Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 89 (Part 2)
Our boy Qi Kai is now all matured!
Translated by Pure
Chapter 89.2 Extra [Sixteen years later-4]
Unable to seize the phone, Lin Jingzhe channeled his anger into grabbing Xiao Chi's neck and shaking it vigorously. Xiao Chi, unwavering, permitted him to vent his frustration. He regarded him with narrowed eyes, noting the genuine anger in his expression. In response, Xiao Chi tightened his arms around Lin Jingzhe, hoisting him into the air with a swift lift.
Lin Jingzhe's grip around his neck loosened, and his arms naturally encircled the back of Xiao Chi’s neck. Suspended in the air, Lin Jingzhe found the situation rather amusing. He playfully tugged at Xiao Chi's pigtail and burst into laughter.
Xiao Chi's expression softened, and his eyes conveyed a warmth akin to a gentle hot spring.
Leaning on Xiao Chi's shoulder, Lin Jingzhe playfully pinched his earlobe. Strangely, perhaps due to Xiao Chi's belief in Buddhism, his earlobe had gradually thickened over the past decade. It felt warm and pleasant to the touch. As Lin Jingzhe savored his scent, his heart softened, but he continued to persist in a whispered voice, "Delete it quickly; hand me your phone."
Leaning against the car door, Xiao Chi bent down to kiss him, displaying a gentle demeanor, yet he firmly held onto the phone, asserting, "No."
"What's the use of keeping it?" Lin Jingzhe lamented, "It's such an unflattering picture."
Xiao Chi countered, "Every angle of yours is beautiful."
Lin Jingzhe, amused by the compliment, burst into laughter again. Playfully grabbing Xiao Chi's collar, he interrogated, "Spill it! Where did you pick up such lines?"
Xiao Chi confessed to reading it in a blog comment. The two of them lingered in a hug for quite a while, engrossed in their debate over whether to delete a photo or not. It took Lin Jingzhe a moment to realize that they were in a public place—though secluded, there might be onlookers. When they turned their heads, they were met with a face sporting an indescribable expression.
Lin Jingzhe: "………………"
Qi Kai, taking his time to reflect on his time in prison, carried his belongings as he stepped out of the iron gate. As he made his way out, he even pondered whether Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi, who were supposed to pick him up, had arranged some sort of welcome ceremony. Contrary to all expectations, he was stuffed with unwarranted PDA. "...……………”
"..." Xiao Chi coughed, gave Lin Jingzhe a comforting pat, and reluctantly let go. He opened the car door and settled his partner into the passenger seat. Upon straightening up and facing Qi Kai, Xiao Chi's expression instantly turned cooler. "Get in."
After uttering those words, he opened the driver's door, took his seat, and secured Lin Jingzhe's seatbelt. Qi Kai, standing there in silence for a moment, sighed helplessly, patted the prison guard who opened the door for him on the shoulder, and bid farewell, "I’m leaving now."
"Remember to abide by the law and avoid making any more mistakes. I hope not to see you back here." The prison guard, evidently having a good rapport with him, not only delivered a light-hearted farewell but also waved goodbye.
Qi Kai turned away from the prison guard, waved without looking back, and declared loudly, "Don't worry, I don't wish to see you again in this lifetime either."
Once inside the car, he playfully tapped the back of Lin Jingzhe’s seat headrest. "I nearly went blind just now, you know? It's been more than ten years, guys. Can you two stop being so extreme and consider my feelings for once?"
His tone carried a touch of indignation, but a sly smile twinkled in his eyes. Xiao Chi furrowed his brow, casting a cold glance at Qi Kai through the rearview mirror, and remarked icily, "If you keep talking nonsense, get out of the car."
Qi Kai paid no heed, turned to Lin Jingzhe, and inquired, "You especially, Mr. Lin. How do you manage to withstand his antics day in and day out, don’t you ever suffer from a seven-year itch?"
Lin Jingzhe cleared his throat awkwardly, attempting to shift the focus from the earlier encounter, and brought up another topic, "You seem to have become stronger than before?"
Qi Kai chuckled and replied, "With daily labor, how could we not get stronger? I'm now more accustomed to stepping on a sewing machine than stepping on the accelerator."
Lin Jingzhe nodded in understanding. The clothes Qi Kai wore were likely his own creations, displaying exquisite workmanship with neat stitching that surpassed some commercial brands. His gaze shifted from the intricately hand-embroidered bag around Qi Kai's neck, which underwent various style changes, to the well-defined arms revealed by the short sleeves.
He couldn't help but reminisce about a time many years ago—though Lin Jingzhe couldn't pinpoint exactly when. It was difficult to imagine that this man was once so frail that he could be knocked down with a single punch.
Observing the present stature of his former adversary, it occurred to Lin Jingzhe that he might not be able to defeat him now, but Xiao Chi likely could. His gaze drifted into the distance as he murmured, "I never anticipated that more than ten years would pass in the blink of an eye."
Qi Kai's smile faltered momentarily, and after a pause, he straightened up, gazing out the window with eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. As the car exited the prison control area and delved into the bustling city, navigating through increasing traffic, Yan City unfolded before him in a drastically transformed state. High-rise buildings adorned the distant skyline, elevated highways crisscrossed nearby, theaters dotted the landscape, and luxury cars cruised through the streets. The car that he had enthusiastically smuggled back over a decade ago, only to be crushed by Xiao Chi, causing him distress for several days, now appeared strikingly antiquated in comparison to the sleek vehicles around.
