Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 90 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 90.2 Extra [Sixteen years later V]
It's been nearly a decade since Shen Tiantian and Xiao Miao's website was established. Leveraging the intelligence of the two investors and the explicit and implicit backing from the Internet giants, Best Partner IT and Immortal Science & Technology, the website has far outgrown its initial small workshop model.
The gradual transition from monetizing the creative environment has significantly standardized the previously chaotic market. Shen Tiantian and Xiao Miao's literature company expanded a decade ago by introducing a video sharing platform website. Simultaneously, with the establishment of Gao Sheng Films, they developed a long-term cooperation strategy with Gao Sheng. This led to a consistent supply of high-quality scripts to the production market. Among the four recent films invested in by Gao Sheng, two have been adapted from light novels, and numerous copyrights have been acquired by other film companies following a similar approach.
Despite Shen Tiantian's significant success in her career, her first words upon meeting her brother were still, "Where’s my gift?"
"In the car, in the car." Lin Jingzhe found himself at a loss with his sister's perpetually childlike demeanor that had persisted for over a decade. A pair of smiling eyes formed gentle curves as he decided he'd had eaten enough, putting down his bowl to step outside. "I'll go get it for you."
Following one another, the brother and sister pair exited the house. Observing their warm interaction, Yu Shuyuan, still seated at the dinner table, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. "Ah, what an adorable pair of siblings. Innocent, carefree, and without a care in the world."
Hu Shaofeng and Fang Wenhao exchanged glances, both baffled by the description of the elder who didn't seem to be faking her words. "……………………"
Innocent...carefree...
If their assumption was correct, she was talking about Shen Tiantian, the woman often referred to as ‘the man-eating flower that can only be admired from afar’ by her business collaborators?
Hu Shaofeng, tormented by Shen Tiantian to this day due to the unkind things he said to her as a child, labeling her as someone who would never find a spouse, found no sympathy from any elder. Each time he voiced his claims, they were met with skepticism and disbelief, given her flawless outward demeanor. With each tasteless mouthful since her arrival, the silent flow of raging tears became an internal burden.
Lin Jingzhe retrieved a long gift box from the car's trunk and opened it with a flourish. "Tada!"
"Wow!" Shen Tiantian's eyes immediately lit up, and she expressed boundless surprise. Despite the fact that the price of this box containing dozens of lipsticks was already negligible to her, and her dressing room at home was already overflowing with hundreds of makeup products, she still jumped with joy. "Brother, how did you know I was running out of lipstick?!"
"I knew you'd love it," Lin Jingzhe gazed at his sister with affectionate eyes, still as innocent and adorable as a child even in her thirties. He gently tousled her hair, a style she'd maintained for over a decade following his spur of the moment suggestion. His heart swelled with warmth, yet mingled with concern for her future. Shen Tiantian, now in her thirties, had experienced several relationships, but perhaps due to her well-behaved nature, each one concluded in a breakup. She must have been hurt by many scumbags. Though she didn't show any anxiety, Lin Jingzhe couldn't shake off his concern. It wasn't because of societal expectations dictating women should marry or have children at a certain age, but rather because Lin Jingzhe, who had experienced loneliness before, knew too well the yearning for companionship.
His sister, so innocent and unworldly, deserved someone by her side to protect and cherish her. Each morning when Lin Jingzhe awoke in Xiao Chi's embrace, the concern for his sister's well-being lingered in his thoughts. Watching Shen Tiantian randomly pick a lipstick, applying it on her lips without a care for the color, Lin Jingzhe took the box she didn't have an extra hand to hold. With a soft sigh, he revisited the perennial concern, "I met a young man during a conference in Silicon Valley some time ago. He's unmarried and has a good personality; quite tall and handsome too..."
Shen Tiantian anticipated the topic as soon as Lin Jingzhe began to speak. Her lipstick application briefly paused for two seconds before continuing, as if unconcerned.
Shen Tiantian understood her brother's consternation about her marriage. While she desired to experience love and find a soulmate similar to the happiness shared by her brother and Xiao Chi, she questioned the practicality of such pursuits. So what if I hold this desire; having it wouldn't magically change the ‘retardedness’ in men.
