After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 9

When Lin Duxi returned from her morning run, An Yu was no longer at the roadside breakfast stall. She stopped and watched the bustling crowd, unconsciously recalling An Yu’s panicked expression earlier. Though it had been a gesture of rejection, her every movement was still the same as it had been six years ago.

Her fingers, which had brushed against An Yu’s cheek, lightly rubbed together as if the sensation still lingered. Something deep within Lin Duxi’s heart suddenly collapsed.

The next second, she chuckled softly, her eyes curving into crescents, yet the smile didn’t reach the depths of her pupils-where something restrained lurked, held back from bursting forth.

It’s fine. If A-Yu forgot, it must be because too much time had passed. If she forgot, she could remember again. Lin Duxi would make sure An Yu remembered. She would stay by An Yu’s side, helping her recall everything.

Her gaze darkened, the corners of her eyes tinged red. The emotions buried in the depths of her pupils were like shattered ice, on the verge of breaking free. Lin Duxi forced herself to take a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent feelings surging within her.

No one could stop her.

The night before the first episode of  Hello, Friend  began filming, An Yu was at home packing her luggage.

Lin Duxi’s participation had elevated the show’s prestige far beyond expectations. Ning Xuan was both thrilled and terrified-she had only intended for An Yu to gain some exposure, never expecting they’d land such a huge opportunity.

“An Yu, listen, don’t act impulsively on the show. Don’t offend anyone around you,” Ning Xuan repeatedly warned over the phone, afraid An Yu might make a mistake.

“And make sure to get as much screen time as possible. Be proactive where you can, and build good relationships with Lin Duxi and the others. Though, since you’re neighbors with Lin Duxi, that shouldn’t be too hard.”

An Yu:  “…You even know about that?”

“Do you have any idea how many viewers tuned into that livestream with you and Lin Duxi? It broke records! Who knew moving houses would bring such luck? Anyway, don’t offend anyone on the show. Tread carefully. If you piss off even one person, half your career in this industry could be over-and my dream of becoming a top agent along with it!”

An Yu sighed in resignation. “Alright, I’ll be careful. I won’t let your agent dreams shatter.”

After hanging up, she exhaled deeply and turned back to her suitcase, continuing to pack.

Hello, Friend  had gained massive popularity after the livestream teaser, especially among shippers drawn in by the chemistry between the cast. After much deliberation, the production team decided to adopt a 24/7 livestream format, with full recordings released afterward for viewers who missed the live broadcast.

This move was praised as highly viewer-friendly and instantly attracted even more attention, boosting the show’s hype further.

The downside? The cast had to maintain flawless appearances and calm demeanors at all times. From the script, An Yu learned that filming would start the moment they stepped off the plane the next morning-livestreaming straight from the airport, dragging their luggage all the way to the guesthouse. That meant she had to prepare everything in advance.

As she neatly arranged her belongings, her fingers brushed against the first-aid kit and preventive medications. But the moment she touched them, a sharp pain pricked her fingertip. She glanced down and saw the half-used tube of white ointment.

The one Lin Duxi had given her.

An Yu picked it up, staring at the label, her mind drifting back to that day-Lin Duxi’s pleading expression as she handed her the ointment, and the way she had stood in the shadows, head bowed, watching An Yu leave, her figure swallowed by darkness, lonely and desolate.

Her gaze grew complicated. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel the chaotic thoughts. Standing up to put the ointment away, she suddenly felt dizzy from crouching too long. Her vision darkened, and she staggered, knocking into the nearby table.

Crash-

The sound of something shattering rang in her ears, followed by the pungent scent of bug spray flooding the room. Fighting the dizziness, An Yu forced her eyes open and saw the bottle of repellent had fallen and shattered on the floor, liquid spilling everywhere. Thankfully, it hadn’t reached the nearby rug or her suitcase.

Frowning, she steadied herself and was about to grab a broom when a knock came at the door. She hesitated, glancing between the mess and the entrance, but ultimately went to answer.

“A-Yu.” Lin Duxi smiled when An Yu opened the door, then her nose twitched slightly, her brows furrowing.

“Why does it smell so strongly of bug spray? What happened?”

An Yu:  “…Do you need something? If not, I’m closing the door.”  She rested a hand on the doorframe.

Lin Duxi took a subtle step forward before An Yu could protest. “Of course. I was experimenting with baking cookies today and made too many. Since we start filming tomorrow, they’ll go bad if left too long. Could you help me finish some, A-Yu? I’m not sure if you’ll like the flavors, though.”

As she spoke, she gently tugged at An Yu’s sleeve, swinging it lightly.

An Yu looked down at the exquisitely packaged cookie box in Lin Duxi’s hands-tied with a red ribbon, the shapes of the cookies faintly visible inside, like a Valentine’s gift for a lover.

