Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 91 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 91.1 Extra [Returning in Glory I]
It was the peak of summer, and the sun beat down relentlessly on Yan City. Fortunately, the current temperature was relatively cooler than it would have been at the start of July.
As the clock struck noon, traffic congestion started to build up on the roads. Despite most major companies in Yan City granting their employees short vacations, the city remained densely populated. Consequently, traffic police in the streets and alleys remained quite busy.
The car waited in a lengthy queue before finally entering the private subdistrict. After a meticulous examination of the license plate, it passed through the safety check. Glancing at the time on his phone, Lin Jingzhe sent a voice message to Deng Mai, who had to stay in the company temporarily to organize work due to the majority of employees being on holiday, "Where are you, we're on the verge of entering the venue. Any delay, and you might miss it."
Deng Mai sounded visibly anxious, "I'm on my way. The road is a bit congested; give me another twenty minutes!"
Lin Jingzhe gazed through the dashboard window at the massive building looming in the distance. The plaza beside the traffic lane was already buzzing with activity. There, groups of people with both oriental and foreign faces, spanning various age groups, eagerly awaited to witness the spectacle while holding small flags. The moment the Olympic rings and mascots came into view, Zhuangzhuang in the back seat erupted in joy, clapping her hands and cheering.
Glancing back, Lin Jingzhe noticed Grandma Xiao, alongside Zhuangzhuang, peering out of the window with curiosity. Grandma Xiao rarely ventured outside. In the past, she had only seen this stadium on TV and in newspapers. Witnessing it firsthand left her in awe, "Amitabha, constructing this stadium must have required a tremendous effort, right? Our country's construction technology is becoming increasingly advanced."
Elder Fang furrowed his brows and settled on the other side, clutching his walking cane with both hands, steady as a mountain. "What a country bumpkin, it's just a small gymnasium; why are you so astonished? This is nothing."
Despite his disdainful tone, his eyes subtly peeked out. Occasionally catching glimpses of something thrilling, his brows twitched involuntarily.
Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi exchanged glances, both of their expressions softening.
On this day, in early August, they were about to embark on a grand event with their families.
Hero Electronics, Haitang Non-staple Food Incorporated, Best Partner IT, Immortal Science & Technology, New Beginnings Conglomerate, and Flux Realty are all sponsors of the Olympic Games, so they secured ample tickets for the opening ceremony well in advance. This unparalleled event was a timeless spectacle. Even though many decades have passed in Lin Jingzhe's life, the impression from his previous life remained vivid. During that time, his busy schedule limited him to watching the overseas live broadcast. This time around, he had the opportunity to rectify that regret. The moment he learned about the chance to attend the event, he promptly decided to organize his family to join him.
What surprised him was the extent of excitement exhibited by the elderly members at home. According to Xiao Family’s parents, the elderly lady had been fervently burning incense and praying to Bodhisattva daily since June, seeking blessings to ensure the smooth hosting of the Olympic Games in their nation. Upon learning she could attend the opening ceremony, her excitement was so palpable that she struggled to sleep for several nights. Before leaving, she spent nearly two hours dressing up at home. Adorning herself in her favorite clothes, shoes, socks, and Buddhist beads. She even used her granddaughter Xiao Miao's cosmetics to delicately apply powder. It could be said that she had meticulously prepared for the Olympic Games.
Elder Fang had composed himself to conceal his excitement, but his great-granddaughter Zhuangzhuang effortlessly exposed his attempt—the gleaming, spotless leather shoes on his feet was said to have been a good twenty minutes of personally polishing before stepping out.
Mirroring their sentiments, the people across the country were also enveloped in escalating joy. Several hours remained before the opening ceremony, yet users on the Immortal Blog had already begun sharing real-time updates on their preparations for watching the live broadcast. Supermarkets and convenience stores in Yan City and nationwide teemed with customers forming lines to purchase snacks. The most trending post on Immortal Blog featured a photo of a popcorn bag and a can of Coke placed on a table between a television and a sofa.
Accompanying text: {Ahhhhhh, eagerly awaiting the Olympics!}
The car settled into the designated parking spot. Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi alighted from the vehicle, before promptly assisting the two elderly individuals from the back seat.
Now outside the confines of the car, the vibrant sounds of the crowd in the plaza reached their ears without hindrance. The shortened distance and change in perspective enhanced the grandeur of the peculiar-looking building.
Once Elder Fang steadied himself, his initially indifferent expression underwent a gradual transformation. He hunched over, leaning on his cane while lifting his head and gazing up in a daze for a while.
