Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 44

In the end, it was Gu Mingrui who accompanied He Qingqi.

Chai Xu found it inconvenient being a public figure.

He Qingqi had Gu Mingrui fully armed and sitting in the adjacent private room. They kept in contact, and if anything went wrong, he would immediately come to the rescue.

Gu Mingrui couldn’t help but sweat seeing He Qingqi so tense, as if she were entering a dragon’s lair.

Chai Xu had been right; her brother truly had no heart.

Before leaving, He Qingqi told Zhuo Zhiwei she had to go out, but she instinctively didn’t mention whom she was meeting.

Zhuo Zhiwei didn’t ask; she just stared at He Qingqi for a few seconds, her gaze slightly cold.

It seemed she had guessed. He Qingqi felt inexplicably guilty.

He Qingqi had no idea what Fang Xuanyao was planning. Though she had avoided her before, Fang suddenly wanted to meet her and seemed very considerate, choosing a well-known private restaurant within their circle.

With a head full of questions, He Qingqi accepted the invitation. After making arrangements for Gu Mingrui, she entered the private room.

A refined and aloof woman was sterilizing chopsticks for herself.

“You’re here!”

The woman said in a delighted voice that He Qingqi had never heard before. Her eyes sparkled as if she were seeing her beloved.

He Qingqi coldly laughed inside. This was a far better performance than the one before. It seemed that desperation could indeed force out untapped potential.

She glanced at the used chopsticks and utensils, deciding not to use them.

He Qingqi walked to the table but did not sit down. “…Sister Xuanyao.”

She decided to cut to the chase.

“I came here today to discuss something with you.”

Fang Xuanyao stared at her for a few seconds, sensing something amiss.

After seeing Zhuo Zhiwei at the He family, she felt things were moving in a strange direction.

She knew Zhuo Zhiwei and He Qingqi had been close, and He Qingqi had once used the He family’s power to protect Zhuo Zhiwei. She also knew rumors had once circulated that Zhuo Zhiwei was the third party in He Qingqi’s marriage. From afar, she had even seen Zhuo Zhiwei watching He Qingqi with a longing, restrained gaze.

However, she had never heard of He Qingqi bringing Zhuo Zhiwei home.

She had dismissed Zhuo Zhiwei because He Qingqi had only ever had eyes for her and was unable to see anyone else.

But what if one day He Qingqi understood?

That person was He Qingqi’s type in both appearance and temperament, silent and deep.

She had never done anything to harm He Qingqi.

Fang Xuanyao’s eyes flickered, suppressing her deep-seated unease. She sat upright and said, “Go ahead.”

He Qingqi looked at her but dared not get too close, remaining vigilant. “I’ve been thinking carefully these past few days. I think we’re moving too fast.”

“Too fast?” Fang Xuanyao frowned slightly.

Her voice was calm, but the end rose, as if something unbelievable had happened.

He Qingqi softly hummed in agreement. Though she was impatient inside, she spoke gently. “We don’t know each other well enough. We’ve skipped the dating phase.”

“You don’t really like me, do you?”

Fang Xuanyao got anxious and interrupted, “I do! I like you!”

A cold glint appeared in He Qingqi’s eyes, and she looked down, not meeting her gaze.

Just them and Gu Mingrui in the adjacent room today. He Qingqi was less concerned about potential issues.

Recalling Fang Xuanyao’s excellent acting and comparing it to her previous life, He Qingqi felt a burning anger and spoke impulsively.

“Like me?” He Qingqi laughed. “Did you know what I like to eat? What do I like to play with? What type of perfume or clothes do I prefer?”

“Do you know when I sleep, when I wake up, how I like my steak cooked, or what kind of movies I watch?”

“This is your idea of liking me?”

As she continued, He Qingqi’s emotions became genuine. She couldn’t help but scoff, feeling a deep sorrow fill her, gripping her heart as if she were suffocating.

She couldn’t go on.

