After Rebirth, My Archrival Omega Looks at Me Differently - Chapter 40

Chi Yan still remembered. In her past life, this was exactly how Yan Youqing often dressed.

A black suit jacket worn over a crisp white shirt. Delicate bone china buttons were fastened neatly all the way up to her collar.

The numbness around her ankle dulled Chi Yan’s senses. The light behind Yan Youqing could not illuminate the darkness that had lingered in her sight for so long. At that moment, a missing fragment of memory began to open up uncontrollably, pulling her into a chaotic recollection.

A cold breeze slipped through the mouth of her mascot costume. The scent of dew landing gently on her nose felt incredibly familiar.

Yan Youqing appeared beside her without any warning. That calm voice Chi Yan had heard earlier, in a moment of fear and confusion, made her feel as though what she was experiencing had already happened once, long ago.

But when exactly had it happened?

Just as Chi Yan tried to follow the thread of her memory, the voice of the mother from earlier interrupted her thoughts.

“Stop being so arrogant! Do you realize you scared our child? We demand a medical examination!”

Yan Youqing remained calm, her expression unchanged.

“Please rest assured. If you insist on it, our park will conduct medical checks on both parties.”

“Our venue strictly follows all relevant entertainment laws. We have surveillance cameras installed every five meters throughout the park. The actions of these two children were clearly captured on high-resolution cameras. There will be no confusion, no bias, and no lack of clarity during the investigation.”

Her words left the woman speechless.

The father, who had been watching his phone the entire time, grew impatient. He put his phone away, tugged his wife’s arm, and said, “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s go. We’re running out of time.”

The woman widened her eyes and snapped at him. “That’s all you ever say! You didn’t even check on our child. All you care about is that stupid phone!”

Embarrassed and annoyed at being scolded in front of others, the man’s expression darkened. “Are you coming or not? All you do is complain. I’m sick of it.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

The woman shouted at her two unruly children to follow. She glared at Yan Youqing one last time before leaving in anger.

Just like that, the scene ended. As the time for the fireworks show approached, the crowd outside slowly began to thin.

Chi Yan looked around. The white lights standing along the path reminded her of the fiery explosion from that old lab accident. One by one, they burst in her eyes like flashes from that long-buried memory. The fragments she had just managed to connect were once again scattered.

The moon hung low above the treetops, surrounded by artificial light. It was dim and a little lonely.

She stood quietly, looking at the now peaceful surroundings. Her eyes were slightly clouded.

In truth, she had been wondering about something for a while now.

Why were her memories tied to Yan Youqing?

Could it be because of the pheromone dependency between them?

Chi Yan could not find the answer. Her brows furrowed tightly.

At that moment, she felt someone lift the heavy mascot head from her shoulders.

With her vision cleared, she saw Yan Youqing still standing there.

The night breeze stirred the long hair tied behind her head. A few loose strands danced in the wind, but they did nothing to soften the cool and distant look on her face.

“Are you alright?” Yan Youqing asked.

Maybe it was the wind, but Chi Yan found herself staring quietly at her. She blinked slowly, as if trying to bring her thoughts back.

After a moment, her scattered emotions settled down. She shook her head and then, as if realizing something, asked, “Why are you doing part-time work here too?”

“Just experiencing life,” Yan Youqing replied simply.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched across the ground. Chi Yan’s oversized mascot costume made Yan Youqing appear even slimmer by contrast.

Not that she needed it. She was already thin enough.

Chi Yan pouted slightly, clearly displeased.

“Coming out in the middle of winter just to experience life? Are you trying to make your weak body even worse?”

Yan Youqing remained calm as always.

“I have heat pads.”

As she spoke, she opened her suit jacket.

Chi Yan saw a white rectangular heat patch neatly stuck to the inside of the black blazer. It looked serious from the outside, but the little heat patch made it feel like a childish yet warm piece of armor.

The soft light from the nearby lamp fell between them, casting a gentle glow on Yan Youqing’s face. There was a hint of quiet pride on her slightly tilted chin.

The contrast between her usual cold demeanor and her hidden practicality felt oddly endearing. Just like the suit filled with heat patches, it opened a different window into who Yan Youqing was.

She could joke.

She could also take pride in her little clever ideas.

Chi Yan suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Her heart began to beat a little faster, but it calmed down again so quickly that she could not even catch the moment it changed.

After a short pause, she shoved the large brown bear head into Yan Youqing’s arms.

“Here. It’s warm. Hold it,” she said.

The wind, like a playful child, slipped into the bear head and stirred the faint scent of agave left behind by the girl.

Yan Youqing did not refuse.

“Thank you,” she said.

“By the way, what exactly do you do here? I’ve worked part-time for a while, but I’ve never seen a position like yours.”

Chi Yan asked the question casually.

A flicker of emotion passed through Yan Youqing’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

“Guest services had an emergency staff shortage yesterday.”

Chi Yan had not planned to press the matter. She simply nodded at the answer.

In the distance, the minute hand of the clock tower moved slowly. As it neared the number nine, Chi Yan said, “My shift is almost over. What about you?”

