After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 69

Since they weren’t speaking face-to-face, An Yu had no way of knowing Lin Duxi’s true circumstances. Reading her replies on the phone, it felt as though Lin Duxi’s gentle responses were whispered right by her ear, causing An Yu’s ears to flush red.

To make traveling more convenient, An Yu had bought a car not long ago. Somehow, Lin Duxi had found out and insisted on going with her. Unable to resist her soft, coaxing words, An Yu ended up purchasing the car together with her. On the way back, Lin Duxi sat in the passenger seat, her silent presence wrapping An Yu in warmth.

Shaking off the memories, An Yu put on her coat and carried the stationery and snacks she’d prepared for the children downstairs. There was quite a lot to move, so she had to make several trips. On her final trip upstairs, she glanced at Lin Duxi’s door and checked the time.

It was almost noon, and there was still no movement from Lin Duxi’s apartment. She must have left for work long ago.

An Yu withdrew her gaze, carried the last box of snacks downstairs, and drove out of the neighborhood.

Just as An Yu’s car started, a corner of the curtain in Lin Duxi’s apartment was lifted. Lin Duxi stared blankly as An Yu’s car grew farther and farther away.

The woman sitting across from her adjusted her glasses with a finger and followed her gaze. “Is that Miss An?”

Lin Duxi didn’t take her eyes off the car, giving a slight nod in confirmation.

Jiang Wen: “Your relationship with her has improved a lot. You were chatting with her earlier, weren’t you?”

Lin Duxi turned back, her eyes flickering. “How did you know?”

Jiang Wen smiled faintly. “You were smiling while talking to her.” This was the first time, after so many sessions with Lin Duxi, that Jiang Wen had seen her smile so genuinely. Even she couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at that tender expression.

Unconsciously, Lin Duxi’s fingers curled around the pen in her hand, lightly brushing against the page. The blank sheet was stained with ink from previous forceful writing. Jiang Wen’s fingertips traced the impressions left on the paper-the notebook she used to record Lin Duxi’s sessions was filled with An Yu’s name, repeated over and over from Lin Duxi’s accounts.

She had come early today partly to catch a glimpse of this “An Yu,” someone she had never met but whose name she knew by heart. Seeing the person her patient longed for would help guide the treatment in a better direction.

“Let’s begin,” Lin Duxi said, suppressing her emotions as she let the curtain fall. Her fingers rubbed against the fabric covering her knees, and her lips parted slightly.

By the time An Yu and Shi Yu arrived at Jiangcheng Orphanage, it was nearly noon. Due to the rain the previous night, a section of the road ahead was under construction and impassable. The only available detour was a muddy path, forcing them to park a few hundred meters away and continue on foot. They planned to meet the staff at the orphanage and help carry the supplies back.

The midday sun was harsh. After the autumn rain, droplets still clung to the branches, and the ground was littered with leaves washed down by the downpour, forming a path of mingled green and yellow-a sight of unique beauty.

An Yu walked along the sidewalk, while Shi Yu trudged beside her, looking dispirited. Curious, An Yu asked, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Shi Yu shook her head, covering her face with her hands and groaning. “Sister Jiang was supposed to come with me this time, but she got called away for work at the last minute.”

Understanding dawned on An Yu, and she was about to offer comfort when Shi Yu continued, “But doctors must be really busy. I get it. Next time, I’ll make sure she spends the whole day with me.”

An Yu: “…Sister Jiang-is she the one we saw at the café?”

Shi Yu nodded. “I met her when I came to the orphanage before and noticed she was here too.” She skipped over the difficulties of tracking Jiang down, keeping her explanation brief.

An Yu nodded and idly turned her attention to the scenery around them.

As they passed a dilapidated park, An Yu’s gaze swept over it indifferently-until the layout of the equipment inside caught her eye. Her eyes widened. She felt like she’d seen these structures before. A sense of familiarity brushed against her heart like a feather, sending a tremor through her.

Shi Yu, walking ahead, suddenly realized An Yu was no longer beside her. She turned back and saw An Yu standing still, staring intently at the park across the way. After a curious glance-it was just an ordinary park-she asked, “What’s wrong? Do you want to go play?”

An Yu snapped out of it and shook her head. “It’s nothing. Let’s keep going.” With that, she took one last deep look at the park before turning away. But the strange sense of familiarity lingered, impossible to shake off.

The orphanage director had been waiting at the entrance for some time. Spotting the two from a distance, she hurried over to greet them.

“Miss Shi, Miss An-you’re here.”

Shi Yu and An Yu shook hands with her.

Shi Yu: “We brought some things for the kids. They’re still in the car. Could you ask some people to help us carry them in?”

The director smiled warmly. “Of course, of course. Xiao Chen, Xiao Zhou-gather some of the older kids and help bring in the items these young ladies have prepared.”

Shi Yu went with them, while An Yu initially wanted to join but was stopped by the director and Shi Yu, who suggested she first take some time to get acquainted with the children.

Reluctantly, An Yu followed the director into the welfare center. The facility was well-equipped, with plenty of play areas for the children. As she walked through the center, the director explained the purpose of each area.

When they reached the cafeteria, it happened to be mealtime, and lively chatter filled the space. Listening to the children’s cheerful voices, the director’s eyes crinkled with warmth, her expression kind.

