Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 93 (Part 3)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 93.3 Extra [Returning in Glory III]
In the era of advanced transportation, a drive from Qunnan to Shen City now takes about two hours on the expressway. Even a journey to Yan City, which was much farther away, could be covered in three hours by train. Hu Shaofeng, who was caught in endless overtime, received a phone call. He rushed over, initially thinking it was an emergency. Upon realizing it was just an invitation for a drink, he felt as though he had been granted a significant reprieve from his hectic schedule.
The prosperity of Shen City has become increasingly refined, with the influence of this international metropolis more profound than over a decade ago. Skyscrapers adorned the skyline, traffic weaved seamlessly, and the gentle glow of modern neon lights after dark emitted an irresistible allure.
"What's the deal?" Gao Sheng hollered at the top of his lungs in the nearby booth amid the deafening music. "Why are we given two seating areas? It's not like we can't fit into one!"
The bars in Shen City remained as lively as ever. Few old-fashioned establishments still operated, with most undergoing numerous renovations. Zhou Haitang, upon entering, surveyed the surroundings in bewilderment. It took him a while to grasp a realization. "This place, we've been here before!"
"What?!" Gao Sheng appeared perplexed.
"Have you forgotten?" Zhou Haitang shouted into his ear, pointing to the enthusiastically animated DJ on the stage. "In 1990, right after we finished the college entrance examination, we came to Shen City with Jingzhe to dabble in stocks!"
"Oh!!!" Gao Sheng suddenly recalled, his eyes lighting up. "That Tian... Tian... What was his name again?"
"Tian Dahua!"
"Yeah, him!" Gao Sheng suddenly became animated, looking around as he exclaimed, "Holy shit, we haven't been here for more than ten years, and this place has actually changed like this..."
In the adjacent booth, Hu Shaofeng was taken aback. "Re—Really? Do you think th–that’s a good idea?"
Xiao Chi ignored him, ordered the drinks, and handed them back to the waiter, reiterating, "Please call a few girls over, thank you."
Isn't the primary goal of all bachelors who come here to have a good time? The waiter smiled with an unspoken understanding and left. Soon, he returned with five or six young girls. Xiao Chi nodded without even looking.
Oh... oh... so exciting!
Hu Shaofeng, who hadn't ventured out much since turning thirty, found himself surrounded by an abundance of fragrances. At the same time, he was a bit bewildered. He couldn't help but wonder why Brother Xiao was being so generous to him today. Not only did he treat him to a drink, but he also took the initiative to find girls for him for the first time.
Gao Sheng and Zhou Haitang, seated beside him, exchanged disapproving glances. Oddly, Lin Jingzhe didn't even spare a glance in that direction after taking his seat. The girls swiftly shifted into work mode, but Xiao Chi, after downing a glass of wine, rose from his seat, leaving the 'lavish entertainment' to Hu Shaofeng. "I'm going to the bathroom."
"We just sat down, why go to the bathroom..." Hu Shaofeng grew increasingly perplexed. Just as he was about to call out to him, he witnessed Xiao Chi striding away rapidly, as if in a hurry, distancing himself within a couple of steps.
Gao Sheng squinted, chewing a piece of watermelon as he observed. He then casually mentioned to Lin Jingzhe, uncertain if he had witnessed the scene. "Ol' Xiao is behaving a bit strangely today."
Lin Jingzhe smiled in response and set down his wine glass. "I'm going to the restroom."
"???" What's going on with these two tonight?
Zhou Haitang, Gao Sheng, and Deng Mai exchanged puzzled glances, baffled by the unusual atmosphere.
The bar's restroom was still in its original location, but it had undergone significant renovations, appearing much more luxurious than it did more than ten years ago. The music blared loudly, and the dance floor was filled with people dancing energetically. In the dimly lit corners, couples were engaged in passionate embraces. Lin Jingzhe entered the bathroom and spotted a tall figure waiting by the sink, sporting a restrained smile and avoiding eye contact.
Lin Jingzhe used the toilet first. The sound of gurgling water filled the air, accompanied by a hot gaze that seemed to cling to his back, its intensity palpable through his clothes.
After zipping up, he walked directly to the sink to wash his hands. Lowering his head, he focused on the flowing water from the faucet and glanced up from the his peripherals—
Poof……
Could his 'attribute' be remotely controlled? It could stand up whenever he wanted it to? He had to give it to him.
Someone emerged from one of the stalls and opened the door to leave. Xiao Chi waited until everything was quiet, then looked down at Lin Jingzhe with squinted eyes. "What are you looking at?"
"..." Lin Jingzhe coughed before turning off the faucet, "What do you think I’m looking at?"
He raised his head with a provocative gaze but his big, dewy eyes were like a flawless hand beckoning him closer. Xiao Chi's mind was completely affected by this. It took a while before he could recollect himself as he whispered in a low voice, "You’ve washed your hands. Can you leave now?"
"No." Lin Jingzhe thrust his chin forward in a sneer, then walked back to locate a urinal, unzipped his fly, and stood there motionless.
Xiao Chi trailed behind him, his eyes tracing the movements of Lin Jingzhe's arm. Regrettably, he couldn't witness the scenery in front from his vantage point.
Xiao Chi extended his hand to touch Lin Jingzhe's lower back, but he was rebuffed by the other party. Undeterred, he embraced him and murmured in Lin Jingzhe's ear, "Buddy, do you…mm…do you really have to fuck with me?"
Lin Jingzhe finally couldn't contain his laughter and tried his best to respond through his amusement, "Who's your buddy? Is this your private bathroom or something? Hahahahaha, I can't roleplay anymore!"
Xiao Chi also burst into laughter, playfully biting Lin Jingzhe's chin. "You're so useless; we've only just started!"
