Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 68

He Qingqi was still in the position of holding the bicycle, her tongue slightly moistening her lips, her expression somewhat innocent yet troubled.

Was she… really that upset?

Since her rebirth, Zhuo Zhiwei had never refused her before, nor had she ever spoken to her in such a tone.

It made her happy that Zhuo Zhiwei was jealous, but now it seemed that things had gone off course…

Why such a strong reaction?

He Qingqi couldn’t help but furrow her brows, a sudden burst of joy lighting up her eyes, momentarily brighter than the high-hanging sun, her heart pounding wildly.

Could it be what she thought it was?

After a moment of reflection, the fire in her eyes dimmed, and her heartbeat gradually calmed.

But Zhuo Zhiwei knew perfectly well that she liked girls. There was no way anyone could see a match between her and Chai Xu.

Moreover… did Zhuo Zhiwei like boys or girls? Was there any hope for her?

Suddenly, she realized how little she actually knew about the other person.

He Qingqi blinked, feeling slightly dejected. After a moment of thought, she decided to park her bike, took two quick steps, and followed Zhuo Zhiwei.

“Weiwei!”

No matter what, she needed to make things right first.

Meanwhile, Lin Dao and Chai Xu exchanged puzzled glances.

“What’s going on with them?” Lin Dao asked, clearly baffled.

They were just fine a moment ago.

Chai Xu hesitated, then said, “It’s nothing.”

He made an excuse.

“Maybe it’s just one of those days for women.”

Hearing this, Lin Dao froze for a second, then gave him a sharp look and went inside.

Chai Xu sighed, feeling truly innocent. What was supposed to be a bike ride turned into a run, and he ended up sweating all over.

Lifting his shirt to fan himself, he decided to go upstairs and take a shower.

He Qingqi trailed behind Zhuo Zhiwei, trying to win her over, but Zhuo Zhiwei didn’t pay her much attention.

However, being a shameless “simp” was He Qingqi’s specialty, and she found a sort of fun in it, continuing to follow her eagerly.

Zhuo Zhiwei busied herself with her tasks, wiping down tables and counters, her eyes slightly downcast. Whenever He Qingqi wasn’t looking, a faint smile would tug at her lips—a mixture of cool indifference and a hint of embarrassment.

This wasn’t the first time Zhuo Zhiwei had been jealous of Chai Xu, and she bit her lip lightly, feeling a bit self-conscious. She knew her reaction was unreasonable, petty, and perhaps… a bit spoiled?

Because He Qingqi treated her so well, she couldn’t stand seeing her show intimacy towards anyone else, even if it was Chai Xu, who had grown up with her.

And then there was that dream…

Zhuo Zhiwei’s raven-like eyelashes fluttered as He Qingqi caught a glimpse of the girl’s flawless profile, noticing a faint pink hue on her soft, downy hair.

So cute.

He Qingqi’s eyes curled into crescent moons.

Soon after, Qi Ran and Jiang Shan returned with groceries and were surprised to find all three of them there.

Qi Ran, carrying two large bags of vegetables, placed them on the counter and asked with a smile, “Weren’t you going for a bike ride?”

Hearing this, Zhuo Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, put down the cloth she was holding, and glanced coolly at He Qingqi.

When He Qingqi looked up, she fell into those deep, dark eyes, her heart fluttering, and her fingers unconsciously clenched.

Recalling the earlier events, she forced a smile of appeasement, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and quickly turned to Qi Ran, offering a casual excuse: “Xu Xu said he didn’t want to ride anymore.”

Chai Taking the Blame Xu, who was coming downstairs with his hair half-dry: “???”

Zhuo Zhiwei turned her head and saw the bewildered Chai Xu, her eyes lowering slightly as she couldn’t help but smile, casting a playful glance at He Qingqi.

Catching the signal, He Qingqi immediately felt relieved; her spirits lifted as she repeated her earlier offer, “Weiwei, do you want to give it a try? I’m really good at giving people rides.”

Zhuo Zhiwei hesitated for a moment but replied with the same words, “No.”

This time, though, her tone wasn’t as cold as before, carrying a bit more warmth.

He Qingqi was puzzled. She clearly wasn’t angry anymore, so why still refuse? She pouted slightly, unable to understand.

Zhuo Zhiwei gave her a quick, smiling glance but didn’t say anything more. However, a trace of melancholy flashed across her brows.

She knew this was overly sentimental, but she didn’t want something that He Qingqi had given to someone else.

