Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 93 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 93.1 Extra [Returning in Glory III]
The surrounding sounds were muffled, resembling the howls of wolves and the roars of tigers, or the distant rumble of thunder.
Jiang Run strained his ears, and after a while, he discerned the distinct sound of a sports car engine, similar to the one he had observed on the street not long ago.
This type of sound had an allure that was nearly irresistible to every man. Whenever he spotted the sleek bodyworks of those luxurious cars on the street, Jiang Run couldn't help but gaze at them with eyes full of envy and longing. The prospect of sitting in one and driving it, especially a high-end sports car, seemed like an exhilarating experience. Perhaps, the sensation of stepping on the accelerator of a supercar differed significantly from that of an ordinary vehicle. Imagining himself driving such a car to confront his ex-girlfriend and those former associates who had treated him with disdain, he wondered what their reactions would be.
Jiang Run had entertained this fantasy countless times, even conjuring up vivid mental images while lying on his small balcony. However, dreams remained just that – dreams.
Considering his personal capabilities and family economic status, the closest he might get to a sports car like this in real life would be passing one at a car wash on his way home from work.
He pondered this, but before he could mock himself, his arm was abruptly yanked by someone, sending a shiver down his spine.
Startled, he turned his head and found a group of indistinct figures forming behind him. Their facial features and body shapes were unclear, and all he could make out were the various luxury cars parked behind them.
Jiang Run had a hunch that he might know these people.
"What?" Struggling to discern the appearances of the others, someone in the blurred crowd extended their arm and punched his chest. Though the voice seemed distant, the familiarity of the gesture was unmistakable. "Hurry up, we still have one more lap on the mountain road. Remember our deal? Whoever falls behind foots the bill for dinner and will be the wingman when picking up ladies. Back out now and you're a bitch!"
There was laughter echoing all around as the group piled into their cars one after another. In a daze, Jiang Run found himself leaning against a sleek golden sports car. After a moment of confusion, he instinctively followed the others and hopped inside.
Peering through the foggy window, the surroundings remained unclear. Jiang Run, feeling a chill down his spine, reached to wipe the window, but before his hand could make contact, a gentle whisper tickled his ear—
"Young Master Jiang, why are you still in a daze? They all already left~"
Jiang Run spun around in horror, discovering a graceful figure seated beside the co-pilot seat. Although her face remained unclear, her short skirt, curly hair, and long legs exuded undeniable femininity from head to toe. As someone with limited exposure to the world, he found her presence utterly captivating, almost to the point of drooling.
The engine's roar outside the car gradually intensified, and a woman he had never seen before continued to occupy his passenger seat. Jiang Run was completely disoriented, unaware of how he ended up here or what the others were up to. However, in this moment, it felt as though another soul had taken control of his body. His limbs moved independently of his will, and he observed the scene like an outsider as the car sped off like lightning.
In the end, it appeared that he had secured the last place, and the group of people, whose faces remained obscured, gathered around to heckle him. They insisted that since he made a bet, he had to pay up, suggesting he charter a flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, to pick up girls.
Jiang Run had only heard of this extravagant destination on TV, and the idea of chartering a plane to pick up girls seemed financially out of reach for him. Yet, the people around him acted as if they were certain he had the means to afford such extravagance. Jiang Run found himself in a dilemma, but the presence of the long-legged beauty by his side made facing this predicament even more awkward. Amidst the cheers, he could only break into a profuse sweat.
However, he overheard his own body uttering something incomprehensible. "I'll check with my aunt if my uncle's plane is in the country."
Aunt?
Jiang Run pondered for a moment before recalling Jiang Qiaqia. He hadn't been in contact with her for at least ten years.
But uncle? Airplane?
He couldn't fathom the connection, but very soon, he observed as his body retrieved a shiny golden mobile phone from his pocket, opening the address book, and dialed a certain name.
The number displayed under the name was evidently unfamiliar, yet it sparked a sense of familiarity for no apparent reason. The voices of the people cheering around him persisted, laughing and conversing. "Whether he's in the country or not, you've got to make sure this trip happens."
