'Is he still blaming himself?'

Dai Zhiqiang was a person with a high sense of responsibility. To the point, that he would unknowingly torture himself for it. She wasn't sure he would change his mind even if she told him this was none of his faults.

"Zhiqiang, are you alright? Your complexion doesn't look good." Li Caiyi asked carefully. Even the other two stared at him, waiting for his response.

But Dai Zhiqiang only shook his head with his usual deadpan eyes. "Nothing for you to worry about. I should be the one asking you."

"Oh, you mean this?" Li Caiyi touched her cheek, "Yeah, this is nothing."

Dai Zhiqiang: "...."

Shao Jingfei observed the two of them alternately, feeling that something was off between them. As far as he knew, both of them were very close and only had eyes for each other, but now the air around them felt stifling.

"Hey, Chunhua. I think this is about time we leave," Shao Jingfei whispered, and Li Chunhua jumped in surprise.

"S-Stop getting close to me like that without warning!" She hissed in a restrained voice. For some reason, she looked flustered.

"What's wrong with you? Can't you see that they need some space to talk? Third and fourth parties like us should leave."

"Why should I? If you want to leave then go by yourself. I'm not going anywhere without Xiaoyi!"

When she acted like this, it meant no words would get through to her. Shao Jingfei sighed, before turning his head towards Li Caiyi, "Since you are fine, we'll take our leave first, Caiyi."

"Ah, yes. Thanks for visiting me here, Jingfei, Xiaohua. I'll see you guys again later."

"Hey, I'm not—Hmph!"

Before Li Chunhua could protest, Shao Jingfei clamped her mouth shut and dragged her out of the room with him. She struggled at first, but later became docile when he held her hand.

Li Caiyi waved at them before shifting her gaze back at Dai Zhiqiang. "Are you going to stay? Will it be okay? I'm fine, you know."

Dai Zhiqiang's heart sank hearing that. He realized that Li Caiyi was trying to be considerate of him again. Because he was always so busy, she thought he would leave her once he made sure she was fine.

p She surely did that out of kindness, yet why does it sting him so much?

"I can stay longer. No, I want to stay longer with you." Dai Zhiqiang replied firmly, with both hands clenched beside his body.

"Oh, I see."

There was that awkward silence again. Towards his injured girlfriend, Dai Zhiqiang was as stoic as ever. Weren't a couple supposed to get closer after they finally connected both physically and mentally? But why does it feel that wasn't the case with them?

"Ehm, I'm saying this just in case, but please don't mind what Li Chunhua said. Please don't blame her too much. That child's world is still very small, so she tends to overreact when something happens to me. I'm sure she was just saying that because she couldn't control herself."

"I understand. You don't have to explain it to me. I'm not particularly concerned about that."

"Oh, really? But you suddenly became quiet. Do you have something in your mind?"

"I was just thinking about a few things. Don't worry about it. More importantly," He strode closer and reached out to carefully cradle her head between his hands. "Your cheek is red, we need to cool it down as soon as possible."

Li Caiyi studied his expression closely, but it was hard to make out anything of it.

"If you are so concerned, then why didn't you back me up when Meng Shuchun attacked me?" Li Caiyi said in feigned anger. She crossed her arms while pouting.

"Oh, I didn't realize you needed my help. Next time, I will properly defend you." Dai Zhiqiang replied seriously, completely oblivious to her teasing.

Meanwhile, Li Caiyi was amazed at how much faith he had in her. Even though Meng Shuchun looked like she wanted to tear her to pieces, he was confident she could take care of the situation by herself.

His honest and simple answer somehow touched her. The fact that Dai Zhiqiang thought of her as capable made her proud of herself. It felt much better than having him step in to help her.

"No, I was just joking. I wasn't trying to make you help me or anything. If it's only Meng Shuchun, I can handle her alone just fine!" Li Caiyi grinned from ear to ear.

Dai Zhiqiang smiled back at her, his hand gently stroking her hair. "Yeah, you put her in her place easily, I was amazed and fell for you all over again."

"Gosh, you sure know how to talk!"

"When are you planning to leave the hospital? I will take you home."

"Hmm, let's go back after my cheek is treated. I don't like staying here."

There are a lot of people she wanted to avoid here. She didn't know when Meng Shuchun would come to bother her again, so for her mental health, it would be better to leave as soon as possible.

Thus, the long and eventful summer break came to an end.

***

Dai Zhiqiang waited until the light on Li Caiyi's room was turned off before walking away from the parking lot of her apartment. He left her place as soon as he made sure she ate and had been standing there for some time.

He refused to step away until he made sure nothing happened to her.

[This is not your fault, so don't think much of it and rest up].

Her last words before they parted ways bounced in his mind. Dai Zhiqiang thought it was so pathetic of him, for having her comforting him when he was supposed to be the one who did that.

Li Caiyi was so good to him. Too good, even. When he looked at her, he felt that he was taking advantage of her sometimes.

When was the last time he listened to her problems? How her days were, and what are her plans for the day?

Looking back, he indeed had been neglecting her a lot. Li Caiyi would still text and call him from time to time, but he would be too busy to answer.historical

He had no idea she would be attending a party because he had no time to listen to her.

If it weren't for the tracker device he planted on her necklace, he probably wouldn't know where she had been or the danger she was in until it was too late.

Li Caiyi's frightened expression when he found her was something that would be forever etched in his mind. If he arrived even a second later...

He didn't even want to entertain that notion.

'I couldn't even take her out on a proper date for so long when she even took care of my brother and father for me. What if she grew tired of me someday?'

No, he didn't want that to happen. The current him couldn't even remember how he lived his life without her before. Her existence grew bigger and bigger inside him, to the point it suffocated him.

"I want to trap her somewhere where only I can see her. That way, she won't be able to leave me. Ever."