Dai Zhiqiang had a sharp jawline and high nose. His lips, which were slightly parted, were a bit pale, perhaps because it was cold there. His hair had grown a bit since he cut it, with his wet bang cast a shadow on his broad forehead.

Li Caiyi let out a breathless sigh as she stared at his handsome face. This wasn't her first time watching his sleeping face, but she felt she could stare at him forever.

"I love you," Li Caiyi whispered to no one, almost like in a trance. She wanted to touch his face, but he suddenly stirred in his sleep, making her retract her hand again in fluster.

Thankfully, she didn't wake him up. Feeling that she should let him sleep longer, Li Caiyi straightened her back and carefully pried his hands off her.

It was pretty hard because he treated her like a living heater and refused to let her go. But eventually, she managed to come out of his embrace.

Carefully so as not to make any noise, Li Caiyi dragged herself to the cave entrance and parted the vines. The bright sunlight soon passed the gap and blinded her eyes. She didn't realize at all that she had slept all night.

After the bad storm yesterday, the scene in the forest in the morning, with the smell of petrichor wafting to her nose, felt really special now. What happened yesterday was awful, but in the end, it changed into unforgettable sweet memories thanks to a certain someone.

Li Caiyi looked back and saw that Dai Zhiqiang was still deeply asleep. A sweet smile appeared as the scene from last night replayed in her mind.

Thankfully, the weather was nice this morning, and the sunlight peeking from the gap of vines felt warm to the skin. Dai Zhiqiang's clothes were still damp, but it was better than yesterday.

There should be no need to cuddle with him anymore, but Li Caiyi couldn't help but feel regretful. It would be nice if she could stay with him longer.

In the end, she put on her t-shirt back before returning to her previous position once again.

'I will just stay here until he wakes up. That much should be okay, right?'

Li Caiyi glanced at his face once again. Her desire won over her, so she leaned herself closer to kiss him on the cheek. It was just a brief contact, more like a peck than a kiss. But she didn't expect that his eyes would be flicked open instantly.

"I'm sure I have warned you to behave yourself a few times, haven't I?" Dai Zhiqiang asked in a husky and sluggish voice as he locked her in his arms so she wouldn't be able to escape.

"What?! Y-you are awake?!"

Li Caiyi was flushed because he caught her red-handed, trying to take advantage of him in his sleep. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. His stare was enough to make her melt in place.

"I was already awake when you struggled in my arms, trying to escape from my grasp."

"Then why didn't you just say so?"

"Why? When you clearly look like you didn't want me to awake so soon?"

Li Caiyi's breath hitched in her throat. That would mean that he saw through her from the very beginning.

"If you want to kiss, you should at least  do it on my lips." Dai Zhiqiang smirked at her.

Li Caiyi was embarrassed beyond words, but now that the cat was out of the bag, there was no point in hiding it any longer. With a blushed face, she said softly, "I didn't want to wake you up, but I wanted to stay with you longer. Then I unknowingly…."

"Shit."

"Ah?" Li Caiyi stared at his drooping head in puzzlement.

Dai Zhiqiang raised her head, and the swirling darkness in his eyes sent shivers running down her spine.

"I have been trying so hard to hold myself back. This is your fault for provoking me first. Accept your punishment."

With one swift moment, Dai Zhiqiang had locked her lips with hers. His kiss was passionate and urgent, like he couldn't wait anymore. Li Caiyi, who was shocked, couldn't keep up with his fervent kiss and soon found herself overwhelmed by his intensity.

Dai Zhiqiang carefully cradled her body so he wouldn't hurt her while slowly prying her mouth open with his tongue.

"Ah-hngh!"

Li Caiyi's head was spinning from the heat of their kiss. Her mind became blank, and she couldn't feel anything but his wet tongue in her mouth.

This kind of suffocating and a forceful kiss was the first for her. Dai Zhiqiang had never kissed her with so much desire as this before. Even if she tried to keep up, he would squeeze her waist and force her to be on the submissive side again.

Dai Zhiqiang would nibble, lick, and lightly bite her lips. Rather than kissing, it was more like he was feasting on her. He was like a beast who finally had his hand on his prey.

It didn't take long before Li Caiyi lost all power in her body and surrendered herself to him completely.

'No, we had this kind of kiss before. This is the kind of kiss Shen Qiang showered me with that night.'

Amid their fiery kiss, her hazy mind suddenly recalled the Shen Qiang of that night. Back then, he also held her close like this, with his gaze locked on her throughout the night. She could only see her, and he was the same.

Her heart was filled with sweetness. She felt like she was floating in a cloud, so she subconsciously wrapped her hand around his neck to anchor her body.

This seemed like an invitation to do more for the hungry and unsatiated boy. It thickened the ambiguity and lust in the air.

Seconds felt like forever, but forever also felt so short. Dai Zhiqiang only let her go when she smacked him lightly on the back because she couldn't breathe.