Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 89 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 89.1 Extra [Sixteen years later IV]
The emergency units at major hospitals in Yan City were unexpectedly faced with a severe shortage of labor force today. From around eight o'clock in the evening, a steady stream of patients with various issues such as choking, suffocation, injuries from tripping, broken limbs, and stomach problems arising from ingestion started inundating the hospitals.
During the late hours of the night, a quietly posted anonymous confession surfaced on a renowned online forum.
{Anonymous Confession: How should I address my constant criticism of my male god’s partner before he officially disclosed his relationship?}
The post was penned with an air of profound melancholy——
— {I never fathomed that my beloved celebrity's partner would turn out to be his life partner as well (now reflecting, they truly make a perfect couple, always adorned in matching rings. Spare me from further criticism; I must have been blind back then). During the tumultuous fan base rivalry (which by the way, in hindsight, someone must have orchestrated the conflict from behind), an rather unpleasant period I must add, I left numerous comments disparaging his partner on my idol's blog, under a unique and distinctive ID. I believed I was helping him vent some frustration, yet little did I anticipate that my male god and his chosen partner would unite today. Surprisingly, the revelation of the relationship between the idol and his partner occurred today... I find myself alone in a hospital bed tonight, struck by a sudden stomach ache, contemplating these events with immense regret. What if my ID is remembered by my male god?}
— 1F: {lolololol OP’s ‘anonymous’ status is too obvious. Ur name will be instantly found out.}
— 2F: {woah wtf. OP’s male god is also my male god. OP is in the hospital and I am also in the hospital. I suddenly had a stomach ache tonight too! These are miraculous coincidences!}
— 3F: {wth, me too... after I saw the latest news, I got up and hit my head on the door...}
— 4F: {My symptom was a sudden migraine…}
"……"
This curse, seemingly emanating from an enigmatic force, suddenly cast a mysterious pall over the anonymous confession post in the dead of night, and the tally of commenters continued to build upwards. Simultaneously, the news of Xiao Chi and Lin Jingzhe being suspected of being in a relationship reverberated like a mighty thunderclap. In just a few hours, this revelation dominated all the evening news pages, eclipsing even the collaboration announcement between Best Partner IT and Immortal Science & Technology to develop a joint mobile communication app.
Two men, not only possessing exceptional looks and charisma but also young, triumphant in their professional pursuits, affluent, and unmarried, with virtually no scandals. Could there be anything more incredulous in the world?
Yes.
It was that they were romantically involved.
The emotions surging within the fans at this moment are simply beyond description. Prior to this revelation, scarcely anyone in the public sphere had contemplated the two individuals in that context. Many even considered their previous hints as mere jests to generate publicity for their collaboration with the respective internet companies. Reporters promptly contacted New Beginnings Conglomerate to ascertain the truth. To their surprise, the spokesperson for New Beginnings Conglomerate exhibited a somewhat impolite demeanor, stating, "What's so peculiar about it? They've been married since around 1992."
The incredulous reporter pressed further, "Why has New Beginnings Conglomerate and Flux Realty kept such a momentous piece of news concealed, refraining from disclosing it to the public?"
"Mr. Lin did not keep it under wraps. His family, friends, and executives of both corporations are well aware of it. You simply didn't inquire about them previously. Why should we announce it without cause?" responded the spokesperson, asserting with confidence.
The reporter was so taken aback that his words stumbled in his throat. Upon contacting Flux Realty, he received similar responses. It wasn't until the release of the interview recording that the public could unequivocally confirm the veracity of their statements.
Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi had been married for over a decade? Married! Married?
This revelation instantaneously stunned everyone who had been following the story. Many felt a sense of deception and delved deeper into the personal histories of the two men. However, the unearthed truths only served to fortify the statements provided by the external spokespersons of both entities. Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi had indeed never concealed their relationship.
