After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed - Chapter 31

“By the way, in high school, didn’t I also make you desserts, like cakes or something?” An Yu asked, glancing at the jacket casually thrown on the sofa behind Lin Duxi, her tone tentative.

“Huh? Cake?” Lin Duxi’s eyes lit up for a moment, but it was fleeting. She then smiled and replied with a question, teasing An Yu.

“Shouldn’t you know better than me about this?”

An Yu was momentarily taken aback, her gaze shifting to the clothes she was holding, and she replied casually, “Of course I know. Didn’t I make a cake for you once in high school?”

A spark of fire suddenly ignited deep in Lin Duxi’s eyes. The glow reflected in her gaze.

“Yes, back in high school, you did make a cake for me,” she said, her eyes burning as she looked at An Yu.

“But… that was six years ago. Why are you suddenly remembering this?”

An Yu answered, “Nothing, I just ran into some high school classmates today and we were talking about old times… it reminded me.”

She didn’t mention who she had met, and Lin Duxi naturally didn’t ask.

An Yu observed Lin Duxi. She was still in her day clothes; usually, at this hour, she’d be in various sleepwear that made An Yu dizzy.

It seemed she was really busy.

An Yu: “It’s getting late. I’ll head back now. You should get some rest too.”

“Aren’t you going to practice the scenes with me?” Lin Duxi asked anxiously, her fingers lightly tugging at An Yu’s clothing as if afraid An Yu didn’t need her anymore.

An Yu shook her head gently. “Not tonight. We have an early flight to record the show tomorrow. Get a good night’s sleep tonight,” she comforted her.

Lin Duxi obediently let go, watching as An Yu opened the door and left. The corridor fell silent again, leaving her alone. She looked at the jacket that An Yu had stuffed into her arms and couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Duxi opened the door, revealing the box. The egg tarts inside were still steaming, glowing golden and tempting.

She picked one up and took a light bite. The crust was crisp, the inside tender. The hunger from a day without food hit her immediately. Exhausted, she sank onto the sofa, clutching the jacket in her arms. It still carried An Yu’s scent, as if she were being embraced by her. She hugged it tighter.

She remembered that An Yu had made her cake back in high school. Lin Duxi inhaled the scent from the jacket, excitement coursing through her body, making her tremble.

The phone on the table rang again, the annoying ringtone cutting through the quiet. Lin Duxi frowned and picked it up.

“Lin Duxi, we’ve handled the paparazzi issue here, but your brother… they’ll probably still cause trouble. The company has come up with several solutions. You can take a look in a couple of days.”

“No need, Ji Jie. Just keep an eye on them for now. I’ll deal with it after the show recording,” Lin Duxi replied.

Ji Qi’s voice was reluctant but finally agreed.

“Alright, I’ll keep the paparazzi in check, but you know those rascals. No matter how much you pay, it’s useless. With everyone watching you now as a newly crowned Best Actress, one misstep and they’ll drag you down.”

She couldn’t understand it. Most people with such tragic pasts would want to reveal their experiences, but Lin Duxi blocked everyone who knew. Despite not understanding her motives, she still had to do her job for Lin Duxi.

“Thanks, Ji Jie. I’ll handle it after the show. I’ll give you a raise—double,” Lin Duxi said apologetically with a smile.

Ji Qi was finally pleased.

After the call ended, Lin Duxi lowered her hand holding the phone. The smile faded, her eyes turning icy as she stared at the egg tarts on the table.

As time drew closer to the recording of the second episode of Hello, Friends, netizens were already eager for the livestream.

“Is it recording tomorrow? I’ll set my alarm to watch it live.”

“I heard the second episode involves hiking. Ah, I want to see them together! Don’t let any third wheels come along!”

“Guys, calm down. My friend has a friend working at a cafe. She said Lin Duxi and An Yu were there drinking coffee, very intimate. Lin Duxi was holding An Yu’s arm, almost kissing! Can’t confirm, just sharing.”

“Don’t exaggerate. Friends kissing is normal. (More details, please!)”

The online chatter went on, while An Yu was completely unaware at home, packing her luggage.

Remembering Lin Duxi’s injured hand in the previous episode, An Yu had prepared extra medical kits this time, as the director had warned it would be tiring. Only then did she feel at ease.

After organizing, she sat on the sofa, her hand brushing the uneaten, now-cold egg tart.

