After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 55

An Yu was held tightly by Lin Duxi, her entire focus drawn to the warm, soft sensation pressing lightly against her neck-gentle yet overwhelming, like the intoxicating fragrance of a blooming flower seeping into her entire being. The shock of it left An Yu dazed.

Noticing her reaction, Lin Duxi took advantage of the moment to press another soft kiss to her collarbone, exhaling gently, as if imprinting her scent onto An Yu’s skin. The thought that An Yu now carried only her scent satisfied Lin Duxi’s possessiveness and desire to claim her completely.

The entire moment lasted only a few seconds before Lin Duxi loosened her arms and stepped back. The flashlight had been turned off earlier, leaving only the faint moonlight in the living room, shrouding both of their expressions in the dimness.

Lin Duxi’s lips curled into a pleased smile. “Alright, A-Yu, wait for me while I grab some clothes.”

She took An Yu’s hand and gave it a reassuring pat before heading to the bedroom with the flashlight.

An Yu covered her face, her skin burning.  Thank goodness for the power outage…  Her fingertip brushed against the spot on her neck, still tingling from the lingering warmth. The slightest touch sent waves of heat radiating outward, and she couldn’t help but rub at it.

An Yu moved to the kitchen to cook some noodles. After returning home, she checked and found that the noodles hadn’t clumped together, so she divided them into two smaller portions. Since it was already late, she decided to make just enough to stave off hunger, frying two eggs to go with it.

Lin Duxi sat at the dining table, her jacket draped over the chair, revealing a white blouse underneath. Having worked up a slight sweat while searching for things earlier, she had undone the top two buttons, exposing her fair skin and delicate collarbone.

An Yu brought over the noodles, and Lin Duxi thanked her before picking up her chopsticks to eat quietly.

An Yu poked at her noodles, lifting and lowering them absentmindedly. She had little appetite, her mind weighed down by something unresolved.

Now, she mostly remembered-her cooking skills had originally been taught to her by Lin Duxi, back when Lin Duxi had stayed at her place. At the time, An Yu had been a pampered young lady, tired of the meals prepared by the family’s hired cook. So, Lin Duxi had personally cooked for her. Her dishes had a simple, homely flavor, and Lin Duxi had initially worried that An Yu, accustomed to luxurious meals, wouldn’t like them.

Unexpectedly, An Yu had loved them-so much so that she had begged Lin Duxi to teach her. Thrilled, Lin Duxi had spent free moments in the kitchen guiding her.

Thinking back now, An Yu could still vividly recall her own thoughts at the time.  It wasn’t really about the food-she had just wanted more time alone with Lin Duxi.  Back then, she had lied to herself, pretending it was just about enjoying Lin Duxi’s cooking. But over time, that lie had become the truth. Even now, her cooking still carried traces of Lin Duxi’s influence.

After finishing the meal, An Yu placed the dishes in the kitchen sink. Lin Duxi took her change of clothes and headed to the bathroom to wash up. Since the only bathroom was in the bedroom, An Yu waited on the living room sofa.

The sound of running water drifted in and out of An Yu’s ears as she idly scrolled through her phone.

Her Weibo account kept buzzing with notifications. These days, she only used her main account for work-related posts, paying more attention to the activity on her side account.

The photos she had posted in their CP fan community had become a sensation, amassing thousands of followers. Among the flood of notifications, a few private messages sat quietly in her inbox.

Sleeping24Hours  : [“Darling, how have you been lately? Have you watched their CP variety show?”]

An Yu smiled. She didn’t even need to watch it-she was one of the participants herself. She clicked into Sleeping24Hours’ profile and saw a Weibo post from a few days ago: a photo of the moon with no caption, not even a location hint.

The moon is beautiful  , An Yu thought to herself.

SleptToday  : [“I’ve been doing alright lately. Work’s been stable. I’ll be starting that new job in a couple of days, so I need to work harder.”]

After sending the message, she waited for a reply, but when none came, she exited the chat and idly scrolled through her phone. The sound of running water from the bathroom was like clean white noise, soothing An Yu’s exhausted nerves.

The water gradually stopped, and Lin Duxi stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. Droplets trailed down her strands, dripping onto the floor as she walked out of the bedroom.

She remembered An Yu’s place didn’t have a guest room.  Maybe if I act a little coquettish, An Yu will let me sleep in the bedroom  , Lin Duxi mused.

She had deliberately chosen a sleepwear style she’d never worn before. The water from her hair dampened the fabric in places, outlining her curves. Pushing the door open, her eyes immediately landed on An Yu, fast asleep on the sofa.

An Yu was curled up uncomfortably on the couch, her phone teetering precariously in her hand. Her breathing was soft and even, as if she’d fallen deeply asleep.

Lin Duxi’s heart melted instantly, dissolving into a puddle of tenderness. She gazed at An Yu, her eyes brimming with unspoken affection.

Reaching out with a pale, delicate hand, Lin Duxi gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind An Yu’s ear. Glancing down at her own revealing attire, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

Sliding one arm under An Yu’s neck and the other beneath her knees, Lin Duxi carefully lifted her. The contact of their skin ignited a scorching heat that Lin Duxi found intoxicating.

She carried An Yu to the bed, tucking her in. An Yu’s brows furrowed slightly before she slowly blinked awake, her vision filled with a blur of white.

“Lin Duxi… you’re done showering?” An Yu murmured groggily, her gaze inevitably drawn to Lin Duxi, who stood bathed in backlight, the glow softening her edges like an ethereal spirit.

“Mm, go back to sleep,” Lin Duxi replied, tenderly ruffling her hair.

An Yu had been dreaming-a fleeting scene of sharing cake with Lin Duxi at school. The fragmented memories, like threads rewinding, had rewoven themselves back into her mind. Still half-lost between dream and reality, she stared at Lin Duxi intently.

