Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 442: IF Side Story – Bound by Fate: (Fang & Youxi) (

i Fang woke up early this morning to a brutal beating from the love of his life.

Lin Youxi first punched him square in the eye, stars exploding in his vision, then yanked his hair—pumling, biting, scratching. Obvious blood streaks and teeth marks now adorned his face and neck.

But Lin Youxi hadn’t escaped unscathed either. Her “take 1,000 casualties to inflict 800 losses” attack style had broken her nails, and her knuckles were split open from zipper scratches, blood oozing relentlessly. i Fang tried to tend to her, but Lin Youxi refused to end this tornt.

Finally, i Fang resorted to embracing her to restrain her. Lin Youxi headbutted his face so hard his nose gushed blood, yet even that couldn’t halt her frenzy.

Despite the agony, i Fang kept murmuring tender words of love:

“Youxi… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… This is my fault… I wasn’t there when you had that nightmare, sorry… Sorry… Youxi…”

Tears eventually overflowed Lin Youxi’s eyes mid-struggle. Sobbing, she kept hitting him until exhaustion finally slackened her grip, her broken nails loosening from where they’d dug into i Fang’s flesh. A pained whimper escaped her.

“There, there… No more crying… I’m here now, aren’t I…?”

Relieved she’d stopped attacking, i Fang stuffed tissues up his bleeding nose, then scrambled for the first-aid kit. Kneeling, he carefully cradled Lin Youxi’s hand—trimming shattered nails, bandaging her wounds.

Lin Youxi remained silent throughout, only sniffling. When i Fang noticed snot threatening to drip, he hurriedly wiped it for her.

This whole scene felt like babysitting a kindergarten toddler.

Lin Youxi’s gaze stayed clouded and vacant, her disheveled hair amplifying her wretchedness.

Guess we can’t host guests today.

As noon approached, i Fang grabbed his phone to text Liu Xiaoyu:

[Hey, Youxi’s sick today, so we probably can’t—]

Before he could finish, Liu Xiaoyu’s call popped up. He answered reluctantly.

“Hello… i Fang?”

“Yeah.”

“Xinyi canceled, but I’m already en route. Just confirming—you’re at Xiangyang Complex, right? Youxi isn’t picking up, so I called you.”

“Oh—you’re already coming?” Panic tinged his voice. “Sorry, thing is, Youxi’s sick today, so we might have to—”

Mid-sentence, Lin Youxi unleashed another ear-splitting shriek from the bed. She slapped his phone away and began shoving him outward.

“Out! Get out! This is my ho! If you don’t want anymore, then leave!“

“What’re you saying? I’d never—I’ve always—”

Though physically stronger, i Fang refused to hurt her, letting her push him back step by step—out of their love nest, through the living room, past the entryway, until one of his slippers got caught. With a final slam, the door sealed him out barefoot.

……

What the hell.

Never seen her this furious…

Scratching his head, i Fang winced upon touching a swollen lump. He’d been so focused on Lin Youxi’s injuries, he’d ignored his own battered state.

Now phoneless and half-shoeless, he was truly stranded.

Just then, the neighboring door creaked open. An elderly grandmother erged, eyeing i Fang as he pretended to knock gently.

……

“Lover’s quarrel?” she asked kindly.

“Y-yeah.” i Fang nodded awkwardly.

“Girls are sensitive. Be patient with her.”

“I know. Um—”

As i Fang considered asking to climb through her window, the grandma shuffled off to the elevator.

Sigh…

Forget it.

This is the third floor. If I fall and die, who’ll care for Youxi?

Abandoning that reckless plan, he slumped against the door, wincing at sporadic pains.

Was it yesterday’s ds? She’s never this volatile after taking them…

I should’ve been more careful. Need to check that bottle.

Ti crawled as i Fang sat there, agony flaring with every shift. He resisted knocking—if earlier efforts got him exiled, further pestering might backfire.

But the longer he waited, the more anxiety gnawed at him.

Is it really okay to leave her alone?

What if she… No. If that happens, my life’s over too!

He began hamring the door:

First, pitiful groveling:

“Youxi, I know you’re mad, I know I ssed up…”

Then emotional blackmail:

“But don’t do anything drastic! The world’s beautiful—I still want to live! If you die, I’ll follow!”

Finally, deploying Xia Yuan as a last resort:

“Rember your promise with YuanYuan? White Plum Ti isn’t finished yet…”

Silence.

Desperate, i Fang started bellowing like a madman:

“So you don’t love anymore, Lin Youxi! You swore you’d only ever love ! You heartless witch!“

His voice grew hoarse from repetition, but no response ca.

……

Exhausted, i Fang collapsed against the door, fists clenched so tight his nails bit into his palms.

Lin Youxi…

How…

How can you be this cruel to ?

Tears welled as yesterday’s tenderness felt like a mirage—happiness now as epheral as sumr bubbles. Lost between despair and hope, he questioned:

What more must I do to keep her heart?

A sudden, familiar stabbing pain erupted in his chest. Drenched in sweat, he clutched at it until the agony ebbed, then passed out against the door.

……

An unfamiliar-yet-familiar voice roused him later:

“i Fang… i Fang…”

“Wake up. Don’t sleep here.”

Blinking awake, he found Liu Xiaoyu peering down with concern.

He jolted upright, then imdiately turned away to hide his disheveled state.

