Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 87

Tao Jinghan lightly pressed her lips together, her expression cold and emotionless, a far cry from her usual gentle and cheerful self.

She had always been a great leader and a kind older sister. Every member of Wonders had, in one way or another, received her care. None of them had ever seen her like this, and now they stood frozen in shock, looking around nervously, each wishing they could escape the tense atmosphere of the dressing room.

The tension in the room thickened, and Tao Jinghan’s breath grew heavier. Her icy gaze was fixed on Bian Suitong. Suddenly, the anger that had consumed her began to fade, and she realized something was wrong. She blinked slowly and took a deep breath.

“I’m going to get my makeup done,” she muttered quietly.

Bian Suitong nodded, unusually tense, then abruptly reacted, quickly grabbing Tao Jinghan by the wrist.

“Can I wait here for you?” she asked in a low voice, her tone carrying an inexplicable hint of pleading.

Tao Jinghan’s heart softened. She had never seen Bian Suitong act so humble. Her heart raced with unease, but she gave a barely perceptible nod. “Do as you please.”

Jin Zhiyang watched her silently, concern flickering in her eyes. She bit her lip in worry and glanced at Bian Suitong with confusion, full of unanswered questions.

She had been a fan of Tao Jinghan for years and knew how close she and Bian Suitong were—so close that it sparked jealousy. But since getting to know Tao Jinghan, she had always felt that something was off between the two of them.

Could it really be just an act, as many people said?

…

Wonders was performing a cool, energetic song, similar in style to Immigrant Song. The seven girls changed into their stage outfits, all in white shirts, black t-shirts, and ripped black pants.

As the stirring music played, they returned to the stage after a long absence. All seven girls felt a surge of excitement, their hearts beating in time with the drums. Even Tao Jinghan, whose emotions had been stirred by Bian Suitong, pushed her feelings aside and breathed heavily, filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement.

During their time on 偶時 (Occasion), the lowest grade among them had been a B, and none of them had gotten there without merit. After over a month of practice, their movements were perfectly in sync, with a touch of extraordinary flair. Their performance combined sexiness with a cool confidence, as they swayed their hips and stared down the audience with proud, defiant eyes.

In recent months, new groups had emerged one after another, all full of handsome men and beautiful women, though their songs often lacked substance.

He Qingqi glanced around and decided that their biggest rivals were D.D.O.G. and their senior group, Giant.

After the performance, Tao Jinghan barely said a word to Bian Suitong before getting into the van and returning to the hotel. Bian Suitong stood there, slightly stunned, her fingers tightening unconsciously, though no one knew what her clenched fists meant.

Tao Jinghan couldn’t help but think, somewhat mockingly, Is she upset about the change in their dynamic? But deep down, she also felt a strange sense of anticipation.

She didn’t want to think about it, nor did she want to admit it.

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each had new stage shows lined up. Tao Jinghan occasionally glanced toward the door, but the person she was hoping for never appeared. Her heart slowly sank into despair.

Why am I letting myself get carried away again? she thought with a frown.

After a week of promotions, Tao Jinghan was already exhausted, her mind occupied by other matters, amplifying her fatigue. Her complexion was pale, her eyes dark with circles, and she had lost weight in just one short week.

He Qingqi frowned with concern and whispered, “Maybe you should just have a frank talk with her. If she keeps acting like this, it’s better to cut ties altogether.”

“You’re wearing yourself out.”

Tao Jinghan only shook her head with a bitter smile.

How could it be that simple?

She thought this every time. Forget it. It was just a budding emotion, crushed before it even had a chance to grow. Their connection had always been sporadic, their emotional bond intermittent. How hard could it be to let go?

That’s what she told herself, but putting it into practice was maddeningly difficult. When she was busy, it was easier, but the moment she thought about it, a bone-deep sense of regret gnawed at her, leaving her whole body trembling with pain.

Feelings, like fog, are fleeting and elusive—never something that can be controlled.

Soon, it was time for He’s Investment’s stage show to announce the winner. The stage was packed. Their competitors were the same two groups as before.

The host droned on, and He Qingqi leaned toward Zhuo Zhiwei, whispering nervously, “Do you think we have a chance?”

Yesterday, she had checked the rankings, and it seemed like Giant had a stronger lead. Though she appeared confident and sure of victory, deep down she was nervous. After all, Giant was a boy group with a larger fan base and had debuted a year earlier than them.

“Mhm,” Zhuo Zhiwei nodded firmly.

Her eyes suddenly softened, a faint smile curving her lips. She joked in a low voice, “After all, isn’t little He always by our side?”

Her reassurance calmed He Qingqi, who smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She squeezed Zhuo Zhiwei’s hand, her voice carrying a teasing tone, “Are you planning to pull some strings?”

Before Zhuo Zhiwei could respond, the host’s voice rang out energetically, “Today’s winner is…”

The scores for all three groups flashed on the screen, changing rapidly. The two girls quickly looked up, their eyes glued to the screen in nervous anticipation.

Chai Xu stood behind He Qingqi, muttering under his breath. Though his voice was quiet, those around him could hear.

“Wonders, Wonders…” He clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering.

He Qingqi burst out laughing and glanced back at him, only to accidentally notice Qiu Xinyu standing next to him. His face seemed to darken slightly.

The host declared, “Wonders!”

“Congratulations to Wonders!”

The sound of a party cannon exploding filled the air. Zhuo Zhiwei jumped in surprise, her face paling. He Qingqi was startled too, her eyes widening like a frightened deer, but she quickly recovered and covered Zhuo Zhiwei’s ears.

