After Rebirth, the Cold and Aloof Film Queen Always Wants to Cuddle with Me - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Rain poured down in torrents. Raindrops, the size of beans, exploded like blossoms when they hit the ground. A black business car splashed through the puddles, speeding down the road.
Unlike the dark night outside, the car interior was warm and brightly lit, highlighting the snowy whiteness of the woman’s skin in the backseat.
“Sis Lin, what a coincidence—it just had to rain today of all days, right during the Sanhua Awards ceremony. And this was finally your chance to win an award,” the assistant in the passenger seat couldn’t help but grumble.
The woman in the backseat didn’t respond. Resting her delicate chin on one hand, she gazed silently out the window. Her dark eyes revealed nothing of her thoughts.
Indeed, the weather was dreadful today. But she was very likely to win a Sanhua Award. Her long-held dream was on the verge of coming true—so why didn’t she feel as happy as she’d imagined?
A beautiful, proud, and vibrant face flashed through her mind. Lin Ruijiao’s brows furrowed slightly. She turned away from the window in frustration.
The reflection on the glass showed a heavily made-up, glamorous face, gone in an instant. Her diamond-studded designer earrings swayed slightly with the car’s motion, dazzling in the light, perfectly complementing the tiny gems on her milky white gown, making her appear even more pure and beautiful.
Yet that beauty was now veiled by the torrential rain—dull and overcast.
The rain grew heavier. The night was draped in curtains of water, each bead of rain like a jade droplet whipped by the wind, clashing and colliding with eerie, ghost-like howls. The sound even drowned out the erratic screeching of the car engine.
Suddenly, a large truck swerved into the mostly empty road ahead.
“The brakes failed!”
A terrified shout rang out. In less than a minute, the car jolted violently like a dying bird flapping its wings, screeched sharply, and crashed into the guardrail. Several shrill, desperate screams were swallowed by the raging wind and rain.
Bright red bl00d streaked across the woman’s pale cheek, mixing with the crimson pooling from her lips. She struggled to open the car door, her body swaying and consciousness fading. Her hand, barely lifted, dropped heavily like it had been drained of all strength. Bl00d spread outward, soaking into her glossy black hair, staining her fair hands…
“Where… am I?”
White. Everything around her was a blinding white. Lin Ruijiao looked down at her outstretched hands—numb, without sensation.
…
Meanwhile, at the Sanhua Awards Ceremony, everything was running smoothly. Ye Ruihuan stood backstage, brows furrowed as she watched staff hustle past. The steady downpour outside grated on her nerves.
She had agreed to host the Sanhua Awards solely because of that stubborn little bird. Yet now, with the event about to start, the girl still hadn’t arrived.
Reluctantly, Ye Ruihuan accepted the microphone. She had always disliked these kinds of events.
“Ye-jie, bad news! Lin-jie’s been in a car accident!” her assistant rushed over and whispered urgently, eyes filled with worry.
“What? Say that again!”
Ye Ruihuan’s face changed instantly. She tossed the mic aside, lifted her dress, and bolted toward the exit.
“Ye-jie—” The assistant chased after her, leaving the surrounding staff stunned in panic.
“Ye-jie, we still have work at the awards—” the assistant said while holding an umbrella over her.
“Shut up. Where is Lin Ruijiao? Which hospital?”
Ye Ruihuan jumped into the car, her hands trembling on the steering wheel.
“A-City Central Hospital.”
The assistant looked at her nervously, unsure what she might do next.
“How is she?” Ye Ruihuan’s voice had turned hoarse without her realizing it.
“…Lin-jie… I heard her condition isn’t good…”
Just as the words fell, a scream rang out from the assistant—the car slammed to a stop with a screech, narrowly missing the vehicle in front.
“Ye-jie… please be careful.”
The assistant gripped the handle tightly, staring forward with concern. Ye Ruihuan was driving faster and faster.
She glanced at Ye Ruihuan again, lips parting to speak, but ultimately said nothing. Ye Ruihuan’s face was grim, brows locked tight, eyes red with fury and grief—she looked terrifying. The last time she’d looked like this was when she and Lin Ruijiao broke up…
This was supposed to be a big night for Ye Ruihuan. Hosting the Sanhua Awards was a rare opportunity, one her agency fought hard to secure. She had planned everything—giving Lin Ruijiao the award on stage, offering a public apology, even confessing… hoping they could reconcile.
