After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 51
When Lin Duxi pushed open the door, the emotions on her face had already been suppressed, and she looked no different from usual. She raised her eyes to glance at An Yu in the distance, her gaze shimmering.
Seeing her come out, An Yu took a step forward, ready to approach. The questions the production team had asked her were mostly about Lin Duxi, so she assumed Lin Duxi’s interview had been similar.
Lin Duxi: “A-Yu, what’s wrong?”
An Yu reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward a secluded corner. Softly, she said, “I want to apologize.” She steeled herself, determined to say it all in one go.
To ensure the show’s viewership and engagement, Qiao Qingzhou had turned off all six participants’ live-streaming devices. Now, standing in this hidden spot, hardly anyone could see them.
Lin Duxi lowered her head, watching the hem of her clothes sway in the wind. “How do you plan to apologize?” Her voice was slightly hoarse. An Yu thought she might be cold from the morning breeze, so she stepped in front of her to block the wind.
“Last night, I said we should leave the past in the past and not bring it up again. But as you said, I was lying.” At first, she kept her head down, staring at the hem of Lin Duxi’s clothes, but as she spoke, she gradually lifted her gaze to meet Lin Duxi’s eyes, courage growing in her heart.
“Back then, a lot of things happened. Even though I’ve recovered now, I still instinctively avoid thinking about those memories. So when I said those words yesterday, it was just me reflexively trying to escape. I never really forgot those memories, yet I told you to let go of the past. I was lying, and I want to apologize. I hope you can forgive me.”
An Yu had rehearsed these words in her mind, blurting them out without much thought. But then she saw Lin Duxi’s bright eyes gradually fill with tears, her eyelashes trembling as if a single blink would send them falling.
“Lin Duxi, what’s wrong…?” Flustered, An Yu dug through her pockets for a tissue, but before she could find one, Lin Duxi stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. The force was so strong it felt like she wanted to crush An Yu into her bones, to merge their very beings.
Though An Yu had done her best to downplay the pain those past events had caused her, Lin Duxi could still keenly sense her avoidance. Time had made An Yu numb to those wounds, building a fragile recovery on top of that numbness-but it was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
Lin Duxi’s initial thought had been to make An Yu face those buried, rotting memories head-on. Only by scraping away the poisoned flesh could the wound truly heal. Yet just hearing An Yu mention them so casually made her heart feel as if it had been gouged out, bleeding endlessly, pierced by countless arrows-so painful she could barely breathe.
An Yu had escaped those memories, yet they still ensnared her. She was willingly drowning in them. They were the same.
Lin Duxi buried her face in An Yu’s shoulder, pressing against the warmth of her neck. Two buttons of An Yu’s shirt had come undone from her movements, revealing flawless, porcelain skin above her collarbone.
“Gone… it’s all gone…” Lin Duxi’s breath ghosted over that delicate skin. Her lips parted slightly, her teeth grazing lightly before she restrained herself, pressing a controlled kiss there instead. Even if she bit an identical mark into that spot, she could never return to the past.
An Yu stiffened, her shoulders hunching slightly. Then she heard Lin Duxi murmur against her skin:
“I’ll forgive you this time. But I was really angry before-you have to make it up to me.”
The weight in An Yu’s chest finally lifted. “Okay.” But then she felt another firm kiss on her neck, and her heart, which had just settled, began hammering violently again.
“I’m still mad. Forgiving you so easily doesn’t sit right with me.” Lin Duxi closed her eyes, savoring An Yu’s warmth. Today, An Yu was wearing a faint perfume that masked her natural scent, but Lin Duxi didn’t dislike it. Her hands loosened their grip, slipping under An Yu’s coat to wrap around her waist over the thin fabric of her shirt.
The emotional highs and lows of the past two days, the suffocating unease from her dreams-all of it melted away in An Yu’s embrace, soothing Lin Duxi’s restless heart.
“Was that… kiss just now part of the apology?”
“One more.”
“Okay.”
The popularity and viewership of the second episode of Hello, Friend far surpassed the first. The highlight was undoubtedly the individual interviews in the recording room-especially Lin Duxi and An Yu’s segment. The live-stream numbers during their interview alone exceeded the total viewership of the entire first episode.
Qiao Qingzhou stared at the nearly crashing live-stream interface, hastily gulping down water to steady herself. When the numbers plummeted right after their interview ended, she finally understood the sheer power of their CP fanbase and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Turns out so many people have the same good taste as me,” she muttered to herself, watching the screen.
She picked up the script for the next episode, flipping through it with a raised eyebrow.
By noon, the second episode’s recording was winding down. The six participants gathered in the living room where they had first met, sitting in their assigned pairs. Lin Duxi and An Yu sat across from each other, their gazes meeting briefly before they smiled and looked away.
[Are they back together?! They must be!]
[Did they just smile at each other?! I told you, couples fight but always make up!]
[The sugar is back! The way they look at each other-ugh, so sweet!]
Qiao Qingzhou sat in front of the monitors, watching the rising viewership, and raised her megaphone.
“Everyone, the second episode of Hello, Friend is about to wrap up. Following the format of the first episode, we’ll now announce the pairing method for the third episode.” She paused, watching the six participants-and the barrage of eager comments on the screen-before continuing.
