Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 99

Tao Jinghan never thought livestreaming could be this exhausting. Her heart was racing wildly, worried that those two unreliable people behind her might say something inappropriate at any moment. She was busy trying to cover for them, while also being force-fed their excessive affection.

For a brief moment, she was almost moved to tears by her own dedication.

There was no team leader more dependable than her.

Finally, she managed to get through the livestream, and Tao Jinghan leaned back with a sense of relief. As she looked up, she saw He Qingqi putting on a gray coat, its sleek, understated style making her legs appear long and slender. Tao Jinghan blinked in surprise.

Were they heading out?

He Qingqi didn’t seem to notice Tao Jinghan’s gaze. She tilted her head slightly as she tied her hair into a ponytail, a hint of pride showing in her expression. But when her eyes met Zhuo Zhiwei’s, the look in her gaze softened like a gentle stream in spring, warm and tender. A smile tugged at her lips as she gently took Zhuo Zhiwei’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Zhuo Zhiwei didn’t say anything, just gave her a playful slap on the arm, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

So, they really were going out.

Tao Jinghan raised an eyebrow. Given the current state of their relationship and what she had overheard the other night, it was hard not to let her imagination run wild.

Curiously, she asked, “Are you two going somewhere?”

“Yes.” He Qingqi responded nonchalantly, not even glancing up as she casually grabbed the camel-colored coat Zhuo Zhiwei had just taken off from the coat rack, helping her put it on and smoothing her hair. Then, with a sweet, innocent smile, she looked back at Zhuo Zhiwei.

Tao Jinghan silently scoffed at her in her mind. This sly fox was putting on that innocent act again; who knew what she had planned for Zhiwei later.

“Will you be back tonight?” she asked casually.

He Qingqi shot her a half-amused, half-disdainful look, as if she were looking at an idiot.

Tao Jinghan: “…” She suddenly realized what a silly question she had just asked.

Zhuo Zhiwei bit her lip and clenched her fingers, seemingly aware that Tao Jinghan might have figured out what they were planning to do. Her usually elegant and dignified face took on a bashful expression as she turned her head away, her ears turning red.

He Qingqi, seeing Zhuo Zhiwei like this, felt her heart flutter with excitement. She couldn’t be bothered to deal with Tao Jinghan and focused all her attention on the person before her, swallowing hard.

It had been nearly two months since they last saw each other. Every night as she lay on the bed, which still carried traces of their passion, memories of those moments would rush back. She recalled the way Zhuo Zhiwei looked up at her with dazed eyes while gasping softly, or how she would gaze down at her from above, proud and regal like a queen.

Both memories were enough to make her heart race.

The cool moonlight contrasted with the heat in her chest, and she found herself pressing her legs together, imagining the sensation of Zhuo Zhiwei’s cool hands on her, as though the moonlight was gently touching her skin.

He Qingqi blinked rapidly, feeling a surge of restless heat spreading from her chest. Her breath grew slightly ragged, and unable to hold back any longer, she grabbed Zhuo Zhiwei and rushed out the door without even saying goodbye.

The door closed with a bang, reflecting her excitement and urgency. Tao Jinghan sat in the living room, staring at the entrance for a long while, her face turning bright red.

What was that look in He Qingqi’s eyes! Was she mocking her for never having been in a relationship?

Well… maybe not yet, but soon! She glanced at her phone, her finger hovering over a familiar contact.

Taking a deep breath, she sent a video call request.

…

For Yunshu Entertainment, it had been a prosperous year. Their boy bands and girl groups had become immensely popular nationwide, sparking a wave of idol fever. The variety show had been revived after thirty years, and the fourteen chosen participants were exceptionally talented. Besides the audacious He Qingqi, the rest were diligent and well-behaved, even being invited to perform at the Spring Festival Gala the night before New Year’s Eve.

On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, He Qingqi parted ways with Lin Fan, took Zhuo Zhiwei’s hand, and placed it inside her coat pocket as they strolled leisurely through Yuding Villa.

It was New Year’s, a time when everyone returned home, but for Zhuo Zhiwei, He Qingqi was the only family she had. Though the thought of introducing her to her family as her spouse was a little nerve-wracking, He Qingqi couldn’t bear the idea of leaving Zhuo Zhiwei alone in a large room on such a special day, staring at the streetlights and shadows while watching the lights of thousands of families.

She couldn’t imagine how many such lonely years Zhuo Zhiwei had endured without her knowing. The mere thought made He Qingqi’s heart ache.

So, after much coaxing, she finally persuaded Zhuo Zhiwei to come home with her for New Year’s and to officially introduce her to the family.

Winter days were short and darkened quickly. Before they knew it, the sunset had disappeared, and the sky shifted from bright to dusky within moments. Snowflakes began to drift down, cool against their cheeks.

As always, Zhuo Zhiwei’s hands felt slightly cold, but oddly enough, they were also sweaty, and she seemed to be trembling slightly.

“Are you cold?” He Qingqi frowned, squeezing her hand more tightly, rubbing her warm fingers against it, not wanting her to feel even the slightest discomfort.

The usually composed and graceful girl kept her head lowered, and a hint of anxiety appeared on her face as she suddenly stopped walking.

He Qingqi also halted, looking at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Zhuo Zhiwei’s lips quivered, and for a moment, she couldn’t speak.

He Qingqi’s expression became more worried. “Are you not feeling well?”

“No…” Zhuo Zhiwei shook her head, touching her earlobe. It took a long while before she looked up, her clear eyes filled with a trace of pleading.

Biting her lip, she said, “Maybe… maybe we should go another day?”

He Qingqi was stunned at first, but then a smile broke out on her face as she looked down. So, Zhiwei had been nervous this whole time?

