Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 443: IF Side Story – Bound by Fate: (Fang & Youxi) (

Huff…

i Fang held Lin Youxi in his arms for a long, long ti, not moving until she had fallen asleep against him.

Only when his legs had gone numb did i Fang carry Lin Youxi back to bed, suddenly rembering that Liu Xiaoyu was still waiting outside.

As he got up, he glanced at Lin Youxi’s now-dry tear tracks, then gently pried his hand free from her grasp. In the blink of an eye, he opened the door, dashed back to reclaim her hand, and grabbed his phone to ssage Liu Xiaoyu.

“Sorry for the trouble…”

After receiving i Fang’s reply, Liu Xiaoyu tiptoed into the small ho he shared with Lin Youxi.

A toppled trash can with scattered waste. Books strewn across the floor.

A life of chaos and upheaval.

This was the current state of the two creators behind White Plum Ti.

“Liu Xiaoyu, thank you so much for today.”

i Fang kept one hand clasped around Lin Youxi’s while bowing slightly in gratitude. “I can’t properly host you today, but another ti… another ti I’ll treat you to a proper al to thank you for all your help.”

As i Fang spoke, Liu Xiaoyu pulled up a small stool and sat down.

“i Fang, are you that eager to kick out?”

“No… that’s not what I ant.”

Guilt was written all over i Fang’s face. “Youxi fell asleep again—I don’t know when she’ll wake up, and I really can’t entertain you properly today.”

“I ca all this way to write the next installnt of my indie developer feature. You owe sothing to work with.”

Liu Xiaoyu glanced at Lin Youxi, whose hand i Fang still held tightly. “If you’re worried about waking her, you can just type your answers.”

“That’s not necessary… she’s probably deep asleep.”

Liu Xiaoyu pulled out a voice recorder and handed it to i Fang. “Then tell —what inspired you two to make this ga? How did you et? How do you divide the work…?”

“Is this still part of the ga interview?”

“Call it… personal curiosity. I have a feeling your story is more interesting than the ga itself.”

Liu Xiaoyu smiled. “Rember how I ntioned I write novels? Since I’m working on a romance slice-of-life piece, this feels like good material. Of course, if you’d rather not share, I won’t push.”

“It’s nothing I need to hide… and after all your help, I can at least give you the short version…”

i Fang pinched the bridge of his nose. “But fair warning—our story isn’t so heartwarming tale or sweet romance…”

“That’s fine! I can embellish it artistically! This is just for inspiration.”

So i Fang recounted his and Lin Youxi’s encounter with detached calmness.

Liu Xiaoyu had started out perched on her stool, taking diligent notes, but as she listened, she grew increasingly engrossed—so much so that she eventually settled cross-legged beside i Fang, scribbling furiously.

“So… you two still aren’t actually together?”

“If you want to call a simp, go ahead, haha…”

“I didn’t—I didn’t an it like that!”

Liu Xiaoyu waved her hands frantically before softening her tone. “I can tell she loves you too. She just… can’t pursue happiness with you right now because of her bipolar disorder.”

“Ah—right, about that…”

i Fang retrieved Lin Youxi’s newly purchased dication and handed it to Liu Xiaoyu. “Could you ask your friend to test this? Let know the cost—I’m keeping her on the original brand for now.”

“If this dication is fake, we can’t let it harm others…”

Liu Xiaoyu accepted the bottle, then noticed the sunset hues outside. “It’s getting late… I should head back…”

Her gaze drifted to Lin Youxi, still peacefully asleep behind i Fang, clinging to his hand even in deep slumber. She couldn’t help but smile.

“To Lin Youxi, you must be her salvation…”

“Sa.”

i Fang smiled faintly.

“Sa?”

“You say I’m her salvation, but she’s mine too.”

He traced circles on Lin Youxi’s palm, his eyes brimming with liquid tenderness:

“Before eting her, I was already dead.”

Liu Xiaoyu listened quietly as i Fang poured out his love for Lin Youxi.

While expressing admiration, she felt an inexplicable pang of sour bitterness in her chest.

Already… dead?

And so, except for bathroom breaks, i Fang remained tethered to Lin Youxi’s side, holding her hand lest she wake to his absence and retreat into herself again.

From day to dusk. From dusk to night.