She tilted her head, recalling Tong Ge’s words from yesterday. Her gaze darkened.

Tong Ge had said they really liked each other. An Yu realized she must have also liked Lin Duxi back then, which was why she had made that desperate call, craving to hear her voice.

Unfortunately, by then, they had long broken up. Lin Duxi left decisively, taking all hope with her, vanishing as if into thin air.

An Yu had taken a long time to emerge from the shadow. Rather than liberation, it was more like selfish avoidance, escaping the painful memories, fleeing from suffocating scenes.

So when the system approached her, she agreed without hesitation. Back then, Lin Duxi was nothing more than a distant memory to her and could not affect their development.

But now, everything was different. Holding the cold egg tart, in the quiet living room, she pondered deeply.

Was Lin Duxi’s current behavior beyond mere friendship? Since the system said Lin Duxi is the female lead, she would end up with the male lead. So why was Lin Duxi now so gentle toward her?

She wasn’t the female lead. Why had they get together back then? Why break up decisively, and then, years later, return to such gentle behavior, as if nothing had happened?

An Yu could not pretend nothing had happened.

Having lived one life and been reborn, she had yet to find the person who led her to her death. Now, with so many tangled matters, An Yu felt her mind was about to explode.

In the dim room, the sudden ring of the phone startled her from her thoughts. She swiped to answer.

“Uncle Wen!”

The man on the other end, called Wen, smiled politely. “Miss, have you been well these past days? Do you need my help?”

An Yu replied, “Uncle Wen, I’m no longer Miss An. You can just call me Xiao Yu.”

Wen Zhenhe chuckled softly. “Miss, I’ve called you that name for eighteen years. A title like this isn’t something that changes on a whim.”

An Yu could only agree. Wen Zhenhe had been the family butler since her birth. After her parents passed away, he had resigned but still often took care of her. She considered him family.

Still, she wondered. Shouldn’t the butler now be enjoying a peaceful retirement in the countryside? Why the sudden call? Did he also mistakenly think she and Lin Duxi had reconciled after seeing the variety show, just like Tong Ge?

Wen Zhenhe: “Today, while organizing the house, I came across photo albums of your parents from their charity work. I suppose you’ve never seen them. Should I mail them to you?”

An Yu: “Ah, that explains it. You startled me. Yes, please send them.”

“Miss, you are too polite. It’s my duty.”

Her parents had been very fond of charity, often traveling to help impoverished children. But An Yu, being young, had been unaware. By the time she grew up, their home had already gone bankrupt.

Wen Zhenhe’s words shifted her attention to her parents. She didn’t dwell on earlier questions.

Her parents had committed suicide after the company went bankrupt, but An Yu felt confused. They had been kind and optimistic, never seeming like people who would give up, yet they left her quietly, without warning.

After the company’s bankruptcy, they left her nothing. In that house she had called home for eighteen years, An Yu was left to compete against seasoned veterans of the company to keep just that one property.

A deceased homeowner brings misfortune.

Yet, it was An Yu’s home for eighteen years.

Her eyes darkened. Memories surged like waves, and her buried sorrow threatened to break free.

She slowly calmed herself, suppressing the icy chill in her body, and dragged her suitcase out.

Shortly after she took the elevator down, the neighboring apartment door clicked open.

At the airport, An Yu was surprised to find fans seeing her off. It was her first encounter with fans.

“You guys are my fans?” she asked as she walked, dragging her suitcase.

“Of course!” they said in unison.

An Yu smiled in surprise. Meeting people who liked her made her heart warm. She signed autographs happily.

“Teacher An Yu, I really like your variety show! Please sign this for me!” A fan was so excited that she could feel her trembling. An Yu’s heart warmed even more.

Then she saw the photo.

It was of her and Lin Duxi hugging during the variety show recording.

An Yu: “…” Now she understood why the fan was trembling.

Those around noticed the boldness of the CP fans. The crowd suddenly fell silent, slightly awkward. They held their double photos ready to receive An Yu’s autograph.

An Yu looked at the photo of her with Lin Duxi. She hesitated.

Signing might not matter to her, but if fans assumed they were a couple because of her signature, what then? Lin Duxi would likely not agree either.

After thinking, she decided to return the photo to the eager fan without signing.

“Sorry…”

At that moment, a pair of slender, fair hands suddenly appeared in her line of sight, taking the photo from her hands.

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