My Ex-Boyfriend is Obsessed with Getting Back Together - Chapter 18

On Friday afternoon, Pei Ran finished his design sketches. He stretched his wrists, put away his pencils, and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window to gaze into the distance. It was the weekend for the studio, and many people were already packing their things to head home.

Rachel sat at her desk touching up her makeup before blowing a kiss toward Tingting. “See you next week, babe.”

Tingting looked up from a pile of drafts and waved. “See you, sweetie.”

Rachel giggled and ran off. Tingting looked toward the door of Pei Ran’s office and let out a soft sigh. She stepped forward, raising her hand to knock, but then lowered it hesitantly. At that exact moment, the office door swung open. The two of them locked eyes, both looking startled.

“Ran,” Tingting said, taking a step back.

Pei Ran glanced around the studio and noticed it was empty. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

“I still have some work to finish,” Tingting replied, unable to say what was actually on her mind.

Pei Ran lifted his wrist to check the time and said considerately, “If it’s not urgent, deal with it next week. Pack up and go enjoy your weekend.” He placed his hands on Tingting’s shoulders, gently spinning her around and pushing her toward her desk.

“Ran,” Tingting called out again, looking unsettled as she packed. “Are you feeling any better?”

Pei Ran’s previous collapse and hospitalization had been triggered by his emotions. He had only stayed in the hospital for one night, and it had already been two days since his discharge.

“I’m fine now,” Pei Ran said, looking up from his phone with a blank expression. “Why do you ask?”

Tingting smiled and said, “Nothing.”

Back when they were in the UK, Pei Ran already suffered from anxiety. The causes were multifaceted; after enduring so many life changes and suddenly finding himself in a foreign land, his mental health had steadily declined. Pei Ran refused to take medication. Every time he had a headache, he would force himself to endure it, using the pain to remind himself of the feeling over and over again.

Fortunately, things eventually stabilized, and his symptoms followed suit. The headaches became less frequent, and his psychologist mentioned signs of improvement. They all assumed that his condition would continue to get better after returning to China, so they forgot to remind him to go for a follow-up checkup. No one expected him to have a sudden episode that would land him in the hospital.

Tingting wasn’t sure if the argument that night had indirectly caused his collapse, but she still felt guilty.

“Did Alice schedule your consultation for this month?” Alice was Pei Ran’s psychologist. Tingting thought he might have been too busy in Suzhou and forgotten, so she wanted to remind him.

Pei Ran’s fingers were moving rapidly across his screen. A victory screen for Candy Crush popped up, showing three stars in the middle of the display. “It was in the middle of the month. I’ve already done it.”

Tingting was startled. If Pei Ran was still having sudden episodes despite attending his regular checkups, it meant his condition wasn’t actually improving.

“Ran,” Tingting said softly.

“Hmm?” Pei Ran tapped into the next level, his fingers never stopping.

“After the New Year, the Gu and Song families are holding an engagement ceremony…” Tingting trailed off, observing his reaction.

His fingers paused for a moment as if they had cramped. Pei Ran’s mind went blank. “If he’s willing to invite me, I’ll go.”

Subconscious reactions never lie. Tingting was now certain about what had triggered his episode. However, the one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it, and she couldn’t help with that. A sense of helplessness washed over her. She finished tidying her desk and turned off all the lights.

Pei Ran stared blankly at the level summary screen, which only showed a single star. He sighed, put his phone away, and walked downstairs with Tingting.

In front of the building, Pei Ran was walking ahead when he caught a glimpse of a Porsche parked by the curb out of the corner of his eye. Its simple, low-key style and smooth, natural lines felt incredibly familiar.

He turned and asked Tingting, “Does anyone at the studio drive a Porsche?”

Tingting blinked, following his gaze as she tried to remember. “I don’t think so. Most of the interns take the subway to work.”

Pei Ran frowned, thinking hard. He felt like he had seen this car somewhere before.

Tingting suddenly gasped. “Ran, it’s driving over here!”

Pei Ran looked up as the car slowly pulled up in front of them. Gu Lincuan stepped out of the driver’s seat, his expression cold. “Why are you down so late? Overtime again?”

“No, I just took a while to pack up,” Pei Ran said, looking at the car and then back at the man, his eyes wide. “This is your car?”

Gu Lincuan countered, “Is that a problem?”

Pei Ran remembered something and went silent. Beside him, Tingting finally snapped out of her daze. Seeing that the two of them seemed far more familiar than people who had just met, she pointed at Pei Ran, then at Gu Lincuan, stuttering for a while before she could get a full sentence out.

“You… you two, when did you meet?! What is this?!”

Pei Ran spoke the truth. “We met right after I got back to the country. He probably has something to discuss with me.”

Gu Lincuan nodded. “Miss Ting.”

“Oh my god…” Tingting’s brain was working at high speed; she could hardly believe what she was seeing.

Fearing she might mention they used to be together, Pei Ran hurried to say, “He has amnesia. He doesn’t remember anything related to me from the past.”

Tingting looked at Gu Lincuan, appearing somewhat skeptical, but Gu Lincuan simply nodded, not denying it.

Tingting was even more shocked. “Then do you still remember me, Brother Gu?”

“I do,” Gu Lincuan replied.

Pei Ran added, “He says he only forgot me.”

The moment he said that, Gu Lincuan’s expression soured. He pulled open the passenger door and said in a harsh tone, “Get in.” He then turned to Tingting with a purely professional demeanor. “Miss Ting, do you have a way to get home?”

