Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 72

Later, Zhuo Zhiwei practically floated back to her room.

Her eyes blinked wide open, and her cheeks flushed an unnatural shade of red.

At that moment, Lin Dao was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. She caught sight of Zhuo Zhiwei returning to the bedroom through the mirror, and a smile appeared on her face.

She was about to speak but quickly noticed something unusual about Zhuo Zhiwei.

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Dao spit out the foam and poked her head out of the bathroom.

“Senior…”

She drew out the last syllable.

Zhuo Zhiwei’s mind was still in a haze. The rush of adrenaline and dopamine had her heart racing, and her breathing was quick and shallow. In her head, He Qingqi’s words echoed over and over again.

“I like you, and I’ve liked you for a long time.”

It felt as if she were walking on clouds, her emotions surging in her chest. It was a happiness so intense, it felt like a dream.

She had thought that He Qingqi liked her, but for things to happen so naturally still filled her with joy.

She hadn’t noticed Lin Dao at all.

“Senior!” Lin Dao raised her voice.

Zhuo Zhiwei, startled, shuddered, and turned around.

She locked eyes with Lin Dao, who was momentarily stunned by the dazed, wide-eyed look on her face.

Her posture was still straight, the white shirt still fitting perfectly, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal her slim and graceful forearms.

Yet, somehow, the usual aloof and cold demeanor had vanished, and instead, she looked like… a love-struck fool.

At that thought, Lin Dao couldn’t help but shudder, her shoulders trembling. A fool in love? How could she even come up with such a disgusting phrase, and worse, apply it to her untouchable and high-and-mighty senior? She quickly closed her eyes and shook her head.

When she opened her eyes again, Zhuo Zhiwei had resumed her usual cool and indifferent expression, though her face remained red, which was somewhat out of place with her usual demeanor.

“Do you need something?” Zhuo Zhiwei asked, trying to appear nonchalant.

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Senior… Did you… drink too much?” Lin Dao asked, looking at her with a bit of confusion.

She clearly remembered that Zhuo Zhiwei had only had a few glasses of red wine, less than what He Qingqi had drunk. Could it be that she was one of those people whose face reddened after drinking?

Zhuo Zhiwei cleared her throat, still maintaining a serious expression. “No, why do you ask?”

Lin Dao replied honestly, “Your face seems unusually red.”

Zhuo Zhiwei froze for a brief moment, her eyes glazing over slightly. The memory of what had just happened flashed in her mind, and she felt as though she was being cooked alive, the heat rising rapidly.

Lin Dao glanced curiously at the top of Zhuo Zhiwei’s head, wondering if steam might start coming out.

“Maybe… maybe a little,” Zhuo Zhiwei stammered, her tongue tripping over her words. “I’m not very good with alcohol.”

Lin Dao gave her a thoughtful look.

As she returned to the bathroom, she muttered, “Yeah, you look like you’re about to be steamed.”

Upon hearing that, Zhuo Zhiwei clenched her fists, her throat bobbing slightly. Like a robot, her movements were stiff as she turned around, checked the room for cameras, and changed into her pajamas.

After showering, she lay in bed, and the events of the day played out before her eyes like a movie, frame by frame.

The moonlight spilled softly over the empty land outside, filtering through the not-quite-closed curtains and outlining the contours of a girl whose face unconsciously broke into a smile.

Though her eyes were closed, sleep eluded her.

She couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come, so she could see her again.

That girl who galloped through her heart.

Beautiful, with just a hint of allure.

She liked her so much.

…

The next morning, He Qingqi woke up early. On this new day, she felt more energized than ever. Her excess energy had her running laps at six in the morning, and when she returned, she saw Grandpa Liu basking in the sun.

“Good morning, Grandpa,” He Qingqi said with a bright smile, her cheeks flushed with a few beads of sweat, her breath heavy and urgent, brimming with youthful vitality.

Grandpa Liu’s eyesight wasn’t good, but he could sense the bright, sun-like energy in her voice. He couldn’t help but smile.

Liu Xing was also nearby, though the dark circles under his eyes seemed heavier.

He hadn’t slept well again.

The sound of Grandpa’s incessant coughing, like an unending sadness, constantly weighed on his mind.

No one knew this better than Liu Xing, who was taking care of him.

The end was near.

This knowledge kept him up all night, his nose burning, his throat tight, yet he had to pretend everything was fine in front of his little sister.

It was exhausting.

Watching Grandpa’s eyes grow dimmer day by day, step by step towards the grave, a part of him couldn’t help but feel relief—it would soon be over.

He knew that was wrong. Once he came to his senses, it would turn into self-loathing.

He hung his head in despair.

“You two are up early,” came a cheerful voice.

Liu Xing was jolted from his thoughts, forcing a weak smile.

“Yeah, Grandpa woke up early, so we came out to enjoy the sun.”

But in reality, he knew it wasn’t because Grandpa had woken up early. It was because he hadn’t slept at all.

“That’s good,” He Qingqi smiled. “Sunshine is good for the elderly.”

“You guys carry on. I’ll make breakfast for you.”

Liu Xing nodded.

He Qingqi wasn’t much of a cook, but she could make porridge. All she had to do was add rice and water, then press the porridge button.

She could also make soybean paste scrambled eggs since it didn’t require any other seasonings.

But Grandpa couldn’t eat anything too salty, so soybean paste scrambled eggs were off the menu.

He Qingqi took some light, pickled vegetables from the fridge, leftovers from yesterday’s grocery run by Qi Ran and Jiang Shan, and placed them on the table.

About ten minutes later, the porridge was ready.

Chai Xu came downstairs, stretching lazily. He froze when he saw He Qingqi bustling about, rubbing his eyes before looking again.