She never expected things to turn out like this.
The assistant let out a long sigh in her heart.
…
At the hospital, Ye Ruihuan sat on a bench in the hallway, head bowed, hands trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face like the relentless rain outside, falling in unbroken lines.
In the car, she had imagined countless possibilities—Ruijiao sitting stiffly in bed, ignoring her; glaring and demanding she leave; or perhaps lying peacefully, pale, letting Ye Ruihuan tease her… But never—not once—had she imagined this.
That she would be… gone. Without a sound.
Her chest felt like it was being crushed. She couldn’t breathe. Her fingers were numb and shaking. She couldn’t even feel her body anymore.
The stage had been set. The apology letter written. She had rehearsed her lines, her reactions, every possible response.
But how could the lead not show up?
Tears continued to fall down Ye Ruihuan’s cheeks, her clenched hands drained of all color.
“Ye-jie, Ye Zhi-jie is here,” the assistant said hesitantly.
They’d only taken their eyes off her for a moment, and everything had spiraled out of control. Ye Zhi was beyond frustrated. She’d worked so hard to secure the Sanhua stage, and now Ye Ruihuan had just run off, leaving a mess behind.
And Lin Ruijiao too… sigh…
Ye Zhi rushed over in the storm, even canceling an important dinner. She had cursed Ye Ruihuan the whole way. But seeing her sitting there crying like a pitiful child, Ye Zhi’s anger vanished.
“Sigh… what was the point of it all?” she muttered.
She sat beside her in silence.
“Jie… she’s gone…”
Ye Ruihuan choked out the words, clinging tightly to Ye Zhi like a drowning person clutching a life raft.
Her face was stained with tears, makeup ruined. Her words were barely intelligible, like a wounded, filthy little dog—so pitiful.
Ye Zhi took her hand and sighed.
“It’s okay. I’m here. Go see her.”
At this point, there was nothing left to say. People only cherish things once they’re gone. Now it was too late.
“Jie, I don’t want to…” Ye Ruihuan sobbed, burrowing into her arms.
That word—”Jie”—hit Ye Zhi hard. Usually, Ye Ruihuan never called her that so gently.
“Go,” she said, stroking her damp hair to soothe her.
Ye Ruihuan wept for what felt like an eternity. When she finally pulled away, her eyes were red and swollen, tears still spilling down her cheeks in endless streams.
Ye Zhi turned away, unable to bear it, and handed her a tissue.
The door to the hospital room clicked shut.
Then came Ye Ruihuan’s anguished cries from inside.
“Ye Zhi-jie?” the assistant looked at her anxiously.
“It’s fine. She’s just slow with emotions. Doesn’t know her own heart. She’ll come around… eventually,” Ye Zhi said, peering through the window.
Inside, Ye Ruihuan knelt on the floor, clutching the bedside and wailing. Ye Zhi pulled out a cigarette—then shoved it back into her pocket.
“Sigh…”
Inside the room, Ye Ruihuan gently touched Lin Ruijiao’s pale cheek. The icy cold sent searing pain straight to her heart.
“Jiaojiao… my little bird…”
No matter how many times she called, the woman on the bed did not respond. Ye Ruihuan collapsed to the floor.
“Birdie, please wake up. I’m sorry. I should’ve explained everything… Birdie, I love you…”
She clutched Lin Ruijiao’s frostbitten hand and murmured tearfully, lowering her head to kiss it. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Outside, the storm continued to rage. Thunder, lightning, howling winds—all crying out with her in grief and heartbreak.
Ye Zhi never expected it, but…
That “she’ll come around eventually” Ye Ruihuan—She never did.
…
A misty white fog enveloped Lin Ruijiao, no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape this foggy world.
“I must be dead…”
She stopped walking and raised her arm to inspect it. Maybe because of the mist, her body appeared semi-transparent.
“Yes,” a sudden voice startled her.
“Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?”
The crisp, childlike voice asked again.
Lin Ruijiao hesitated for a moment.
“No.”
“…Does she not count?”