Until finally, Lin Youxi stirred awake.

The first thing she saw was her entire world slumped over her.

Breathing slow and steady.

……

Lin Youxi bit her lip, trembling as she reached out to touch i Fang—only to find one hand still trapped in his iron grip.

She clenched her teeth, fighting to stay quiet.

In the end, all she could do was cover her mouth with her free hand, stifling her sobs as tears stread down unbidden.

Lin Youxi rembered everything.

She just couldn’t control it.

Couldn’t control her hysterical outbursts.

Couldn’t suppress her destructive urges.

She’d unleashed every ounce of her darkness onto i Fang.

Because she knew.

He would endure it.

He loved her.

The very mories that brought her joy when lucid beca weapons during her episodes.

The irony was so thick it choked her, flooding her heart with dread.

Lin Youxi’s trembling eventually roused i Fang, who jolted upright, wiping drool from his chin. Still clutching her hand, he saw her muffled weeping and felt his chest constrict.

“Hey… why are you still crying? You cried so much before sleeping.”

Lin Youxi ignored him, hiding her face as tears fell.

“Now… now you see, don’t you?”

“I only destroy things.”

“Ruin your happiness.”

“Ruin everything.”

“I’ll tornt you to death.”

“Then keep tornting until that day cos.”

i Fang released her hand, gently prying hers away to wipe her tears, smiling as he murmured:

“Don’t stop. Tornt to death.”

“You’re really… really such a freak!”

Lin Youxi smacked his chest half-heartedly, then struggled to sit up—but her weakened limbs betrayed her.

“It’s fine… rest more if you’re still weak.”

“What?! I need to pee! I’ve been holding it forever!”

Flushed, she pumled i Fang, who endured her weak blows before scooping her up.

“I’ll carry you to the bathroom.”

“I’m not a kid! What, you gonna help pee too?”

“Hmm… sure, great idea.”

“Sure your ass!”

So ti later…

With i Fang’s support, Lin Youxi slowly settled onto the sofa.

“Hungry after not eating all day? I’ll make sothing. I was going to cook noodles this morning… probably gross by now. Let’s just order takeout.”

“No. No takeout.”

Lin Youxi tugged his hand, whining. “Too expensive. I want your noodles.”

“Okay, okay. Wait here.”

“Mhm.”

As Lin Youxi watched i Fang bustle about, she checked her phone.

“Oh, did Liu Xiaoyu visit today?”

“Yeah, she did…”

“Does she know I’m a lunatic now?”

“So what if she does?”

“Nothing, nothing. Good that she knows.”

Cross-legged, Lin Youxi began ssaging Liu Xiaoyu, who replied instantly.

Thus, while i Fang cooked, Lin Youxi chatted extensively online.

“You lied to Liu Xiaoyu earlier, saying I was your girlfriend. Shaless.”

“Hmph, guess I am shaless.”

i Fang soon presented his lovingly crafted noodles—a heaping bowl topped with a fried egg, shredded pork, potato slices, greens, peanuts, and a spoonful of Lin Youxi’s favorite fernted bean paste. The golden sheen made mouths water.

But Lin Youxi didn’t dig in. Instead, she stared expectantly at i Fang.

“Fine, fine. I’ll feed you.”

As if deliberately making him serve her, Lin Youxi sat cross-legged on the sofa, accepting each bite i Fang offered.

“Hot. Hot.”

“Blowing on it, blowing~”

i Fang dutifully cooled each mouthful before delivering it. Lin Youxi ate obediently until halfway through, then snatched the chopsticks from him.

“Okay. My turn.”

“Your turn… for what?”

Without explaining, Lin Youxi lifted the bowl and began feeding i Fang, mimicking his earlier actions.

i Fang didn’t protest—he was starving after all—slurping up each bite before she could even blow on it.

“Full now?”

Lin Youxi wiped his mouth.

“You?”

i Fang wiped hers.

As she did, her fingers brushed the swollen bruise around his eye. He winced sharply. Overco with guilt, she threw herself into his arms.

After a brief embrace, Lin Youxi pulled back, gazing solemnly into his eyes.

“Ah-Fang.”

“Yeah?”

“Confess to again.”

“Now?”

“Mhm… now.”

