After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 31

“By the way, did I ever make desserts for you in high school? Like… a cake?” An Yu glanced at the coat casually thrown over the sofa behind Lin Duxi, her tone probing.

“Hmm? A cake?” For a fleeting moment, Lin Duxi’s eyes brightened, but the light dimmed just as quickly. A faint smile curled her lips as she countered, “Shouldn’t  you  remember that better than me, Ah Yu?”

An Yu’s heart skipped a beat. She averted her gaze to the clothes Lin Duxi was holding, feigning nonchalance. “Of course I remember. I made you a cake once in high school.”

A spark ignited deep in Lin Duxi’s eyes, illuminating her gaze.

“You  did  make me a cake in high school,” she replied, her eyes burning into An Yu. “But it’s been six years. Why bring it up now?”

An Yu: “No reason. Just ran into an old classmate today, and we talked about the past. It reminded me.”

She didn’t mention who the classmate was, and Lin Duxi didn’t ask.

An Yu studied Lin Duxi. She was still dressed in her formal attire from earlier-unlike usual, when she’d already be lounging in one of her many pajamas, dazzling An Yu with their variety.

She must really be busy.

An Yu: “It’s getting late. I should head back. You should rest early too.”

“Aren’t we rehearsing our lines?” Lin Duxi asked urgently, her free hand hooking onto An Yu’s sleeve as if afraid of being dismissed.

An Yu shook her head gently. “Not tonight. We have an early flight tomorrow for the show. Let’s get some proper sleep.”

Only then did Lin Duxi obediently release her. She watched as An Yu opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind her. The hallway plunged back into silence, leaving her alone. Glancing down at her arms, now full of the things An Yu had handed her, she couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Duxi closed the door and opened the box. The egg tarts inside were still warm, their golden surfaces glistening temptingly. She picked one up and took a small bite-crispy outside, tender inside. The hunger from not eating all day surged through her, and she sank wearily onto the sofa.

Her gaze fell on the coat in her arms, still faintly carrying An Yu’s scent. It felt like being embraced by her, and Lin Duxi instinctively hugged it tighter.

An Yu remembers making me a cake. She knows she made me one.

Burrowing her face into the coat, she inhaled deeply.

The thing she had longed for was finally showing signs of coming true. Excitement coursed through her, leaving her trembling.

The phone on the table rang again, its shrill tone grating on her nerves. Lin Duxi frowned, reaching over to pick it up.

“Lin Duxi, the paparazzi situation is under control for now, but your brother-  ahem  -they’ll definitely cause more trouble. The company’s come up with a few solutions. Come take a look in a couple of days.”

“No need, Sister Ji. Just keep an eye on things for now. We’ll talk after I finish filming the show.”

On the other end of the line, Ji Qi was momentarily silenced before reluctantly agreeing.

“Fine. I’ll handle the paparazzi for now. But you know how shameless those people are. No amount of money will shut them up. With your recent Best Actress win, everyone’s watching for any misstep. One wrong move, and they’ll drag you down.”

She truly didn’t understand. Most people with Lin Duxi’s tragic background would’ve milked it for sympathy, but Lin Duxi refused-even going so far as to silence anyone who knew the truth. But confusion aside, she still had to work for her.

“Thanks, Sister Ji. Once I’m done with the show, I’ll handle this properly. I’ll double your bonus.” Lin Duxi smiled apologetically.

That finally lifted Ji Qi’s mood.

The call ended, and Lin Duxi’s hand slowly lowered, her smile fading. Her eyes turned icy as she stared at the egg tarts on the table, her expression darkening.

As the recording date for  Hello, Friend!  Season 2 approached, fans were already buzzing with anticipation.

[Is filming tomorrow? Setting my alarm to catch the live stream!]

[Heard the second episode involves hiking. Ahhh! I want to see them together-no third wheels allowed!]

[Sis, don’t get too excited. A friend of a friend works at a café and said Lin Duxi and An Yu were there, super affectionate-Lin Duxi was clinging to An Yu’s arm, practically kissing! Just a rumor, take it with a grain of salt.]

[Hey, besties can kiss, what’s the big deal? (Got more tea? Spill it!)]

[Sounds exactly like something they’d do. It’s real, right? My ship is sailing!]

An Yu, oblivious to the online chatter, was currently at home packing.

Remembering how Lin Duxi’s hand injury from the last episode took forever to heal, and hearing the director hint that this round would be even more exhausting, An Yu packed an even more extensive first-aid kit-covering all possible scenarios-before finally relaxing.