“For the third episode, we won’t be drawing lots. Our show’s live broadcast is entirely observational, leaving all analysis to the audience. After the first two episodes, viewers have formed their own opinions. So, for the third episode, the pairings will be decided by- audience votes! ”
“After this episode ends, an official voting poll will open on Weibo. There are fifteen possible pairings, and viewers can vote for their favorite duo. The top-voted pair will automatically be locked in, with the rest following in order of votes. If one person appears in two pairings within the top three, the higher-voted pair will take priority. So, for the sake of your favorite duo, vote hard!”
[Wait, this is actually happening? Director Qiao, if you’re not rigging this, I’ll vote every day!]
[Letting the audience decide? This show and its director are the real deal!]
[I swear the last line was directed at us shippers! They weren’t paired this time, but I’ll make sure they are next episode!]
[Open the polls already! I need to vote!]
Listening to Qiao Qingzhou’s explanation, An Yu shifted slightly, resting her hand on the chair beside her. Her gaze swept over the others before settling on Lin Duxi’s clear, bright eyes.
Every time she looked at Lin Duxi, their eyes met-not by coincidence, but because Lin Duxi was always watching her.
Lin Duxi’s expression was soft, the harsh sunlight smoothing her edges into something gentle. The Lin Duxi in her memories was the same-meeting her gaze, smiling tenderly, eyes glistening with emotion.
An Yu’s heart clenched, burning, but unlike before, she didn’t look away. Instead, she curved her lips and held Lin Duxi’s gaze.
The comments went wild, screaming for them to get married and demanding the third episode start immediately.
[That honey-sweet eye contact! If this isn’t love, what is?! I was so worried after their fight, but now they’re even sweeter than before! A little quarrel really does spice things up!]
[I hereby declare: AnLin is the sweetest!]
[Did the crew dip the cameras in honey? My teeth hurt from how sweet this is!]
After filming wrapped, Lin Duxi and An Yu headed to the airport together. Since the whole internet already knew they were neighbors, they didn’t bother hiding anymore. At this point, avoiding each other would only make their relationship seem even more suspicious.
The airport was packed with their CP fans, holding banners and photos. Lin Duxi greeted them warmly, signing autographs.
Once they bid farewell to the fans, An Yu glanced at Lin Duxi’s smiling face-she was clearly in a good mood.
“They said they hope we last forever,” Lin Duxi said, turning to her with a gaze brimming with joy.
An Yu’s mood lifted in response. “They…”
“They whispered it, thinking I wouldn’t hear.”
An Yu chuckled. “They’d be so embarrassed if they knew you did.”
Lin Duxi smiled but didn’t reply. Not only had she heard, but she’d even whispered “Thank you” in return. The fans, too focused on getting autographs, hadn’t recorded it-but they had frozen in shock.
When their plane landed in Jiangcheng, there were no fans waiting, but Lin Duxi’s company had arranged for bodyguards to meet them. Seeing these burly men in black, An Yu marveled at the treatment of A-list celebrities.
Ning Xuan had already texted her, asking her to come to the company to discuss the script for her upcoming audition. On top of that, Ning Xuan was baffled by her sudden closeness with Lin Duxi and wanted answers.
An Yu had no choice but to explain to Lin Duxi, and the two prepared to part ways at the airport.
As they stepped outside, An Yu immediately sensed the intense scrutiny of hidden paparazzi, their cameras peeking from behind objects.
Lin Duxi noticed too but didn’t care. She turned to An Yu, lips parting slightly.
“A-Yu, can I hug you?” Without waiting for an answer, she pulled An Yu into an embrace.
“Friends hug when they say goodbye-nothing strange about that,” she said preemptively, cutting off any protest.
An Yu found it odd but allowed it, ignoring the way Lin Duxi’s hands lingered on her back.
Lin Duxi’s car was parked nearby, and her bodyguards dutifully opened the door, scanning their surroundings vigilantly. An Yu thought they seemed unusually tense.
As Lin Duxi stepped into the car, An Yu caught a glimpse of her through the window-her relaxed posture suddenly stiffening, her body flinching like a startled bird before quickly recovering, as if she hadn’t even noticed her own reaction. It reminded An Yu of how Lin Duxi had reacted to the sound of the glass door slamming shut during filming.
Frowning, An Yu pulled out her phone to text Ning Xuan but decided calling would be faster.
“Ning-jie, is what you wanted to discuss urgent?”
“Not really, just some minor details. Why?”
An Yu: “I’m not feeling well today. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Of course, rest well.” Ning Xuan sounded concerned, but before she could say more, the call disconnected.
Ning Xuan: “?”
Inside the car, Lin Duxi stared at An Yu through the tinted window, her gaze unrestrained, the intensity of her emotions laid bare.
The driver, noticing through the rearview mirror, wisely didn’t start the car.
Lin Duxi watched as An Yu made a call, spoke briefly, then hung up-before suddenly walking toward the car.
Lin Duxi: “!” She quickly opened the door, and An Yu paused before sliding in beside her.
“Ning-jie said she’s busy today, so I don’t need to go. Mind if I hitch a ride?”
Lin Duxi couldn’t help but laugh. “Sure.”
“With all these paparazzi around, if they see you driving me home, it’ll definitely make headlines. I’ll have someone pay them off.”
“We are neighbors. What’s weird about neighbors carpooling?” An Yu said.
Lin Duxi leaned closer, her fingers brushing An Yu’s sleeve. The sweetness in her heart was unbearable.
“Okay. Whatever A-Yu says.”
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Zei_An
Ahh… They’re really sweet