The first telltale sign was their matching rings, a symbol that required no elucidation. Since a certain day in the 1990s, this accessory had been a constant presence on Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi’s fingers. Through all their activities and meetings, this silver band adorned their ring fingers. However, many business leaders wore wedding rings, and these rings were often of a simple and low-key style. As a result, despite the identical rings, no one had ever connected the dots between Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi through this seemingly obvious detail before.
Similarly, occasional photos shared on their respective blogs provided subtle clues. Lin Jingzhe would capture images of home-cooked dishes and oil paintings, supposedly crafted by a family member. In these snapshots, certain decorative elements—such as flooring, wallpaper, and the dining table—mirrored those seen in Xiao Chi's older posts when the Immortal Blog was first launched many years ago.
Moreover, the two strings of Buddhist beads that Lin Jingzhe always wore on his wrist bore a striking resemblance to those worn by Xiao Chi. However, Lin Jingzhe's temperament perfectly matched this accessory, and his daily combination of handsomeness and elegance showcased the beads to their fullest effect. This even sparked a trend among young entrepreneurs in the business world, leading them to adopt a similar style of wearing Buddha-related items. At lavish parties, when more than half of the middle-aged men in the front row held walnuts, in such a crowd, Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi didn't seem out of place at all.
In summary— they had never concealed anything. If you couldn't see it, that was your problem.
Combining the responses from the spokespersons of the two corporations, it became evident that the couple paid little attention to the outside world. As a result, the comment sections under the two men's blogs quickly quieted down after the initial outburst.
Their unique identities played a significant role in this reaction. Despite occasional public appearances, they weren't 'public figures' in the traditional sense. Unlike real celebrities and internet personalities who depend on sharing their news for popularity, their relationship with fans was delicate. True fans might struggle to accept it, but where did they stand, and what rights did they have?
Those who had been the most vocal in their enthusiastic scolding were now the first to feel a sense of trepidation.
*****
Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi remained unperturbed even after publicly declaring their relationship. On a sunny weekend, they took a drive to the suburbs.
The outer wall of Dongping Prison had undergone several renovations, growing taller each time. Lin Jingzhe raised his eyes to observe the imposing tower within. His phone rang, and when he answered, he heard the voice of Mother Xiao, Yu Shuyuan.
"Jingzhe, have you received it?"
"Not yet," Lin Jingzhe glanced at his watch, "I assume the formalities are still being processed."
"Then that's good. Remember to give Mom a call when you get it. Don't delay on the way and go straight home. Everyone is here."
Lin Jingzhe replied, "I understand." He hopped out of the driver's seat, stretching his body under the hot sun. The vast expanse of wilderness in front of the prison offered a rare escape from the urban hustle of Yan City. Affected by his professional instincts, Lin Jingzhe couldn't resist pointing toward the open land. Turning to Xiao Chi, he said, "Look at this piece of land. It's at least hundreds of thousands of square meters. How good would it be to build a housing community?"
Accompanied by a click, Xiao Chi flipped his phone, and swiftly flipped through the image he had just captured.
Lin Jingzhe, torn between laughter and surprise, walked over, and couldn't help but appreciate the unexpected talent he discovered in his significant other’s photography skills.
At the precise moment the photo was taken, Lin Jingzhe's body was bathed in sunlight. Xiao Chi masterfully captured the angle, showcasing Lin Jingzhe's slender waist, long legs, and commanding posture as he stretched. Lin Jingzhe turned slightly, engaging in conversation with Xiao Chi, his eyes nonchalantly lowered. The sunlight played tricks, casting a fan-shaped shadow from his eyelashes under his eyes. His striking facial features resembled the delicate strokes of a paintbrush.
"Not bad. It's better than what I can do. Send it to me later." Lin Jingzhe seized his phone, swiping through the images. To his surprise, Xiao Chi's phone album was nearly brimming with his photos. Some featured him walking ahead from behind, while others stealthily captured him driving from the passenger seat. Every picture was a masterpiece. Lin Jingzhe chuckled as he scrolled through the pages, unable to contain his laughter. He reached out and tugged at the curly pigtail on the back of Xiao Chi's head. "Why are you such a pervert?"