"Yeah, how many more days can we spend picking up girls together? Our Young Master Jiang will have to take over Zhixiao Real Estate by the end of the year at the latest, right? His cousin is only ten years old. Maybe he'll also get a share of Qiqing Real Estate. Damn, doesn't that mean he'll be Qunnan's richest individual!"
"Hahahaha!"
“Qiqing Real Estate blahblahblah…”
"Zhixiao Real Estate blahblahblah..."
Jiang Run heard the dial tone from the phone receiver amid the chatter around him. His body laughed and playfully scolded everyone, "Get out of here!"
What unfolded next? Once the call connected, the voice on the other end uttered a string of words. His mind felt like it had been struck with a heavy blow, and suddenly, there was nothing but the howl of the wind and the rapidly changing scenery outside the speeding sports car. The car's momentum through the curves made him sway back and forth, followed by a deafening crash, impact, flames, pain, screams, sirens, and a world engulfed in fire.
With a thud, Jiang Run snapped his eyes open, drenched in sweat, and the throbbing pain in his forehead was excruciating. However, the sight that greeted him was nothing but his modest and worn-out home, and their inexpensive and shabby coffee table.
He took a few moments to process the reality before gingerly rising from the floor. The laminate wood flooring, the cramped sofa, and the newly purchased Hero mobile phone lay silently, face down, beside him.
Huh?
Jiang Run's racing heart gradually settled. He extended his hand absently, wiping his face. The weariness from the nap lingered in his mind. The brief respite hadn't rejuvenated him.
Was it all just a dream?
From the kitchen and bathroom, his mother's familiar, stern voice echoed. "The weather is so nice, and you're still cooped up at home. Can't you do something productive for once? No girlfriend, no job—just playing games and sleeping all day! Do you even know what time it is? You started in your room, moved to the sofa, and then fell off the sofa, and you still don't wake up!? Are you a human or a pig? Look at Lin Jingzhe, then look at yourself. You're just a piece of trash!"
Jiang Run was accustomed to being scolded, and his mother's words went in one ear and out the other. Living with a constantly dissatisfied and negative mother required a strong heart.
He sat there for a while, pondering the dream he just had. It felt peculiar, not like a simple figment of his imagination.
"Mom." Lost in his thoughts, he couldn't resist the urge to share with someone. "I dreamt that I was in a car accident. I didn't know which winding mountain road I tumbled off while street racing."
Jiang Xiaoyun emerged from the kitchen with a basket of edamame, intending to peel it in the living room. Upon hearing this, she simply rolled her eyes at him and remarked, "Street racing? Are you still living in your fantasies? With the kind of vehicle we have, you're going to race? Street racing? In a minivan?"
The Jiang family only owned a minivan, primarily used by the couple and occasionally for transporting their construction team-related items. Jiang Run considered the vehicle too worn and never drove it out. His initial plan was to gather funds from his family and secure a loan to purchase a new car valued at over 100,000 RMB, but financial constraints always hindered this goal.
Jiang Run's fantastical world crumbled as his mother's pragmatic words brought him back to reality. He chuckled at the thought of this practical issue. Indeed, how could his family afford a sports car for him to race?
Ideas like flying to Las Vegas and picking up girls were a far cry from his everyday life. While he occasionally entertained daydreams of such experiences, they were never as vividly realistic as this one.
So much so that the apprehension from the distinct dream still clung to him lingeringly.
Jiang Xiaoyun switched to a random TV channel, and an advertisement for Haitang Non-staple Food's newly launched Shiitake Mushroom Sauce began playing on the screen. The rich sauce was depicted being poured over steaming hot, crystal-clear rice, gradually seeping into the crevices, creating an irresistibly tempting scene.
Seeing his favorite sauce, Jiang Run opened the "Legends of Jianghu II" page on his mobile phone. He then turned around to observe his mother's familiar gloomy expression. The disconcerting sensations from the dream, along with the inexplicable pain, finally dissipated.