She thought back to how, just when they’d reached the gate of the neighborhood, Zhuo Zhiwei had suddenly said she needed to get out of the car to breathe some fresh air. It was all just a stalling tactic…

Blushing with embarrassment, Zhuo Zhiwei kicked He Qingqi’s leg lightly, pouting. “What are you laughing at?”

Her gaze filled with a hint of grievance and a thin layer of moisture as she looked at He Qingqi, who still hadn’t stopped laughing. She was already this anxious, and yet He Qingqi wasn’t comforting her and even found it funny!

What was so funny?

He Qingqi’s heart melted at the sight, and without caring that they were out in public, she quickly pulled Zhuo Zhiwei into her arms, gently soothing her with kind words.

“I’m not laughing anymore, okay? It’s my fault. Don’t be mad, Zhiwei.” She tenderly kissed the top of Zhuo Zhiwei’s head, which smelled faintly of fresh snow, and the touch of her lips turned the cold into a gentle warmth.

Hearing her words, Zhuo Zhiwei only felt more aggrieved and tightened her hold around He Qingqi’s waist. It seemed so unfair—why didn’t she have a dependable family waiting to welcome He Qingqi? Then she too could face the situation with confidence.

But her parents were a forbidden topic, the biggest wound in her heart. It was like a hollow place where the wind always seemed to howl through. The only saving grace was that they had at least enough conscience to stay away for almost a year since her debut, as if she didn’t even exist.

There had been a time when she was relieved about that, but now, as she was about to meet the parents of her future spouse, she felt a dull ache in her chest. Around He Qingqi, she allowed herself to be willful and didn’t want to hide her feelings.

She relaxed her body, resting her head against He Qingqi’s shoulder, burying her face in her clothes, her eyes wide open as she fought back tears. “Qingqi… I wish I had a family too.”

Her tone was still calm and deliberate, but it carried the weight of her frustration and gloom. He Qingqi kept rubbing her shoulder, her heart aching painfully as she spoke in the gentlest voice, “You don’t have to wish for it… you already have a family, Zhiwei. My home is your home, and my family is your family.”

She wasn’t sure how the conversation had taken this turn or whether Zhuo Zhiwei’s distracted thoughts had been due to her parents all along. She felt heartbroken over the girl’s childhood experiences and regretted any past mistakes, with the emotions of two lifetimes intertwining, making her feel like her heart might burst.

She suddenly recalled that night when Zhuo Zhiwei had shed a single, crystal-clear tear. Her brows furrowed, and a fresh wave of sorrow gripped her.

She never wanted to see this person cry again.

Pressing her lips together, He Qingqi’s voice was low and tender, “If you’re really not ready, we don’t have to go. Sister Fan just left not long ago, so we can just spend New Year’s at Yijing Court, alright?”

Zhuo Zhiwei clutched tightly to He Qingqi’s clothes, hesitated for a long time, and then shook her head, saying reluctantly, “No, we’ve already decided… Leaving now would make a bad impression, wouldn’t it?”

“Besides, it’s New Year’s, and your family has been waiting for you to come home.”

“How could that be?” He Qingqi chuckled softly. “It’s not like they haven’t met you before.”

She glanced down at Zhuo Zhiwei’s expression with a smile on her lips. “Don’t you remember how much my grandmother likes you? Almost as much as her own granddaughter.”

Zhuo Zhiwei nuzzled her head in He Qingqi’s arms and shook her head again. “No.”

Her eyes softened, and He Qingqi squeezed her wrist gently, asking tentatively, “Really, no?”

“No.”

He Qingqi brushed the snow off Zhuo Zhiwei’s slender shoulders and adjusted her clothes, her gaze filled with tenderness. “Then shall we continue?”

Zhuo Zhiwei nodded, taking half a step behind He Qingqi, lowering her eyes obediently as she followed hand in hand.

The He family had already gathered in the living room. Ever since hearing that Zhuo Zhiwei would be joining them for New Year’s, they had been in a flurry of activity. Grandma He was particularly nervous, like a mother-in-law waiting to meet a new daughter-in-law, and had even given the chairman a lengthy pep talk.

The chairman tilted his head, only half-understanding.

As the clock ticked away, Grandma He, who was chubby and full of energy, paced back and forth in the living room, increasingly anxious, muttering under her breath, “Why aren’t they here yet? Did Qingqi do something to upset her?”

Then she abruptly panicked, clenching her left hand into a fist and placing it in her right palm, “Or did they get into an accident? Maybe they were photographed, or the driver got pulled over for drunk driving!”

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Grandpa He finally couldn’t take it and tapped his cane on the floor, coughing lightly while covering his face.

Grandma He didn’t seem to notice and kept muttering to herself.

Grandpa He raised his voice and coughed more emphatically.

Grandma He turned her head and glared at him. “Why are you coughing? You’re interrupting my thinking!”

Grandpa He, looking innocent, replied, “My throat’s uncomfortable.”

“Then hold it in!”

Grandpa He blinked, not daring to say another word.

He Qingzhou, sitting nearby, cast a strange look at his grandfather, thinking how foolish he was to challenge the family’s true head, Grandma He.

Not long after, the doorbell finally rang, and it felt like a heavy weight was lifted from everyone’s hearts. Grandma He’s face lit up with joy.

Aunt Zhang answered the door, her smile beaming. “Zhiwei and Qingqi are back.”

She said “back” instead of “here,” as if this really were their home. Zhuo Zhiwei felt a moment of daze as a warm, bittersweet feeling filled her heart. She squeezed He Qingqi’s hand.

Without changing her expression, He Qingqi smiled and said, “Yes, we’re finally home.”