No, maybe she did want it—like how she wanted the love He Qingqi once gave to Fang Xuan Yao. She envied, she was jealous, and she wished she could take her place.

But this time, after she had so clearly shown her displeasure, it felt like charity.

So… she didn’t want it anymore.

Why did she have to show up so late? She missed He Qingqi’s childhood, her youth… so many of her experiences, only barely catching the tail end of her nineteen-year-old self.

Her smile carried a hint of regret, and He Qingqi, for some reason, felt a bit empty inside, a sensation that didn’t sit well.

It was as if her heart was being squeezed—a sharp pain that wasn’t for herself.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s downcast eyes and delicate features were still stunning, no different from usual. Her gaze was as clear as the moon, yet it reminded He Qingqi of the shattered light and coolness on the cobblestone road from the day before, making her feel somewhat heavy-hearted.

In her chest, a deep desire suddenly burst forth, a yearning for Zhuo Zhiwei’s happiness.

She wanted to give her everything, to make her hers completely.

Yet she felt lost.

He Qingqi had lived for thirty years and had been married and divorced. She had once loved and pursued Fang Xuan Yao, but in the end, those feelings faded. She had always been the one to give in a relationship, knowing how to be good to her.

But she was also acutely aware that, despite their similar temperaments, Zhuo Zhiwei and Fang Xuan Yao were two completely different people.

Fang Xuan Yao was ambitious, aiming for power and wealth, wanting to stand at the top of the pyramid and enjoy the thrill of the heights.

But what about Zhuo Zhiwei?

Quite the opposite—what she likely wanted was warmth.

He Qingqi was willing to give her warmth; she could give her warmth. Her love for her was as fiery as the sun, constantly burning in her heart, longing to burst forth.

But what if this wasn’t what Zhuo Zhiwei wanted?

What if Zhuo Zhiwei only wanted her as a friend, a family member? If she declared her love, wouldn’t that be awkward?

Because she cared, she hesitated.

He Qingqi couldn’t help but doubt herself.

This was something Fang Xuan Yao had taught her over the years.

It was called letting go.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she stuffed them into her pocket, quietly clenching them into a fist.

He Qingqi turned her head, gazing out the window at the peaceful scenery, still calm.

Whether they ended up together or not, she just wanted Zhuo Zhiwei to be happy.

The sound of the front desk’s order system rang out, breaking her thoughts and fantasies.

He Qingqi suddenly lifted her head, quickly collecting her emotions, and said with a forced smile, “I’ll go check it out.”

Chai Xu, sensing something was off, quickly added, “I’ll go too.”

As soon as he opened his mouth, he realized Zhuo Zhiwei had just been about to say the same thing. She gave him a meaningful look.

Chai Xu felt a shiver run down his spine, blinking nervously. But he still followed He Qingqi, though his steps were shaky, stumbling as if he were fleeing a disaster.

Lin Dao, feeling like the only sane person among the four, scratched his nose.

He Qingqi walked to the door and was surprised to see the guests—a young man and woman, and an elderly man, thin and frail, sitting in a wheelchair.

The young man and woman looked quite similar, with about seventy percent resemblance, clearly family.

The girl was rather pretty; her eyebrows constantly arched in a cheerful manner, making people feel an instant affection.

The boy, despite the similar features, appeared rather ordinary.

“Grandpa, we’re here.”

The girl’s voice matched her appearance—bright, sunny, with a touch of the endearing tone one uses with elders.

He Qingqi quickly stepped forward to help with the luggage. “Hello.”

The girl was taken aback at first, then stammered, “He Qingqi?”

“Are you He Qingqi?”

“Ah?” He Qingqi felt a bit embarrassed, scratching the back of her head. “Yes, that’s me.”

The girl couldn’t contain her excitement, grabbing the boy’s arm, her voice filled with surprise and disbelief. “Brother, brother! It’s really He Qingqi!”

He Qingqi understood, straightening her posture a bit. It seemed she had a fan. She smiled slightly, a bit proud.

But then the girl continued, bouncing on her toes in

excitement, “Are you a guest on this show too? I’m a fan of Zhuo Zhiwei—could you tell me if she’s here?”

He Qingqi: “…” Her smile slowly faded.

And so, Chai Xu had the honor of witnessing his Sister Xi turn to stone for the second time that day.

He Qingqi rubbed her nose. “She’s here.”

The girl clenched her fists, her face flushing with excitement. “I knew it!”