“Youxi… I, I love you.”

“Ah-Fang, I love you too.”

Lin Youxi cradled his face tenderly.

“Let’s be together.”

“Huh?“

i Fang hadn’t expected Lin Youxi to accept his confession so abruptly. As he reeled, she suddenly kissed him.

Though his body ached everywhere, nothing healed i Fang’s wounds like Lin Youxi’s reciprocation.

Fingers interlaced, their kissing grew increasingly skilled.

Then Lin Youxi’s hand drifted to i Fang’s belt.

……

Realizing her intent, i Fang seized her wrist.

“Wh-what’s this all of a sudden?”

“Still too soon?”

Lin Youxi pouted, annoyed at being interrupted. “We’re both almost at the Great Wizard age [梗: 大魔法师, internet slang for virgins over 30]… Shouldn’t we graduate soon?”

As she spoke, i Fang studied her intently.

“Lin Youxi, I want you to accept my confession because you see a future with —marriage, a life together—not just out of gratitude or so sense of obligation…”

“How do you know it’s gratitude and not real feelings? That hurts!”

Lin Youxi turned away, sulking. i Fang hesitated, caught between options.

He touched her shoulder. She shook him off petulantly.

So i Fang pulled her onto his lap, explaining his thoughts.

Lin Youxi glanced back, a mischievous glint in her eye:

“So… you do want ?”

“But I’m really not in great shape today… after all your beatings.”

“As long as it has energy, right? Then just lie back… and don’t move.”

Lin Youxi dragged i Fang to bed and pushed him down.

“After getting together, what should I call you? Keep using ‘Ah-Fang’? Or ‘Darling’? ‘Husband’? Or…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Daddy? Since I don’t have one now, I could call you that!”

“Way too weird. Just ‘Ah-Fang’ is fine.”

“Okay, Ah-Fang…”

Lin Youxi crawled atop him, tracing circles on his chest.

“Ah-Fang, what’s the date today?”

“Date… the 21st, I think?”

“Mhm. Rember it well.”

She peered down at him like a little devil. “The 21st of this month is our anniversary. Forget even once, and we’re through.”

“No chance of that…”

i Fang pulled her close.

“I’ll rember it for life.”

After so much pain, this night beca one where both of them understood many things.

……

At i Fang’s urging, Lin Youxi resud her original dication regin. Liu Xiaoyu’s tests confird the substitute pills were re nutritional supplents with no therapeutic effects—explaining Lin Youxi’s recent episode.

Furious, i Fang sued the manufacturer into oblivion.

Lin Youxi apologized profusely for her penny-pinching mistake.

Of course, i Fang didn’t bla her.

She was his wife—why would he?

She’d just wanted to save money.

With proper dication, Lin Youxi’s ntal state stabilized almost imdiately.

Perhaps their new relationship also played a part.

That said, having already acted like a married couple for so long, their daily dynamic changed little post-confession—aside from significantly livelier nights.

Lately, Lin Youxi’s complexion had grown increasingly radiant.

“Ah-Fang… Ah-Fang…”

She pestered him constantly during work hours.

“Want to do it again today.”

“…Did you write even one line of code today? What about White Plum Ti?”

Lin Youxi grumbled, “Coding isn’t as fun as Ah-Fang.”

“I swear… sigh…”

Though exasperated, i Fang was secretly delighted by her energy.

“If you’re not working, I guess we can delay the schedule…”

“Oh! Right, Ah-Fang.”

She yanked his arm. “Last week’s episode ruined Liu Xiaoyu and Yue Xinyi’s visit. I was thinking this week—”

“This week we’ll host them properly. Sounds good.”

“Mhm! Ah-Fang’s the best! As reward…”

She pointed at him playfully. “I’ll let you skip mouthwash tonight!”

“Hell no we’re not skipping that!”

Lin Youxi scampered off to the kitchen, leaving i Fang flustered.

Since accepting his confession, this overwhelming happiness felt almost… unreal.

If anything, its very simplicity made it strangely unsettling—

Suddenly, Lin Youxi’s tears began falling again.

Drip. Drip.

No one knew why.

No one.

Author’s Note:

Alright, back to main story tomorrow. IF route’s tiring out.

Gotta visit the gaming expo for research, so update might be late.