After a prolonged moment, he sighed and lamented, "How magnificent——"
He vividly recalled that in his youth, the nation grappled with numerous challenges and required substantial improvements. Their country's international standing was virtually marginalized, with little influence. However, in the blink of an eye, as the new century unfolded, it had acquired the capability to host the Olympic Games.
The elderly lady clasped Lin Jingzhe's hand, reminiscing, "You weren't in China on the day the Olympic bid was successful, so you didn't witness every household in our compound setting off firecrackers that day..."
The distant buildings towered, and the roads stretched wide. Countless cars arrived expressly for this occasion, transporting passengers whose lives had transcended mere subsistence.
Several cars trailing behind them also parked one after another, and people of all ages converged from various directions. Gao Sheng shaded his eyes with his hand, surveying the plaza teeming with playful children, and inquired, "Where's Ol’Deng?"
"He mentioned he'd be here in twenty minutes, but there's no need to rush. They haven't allowed us into the stadium yet." Lin Jingzhe accepted a bottle of mineral water retrieved by Xiao Chi from the car's cooler. "Let's spend some time in the plaza and enjoy ourselves first."
Zhuangzhuang darted away with a yelp, reminiscent of a puppy off its leash, her parents desperately giving chase. Gao Sheng observed the trio's retreating figures, shook his head, and remarked, "Having a child is so fucking nerve-wracking."
Hu Yu and Mother Zhou strolled over, hand-in-hand. Upon hearing her son's words, she simply smiled and remained silent. Her daily life was densely packed, filled with classes, research, and tutoring students—almost overwhelming. How could she find time to pressure her son to have a child?
Their group, comprised of over a dozen people, stood out prominently. Volunteers promptly distributed small flags to each of them. Lin Jingzhe expressed his gratitude, received his flag, and snapped a photo with his mobile phone.
The picture turned out blurry.
Xiao Chi: "..."
"Let me." He took Lin Jingzhe's mobile phone and zeroed in on the small flag. After capturing several shots from various angles, Lin Jingzhe suddenly draped an arm around his neck.
"Let's take a photo together!"
Xiao Chi cast a glance behind him, finding his family members dispersed as if oblivious to everything. Bringing his head close to Lin Jingzhe's, their heads touched, and the shutter clicked.
In the frozen moment, Lin Jingzhe's smile radiated brightness. After Xiao Chi straightened up, he gazed at his lover’s starry eyes he had captured for an extended period.
Suddenly, he heard Yu Shuyuan shouting, "How strange, where did Mom go?"
The stadium was on the verge of opening, and the plaza buzzed with people displaying a myriad of faces. Upon turning around, they discovered the elderly lady had wandered away.
Before panic could set in, they heard the voices of Fang Wenhao and his wife amidst the lively crowd, "She's here, she's here!"
Immediately after the couple pushed through the crowd and came into view, Lin Jingzhe spat out a mouthful of water—Fang Wenhao's expression was one of 'life is worse than death,' and his hefty little daughter rode on his shoulders like countless other children in the plaza. However, she was considerably larger, nearly crushing her father to the point of despair. Children remain blissfully unaware of their parents' suffering. Zhuangzhuang evidently had no understanding of the ordeal her biological father endured, excitedly moving on his shoulder. She clung tightly to her father's head to prevent herself from falling, her chubby thighs swaying in excitement, occasionally colliding with her father's chest, each impact seemingly inducing an invisible mouthful of blood.
There was an evident reason for her jubilation. Someone had affixed stickers to her face—a national flag, a heart, and a 'victory' sign.
But Lin Jingzhe only cast a few glances at them before redirecting his attention to the figure walking alongside the family of three. Amidst laughter and tears, he approached to offer assistance, "Grandma, just look at you. The plaza is so crowded. How could you slip away without a word? What if you got lost?"
The old lady, unperturbed by criticism that didn't involve candy, smiled and seized her grandson's arm, presenting her cheeks, "Do they look good?"
"..." She sported a national flag sticker on her left cheek, Yan City's Olympics Logo on her right cheek, and a small red flag in the breast pocket of her top. Her old eyes sparkled, and her expression radiated pure joy.
"It looks fantastic." The elderly lady's mindset had grown increasingly childlike in recent years. Lin Jingzhe swiftly conceded and praised her, "Where did you get those?"
Grandma grew even more jubilant, pointing to a lively gathering spot in the plaza not far away. "Over there! You can also take photos with the mascot there!"
The younger individuals were unfazed, but the parents immediately became animated upon hearing this. Even Shen Juanying, typically calm and composed, took Lin Runsheng by the hand, expressing interest, and everyone headed straight for that location.