After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 77

Du Qianshu’s business banquet was held at a top-tier hotel in the center of Jiangcheng. The event was not open to the public, and even though the guest list included business elites and celebrities from the entertainment industry, reporters hoping to get firsthand information could only wait outside the hotel.

An Yu entered as a guest of  Hello, Friend  , accompanying Qiao Qingzhou and the others. Lin Duxi was not with them-she had been invited earlier than the variety show, attending as an individual artist, and her seating arrangement was separate from theirs.

Hearing the faint regret in Qiao Qingzhou’s tone, An Yu felt a strange emotion rise in her chest-something between relief and heaviness.

Before falling asleep the night before, she had thought about many things. Memories of Lin Duxi kept surfacing, and events from years ago replayed vividly in her mind, etched into her consciousness like an endless slideshow. After waking up, she still didn’t know how to face Lin Duxi now.

Her thoughts had been scattered all day, tangled between confusion and heartache, as if she were lost in layers of fog, with mist obscuring every path she might take.

She stood frozen outside a shattered vase, afraid to move, unsure if her next step would be the final one that caused the pottery to break completely-once it shattered, everything inside would spill out, impossible to contain again.

Qiao Qingzhou noticed An Yu spacing out again and assumed it was because of Lin Duxi. After scanning the room, she spotted an old friend-someone seated at the same table as Lin Duxi.

After excusing herself from the group, she returned and nudged An Yu awake.

“Done.”

An Yu: “What’s done?”

Qiao Qingzhou’s lips curved slightly. “Once the banquet officially starts, President Du will come up to host. By then, your seat will be to the right of Lin Duxi’s table. Go on, don’t sulk anymore.”

An Yu was instantly thrown into chaos:  “What? I’m sitting at the same table as Lin Duxi?”

“Look how happy you are. No need to thank me. I just happened to have an old friend sitting with her, so now we can catch up too.”

Qiao Qingzhou patted An Yu’s shoulder and walked off to find that old friend. The other members of the variety show had also dispersed to mingle and expand their networks, leaving An Yu alone, still reeling.

The grand, ornate doors of the venue were pushed open, and the crowd inside immediately stopped their conversations to turn and look.

Lin Duxi walked in wearing a white, backless evening gown with delicate lace detailing. Her slightly curled hair cascaded loosely down her back, accentuating her elegance. The graceful movement of her shoulder blades beneath the fabric, the sway of her steps-every gesture was mesmerizing.

She entered alongside Du Qianshu, the main host of the banquet. The two seemed to have just finished a discussion, as they didn’t continue talking upon entering.

The guests, who had been chatting idly, quickly gathered around the two, eager to greet them-even those who weren’t familiar tried to get closer, hoping to leave an impression.

Lin Duxi responded to everyone who approached her, a faint smile always on her lips.

Despite the turmoil in her heart, An Yu couldn’t tear her gaze away from Lin Duxi. Yet, she remained rooted in place, watching as Lin Duxi made her way to the other side of the venue and took her seat, effortlessly engaging in conversation with the stream of well-wishers.

A dull ache spread through An Yu’s chest. She finally forced herself to look away, focusing instead on the wine in front of her. Frustrated, she downed the entire glass in one go.

She didn’t know how to face Lin Duxi. She wanted to ask about what had happened in the past, but that would be like tearing open a wound that had only just healed. Yet, the doubts in her heart remained like an unsolved puzzle.

The night before, she had considered every possible explanation-maybe Lin Duxi had been desperate for money and didn’t want to be tied down by love; maybe she had simply fallen out of love; or maybe, in the most clichéd drama-like twist, someone had offered her money to leave. But none of these theories felt convincing enough.

She was so frustrated.

When she felt that particular gaze finally leave her, Lin Duxi’s tightly clenched fingers loosened slightly. The crescent-shaped marks left by her nails on her palm were deep. She lowered her eyes to stare at her own shadow, a hint of grievance flickering in her gaze.

Another glass of wine disappeared down An Yu’s throat just as Du Qianshu stepped onto the stage to begin introducing the jewelry collection.

An Yu clenched her hands, suppressing her nervousness as she moved toward Lin Duxi’s table. The people already seated there were momentarily stunned, but no one said anything-they just kept glancing back and forth between An Yu and Lin Duxi.

Ignoring their looks, An Yu walked to the right side of Lin Duxi’s seat and sat down, immediately picking up a glass of wine and draining it.

Noticing Lin Duxi’s gaze, An Yu’s movements faltered for a second before she continued drinking.

What Du Qianshu said on stage, An Yu couldn’t recall. How many glasses she drank, she couldn’t remember either. The only thing she was aware of was the increasingly scorching gaze beside her-so intense it felt like it could burn through her.

An Yu didn’t dare look at her. With trembling hands, she poured herself another glass and raised it to her lips.

A pale, slender hand pressed down on her wrist, stopping her.

An Yu was taken aback, then a voice laced with worry drifted to her ears on the wind.

“Ah Yu, please don’t drink anymore, I’m begging you.”

The voice echoed in her ears, igniting flames wherever it reached. An Yu’s entire body burned, as if she were truly about to catch fire. Stiffly, she turned her head to look and met Lin Duxi’s glistening eyes.

Lin Duxi’s hand, which had been resting on her wrist, slid down to grasp her fingers, gently pulling her away from the wine glass.

“Ah Yu, be good, let’s not drink anymore, okay?”

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice trembling with worry. Though phrased as a question, it carried a pleading tone, like a feather lightly brushing against An Yu’s heart.

