After Rebirth, My Archrival Omega Looks at Me Differently - Chapter 54

Moonlight filtered through the interwoven poplar leaves on one side, gently falling and revealing a rare clarity in the night sky.

In that moment, the noise around them seemed to fade completely, leaving only the sound of leaves rustling softly in the wind.

Chi Yan held Yan Youqing tightly. Her overwhelming emotions condensed into a single sentence.

“I’m sorry. I actually forgot you.”

Her embrace was warm and intense, catching Yan Youqing off guard.

But when she heard Chi Yan’s words, her heart, which had just been pulled unexpectedly into someone’s arms, suddenly calmed.

There was no blame, no tears of joy.

Yan Youqing gently stroked the girl who had finally remembered her. The breeze brushed her cheek, and in her usually cold eyes, a gentle joy quietly appeared.

She had realized long ago that Chi Yan had lost the memories of the explosion, and she knew that there was a good chance Chi Yan no longer remembered her.

But that was alright. Even if she had forgotten, it didn’t matter.

All she ever wanted was for the sun that had once brought light to others to shine on her, just once.

Even if she had been erased from Chi Yan’s memory at the end of her previous life, it still did not matter.

Because now, Chi Yan remembered.

Was there anything more complete than this moment?

To Yan Youqing, there was not.

She shook her head and was about to say “It’s alright” when voices came calling from the distance.

“Where is Director Chi’s daughter? Has anyone seen her?”

“What’s that girl’s name? Someone call her. Her head was injured. Why didn’t anyone take her to the hospital immediately?”

“I think her name is Chi Yan. Director Chi calls her Yanyan.”

“Yanyan. Yanyan.”

The voices searching for Chi Yan passed through the trees, growing louder and more urgent in the chaos.

Yan Youqing knew she could not delay any longer. She gently ran her fingers through Chi Yan’s messy hair and said, “They’re looking for you. You should go.”

But Chi Yan did not want to leave.

She stood there, looking at Yan Youqing, not wanting to be separated from her.

Yan Youqing understood what Chi Yan was feeling, but she could not act on impulse with her.

She pressed her lips together and gave Chi Yan a soft smile. Her voice, cool and calm, was gentler than the summer wind.

“A Yan, you heard the medical staff. There are not enough ambulances right now. I can’t make things more difficult.”

As she spoke, she reached out and gently ruffled Chi Yan’s hair again.

Her slender fingers moved through the damp strands, leaving behind a tender warmth.

At that moment, medical workers arrived with flashlights. One of them recognized the girl and called out quickly.

“Yanyan, there you are. Come on, get in the ambulance. We’re waiting on you.”

“Be good. I’ll wait for you,” Yan Youqing said softly.

Chi Yan listened and followed the medics into the emergency vehicle.

Even as the doors closed, her eyes, still shining like gemstones in the dark, remained fixed on the glass window.

The deep night and the chaotic scene blended together. Yan Youqing still stood beneath the thick green rose vines, as if waiting for her to return and finish the story they had just begun.

The night sky slowly brightened from the east. The sun rose slowly, lighting up the entire world.

The wisteria in front of the hospital swayed gently in the morning breeze, sending a faint fragrance toward the patients doing their early exercises. Everything felt full of hope.

It was now visiting hours, and the hospital elevators were busy moving up and down.

In the quiet intensive care unit, the sound of a hospital bed being moved echoed. The large elevator for patients slowly opened its doors.

Sunlight poured into the private hospital room, filling it with the warmth of early summer.

A group of doctors in white coats worked efficiently to transfer the patient. Flowers on the bedside table bloomed brightly.

Chi Xufeng’s surgery had gone well. His condition was stable, and after waking up, he had been moved from intensive care to a regular room.

The doctors gave detailed instructions about his recovery and strictly told him to stop skipping meals or staying up late. They also asked Chi Yan to keep an eye on him.

Chi Yan nodded again and again. After watching the doctors leave, her expression grew even more serious than it had been when she was looking through the ICU glass before.

“Old Chi, do you have any idea how scared you made me?”

Although he had been lucky enough to survive, Chi Xufeng’s lips were still pale.

He did not want Chi Yan to worry, so he smiled faintly.

“See? I’m fine now.”

But Chi Yan was not ready to let it go.

“I’m really angry that you broke your promise this time.”

She spoke with sincerity. Chi Xufeng knew he could not make light of it and answered seriously.

“I’m sorry. I made you worry.”

As he spoke, he reached out his hand, still hooked up to an IV, and gently brushed aside the long bangs on Chi Yan’s forehead.

The gauze that had been hidden by her hair was now fully visible. Seeing it, the usually calm lines between Chi Xufeng’s brows deepened.

“That was too dangerous. Don’t ever do something like that again.”

But Chi Yan shook her head.

“If it means saving your life, I would give half of mine without hesitation.”

Chi Xufeng did not want to hear those words. He asked her instead,

“Half of your life for me, and half for Yan Youqing. What will you have left for yourself?”

Chi Yan froze, a sudden sense of guilt rising in her chest.

