After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed - Chapter 77

Du Qianshu’s business gala was held at a top-tier hotel in the center of Jiangcheng. This event was not open to the public. Even if the guest list included business elites or figures from the entertainment industry, journalists hoping to get first-hand information could only wait outside the hotel.

An Yu attended as a guest for Hello, Friend, entering alongside Qiao Qingzhou and the others. Lin Duxi did not accompany her; she had received her invitation earlier than the variety show and attended as a solo artist, sitting at a different table from theirs.

An Yu heard Qiao Qingzhou’s tone of slight regret and felt a mix of emotions inside—both lightness and heaviness.

Before going to bed last night, she had thought about many things. Memories of Lin Duxi flooded her mind repeatedly; events from years ago became vivid again, playing like slides in her head. After waking, she didn’t know how to face Lin Duxi now.

Throughout the day, her thoughts were elsewhere. Confusion and heartache tangled in her mind like layers of fog. No matter where she looked, the mist seemed the same.

She stood outside a shattered jar, afraid to move, unsure if her next action would be the final one that completely broke the jar—what was inside could no longer be contained.

Seeing An Yu lost in thought again, Qiao Qingzhou assumed it was because she was troubled by Lin Duxi. She scanned the area and spotted an old friend, who she remembered was seated with Lin Duxi.

“Let me go talk to them for a moment,” she said, patting An Yu’s shoulder before leaving, planning to return shortly.

“Done.”

An Yu blinked. “Done with what?”

Qiao Qingzhou’s lips curved slightly. “Once the gala starts, Du will come to host. At that point, your seat will be to Lin Duxi’s right side. Go, don’t sulk here.”

An Yu froze in the wind. “What? I’m at the same table as Lin Duxi?”

“See how happy that makes you? No need to thank me. My old friend happens to be with her. Now we can catch up too.”

Qiao Qingzhou patted An Yu’s shoulder and went to find her friend. Meanwhile, the others from the variety show mingled with guests to expand their networks, but An Yu remained standing there, flustered.

The grand doors were pushed open, and everyone in the venue paused mid-conversation to look over.

Lin Duxi entered wearing a hollowed-out, white, backless gown. Her long hair fell in soft waves behind her, emphasizing her allure. Every step swayed gracefully, and every smile and frown was mesmerizing.

Accompanying her was Du Qianshu, the event’s organizer. They seemed to have just finished discussing something, as they did not continue talking while entering.

Guests who were still chatting hurried over to greet them, even if unfamiliar, trying to make a good impression.

Lin Duxi responded to each greeting with a light smile.

Even though An Yu’s emotions were complicated, she could not take her eyes off Lin Duxi. She stood still, watching her until she reached the other side of the room and sat down. Lin Duxi conversed effortlessly with the guests around her.

An Yu felt a faint sting in her chest. She averted her gaze from Lin Duxi and focused on the glass in front of her, downing it with a sigh of frustration.

She didn’t know how to face Lin Duxi. She wanted to ask about what had happened before, but doing so would be like reopening Lin Duxi’s healing wounds. Yet her heart remained a mess of unanswered questions.

Last night, she ran through every possibility: Lin Duxi might be focused on earning money and unwilling to be bound by love; maybe she simply didn’t love her anymore; or the most dramatic scenario she had seen on TV, where someone is paid five million to leave their daughter, also crossed her mind. In the end, nothing convinced her completely.

She felt so frustrated.

Sensing that intense gaze disappear, Lin Duxi’s tightly clenched hand relaxed slightly. Her palm bore deep marks from her own nails. She looked down at her shadow, her eyes tinged with grievance.

Another glass of wine, and Du Qianshu went on stage to introduce the jewelry.

An Yu clenched her hands, suppressing her nervousness, and moved toward the table where Lin Duxi sat. The people at the table were momentarily stunned but said nothing, their gazes flicking back and forth between the two.

Ignoring the attention, An Yu sat to Lin Duxi’s right and downed her drink in one gulp.

Noticing Lin Duxi’s gaze, An Yu’s movements paused briefly, then she continued drinking.

She couldn’t recall what Du Qianshu said on stage, nor how many glasses she had finished. All she felt was the intensity of the gaze beside her—so hot it seemed tangible, as if it could burn her alive.

An Yu didn’t dare meet her eyes and tremblingly poured herself another drink.

A white, delicate hand pressed on her wrist, stopping her.

An Yu froze. A voice, full of worry, carried on the breeze to her ears:

“An Yu, don’t drink anymore, please.”

The words seemed to ignite her everywhere, setting her body aflame. She froze and turned, meeting Lin Duxi’s moist, deep eyes.

Lin Duxi grasped her hand, guiding it away from the glass.

