After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 26
That night, An Yu couldn’t stop thinking about the scene from the morning-waking up to find herself holding Lin Duxi in her arms.
Lin Duxi’s defenseless sleeping posture, her soft features, the faint tranquility of her slumber… nestled against her like a resting kitten, breathing lightly in her embrace. In the silence of the night, the memory fermented into an intoxicating allure.
Tossing and turning, An Yu couldn’t fall asleep. No matter how hard she tried to ignore the memory, it stubbornly invaded her mind. Meanwhile, the person beside her had fallen into a steady, peaceful rhythm of breathing not long after lying down, only fueling An Yu’s restless imagination in the quiet darkness.
She turned over again, staring at Lin Duxi’s serene figure in the dim light, her unease growing. What if she unconsciously crawled into Lin Duxi’s blanket again in her sleep? That would be taking advantage of her.
Determined to avoid such a scenario, An Yu decided to wait until Lin Duxi was sound asleep before sneaking downstairs to spend the night on the couch. With that thought, she relaxed slightly, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep.
As the night deepened, An Yu sensed that Lin Duxi had finally drifted off. She opened her eyes, adjusting to the darkness until she could vaguely make out shapes. Gently, she reached to push the blanket aside-
But then, the person beside her suddenly shifted.
The rustling of fabric against the sheets followed.
An Yu froze, holding her breath. She shut her eyes and withdrew her hand, not daring to move, an inexplicable sense of guilt creeping over her.
She waited, expecting Lin Duxi to settle back into sleep. Instead, she heard the sound of blankets being lifted-
Before she could process it, a gust of cold air swept over her as the covers were pulled back.
And then, a warm, soft body nestled into her arms.
An Yu’s heart jolted. Shock rendered her immobile, her limbs stiff as she let the person in her embrace adjust their position. Her mind was a tangled mess.
What is Lin Duxi doing?! Wasn’t she asleep just now?!
This was so awkward. Should she pretend to be asleep? But she was too curious about what Lin Duxi was up to.
In the end, curiosity won. She slowly opened her eyes-
Only to meet Lin Duxi’s gaze staring straight back at her.
Their eyes locked in the darkness.
An Yu: “……”
Lin Duxi: “……”
The air seemed to freeze. Even the wind outside and the chirping of cicadas faded into silence.
Lin Duxi’s entire body stiffened. Instinctively, she reached up and covered An Yu’s wide-open eyes, preventing her from looking. Then, she buried her face against An Yu’s chest, clinging to her even tighter.
An Yu: “……”
What am I supposed to do now?
“…Is she sleepwalking?” she muttered, though even she didn’t believe her own words.
Lin Duxi, still in her arms, paused for a second. Then, the hand covering An Yu’s eyes slowly slid down, fingers brushing along the back of her neck in a haphazard, restless motion-as if trying to confirm An Yu’s earlier words.
The touch was aimless yet devastatingly distracting, stirring An Yu’s already barren heart.
Embarrassment prickled at her scalp. Left with no choice, she played along with the absurd act, her palms sweating nervously. She wrapped her arms around Lin Duxi, gripping the fabric of her nightgown-secretly wiping her damp hands on it.
“You must be really exhausted to be sleepwalking like this…”
“Better not wake her up.”
Lin Duxi tightened her embrace, her face buried in An Yu’s chest, burning red with heat. An Yu sighed inwardly, holding Lin Duxi motionlessly.
In the end, An Yu didn’t even know how she had fallen asleep. Throughout the latter half of the night, Lin Duxi continued to cling tightly to her. Listening as her breathing gradually steadied, An Yu pushed against the arms restraining her, stealing a few gulps of air before drowsily drifting off again.
When An Yu woke up, she instinctively looked down at her arms-they were empty. Lin Duxi was already gone. Only then did she exhale in relief.
Last night had been far too awkward. She didn’t even dare to recall what had happened, let alone think about how she would face Lin Duxi afterward. The mere thought made her shut her eyes in despair.
After getting up and finishing her morning routine, she headed downstairs-only to run into Lin Duxi at the staircase, who was just coming up.
The two of them froze for a moment upon seeing each other. An Yu averted her gaze, but Lin Duxi acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining her usual demeanor.
“A-Yu, I was just about to call you for breakfast. Come down and eat.”
An Yu: “…Oh, okay. Did you make it? Isn’t your hand still injured?”
Even in moments like this, she could still pick up on the key points in Lin Duxi’s words, and her first reaction was concern for her. Lin Duxi’s heart skipped a beat, momentarily forgetting the awkwardness from last night. Unable to resist, she took a step forward.
“No, Xie An’an made it. I just helped a little.”