She had not figured out how to explain things to her father, but he had already seen through it.

Looking at his daughter, who for once had nothing to say back, Chi Xufeng continued gently.

“How is Youqing? Is she alright?”

Chi Yan shook her head.

“She’s fine. Not hurt. She already went home.”

“That’s good,” Chi Xufeng said with a small sigh of relief.

Then he patted her hand with a meaningful expression.

“I know she saved me because of you. If someone is willing to risk everything for you, you cannot let her down.”

Chi Yan felt unexpectedly flustered, as if she had just been officially acknowledged by an elder.

She rubbed her nose and quickly changed the subject.

“Old Chi, why are you suddenly so relaxed after waking up? What kind of conversation is this? I’m still in high school.”

Chi Xufeng shook his head and said, “You’ve already grown up.”

Once a secret is exposed, it can no longer hide behind vague excuses.

He looked at the girl sitting by his bedside. The way the light fell on her made her figure look tall and strong, in stark contrast to the small, frail child he remembered.

Suddenly, something came to mind. A wave of emotion began to settle in his once-clear gaze.

He took a quiet breath, and with a trace of heaviness in his voice, said, “Yanyan, I know I haven’t been a good father. All these years, you’ve been on your own. Have you been okay? Have you ever blamed me?”

Chi Yan felt a sting at her nose, and the tears she had pushed back the night before started to rise again.

How could she ever blame her father?

She understood why he had done everything he did. She also understood his deep grief over her mother, who had passed away too early because of glandular complications.

She never held resentment.

Some might say she was protecting an Alpha’s pride. Others might say she was being stubborn.

Either way, Chi Yan refused to show her vulnerability. Instead, she sniffled hard and teased him.

“Oh, come on, Old Chi. Can you stop being unserious one moment and overly sentimental the next? You’re an Alpha, remember? Maybe try being a little more consistent.”

“I’ve been doing just fine. I eat for one, so no one else goes hungry. I’m not just the youngest academician in the Life Sciences Institute, I even completed a project you couldn’t. I’m seriously impressive.”

Chi Yan finished with a playful but proud look, glancing at Chi Xufeng with a hint of mischief.

Chi Xufeng understood how she was feeling and didn’t call her out. Instead, his smile deepened as he gently stroked her soft hair.

“Yes, our Yanyan really is amazing.”

His palm was broad and warm, something she had not felt for many years.

The joy she once quietly wished for in the lab was finally delivered in a way she could see and feel.

Perhaps because their parting hadn’t been as painful as last time, the warmth between father and daughter now made her feel slightly embarrassed. She squirmed a little and pulled away from his hand, protesting, “I’m not a kid anymore. Why are you using that tone to praise me?”

But Chi Xufeng didn’t let it go. He teased, “Adults don’t eat lollipops and leave the wrappers scattered all over the room.”

“I…!” Chi Yan was speechless. Her already warm ears turned even redder.

But her embarrassment wasn’t really about the lollipops.

At that time, she had been arguing with Yan Youqing, without understanding her own feelings. The only comfort she could find came from those lollipops that still carried traces of Yan Youqing’s scent. She tossed them everywhere, as if trying to keep something of her close, within reach.

Chi Yan probably didn’t even realize it herself.

She liked Yan Youqing far more than she had ever admitted.

The sun slowly dipped below the horizon. Night began to swallow the edges of the sky and was about to fall over the earth again.

Chi Yan was still wearing her school uniform from the day before. Dusty and disheveled, even Chi Xufeng couldn’t stand it. After dinner, he insisted that she go home to shower and change into something clean.

Seeing that her father was doing fine, Chi Yan finally relaxed and obediently went home.

Everything in the old apartment complex remained unchanged. The sound of children playing echoed between the buildings, sometimes near, sometimes far.

Chi Yan opened the door and stepped into the house.

Suddenly, the air was filled with the wailing of sorrow. Grief-stricken faces turned toward her in silence, their eyes heavy with tears.

Before she could react, the scene and sounds vanished with a gust of wind that came rushing through the open door.

She blinked slowly.

A long-buried memory stirred within her. At that same moment in time, it buzzed with familiarity.

Ah…

It was a memory from her previous life.

Or perhaps, just a nightmare that had felt all too real.

Chi Yan sighed and set her keys down by the entryway.

There was no sobbing, no overwhelming darkness. The sunset cast warm light across the living room. Her study materials still lay neatly on the table, just as she had left them.

She had changed the fate of losing her father.

The memories from her past life were nothing more than a particularly painful dream.

The tension that had been holding her together all night finally eased in the comfort of her own home.

She took a long shower. Steam filled the bathroom, and afterward she wandered into the living room in a large black T-shirt that was long enough to cover her upper thighs.

“Phew…”

Knock knock knock.

Just as she let out a deep breath of relief, someone knocked at the door.

She didn’t think much of it. Slipping on her slippers, she walked over and opened it.

To her surprise, standing outside was Yan Youqing.

Next to her sat a large silver suitcase.

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