“Mine too,” Yan Youqing replied.

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Chi Yan said with a raised eyebrow. “Our supervisor said we can use the staff entrance to go watch the fireworks inside. Are you going?”

After she finished speaking, the air around them grew quiet.

Yan Youqing hesitated.

Chi Yan looked a little confused at first, but then as if realizing something, she answered for her, “You’re planning to head straight home after work, aren’t you?”

As she spoke, she stood up abruptly and gestured to Yan Youqing. “Come on. But you’ll have to wait for me to change clothes first.”

Yan Youqing was a little surprised. “You’re not going to stay for the fireworks?”

Chi Yan half-joked, “What, are you planning to split me in half? One half to walk you home, and the other to sneak inside and watch the show?”

It was already this late and so dark. How could she let Yan Youqing, an Omega, go home alone?

Even if she hadn’t just been rescued by her, Chi Yan would have done the same. If she saw her, she would help. That was all.

The lights were bright, though a part of their glow was blocked when Chi Yan stood up.

The shadow of her lowered arm fell softly into Yan Youqing’s palm. Yan Youqing shook her head, letting go of her indecision.

“Let’s go. We’ll watch the fireworks first, then head home.”

Night should have grown quieter as time passed. But not tonight, not on this last night of the year.

There were still two hours left until the countdown. Inside the amusement park, the fireworks pavilion was growing more and more lively. Chi Yan and Yan Youqing arrived a little late but were lucky enough to find a spot with a decent view.

Watching a young couple leave after a small argument, Chi Yan tilted her head and asked, “Is it kind of wrong that we just sat down in their place like this?”

Yan Youqing was more composed. “Not really.”

Chi Yan chuckled.

At moments like this, Yan Youqing seemed so different from the strict and formal figure she usually presented as. The difference was surprising, but in a good way.

Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed through the noisy venue.

Piu! Pop!

It sliced clean through the night sky. Music began to play from the speakers all around the pavilion, and the fireworks soared upward, blooming brightly in every direction.

Chi Yan looked up, her lips slightly parted.

She vaguely remembered that during her final year of high school in her last life, there had been a similar fireworks display. Photos of it had flooded her social media feed.

She didn’t think much of it back then. She hadn’t gone to watch it and hadn’t paid attention. But now, actually standing here and seeing the fireworks burst in the sky like stars, she found them so beautiful they left her speechless.

The first round of fireworks opened the door to a new world for the audience. As the music faded, the show paused.

People waited eagerly for the next part of the show. A few seconds later, a new melody began to play inside the venue.

This music was more gentle, less energetic than before. It carried a soft warmth that didn’t quite match the usual New Year’s excitement.

More fireworks launched into the sky. At first, they were small and subtle, not particularly stunning. Then, a louder boom filled the air, and a grander display followed.

Against the dark night sky, an abstract image of a family of three burst into view. Starlike lights lingered midair, dazzling and radiant.

Almost immediately, the people around them began whispering.

“Is this part meant to bless families with reunion and happiness in the new year?”

“Yes and no. I heard the CEO of the Song Corporation sponsored this show to celebrate her child’s birthday or something like that. The amusement park is owned by their family, so creating a firework image like this probably wasn’t hard for them.”

“But it must have cost a lot. These aren’t ordinary fireworks. No wonder tonight’s ticket price was cut in half.”

“So that must be the legendary little princess born with a silver spoon in her mouth.”

The noise of the crowd almost drowned out the fireworks. Chi Yan couldn’t help but hear every word. Instinctively, she turned to look at Yan Youqing.

Around them, families and couples were sharing the moment, filled with joy and excitement. Only Yan Youqing stood silent, looking up at the sky without saying a word.

Perhaps sensing Chi Yan’s gaze, she turned her head slowly.

Her dark eyes were calm, and her voice was more distant than ever. “It’s her hundred-day celebration. They really care about it.”

The firework image hung in the sky for several seconds before fading like stardust, leaving arcs of light behind in the dark night.

Only then did Chi Yan understand why Yan Youqing had hesitated earlier. She hadn’t been in a hurry to go home. She simply hadn’t wanted to see this.

The night wind blew gently, brushing aside strands of her hair.

In her deep black eyes, the white starlight shimmered faintly. All the warmth and blessing of that family-themed fireworks display vanished in her gaze.

Yan Youqing had long known that she was the physical reminder of a past her mother, Yan Ning, didn’t want to face.

She was the child thrown away by her family, the one abandoned by a golden-trimmed trash can instead of a regular one.

But did that really make any difference?

It only served to make her family feel a little more righteous, a little less guilty.

Yan Youqing looked directly at the truth she used to avoid. She exhaled slowly, letting go of something as she watched the fireworks drift across the sky.

The night wind wrapped around her thin frame. Just then, she felt something fall gently onto her back.

Chi Yan had brought a coral fleece blanket from the staff lounge and placed it on her shoulders. Her tone was as blunt as ever.

“Yan Youqing, do you know that when you’re upset, your pheromones spell it out loud and clear? And we’re ninety-nine percent compatible. Do you think I wouldn’t notice?”

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