Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 27

Each girl had to prepare a solo performance for the final, so the time felt tight. He Qingqi and Zhuo Zhiwei continued to practice together late into the night, just like before. If they were too worn out to walk home, they would spend the night in the rehearsal room.

These past two weeks have been especially eventful. The fourteen girls watched movies together, ate hot pot together… There was always a faint sense of melancholy lingering around.

The last day ended just like that.

In the evening, as they finished work, a drizzle began to fall. He Qingqi and Zhuo Zhiwei, both slender, shared an umbrella, while a staff member walked beside them with another umbrella.

He Qingqi said she wasn’t nervous, but she still felt a bit lost. She had been back for three months now, and this place marked the beginning of her new life. Was it going to end so soon? What should she do for her future?

And what about these people?

Tao Jinghan, Zhuo Zhiwei… What would their future relationships be like? Would they still live and eat together as they do now? Would they form a group together? Would she regret it?

Would the friends who had already eliminated her but once referred to her as their captain ever reunite, even though they had promised to add each other on WeChat?

He Qingqi’s mind was in turmoil, one question after another. She stopped and turned around, looking back at their usual rehearsal spot with a sorrowful gaze, feeling a pang in her heart.

This was probably the last time they would come here together. Even though she owns the place now, gathering 98 girls together again would be very difficult.

Zhuo Zhiwei also stopped, staring at the building.

“At least the ones left will still be together,” she said with a touch of sadness, understanding He Qingqi’s feelings because of her own experiences.

He Qingqi nodded, a sigh escaping her lips. “Let’s go.”

Leaving the place, they all felt heavy-hearted, as if experiencing another graduation season. Thankfully, they still had each other.

The usual crowd of fans waited at the gate, taking pictures with their phones without umbrellas.

He Qingqi said helplessly, “It’s raining. You should go home.”

“It’s fine,” the fans responded in unison. “The rain isn’t heavy, and today is the last time. We need a perfect ending.”

“I’m serious. You should go home before the rain gets heavier. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Let us walk you home, He Qingqi. We’ll take care of ourselves and go home to drink ginger tea right after.”

He Qingqi looked at them and sighed. “Alright, follow if you must… You guys are hopeless.”

Zhuo Zhiwei suggested, “How about you use umbrellas while following us? Two people are sharing one, with one holding the umbrella and the other taking pictures. You can share the videos later, okay?”

“Yes, okay,” the fans agreed eagerly, pairing up quickly.

After a short walk back to the dorm, they arrived at the building.

Outside the gate, He Qingqi and Zhuo Zhiwei bowed to the fans.

Zhuo Zhiwei said, “For the past three months, you have come rain or shine to see us off to work. We’ve become familiar with some of you, like the sister in the orange jacket and the girl in the school uniform.”

The fans in question blushed deeply, shouting excitedly, “He Qingqi! Zhuo Zhiwei! We’ll keep supporting you!” Their voices nearly broke from excitement.

Zhuo Zhiwei, with a gentle expression, continued, “Although the show is ending, our careers as artists are just beginning. So don’t be sad. Thank you for your support and company.”

“There is no need to thank us, Zhuo Zhiwei. Meeting you this summer was our greatest gain!” a fan shouted.

“That’s right! We love you, He Qingqi!” Another fan shouted even louder, as if in a cheering competition, their screams echoing.

He Qingqi smiled gently at Zhuo Zhiwei. “All good things must come to an end. Go home now. Today, let us watch you leave. If you need someone to pick you up, have them come, or take a taxi or the subway.”

“Remember to study well and finish your homework.”

The fans, initially sad, couldn’t help but laugh at her last comment. They weren’t sure whether to cry or laugh.

“Homework, homework, always about homework! Do you love homework more than us?”

“Of course, I love you more,” He Qingqi said with a bright, mischievous look. “That’s why you should choose homework over me… Study well, work hard, and take care of yourselves!”

The fans left reluctantly, glancing back frequently but eventually dispersing, not wanting their idols to get wet.

As they watched the fans leave, Zhuo Zhiwei hooked her arm through He Qingqi’s. “I really will miss them.”

“Yes, we won’t stay in one city forever,” He Qingqi replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.

The fans who came to see them off weren’t always in the same group.

But He Qingqi believed that even years later, she would still remember some of these fans. They witnessed her beginning, accompanied her from obscurity to stardom, and shared these difficult times.

“Zhuo Zhiwei, do you have any plans after the competition tomorrow?” He Qingqi inquired, recalling that Zhuo Zhiwei had no family and might not have anywhere to go.

