After Being Reborn, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessed - Chapter 9

When Lin Duxi returned from her morning run, she no longer saw any sign of An Yu at the breakfast stall by the roadside. She stopped and looked at the bustling stall, unconsciously recalling An Yu’s startled expression from just now. Although it had been a gesture of refusal, her movements were still the same as six years ago.

The fingers that had brushed against An Yu’s cheek still seemed to linger in Lin Duxi’s mind, and a certain place in her heart suddenly collapsed.

In the next moment, she smiled lightly as a thought crossed her mind. Her brows curved, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. There was a restrained emotion hidden deep in her pupils, kept from bursting out.

It’s okay. An Yu must have forgotten because too much time had passed. If she forgot, she could remember again. She would make sure An Yu remembered, and she would always be by An Yu’s side, helping her remember.

Lin Duxi’s gaze darkened, her eyes slightly reddened. The feelings deep in her eyes were like shattered ice, about to break free from their constraints. Lin Duxi forced herself to take a deep breath to suppress the surging emotions.

No one could stop her.

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

Because of Lin Duxi’s participation, the show instantly gained a higher level of prestige. Ning Xuan was shocked. Originally, she only intended for An Yu to go and make some acquaintances, but now it unexpectedly turned into something big.

“An Yu, I’m telling you, don’t act on impulse during the show. And be careful not to offend the people around you,” Ning Xuan repeatedly reminded her over the phone, worried she might make a mistake.

“Also, make sure you get screen time wherever possible, be proactive, and maintain good relations with Lin Duxi and the others. Since you’re neighbors with Lin Duxi, it shouldn’t be too hard.”

An Yu: “…You already know all this?”

“Do you know how many people watched your livestream with Lin Duxi? It broke historical records! Who would’ve thought moving houses would bring such luck? Anyway, just don’t offend anyone in the show. In this industry, offending someone could ruin half your career, and my ace manager dream would be shattered!”

An Yu sighed but agreed, “Okay, I’ll be careful and won’t ruin your managerial dreams.”

She hung up and continued packing her luggage with a sigh.

After a few days of livestream promotion, Hello, Friend had gained a lot of popularity, especially among fans shipping the pairs. After deliberation, the production team decided to livestream continuously for a full day, later releasing the full recording so those who missed it could enjoy it in HD.

This move was very thoughtful and immediately attracted widespread attention, boosting the show’s popularity.

Consequently, the guests had to maintain a calm and composed state throughout the entire recording. From the script, An Yu learned that guests would have to go straight to the car with their luggage after arriving by plane the next morning, which meant she needed to prepare in advance.

An Yu neatly arranged her belongings in the suitcase and added some preventive medicine she had used last time. Her finger was pricked by the sharp tip of one item, and her gaze fell on the used white ointment.

It was from Lin Duxi.

An Yu picked it up, looking at the text on the ointment while memories of the day Lin Duxi gave it to her flooded her mind—the pleading look, and later, when she left, Lin Duxi standing in the shadows, head lowered, disappearing into the darkness, lonely and forlorn.

Her gaze grew complicated. She shook her head to clear the messy thoughts, then stood up to put the ointment away. But having squatted too long, she suddenly felt dizzy, her vision blackened, and she stumbled into a nearby table.

“Bang—” Something shattered, and a strong, pungent smell of mosquito repellent filled the air. An Yu held back the dizziness to see that a bottle had fallen and broken, spilling its contents on the floor. Fortunately, it didn’t touch the carpet or the suitcase.

Frowning, she was about to get a broom when a knock sounded at the door. She glanced at the mess and decided to open the door anyway.

“An Yu.” Lin Duxi smiled at her, her delicate nose twitching slightly before she frowned.

“What’s with all this mosquito repellent? What happened?”

An Yu: “…Do you have something to say? If not, I’ll close the door.” She rested her hand on the door.

Lin Duxi stepped forward and spoke before An Yu could say more: “Of course I have something. I accidentally made too many cookies today while experimenting at home. Since we’ll be recording tomorrow, they’ll go bad if left too long. Can you help me finish some? I’m not sure if you’ll like the flavors.”

She gently tugged An Yu’s sleeve, flicking it lightly.

An Yu looked down at the cookie box in her hands—beautifully packaged with a red ribbon, the shapes inside visible, like a gift for a loved one on Valentine’s Day.

An Yu smiled slightly and took the box, examining it slowly.

Lin Duxi’s eyes brightened with her movements, then quickly scanned the room, focusing on a specific spot in the living room.

“The mosquito repellent broke. I’ll help clean it up.” She walked to the living room, picking up some tissues to gather the shards.

“Lin Duxi.”

An Yu grabbed her arm as she stepped forward, placing the cookies on the table.

“You don’t come over to someone’s house to clean up.”

An Yu released her hand, squatted, and picked up the shards with a napkin while Lin Duxi watched.

After disposing of them, An Yu noticed Lin Duxi muttering softly:

“But An Yu isn’t just anyone.”

An Yu was taken aback and laughed angrily. “I’m not just anyone? Then what do you think we are? High school classmates? Strangers even less than friends? Or ex-girlfriends?” She smirked, unsure if she was laughing at Lin Duxi or herself.

It was the first time An Yu faced Lin Duxi’s high school past. Saying it aloud even startled her, her pupils widening in shock.

Lin Duxi looked at her, lips moving, eyes flickering with broken light, about to say something when An Yu interrupted:

“It’s late. We have the recording tomorrow. You should go home.”

“An Yu,” Lin Duxi didn’t respond but asked with a smile, “When’s your flight tomorrow?”

An Yu met her gaze and saw something unfamiliar in Lin Duxi’s eyes—a longing mixed with other complex emotions, gone in the blink of an eye. She thought she had misseen it.

Lin Duxi smiled as she said goodbye: “See you tomorrow, An Yu. Remember to eat the cookies.”

An Yu: “Mm.”

After Lin Duxi left, An Yu wiped imaginary sweat from her face. She probably hadn’t slept well these past few days and was acting impulsively.

A sudden “sizzle” sounded in her mind, accompanied by a mechanical voice.

[Host, did you have a conflict with Lin Duxi?]

“No. Not a conflict, since there was no need to fight.”

[Why are you here, and why the entrance BGM?]

[Tomorrow the show begins, and the male and female leads will meet. Do you have any thoughts?]

An Yu retorted: “What do you think I’d feel?”

[Host, shouldn’t you be nervous and excited? It’s the destined meeting of the leads! You need to plan step by step for tomorrow, follow the plan carefully, and ensure stability.]

“I already said they’re destined to be together. Even without me, they would come together quickly. My role is just to add a little extra…”

[Don’t want to do it?] The system’s cold voice cut her off, chilling her to the bone.

“No, I’m just pointing out their fate,” she explained.

[I revived you, not for you to say this.]

An Yu felt confused, her brain hurting from the system’s icy tone.

[You only need to do your job and let the world continue to turn. Their fate is unchangeable.]

[I’ll check in tomorrow. Don’t be lazy, host.]

With that, it left, and An Yu sat in her chair, massaging her frozen head.

After a rest, she got up to wash up.

After washing, she put the old clothes into the washing machine and was about to sleep when she noticed a streak of red on the table.

It reminded her of a tear-streaked eye, foggy and piercing in her mind.

She thought for a moment and finally took the cookie box into her bedroom.

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