Only then did An Yu relax. But seeing Lin Duxi moving closer, she panicked. “I’ll go down first. You should go wash up.” With that, she brushed past Lin Duxi as the latter leaned in. It was too awkward-she really didn’t know how to face her.
An Yu didn’t understand. Shouldn’t Lin Duxi be the one feeling embarrassed? Why did she seem completely unaffected, while An Yu herself stiffened up and couldn’t even speak properly whenever their eyes met?
During breakfast, Xie An’an enthusiastically recommended dishes from her hometown. Everyone thanked her in unison, and though the atmosphere seemed as normal as ever, Xie An’an couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off-especially between Lin Duxi and An Yu.
There was some new, unspoken connection between them-something that made their familiarity feel different. For instance, when their gazes accidentally met, they would freeze, then quickly look away, both faces flushing before they lowered their heads to focus on their meals. It was strange-almost like…
Xie An’an suddenly slapped her thigh. She finally understood what was going on.
This kind of behavior usually happened after two people had done it for the first time-awkward, shy, yet secretly delighted, all at once. So tsundere .
Hehe, I’m so smart.
Xie An’an grinned foolishly as she nibbled on her fried dough stick, her eyes darting between An Yu and Lin Duxi. Then, her gaze inadvertently landed on the reddened patch on the back of An Yu’s neck. Her eyes widened.
Wow, playing it rough, huh? Tsk tsk tsk, these two lovebirds… Sis approves.
An Yu noticed Xie An’an’s squinting stare and felt an inexplicable chill.
Xie An’an met her eyes and raised a teasing eyebrow: Don’t worry, sis gets it. I’ll keep it a secret.
An Yu: …What is this girl thinking?
By noon, the first episode’s filming had reached its final segment. Qiao Qingzhou stood before the group, explaining the rules with enthusiasm.
The livestream’s viewership had surpassed hundreds of millions over these three days, skyrocketing the show’s value. Not just her-even the audience was eagerly anticipating the upcoming episodes.
“Everyone, we’re now moving on to the final segment of this episode. After exploring the town’s beautiful scenery and experiencing its cultural activities, I’m sure each of you has something that left the deepest impression on you.”
“On the table are three items representing the town’s famous handicrafts. Like before, you’ll randomly select the one that resonates most with you. After two days and three nights together, let’s see if your tacit understanding is still as strong as before. Oh, and your choices will determine the groupings for the next episode!”
【Ah, it affects the next episode directly?!】
【Suddenly nervous.】
【I hope they pull through! I still wanna ship them!】
The last line sounded harmless, but An Yu couldn’t shake the feeling it was directed at her. Was the system manipulating unrelated people again?
A staff member handed out the lots. An Yu reached out and randomly picked one. When she saw it, she couldn’t help but laugh at her own luck.
She showed her selection to the camera.
【Six! So liu (cool/six).】
【Hahaha, last time it was one, this time it’s six. Can’t tell if you’re lucky or not.】
【Doesn’t that lower the chance of them picking the same one? Nooo!】
【Lin Duxi drew number one this time… Taking turns being ‘one,’ huh.】
After drawing her lot, Lin Duxi glanced at An Yu before following the director’s instructions to make her selection first. When she returned, she looked at An Yu again, gripping her card tightly. Her expression was unreadable, but An Yu caught the meaning behind it.
Her heart skipped a beat. Her previously relaxed posture stiffened, and an inexplicable fire ignited inside her. Then, she saw Pei Lu step forward next.
An Yu: …
System, you’re playing dirty! No wonder the system had been silent at such a crucial moment-it had been waiting to ambush her here.
An Yu leaned back in her chair again. Pei Lu returned with a triumphant look, shooting her a disdainful glance.
An Yu ignored him, lowering her eyes in thought. When her name was called, she walked up to make her selection. Only one item remained on the table-a photograph of a boat. The picture was beautiful, but An Yu had no particular memory associated with boats.
Resigned, she picked up the boat photo and returned to her seat, deliberately avoiding Lin Duxi’s gaze.
Lin Duxi froze, then lowered her eyes.
【Wait, why do they both look so off? Did they already know the outcome?】
【Same thought. This is what you call tacit understanding).】
【No way! My newly shipped CP!】
【Director, hurry up and announce! I’m so nervous-last time I felt like this was… last time!】
“Alright! Since everyone has made their choices, and the audience is eager to know, let’s reveal the results!”
“First, the two who chose the mask, please raise your hands.” Yu Fei and Feng Zhinian raised their hands simultaneously, both momentarily stunned when they saw each other.
“Oh-ho! A new pairing has emerged. Congratulations, you two! Next, those who picked the boat, please raise your hands.”
An Yu felt a scorching gaze fixed on her-hopeful yet pleading. She squirmed under the pressure but finally raised her hand, revealing her selection.