However, the game was still temporarily locked and could not be played. Absentmindedly peeling a handful of beans, he asked his mother, "Mom, do you know where aunt is? I dreamt about her just now. In the dream, she and uncle were involved in a car accident while on their way to pick up their daughter. When I called her for money and a plane ticket to go abroad, either a police officer or a lawyer answered, urging me to quickly handle matters related to them and the equity of Qiqing Real Estate. There was a significant amount of money involved, and I was so agitated that I drove down from the mountain. The end result was breaking through the guardrail and flying out."
"What kind of messy dream is that? Your uncle died more than ten years ago, and your aunt hasn't been in touch with us for more than a decade. Where did this daughter come from?" Jiang Xiaoyun was amused and couldn't help but roll her eyes at her son. "You keep daydreaming about these nonsensical things all day long. You’re thinking about asking your aunt for money and a plane? Is your head still there?! Qiqing Real Estate even made an appearance in your dreams? You actually still remember this name? Yes, it was a company that your aunt and uncle operated, but it went bankrupt when you were in school!"
Jiang Run shook his head. It must have happened many, many years ago. He had no impression of this company at all.
Indeed, since there was no impression, why could he dream so vividly? He even clearly remembered the equity distribution of Qiqing Real Estate and the names of the properties currently being developed by the company in Qunnan, which were briefly described to him by the lawyer on the phone in his dream. This matter was too incredible.
Jiang Run glanced at his phone. He still remembered the string of numbers displayed on the dial interface in his dreams clearly.
In a daze, he dialed it, and to his surprise, it went through!
Toot—toot—
Sweat broke out on his forehead as he stared at the screen of his cell phone, indicating that the call was in progress.
Finally, the call connected, and a rough male voice with a slight northwest accent shouted from the speaker, "Hello! Hello? Who is it?! Speak up!"
Seeing that no one was answering, the man let out a string of profanity. Jiang Run quickly hung up.
Today's news began after the TV advertisement. The host of the local social news on Qunnan’s Local TV Station appeared upbeat. "The investment promotion activities in our province are in full swing. Liyun Town recently welcomed a group of..."
As he spoke, the scene transitioned to an outdoor setting. Jiang Xiaoyun's hands, engaged in peeling edamame, momentarily froze upon seeing the face surrounded by the crowd.
Lin Jingzhe didn't appear much different from his childhood, aside from being taller and with a more distinguished aura. Jiang Xiaoyun recalled their recent encounter, and the feeling of suffocation still lingered in her memory. She wasn't sure if he had noticed her; he likely had. In any case, upon recognizing him, her immediate instinct was to run, to put as much distance between them as possible.
These days are no different from before, yet she managed to frighten herself, plagued by nightmares at night. In her dreams, she often faced a road blocked by vengeful figures, eviction from her cramped abode, and the collapse of her company. At times, she encountered her deceased father, reflections on her youth, and at times, even visions of Lin Jingzhe.
Regret, a concluding term, bears a bitter taste when uttered, akin to the flavor of failure.
Jiang Xiaoyun let out a sigh and tossed the edamame in her palm into the basket, as if releasing pent-up frustration. One accidentally rolled out, and she swiftly retrieved it, displaying a hint of distress. Edamame was particularly pricey in Qunnan this season, making it a sporadic indulgence.
Her actions halted as she picked up the fallen edamame. After a brief pause, she shook her head. "Alas..."
A lifetime seemed lengthy, and she had always believed she would have the last laugh, yet she didn't anticipate being ousted midway.
As the news segment concluded, she remained in a daze for a moment. Turning around, she noticed her son sitting beside her, unusually still. He was gazing down at his phone, prompting her to inquire, "What are you doing? Who are you calling?"
Jiang Run glanced at her, wearing a perplexed expression. After a brief pause, he shook his head. "It’s nothing, I must have butt-dialed someone by accident."
Indeed, how could that be possible? It was evidently just a dream.
He chided himself for being foolish enough to take it seriously.
T/N: The dream, if anyone is confused, was Jiang Run’s life if our MC hadn’t reincarnated.
