Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 58 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 58.2 Xiao Miao enviously said to Shen Tiantian, "Your brother is so kind."
Shen Tiantian sat down at the table. After a moment of silence, she mustered up the courage to whisper, "Will you come to my birthday party on Tuesday?"
Her birthday party must have invited people from the same circle, Lin Jingzhe didn’t want to socialize with them. So he just smiled as he clipped a dish for Shen Tiantian and said softly, "I’m busy that day, so I can't go. You and your friends have fun, remember to stay safe."
Shen Tiantian felt a little disappointed. Lin Runsheng was aware of his son's apprehension, he felt extremely guilty as he interrupted solemnly, "Why are you always so busy? So busy that you don't even have time to take a bite of cake?!"
So what if people found out? Those rumors and gossip never stopped since he married Shen Juanying. Although he was a useless man, he could still protect his son!
Lin Jingzhe ignored his provocation. Luckily there was Shen Juanying, who was knowledgeable and tactful, so the ending tone of their meal remained harmonious. As the sky was getting dark, Lin Jingzhe declined Shen's invitation to stay overnight again. Lin Jingzhe insisted on putting on his coat and went out.
After the door closed, Shen Juanying sighed. She patted her husband on the shoulder and comforted, "Don't overthink. He’s doing it for the better good."
Lin Runsheng's eyes quickly turned red. "He is only twenty years old, why can't he live a little more unscrupulously like other children?"
Shen Juanying rubbed her husband's face distressedly, but she didn't know how to continue to console him.
Because even she would sigh in her heart from time to time. Lin Jingzhe's restrained emotions and life did not match his age at all.
Outside the house, Lin Jingzhe had started his car when a figure suddenly appeared in front of his rearview mirror. Shen Tiantian had run out after him.
Shen Tiantian was wearing that pink cashmere coat. Her timid and youthful features that Lin Jingzhe was still unused to, spoke in a voice that was both gentle and weak, almost overwhelmed by the sound of his car engine, "Are you really not coming to my birthday party?"
Lin Jingzhe stared at her for a while. Seeing the anxiety and expectation in the girl's eyes, he sighed, and turned off the engine.
"Tiantian." He opened the car door and got out. Lin Jingzhe was a whole head taller when he stood still in front of Shen Tiantian. He lowered his eyes and raised his hand to touch Shen Tiantian's long, soft hair, "Believe me, it’s for your own good if I didn’t attend."
Shen Tiantian frowned slightly, showing a puzzled look.
Lin Jingzhe stretched out a finger, tapped it between her eyebrows, and smoothed out her small wrinkles. "During this time, although we’ve never made a public announcement, you should have heard some things from your elders that caused you to be unhappy?"
Shen Tiantian froze for a moment and her expression became a little unnatural. Some time ago, she was bombarded by all kinds of ‘kind reminders’, reminding him that she must be wary of the child who suddenly appeared at her stepfather's house. That this child was a malicious existence that would take away everything she had.
Lin Jingzhe knew that she had understood. The children from the Shen Family were always more aware of worldly wisdom compared to others.
"I'm leaving." Therefore, without further explanation, he returned to the car, started the engine, and said goodbye to Shen Tiantian.
Shen Tiantian just stood there and watched him leave blankly. The black car drove an arc in the yard, then passed the gate, and drove away to the end of the road alone.
She suddenly took a few steps forward, her heart full of anger and sorrow.
They only get together for one meal a week. He never stayed overnight, never participated in public gatherings, and even stayed outside alone during the New Year.
Lin Jingzhe did all this just because of those outsiders’ chattering mouths?
Why bother with those people!?
*******
Xiao Chi came home at night, and when he was washing up, he saw a big paper bag beside the bed.
A familiar brand name was printed on the paper bag; there should be clothes inside. With a light tan-color ribbon tied on the outside, it looked like a gift. Xiao Chi’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at Lin Jingzhe who came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, and a soft joy arose in his heart.
The temperature had dropped recently, and he felt a little color in the leather jacket that Lin Jingzhe gave him. He had been debating on buying some winter clothes for Lin Jingzhe and himself.
He stepped forward to hug Lin Jingzhe and kissed his wet cheek.
Lin Jingzhe stared at him confused, but did not avoid his touch. He obediently allowed the latter to embrace him. "Are you alright?"
Xiao Chi hugged him tenderly, the remaining moisture on Lin Jingzhe’s skin was as charming as a dewy poppy. His nose lingered on it for a long time, unwilling to part. Sucking on Lin Jingzhe's delicate collar bone, Xiao Chi licked away the water droplets that he hadn't had time to wipe off with the tip of his tongue. Feeling hot from his body to his heart, Xiao Chi asked, "Can you come to my family’s house on the 5th of next month? It’s my younger sister’s birthday. My family had already agreed."
Lin Jingzhe's heart beat violently, he was a little flustered, "Are we really going?"
"Of course." Xiao Chi was a little puzzled by his hesitation, "Didn't you promise before?"
He caught the slightly nervous look in Lin Jingzhe's eyes, so he comforted, "My family is easy to get along with. It's okay, it's just a meal."
Lin Jingzhe was comforted and relaxed a little. True, it was just a meal.
Xiao Chi went into the bathroom to take a shower while Lin Jingzhe dried his hair and sat on the edge of the bed in a daze.