Tingting wouldn’t dare say she didn’t. She waved her hands repeatedly and backed away. “I can get back on my own. You guys go ahead.” After saying that, she leaned over to wave at Pei Ran inside the car.

Pei Ran waved back. “Stay safe.”

Gu Lincuan gave her a nod, got into the car, and drove away.

As the car started moving, Pei Ran realized he hadn’t expected him to come. His eyes reflected a happiness he couldn’t hide. Looking at the familiar interior and the hands on the wheel, he suddenly realized why the car looked so familiar. When he first returned to the country and Gu Chen sent someone to pick him up, this was the car he had gotten into.

In an instant, the atmosphere became awkward. Pei Ran fidgeted with his seatbelt and asked, “Was it you who picked me up back then?”

“Who said I was picking you up?” Gu Lincuan drove with the same cold arrogance he showed in person, causing other cars to move out of his way.

No denial was a silent admission.

“Wasn’t it…” Pei Ran turned to stare at him.

“I was just stopped by the side of the road. Who knew someone would just absentmindedly hop in?” Gu Lincuan explained. “I’m driving. Don’t look at me, look at the road.”

“Oh.” Pei Ran sat up straight obediently, pulling back his eager gaze and staring ahead. After a moment, he realized he wasn’t the one driving, so why did he need to watch the road?

A moment later, Pei Ran couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, “Then how did you know where I wanted to go?”

“I didn’t. I just drove randomly,” Gu Lincuan replied.

Pei Ran nodded in agreement with that point. Even though he had been away for seven years, he knew that getting from that street to the studio shouldn’t have taken very long. It shouldn’t have turned a twenty-minute trip into a one-hour detour.

“I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else back then,” Pei Ran apologized for treating him like a driver.

“Pei Ran, that was a long time ago.” As the car entered a suburban villa district, the speed slowed down. Gu Lincuan lowered the window slightly. “Do you think that if you apologize, time will turn back and you won’t have gotten into the wrong car?”

“No,” Pei Ran answered honestly.

“Then don’t apologize.”

“But…”

“No buts. Aren’t I acting as your driver right now anyway?” Gu Lincuan parked the car, unbuckled his seatbelt with a click, and turned to look at him. “Get out.”

Pei Ran looked out the window at the unfamiliar surroundings. Only then did he think to ask where he was being taken.

Gu Lincuan got out of the car. Before closing the door, he smirked. “I’m going to sell you.”

Pei Ran followed him out. The temperature in the suburbs was noticeably lower. He silently zipped up his jacket and whispered, “I’m not worth much.”

The villa district in the outskirts of Nancheng was vast, with each villa set far apart from the others. It was peaceful and secluded. Camphor trees lined the road, their leaves rustling as the wind blew. This was a three-story house with a simple, clean design that looked quite understated.

The house was surrounded by a large, orderly yard. Instead of flashy or expensive ornamental plants, it was modestly filled with various seasonal vegetables.

Gu Lincuan had long legs, and Pei Ran had to jog to keep up, arriving at the door slightly out of breath. “Where exactly are we?”

Gu Lincuan slowed his pace. “Mei Ye’s grandfather’s house.”

After Elder Mei announced his retirement five years ago, he found the city too noisy and boring. He bought this suburban villa to grow vegetables and enjoy his leisure time.

“You’re here.” Mei Ye had received word and was waiting at the door. “Come in and sit. I’ll go call Grandfather.”

Gu Lincuan walked in, only to find Pei Ran still frozen in place. He gestured with his eyes for him to follow. Pei Ran walked behind him and whispered in his ear, “Why did you bring me to see Grandpa Mei?”

Gu Lincuan sat on the sofa. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

The butler brought over freshly brewed tea, greeted them with a smile, and showed special concern for Pei Ran. “Master Pei, it’s been a long time.”

Pei Ran looked at the butler’s familiar face, which seemed exactly the same except for a few more fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He called him softly, “Uncle Lu.”

Uncle Lu looked at the two of them, smiling as he remarked, “Master Pei and Master Gu still have such a good relationship.”

Pei Ran’s heart tightened. He instinctively looked at Gu Lincuan, only to find him looking back, so he quickly averted his gaze. Gu Lincuan took a small sip of tea, watching Pei Ran with a calm composure. Pei Ran, flustered, also picked up his cup and nearly choked on the tea.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the second floor. The three of them looked toward the source as Mei Ye and Elder Mei came downstairs together. Elder Mei was over seventy, but he was still energetic, his steps steady and strong.

The two men on the sofa stood up. Gu Lincuan spoke first. “Grandpa Mei, sorry to disturb you again.”

Pei Ran followed suit. “Grandpa Mei.”

Elder Mei was gentle and easygoing. Feeling that the two juniors were being too stiff, he said, “It’s no trouble to visit often. Sit, sit.”

After they sat down, Elder Mei looked at Pei Ran and sighed. “Little Ran is finally back. You left the country so suddenly back then; I thought I’d never see you again.”

Pei Ran lowered his head, not daring to meet anyone’s eyes. “I’m sorry for worrying you, Grandpa Mei.”

Gu Lincuan watched his reaction. Fearing Pei Ran might fall into an extreme emotional state again, he let out a light cough and gave a subtle look.

Mei Ye caught the signal and spoke up. “The lady of the house has finished cooking. Grandpa, let’s go eat first. Little Ran must be hungry after finishing work, right?”

Hearing that the young man hadn’t eaten dinner because of work, the old man wouldn’t have it. He immediately stood up and led everyone toward the dining room.

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