“The company will arrange something for me. I should have a place to stay,” Zhuo Zhiwei replied with a smile. “Why am I worried I have nowhere to go? Don’t worry, I’ll stay in a hotel if necessary. It’s just a short break.”

“Do you want to come to my house?” He Qingqi offered.

“Um…” Zhuo Zhiwei hesitated. “It might be inconvenient.”

She didn’t know He Qingqi’s family and felt shy about suddenly visiting. Despite their friendly appearances in videos, would they like her?

Seeing her reluctance, He Qingqi insisted, “Why not? My place is spacious and free, and someone will take care of us. What’s not to like?”

Then, realizing something, she added, “Oh, I get it. You’re worried about my family being too many and inconvenient, right?”

Though He Qingqi phrased it delicately, Zhuo Zhiwei understood that she had grasped her concern.

Zhuo Zhiwei, always calm and composed, actually had fears too. He Qingqi couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“Don’t worry,” He Qingqi said it proudly. “I’m the little boss for a reason. I have several properties, some left by my mom, and my dad transferred them to me when I turned 18.”

He Qingqi thought about mentioning the ownership of the building but decided against it, not wanting to appear like she was bragging.

Zhuo Zhiwei focused on the words “your house,” forming a subtle smile on her lips. But then she frowned. “Your mom left them?”

“Yes.” He Qingqi nodded. “My mom passed away early.”

Seeing the concern in Zhuo Zhiwei’s eyes, she reassured her, “It’s okay. Over the years, I’ve gotten used to it. My grandparents were wonderful to me, filling the gap of motherly love.”

“Alright, it’s settled now. After the competition, you’ll come home with me. We’ll pick a place just for us.”

“But first, we’ll spend a day at my grandparents’ house. Is that okay? Don’t worry, my grandma likes you, and… my family is your family too!”

He Qingqi winked mischievously.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s heart skipped a beat. She gazed at He Qingqi for a long moment, about to respond when a commanding female voice called out from behind.

“He Qingqi.”

He Qingqi’s expression changed immediately, frowning as she turned and stepped forward to protect Zhuo Zhiwei.

Zhuo Zhiwei looked around in confusion.

It was a woman around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, holding a transparent umbrella. She was dressed in a women’s suit and high heels about eight centimeters tall. Her eyes were bright, her teeth were white, and her eyebrows and eyes were delicately beautiful. The rain couldn’t obscure the air of someone who had long held a high position. She stared at He Qingqi with intense eyes.

“Why are you here?”

He Qingqi’s expression remained calm, but her grip on the umbrella tightened involuntarily. Her arm trembled, and blue veins stood out on her skin. Zhuo Zhiwei, standing next to her, could sense her agitation and wariness.

It seemed to be wariness.

“Xiao Qi, aren’t you going to introduce me? Who is this woman behind you?”

The woman paused, glanced at Zhuo Zhiwei with a hint of disdain, and asked, “Is she your friend?”

“I know you recognize her.”

He Qingqi forced herself to regulate her rapid breathing, striving to appear calm.

The moment she saw Fang Xuanyao, she instinctively recalled the scene where she and Zhuo Zhiwei were caught in bed, shielding Zhuo Zhiwei behind her just as she did back then, afraid of implicating her again.

Seeing the culprit, anger surged in her heart. She repeatedly questioned Fang Xuanyao in her mind, “Why did you treat me this way? I loved you so much!”

But she knew she couldn’t voice these questions. The Fang Xuanyao who came before her wouldn’t have the answers.

However, she also knew that the Fang Xuanyao before her wasn’t innocent. She had already begun her revenge.

Marrying her was the first step.

Fang Xuanyao let out a soft laugh, her eyes seemingly only able to hold He Qingqi, staring at her without blinking. The blatant aggression and inexplicable confidence made He Qingqi very uncomfortable.

“So, Xiao Qi knew I came that day? Are you unhappy?”

He Qingqi clenched her teeth, suppressing the anger and fear in her heart. She knew this wasn’t the time to fall out with Fang Xuanyao. The other held their marriage certificate; if she made the divorce public, He Qingqi would be defenseless.

Her face stiffened, and she forced a smile through clenched teeth. “Happy.”

He Qingqi kept telling herself to stay calm, suddenly sensing an inexplicable strangeness. Her gaze locked onto Fang Xuanyao.

Fang Xuanyao had always treated her with a cold and impatient demeanor, filled with disgust. When had she ever been this gentle and smiling?

Even when taking their wedding photo, Fang Xuanyao wore a deadpan expression. The woman stamping the certificate even thought she was being coerced and looked at He Qingqi strangely.