Seriously speaking, his worries now were actually quite nonsensical. Normal parents were more than hospitable to ordinary friends of their children coming over for a meal, how could they make things difficult? Although he rationally understood this, Lin Jingzhe was still nervous. Xiao Chi was very relaxed, so this meal may really be just a meal to him. However, seeing someone’s parents was part of a ceremony for Lin Jingzhe, no matter if this ceremony was just his own individual standard.
Because of this, he was a little anxious. Xiao Chi, who had taken a bath, jumped up from behind with his erectness touching Lin Jingzhe’s back. He rubbed his wet curly hair on his face and kissed him.
Lin Jingzhe hurriedly pushed him off. "Wait, wait, wait..."
Xiao Chi looked puzzled, but it didn’t stop his hand from moving under Lin Jingzhe's bath towel.
"Let go, let go!" Lin Jingzhe was grabbed and was stimulated twice by him. His waist immediately trembled from his slick movements. Afraid that he would forget his business, Lin Jingzhe hurriedly kicked Xiao Chi away. He then leaned over to pick up the paper bag that had been put on the table beside the bed and handed it to Xiao Chi. "This!"
Xiao Chi's eyes lit up immediately. He resisted himself, but his desire grew taller and taller. He continued to play stupid on the surface: "What is this?"
"A cashmere coat. I asked Wang Quan to bring it from Hong Kong Island."
Xiao Chi inwardly exclaimed: I like cashmere coats the most! I really like Hong Kong Island too!
He couldn't wait to untie the ribbon. After taking out the coat inside, he was more and more satisfied with Lin Jingzhe’s selection: he liked tan color the best!
He shook the coat and inspected the stitching carefully. The more he looked, the more Xiao Chi was satisfied, and he immediately wanted to put it on his body.
But when he put his arm in, he felt that the sleeves were very tight. Xiao Chi frowned and tried again but still failed, so he raised his head at Lin Jingzhe with doubt.
Lin Jingzhe stared at him, dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"
Xiao Chi: "...?"
Lin Jingzhe quickly understood. He immediately blushed, stepped forward to take off the clothes, and gave him a kick, "Stupid! I bought this for your sister!"
Xiao Chi: "???"
Lin Jingzhe asked: "Don't you have a younger sister? Hu Shaofeng said that your younger sister usually wears plain tones like black and white..."
Xiao Chi: "..."
After Lin Jingzhe confirmed that the sleeves were not stretched, he quickly folded the coat and stuffed it back into the bag. While doing so, he wanted to explain that he just bought this clothes casually, and that there wasn’t much feeling put into buying this coat.
But he didn't have a chance to say that.
Xiao Chi, who was lying next to him after being kicked down, did not move for a while. Unexpectedly, he suddenly shot up, and held him down with his upturned pp expressionlessly.
******
When Hu Yu arrived in Yan City, Father Zhou personally drove to pick her up. For this reason, the small shop on Sun Street deliberately closed for a day, in exchange for the wailing of countless regular customers.
But making money was far less important than feelings. Father Zhou stood in the distance as he watched Hu Yu throw herself into Gao Sheng's arms at the pick-up gate. He couldn't help but recall the scene when he and his wife had just arrived in Yan City.
Originally, it was possible to go back during the summer vacation, but because of the promotional work for Best Partner IT this summer, Gao Sheng had no time to leave Yan City. Therefore, Hu Yu had not been able to see her son for more than half a year.
The thin woman still stood with a stoop. Gao Sheng and Father Gao had been regularly sending money to her, but she was still wearing a plain cotton coat that looked almost faded from all the washing it had gone through. The matching shirt inside was her best piece, but it was still indescribably rustic. Gao Sheng had seen more of the world now, he was no longer the careless child he was at the beginning. He put on a light down jacket for his mother with distress and wrapped her shivering body. Yan City was much colder when compared to Liyun Town.
Hu Yu almost didn't recognize Mother Zhou when she saw her! Was this beautiful woman in front of her with a foreign-style red lipstick and trendy curly hair the simple old friend she was familiar with?
Mother Zhou leaned on the car and waved to her. The bright red nail polish made her calloused hands look much more refined. "Bonjour!"
Hu Yu was surprised and apprehensive at the same time. She held Mother Zhou's hand in the car and carefully stroked her nails. She couldn't help but feel ashamed of her inferiority. "It's so beautiful..."
"This is nothing!" Mother Zhou's voice was much more chipper, "I also have green and blue. When we get home, I will paint your nails for you."
Hu Yu was a little embarrassed, but the changes in her old acquaintances were too great. Even her husband and son were very different from what they used to be. Gao Sheng's features had matured. He offered to drive Father Zhou's car, and even answered a phone call on the way. He arranged work for the person on the other end of the phone with a professional and serious tone.
Hu Yu leaned towards Lin Jingzhe, who looked the most gentle and easy to get along with in the car. Lin Jingzhe patted her shoulder and explained: "Gao Sheng has a job now. He will soon start a company and become its boss."
Hu Yu's heart was beating excitedly. She looked towards her son in disbelief, but at the same time full of relief.
After Gao Sheng hung up the phone, he turned back and pinched Lin Jingzhe's face. He said with some embarrassment. "What are you talking about, didn't you allocate the funds for my club? In the future, you will be the boss of the advertising company. The words you just said were to deliberately embarrass me!"
Gao Sheng looked towards his mother, "Mom, don't be fooled by him! This rascal is much better off than me now!"
Hu Yu had no idea as she turned around and looked at Lin Jingzhe in astonishment.
Lin Jingzhe smiled, hugged and patted her back. "Nevermind that, Teacher Hu, let's go to your new home first."
Translated by pure, hosted on puretl.com / do not repost!
