After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed - Chapter 29

“Don’t forget, An Yu.” Lin Duxi put down her fork and leaned slightly toward An Yu. The sweet scent of mango followed her movement, lingering around An Yu’s nose.

An Yu turned around, her emotions still not entirely hidden, and looked at Lin Duxi with lingering affection.

“Tonight, remember.” Lin Duxi reached out and lightly lifted An Yu’s chin in a playful gesture. An Yu froze, letting her, and Lin Duxi smiled faintly, seemingly pleased with her reaction.

“Remember tonight’s scene.” She rubbed An Yu’s chin, unwilling to let go.

An Yu smiled helplessly. “Okay,” she said, her gaze falling on the bandages on Lin Duxi’s hand. “Is your hand better now?”

Seeing Lin Duxi recalling her injury, Lin Duxi sighed and extended her hand to show her. “It’s much better. After you bandaged it last night, it healed quickly. It’ll recover completely soon.”

An Yu looked at her, still concerned, and gently held her hand, carefully checking the wound. Only after confirming it wouldn’t reopen did she finally relax.

“I just wonder if it’ll leave a scar.” An Yu lowered her gaze, feeling a tinge of regret. Lin Duxi’s hands were so beautiful that a scar would look out of place. She recalled Lin Duxi mentioning getting hurt while filming on the ship before. Though Lin Duxi had seemed fine both times, An Yu’s heart still stirred with concern.

An Yu had two ways of showing her concern: one was to look directly with eyes full of worry, the other was to hide it by lowering her gaze. Lin Duxi, knowing her for so many years, could tell her current state.

An Yu was worried about her.

In a place where An Yu couldn’t see, Lin Duxi curled her lips slightly, then lowered her eyelids, looking like a hurt little kitten. Her voice carried a hint of grievance: “Yes, a scar would look terrible. Maybe no boyfriend would want me. If that’s the case, Ah Yu, would you still take me in?”

An Yu looked up in surprise. Lin Duxi’s eyes were misty, and her heart stirred. Since this was her matter, it was up to her to resolve it.

The word “take in” might sound casual to an outsider, but in this context, it carried a subtle flirtatious meaning while reducing the awkwardness of saying it aloud.

Seeing Lin Duxi’s injured yet expectant gaze, An Yu almost wanted to say “I’ll take you in,” but just as the thought formed, Lin Duxi suddenly smiled, as if unable to keep up the act.

“You’re so cute, Ah Yu. This little wound won’t leave a scar. You can rest easy.” Lin Duxi smiled brightly, tears unconsciously spilling from her eyes, but beneath the joy lay stubborn complexity.

She didn’t want a temporary show of affection; she wanted An Yu’s wholehearted love, her entire heart laid bare. That was the reason for her passionate love, the cause of her surrender.

An Yu looked at her smiling, lips curving, eyes growing complex.

If Lin Duxi hadn’t interrupted her, would she have really said “take you in”? Without thought or consideration, it would have been irresponsible for both. Besides, their relationship was still only slowly mending past estrangements.

Perhaps Lin Duxi sensed this, which is why she spoke up, and An Yu lowered her gaze, burying her emotions.

Lin Duxi wiped her tears, sat down, and continued eating the dessert she had been enjoying. Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the quiet moment.

She checked the screen, frowned slightly at the caller, and answered without hesitation, even in front of An Yu.

An Yu tilted her head, pretending to look outside.

“Ji-jie, okay, I’m coming immediately.” Her tone was cold and authoritative, probably her usual style, though An Yu had never heard it before.

Lin Duxi quickly hung up. An Yu turned back, noticing her serious expression. She paused, not teasing her as she normally would.

“Yes, something came up?”

“My manager said there’s a problem with a job,” Lin Duxi said, eyes full of reluctance. She had finally gotten a chance to spend time with An Yu, only to have it disrupted.

“Ah Yu, I have to go first. Don’t forget to come to my house tonight.” She grabbed An Yu’s collar, leaning close. This time, it wasn’t the sweet mango scent but a faint perfume. An Yu was slightly stunned by her sudden movement.

Lin Duxi curved her lips, squinted slightly, meeting An Yu’s eyes. Her brown, wavy hair brushed against An Yu’s neck. She tucked a strand behind her ear, leaning close and slightly parting her lips.

An Yu instinctively closed her eyes. Her heart pounded, but the expected warmth didn’t come. Instead, Lin Duxi laughed softly, her sultry, teasing voice close to her ear:

“Eight o’clock tonight. I’ll be waiting.”

Then, like the wind, she left, leaving An Yu stunned and the nearby waiter watching. Even the waiter’s hands trembled holding the phone.

At 7:58 p.m., An Yu, holding the script, stood in front of Lin Duxi’s house.

The script still seemed to carry the scent of Lin Duxi’s home from last night. During rehearsal, she often smelled Lin Duxi’s fragrance, unconsciously thinking of her.

At exactly 8:00, An Yu took a deep breath and knocked. This time, the door opened quickly. Lin Duxi, dressed in casual home clothes, smiled at her.

“You’re so punctual, Ah Yu.” She stepped aside, letting An Yu in.

