Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 66

Secret love was often like that: you want her to know, but you’re also afraid she will.

He Qingqi rested her head on her arm, lying on the pebble-paved path, gazing at the tranquil night sky.

Beside her was the person she hadn’t seen for half a month, her heart pounding loudly in the silence of the moment. Yet He Qingqi seemed oblivious, her heart filled only with peace and tranquility.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s hand was soft and slightly cold, which felt pleasant to the touch. He Qingqi kept playing with it without saying a word.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s eyes were half-closed, her raven-black lashes casting a faint shadow. Her gaze fell on their intertwined hands, and a smile slowly spread across her face, as soft and serene as moonlight streaming through silk.

Time passed in silence, but He Qingqi felt completely content. The person beside her and the hand in her palm were all she wanted.

Only the pebbles beneath her were slightly uncomfortable. He Qingqi subtly adjusted her position, but she couldn’t bear to let go of the hand she was holding.

So, she thought of a way. She turned over, laying on her side, her eyes bright as she gazed at the beauty before her, their long fingers still entwined.

The beauty’s gaze was like a clear winter sky reflected on an icy lake—cool yet gentle.

She slightly parted her lips, as if smiling, “What’s the matter?”

Sometimes, being direct is less likely to cause suspicion. Being evasive, on the other hand, makes one seem guilty.

He Qingqi knew this well. She licked her lips and admitted directly, “I missed you too much.”

Her voice lingered slightly, like a lover’s playful tease.

Zhuo Zhiwei blinked, hearing the overly straightforward words. Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest. The tips of her ears flushed a deep red, and her fingers clenched slightly, stiffening.

After speaking, He Qingqi’s gaze also became a bit uneasy. When she saw that the other person hadn’t responded for a while, her heart skipped a beat, thinking she might have said something wrong.

Hurriedly trying to make up for it, she added indignantly, “The show’s producers are too much. I thought we’d be staying together when I came.”

She didn’t forget to grumble at the end, “But no, they’re deliberately splitting us up, aren’t they?”

She avoided Zhuo Zhiwei’s gaze, but her eyes inadvertently caught the curve beneath the white shirt, rising and falling with her breath.

Suddenly, a scene from that day flashed through her mind, and her breathing hitched. Her eyes flickered as the romantic scent of the super cedar she had personally selected filled her nostrils.

Her throat moved slightly, and her gaze lowered to where the shirt, stirred by the wind, revealed a glimpse of the pale skin beneath.

He Qingqi’s heart raced, her face flushed red. She quickly closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes darting around, not knowing where to rest until they finally met Zhuo Zhiwei’s gaze.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s eyes flashed, and she bit her lip lightly. Though her face remained calm, her slightly widened eyes betrayed a few strands of emotion.

Shyness and delight.

A couple? Referring to the two of them?

Though Zhuo Zhiwei knew He Qingqi probably didn’t mean anything special by it and had just been influenced by their fans, she couldn’t help but feel a sweet warmth from the other’s choice of words.

Even if it was a fleeting joy, it was enough to make her happy.

Her neck reddened, and she pressed her lips together.

Fortunately, the lighting was dim, and under the moonlight, He Qingqi could only see the beauty of her face, not the slight flush on her cheeks.

Zhuo Zhiwei suppressed the joy in her heart, sat up calmly, and escaped the person’s intense gaze, finally calming her racing heart. “Yeah, I don’t know what they were thinking.”

“When I found out I had to share a room with Lin Dao, I was also stunned.”

She didn’t say much, her tone steady and calm, just stating something as simple as it was.

Hearing the response, He Qingqi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like she had passed a hurdle. She also sat up, stretching her body slightly.

It felt so comfortable.

Savoring the words that had just been spoken, He Qingqi couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness, her eyes brightening.

She had always been possessive, even in friendships, always comparing.

So, Zhuo Zhiwei still preferred sleeping with her?

So, Lin Dao still couldn’t take her place in Zhuo Zhiwei’s heart?

A momentary victory didn’t mean permanent success; she couldn’t let her guard down and should instead stay vigilant.

Zhuo Zhiwei watched as He Qingqi’s expression shifted from surprise to smugness, then to caution, all in a matter of seconds. Her eyes flickered, like a performer changing masks, and she tilted her head slightly.

This fool, what was she imagining?

She replayed the words in her mind, finding nothing wrong with them.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. Her eyes widened slightly, her gaze shifting away, the corners of her lips curling up slightly. Her usually cool face now carried a cat-like playful charm.

Was she… happy because she didn’t want to stay with Lin Dao?

She slightly lifted her chin, feeling a bit smug.

Then she looked at the person’s long legs, her gaze moving up to her cheeks, where the lines of her jaw were more defined. Her brows furrowed slightly but relaxed as she thought of their work.

“You’ve lost weight,” she concluded.

Her tone seemed tinged with concern.

He Qingqi was stunned at first, then said awkwardly, “Weiwei, why are you like this, sounding just like my grandma?”

“I video-chatted with her recently, and she said the same thing.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was off. Her eyes widened, and she quickly corrected herself, “Weiwei, I didn’t mean to say you’re old, I just…”

She began to stammer.