Lin Jingzhe chuckled and pushed him away, saying, "You know, at the time, I thought you were a huge dumbass and deserved a beating."
As Xiao Chi has aged, his eyes have softened. When he gazes deeply, it's as if there's a pool of sweet water within. "You were quite the dumbass back then."
"What?" Lin Jingzhe raised an eyebrow, "What did you just say?"
"I said—" Xiao Chi cleared his throat and continued, "Inwardly, I was thinking, 'What pretty big eyes; he is so good-looking. I must sleep with him.'"
"Scram!" Lin Jingzhe pushed him, "You were clearly raising your arm, ready to hit me."
As he contemplated it, he felt aggrieved and tried to argue, "You scoundrel, you actually wanted to beat me!"
"..." Xiao Chi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Be more reasonable; I was beaten more severely by you, okay? The situation when you beat me was very serious. I flew abroad to get it checked out for several days before coming back."
"Liar, what nonsense," Lin Jingzhe still didn't believe it. He stared at Xiao Chi’s face for a long time before his expression changed hesitantly, "...really?"
Xiao Chi pursed his lips and nodded, desolately lowering his eyes, no longer looking at him.
Lin Jingzhe stepped forward. "...Are you okay now?"
Xiao Chi hugged him and asked softly, "How about you help me take a look?"
"Scram, scram, scram, scram!" Lin Jingzhe's lips were then covered. He hugged the back of Xiao Chi's neck and reciprocated the kiss for a while. At the same time, he tried to shirk the blame, "At… that time… you also… took advantage of me... like this; otherwise... why would I have hit you..."
"It’s all my mistake, my mistake—I admit it." Xiao Chi added a crucial principle to the latter half of his life—never argue with Lin Jingzhe, except for the times he wanted to be occasionally ‘beaten up’.
At this moment, he felt genuine gratitude for the glass of wine that Hu Shaofeng had given him many years ago. Without that glass of wine, how would he have encountered and come to know the sweetheart in his arms? The taste of that astringent kiss from more than ten years ago lay deep in his memory, akin to an earthen jar sealed with layers of oil paper. Over time, the wine within would ferment, and its fragrance would only grow more delightful.
Love was truly a remarkable phenomenon. It appeared so inadvertently, as small as dust, yet had strong vitality; after landing onto the ground, its sprout would thrive effortlessly.
Revisiting the familiar spot felt akin to a revisit to their youthful honeymoon. Despite their inner restlessness, the couple managed to restrain their emotions. After a lingering kiss, Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi exchanged prolonged glances. Just as the footsteps outside the bathroom drew near, they walked out hand in hand.
In the blink of an eye, the transition from one world to another occurred, and the serene atmosphere was swiftly replaced by the resounding music.
Their friends outside were already immersed in wild revelry. From afar, they observed Hu Shaofeng standing in the booth, embracing a slender girl and swaying to the rhythm of the music.
It was quite uncommon for someone approaching forty to exhibit such unrestrained behavior. Zhou Haitang and Gao Sheng both displayed expressions of disdain, but Hu Shaofeng continued to move with increasing vigor. Lin Jingzhe gazed behind for a moment, and a realization dawned on him, "I remember now!"
"What do you remember?" Xiao Chi, who was contemplating whether to join Hu Shaofeng and potentially embarrass himself, immediately turned his attention to Lin Jingzhe.
Lin Jingzhe shook his head, strolled toward his seat, kicked Zhou Haitang, and motioned to the table with his chin, saying, "Get me something strong to drink, extra ice cubes."
"What are you up to? Go easy on the drinks. Most of the alcohol in bars isn't what they claim to be." His childhood friends typically discouraged him from drinking outside. Though reluctant, Zhou Haitang poured him a glass— a small serving of XO, with ample ice and a splash of mineral water.
Then Lin Jingzhe narrowed his eyes, displaying a clearly mischievous smile. He turned around, carrying the rock glass without taking a sip, and winked at Xiao Chi, signaling him to restrain Hu Shaofeng.
Hu Shaofeng was joyfully dancing when someone suddenly gripped his shoulders. He turned around and saw Xiao Chi, whose demeanor seemed unnaturally composed in this lively setting. Just as he was about to inquire about the situation, his neck suddenly tightened, and then an intense—
"AAHHHH!!"
With a yelp, he leaped up, shaking his body frantically, causing a cascade of ice to tumble from his back.
Partially sober, he gazed in bewilderment at Lin Jingzhe, who was laughing heartily after the prank. He was on the verge of questioning the motive behind such an act when, still shaking off the remaining ice, his hazy mind made a sudden connection to this familiar scene.
"Fuck!!!" The perplexity that Hu Shaofeng had buried deep within himself for over a decade finally unraveled, and a wave of discomfort swept over him. "The one who dumped ice down my neck more than ten years ago... was you?"
"HAHAHAHA!!!" Lin Jingzhe clutched the empty cup, as if he had reclaimed the youth that had slipped away many years ago. In this moment, he beamed with joy like never before.
Hu Shaofeng was both angered and amused by Lin Jingzhe, prompting him to climb onto the sofa in an attempt to retaliate. Meanwhile, Gao Sheng and Zhou Haitang, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, were not about to let him have his way. They swarmed him like a pack of bees, restraining him.
"AHHHHHH—" Hu Shaofeng found himself at the mercy of a deluge of ice cubes, his distress verging on tears. This was sheer bullying!! All he wanted was to have a good time and pick up some girls! Can't everyone just be kind and live a simple life?!!
AHHHHHH——
Lin Jingzhe grinned, crossed his arms, and observed the chaos while leaning back into Xiao Chi's embrace. He shook his head with a sigh and remarked, "How satisfying."
Xiao Chi embraced him firmly, nodding in agreement. "Mhm."