She understood that hoping for someone like her brother was too much, at worst, someone like Xiao Chi could also do. Yet, reflecting on her past boyfriends, Shen Tiantian couldn't help but feel the urge to curse.
Everyone liked to put on airs at first, but once they got together, all sorts of peculiarities surfaced—some liked to brag, others were not yet weaned, some believed they were the best in the world, and there was even one who tried to control Shen Tiantian's life. To hell with them all! Shen Tiantian dealt with each of them one by one, giving them a beating and kicking them out.
However, she couldn't let her brother know about this, or he would surely lecture her for being too violent.
Shen Tiantian maintained a non-committal attitude during the other party's gentle introduction. "Sure, brother, if you say so. I’ll go meet this man."
What a good child. Lin Jingzhe patted Shen Tiantian's head once again.
A sudden beam of light illuminated the quiet yard, accompanied by the hum of a car engine. The brother and sister turned their gaze toward the source of the sound and witnessed an unassuming and unfamiliar business car slowly entering the yard.
Who is this? Curiosity piqued, Lin Jingzhe glanced at the license plate but couldn't recall ever seeing it before. As the car came to a stop, an unexpected individual stepped out.
"Miaomiao?!" Lin Jingzhe's face lit up with pleasant surprise. He was about to ask about when she acquired this new car, but in the next moment, his expression shifted to seriousness.
A strikingly handsome young man emerged from the driver's seat. Upon catching sight of Lin Jingzhe and Shen Tiantian, he hesitated briefly. When he heard Xiao Miao address Lin Jingzhe as 'brother,' the young man was taken aback and promptly bowed respectfully. "Elder brother!"
Who's your brother? What nonsense is this man spitting? The politeness of the other party did little to alleviate Lin Jingzhe's immediate sense of displeasure. He advanced a few steps, grasping Xiao Miao’s arm and swiftly positioning himself in front of her protectively. With a furrowed brow, he inquired, "You are...?"
Xiao Miao softly interjected from behind, "Brother, he...he's my boyfriend."
Her boyfriend straightened up, visibly nervous. He hurried to the car's trunk, unearthed the gifts, and then located the one intended for Lin Jingzhe. Holding it with both hands, he respectfully offered it, saying, "Elder brother, hello! I heard you enjoy tea, so I had this purple clay tea set specially crafted for you. I hope you like it!"
However, after he concluded his statement, an extended silence lingered without any response from Lin Jingzhe.
The prospective ‘son-in-law’, filled with nervous anticipation, waited with his head lowered. Eventually, unable to bear the suspense, he cautiously raised his head.
Lin Jingzhe stood before him, his eyes devoid of their usual liveliness, and his expression frozen. Clearly, he was taken aback by the unexpected scene unfolding before him and struggled to regain composure.
Boy—Boyfriend...
Xiao Miao had, surprisingly, brought her boyfriend to the family’s doorstep...
His sister, his lovely and pure sister, was finally taken away by a pig...
Lin Jingzhe had seemingly anticipated this day for several years, but now, in this moment, he felt like he had been dealt an unprecedented blow, as if five thunderclaps had simultaneously struck his head, scattering his soul.
He sat beside Xiao Chi with his head bowed, displaying a lack of enthusiasm and appetite.
Xiao Chi's countenance was as dark as if it had been smeared with ink, his sharp eyes fixated on the uninvited guest.
He was initially concerned that Qi Kai's reappearance might trigger painful memories for Xiao Miao, particularly the shadow of the forced kiss from many years ago. To shield his sister from any distress, he not only kept the news of Qi Kai's release from prison a secret but also cautioned Shen Tiantian to remain discreet.
However, it turned out that Xiao Miao had taken him by surprise even before that.
Observing the dubious man, who appeared to have ulterior motives in pursuing his sister, Xiao Chi would have readily shown him the door with a barrage of punches and kicks if he wasn't concerned about the presence of their family and elders.
Xiao Shenxing wore a fierce expression, reflecting his anger.
The three men in the family openly displayed their disapproval. The entrance of the new guest brought a momentary silence to the Xiao family's dining table. After Xiao Miao's boyfriend nervously presented the gift he had brought, Yu Shuyuan was the first to respond.
She was filled with reluctance, but acknowledging the fact that her daughter had found someone suitable to bring home, she greeted him with mixed emotions, "Please... have a seat."