Lin Duxi stared at the boat in An Yu’s hand, her face blank. Her grip on her own card-a fan-tightened until her palm turned red from the pressure.
“Wow, another new pair! Xie An’an and An Yu-congratulations!”
Xie An’an was dumbfounded. Her head swiveled between Lin Duxi and An Yu like a rattle drum. She wanted to curse but didn’t know where to start.
The greatest tragedy in life was finally stumbling upon an incredibly delicious CP to obsess over, only to realize you were the one who tore them apart.
Damn it.
“That leaves Lin Duxi and Pei Lu as the final pair. Congratulations!”
As soon as Qiao Qingzhou announced it, Pei Lu stood up and looked at Lin Duxi with the same smug confidence as before.
Lin Duxi spun her card absently before lifting her head and smiling politely for the camera.
【Nooo! They really got split up?!】
【 Hello, Friend , do you realize you just lost a major source of hype?! I suggest you delete this and reshoot-I’ll pretend I never saw it.】
【Wuwuwu, my newly shipped CP!】
【Seriously, you’re overreacting. Lin Duxi and Pei Lu have great chemistry too. No need to keep clinging to that clout-chaser and Lin Duxi.】
【Hah! Finally, justice is served. What’s so great about An Yu and Lin Duxi anyway? Pei Lu is right there -are you blind?!】
【Why can’t you praise someone without putting others down? When they were teamed up and helping each other, none of you complained. Now that they’re split, suddenly it’s ‘not a good match’ and ‘forced CP.’ Can’t I ship who I want? Ugh, so annoying.】
【Who’s the clout-chaser here? Look at what Lin Duxi picked-a fan ! Out of everyone here, who else has a connection to fans? We all know the answer. I refuse to believe someone who never even interacted with fans in the games would suddenly find them ‘most memorable.’】
The comments section erupted into chaos. Meanwhile, on set, tensions were simmering.
Pei Lu smirked, shooting a challenging look at An Yu. She frowned back, neither willing to back down.
Xie An’an, sensing the hostility, quickly looped an arm around An Yu’s neck and dragged her toward Lin Duxi.
“The filming’s almost over. After spending three days and two nights together, I’m kinda gonna miss you guys.” She half-pulled, half-pushed An Yu next to Lin Duxi. An Yu glanced at her, then at Lin Duxi, before looking away.
Once the three of them stood together, Xie An’an quietly slipped away.
Lin Duxi gazed at her, gently placing the card in An Yu’s hand. Seizing the moment while everyone was engrossed in lively conversation and no one was paying attention, she slowly leaned in toward An Yu’s ear. Thinking Lin Duxi was about to whisper something, An Yu remained still.
Lin Duxi smiled, her red lips parting slightly as she softly exhaled against An Yu’s ear.
The warm, moist breath brushed past, sending a tingling electric current down An Yu’s neck. She couldn’t help but shiver slightly.
Noticing her strong reaction, Lin Duxi smirked mischievously, her eyes lingering on An Yu’s neck, where faint red marks remained-evidence of her “sleepwalking” escapades the night before.
The ache in her heart had been effortlessly soothed by An Yu. Lin Duxi sighed in resignation, causing An Yu’s earlobes to flush pink again.
“Ah Yu, let’s go home together,” she couldn’t help but say.
Her words were ambiguous-“going home” could mean returning to their respective homes or to the same home. Since An Yu and Lin Duxi didn’t share a home, An Yu naturally assumed it was the former. Given that they were neighbors, she thought nothing more of it.
“Okay,” she replied softly.
But Lin Duxi froze, emotions surging in her eyes, warmth flooding her heart.
“But after we land, I need to stop by the company first. We might not be able to go together,” An Yu deliberately added, stripping the ambiguity from her words and leaving only one possible meaning.
Lin Duxi: “…” She straightened up, putting some distance between them, and stared directly at An Yu, her lips slightly pursed as if about to protest. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the filming equipment nearby.
She sighed, her gaze turning helpless as she looked at An Yu, then murmured softly, “Alright.”
An Yu exhaled in relief.
[What are these two whispering about? I want to hear too!]
[Hahaha, where are the haters now? Look at them still sticking together even at the end of the show. And you say they’re not a good match?]
[Thank you for feeding me this sweet, sweet sugar just when my heart was breaking. I’m satisfied.]
“Alright, that concludes the first episode of Hello, Friends ! See you all in the next episode,” Qiao Qingzhou announced. The cast waved goodbye to the live audience as the crew shut down the broadcast.
Once the cameras were off, An Yu stretched, ready to pack her things and head home to rest. She tucked the two cards into her pocket but just as she was about to pull her hand out, a warm, soft grip enveloped it. Startled, she turned to see Lin Duxi, of course.