“An Yu, let’s not drink, okay?”

Her eyes glistened, and her voice quivered with concern. Though asking, it carried a plea, like a feather gently tugging at An Yu’s heart.

An Yu looked at her. Today, Lin Duxi’s makeup enhanced her allure. She lowered her gaze, tears beginning to mist her eyes.

It hurt—seeing Lin Duxi reminded her of that day when she was thin and frail, hugging a book outside their neighborhood and crying while embracing An Yu.

Her heart felt squeezed, aching.

She reached for the drink to hide her trembling, but Lin Duxi took it before she could.

Lin Duxi emptied the glass herself, then looked at An Yu with determination: “If you want to drink, I’ll drink with you.”

In an instant, An Yu remembered the several times Lin Duxi had suffered headaches after drinking, flashing through her mind.

She pushed the glass away. “I won’t drink anymore.”

The warmth from their joined hands burned into An Yu’s consciousness. Many times, she nearly blurted out her doubts, but each time suppressed it.

After Du Qianshu’s segment ended, An Yu released Lin Duxi’s hand and went to the garden behind the venue for some air.

Her hand felt numb, as if Lin Duxi’s warmth still lingered. She looked at the moonlight and sighed.

“What’s wrong? You’ve seemed troubled all evening,” a voice behind her drew her attention. She turned.

It was Du Qianshu.

“I was going to come find you earlier, but it was too crowded. Little Yu, long time no see,” Du Qianshu said with a gentle smile.

“Du Aunty, long time no see,” An Yu replied, her drunkenness dissipated somewhat in the breeze.

“Last time I saw you was almost six years ago. I was abroad and couldn’t keep in touch with your mother immediately. By chance, my company had this gala, so I invited you.”

“Du Aunty, I actually came to ask you about my parents. I was busy with my studies back then, and they didn’t tell me much. I’ve always wanted to know what really happened.”

Du Qianshu looked at her deeply. Seeing An Yu’s determination, she sighed and recalled the events of that time, still puzzled herself.

“It all happened suddenly. I wasn’t in frequent contact with your mother abroad. She initially told me she wanted to send you overseas and asked me to help take care of you for a while. I agreed. But the night before, while discussing when to pick you up at the airport, the next day… everything happened.”

“I don’t know many details either. It’s been so long; I only know the general outline,” Du Qianshu said regretfully. “When I remember more, I’ll fill in the details later.”

“That’s fine. Your words are very important to me. Thank you,” An Yu said sincerely. It was the first time she had heard the story of her parents from someone else. Even the household staff had no idea.

Du Qianshu’s account confirmed another suspicion: her parents’ deaths were not accidental. There was definitely something hidden behind them.

After Du Qianshu left, An Yu lingered outside for a while. When she returned, the gala was nearly over, and few guests remained.

She looked around but saw no sign of Lin Duxi. Her heart felt suddenly empty.

Lin Duxi had gradually occupied an important space in her heart without her realizing it.

An Yu called the company driver, preparing to leave.

Just as she pressed the final number, someone snatched the phone. She looked up and saw Lin Duxi standing beside her, holding it.

“What are you doing here?” When did she even appear?

Lin Duxi turned off the screen and handed it back.

“An Yu, sit in my car. I’ll take you home.”

The car doors closed slowly. In the backseat, it was just the two of them. The air conditioning ran, the temperature gradually warming.

An Yu tilted her head, staring out at the night. She was surprised she had ended up in Lin Duxi’s car so quickly, not yet ready to face her.

Her mind was a mess. The fatigue from her body and the effects of the alcohol made her want to sleep. An Yu tried to resist, but eventually succumbed to the cozy warmth.

In a blur, she felt arms wrap around her, her head resting on a shoulder. She inhaled the familiar scent, and the sense of security melted away all her exhaustion. She closed her eyes and lost awareness.

The car passed through a tunnel, the lights flickering. Lin Duxi took An Yu’s hand, interlacing their fingers tightly.

The unknown fear lingered like a shadow. She didn’t know how An Yu’s former self would react, but today, An Yu seemed willing to be close.

Lin Duxi lowered her head, pressing a kiss to the top of An Yu’s soft hair, gentle yet deep, turning all her love into a trembling kiss.

This time, she would never let go.

The car reached the luxury apartment building. An Yu woke up.

Seeing the familiar building, she felt dazed, yet Lin Duxi still held her hand as they walked inside.

The hallway lights shone brightly in her eyes, but all she saw was Lin Duxi’s figure.

Looking at her beautiful shoulder blades and the nape of her neck hidden by long hair, An Yu suddenly had an epiphany.

Lin Duxi knew she had gone to the orphanage yesterday. So, had Lin Duxi also figured out that she would know those things?

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