“The children-seeing them eat well and stay happy-it makes my heart as sweet as honey.”

“By the way, Miss An, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Come, let’s have lunch first.”

The two sat in a corner of the cafeteria, watching the children settle into their seats and arrange their utensils.

An Yu’s mind was weighed down by something. She picked up her food only to set it down again. Noticing this, the director asked,

“Is something wrong, Miss An? Does the food not suit your taste?”

An Yu shook her head, her fingers curling slightly. She finally voiced the question on her mind.

“Director, there’s a park near a residential area a few hundred meters from here. Do you have any memories of it?”

The director set down her chopsticks and thought for a moment. “There is one, but the children here don’t go there to play. It’s too far, and I worry they might get lost. Why do you ask, Miss An? Is there something about that park?”

An Yu shook her head slightly. “It just felt familiar, like I’ve been there before.”

The director smiled kindly. “Perhaps you played there as a child and met some wonderful friends. Sometimes it’s not the place that feels familiar, but the memories of the people and moments you shared.”

An Yu’s grip on her chopsticks tightened briefly before she replied calmly, “Maybe so.”

The director glanced around at the new, well-maintained facilities and sighed nostalgically.

“I remember it was the summer six years ago. The welfare center’s funding ran into trouble, and the old director was so worried she fell ill. Even on her hospital bed, she kept thinking about the center’s future. Back then, I was so stressed my hair fell out in clumps. If she could see how new and thriving the center is now, her spirit would be at peace.”

An Yu probed cautiously, “How did you overcome those difficulties back then?”

Perhaps relaxed by the meal, the director felt like sharing the story.

“At the time, I was the deputy director, scrambling every day to cover the medical bills and keep the center running. I almost thought there was no way out-but then, miraculously, an elderly couple who had long supported us donated a large sum. It not only resolved the center’s crisis but also covered the director’s medical expenses. I was so grateful. I wanted to thank them properly when they next visited, but for some reason, they never came again.”

An Yu felt as if her breath had been stolen. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Were that couple… by any chance surnamed-”

“An. The gentleman’s surname was An, and the lady’s was Yu, I believe. We owe them so much.”

At this definitive answer, An Yu’s entire body went cold. Though it was early autumn, she shivered as if struck by winter. Only when the director called her name in concern did she snap back to reality.

In a daze, she followed the director out of the cafeteria. The children’s laughter echoed around her, and sunlight bathed her skin, yet it did nothing to thaw the icy numbness inside.

Her parents’ company had gone bankrupt back then-how could they have donated such a large sum while struggling themselves? Her mind raced chaotically, sensing that something she had never known was about to come to light. She struggled to suppress her emotions, not wanting to appear too shaken, but her fingers still trembled slightly at her sides.

Shi Yu, who had been playing with the children nearby, noticed her pallor and approached.

“What’s wrong? You look so pale.”

An Yu shook her head, buttoning her coat. “Just a little cold,” she murmured before walking past her.

Shi Yu frowned, wiping sweat from her forehead as she glanced up at the blazing sun.

“Cold?”

After lunch, An Yu and Shi Yu helped the staff tidy up the courtyard. Children ran around them, their laughter filling the air.

An Yu smiled faintly at the scene when something was suddenly pressed into her palm. She looked down to see a little girl staring up at her with wide eyes.

Unfolding the paper, she found a clumsily written message in pencil:

“Be together with Du Xi jiejie forever.” The girl didn’t know how to write “Xi,” so she had used pinyin instead.

An Yu raised an eyebrow, her eyes softening as she crouched to meet the girl’s gaze. “How do you know Lin Duxi?”

The girl stared at her for a moment before suddenly turning and darting away. A nearby staff member chuckled.

“Xiaoxiao loves watching your shows with Lin Duxi. She waits for them every time, completely engrossed.”

An Yu laughed, an inexplicable warmth smoothing the ripples in her heart. She carefully folded the note, tucked it into her pocket, and zipped it securely.

Her gaze drifted to a wall covered in photos of past volunteers. She quickly spotted her parents’ picture displayed prominently, her eyes dimming slightly. Then she noticed a strange woman in one of the corner photos.

A staff member, seeing her interest, explained,

“That’s Su Nan. She’s capable and kind-hearted, but… ah.”

An Yu turned to her. “But what?”

The staff member’s expression turned pitying as she looked at the woman in the photo.

“She married a terrible man. His whole family leeches off her. Her husband doesn’t work and drinks all day, while her son loafs around with gangs. The family’s entire livelihood depends on her meager earnings. She hasn’t been to the welfare center in years.”

Another staff member chimed in, “I heard her husband hits her when he’s drunk. It’s awful.”

“Really? How do you know?”

The woman gestured vaguely. “We live in the same neighborhood. The man’s notorious-using her money to fool around, then coming home drunk to beat her. Su Nan… ah.”

“Her son was arrested a few days ago for some trouble he caused. She had to bail him out again,” the first staff member added disdainfully.

As the two exchanged stories, An Yu pieced together the situation. When the topic turned to the son, she suddenly asked,

“What’s his name?”

The staff member paused, thinking.

“I remember her mentioning him recently-something about ‘A-Ze.’ Yeah, A-Ze.”

An Yu’s heart lurched, recalling the documents she had seen before leaving home.

A-Ze. Lin Ze.