With a soft laugh, An Yu took the box, turning it over in her hands as she examined it slowly.

Lin Duxi’s gaze gradually brightened as she watched her movements, then her eyes quickly swept across the room before finally settling on a particular spot in the living room.

“Ah Yu’s mosquito repellent spilled. Let me help clean it up,” she said, stepping into the living room and grabbing a few tissues to pick up the broken pieces.

“Lin Duxi.”

An Yu watched her actions and hurried over, grabbing her arm while placing the cookies on the table.

“Guests don’t come to someone’s house just to clean up for them.”

An Yu released Lin Duxi’s hand, then took some napkins from the table and crouched down to pick up the fragments herself. Lin Duxi stood to the side, watching her.

When An Yu stood up and tossed the pieces into the trash, she heard Lin Duxi’s soft murmur as she passed by.

“But Ah Yu isn’t just ‘someone.'”

An Yu froze, then let out an exasperated laugh. “If I’m not just ‘someone,’ then what are we? High school classmates? Strangers who aren’t even friends? Or… ex-girlfriends?” The corner of her lips curled, though it was unclear whether she was mocking Lin Duxi or herself.

This was the first time An Yu had directly confronted their high school past. The moment the words left her mouth, even she was startled, her pupils dilating in momentary shock.

Lin Duxi looked at her, her lips parting slightly. The light in her eyes flickered as if shattered, but just as she was about to say something, An Yu cut her off.

“It’s getting late, and we have filming tomorrow. You should head back.”

“Ah Yu.” Lin Duxi didn’t respond to her dismissal. Instead, she smiled and asked, “We start filming tomorrow-what time is your flight?”

An Yu glanced at her and noticed a faint redness in her eyes, the fragile light within them gradually swallowed by the darkness of her pupils. She studied Lin Duxi for a long moment before finally answering.

“7 a.m.”

“Me too. Why don’t we go together?”

An Yu finished cleaning up the spilled mosquito repellent and opened the window to air out the room.

“No. You’ll have your manager and assistants with you, not to mention fans waiting at the airport. Me being there would just cause unnecessary gossip.”

Lin Duxi thought for a moment and nodded. “Ah Yu’s right. It might cause trouble for you. What a shame-I guess we’ll just have to wait until filming to see each other.”

An Yu nodded, crouching to fasten her suitcase before standing it upright. When she turned around, she caught an unfamiliar emotion in Lin Duxi’s gaze-something akin to longing, mixed with other complicated feelings. But before she could process it, the expression vanished, fleeting as a passing shadow. She decided she must have imagined it.

Lin Duxi smiled and bid her goodbye. “See you tomorrow, Ah Yu. Don’t forget to eat the cookies.”

An Yu replied, “Mm.”

Only after Lin Duxi left did An Yu wipe nonexistent sweat from her forehead. She must not have been sleeping well lately-she’d been too impulsive these past few days.

Just then, a sharp static noise pierced her mind, followed by a mechanical voice.

[Host, did you have a fight with Lin Duxi?]  it asked.

“No,” An Yu replied. It wasn’t a fight-there was no reason to argue in the first place.

“Why are you here? And with your own entrance BGM?”

[The show starts filming tomorrow. The male and female leads will meet for the first time. Any thoughts, Host?]

An Yu shot back, “What thoughts do you think I’d have?”

[Host, shouldn’t you be nervous and excited? This is the male and female leads’ first meeting! You need to start planning now-how to proceed tomorrow, how to complete your tasks, step by step. Only then can everything go smoothly.]

“You said it yourself-they’re the destined male and female leads. Even without my help, they’d naturally get together quickly. My role is just to add the finishing touch…”

[You don’t want to do it?]  The system’s icy voice cut her off abruptly, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

“No, I’m just stating the inevitability of their relationship,” An Yu explained.

[I didn’t go through the trouble of reviving you just to hear this.]

An Yu found the accusation baffling. She wanted to retort, but the system’s frigid tone sent a sharp pain through her head.

[No one can defy the destined bond between the male and female leads. All you need to do is fulfill your role properly and keep the world running smoothly.]

[I’ll be back tomorrow. I hope the Host won’t slack off by then.]

With that final, dismissive remark, it vanished, leaving An Yu clutching her throbbing head as she slumped into a chair to recover.

After resting for a while, An Yu got up to wash up.

She tossed her old clothes into the washing machine, and once everything was settled, she prepared for bed. But just as she turned off the living room light, a splash of red on the table caught her eye.

Instantly, she recalled those damp, reddened eyes-misty and haunting, searing into her mind.

After a moment’s hesitation, she finally picked up the box of cookies and carried it into her bedroom.