“Wherever you are, she’s always there!”

Was she a potential fan of their ship?

He Qingqi’s awkwardness eased slightly, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit more tolerant toward her.

Her smile became more genuine as she helped carry the luggage with Chai Xu.

They chatted as they walked, finding some common ground. The girl’s name was Liu Si, and the boy was Liu Xing. They were cousins, and the elderly man was their grandfather, Liu Yujing. They were here to help their grandfather relive some memories.

Liu Si still smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in her expression.

“Well… Grandpa said he and Grandma met while traveling here.”

She paused, her throat tightening, a sudden surge of sadness causing her eyes to glisten with tears. “Grandpa was diagnosed with lung cancer this February.”

Her voice choked as she spoke, waving her hand in front of her face, looking up at the sky to blink back tears. “Ah, gosh, I’m so useless.”

Grandpa, slightly helpless, patted her hand, his wrinkled face breaking into a pure, bright smile, though his voice was hoarse and strained. “Si Si.”

“Life is full of moments like these.”

An inexplicable sadness hung in the air.

Liu Si bit her tongue hard, her eyes red as she looked at him, her voice rising in frustration. “But you’re only seventy! When people wear mourning bands, theirs are red, but yours is white!”

With that, she threw herself into Liu Xing’s arms, crying.

He Qingqi widened her eyes, looking at the elderly man, thin as a skeleton, her eyes stinging. She clenched her fists, trembling slightly, her brow furrowed as she suddenly thought of her own grandfather.

His passing hadn’t been sudden; he had been in poor health, and at eighty-two, he had lived a long life.

But it had still taken He Qingqi a long time to come to terms with it.

She didn’t like to recall those memories, which had now become blurred, only vaguely remembering the long procession, the flames that spread across the mountains, and the flickering red in the darkness.

Then she kneeled, took three incense sticks, raised them to her forehead, and silently bowed.

He Qingqi swallowed hard, blinking to hold back the tears in her eyes.

She wanted to go home.

Having experienced something similar, He Qingqi understood. She patted the sobbing Liu Si, sighing, though no comforting words could come out.

Liu Xing and Grandpa’s eyes were also reddened by her emotions.

As Liu Si continued to cry uncontrollably, Liu Xing took over the explanation.

At first, they thought it was just a small cold, treated with an IV drip at a clinic, but then his voice inexplicably changed.

When he and his sister visited their grandfather, they realized something was wrong and rushed to the hospital.

By the time it was discovered, it was already late-stage cancer, with metastasis beginning. The tumor was in a difficult position, and given Grandpa’s age, surgery wasn’t an option—only conservative treatment, mainly Chinese medicine.

He had just completed his third round of chemotherapy recently, and the doctors said he didn’t have much time left.

The fact that he had made it this far was already a testament to Grandpa’s strong body.

Grandpa wanted to visit the places he had walked in his youth while he was still able to move and see.

This was the first stop.

It was the place where he had met his wife, and he wanted to take in the sights again so he could tell his long-deceased wife when he joined her in the afterlife.

Liu Si and Liu Xing’s parents had been too busy with work in the past, only knowing how to leave a few hundred yuan as filial piety. Now, they were crying their eyes out at his bedside, but Grandpa didn’t allow them to accompany him this time, only bringing the two younger ones along.

This was their first guest since opening, and the story they brought was a heavy one.

The room rates were set based on second-tier city inns, with single rooms at 168 yuan and double rooms at 268 yuan, including breakfast. Lunch and dinner were extra.

Chai Xu and Qi Ran helped carry their luggage upstairs. Since they were worried something might happen at night, Liu Xing would sleep in the same room as Grandpa, while Liu Si had her own room.

When she saw Zhuo Zhiwei, Liu Si gave her a few extra glances. Though her eyes flashed with admiration, she didn’t seem as excited as before, appearing rather disinterested.

She knew how to distinguish reality from fantasy, and no matter how happy she was to see her idol, it couldn’t fill the dark, swirling void she had felt upon receiving the news.

He Qingqi leaned toward Zhuo Zhiwei, her gaze on Liu Si, bending slightly as she whispered, “Did you get the details about their situation?”

Zhuo Zhiwei nodded silently, her eyes deep. The program team had provided the guests’ information when He Qingqi and the others were out.

Initially, Liu Si and Liu Xing didn’t want to participate in the show, only wanting to quietly accompany their grandfather. But the program had been planned for a long time, with the venue booked in advance. If they didn’t participate, they’d have to wait until the show ended in a month. But Grandpa didn’t seem like he had a month to wait.