In ten years of marriage, Fang Xuanyao had never bought her a gift—not a car, a watch, not even a flower.

She had always been the one giving, but occasionally, she wanted a response from her beloved.

Yet there had never been a kiss or a hug.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have insisted on a divorce in her previous life.

“Sister Xuanyao, we should get a divorce.” She sighed.

For a moment, she felt like she was back over six months ago, in her favorite restaurant with Fang Xuanyao.

She had sincerely pressed her forehead, offering her most heartfelt blessing.

She wanted to let Fang Xuanyao and herself go, hoping they would be fine after parting ways.

But she had been disappointed.

This time, if Fang Xuanyao let her go, she would also let go of her hatred.

As long as she stayed far away, she wouldn’t seek revenge.

She had once hated Fang Xuanyao, and during her six months hiding in New Zealand, she dreamed of stabbing Fang Xuanyao herself. She hoped that her brother and father would avenge her by taking everything Fang Xuanyao cared about.

But over time, she found herself more at peace—not exactly forgiving, but indifferent. Now she was willing to use her hatred as a bargaining chip for her freedom.

If her hatred wasn’t enough, she would add more weight.

“I have a building under my name.”

Before she could finish, Fang Xuanyao interrupted.

“I can learn.”

Impatience flickered in He Qingqi’s eyes. “I know you…”

Fang Xuanyao suddenly stood up, her tone brooking no argument. “Enough, Qixi, stop talking. I know you’re acting on impulse. Calm down, and we’ll talk next time, okay?”

This familiar demeanor and tone startled He Qingqi.

But then she saw tears welling up in Fang Xuanyao’s eyes—a vulnerability she had never seen before. She was amazed that the ruthless Fang Xuanyao could look so fragile.

Fang Xuanyao stubbornly stared at He Qingqi, blinking to hold back her tears.

She didn’t know what was happening—only that her little peacock was different.

This had never happened in her previous life.

Why?

She had made that guess countless times, and now she was about to confirm it.

Blinking in disbelief, she couldn’t sit still.

“I have something to do. I’ll leave now.”

Maybe it was low blood sugar, but she stumbled, knocking over chairs.

“Fang Xuanyao! Stop!”

Fang Xuanyao didn’t pause; she grabbed her bag and rushed out like she was fleeing, forgetting to close the door.

One could only describe her as fleeing in defeat.

Leaving He Qingqi alone in the room, everything seemed to return to calm, as if He Qingqi were frozen in place.

After a long while, she gulped, looked around, and downed the water on the table.

Realizing what she’d done, she instinctively spat it back into the cup, water trickling down her face and into her clothes.

Frantically, she grabbed tissues to wipe her face.

She looked at the cup, feeling it was pointless and rather disgusting.

She sat there for a while, then suddenly laughed in disbelief, shaking her head.

How ridiculous.

Learn?

He Qingqi sat in the chair and took out her phone. “Mingrui, come over. She’s gone.”

In about a minute, Gu Mingrui gently opened the door, looking concerned at the dazed He Qingqi. He softly asked, “Qixi, are you okay?”

He Qingqi looked at him, her voice hoarse. “I’m fine. Really.”

“What could be wrong?”

Her eyes were filled with sarcasm. “She said she could learn. Didn’t you hear?” It was unclear whether she was mocking Fang Xuanyao or herself.

“Enough; don’t just stand there. Have some food with me.” She gestured to the chair opposite her.

Hearing this, Gu Mingrui sat down, smiling. “Aren’t you afraid she poisoned you?”

He Qingqi rolled her eyes and waved her phone. “This is why. I left a backup plan. If we don’t respond in an hour, Nian Nian will bring people to rescue us.”

“The food’s cold. Let’s just make do.”

Gu Mingrui looked at her worriedly, then reluctantly nodded.

He hadn’t known He Qingqi for as long as Chai Xu, but they had grown up together. He knew how much He Qingqi cared for Fang Xuanyao. He was worried about He Qingqi’s resilience with this sudden event.

