{"id":16498,"date":"2022-03-07T12:00:21","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T17:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=16498"},"modified":"2022-07-11T11:08:01","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:08:01","slug":"death-progress-bar-123","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/death-progress-bar-123\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Progress Bar 123"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By the end of dinner, aside from Lian Jun, the other six people at the table were all completely drunk.<\/span><\/p>

The first to get drunk was Li Jiuzheng. He\u2019d drunk too much <\/span>baijiu<\/span><\/em> at once and knocked himself out. The second was Rong Zhouzhong, who\u2019d been drinking with him; he fell asleep on the table not long after Li Jiuzheng passed out.<\/span><\/p>

After that were Shi Weichong and Fei Yujing, who\u2019d drunk a lot while eating and talking. The remaining two, Shi Jin and Xiang Aoting, seemed to have been focusing on eating, having a good time chatting about the ingredients. Shi Jin was very interested in this topic. He urged Xiang Aoting to taste this wine and that wine with him, and those sips imperceptibly added up to be a lot of alcohol. By the time Lian Jun noticed something was wrong, they were already slumping in their chairs, blurry-eyed.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun pulled Shi Jin, who was sagging in the chair and talking nonsense, into his arms and let him lean against his chest. He gently stroked the teenager\u2019s cheek, then called Gua One.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One stepped into the dining room and waited for orders.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cTake them to the guest rooms and ask Uncle Long to take a look and see if they\u2019re fine. Remember to feed them hangover prevention medicine,\u201d Lian Jun ordered. He stood up supporting Shi Jin, who was drunk but still awake, and led him towards their room.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One acknowledged the order and took out his phone to call for helpers.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin followed Lian Jun out. When he was about to leave the dining room, the daze in his eyes cleared for brief a moment and he glanced back at his brothers, passed out around the table.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThey got drunk on purpose,\u201d he whispered, not knowing who he was talking to. \u201cThis way, if they woke up tomorrow and found their hopes and efforts came to nothing, they could lie to themselves that it was all a dream\u2026 What sly and timid guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun followed Shi Jin\u2019s gaze, silently agreeing with him\u2014these people passed out drunk almost at the same time, which was too coincidental for it not to be intentional.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThey\u2019re all cowards.\u201d Shi Jin turned to the front again and leaned against Lian Jun. \u201cMe too\u2026 But I still have you. Lian Jun, don\u2019t leave me or I\u2019ll die.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s arm tightened around Shi Jin, and he lowered his head to kiss the younger man\u2019s forehead. \u201cI won\u2019t, I\u2019ll always be with you,\u201d he said, leading him forward.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d Shi Jin put all his weight on him, rubbing his head against his shoulder. He was quiet for a moment, then said suddenly, \u201cLian Jun, my name is Shi Jin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun turned his head to glance at him.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cMy father\u2019s name was Shi Lei and my mother\u2019s Lan Xiao. They lived in a town called Huaiyang and ran a small grocery store. I was adopted by them at birth\u2026 My dad was a gentle man, kind and thoughtful. My mom seemed a bit fierce, but she was actually <\/span>all bark and no bite<\/span><\/a>\u2026 They were good people and would\u2019ve definitely liked you very much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou know, I actually had a local childhood name, Dazhuang.<\/span>\u00a0My mom gave it to me. According to her, children with local names grew well. Until I went to elementary school, I thought my name was Shi Dazhuang. Later, in order for me to get used to my formal name, dad actually changed the name of their store to JinJin Grocery Store. They were adorable, don\u2019t you think? These are my parents\u2026 Completely different from Shi Xingrui.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s fingers trembled, and he turned to hug Shi Jin tight.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin leaned into him, affectionately rubbing against him with his cheek. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m not schizophrenic or delusional. What I said is true, it\u2019s my actual life experience\u2026 Believe me, okay? I\u2019m really not crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201c…I believe you,\u201d Lian Jun said, finding it difficult to form words, and soothingly stroked Shi Jin\u2019s back. \u201cI know you\u2019re not crazy, you wouldn\u2019t lie, I know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin hugged him back. Seeming both drunk and clear-headed, he replied, \u201cI knew you\u2019d say that, you\u2019re always so good to me\u2026 Actually, it doesn\u2019t matter if you believe me or not. I\u2019m drunk right now, and it\u2019s normal for a drunk to say nonsense. Just listen, you can forget it after hearing it\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun tightened his embrace even more.<\/span><\/p>

