After I Moved Seven Times, the Seven Yandere Childhood Sweethearts Still Found Me Every Single Time - Chapter 9:

Chapter 9: Familiar Formula, Twin Dogs Strike

“You…” Luo Chenxuan hadn’t reacted yet, while Jiang Ru was still licking her lips on the side, looking unsatisfied. 

“Thanks for the treat~” she said with a seductive smile before turning and walking away, leaving Luo Chenxuan standing frozen in place.

After a while, he slowly got up and walked out of the fitting room, realizing Jiang Ru had already left. 

Luo Chenxuan gently touched his lips, unsure of how he was feeling right now.

He wandered out of the clothing store and blended into the crowd leaving the mall. His mind was blank. If he tried to think about it—was I just kissed? Why did she kiss me? Does she like me? But we’ve only known each other for a few days—none of these questions were things he could answer on his own.

Rather than overthinking and stressing himself out, Luo Chenxuan chose to avoid it. He’d wait until the next time he saw Jiang Ru and ask her directly.

As evening approached, Luo Chenxuan returned home. Sitting on a chair, his thoughts drifted far away.

He thought to himself that since the other side could break into his home, it might be safer to hide outside. Maybe then they wouldn’t find him. So he opened the door and headed out, planning to clear his mind with a walk by the river. The peaceful night air, dotted stars overhead, and the gentle breeze gradually helped him calm down.

He found a perfect spot with a view and sat on the steps, looking at the bright lights across the river. The river seemed to cut Long City in half—on one side, people reveled late into the night; on the other, all was calm and peaceful.

Looking at the twinkling lights of the mall across the river, he remembered the kiss from earlier. That complex feeling surged again.

“Why do I keep running into you…” came a voice. Luo Chenxuan turned his head and saw Yue Xi, dressed in a simple tracksuit. She took off her headphones, lowered her hood, and looked at Luo Chenxuan’s gloomy face.

“What are you doing here?” Luo Chenxuan asked softly.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? This is my usual night jog route. It’s pretty far from your place, isn’t it?”

“Oh… I didn’t realize I walked that far…”

Yue Xi frowned slightly, then asked worriedly, “You usually look out of it, but right now you look like you’ve lost your brain entirely. Oh, that’s not an insult—I mean it literally.”

“Yue Xi, do you know what it feels like to be in love?”

Yue Xi seemed startled by the question, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I… I’ve never been in love. How would I know?”

“I see…”

“Wait, are you… in love?”

Luo Chenxuan let out a bitter smile. “I wish I could have a normal relationship, but I always get dragged into trouble.”

Yue Xi wanted to comfort him, but having never consoled anyone before, she seemed awkward and unsure.

“I… I’ve dreamed of falling in love too sometimes, but for me, it’s something I’m not allowed to have.”

“Not allowed? But if you really love someone, isn’t that something you can’t control?”

“Is that really true?”

Luo Chenxuan gave a slight nod.

Looking at him like this, Yue Xi felt uneasy. Though they hadn’t interacted much, she couldn’t shake the strange sense of familiarity about him—like she had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t remember when.

“You…” Yue Xi just opened her mouth when someone interrupted.

“What a great spot. Quiet, not many people. Perfect for making a move.” A man in black with a dog-shaped iron mask—Lie Quan—emerged slowly from behind a tree.

Yue Xi quickly stepped in front of Luo Chenxuan. “Didn’t learn your lesson last time? You still dare to show up.”

Luo Chenxuan also recognized him and stood up. “I’ve never been to your city. I’ve never done anything wrong. Why are you after me?”

“I’m just following the master’s orders. Come with me quietly, and I’ll spare you some pain.”

“You leave quietly, and I’ll spare you some pain,” Yue Xi interrupted coldly.

Lie Quan let out a laugh. “You think I’m dumb enough to come alone?”

Another figure stepped out behind them—also clad in black with an iron mask shaped like a hyena—Lie Gou.

After finishing his call with Shimian Xiong, Lie Quan had been ordered to move overnight. Lie Gou rushed to Long City, and the two had only just reunited before tracking down their target.

Yue Xi furrowed her brows and whispered to Luo Chenxuan, “I’ll stall them. You run.”

“I’ll go call the police.”

“Their target is you. They won’t hurt me! When I make my move, you take the chance and run!”

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this… I didn’t mean to cause you trouble.”

“Hey! Are you two pretending we don’t exist? What is this, a soap opera? Should we light a cigarette and give you time to wrap up your scene?”

“Call the cops? Ask for help? If we let you go, what happens to our reputation?” Lie Quan, clearly annoyed, put on a pair of black leather gloves.

The two blocked both the front and back completely, cutting off all escape routes.

“Girl, walk away now. This has nothing to do with you. Leave, and you won’t get hurt.”

Luo Chenxuan gently patted Yue Xi. “Yue Xi, go. Don’t worry about me. Otherwise, you’ll be dragged down too. I’ll go with them…”

“What do you take me for? You think I’d just let you get taken away?”

“You two done talking yet?” Lie Quan was visibly irritated now.

Yue Xi took a combat stance. “We’re done.”

With that, Lie Quan lunged forward. Yue Xi sidestepped and kicked. Lie Quan blocked with his right arm.

Lie Gou charged from behind. Yue Xi grabbed Luo Chenxuan by the arm and flung him aside to safety.

She sprang up and smashed down on Lie Gou’s lower body. He grunted in pain and swung his elbow. Yue Xi ducked to dodge. Lie Quan raised his foot for a powerful stomp. Realizing it was a trap, Yue Xi prepared to take the hit—but Luo Chenxuan tackled Lie Quan, knocking him off balance. Yue Xi sprang up and drove her knee into Lie Quan’s chin.

Lie Gou threw a punch. Yue Xi ducked, swept his legs, and flipped him over with a grappling throw.

Lie Quan saw Yue Xi still unsteady and punched again. Luo Chenxuan shielded her from behind and took the full hit in his abdomen.

Yue Xi backflipped to the front and kicked Lie Quan square in the head, then quickly turned and caught Luo Chenxuan.

“Are you okay?!” Yue Xi asked urgently.

“Cough… maybe not.”

“Why did you…”

“Because this has nothing to do with you… I couldn’t let you get hurt…”

“But I’m strong!”

Luo Chenxuan waved his hand. “You’re a girl. How could I let a girl get hurt in front of me…”

Yue Xi’s heart stirred. It was the first time someone had said something like that to her.

“Tsk… what a pain…” Lie Quan slowly got up.

“Phase Three of the Rebirth Project. Born in the Maternity Ward—Yue Xi,” Lie Gou finally spoke.

“Rebirth Project? What’s that?” Luo Chenxuan looked at Yue Xi.

Her expression shifted slightly, and in a chilling tone, she asked, “You… investigated me?”

“You kept interfering, so we had no choice.”

Luo Chenxuan still looked completely lost, frowning in confusion. “Rebirth Project? Maternity Ward? Newborns? What does that even mean? Did they investigate which hospital you were born in?”

Yue Xi said softly, “I’m sorry… I can’t talk about this…”

Before she could finish, Lie Quan spoke up first.

“The Rebirth Project. In name, it gives ordinary people a new life. As the name implies, it creates humans with abilities beyond the norm. Every phase selects a hundred ordinary children and locks them in a lab called the Maternity Ward. There, they face all kinds of trials—competing, fighting each other. In the end, only one newborn can walk out of the Maternity Ward per phase. The one beside you… is one of them.”