Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 90 (Part 3)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 90.3 Extra [Sixteen years later V]
In a tumultuous evening, Xiao Miao's proposed marriage failed to gain approval from her brothers. Both Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi found it outrageous. How could they endorse a marriage after being together for just a little over a year?
No! Absolutely not! We need to observe this for a few more years! Otherwise, we will never agree!
Caught between laughter and tears, Qi Kai listened through the walls to the Xiao family's discussions. However, acknowledging it as a private matter for the Xiao family, he refrained from eavesdropping or intervening. Settling down on the Xiao family's bedding infused with an incense fragrance, his emotions swirled within him until he eventually sank into a deep slumber.
Xiao Chi spent the entire night plagued by nightmares. In his dreams, Xiao Miao had succumbed to impulsiveness and eloped with that little tramp. The intensity of his anger persisted upon waking, fueling a desire to confront Xiao Miao and settle the score.
No, I can’t just let this slide. Xiao Chi resolved to exact revenge on Xiao Miao later that afternoon.
Xiao Chi comforted the troubled Lin Jingzhe, who had anticipated Shen Tiantian in a similar scenario. The intrusive thoughts of a potential bothersome brother-in-law had fueled Lin Jingzhe’s anxiety, disrupting his sleep throughout the night. Only when Lin Jingzhe finally eased into a more restful state did Xiao Chi plant a gentle kiss on his forehead and carefully rise from the bed.
Upon opening the door, Xiao Chi saw Qi Kai, who was on his way downstairs.
Qi Kai turned around at the sound, and the two exchanged a two-second glance. Observing his tidy attire and the subtle smile as if he had been caught doing something sneaky, Xiao Chi frowned. "It's still dark out, where are you going?"
Qi Kai’s grip around the straps of his backpack tightened, yet he maintained a relaxed tone, "I'm heading to Peace Garden to visit gramps."
Xiao Chi scrutinized his expression for a while, his gaze sharp and penetrating. Qi Kai's face stiffened under such intense scrutiny, and he averted his eyes as if to escape the gaze that seemed to be able to discern his most inner thoughts.
Both parties seemed repulsed at the prospect of being exposed by the other. Xiao Chi contemplated saying something, but ultimately refrained. Instead, he impatiently snorted through his nose. "Get lost then."
Qi Kai paused briefly before descending the stairs. On his way down, he coincidentally encountered Grandma Xiao, who had completed her morning tasks. The door to the Buddhist Hall opened, and the dense mist of incense wafted out with the old lady's footsteps. Upon seeing the pair, she greeted them with an ‘Amitabha’.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on Qi Kai's face as he put on his shoes. "Heading to the south of the city?"
"Yes," Qi Kai replied, "I’m going to see my grandpa."
Grandma Xiao observed his actions for a moment, then sighed inexplicably. Retrieving a paper bag from her coat pocket, she commented, "Good timing, as my legs are no longer as mobile, and it's inconvenient for me to visit. Can you help me by burning this stack of joss paper?"
"Sure!" Qi Kai deftly stashed the package of joss paper into his pocket and assured her, "I'll make sure to take care of it!"
As she watched his figure disappear behind the door of the house, Grandma Xiao shook her head, a fleeting profound expression on her face. Turning around, she extended her hands toward her grandson, saying, "Give me some money."
"..." Xiao Chi averted his gaze toward the door unhappily as the old lady threatened, "If you don't comply, you'll have to join me in copying scriptures."
Reluctantly, Xiao Chi reached into his wallet and handed over the cash. While doing so, he couldn't help but grumble, "I constantly give you money so that you could ask that tree stump from the Fang Family to buy chocolates for you. Once she buys them, you share half with her, and we confiscate the other half. You can't even eat a single piece. Meanwhile, that tree stump just keeps getting fatter and fatter. Do you find that amusing?"
Isn't it amusing?
Grandma Xiao smiled and snatched the money from her grandson's hands.
Was the joy of concealing a private stash truly experienced only at the moment of spending it? By every means, no.
Even if she were to lose all her teeth and be unable to indulge in any kinds of sweets, on the day of her passing, she would still be the old lady with a coffin filled with imported wine-filled chocolates.
As the sun slowly ascended, Lin Jingzhe stirred, finally waking up. The news of his precious sister finding a boyfriend seemed to have drained his morning energy. Even after lifelessly consuming a whole bowl of porridge complemented by Haitang pickles, he couldn't shake off the subdued mood. Suddenly, a thought struck him, "Where's Qi Kai? Has he not risen yet?"
Grandma Xiao quietly sipped her porridge, and Xiao Chi, peeling a hard-boiled egg, remained silent. The grandmother and grandson pair remained tactfully silent.
Glancing at her watch, Yu Shuyuan noted that it was already past ten o'clock. Standing up, she declared, "I'll go check on him."
Shortly after her ascent upstairs, a scream pierced the air, causing Lin Jingzhe to nearly choke with fright. Setting down his bowl, he anxiously looked up as Yu Shuyuan hastily descended, clutching a piece of paper in her hand.
She stood motionless before her family, still unable to regain her composure. "Qi Kai is gone!"
Lin Jingzhe was completely caught off guard. Accepting the letter from her hand in surprise, he opened it to find a page filled with hurriedly scrawled words—a succinct farewell letter.
In the letter, Qi Kai expressed gratitude to the Xiao Family for the previous night's reception banquet and for welcoming him into their home despite past conflicts. He only mentioned that Yan City held memories he wished to leave behind, so he had decided to depart for a place where he was unknown, intending to start anew.
"How can he start anew? He doesn't have a penny on him!" Lin Jingzhe immediately became anxious. He stood up but didn't know where to look for him.