The two hugged quietly for a while, then continued to walk towards their room.<\/span><\/p>

The alcohol seemed to be getting better of Shi Jin because his words were becoming disjointed and incoherent.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m actually the same age as you\u2026 And I\u2019m a real police officer, I\u2019m not kidding you, I\u2019ve been one for several years now\u2026 Wait, let me count if I already died once or twice\u2026 In the beginning, I only had some blurry recollections. Shi Weichong, Li Jiuzheng, or Shi Xingrui and whatnot, I didn\u2019t remember any of them, they were all strangers, names printed in a book, completely unrelated to me\u2026 You know, it\u2019s really weird. Back then, my parents were really opposed to me becoming a policeman, saying it was a hard and dangerous job, but I still insisted on going to the police academy. Why I was so dead set on it, though…\u201d<\/span><\/p>

They finally reached their room. Lian Jun took Shi Jin to the bathroom, took off his clothes, and helped him into the bathtub, then turned on the shower to wash the alcohol smell off Shi Jin\u2019s body.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin stared vacantly at the falling spray of water. \u201cI remember,\u201d he said, his eyes looking a little less blurry. \u201cI\u2019d been crying for help, kept praying for someone to save me. The pain, the hatred, I just wanted someone to come and save me, to come and take me out of there. How could someone like me, who grew up pampered and spoiled, endure it\u2026 Wait, was it me? No, it shouldn\u2019t have been me\u2026 I\u2019m <\/span>this<\/em> <\/span>Shi Jin, not <\/span>that<\/em> <\/span>Shi Jin, can\u2019t be <\/span>that<\/em> <\/span>Shi Jin\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s grip on the handle of the showerhead tightened until his knuckles turned white.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cBut why no one came to save me… No, Fourth Brother saved me once. He\u2019s amazing\u2026 Then, if I become like him, I could save myself, right?… I worked really hard, didn\u2019t I? I did my best so that I\u2019ll be able to save myself\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun took a deep breath. With his backhand, he wiped the tears that appeared in the corners of his eyes, then put down the showerhead and leaned over to hug Shi Jin tightly.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin leaned against him, watching the steam rising in the bathroom. His eyes cloudy again, he whispered, \u201cAfter Dad died, my brothers became different. I don\u2019t really care about the money, they could take it all if they wanted, but how can people change so completely in an instant? Before, when I smiled at them, they smiled at me too. Later, when I smiled, they would only look at me with a cold expression and hostility, or mockingly, or hesitantly, or with murderous intent\u2026 I mustn\u2019t cry, if I cry, I\u2019ll be hated even more\u2026 I\u2019m still the same me, so why is everyone treating me differently? Is it my fault? Did I do something wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo,\u201d Lian Jun finally spoke, his voice low and tense with repressed emotions. \u201cYou\u2019re very good and from the beginning, you\u2019ve been doing very, very well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cSo, I\u2019ve saved myself?\u201d Shi Jin asked, clutching onto his clothes.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou have. Not only yourself, you also saved me. You, too, are amazing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin\u2019s grip loosened, and he let go of Lian Jun\u2019s clothes. \u201cThat\u2019s good\u2026\u201d he said, a smile of relief appearing on his face. \u201cActually, I also am a coward. Without being drunk, I never would\u2019ve had the courage to talk about some things\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun soothingly stroked his back. \u201cYou\u2019re not a coward. You\u2019re brave, braver than anyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cReally? That\u2019s good\u2026\u201d Shi Jin\u2019s eyes fell closed, his face slightly flushed from the alcohol. As he fell asleep, he murmured, \u201cXiao Si, don\u2019t cry, it\u2019s noisy\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun\u2019s hand stroking his back paused for a moment, then slowly resumed its motion. After a while, he said softly, \u201cGood night, Shi Jin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shi Jin slept until noon the next day. When he woke up, Lian Jun told him that his brothers had already left; they got up early and caught the first morning flight. He stared blankly for a moment, taken aback, then massaged his temples, throbbing with the hangover headache. \u201cI see. It\u2019s the end of the year, everyone is busy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThey left presents for you,\u201d Lian Jun said. \u201cDo you want to see?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin shook his head, looking dozy. It took him a while to completely wake up. \u201cWe should be getting ready to go to the island, shouldn\u2019t we?\u201d he asked when he fully joined the world of the living. \u201cYou\u2019ve been forced to stay indoors for so long; we need to go to a warm place so you can finally get some fresh air.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun reached out and smoothed his lover\u2019s hair, messy from sleep. \u201cWhen do you want to leave? Gua Six already made all preparations over at the island\u2014we can set off at any time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin replied, with a rare willfulness, \u201cToday, I want to leave today.\u201d After a reunion, there would obviously come a parting. Since everyone left, he didn\u2019t want to stay here alone.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOkay.\u201d Lian Jun leaned over to kiss him. \u201cI\u2019ll make arrangements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Since the decision to leave was made just before noon, even Lian Jun was only able to arrange the private jet flight for 11 p.m., barely managing to fulfill Shi Jin\u2019s wish to leave the same day.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019ll only be able to sleep after getting on the plane,\u201d Lian Jun said, helping Shi Jin pack. Half of the contents of the suitcase were textbooks.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin rubbed his stomach that was full of snacks, pretending not to see it. \u201cThen today, you must sleep longer at your nap time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWill you accompany me?\u201d Lian Jun asked, putting down the textbooks.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin turned to look at him. \u201cOf course I will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After getting up from the nap, Lian Jun found that Shi Jin was a little restless and often turned his head to look out the windows. It seemed to start after he read the text messages on his phone.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun moved his wheelchair over to him. \u201cDo you want to go outside and make a snowman? By the time we come back, the snow should be long gone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin frowned in thought. \u201cYes, let\u2019s go. We\u2019ll build a small one this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