Zhuo Zhiwei chuckled, nodding calmly, “I know.”

Three simple words, like nothing was said but as if everything was, instantly soothed He Qingqi’s heart, her restlessness disappearing, replaced by the peace of moonlight.

He Qingqi sighed with relief, her eyes lowered, a small smile on her lips, as she heard the other continue:

“You mean to say I care about you.”

Zhuo Zhiwei laughed softly, “I do care about you.”

“After all, you’re my best friend.”

Zhuo Zhiwei spoke insincerely, but her eyes were clear, full of sincerity.

He Qingqi looked up suddenly, not disappointed, but rather her eyes grew even brighter. Perhaps those in unrequited love are easily satisfied. As long as the other person has no one else in their heart, being the best friend is enough to make her heart celebrate.

She was at the top of the pyramid.

He Qingqi thought proudly.

Unconsciously, she puffed out her chest, lifting her chin slightly, her imaginary tail wagging in the air.

Zhuo Zhiwei watched her profile with amusement, her eyes filled with indulgent affection, and she gently smiled.

Despite their reluctance to part, they were now separated into two rooms. He Qingqi’s eyes were wet as she looked at Zhuo Zhiwei with the pitiful expression of a puppy, but Zhuo Zhiwei still pushed her back to her room.

“Be good, get some sleep, and we’ll see each other in the morning.”

Her childish look softened Zhuo Zhiwei’s heart, filling it with warmth, all because of the other’s special attention.

Does she like me?

She repeated the question over and over in her mind. When she looked into those clear eyes, she often found herself almost blurting it out, but in the end, she swallowed it back down.

Just wait a little longer. It’s still too early.

She had just come out of a failed secret love. Give her a little more time.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s eyes were dark and inscrutable, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the hem of her shirt, her usually calm eyes flickering with a trace of impatience.

The other’s affection was so overwhelming that she felt she couldn’t wait any longer.

…

The next morning, He Qingqi woke up early. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, stealthily changed clothes under the covers, then went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth, combing out her messy hair before tying it into a high ponytail.

Looking in the mirror, He Qingqi couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

She quietly left her room, taking a deep breath.

The countryside air was fresh.

The lobby was empty. He Qingqi wandered around twice, feigning surprise as she pointed at the front desk.

“Where is everyone?”

The camera mechanically tilted its head.

“You don’t know?” He Qingqi raised her voice slightly, as if she were really talking to someone.

“What are we going to eat for breakfast?”

This question seemed too difficult. The camera, which could only nod and shake its head, seemed to be at a loss and stopped moving.

Fortunately, He Qingqi didn’t need anyone to cooperate with her. Her long legs continued to wander around the lobby until she finally saw a blackboard with a message written on it:

The owner had to leave, so the inn is entrusted to you all. Please

manage it yourselves. We wish you prosperous business and all the best.

“Gone?” He Qingqi’s expression was on point, full of emotion, as she furiously ruffled her hair, looking at the camera in disbelief. “Weren’t we here for a vacation? What happened to our vacation?”

She widened her eyes. “Isn’t this show called ‘When Things Were Slower’? This doesn’t sound like running an inn at all!”

“No way, I need to go tell the others right away.”

After thinking about it, she added, “And also Chai Xu.”

He Qingqi hurried upstairs, knocking on doors one by one. “Something big has happened.”

“What’s wrong? I’m coming down right away!” After hearing the commotion from inside, He Qingqi finally went back downstairs.

In no time, Chai Xu appeared, confused and innocent. “What’s wrong, Xi-jie?”

“The inn owner has left.” He Qingqi’s voice held a hint of despair and disbelief.

Chai Xu still seemed confused, muttering, “Left?”

He nodded calmly. “So, when will they be back to make us breakfast?”

With that, he turned to go back upstairs, yawning, “Then I’ll go back to sleep a bit. Wake me when breakfast is ready.”

He Qingqi: “…”

After not seeing him for a few days, his acting skills had improved, acting as if it were real.

Still, she played along, responding anxiously, “Come back!”

“If they’ve left, they’re not coming back!”

Chai Xu paused, turning around, tilting his head slowly. “So, are they coming back or not?”

He Qingqi couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore and directly grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the blackboard.

In an instant, Chai Xu was in complete despair. “They’re gone?”

The others soon came downstairs one after another, “Gone?”

After reading the blackboard, everyone felt faint.

“This owner really trusts us,” Qi Ran said, rubbing his hair with a touch of helplessness.

“So, what should we do now?”

Suddenly, someone appeared in the lobby—it was the director of the show.

He stood with his back to the camera, explaining the rules.

The earnings from running the inn would be the six people’s activity fund. There was an order system at the front desk, and guest stars would be arriving to stay.

And the budget for the first day would be provided by the production team.

He Qingqi blinked, still in a state of shock.

The six of them sat at the table, all frowning, discussing how they would survive.

In the end, they selected a new innkeeper—Qi Ran.

At that moment, the director suddenly appeared: “From now on, ‘When Things Were Slower’ will be officially renamed ‘Qi Ran’s Inn’.”

The performance ended.