As Zhuo Zhiwei’s nerves settled, she leaned into He Qingqi’s embrace, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Aaaah!” a fan screamed. “Qingwei is real!” The fan quickly covered her mouth and hid in the crowd, afraid that solo stans would find her.

The two of them blinked in surprise, then shyly lowered their heads and smiled. He Qingqi put her arm around Zhuo Zhiwei’s shoulders and whispered in her ear, her voice deep, “Qingwei is real.”

Zhuo Zhiwei’s ears twitched. She bit her lip, her cheeks turning a faint pink.

She giggled softly, nodding in He Qingqi’s arms. Her voice was as light as a feather as she nuzzled her forehead against He Qingqi’s, “Yes, it’s real.”

Nearby, Wang Qiyu and Cheng Yi hugged each other tightly, while Jin Zhiyang and Qiu Ming, who shared a dorm room, excitedly spun in circles, eager to embrace each other. Only Tao Jinghan quietly gazed into the distance, a faint smile on her lips, though her eyes were veiled in a thin mist.

First place…

Though the award wasn’t the most prestigious, it had once been her goal.

But now, there was no Bian Suitong struggling beside her. No one cried, and no one was the safe harbor for her heart.

Below, most of the fans were solo stans. She barely caught the whisper of, “Qingwei is real.”

She blinked, suddenly feeling like a stranger. Everyone around her was immersed in excitement, but she felt completely out of place. She took a few steps back in a daze, her face inexplicably wet. She raised her hand to wipe it away, realizing with some surprise that they were… her tears.

She laughed softly, her fingers gently rubbing the tears. In the brief moments that followed, her tears stained her fingers.

But she had done it.

She had wiped away her own tears.

…

This was, after all, the country’s first-ever formal music show win, and it was still a meaningful milestone.

After the show, Yunshu Entertainment arranged a celebration banquet. Wonders wasn’t the only group present; Giant was there too, along with several senior artists from Yunshu Entertainment.

As the stars of the night, Wonders couldn’t avoid drinking a few extra glasses.

Among the crowd of both familiar and unfamiliar faces, Tao Jinghan immediately spotted Bian Suitong in a backless dress, her spine straight.

Her delicate shoulder blades were exposed, her figure slender and pale. She tugged at Tao Jinghan’s heartstrings, making her breath catch inexplicably. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her throat and heart burned with a restless sensation. She swallowed hard and quickly looked away.

“Jinghan!”

Bian Suitong called out to her in Korean. Tao Jinghan froze, her eyes widening slightly, the familiar yet distant name pulling her through time, back to over three years ago.

Her eyes blinked with a hint of disappointment. If only I could really go back, she thought. I would have never let myself fall in love with her.

Loving someone was so exhausting.

Bian Suitong hurried toward her, a faint excitement on her face.

She opened her mouth to say something, but her nervousness made her cautious, terrified of making the same mistake and angering Tao Jinghan again.

I miss you so much.

I love you.

I broke up.

She had a thousand things she wanted to tell Tao Jinghan, but when she opened her mouth, all she managed was:

“Congratulations on winning first place.”

Tao Jinghan’s eyes flickered. In that moment, countless thoughts raced through her mind. The pain that had gnawed at her for days suddenly cleared her head.

Her gaze turned distant as she looked at Bian Suitong, her expression unreadable.

After a long silence, she put on a mask of a smile. “And congratulations to you. Though a bit late.”

“Congratulations on getting what you wanted.”

W.S. was now one of the hottest groups in Korea, so it wasn’t surprising that people were approaching Bian Suitong. Tao Jinghan noticed a man with a drink walking toward her and smiled faintly.

“Someone’s looking for you. Feel free to go. I’ll check on my teammates.”

Bian Suitong wanted to call her back, but someone caught her attention. She could only offer a polite smile while anxiously watching Tao Jinghan’s retreating figure.

“Jinghan-jie!” Qiu Ming called out anxiously from afar when she spotted Tao Jinghan.

“What’s wrong?” Tao Jinghan asked calmly. When her gaze landed on the figure in Qiu Ming’s arms, she immediately understood.

“I-I…” Qiu Ming stammered, her face flushed red. She squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out, “I need to go to the bathroom!”

Tao Jinghan burst out laughing. “Drank too much, huh? Go ahead. I’ll take care of her.”

Qiu Ming hurriedly thanked her and helped Jin Zhiyang into a chair. “I’ll be right back!”

Tao Jinghan nodded. “No rush.”

The girl she adored, Jin Zhiyang, was still in school and had a low alcohol tolerance. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes were unfocused. But when she looked at Tao Jinghan, her gaze sparkled brighter than the stars.

“Unnie!” she blurted out in Korean, followed by a stream of rapid Korean words, so fast it sounded like she was rapping.

Tao Jinghan had been back in the country for nearly a year, and after living away from that environment, her Korean had become rusty.

She tilted her head in confusion and thought for a moment. “What, what?”

Jin Zhiyang just smiled foolishly, looking unexpectedly cute under the warm, orange light.

Maybe having such a little fan isn’t so bad, Tao Jinghan thought as she sat beside her, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze soft as she listened to her talk.

She understood some of it, but other parts left her completely baffled.

But after piecing it together, she figured Jin Zhiyang was going on about how much she admired her, how excited she was to be in the same group as her, how great China was, and how much she liked her roommate, Qiu Ming.

“Unnie, can I hug you?” Jin Zhiyang stretched out her arms, her hands trembling as she did so.

“I’ve wanted to hug you for a long time,” she said, pouting. “Every time I saw you hug Teacher Bian, I wished I could jump through time.” She giggled.

“Of course,” Tao Jinghan replied, and hugged her without hesitation.

To Jin Zhiyang, and to all the fans who had supported her over the years, she sincerely said, “Thank you for liking me.”