In this new era of technological advancement, the adage ‘the constancy of things, the evolution of people’ no longer held true. More than a decade was sufficient to render a person estranged by the relentless march of time.
A surge of complex emotions welled up within him. Clutching the small bag around his neck, Qi Kai fell into a prolonged silence. Eventually, he sighed and remarked, "Indeed, more than a decade has already flashed by."
Following the clues provided by Qi Kai regarding their whereabouts, Sha Peng and his enigmatic boss, Pangka, were finally located in Thailand at the end of 1996. The domestic anti-narcotics police, through meticulous planning and collaboration with neighboring countries, successfully navigated political complexities and eliminated one of the two kingpins at the pinnacle of the drug trade. The other was apprehended without external interference. No one claimed the body of the deceased Sha Peng. Pangka was covertly transported back to the country via a special plane for further investigation. This marked a significant triumph in the nation's anti-drug efforts, standing out as a noteworthy accomplishment. It's worth noting that Pangka had been actively involved in setting up and planning a new criminal operation just the day before his capture.
Inside the cunning rabbit's den, enough provisions were discovered to endure the upcoming long winter. Simultaneously, the southwest border initiated a vigorous offensive, dismantling all foreign drug smuggling routes into the country. Pangka's extensive reach abroad became apparent. Based on his revelations, multiple countries in the Golden Triangle region uncovered numerous hills teeming with opium poppies. They rescued countless villagers who had been under the control of drug traffickers, relocating them to secure drug rehabilitation centers.
According to the initial sentence, Qi Kai should have served several more years. However, due to an act of merit after this incident, his sentence was reduced to 18 years. Thanks to his active rehabilitation efforts in prison, this was further shortened to 16 years. Qi Kai was ultimately released from prison in 2006.
A burst of music began to play, an English song unfamiliar to Qi Kai. Lin Jingzhe pulled out a sleek and compact black device, pressed a part of the illuminated glass screen, then brought it to his ear and began to speak, "Oh, we've already picked him up. No, he's fine. Mhmm. Okay, okay. There's a bit of traffic on the road right now, so we'll probably arrive a little later."
Lin Jingzhe concluded the call, and Qi Kai observed the phone in his hand with fascination. "Is this a mobile phone? I caught a glimpse of it on TV back in prison."
"That's right." Lin Jingzhe recalled when posed with this question. He searched the passenger compartment, unearthed a box, opened it, and retrieved a mobile phone with a red cover. After powering it on, he extended it to the back seat. "This is for you. Ol’Xiao and I got a new SIM card before heading here. Everyone's numbers are already stored. Your digits are in the back. Go ahead and use it."
Qi Kai didn't bother with pleasantries as he examined the phone. In prison, both inmates and guards were strictly forbidden from using electronic devices. Consequently, he could only catch occasional glimpses of news about ultrathin laptops, mobile phones, and even nearly obsolete MP3 and MP4 players from the broadcasts within the prison. Now, he finally had the chance to witness the real thing. His initial astonishment was directed at the mobile phone's slim and lightweight design. As he delved deeper into its features, he became captivated by the technological marvel of this compact device. In contrast to the bulky brick phone he had always carried, this mobile phone exuded elegance and sophistication. The frosted pattern of a table tennis racket on the back cover was meticulously crafted, providing a pleasant touch.
He inadvertently pressed a button, and the once dark screen of the phone instantly illuminated. The screensaver displayed a photograph capturing a youthful Qi Kai.
Qi Kai found himself momentarily entranced, fixated on his own radiant smile and audacious eyes from that bygone era.
He extended a cautious finger to touch the image. Soon, the screen reverted to black, now reflecting his present countenance on the glass.
Unexpectedly, laughter erupted from the back seat. Lin Jingzhe turned to look, baffled, and inquired, "What's so funny?"
"It’s nothing," Qi Kai stowed away his phone, slipping it into his pocket. The smile on his face remained inscrutable, and he gazed out of the window, shoulders relaxing as the passing scenery unfolded behind the car window. "It's been more than ten years!"
He then inquired, "Where are we going? Peace Garden?"
When Elder Qi's funeral was officially held, Qi Kai was already detained in the detention center, preventing his attendance. Due to various reasons, the posthumous ceremony for the old man wasn't conducted in a grand manner. The final decision was made by the elder of the Xiao family. She initially collected the box of ashes, and after the completion of Crane Garden next to Wubao Mountain Cemetery, she selected a favorable location for burial.
Over the past decade, activities such as tomb-sweeping were all done by the residents of the compound. Qi Kai wanted to pay a visit. Moreover, aside from his grandfather's tombstone, he seemed to have nowhere else to go.
After Elder Qi's passing, their house in the compound was confiscated. Despite its uninviting history, no new residents were willing to occupy it, and it ceased being Qi Kai's home.
Regarding Qi Kai's personal belongings, including his car and house, they were seized by the bank during the liquidation of Dominion Properties. His savings were no exception. At present, aside from the clothes and shoes on his person, he could be deemed to possess nothing.
Qi Kai doubted any of his old acquaintances would be pleased to see him.
Lin Jingzhe shook his head upon hearing this. "No need to rush. Let's head home for dinner first."