Later, the program planners, moved by compassion, offered to give them five days. But when Grandpa heard about it, he didn’t want to trouble anyone and said he wanted to appear on TV one last time before he left.

So Liu Si and Liu Xing agreed, only asking for more personal space from the program team, which, of course, was granted.

Seeing Zhuo Zhiwei nod, He Qingqi continued, “That girl is your fan… Could you give her an autograph?”

She pursed her lips, feeling slightly lost. “This is such a big deal, I don’t know how to comfort her. It might not make much of a difference, but at least it’s a small consolation.”

“What do you think, Weiwei?”

Zhuo Zhiwei hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”

She went back to their room and found a photo they had taken upon arrival yesterday. On the back, she wrote a blessing, wishing Liu Si a life of peace and happiness and success in all things, and finally signed her name.

Her eyes shimmering, she handed it to Liu Si.

Liu Si stared at her for a few seconds, then at the photo, before taking it with a sigh. A sense of melancholy seeped from her smile.

“Weiwei, you’re so beautiful, and your handwriting is beautiful too.” The girl smiled at her. “Thank you for your blessing; I’ll treasure it.”

Zhuo Zhiwei’s gaze softened as she blinked, not quite sure what she felt. “Thank you for liking me.”

Any words of comfort seemed so powerless, so out of place at this moment. Zhuo Zhiwei said nothing more, just nodded and left.

After settling in, Liu Si and Liu Xing pushed Grandpa outside to see the mountains and the water. A few photographers followed from a distance, ensuring their safety.

Qi Ran and Jiang Shan were cooking in the kitchen. He Qingqi brought out a guitar from the bedroom and discussed an idea with Zhuo Zhiwei and the others:

“I heard from Liu Si that when Grandpa used to visit, it wasn’t this inn, but there was a swimming pool. At night, they would gather around the pool for a barbecue and party. How about we do the same?”

Qi Ran, who had just finished cutting vegetables, overheard this and paused, his eyes lighting up with agreement. “Hey, I think Qingqi’s suggestion is great! Jiang Shan and I will just watch; you four are the professionals!”

Jiang Shan laughed too. “Yes, you can sing and dance—this is what you do, right? We’ll be the audience while you entertain the guests.”

And so it was decided.

Chai Xu clung to He Qingqi’s arm, winking at her. “Sister Xi, how about we do a duet? The original version of Close to You? Sweet and fitting for the occasion!”

He Qingqi rolled her eyes in disdain, then glanced toward Zhuo Zhiwei’s direction. Just as she was about to refuse, Lin Dao spoke up.

“Senior, how about we perform one of our original songs from our previous collaboration? The Inn won’t air for a while, so it wouldn’t be considered a spoiler, right?”

Lin Dao’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Zhuo Zhiwei, who returned his gaze with a slightly softened expression. Though not as familiar as with He Qingqi, it was still warm. He Qingqi’s heart sank, her earlier feelings of hesitation returning with a touch of melancholy.

Lin Dao wasn’t like Chai Xu—Zhuo Zhiwei couldn’t refuse him easily. She glanced at He Qingqi, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange of comfort, before she turned away and nodded, agreeing, “Okay.”

He Qingqi took a deep breath and nodded as well.

“Alright.” Qi Ran thought for a moment and said, “

Since we’re having a barbecue, Jiang Shan and I will go buy some meat after lunch and marinate it.”

Lin Dao couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Haha, Jiang Shan, ‘Mom,’ are you the ‘Dad,’ Teacher Qi?”

Qi Ran nodded mysteriously. “From now on, just call us Mom and Dad here; no more ‘Teacher’ this or ‘Teacher’ that.”

Hearing this, Chai Xu nudged He Qingqi with a mischievous grin. “What do we do, Dad? Someone’s trying to steal your son.”

He Qingqi, unbothered, scoffed lightly, “Call me Grandpa.”

Qi Ran froze, embarrassed. “I’m not that old!”

“Your rank is high.” He Qingqi nodded seriously at him.

Chai Xu giggled and called out, “Hello, Grandpa!”

Qi Ran rubbed his nose, reluctantly agreeing, “Hello, big grandson.”

Then he looked at the camera. “Mom, Dad, don’t rush me and my wife anymore. Look, I suddenly have three daughters, and one daughter even comes with a tag-along. Now I even have a grandson!”