As soon as An Yu entered, she smelled the aroma of food and froze.

“Guest?”

Lin Duxi walked up to her. “No, Ah Yu isn’t a guest.” Without waiting for An Yu’s refusal, she took her hand and led her to the dining table.

“I made too much food, so we can share it,” she said, putting her fingers over An Yu’s mouth, eyes unyielding.

An Yu nodded, and Lin Duxi happily went to the kitchen.

“I didn’t let you taste my cooking last time during filming,” she said regretfully.

An Yu: “Your hand was injured; you couldn’t cook.”

Lin Duxi didn’t answer in the kitchen, her gaze dark. If she could, she would have cooked even with the injury rather than let someone else eat her food.

An Yu, sitting for a while, hearing no response, assumed Lin Duxi was focused on cooking. Since her own skills were decent, she went to help.

She noticed a white bottle on a shelf and paused. Painkillers?

As she moved to check, Lin Duxi’s voice came from behind:

“Ah Yu.” An Yu turned. Lin Duxi, wearing an apron and carrying a plate, looked at her confused.

“Nothing, I’ll help you carry it. Your hand is still injured.” An Yu took the plate from her, and Lin Duxi walked with her to the table. An Yu returned to the kitchen for the rest.

Lin Duxi sat, smiling, watching her leave. Once in the kitchen, her smile faded. She went to the shelf, took the conspicuous medicine bottle, and put it in a drawer. Then she replaced it with another similar bottle, arranging it neatly. Only then did she relax.

An Yu brought out all the dishes. The portions were too much for Lin Duxi alone; she wanted to make sure An Yu ate.

An Yu smiled softly, sitting opposite Lin Duxi. Lin Duxi didn’t touch the food, her gaze fully on An Yu, watching her expectantly.

An Yu felt her heart seized and recalled looking at Lin Duxi the same way last time. She happily put a piece of meat in her mouth, then froze.

Lin Duxi, noticing her pause, became nervous. She swallowed and asked in a trembling voice:

“Is it… good?”

An Yu swallowed the bite, lowered her head, hiding her surprise. “It’s good, very good.”

Lin Duxi felt a fragment of her heart break. She wanted to pick up the pieces but could do nothing as they disappeared.

“Just… good?” Her voice fragile, eyes red from holding back emotion.

An Yu, feeling her heart tighten, finally looked up and smiled. “This tastes like what I made last time. Did you secretly look it up online when you came back?”

“This is what I taught you, Ah Yu.” Lin Duxi’s gaze met hers firmly. “You may not remember, but I do.”

An Yu froze. “Maybe it’s been a long time; I didn’t recall immediately,” she explained.

Lin Duxi didn’t respond, lowering her head. Then she looked up, misty-eyed, meeting An Yu’s gaze.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault,” she murmured.

A faint glimmer of broken light shone in her eyes, piercing An Yu. She felt suffocated and answered carelessly:

“Mm.”

“Let’s eat quickly; the food took you so long to make. It’ll get cold otherwise,” An Yu said. Lin Duxi picked up her chopsticks and joined her.

Later, the breeze blew through the balcony, moving clothes in the wind. An Yu noticed a familiar black coat.

“Is that mine?”

Lin Duxi looked, startled for a moment. “Yes, it got dirty, so I washed it. Once dry, I’ll return it.”

An Yu understood. “It’s just a coat. You could have given it back; I could wash it.”

Lin Duxi hesitated slightly, blushing. “I’ll return it as soon as possible.”

An Yu: “It’s just a coat. Yours isn’t at my place?”

Lin Duxi: “Is mine at yours too?”

“Yes, in my wardrobe all along.”

“Good.” Lin Duxi lowered her head, muttering.

After dinner, An Yu washed the dishes. Lin Duxi sat on the sofa, watching her script. The warm living room light made the room feel cozy.

Lin Duxi watched An Yu, deep affection growing inside her. It felt as if An Yu was truly with her, uninterrupted, and that this was the An Yu she loved.

Their eyes met, smiles forming. All past entanglements faded.

Later, An Yu went to her bedroom, remembered her unfinished drawing, polished it, and published it online. She thought of Lin Duxi, worried that if she saw it, things might get complicated.

Her phone pinged with a message. Someone had liked her drawing—it was “Sleeping 24 Hours.”

They sent a private message:

【Congratulations, Madam, on another painting. You love red ribbons so much.】

Blushing, An Yu replied: 【Haha, it’s just inspiration.】

【Just inspiration… Madam…】

【No, I mean, what’s around me inspires me.】

Sleeping 24 Hours: 【You’re amazing. But why are you still awake so late?】

An Yu: 【Sleeping soon.】

【Haha, rest early. How’s your work? Problem solved?】

An Yu: 【Sort of. You suggested asking a skilled industry peer. I did, and they helped.】

Sleeping 24 Hours: 【That’s great! I’m glad I could help. Your work should stabilize.】

An Yu: 【Not yet; results will come later. For now, slow progress—still much to improve.】

Sleeping 24 Hours: 【With your talent, Madam, work difficulties will be overcome. Keep going!】

An Yu: 【Thanks.】

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