She had subtly asked Fang Xuanyao if she was under duress and if she could call the police. Only after confirming it multiple times did she stamp the marriage certificate.

“Why is Xiao Qi looking at her sister like this?”

He Qingqi’s barely perceptible frown deepened at the term “sister.” Zhuo Zhiwei also frowned, glancing at He Qingqi’s profile.

He Qingqi reminded herself repeatedly before saying calmly, “You seem different today.”

Fang Xuanyao didn’t notice He Qingqi’s strangeness, merely thinking she was being cold. Hearing this, she suddenly realized Xiao Qi might just be unaccustomed.

“Well…” Fang Xuanyao couldn’t help but take a step forward, wanting to embrace He Qingqi as she used to.

But as she glanced at the surrounding staff, she regained her composure, knowing He Qingqi’s debut was important to her. She couldn’t ruin it.

Fang Xuanyao calmed her rapid heartbeat, stepped back, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a slightly embarrassed expression. “I just feel… I should be nicer to you; after all, we are…”

“Family.”

She didn’t say it directly, but it reflected their close relationship.

She glanced at Zhuo Zhiwei, her expression unreadable.

Zhuo Zhiwei frowned slightly at the words, feeling uncomfortable and experiencing a strange sensation. She glanced at the fiercely protective He Qingqi beside her, deciding to ask her later what was going on.

And… “sister.”

For some reason, Zhuo Zhiwei suddenly felt very concerned about this term. So, He Qingqi had stubbornly refused to refer to her by that name, but had instead called someone else by it.

Was her unusual behavior that day also unusual for this person? Had she been mesmerized by this person’s appearance…

She wasn’t the only one, after all.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s heart sank as she shivered slightly, suddenly feeling the chill in the air.

To He Qingqi’s ears, it seemed her coldness had made Fang Xuanyao feel threatened. For her revenge plan, Fang Xuanyao had to humble herself to please her.

Despite her kind and gentle demeanor, He Qingqi wondered how much hatred she was hiding inside.

He Qingqi thought of another question. “Fang, Sister Xuanyao, shouldn’t you be in school now?”

Fang Xuanyao smiled. “Why is Xiao Qi worried about me skipping class? I decided not to pursue my master’s degree anymore. I’ve learned what I needed to, so I came back. I’m working at He Corporation now.”

He Qingqi’s pupils were constricted. In her previous life, this hadn’t happened. Was her indifference upon her return causing this unexpected outcome? Was she planning to carry out her plan earlier?

“Besides, Xiao Qi will debut tomorrow, and I want to see you achieve your dream.”

“Didn’t you dislike ‘Occasion’?” He Qingqi blurted out.

The moment the words left her mouth, He Qingqi regretted it. She hadn’t called Fang Xuanyao in this life; how did she know she didn’t like the show?

But Fang Xuanyao didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. She recalled that she had indeed expressed her dislike for the show in her previous life, but she couldn’t remember exactly when it happened before her rebirth.

Her eyes showed a slight ripple. After her rebirth, she discovered many things she hadn’t noticed before, realizing how precious He Qingqi’s love was.

But she had hurt her.

Fang Xuanyao’s gaze softened with a touch of heartache and guilt. She spoke with genuine emotion:

“At that time, I didn’t know you liked ‘Occasion’ so much. But now I know. You love dancing, and you love the stage. On stage, you are dazzling and radiant. With your brother and me at He Corporation, it’s enough. You just need to do what you want to do and leave the rest to us.”

You don’t need to worry or be concerned. I will protect you well.

Despite her heartfelt words, He Qingqi didn’t believe a word of them. She could only laugh.

Her eyes were filled with sarcasm, and a deep sorrow spread through her heart, making it ache.

He Qingqi, He Qingqi, in your previous life, you begged for gentleness all your life. Being cold and distant was enough to get it…

What is this? And what am I?

A fool, manipulated, and deceived?

It was really hard for Fang Xuanyao to say such mushy words to someone she “never liked.” Her acting was superb.

He Qingqi couldn’t hold back anymore, afraid she would give herself away in the next second. She left a brief thank you and said, “I have a competition tomorrow, so I’ll go back first.”

Without waiting for Fang Xuanyao’s reaction, she dragged Zhuo Zhiwei away in a hurry.

Fang Xuanyao’s eyes flickered as she watched He Qingqi’s retreating figure. Was she so embarrassed by her words that she couldn’t face her? In her previous life, she never noticed that her little peacock could be so shy, though the person beside her was a bit of an eyesore.

Suddenly, Fang Xuanyao noticed the watch on the girl’s wrist, and her expression darkened.

That watch seemed familiar.