An Yu stared at her. Today, Lin Duxi was wearing makeup, adding an alluring charm to her usual demeanor. Lowering her gaze, An Yu felt a haze of moisture gradually clouding her own eyes.

It hurt so much. Seeing Lin Duxi like this reminded her of that day-the memory of her thin, fragile frame, clutching a book as she sobbed and hugged her outside the residential complex.

Her heart felt as if it were being squeezed, twisted with pain.

She had known it all along-seeing Lin Duxi would inevitably bring her sorrow.

Reaching out, she wanted to take a sip of her drink to mask her distress, but Lin Duxi snatched it away just before her fingers could touch the glass.

Lin Duxi downed the wine in one go, then turned back to An Yu with newfound determination in her eyes. “If you want to drink, I’ll drink with you.”

Almost instantly, An Yu recalled the times Lin Duxi had suffered from headaches after drinking, the memories flashing sharply through her mind.

Pushing the glass away, An Yu shook her head.

“I won’t drink anymore.”

The warmth from their intertwined hands seared into An Yu’s consciousness. Several times, the questions burning in her heart nearly spilled out, but she suppressed them with the last remnants of her self-control.

Once Du Qianshu’s segment ended, An Yu released Lin Duxi’s hand and slipped into the garden behind the venue for some fresh air.

One of her hands remained numb, as if Lin Duxi’s touch still lingered. Gazing up at the moonlight, she sighed inexplicably.

“What’s wrong? You’ve seemed down all evening.” A voice from behind drew An Yu’s attention, and she turned.

It was Du Qianshu.

“I wanted to find you as soon as I arrived, but the crowd was too big. It’s been a long time, Xiao Yu.” Du Qianshu smiled gently at her.

“Auntie Du, it’s been a while.” The cool breeze had sobered An Yu slightly, and she nodded politely.

“The last time I saw you was nearly six years ago. I was abroad dealing with some matters and couldn’t get updates in time. Coincidentally, my company was hosting this banquet, so I arranged for you to be invited.”

Du Qianshu’s tone was calm, like a familiar elder chatting casually with a younger family member, making An Yu feel at ease.

“Auntie Du, actually, I came tonight because I wanted to ask you about my parents. Back then, I was busy with my studies, and my parents didn’t tell me much. I’ve always wanted to know what really happened that year.”

Hearing this, Du Qianshu studied her deeply before sighing. Even now, recalling those events left her bewildered.

“What happened back then was so sudden. I was abroad and didn’t communicate much with your mother. The earliest she mentioned to me was wanting to send you overseas and asking me to look after you for a while. I agreed. But the night before, we were still discussing what time I should pick you up at the airport-then the next day, everything happened.”

“I don’t know much, either. After so long, only the broad strokes remain.” Du Qianshu’s voice was tinged with regret. “If I recall more details later, I’ll fill you in.”

“No, your words are incredibly important to me. Thank you.” An Yu expressed her gratitude sincerely. This was the first time she had heard about her parents’ past from someone else-things even the family butler wouldn’t know.

Du Qianshu’s account further confirmed her suspicions: her parents’ deaths were no accident, and their demise was undoubtedly shrouded in hidden truths.

After Du Qianshu left, An Yu lingered outside a while longer. By the time she returned to the venue, the banquet had ended, and only a handful of people remained.

She glanced around but saw no sign of Lin Duxi. A hollow emptiness settled in her chest.

Without realizing it, Lin Duxi had gradually claimed a significant space in her heart.

An Yu dialed her company’s driver, preparing to leave.

Just as she pressed the last digit, her phone was snatched away. She looked up to find Lin Duxi standing beside her, holding her device.

“Why are you here?” When had she appeared?

Lin Duxi turned off the screen and handed the phone back.

“Ah Yu, ride back with me,” she said.

The car door closed softly. In the backseat, only the two of them sat as the air conditioning gradually warmed the interior.

An Yu turned her head to gaze out at the dark night, bewildered at how she had ended up in Lin Duxi’s car so quickly. She hadn’t even prepared herself to face her yet.

Her mind was a chaotic mess. The exhaustion weighing on her body and mind, amplified by the alcohol, made her want nothing more than to sleep. She fought to stay awake but ultimately succumbed to the cozy environment.

In her dazed state, she felt arms wrap around her, her head resting against a shoulder. The familiar scent that filled her nose unleashed a flood of security, dissolving her fatigue. Closing her eyes, she fell into unconsciousness.

As the car passed through a tunnel, the flickering lights cast shifting shadows. Lin Duxi lifted An Yu’s hand, interlacing their fingers tightly.

An unshakable fear clung to her. She didn’t know how An Yu would react to her this time-whether it would be like before. But at least today, An Yu had been willing to stay close.

Lowering her head, she pressed a kiss to An Yu’s soft hair-gentle yet profound, pouring all her love into that trembling gesture.

This time, no matter what, she wouldn’t let go.

By the time the car arrived at the upscale residential complex, An Yu had woken.

Staring at the familiar building, she felt a momentary disorientation. Still, she let Lin Duxi lead her by the hand back home.

The bright hallway lights shone into her eyes, but her gaze remained fixed solely on Lin Duxi.

Watching the elegant curve of her shoulder blades and the nape of her neck hidden by her hair, An Yu was suddenly struck by a realization.

Lin Duxi knew she had visited the orphanage yesterday. Did that mean Lin Duxi also knew-that she would uncover those secrets?