After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed - Chapter 70

Several kilometers away from Anyu and Shiyu, there was an old, dilapidated neighborhood almost forgotten by urban development. Its crumbling walls shed patches of lime, which fell onto the filthy, moldy ground. In the dark, damp corners, countless insects thrived.

It was a leisurely afternoon. The apartment buildings were densely populated, and the early autumn breeze could not ease the stifling heat. A few old men sat in a circle, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and chatting idly.

The ground, muddy from a recent rain, had formed many puddles, quietly reflecting the gray sky above.

In the distance, a man wearing a hat and bundled tightly in clothes appeared on the street. His already dirty shoes splashed through the puddles, catching the attention of the old men sitting at their doorsteps, who whispered to each other.

The man heard their chatter, spun around sharply, and glared at them. His dark eyes silenced them immediately, and all they could see were flecks of yellow hair peeking out from beneath his hat.

He adjusted his clothes to cover the bruises on his face and darted away like a rat.

After he left, the old men resumed their whispers.

“That must be the son of the Yongfeng family. I saw his yellow hair.”

“Should be. Who else around here has yellow hair?”

“Why’s he back? Didn’t he just go in? Is he here to ask his mom for money again?”

“Who knows? Family matters, you know… But look, he’s back. Last time, he beat Mei Yi’s child into the hospital. Better not stare at him.”

Lin Ze dashed home like he was fleeing, his anger flaring as he approached the dilapidated front door. He kicked it open violently; the wooden door creaked and groaned, unsure how much longer it could hold.

Zhao Sunan, cooking at the door, trembled as she recognized him. Her fear didn’t subside but instead intensified.

“Xiao Ze, Xiao Ze! What happened to you? Your face—who did this?” Her anxious voice woke the man sleeping inside. He rose, reeking of alcohol, his presence imposing.

“Why are you calling out? You always stir up trouble if you’re not checked.” He walked in, frowned at seeing Lin Ze, but said nothing further.

“Why are you back?”

Lin Ze gave him a cold glance and ignored him, reaching out to Zhao Sunan.

“Give me the money.”

Zhao Sunan hesitated. “X-Xiao Ze, my salary hasn’t been paid yet this month…”

“Give me the money,” Lin Ze repeated impatiently.

“Enough!” The drunken man said, “Why all the fuss? If the boy wants money, give it to him. What’s the yelling for? No money? Go volunteer at the orphanage yourself!”

Zhao Sunan lowered her head, enduring his scolding. She hadn’t been to the orphanage for six years since that incident, and the man kept bringing it up.

He tossed a wine bottle aside, which shattered with a “bang” on the floor. Then, pulling open a drawer beneath the TV stand, he retrieved a worn women’s handbag, unzipped the rusted zipper, and took out a stack of money.

Before Zhao Sunan could count it, Lin Ze snatched it. “Dad’s still good.”

The man examined his son’s bruised face. “What happened? How did this happen?”

Lin Ze’s eyes darkened. He gritted his teeth. “Lin Duxi did it.” The memory of Lin Duxi’s cold, vile gaze in the alley made his anger surge again; he wished he could tear her apart.

Upon hearing this, both the man and woman froze. The woman behind Zhao Sunan even trembled, while the man’s eyes filled with hatred.

“That brat! She’s so successful and doesn’t even recognize her uncle, and she hit my son!” He rolled up his sleeves. “If I don’t teach this unfilial girl a lesson, I’m not a Lin!”

Zhao Sunan tried to intervene but froze under his glare. She dared not resist. Her sleeve, covering a still-healing wound, she lowered it, trembling.

The drunken man staggered around the room, slamming things. “If my parents hadn’t only paid for my brother’s schooling, I wouldn’t be where I am today. That family owes me, my brother died because of his wife, and Lin Duxi owes me even more. Now she has money and refuses to give me some—ingratitude!”

“Back then, she hooked up with a rich man, had Xiao Ze ask her for money, and ran off faster than anyone, and you—” He glared at Zhao Sunan. “You dared to secretly volunteer at the orphanage. You’ve got guts! If I hadn’t known, would you have volunteered your whole life?!” His face turned red with anger, raising his fist to strike. The smell of alcohol and sweat was overwhelming.

Zhao Sunan instinctively stepped back, retreating to the door with her back pressed against the wooden boards, blocking his arm with both hands.

“Dad, Lin Duxi is living well in a high-end community now. Asking her for money will be hard.” His words diverted the man’s attention.

“What should we do then? Finally found her residence.” He picked up an empty wine bottle and threw it at Zhao Sunan’s feet, shattering it. She shuddered.

“I’ll go block her. If she doesn’t change her address, I can definitely find her and pressure her.”

Lighting a cigarette, Lin Yongfeng muttered, “She used to give a bit, now not a cent. She’s got wings.” He glanced at the taller man in front of him, signaling Zhao Sunan.