That unwavering gaze made Lin Duxi’s heart tremble. Unable to resist, she pinched An Yu’s cheek lightly. A thin strap of her nightgown slipped off her shoulder, and moonlight spilled through the gap in the curtains, casting a silver glow over them both.

An Yu nodded with a soft “Mm,” then reached out to grasp Lin Duxi’s hand, pulling it to her chest as she settled back into sleep.

That unconscious, protective gesture pierced straight through Lin Duxi’s heart. Like a night breeze stirring the tide, her restless heartbeat and overwhelming affection surged into the quiet lake of her emotions. She could feel her pulse hammering violently in her chest.

I love her, I love her, I love her so much  , Lin Duxi thought. She could never leave An Yu now-not that she wanted to. She was utterly, willingly ensnared.

The next morning, when An Yu woke up, she was alone in bed. She recalled waiting for Lin Duxi to finish showering last night but somehow dozing off on the sofa.  I still had things to tell her  , she thought, frowning at the undisturbed sheets beside her.

Did Lin Duxi not sleep in the bedroom last night?

A dull ache settled in her chest. Whether Lin Duxi had slept beside her or not, the uncertainty gnawed at her. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed softly.

Soon, the aroma of food wafted into the room. She got up and opened the bedroom door to find breakfast laid out in the living room. Footsteps approached from the kitchen, and An Yu looked up to see Lin Duxi wearing her apron, smiling at her.

“Ah Yu, you’re awake. Go wash up, then let’s eat.” The sunlight softened Lin Duxi’s usual sharpness, leaving only warmth. Dressed in a cream knit sweater with her hair tied back in a low ponytail, she looked utterly gentle.

An Yu obediently went to freshen up, only allowing herself to clutch her pounding chest once the bathroom door was safely closed.

Lin Duxi felt different now-An Yu couldn’t quite place it, but she had to admit, she liked this change.

Or rather, she didn’t dislike any version of Lin Duxi.

After breakfast, An Yu called a repairman. Their upscale neighborhood ensured prompt service, and the technician was scheduled to arrive in about half an hour.

The two of them stayed in the apartment-An Yu flipping through a script, Lin Duxi reading a book from her shelf.

But no matter how many times An Yu scanned the pages, the words refused to stick. With a silent sigh, she set the script aside and glanced at Lin Duxi.

Seated on the opposite end of the sofa, Lin Duxi held the book with quiet focus. The domestic tranquility of the scene inexplicably stirred An Yu’s heart, planting a longing for this to last.

To distract herself, An Yu spoke up: “In a couple of days, I’m going to the orphanage with Shi Yu. Do you want to come?”

Lin Duxi’s fingers stilled on the page. “The orphanage?”

“Yeah,” An Yu nodded. “Shi Yu said she’s working on a charity-related script and wants to gather inspiration. She invited me to visit the kids too.”

Lin Duxi traced the book’s cover thoughtfully. “When?”

“Tomorrow.”

Lin Duxi’s expression dimmed slightly. “I have something to do tomorrow.” Her voice trailed off in genuine regret.

“It’s fine,” An Yu reassured her. “Shi Yu and I can go. We’ll visit together when you’re free.”

Lin Duxi looked up at her, then stood and walked over, sitting close enough that their knees almost touched. She stared at An Yu without speaking, her eyes brimming with naked adoration.

An Yu flustered under the intensity of that gaze, dropping her eyes to avoid it. A low, velvety chuckle escaped Lin Duxi, the sound curling like smoke around An Yu’s ears, setting them aflame.

Lin Duxi stood again. “The repairman will be here soon. Since all the bulbs are burnt out, I’ll go buy new ones.”

An Yu rose too. “I’ll come with you.”

Lin Duxi pressed her back onto the sofa with hands on her shoulders. “Someone needs to stay home. Ah Yu, wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.” She playfully booped An Yu’s nose-a move so effective it rendered her speechless.

After Lin Duxi left, An Yu cupped her burning cheeks, finally realizing what felt so familiar about Lin Duxi’s recent behavior.

Back when they were dating, Lin Duxi had been unabashedly clingy, insisting on being together every day. If An Yu refused, she’d deploy撒娇 (sājiāo, coquettishness) tactics-sweet-talking, pouting-until An Yu relented.

And now, Lin Duxi was acting exactly the same way.

But why?  An Yu wondered.  Last night, I didn’t do anything except… fall asleep on the sofa and then-

Her eyes widened. She vaguely remembered waking up once, clinging to Lin Duxi’s arm like a limpet before drifting off again.

Oh god. So embarrassing.

She rushed to the window, yanking the curtains open for air. Had there been a mirror, she would’ve seen her own scarlet face.

A cool breeze rushed in, soothing her overheated emotions.

From the living room window, she could see people milling about below-early-morning joggers, elderly residents on strolls. Her gaze absently followed the figures until it landed on Lin Duxi, walking leisurely down the path.

Lin Duxi’s proportions were impeccable-what industry insiders called “born for the screen.”

An Yu agreed. Back in high school, every time Lin Duxi appeared at a major event, she’d receive stacks of love letters afterward. During their closest year (高三, senior year), An Yu had taken it upon herself to toss those letters and gifts into the trash-  faster  than Lin Duxi herself. Lin Duxi had watched indulgently, even egging her on, which never failed to lift An Yu’s mood.

I really was shameless back then  , An Yu laughed to herself.  Openly throwing away others’ things-yet no one dared confront me. All because of my parents.

Her eyes drifted back to the street. Lin Duxi was further away now, just a small figure in the distance. But then An Yu’s smile froze.

About ten meters behind Lin Duxi, a man in a cap and full disguise was tailing her, his furtive glances and erratic movements screaming  suspicious  .