Xiao Miao's boyfriend cautiously settled onto the stool, feeling the collective gaze fixated on him from all directions... The—the atmosphere is so intimidating!
Upon recognizing Qi Kai, whom she hadn't seen in over a decade, Xiao Miao immediately understood. She cast a helpless glance at Shen Tiantian, who had concocted a fake date excuse to leave work early, then greeted him, "Long time no see."
Qi Kai felt a bit awkward due to some dumbass acts he had committed in his youth, but Xiao Miao's tone, though reminiscently cold of the past, seemed much more relaxed than his own.
"Indeed... it's been a long time."
Xiao Miao took her seat, helpless at the hostility emanating from her father and brothers. She engaged in an awkward conversation with Qi Kai, "How have you been these past few years?"
"Pretty good," Qi Kai replied with a slightly apologetic smile, his gaze fixed on Xiao Miao's youthful, dewy, and beautiful face, devoid of any visible wrinkles. "It seems like you're doing well too."
In her thirties, Xiao Miao continued to retain her unworldly temperament, creating an impression of unapproachability. However, the fact that she could bring her boyfriend to meet her parents indicated that she was leading a down-to-earth and content life. And that was perfectly fine – being relaxed and peaceful.
He hoped that his appearance was merely an unpleasant episode in the other person's life, something easily discarded and forgotten.
With the addition of this unexpected guest at the welcoming banquet, the original attendees in the house were no longer inclined to stay any longer. One by one, they stood up and started to make their way out.
The elderly lady rose to her feet with diligence and declared, "I'll see you all off."
Given the prevailing atmosphere, nobody felt inclined to challenge her. The elderly lady exited the door, wearing a warm smile, and encouraged everyone to visit their home more frequently at their leisure. She then affectionately touched Zhuangzhuang’s head and knelt down, meeting the child's eye level with a delightful expression.
Zhuangzhuang: "..."
Driven by a strong biological instinct, Zhuangzhuang opened the box of chocolates and generously offered a handful to Grandma Xiao.
"Good child," Grandma Xiao commended, retrieving money from her pocket and handing it to the young one. "The next time you visit Grandma's house, remember to bring two more boxes, and I'll share half with you, just like before."
Mother Xiao observed the departing guests and then politely suggested to Qi Kai to go upstairs and rest. She settled down and initiated a formal conversation with Xiao Miao's boyfriend.
In a gentle tone, she inquired, "Child, you can just come here, there’s no need to bring so many things. How long have you been with Miaomiao?"
The young man responded cautiously, "Three...three years. I've liked Xiao Miao since the first time I met her three years ago."
Before Mother Xiao could respond, Xiao Chi, wearing a sullen expression, interjected, "Who asked you that? She inquired about the duration of your relationship. Who counts from the day they first meet?"
Despite the young man's affluent background and accustomed ways, Xiao Chi's intimidating words left him so petrified that he hardly dared to breathe. He promptly answered truthfully, "We have officially been together for one year and three months."
Xiao Chi scoffed. Meeting your partner's parents after just a year and three months of dating—this generation truly treats relationships lightly.
Witnessing the disdainful expression, the young man hastened to explain, "Please believe me! I am serious about Xiao Miao! My family is also very satisfied with her. If possible, I hope to officially tie the knot with Miaomiao by the end of this year!"
A bunch of empty words!
Unable to tolerate it any longer, Xiao Chi slapped the table with a cold expression and led Lin Jingzhe away, heading straight upstairs.
The young man found himself in a difficult situation due to the obvious resistance from his girlfriend’s brother. Xiao Miao patted him and said, "I'll go talk to him."
In the second-floor study room, Xiao Miao's two older brothers embraced each other, grappling with the harsh reality as if struck by a sudden bolt of lightning.
"Utterly outrageous!" Xiao Chi denounced the man who, in pursuit of immediate benefits, falsely claimed a three-year love affair after being together for just over a year and then grandiosely expressed his desire to marry Xiao Miao, "He's just living in a fantasy world!"
"No doubt about it!" Lin Jingzhe, though still dispirited and downcast, joined in opposing the same adversary. He instantly abandoned any thoughts of introducing a partner to his sister and vented his frustration, "He’s like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat!"