“Y-you ca?” he stamred. “I texted you—Youxi’s sick, we’d reschedule—”

“I only heard screaming before the call cut off. I got worried…”

“Oh…”

“So… you fought?”

Liu Xiaoyu treaded carefully, eyeing his bruises.

“Kinda…?”

“Roommate squabbles happen, but violence? Look at you…”

She pulled out band-aids, reaching to apply them.

“N-no need! These are old—”

“Reinfection risks are real. There’s a community clinic downstairs—let’s go.”

“No, I’m staying.”

He pressed against the door stubbornly.

“I can’t risk her fleeing.”

“You’re… still fighting?”

“I’m not. She just—”

Catching himself before maligning Lin Youxi, he pivoted: “This wasn’t her! It was… uh… a cat.”

“……”

Recognizing how absurd that sounded, he chuckled awkwardly. “Never mind. It’s complicated… Just know Youxi’s a good person.”

……

Is this…

Stockholm syndro?

Liu Xiaoyu’s first thought alard her. Yet Lin Youxi had always seed cheerful and kind during their chats.

She dialed Lin Youxi’s number again.

Ring… Ring…

No answer.

i Fang stopped her redial attempt. “She won’t respond yet. Let it go.”

“Then at least co to the clinic—”

“Could you buy dicine instead? I’m shoeless, and I can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

“I told you—she might run.”

He smiled through the pain. “She’ll regret today. If she bolts, I’ll never find her.”

“……”

Though baffled, Liu Xiaoyu obliged. She returned not just with ointnts, but also takeout, drinks, and new slippers.

“Here.”

“Th-thanks! You’re too kind.” i Fang fumbled for his phone. “I’ll repay you—”

“Later. Tend your wounds first.”

“Right… I’ll do it!”

He refused her help, but his clumsy attempts made Liu Xiaoyu insist:

“Let . You’re missing half the cuts.”

“Fine… Thanks.”

As she knelt to apply ointnt, Liu Xiaoyu ventured carefully:

“i Fang… This might be intrusive, but I minored in psychology. From what I see… does Youxi have… instability issues?”

“How could she do this to you…?”

“Ah, well…”

Knowing lies would only deepen misconceptions, he confessed: “Youxi has Bipolar I Disorder.”

Liu Xiaoyu paused. “Type I or II?”

“Type I. Severe.”

“That… explains things.”

“But she’s usually fine! Today was… abnormal.”

“dicated?”

“Yes, but she switched brands recently. Took it last night, then this happened. I suspect the pills…”

“I have pharmacy contacts. Could test them for you…”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Overwheld, i Fang grabbed her hands—a gesture so unprecedented that Liu Xiaoyu flinched back.

“Sorry! Got carried away…”

“Eat first.”

Ravenous, i Fang wolfed down the food. Watching him, Liu Xiaoyu suddenly giggled.

“What?”

“In high school, you’d sprint to buy beef noodles between classes. With minutes left, you’d slurp yours down before I’d taken two bites.”

“Those noodles had lines! Worth it, though.”

“Nostalgic, huh…”

Liu Xiaoyu smiled wistfully, then added, “Youxi told you’re her best friend.”

“Pfft—don’t listen to her.”

i Fang waved it off. “We’re not friends.”

“Not friends? Then you’re—”

A ding interrupted them—the grandmother returning. Spotting Liu Xiaoyu, she frowned.

“Young man, two-timing now…?”

“No, Grandma, let explai—”

A deafening CRASH from inside cut him off. i Fang lunged for the door, pounding frantically:

“Youxi! Open up! Are you okay?! Please—just let see you! I’m begging you!”

Silence.

Now truly terrified, i Fang rushed to the grandmother.

“Grandma, please—let use your balcony! My girlfriend won’t answer—I need to climb in!”

Girlfriend—

Liu Xiaoyu’s eyes widened slightly behind him.

The grandmother hesitated. “Our anti-theft grilles lock from inside. Too dangerous…”

“It’s fine! Our balconies face each other—she’ll see ! Please!“

“…Can’t let tragedy happen. Co.”

Without another word to Liu Xiaoyu, i Fang followed her inside. He squeezed through the rusty grille (eliciting alarming creaks), then inched along a rickety ladder Liu Xiaoyu steadied from below.

At Lin Youxi’s balcony, he gripped the grille and roared:

“Lin Youxi!“

“Stop hiding!“

“Co out!“

“So what if you had an episode?!”

“I’m not ashad!“

“Look at —I’m on your damn balcony!“

“Lin Youxi! Hurry—open this window! Unless you want a widow!“

His spectacle drew gawking neighbors. Liu Xiaoyu, still anchoring the ladder, watched in awe.

That timid, chuunibyou boy from mory…

…has grown into this man.

At last, the balcony curtains parted.

There stood Lin Youxi—eyes swollen, face streaked with tears, all poise shattered.

She fumbled open the grille’s latch, pulling i Fang inside. His first act? Crushing her in an embrace until their knees buckled.

“Youxi…”

“Shh… Just let hold you.”

Lin Youxi’s voice was raw from crying. No one knew how long she’d suffered alone in that darkness.

But no matter how deep her isolation—

In this world of billions,

There will always be one

Willing to

Enter her heart,

Unlock its doors,

And hold her tight,

Lighting up her world.