Xiao Chi defended himself with a stern face, saying, "How is this perverted?"
"Isn't it indecent to take photos secretly?" Lin Jingzhe chuckled as he flipped through the pictures happily. He realized that Xiao Chi didn't even spare his sleeping positions. His laughter escalated until he suddenly stumbled upon a hilariously terrible selfie.
In comparison to Xiao Chi's surprisingly hip and fresh works, this selfie was downright terrifying. The front-facing high-definition camera, usually adept at capturing even the finest details, now showcased wrinkles and pores in all their unfiltered glory. Beyond the camera's inadequacies, the angle and composition of the photo were nothing short of a disaster.
Lin Jingzhe's photography skills had always been subject to criticism. Whenever a group outing involved taking pictures, there was an unspoken agreement to keep cameras away from him. One unfortunate year, a naive participant handed him the camera during a conference, assuming his relatively long arms made him suitable for pressing the shutter button. Upon returning home, the man shed tears of regret as he shared the ill-fated photo on his Immortal Blog. During this time, Lin Jingzhe's fans swarmed the comments section of the other user's blog, observing with amusement. They marveled at how Lin Jingzhe had become the undisputed top anti-fan of his own mobile phone, suggesting he possessed a peculiar ability to turn the Hero's timely capture camera, now stabilized after several generations of updates and internationally acclaimed, into a tool for capturing photos where even one’s hairstyle remained a mystery.
Lin Jingzhe, irked by the comments, felt the criticism was unwarranted. What was wrong with the photo? The lack of clarity was simply due to the dim lighting!
But in this moment, a cruel and unprecedented contrast unfolded when compared in Xiao Chi's collection. Lin Jingzhe’s robust confidence in his photography skills crumbled instantly as his knees metaphorically buckled, and his once-unbreakable glass heart lay shattered beyond repair.
The lifted chin, the discernible flared nostrils, the weirdly squinted eyes, and an unnatural expression on his face…
As Lin Jingzhe recovered from the initial shock, he hastily navigated through the phone's buttons. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you keep such photos? Delete them immediately!"
In this crucial moment, the difference of a mere five centimeters often could be used to turn the tide. Before he could execute the delete operation, Xiao Chi, with his relatively long arms, swiftly reclaimed possession of his phone.
"Delete what?" He scrutinized the photo on the screen that Lin Jingzhe sneakily sent him during a meeting a few days ago. He admired it with eyes full of approval, even caressing the screen with his thumb affectionately and delivering an absurd evaluation, "Isn't this expertly captured?"
"In what universe?!" Lin Jingzhe felt an overwhelming wave of embarrassment crashing over him. For the first time, he was acutely aware of the fact that his photography skills were truly abysmal. 'For the love of god, these black history photos cannot exist in the world!' He hurriedly caught up and snatched the phone, demanding, "How can you keep such an unflattering picture... delete it immediately!"
"No!" Xiao Chi remained steadfast. His stance was unyielding, utterly perplexed. Wasn't this a great photo? The features are clear, and the image is not blurred. Why on earth should he delete it?
"Ahhhhah—" Lin Jingzhe was so infuriated that he frantically attempted to seize the phone. For some inexplicable reason, a memory surged within him—recollections of Xiao Chi's fans ridiculing his 1.87-meter height during a previous spat between their respective fan bases. At that time, Lin Jingzhe had been quite self-assured about his height, dismissing those comments with a disdainful smirk. After all, a mere five-centimeter difference could easily be concealed with a pair of insoles. Yet now, as he leaped and darted around, desperately trying to wrest the phone from Xiao Chi's grasp, the frustration he'd never experienced before burgeoned in his heart. Truly, the heavens were unjust!