Rebirth: Once Again With You

"What is going on here?" Meng Renshu asked in a low voice.

"Se-senior Meng!" The curly-haired girl's face went crimson before it gradually drained of all colors, looking at Meng Renshu's cold and menacing gaze.

Li Caiyi was surprised to see his sudden arrival but later felt relieved because she didn't have to go to him to complain the next day. He really should manage his fans better.

"I asked you what are you doing to Xiaoyi?"

This time, he repeated his question with an apparent threat in his voice. His grip on the girl's wrist tightened, and she couldn't help but wince at the firm grip. Along with the pain, her fear also increased tenfold. Because this was probably her first time on the receiving end of her prince's calm rage.

The curly-haired girl was heartbroken and also felt indignant inside. She glared at Li Caiyi, who had already been released by the other two girls in hatred and resentment.

What was so special about a girl that Meng Renshu could get this angry on her behalf? She couldn't understand what her prince saw from this girl!

Fueled by her jealousy, the curly-haired girl pried her hand off Meng Renshu's grip harshly before half-shouting, "This is unfair! I will absolutely never accept this! Senior Meng, please tell us what is so interesting about a girl like her?! I…I have watched you for so long, and I believe you deserve the best girl out there to be by your side. I know it would never be me, but it's definitely not her either!"

Li Caiyi was shocked by how emotionally distraught the bully in front of her was. She talked like her life depended on it, but she didn't dare to meet Meng Renshu's face and could only say so with a lowered head.

Li Caiyi glanced at the source of this trouble, waiting for his response.

He was visibly upset. From the dark cloud looming above his head, one could easily tell that he was ready to explode at any time. While the girl was shouting and complaining, he said nothing, but his expression hardened the more he listened.

"I don't think you have the right to decide that, and I don't care about what you feel about me. If you have a complaint, you should have come to me and not caused a commotion. Going so far as to gang up on one person, do you think I will be grateful for this?"

Meng Renshu's tone was polite and controlled, but his voice was extremely low. He gazed sharply at each of the girls with his pretty yet dangerous eyes, one by one.

"I think you guys have a misunderstanding here. Although I have tolerated you pestering me all this time, it doesn't mean I approve of what you are doing. Don't make me angry because you can't afford the consequences."

The girls flinched in unison, and Li Caiyi could feel that some of them were clearly terrified by his threat. Meng Renshu was an amiable person until provoked.

Everyone was clear about this, and what they had done this time had crossed his bottom line. It frightened them, thinking about what he would do to them after this.

Li Caiyi didn't sympathize with them, but she had wasted so much time here. So she quickly tried to relieve the tension in the air by tugging on Meng Renshu's blazer. It immediately caught his attention, and he looked back at her worriedly.

"Xiaoyi, are you okay? Did you hurt somewhere?"

Li Caiyi could feel the gaze of animosity from a few pairs of eyes directed at her. The pressure was stifling, and she couldn't wait to get out of there.

"Let's just stop here." Li Caiyi said while trying to send him an eye signal, telling him not to aggravate the situation. However, Meng Renshu seemed to mistake the signal as her being coy to him and smiled widely.

"No need to be afraid. I'm here, and I'll protect you." He said while stroking her head affectionately, which only ignited more burning hate in her way.

Li Caiyi was alarmed and pried his hand off of her head immediately. Meng Renshu chuckled at her reaction before saying darkly, "What do you want me to do? Should I spare them or punish them? Take your pick."

Everyone was stunned when he said that, but Li Caiyi was probably the one who was surprised the most. Looking at his black-bellied smile, she knew what he intended to do now.

Meng Renshu wanted to declare her importance to him in front of these girls. But doing that would be akin to pouring gasoline on a blazing fire.

Li Caiyi didn't want that at all. She only wanted to get away from there as soon as possible!

"Brother Renshu, on second thought, you can do as you please. I have something urgent to do, so if you'll excuse me…." Li Caiyi said while carefully retreating a few steps.

Meng Renshu quickly caught her by her shoulder so she couldn't get away, all while flashing his usual refreshing smile.

"Why are you in so much of a hurry? You don't have to do that, because we can go together. I'll take you to any place you want; you just need to say the place's name."

The gaze of hostility felt like prickling needles on her skin. But more than that, the grip on her shoulder and Meng Renshu's smile were what unsettled her the most.

It was his face when he was up to no good.

Meng Renshu could feel Li Caiyi's discomfort as she tried to squirm free from his hold with a grimace on her face.

"Brother Renshu, I already said you don't have to bother. I appreciate your kindness, but I can't possibly bother you too much, even if you are my CHILDHOOD FRIEND." Li Caiyi emphasized the last words, prompting an amused chuckle from the male.

With a wicked grin on his face, he finally dropped the bomb. "Now, what are you saying? I'm certain I have confessed to you before. Are you shy? Or is this your roundabout way to reject me?"