Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 91 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 91.2 Extra [Returning in Glory I]
After successfully bringing his daughter back, Fang Wenhao who found himself forced to walk another round, appearing as if he had been struck by lightning. Zhuangzhuang, perched on his shoulders, emitted a series of high-pitched laughs, her plump body moving about with excitement.
As Hu Shaofeng passed his overwhelmed childhood friend, he shook his head with evident schadenfreude. "This is what happens when you neglect exercise in your youth."
Fang Wenhao retorted to him, word by word, "Get lost... you... mother..."
"Zhuangzhuang! Demonstrate a high jump for your uncle. How do you execute a high jump?" Hu Shaofeng raised his eyebrows slightly after the scolding, then turned to Fang Zhuangzhuang with a benevolent smile.
Fang Wenhao immediately realized that something bad was about to happen. The next second, his excited daughter clamped her legs, tightened her arms around his head, and started jumping on her father's shoulders.
Fang Wenhao: "………………"
Go to hell!
…
The crowd around him began to move in the same direction in an orderly manner. It was evident that they were about to enter the venue. Glancing at his watch, Lin Jingzhe pulled out his mobile phone to call Deng Mai. Unexpectedly, the screen lit up the next second.
"I'm here, I'm here! Where are you guys now? I'm on my way to find you!" Probably briskly walking or running, the sound of wind accompanied Deng Mai's voice through the phone speakers. Lin Jingzhe instinctively turned his head to look at the parking lot, spotting a tall, dark-skinned man in sharp formal attire.
Lin Jingzhe raised his arms, waving to the other party. Deng Mai promptly ended the call, exclaiming, "I see you now!"
Panting as he ran over, Deng Mai burst into laughter upon observing everyone's appearance, "Are you gearing up for an opera?"
The elders enjoyed a rare moment of childlike fun, with mothers and sisters joining in, adorning their faces with national flag stickers. The men refrained from joining or commenting.
On the other side, Xiao Chi directed Elder Fang to pose next to the Olympic mascot.
The old man's mouth was uncooperative, and he acted dismissive during the whole ordeal. "Who wants to take pictures of this!"
Xiao Chi, fixated on the phone screen in his hand, spoke in a deep voice, "Close your legs together."
Elder Fang complied, bringing his legs together and using his cane to strike a heroic pose. "Childish! Brainless!"
Xiao Chi instructed, "Raise your head a little higher and look at the camera."
He spoke while pressing the shutter.
There were clicking sounds emitted from the phone.
The old man closed his mouth, fixed his gaze on the camera on Xiao Chi's phone, and straightened his back silently.
The security check was stringent, and the special tickets for the private rooms led them through dedicated passages guided by attentive personnel. Along the way, Xiao Chi and Lin Jingzhe encountered many familiar business friends, each one simple but friendly exchanging greetings.
Seeing the two of them appear hand in hand while with their families, although there was initial surprise, everyone's attitude quickly normalized.
Going public together did stir some commotion initially. During that period, attending meetings and events attracted peculiar glances. However, after a few months, life settled back into its routine. Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi’s social status reached a point where they were no longer concerned about external opinions on their love life.
They conducted themselves openly, and over time, outsiders lost interest in prying or distorting information. This whole situation could be wrapped up in rather simply: ‘We all live happily with our parents and elders. Whether I live with a man or a woman, what concern is it of outsiders?’
On this significant day, as pillars of their families, the businessmen exchanged well-wishes and bid farewell to each other.
The once-empty audience chairs in the venue gradually filled, hosting over 90,000 people. The atmosphere grew increasingly lively as the opening ceremony drew near, and the host initiated the live broadcast. Impatient to experience the excitement, the elders refused to remain in their private room, opting instead to sit outside early. They eagerly awaited the gradual darkening of the sky.
As dusk settled, the large screen in the venue illuminated with a stirring sundial, and the resonant beats of jífǒu drums[1] echoed through the sky.
Simultaneously, viewers in thousands of households around the world switched on their televisions to witness this spectacular scene.
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!"
The audience counted down in unison and shouted together.
"So many friends have come from afar! Isn't that a joy?"
A cascade of welcoming fireworks erupted from the pinnacle of the building, illuminating the entire sky with a brilliant display. Amidst the exuberant cheers of the audience, even Zhuangzhuang joined in with infectious excitement. The gaze of the younger generation shifted from the venue to the heavens above. The family members, struck with awe, found themselves momentarily speechless. In the midst of the shimmering brilliance, Lin Jingzhe surreptitiously clasped Xiao Chi's hand, and they shared a meaningful glance.
Xiao Chi extended his arms, embracing Lin Jingzhe. He activated the mobile phone he had been clutching, capturing a photograph of the blossoming fireworks reflected in his partner's pupils.
Subsequently, he lowered his phone and planted a brief kiss on Lin Jingzhe amidst the harmonious melody and jubilant cheers.