“Call Director Li later, have him send your son to the factory.”

Zhao Sunan lowered her head and murmured, “Director Li wouldn’t dare take him after the recent incident. Why don’t you go yourself instead of making me do it?”

Lin Yongfeng frowned. “What did you say? Go now! Don’t be disobedient!”

She obeyed reluctantly, walking into the bedroom to make the call on her worn-out phone.

Lin Ze watched her leave and leaned toward Lin Yongfeng. “Lin Duxi is close with a woman recently. We could use this woman to pressure her for money.”

Lin Yongfeng patted his shoulder. “Smart boy. Lin Duxi doesn’t want anyone to know her background. We’re her only family in this world.”

Through the thin wooden wall of the bedroom, Zhao Sunan trembled as she listened to the drunken, vile laughter. Anxiety filled her heart. She needed to warn Xiaoxi quickly.

Anyu stood by the courtyard wall, taking time to calm her emotions. She still felt a chill, and the sunlight did little to warm her.

Some long-hidden clues, previously unnoticed, now revealed themselves, unraveling like a thread in front of her.

The black-clothed man was named Lin Ze—Lin Duxi’s Lin. Zhao Sunan’s son was also named Lin Ze. Zhao Sunan had once volunteered at Lin Duxi’s orphanage.

Anyu’s chest tightened as her thoughts involuntarily pieced together the connections. Her hand hanging by her side was softly grasped.

“Sister, your hand is so cold.” A clear, childish voice sounded beside her. Anyu looked down and saw the little girl who had earlier handed her a note. She remembered her name—Xiaoxiao.

“What’s wrong, Xiaoxiao?” Anyu bent down and gave her what she thought was a gentle smile.

“Your hand is so cold. Can I warm it for you?” The child’s voice gently eased some of her agitation.

Anyu smiled and was about to answer when the girl continued.

“You also warmed Sister Duxi’s hands like this, didn’t you?”

Anyu froze at the question, unsure how to respond, as Xiaoxiao’s tiny fingers held hers.

Seeing Anyu’s hesitation, the girl asked again persistently: “Sister, on the mountain, did you warm Sister Duxi’s hands like this? Director Granny said only people who are really close do this.”

“Where’s Sister Duxi?” she asked next.

Anyu finally found a question she could answer and replied gently: “Sister Duxi is busy now. Next time, I’ll let her come with you, okay?”

Xiaoxiao released her hand and lowered her head, slightly upset.

“Sister Duxi won’t come,” the little girl said bluntly.

Anyu’s heart skipped a beat. “Why would you say that?”

Xiaoxiao looked up at her, covered her mouth as if she had said something forbidden, and ran off.

Anyu found her in the backyard on a wooden rocking horse. A staff member nearby noticed her glum expression.

“She’s so cute, just a little introverted,” the staff member commented.

Anyu tilted her head and gestured for her to continue.

“Xiaoxiao came to the orphanage on her own. She said her parents didn’t want her. We were shocked. We asked around and found out that at night, she couldn’t sleep, came to the living room for water, and overheard her parents saying they wanted to give her away and have another child. She didn’t want that, so she came by herself.”

“This child… to hear that your own parents don’t love you, it must be so sad. We named her Xiaoxiao, hoping she would smile more.” The staff member sighed and left, leaving Anyu alone to watch her.

Xiaoxiao rested her head on the rocking horse, pouting, lost in thought. A lollipop suddenly appeared in front of her, catching her attention.

“Do you want it? Here you go.” Anyu handed it to her.

Xiaoxiao looked up at Anyu’s gentle smile and shyly reached out. “Thank you.”

Anyu sat down on the ground beside her, at the same height.

“Can you tell me what you wanted to say earlier?”

Perhaps it was the closeness, or the magic of the lollipop, but Xiaoxiao hesitated before unwrapping it and putting it in her mouth.

“You have to promise me not to tell anyone else.”

Anyu smiled and extended her hand. “I promise, let’s pinky swear.”

Xiaoxiao trusted her and excitedly extended her tiny hand to link pinkies. She began to recall:

“A few days ago, the moon was very round. Director Granny gave us delicious mooncakes.” She started with other unrelated details, and Anyu listened quietly.

“The mooncakes were so good I couldn’t help but eat more. At night, I was very thirsty and went to get water. After drinking, I saw the moon was very round and wanted to take a look. Director Granny’s room was down the hall, and I sat on the corridor and heard sounds from her room.”

“It was the director talking to the late former director. Granny said during Mid-Autumn, deceased family members also think of us.”

“I heard the late director say that because of that incident, Sister Duxi hasn’t returned for many years.”

Anyu’s heart jolted. “What incident?”

Xiaoxiao frowned, thinking.

“I heard Granny say that it seemed her family came to see her at the orphanage and quarreled. The old director got so angry she ended up in the hospital. They were really cruel, so Sister Duxi was too scared to return.”

Support After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed