Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 67 (Part 3)
Translated by Pure (ko-fi)
Chapter 67.3 Lin Jingzhe pulled him back and asked, "What are you doing?"
The detective dumbly stared at the two people in front of him with a question mark above his head. His targets had kissed for nearly a minute and still had no intention of ending their makeout session.
The two lips parted with great reluctance. Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi got into their car, and the transparent front windshield clearly showed the figure of the two sticking together after getting into the car.
After dawdling for five or six minutes, the car started to drive away, leaving behind a puff of exhaust gas. The private detective held the camera in a daze for a while, but after some hesitation, he followed behind them.
The car drove straight towards the commercial street, and then stopped at the entrance of a very famous restaurant. There were many people on the street in the evening. Xiao Chi's driver's door opened. He went around to the passenger side to open the door and helped Lin Jingzhe off.
Standing on the streets full of people, the two continued to hold hands and talked like this. They shared affectionate eyes and loving words. Xiao Chi suddenly reached out and pinched Lin Jingzhe's face dotingly.
Then they held hands and walked into this restaurant that almost only couples would patronize.
After the glass door of the restaurant was closed, their figures gradually disappeared from sight. In a minivan on the side of the road, the private detective pressed the shutter again and again, each one signaled by a small sound.
The film... was filled...
The private detective put down the camera, looked away from the window of the restaurant, and stared at the thick envelope next to him. He dumbly sat on his seat and started to doubt life.
Was… money… this easy to earn?
Didn’t... he say they were cunning and secretive? So secretive that they held hands in public and went to a couple’s only restaurant? He was really just here to test the waters today!
Shi Nanxing was shocked when the private detective sent the developed photos to the hospital ward that very night, "So fast!?"
The private detective's expression was a little strange, as if lacking some confidence when he handed out the envelope, "You– Can you check to see if you are satisfied with this?"
Shi Nanxing opened the envelope and poured out a thick stack of photos. Although the images were a bit dark, every image was very clear. There were various poses of Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi holding hands, bumping shoulders, pinching faces, and even kissing!
It was so explosive!
His face was flushed with excitement as he repeatedly praised, "Good! Very good! Excellent!"
Shi Nanxing continued to compliment, "You are so professional, I will send out the remaining balance immediately."
"Ah?" The private detective didn't look happy, but seemed a little hesitant, "You’re really going to send me the remaining balance?"
"Of course!" Shi Nanxing dragged his weak body up and patted the private detective on the shoulder encouragingly, "It must have been hard for you to help me obtain this blackmail of these two cunning guys! I suffered all the injuries because of this, you helped me very much!"
The private detective went out with a question mark on his head. Before he left, he glanced back at Shi Nanxing's ecstatic face with suspicion.
Cunning? Blackmail?
Paying so much money for these few easy photos, and even getting injuried to that degree... Could this man be a mental fool?
When Qi Kai entered the ward, he was praised by his uncle for the first time, "You did a good job this time! The private detective you found was very professional and skilled. His ability should be among the best in Yan City."
"Really?" Qi Kai immediately became happy after being praised. He looked back cheerfully towards the corridor of the hospital, watching the blurred figure walk off. Unexpectedly, the guy he found from a random telephone pole advertisement was actually an adept expert!
*****
As the New Year approached, Xiao Family's parents finally took a break from their busy work to go home. The woody incense lingered in every corner of their house. In the morning, the sentry box of their community delivered letters addressed to their family.
Xiao Shenxing was most concerned about the daily newspaper. He first picked out the newspaper from the rest of the stacks, then glanced at the recipient's name on a certain thick envelope, and shouted upstairs, "Shuyuan! There’s a letter addressed to you!!!"
"Who is it from?" Yu Shuyuan came down the stairs while plucking the curling hair rollers on her head. The satin high-heeled shoes on her feet were embedded with multiple shiny gray pearls. She was a figure-hugging cheongsam that was decorated with lace. The surface was decorated with extremely fine patterns, but the texture was as smooth as silk and very comfortable on the skin. After picking off her hair rollers, Yu Shuyuan stood in front of the full-length mirror downstairs, and her eyes lit up. Even Xiao Shenxing, who was sitting while reading the news, pulled his eyes away from the headlines on the front page onto her figure and affirmed, "Very good."
Yu Shuyuan was stroking her hair shyly because of her husband's praise, and looked down at the shoes on her feet repeatedly. The gray pearls on the tips of her heels reflected different lusters with her every movement. She could not help but playfully complain, "Oh that Jingzhe! Really, why did he buy this style, there aren’t many occasions I can wear this kind of dress out!"
Although these were all criticisms, there was a strong liking in her eyes. Xiao Shenxing coughed, shook his newspaper, and looked down from the gap between his chest and the newspaper, at his crossed legs.
The leather shoes on his feet were extremely comfortable. He used to be afraid to try trendy styles in the past, but he didn't expect them to look good in them; it even matched very well with his pants.
Although he still felt a bit strange mentioning Lin Jingzhe’s name, it was the first time in his life that Father Xiao received a gift from the younger generation. It would be a lie to say that he didn't like it, so he reluctantly praised, "Little Lin has pretty good taste."
The old lady who came out of the Buddhist Hall held a divination stick and said with a smile, "You just noticed? He is better than you brats, and is very pious when he prays to Bodhisattva."
And he always had endless sweets stuffed in the pockets of his clothes.
Both Xiao Shenxing and his wife were atheists, so they had nothing to comment. Yu Shuyuan coughed, quickly changed the subject, and walked towards the coffee table full of things, muttering in her mouth, "Who would send out letters during New Year's Eve?"
The door at the entrance opened, and Xiao Chi's voice came from outside, "I'm back!"
The snow and cold wind rushed in with his voice. Xiao Chi stomped his feet to clean the snow off his shoes, then reached out to help take off Lin Jingzhe's earmuffs and scarf.
There was a clunking sound from the stairs. Xiao Miao's slender figure rushed down like a small rocket and stopped abruptly before approaching the entrance.
She stood there with her hands behind her back, body swaying slightly. She pursed her mouth silently and just stared at Lin Jingzhe with a pair of watery eyes.
Lin Jingzhe laughed, took off his coat with Xiao Chi's help, and took out a small envelope from his coat pocket, "Here!"
Xiao Miao's ears immediately turned red, she quickly took the envelope and opened it. It was a signed photo of all the actors in <Legend of Jianghu>!!
She looked at the photo over and over again, she liked it so much that she didn't know what to say. Xiao Miao wanted to thank him but she was embarrassed. Completely disregarding her mood, Xiao Chi tried to wave her away as if she was an annoying puppy, "Shoo! Shoo! Get out of the way and get me a glass of water."
What kind of brother is this! Xiao Miao asked angrily, "Where's my New Year's gift?!"
Xiao Chi raised his fist expressionlessly while taking off his shoes: "None. Now get lost."
What the f*ck!!
Xiao Miao quickly ran away holding the autographed photo when Grandma Xiao came out. She was still holding the deviation stick as she walked tremblingly to Lin Jingzhe's side, "Come, come! What did the Bodhisattva just say? I can’t read it clearly, come with me and read it to me.”
Lin Jingzhe was quickly pulled into the Buddhist hall by her, and when he looked down at the book of deciphering, the old lady stood in front of the table and looked at him with a smile, "I asked the Bodhisattva for a deviation for you in the morning, it was an auspicious one."
Lin Jingzhe raised his head to meet her gaze, and nodded quickly, "Thank you, grandma."
"You're welcome." The old lady looked at him as usual, "The Bodhisattva said that you will be very successful next year, and I have already offered incense for you."
They then silently stared at one another for two seconds, before Lin Jingzhe suddenly was hit with epiphany. He oh’ed and nodded multiple times as he reached into his pocket. In his pocket was Xiao Chi's chocolate that he had given him before they entered the door. He took out one and carefully placed it in the old lady's palm, "Bodhisattva said you can't eat too much."
The old lady was indignant, "When did Bodhisattva..."
But Lin Jingzhe was already one of the few people in the family who was willing to bring candy to her, so no matter how dissatisfied, Grandma Xiao quickly peeled off the candy wrapper and stuffed the chocolate into her mouth. She then squeezed the tin foil wrapper into a small ball and stuffed it into the incense burner on the prayer table.
Lin Jingzhe: "..."
He quickly deciphered the stick and went out. When he arrived at the living room, Lin Jingzhe saw everyone gathered around the coffee table.
He walked forward curiously, but before he reached them, Lin Jingzhe heard the father, Xiao Shenxing, scold angrily, "Underhanded!"
Lin Jingzhe was startled by his sudden voice. He walked to Xiao Chi's side, only to see a bunch of photos spread on the table from Father Xiao’s throw.
Picking one up to examine, Lin Jingzhe soon felt a little embarrassed. It turned out that it was a photo of him and Xiao Chi kissing, and it was quite clear too.
He elbowed Xiao Chi's ribs, it was all because of this unscrupulous rascal who acted without shame outside. See? Now the day really came.
Xiao Chi grabbed his arm and pulled him into his arms. Compared with his father, his voice was very calm, "It's okay, I have a hunch who the culprit is."
Xiao Shenxing glanced at the two of them who were tightly locked together, his anger gradually overshadowed by embarrassment. He coughed and looked away. Mother Xiao put down the photo, too embarrassed to look at them, and only complained to her son angrily, "When outside, learn to..."
Xiao Chi bent his back lightly and rested his chin on Lin Jingzhe's shoulder, looking at her puzzledly, "Hmm?"
"..." Mother Xiao waved her right hand, completely given up, "Forget it, forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Father Xiao was obviously worried about the purpose of the perpetrator. It was self-evident what they were planning when they sent these photos directly to their home during New Year's Eve. Hearing Xiao Chi said that he knew who the other party was, with a solemn expression, Xiao Shenxing beckoned for his son to come to the study for a talk.
Lin Jingzhe was already very embarrassed after being hugged and swayed around by Xiao Chi just now, so he didn't want to follow them up. He helped Mother Xiao clean up the photos, and then found a place to sit on the sofa.
Feeling a hard object on his buttocks, Lin Jingzhe grabbed the object out and saw that it was a very thick, word-dense book.
While he was studying it curiously, Xiao Miao's face suddenly changed. She stepped forward to snatch it from his hand and ran away in a hurry.
After Xiao Chi came down, Lin Jingzhe praised his sister in admiration, "Your sister's foreign language skills are very good, she can understand the original text!"
Frowning, Xiao Chi looked back upstairs and asked him, "You’ve seen it?"
Lin Jingzhe nodded, but couldn't understand a single word. Other than English, he didn't know any other foreign languages. Compared to him, the younger Xiao Miao was really outstanding, being able to fluently read a foreign book.
Xiao Chi turned around and walked upstairs.
Lin Jingzhe pulled him back and asked, "What are you doing?"
With a sullen face, Xiao Chi replied coldly, "Going to beat her."