Xiao Shenxing chewed the egg in his mouth, his expressions very complex. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh. "Forget it, everyone has their own destiny, and he has his own ideas. It's already a positive sign that the kid has lifted his spirits and is aiming for a better life. Let's not intervene hastily."
Lin Jingzhe headed towards the door with the letter in his hand, his gaze fixed on the blue sky overhead. The weather in Yan City that day was splendid, with a clear and expansive blue sky.
Where could Qi Kai be headed? A small place like Liyun Town, perhaps?
Lost in contemplation as the other party departed without a warning, Lin Jingzhe was startled by a sudden surge of warmth as Xiao Chi pressed against him from behind.
His face registered the sensation of a brief kiss as a familiar breath enveloping his entire being.
Xiao Chi uttered no words, choosing instead to hold him in tranquil silence.
****
In the southern part of the city, within Peace Garden, Qi Kai reverently performed three silent kowtows in front of his grandfather's tombstone.
There were no tears, only a steady gaze at the familiar photograph of the old man on the tombstone, unchanged from his memories.
The aged, cloudy eyes of his grandfather in the black-and-white image appeared as though they were also watching him.
Qi Kai glanced at the rising sun, laughed out loud, touched the photo on the stone tablet in front of him, and said in a relaxed tone, "Old man, take care of yourself."
There was no response but he felt no sorrow. Extending his hand, he wiped the dusty ground in front of the tombstone, placing the box of Go he had brought beside it. Gently patting the Go box, he uttered, "I'm leaving."
Glancing at the columbarium building in the distance, where ashes were stored, he took a deep breath. Opening the bag, he peered at the iron hammer inside. As he stood up, a sudden recollection struck him, prompting him to retrieve the large paper package entrusted to him by Grandma Xiao from his pocket.
Bound by his promise, he was determined to fulfill it. Retrieving his lighter, Qi Kai opened the paper package, ready to burn the paper money before his departure.
As the flames slowly consumed the paper, reducing it to ashes, Qi Kai searched for a branch. He carefully stirred the balled-up paper in the basin, hoping to thoroughly burn every piece.
Unexpectedly, a metallic clang resonated in the next second, and a solid object tumbled out of the paper.
Using a branch to retrieve it, Qi Kai examined the item— it was a faded yellow key.
A key?
Qi Kai examined the small key with a hint of confusion. Had the old lady inadvertently included her house key?
Nevertheless, after completing the ritual of burning the paper money, he proceeded to the columbarium, where the ashes of another person rested. His intention was to relocate the individual and lay her to rest in her hometown.
Rows of small grilles storing urns adorned the walls like lockers. Qi Kai located the designated number and turned around. Surprisingly, the administrator, expected to supervise the area, was absent from the room.
His hand brushed against the iron hammer nestled in his backpack. Just as he was about to retrieve it, an inexplicable impulse led him to gaze at the copper key clutched in his other hand.
As if guided by an unseen force, he inserted the copper key into the keyhole and turned it slightly.
With a click, the storage cabinet opened.
The day was splendid, featuring a cloudless and expansive sky.
A distant breeze rustled the air. Qi Kai descended the stairs to find a weathered off-road vehicle already waiting for him.
The off-road vehicle lowered its windows, unveiling a group of familiar faces adorned with bright smiles. These were fellow inmates released a few years before him, individuals he had met during his time in Dongping Prison. Lacking the decorum expected on such a solemn occasion, they engaged in loud chatter, each with a cigarette dangling from their mouths.
"Are ya finished with everything?" The inmate in the driver's seat, upon seeing Qi Kai emerge, popped his head out of the off-road vehicle. He scrutinized the small wooden box cradled in Qi Kai's arms in the warm sunshine and commented, "Fuck, that urn looks childish as fuck. The patterns’ so freaking ugly!"
Qi Kai appeared momentarily lost in thought, snapped back to reality by the crude remark. Lowering his head, he gazed at the poppy flower drawn in unnatural strokes on the box. After a brief moment, he raised his face, breaking into a genuine smile. "Get lost!"
Placing one hand on the car window, the muscles in his arm subtly bulging with strength, Qi Kai leaped effortlessly into the car seat through the open gap. Swiftly, he kicked the seat in front of him, declaring, "Let's go!"
As he retrieved the unused hammer from his backpack with the intention of discarding it, his hand brushed against a thick envelope. Upon pulling it out and tearing it open, he discovered a stack of US dollars.
Nestled among the US dollars was a piece of paper, bearing Xiao Chi's bold handwriting - "Get lost then, have a nice trip."
He gazed at the note and burst into laughter, the sound mingling with the clear liquid oozing from the corners of his eyes. The man in the driver's seat turned around, his arms adorned with ink, and chuckled, "Is a trip to Thailand worth this much joy?"
Qi Kai playfully punched him, revisited the sentence on the note, then raised his arm and released it gently, letting the paper be swept away by the howling wind.
The beat upped off-road vehicle's less-than-stellar speakers belted out a rock song, crackling with static, intermittently delivering the English lyrics with a robust rhythm. The singer on the track bid a hysterical farewell to his past.
Qi Kai, having learned this song with his prison friends, joyfully sang along in the gusty wind. The melody wafted onto the road, capturing the attention of numerous passers-by and car owners cruising past.
Yan City, a modern and bustling metropolis adorned with countless opulent high-rise buildings and the aspirations of its inhabitants, swiftly faded into the background as the dissipated car cruised away. It carried with it numerous memories and friendships, disappearing into the distance, becoming nothing more than a hazy mirage, never to be glimpsed again.
T/N: I love how Grandma Xiao and Xiao Chi are so all-knowing xD
Also, don’t worry it’s not the last you’ll see of our boy Qi Kai