“Qingqi?” he called out tentatively, using exaggerated gestures. “Is that you, my industrious Qingqi?”

“Up this early to make breakfast for everyone? You must be an angel.” He exclaimed.

He Qingqi paused in what she was doing, her nerves twitching. She looked up and shot him a sharp glance.

She slowly brandished the knife she was using to slice fruit, smiling coldly. “Xu Xu, if you keep talking, I can’t guarantee this knife will only be used on the fruit and not on you.”

Her voice was calm and serious, her face wearing a “kind” smile.

Chai Xu couldn’t help but shudder, quickly admitting defeat. “I was wrong, boss.”

His eyes darted around mischievously, and he asked, trying to curry favor, “Where’s Mom, boss?”

He Qingqi didn’t respond, just glanced at him lazily before continuing to cut the fruit.

But the slight curl of her lips betrayed her good mood.

Chai Xu, being sharp-eyed, noticed the smile and continued to suck up.

The breakfast was ready, the fruit was cut, but the person He Qingqi had been waiting for, the one who had slipped into her dreams, was nowhere to be seen.

She sat on the sofa, glancing at the stairs every few seconds, restless.

She was a bit nervous.

Why wasn’t she awake yet? He Qingqi couldn’t help but wonder.

Was she deliberately avoiding her?

Last night’s confession and the scattered kisses had been impulsive. At her core, she was still the shy, timid little lion that fluffed up at the slightest provocation.

Maybe the moonlight had bewitched her?

But as the night passed, her earlier impulsiveness had cooled, replaced by a creeping sense of nervousness and embarrassment.

How could she be so shameless?

They had only just confirmed their feelings, and she had already taken advantage of her!

What if Zhiwei only had a small crush on her and wanted to take things slow, and after seeing how eager she was, she regretted it?

He Qingqi, prone to overthinking, tapped her leg nervously. Her heart pounded in her chest, a feeling not unlike the anxiety she had felt before taking her college English oral exam.

She needed to see Zhuo Zhiwei as soon as possible to calm her nerves.

To Chai Xu, it seemed like his Qingqi couldn’t bear to be apart from Zhuo Zhiwei for even a second.

A few dark lines appeared on his forehead.

Was it really that bad?

He nudged her and threw her own words from a few days ago back at her.

“Qingqi, this is getting ridiculous.”

He Qingqi’s heart was still pounding, and the nudge startled her.

“Are you trying to scare me to death?” She glared at him, looking fierce.

Chai Xu rubbed his nose and leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “You two have only been apart for one night. Do you really need to be this dramatic?”

Hearing this, He Qingqi shot him a mysterious look and shook her head. “You’ve never been in love. You wouldn’t understand.”

Chai Xu: “…”

It was true—he had never been in love.

But what was with the look of sympathy in Qingqi’s eyes?

They were in the same boat. Even if Qingqi had married Fang Xuanrao, that didn’t really count as a romantic relationship, right?

His face reddened, and he flared up, “You’ve been in love?”

His voice was still hushed.

He Qingqi nodded toward the upstairs and said matter-of-factly, “Yeah, I’ve been in love.”

She was faintly proud, her eyebrows raised slightly, and a sweet smile tugged at her lips.

Chai Xu: “!!!”

What on earth had happened last night while he wasn’t around?

Suddenly energized, his eyes lit up like light bulbs as he grabbed He Qingqi’s arm, eager for gossip. “What happened? Tell me everything!”

He Qingqi deliberately kept him in suspense, speaking slowly. “Last night… last night…”

Chai Xu sat up straight, desperate for details. “Just say it already!”

He was hoping to boast about it to their small group later that night, to show Gu Mingrui who Qingqi’s real best friend was!

“I confessed, and now we’re together,” He Qingqi said simply.

Chai Xu was stunned. “That’s it?”

He Qingqi’s eyes twinkled with amusement, and she blinked innocently. “That’s it.”

“No, I mean the process!” Chai Xu nearly jumped out of his seat, waving his hands to prompt her. “Wasn’t it like a dark and stormy night, and then the atmosphere was just right, and you couldn’t help but kiss—”

He Qingqi lowered her head, as if deep in thought.

Chai Xu thought she was reminiscing and settled in, eager to listen.

After a moment, He Qingqi leaned in close to his ear, her warm breath tickling his skin. Chai Xu waited in anticipation.

And then he heard:

“I’m not telling you, haha.”

Chai Xu’s face darkened instantly, his arms flailing as if he were trying to swat her, but it was more like he was tickling her.

Zhuo Zhiwei came downstairs to see her girlfriend, who had just confirmed their relationship last night, teasing and playing around with her childhood friend, looking all too close.

The smile and subtle anticipation on Zhuo Zhiwei’s face frozen, replaced by a blank, emotionless expression.

He Qingqi looked up to see her girlfriend standing on the stairs, her expression unreadable.

Her eyes brightened with excitement, and she smiled shyly, suddenly feeling nervous.

“Zhi… Zhiwei.”

He Qingqi ran to the foot of the stairs and looked up at her. “You’re awake.”

Zhuo Zhiwei looked down at her, gracefully descending the stairs with an air of elegance and dignity, without even acknowledging her presence.

He Qingqi was a little stunned, but then the scene from a moment ago flashed through her mind, and her eyes lit up.

The previous anxiety disappeared completely.

How could this person not like her? The jealousy was practically radiating off of her.

He Qingqi raised an eyebrow, suddenly grabbing Zhuo Zhiwei’s wrist. Her fingers, warm and slightly trembling, gently stroked the skin, and she leaned in close to her ear.

Though she was nervous and almost bit her tongue, she whispered softly, “When you see your girlfriend, why don’t you say hello?”