An overhead camera, mounted on a rail, swiftly glided over and circled the area, immortalizing the moment.
Countless viewers tuned into the live broadcast were instantly treated to a dazzling spectacle that left them momentarily blinded.
A real-time update on the Immortal Blog immediately took the top trending spot—
A series of animated images depicted the dazzling brilliance of soaring fireworks illuminating the auditorium, capturing thousands of joyful faces. This was to be expected; the live audience, as well as those watching from the comfort of their homes, were filled with excitement at the spectacle of the fireworks.
The camera zoomed in, ascending from the lower sections to the slightly elevated audience floor.
The majority of the business figures on this floor were well-known to the public. As the camera panned over them, most reservedly raised their hands towards the lens, causing the filming to slow down slightly.
A pair of familiar, handsome faces graced the image—Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi stood out in the crowd, standing side by side. The scene was aesthetically pleasing, catching the eye of viewers. Fans, upon witnessing this unexpected display of their idols, were initially delighted by the charming image, only to be taken aback and left in a state of disbelief the next moment.
In the subsequent second, the two embraced and shared a kiss, prompting a collective =.= expression from everyone.
—XXX: {[GIF] [GIF] [GIF] I just wanted to enjoy the fucking Olympics...}
I really just wanted to enjoy the Olympics! ! ! !
Yu Shuyuan nudged Shen Juanying with her elbow, directing her gaze towards the two youngsters. Shen Juanying gave them a brief look and turned away with a laugh. Over the past decade, she had become entirely immune to such displays. Her attention was now fixed on someone else, more intriguing than the antics of the two youngsters. Shen Juanying grinned slyly at Yu Shuyuan, then raised her hand to point at Elder Fang, who stood alone on the other side with his back turned to everyone.
The stoic old man remained reserved and unsociable, wearing a stern expression since entering the venue. Whenever he had the chance, he admonished his family not to make a fuss. Grandma Xiao eventually found him dull and refused to engage in conversation with him. Though currently, as she looked up at the fireworks, her face transformed into one of childlike simplicity, appreciating the joy of the moment.
Elder Fang stood quietly, gripping the railing. His thin and aged back resembled a silent mountain, and the wrinkles on his face mirrored the paths he had traversed throughout his life. A small old man who never bowed in the face of danger, his usually steadfast eyes now glistened with tears in this poignant moment.
Yu Shuyuan was taken aback as she saw him holding the railing, hastily wiping his face. Regaining composure, she swiftly tugged at the hem of Shen Juanying's clothes, signaling her to avert her gaze.
What if the old man noticed that the younger generation witnessed his tears? The typically bad-tempered and stubborn elder would surely flair up.
On the other side, Deng Mai held his mobile phone for a video call with his parents, who were unable to attend the event in person. While watching the televised broadcast in Liyun Town, they guided their son to use his phone to capture the areas not covered by the TV camera.
His father's booming voice echoed from the loudspeaker, "Oh my God! There are so many people there!"
Deng Mai covered one ear and replied, "There are over 90,000 spectators——"
"Wow! Okay! Okay!" Father Deng was so excited that he couldn't speak clearly. "Pay attention to safety! Don't cause trouble for the police in charge of security!"
Shen Tiantian, who was wearing the new lipstick her brother bought for her, discussed with Xiao Miao whether to organize an Olympic-themed stories event on their website.
Hu Shaofeng and Fang Wenhao resumed their usual banter, each agreeing that after the fireworks display, they would return to their private room for a showdown.
The occupants in the adjacent private room, also a content and united family, observed the chaotic yet endearing scene next door and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Life manifested in various forms of beauty. Following their brief kiss, the fireworks also ceased. Lin Jingzhe was fumbling on his phone while leaning on Xiao Chi amid the background music of the show.
He picked a few exceptionally clear landscape shots captured by Xiao Chi from the photo album, included the photo of the two of them just outside the stadium, and edited attached text with the Olympic Rings emoji——
—Lin Jingzhe: {[Nine Attached Photos] Have you seen it?}
Xiao Chi glanced at the words 'successfully posted' on his phone screen, embraced him, and asked softly, "Who are you asking?"
Lin Jingzhe responded with a serene smile, remaining silent as Xiao Chi enveloped him, his cheek pressed tenderly against his face. Gazing upward, he took in the grandeur of the Olympics, the brilliance of the fireworks painting the sky.
Have you seen it? This magnificent spectacle of the Olympics, adorned with enchanting fireworks.
This was to all the lovely people who are thousands of miles away, unable to be present.
.
.
.
Footnote:
[1] jífǒu (击缶) - The dictionary has it as ‘to beat time with a percussion instrument made of pottery.’ I just decided to name the drums as such since it’s really hard to fully include this into the translation well. You can watch the event described in the text actually happen in this replay of the Opening Ceremony from 2008 Beijing Olympics - https://youtu.be/bufV3EgyPGU?si=qL5ev1_okSKcNP2-&t=350