Lin Duxi met her gaze, her eyes brimming with undisguised affection, as if there was nothing strange about it at all.
“Ah Yu, didn’t you say we’d go back together? Let’s hurry,” she urged.
An Yu was momentarily stunned by her boldness, forgetting to pull her hand away. Lin Duxi kept their fingers intertwined inside An Yu’s pocket as they walked upstairs together.
From behind, the two appeared extremely close, barely a sliver of space between them. Every now and then, Lin Duxi would lean in to whisper something in An Yu’s ear, the gesture intimate yet restrained.
An Yu responded to Lin Duxi’s questions, ignoring the sharp glare burning into her back.
An Yu had assumed that since they hadn’t discussed their return plans beforehand, their flight arrangements might not align. But to her surprise, Lin Duxi’s manager had already booked seats for both of them. So, An Yu followed Lin Duxi onto the plane.
Seated in silence, the exhaustion from staying up late the previous night washed over An Yu again. She yawned, tilting her head back against the seat and closing her eyes for a quick nap.
Then, her right shoulder suddenly grew heavy. An Yu opened her eyes to find Lin Duxi already asleep, her head resting against An Yu’s shoulder. Having found a comfortable spot, she settled in peacefully.
Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, her sunglasses hiding half her face but failing to mask her beauty.
An Yu watched her quietly for a moment before signaling a flight attendant for a blanket, which she draped over Lin Duxi’s lap. Then, she adjusted her shoulder slightly and closed her eyes again.
Fine, let it be.
After disembarking at Jiangcheng Airport, An Yu immediately spotted her company’s car parked nearby. She turned to Lin Duxi beside her.
“I’m heading to the company first. You go ahead.”
Lin Duxi nodded obediently. Just as An Yu was about to leave, Lin Duxi suddenly grabbed her sleeve, pulling her into a hug without a word.
An Yu was startled but allowed it, though she didn’t return the embrace.
Lin Duxi soon released her, her gaze as tender as ever. “Ah Yu, I’ll be waiting for you at home,” she joked.
Watching An Yu get into the car, Lin Duxi’s gentle expression vanished instantly. Staff swarmed around her, loading her luggage into the trunk as she slid into the back seat.
As the car started moving, Lin Duxi’s peripheral vision caught a shadowy figure shrinking back behind the greenery, avoiding the vehicle’s path. She averted her eyes, her face icy.
An Yu’s face probably hadn’t been seen clearly, but it wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
An Yu pushed open the company’s doors, and the moment she stepped into the lobby, all eyes turned toward her. She paused, then walked in.
“An-jie.”
“An-jie.”
“An-jie.”
Unlike usual, nearly everyone she passed greeted her this time.
An Yu headed straight to Ning Xuan’s office, knocking lightly before entering at the call from inside. “Ning-jie.”
“An Yu, do you have any idea how much buzz you’re getting right now? You’ve hit the jackpot! Tan Yiyan-Director Tan-has a drama in the works, and she thinks you’d be perfect for one of the roles. She wants you to audition!” Ning Xuan exclaimed excitedly from her chair.
Compared to her enthusiasm, An Yu showed little reaction. In fact, her first instinct was to refuse. But before she could speak, Ning Xuan pressed on, “You can’t possibly turn this down. At least read the script first. If you still don’t like it, then you can refuse. No harm in that.”
She handed An Yu a script.
An Yu took it, flipping through the contents. The story revolved around a woman who builds a powerful faction from the ground up. Director Tan’s dramas were all critically acclaimed, meaning An Yu’s current standing in the industry was far from sufficient to land such a role.
“You’re not auditioning for the lead. It’s for one of the standalone arcs-a fallen princess,” Ning Xuan explained.
“Don’t rush to say no. Just go to the audition,” she added firmly, seeing An Yu’s hesitation.
An Yu studied the script, rolling her stiff neck.
“I’ll take it back and read it first.”
Ning Xuan knew this response meant An Yu was about 80% on board. Her expression softened, and noticing An Yu massaging her neck, she asked,
“What’s wrong with your neck?”
An Yu: “I slept wrong.” Because Lin Duxi was leaning on my shoulder, and I didn’t dare move.
Ning Xuan nodded understandingly. “I know the owner of a massage parlor-lots of celebrities go there. You should try it sometime. Staying tense like this while filming can lead to injuries.”
An Yu’s fingers stilled. “Ning-jie, can their massages help with headaches too?”
“Of course. Why? Are you having headaches?”
An Yu shook her head. “No, just asking. Can you give me the owner’s contact?”
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Zei_An
Bet she’ll recommend it to Lin Duxi…