They had only eaten a few bites when He Qingqi suddenly asked, “Mingrui, do you think Fang Xuanyao seemed a bit off?”

Gu Mingrui, mid-bite, paused and nodded vigorously. “Yes, I do.”

Recalling the events, he became more certain. “Now that you mention it, she really did!”

“Right.”

Gu Mingrui sat up straight, analyzing it seriously. “She seemed to care about you. It didn’t seem like an act.”

He Qingqi pondered, frowning. “I’ve never seen her like this.”

“She should be proud and indifferent. But today, she was vulnerable and challenging to understand.”

“I planned to sever ties today, but now I think I was impulsive.”

“Yet this impulsiveness gave her more opportunities, didn’t it? I have money and am willing to give it to her. She could rebuild Fang Corporation and eventually deliver a fatal blow to He Corporation.”

“If that fails,” He Qingqi sneered, her clear eyes filled with icy coldness. “She could expose our marriage certificate and demand huge compensation from the He family for my freedom.”

“But she did nothing.” He Qingqi was puzzled. “Instead, she fled. Compared to her, I seem like a heartless scoundrel.”

“Her behavior gave me the wrong impression, and this impression is what I don’t need and fear most now.”

“Mingrui.” He Qingqi suddenly looked at him, enunciating each word. “I just want a divorce.”

“I don’t want to talk about love with her anymore.” She suddenly lowered her head and laughed. “You might not believe it, but I no longer have any love for her. Seeing her like that just now, I didn’t feel a bit of pity. I just want to get rid of her. I’m afraid of her.”

I want to live well.

She didn’t believe that the person who hadn’t moved in ten years could suddenly love her.

Either she had bigger plans, or…

He Qingqi lowered her eyes.

But did Fang Xuanyao love her ten years later?

The answer was no.

So why not agree to divorce? She had provided a shortcut.

Thus, He Qingqi still believed the former possibility was higher.

Neither option was good.

Gu Mingrui stared at her for a while, then lowered his eyes, finding the situation tricky.

Clearly, He Qingqi was determined to divorce after overhearing Fang’s private discussion, while Fang Xuanyao had changed her mind and refused to let go.

He suddenly smiled. “You sound like a heartbreaker.”

He Qingqi frowned, seeming dissatisfied by his description. After a long pause, she sighed listlessly. “So be it.” The past experiences were too unbelievable to share.

Aside from that, she didn’t intend to tell anyone, fearing it would be too stupid.

Ten years of being deceived.

“Because of Zhuo Zhiwei?” Gu Mingrui curiously asked.

“What does it have to do with Zhiwei?” He Qingqi rubbed her temples impatiently. “Don’t pair us up. I’m still married.”

Gu Mingrui raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Alright, I won’t say more. Just handle it yourself. You’re a public figure now, with many eyes on you. Clean up your mess early.”

“Qixi, you’re not young anymore. Stop relying on Uncle for everything.”

He Qingqi waved dismissively. “Got it.”

“Don’t be dismissive.”

He Qingqi nodded heavily. “I know, Gu Xuanzang!”

“Alright, I’m full. I’ll order another takeout. Want one?”

“No.” Gu Mingrui thought for a moment, then asked, “Why another takeout?”

He Qingqi looked at him strangely, as if he were a fool. “To bring it back for Zhiwei, of course.”

Gu Mingrui rubbed his nose, feeling weary. “…Fine.”

…

Gu Mingrui drove He Qingqi home, and upon arrival, she invited him upstairs. “Mingrui, want to come up? It’s been a hassle today.”

Gu Mingrui held the steering wheel, glancing at her. “What? Do you want me to see your hidden beauty?”

He Qingqi rolled her eyes. “If I had hidden beauty, you wouldn’t know.”

Gu Mingrui chuckled and sized her up, mumbling, “It’s only a matter of time.”