Finished, she slumped onto the sofa, her hand accidentally brushing against the half-eaten egg tart on the table. It had gone cold.

An Yu turned her head, yesterday’s conversation with Tong Ge resurfacing in her mind, her eyes darkening.

Tong Ge had said they’d  really  loved each other. An Yu wondered if she  had  loved Lin Duxi back then-enough to call her in despair, desperate to hear her voice.

But they’d already broken up by then. Lin Duxi had left decisively, taking all of An Yu’s hope with her before vanishing without a trace.

It had taken An Yu a long time to crawl out of that darkness. Less of a recovery and more of a selfish escape-fleeing the traumatic memories, the suffocating scenes.

So when the system approached her, she’d agreed without hesitation. Back then, Lin Duxi had just been a distant memory, irrelevant to her future.

But now, things were different. Holding the cold egg tart, the silence of the living room pressed down on her, forcing her to reflect.

Had Lin Duxi crossed the line between friendship and something more?

If the system claimed Lin Duxi was the female lead destined to end up with the male lead, then why was she showering An Yu with such tenderness?

Wasn’t she supposed to be the heroine? Why did she date me back then? Why break up so ruthlessly, only to return years later, acting as if nothing happened?

Lin Duxi could pretend, but An Yu couldn’t.

She’d lived one life and been reborn. The person who’d killed her was still at large, and now, with all these convoluted mysteries piling up, An Yu felt her mind was about to explode.

In the dim room, the sudden ring of her phone snapped her out of her thoughts. She tapped the screen, surprised at the caller ID before quickly answering.

“Uncle Wen!”

The man on the other end, Wen Zhenhe, chuckled warmly. “Miss, how have you been these days? Do you need any help?”

An Yu: “Uncle Wen, I’m not ‘Miss’ anymore. Just call me Xiao Yu.”

Wen Zhenhe only smiled. “Miss, I’ve called you that for eighteen years. It’s not something you change overnight.”

An Yu relented. Wen Zhenhe had been the family butler since her birth, staying even after her parents passed. Though he’d retired, he still looked after An Yu, whom he treated as family.

But An Yu was puzzled. Wasn’t Uncle Wen supposed to be enjoying his retirement in the countryside? Why call now? Had he seen the show and, like Tong Ge, mistaken her and Lin Duxi for a couple?

Wen Zhenhe: “Miss, while organizing today, I found an old photo album of your parents-pictures from their charity work. I don’t think you’ve seen them. Should I mail them to you?”

An Yu: “Oh, that’s all? You scared me. Yes, please send them over.”

“Of course, Miss. It’s my duty.”

An Yu’s parents had loved philanthropy, often traveling to aid underprivileged children. But An Yu had been too young to know much about it. By the time she grew up, the family had gone bankrupt before she could join them.

She  hadn’t  seen these charity photos before.

The butler’s words shifted her focus to her parents, pulling her away from her earlier turmoil.

Her parents had committed suicide after the company collapsed, but An Yu always found it strange. They’d been kind, optimistic people-not the type to give up so easily. Yet they’d left her without warning, without a word.

After the bankruptcy, they’d left her nothing but the house she’d called home for eighteen years-the only thing she’d managed to keep in the cutthroat corporate battles while still naive.

The owners died in that house. Bad luck.

But it was her home.

An Yu’s eyes darkened, memories crashing over her like tidal waves, grief threatening to spill out.

Shaking herself, she suppressed the coldness creeping through her, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out.

Not long after the elevator doors closed behind her, the door next to hers clicked open.

When An Yu arrived at the airport, she was stunned to find fans waiting for her-her  own  fans. This was a first.

“You’re… my fans?” she asked, wheeling her luggage alongside them.

“Of course!” they chorused.

An Yu smiled in pleasant surprise. Meeting people who genuinely liked her warmed her heart, and she happily signed autographs when asked.

“Teacher An Yu, I  love  your show! Please, I  need  your autograph!” one fan gushed, trembling so much An Yu could feel it as she handed over a photo.

Her warmth faltered when she saw the image.

A screenshot from the show-of her and Lin Duxi hugging.

An Yu: “…” Now she understood the trembling.

The surrounding fans, witnessing such boldness from a shipper, held their breaths. The bustling crowd fell eerily silent. Hands discreetly patted pockets, ready to whip out their own duo photos the moment An Yu finished signing.

An Yu stared at the picture, conflicted.

Signing it wasn’t the issue, but what if it fueled the ship? Would Lin Duxi even approve?

After a pause, she steeled herself to return it.

“Sorry-”

Just then, a slender, porcelain hand reached into her line of sight and plucked the photo from her grasp.