Rebirth: Once Again With You

Li Caiyi had often seen Li Junjie with annoyed expressions, but this was probably the first time she witnessed him genuinely angry at someone/something. She was speechless and couldn't find anything to say back.

He didn't wait for her approval and went downstairs first. This time, he grabbed a rope and golf stick before cautiously approaching the door. Even when she persuaded him to stay inside, he was adamant about going out.

Li Caiyi couldn't leave him alone, so she took something more reliable than a plastic umbrella before standing by the door vigilantly. She would act as an observer and emergency aid if needed. While making sure nothing happened to her brother, she called the police and filled them in on their situation.

She felt so much at ease after hanging up the call. Li Junjie was still busy tying the intruder with rope when her phone screen lit up again in her hand. Checking on the caller ID, she bit her lips in hesitation. She picked up the call in the end.

"Hello?"

"Why haven't you gone to bed yet?" Dai Zhiqiang's gentle voice could be heard from the other side.

Should she tell him the truth? But if she did that, the chance of him rushing here was almost one hundred percent, and it would ruin the peaceful Dai family quality time. Besides, the intruder has been apprehended, so there shouldn't be any problem if she didn't tell him about it, right?

"I'm still reading my book. I can't wait until tomorrow to know what happened next."

"Reading is good, but don't sleep too late, or you'll be dizzy the next day. Am I bothering you?"

"Uhm…" Li Caiyi trailed off as she glanced at her brother. The coast was clear so far. "No, you aren't bothering me."

"Good. I was just about to sleep, but then I remembered you. I want to hear your voice."

His words were as sweet as honey. Li Caiyi would be so much happier if he said that when her attention wasn't divided with something else.

"How are Uncle and Shenqiang?"

"They had fallen asleep. So I'm alone and lonely here."

Li Caiyi chuckled. "Is that so? Shall I sing a lullaby for you?"

As soon as she said that, a loud noise came from inside the house. From the sound of it, it seemed like it was coming from the second floor. Aside from her currently empty room, there shouldn't be anyone besides Li Chunhua on the second floor.

Blood drained from her face as bad premonition hit her. Dai Zhiqiang seemed to call her name out repeatedly, but in panic, she accidentally turned off the call.

"Brother Jie, quick! Xiaohua is in danger!" Li Caiyi shouted before running toward the stairs first. She faintly heard Li Junjie calling for her and Su Suyin's flustered voice behind her, but her mind was too scattered to care.

How could she be so stupid, leaving her fragile sister alone in a dangerous situation like this? Keeping Li Chunhua safe should be her priority when she realized a suspicious person was trying to sneak into their house!

Li Caiyi ran as fast as her legs could to Li Chunhua's room. Standing in front of it, she could hear the sound of struggle inside. Her heart sank, and anger slowly bubbled up inside her.

"Xiaohua!" Li Caiyi shouted as she opened the door, which thankfully wasn't locked.

Her eyes widened in shock when she witnessed the current situation inside. Li Chunhua was pressed to the wall by a person clad in black. There really was another intruder in their house!

Li Caiyi was shocked but also extremely worried simultaneously. The intruder got her pajama's collar and yanked her upward, almost lifting her small body from the ground. Li Chunhua had to stand on her toe painstakingly just so she could make some airway to breathe from being held roughly like that.

The room was pitch black, with a lot of stuff scattered on the floor. Li Chunhua's face was pale and contorted in pain like she could pass out anytime soon.

"Stop! Release her this instant!" Li Caiyi screamed out in panic. She couldn't even imagine how frightened Li Chunhua must be, being attacked by an unknown person in the middle of the night.

Li Chunhua's eyes were closed initially, but the pupil slowly peeked out of the slit as she gazed at Li Caiyi. She mouthed something, but there was no sound coming out. The intruder's grip on her must have made it harder for her to breathe, let alone speak.

Li Caiyi wanted to cry in distress. But she forced herself to calm down. This intruder clearly came here with a specific goal, considering they tried to break in from the second floor. It was safe to assume they probably didn't come here to loot things.

She took a deep breath before raising her hands in the air. "I give up. I will give you whatever you want, but please release my sister first. She is physically weak and can't stand too much shock. You are hurting her."

The intruder wore a mask, so Li Caiyi couldn't see his face, but she could feel he was examining her from head to toe. "Then, I'd like you to enter the room and lock the door behind you first. Alone."

He emphasized strongly on the last word, which meant that he had already noticed Li Junjie's presence behind the wall. Her brother arrived closely after her but hid to wait for the right time to attack.

This intruder seemed to be more quick-witted than the previous one. Li Junjie grabbed Li Caiyi's shoulder and gently pushed her out of the way.

"If you want to talk, you will have better luck with me. I'm the head of this house. You can name your price, and we can talk this out peacefully."

"No. I prefer to talk to the little girl. Because you seem smarter than your sister."

"Are you afraid of a mere high schooler like me?"

"There's no use trying to taunt me. I have a hostage in my hand. Bargaining with me is useless." The intruder snickered before pressing Li Chunhua harder to the wall.

"Ugh!" The younger twin couldn't even raise her hand to fight back anymore. She must have exhausted all her strength in her previous struggle.

Li Caiyi was alarmed seeing Li Chunhua's condition. "Stop!"

She turned to her brother and saw Li Junjie clenching his fist with a dark expression on his face. "We got your friend. If you are talking about hostages, then we have one too."

"Ah, you mean my good-for-nothing colleague? You can do anything to him; I couldn't care less."

There was something in the way he talked that convinced them he was being serious and not just bluffing. He didn't seem bothered when he knew his comrade was captured. Both parties had a hostage, but the values weren't the same. They had no choice but to obey him for now, at least until the police came.

"Brother Jie, can you get out of the room? Let me talk to this person." Li Caiyi finally decided. Li Chunhua's body wouldn't be able to handle his rough treatment any longer. She had to think quickly.

"Xiaoyi, do you realize what you are talking about right now?"

"I know. But our best bet is to follow his words in our current situation."

Li Junjie couldn't utter a word. Objectively speaking, he knew Li Caiyi's choice was the best course of action, but his body refused to listen to his brain.

He only stood there stiffly, unwilling to move a step from his spot. "I can't let you do that. He is too dangerous."

"Brother, this isn't like the usual you. You know Xiaohua can't last much longer. It will be better if he takes me instead of her, isn't that right?"

"You are still saying that—!" Li Junjie looked ready to scold her but stopped himself halfway as he averted his eyes from her. "Do as you please. Be careful."

Li Caiyi smiled faintly. Then, she shifted her gaze to the man in black. "I'll listen to what you have to say, so release her."