They went downstairs, to the same lounge they had used when making the snowman last year. Shi Jin bundled both of them up, then led Lian Jun outside to the place where the snow was the thickest. He crouched, tugging Lian Jun down with him so they could roll snowballs together.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou make the smaller snowball and I\u2019ll make the big one, then we\u2019ll put it together. It\u2019ll be simple but still a snowman,\u201d Shi Jin said, explaining his plan.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to make something more fancy?\u201d Lian Jun asked.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNext year,\u201d Shi Jin replied, smiling at him. \u201cThis year, let\u2019s stick to the traditional snowman shape.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOkay,\u201d Lian Jun returned the smile, knowing that this was out of concern for his physical condition.<\/span><\/p>

As such, they ended up making a small snowman that only came up to Shi Jin\u2019s knees, and it didn\u2019t even take them twenty minutes. Shi Jin was very satisfied. He took a photo with the snowman together with Lian Jun, then hurriedly took Lian Jun back inside to wash his hands and face with warm water to get rid of the chill.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun felt a little distressed seeing Shi Jin trying so hard to take care of him.<\/span><\/p>

It was this dear person who should be carefully taken care of by everyone. Before he knew it, he reached out and pulled Shi Jin into his arms.<\/span><\/p>

Surprised, Shi Jin tilted his head to glance at him sideways. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIf there\u2019s something you want to do, just do it,\u201d Lian Jun said, kissing Shi Jin\u2019s ear, reddened by the cold wind. \u201cDon\u2019t restrain yourself because you\u2019re concerned about me. What I want the most is for you to be happy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin burrowed his head into his shoulder, hugging him tightly. He thought about the text messages that Rong Zhouzhong and Xiang Aoting had sent him that said Li Jiuzheng didn\u2019t look right when he left in the morning, and didn\u2019t speak.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It was getting dark, and the time of departure was drawing nearer and nearer. Shi Jin kept glancing out the windows. Finally, just as the clock was about to strike seven, he stood up and looked at Lian Jun. \u201cI need to go out. I\u2019ll be back before 9:30.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThat\u2019s too late.\u201d Lian Jun shook his head. \u201cThe flight is scheduled for 11 o\u2019clock\u2014we need to leave for the airport at 9 o\u2019clock at the latest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

This brought Shi Jin up short. \u201cRight, I forgot it\u2019s the New Year\u2019s Eve. The traffic\u2019s gonna be nightmarish\u2026\u201d he said, patting himself on the forehead. \u201cNevermind then, we\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBut if we leave now, there might be enough time to go where you want and make a short stop there,\u201d Lian Jun continued, moving his wheelchair forward to take Shi Jin\u2019s hand. \u201cWhat do you want to do? Gua Two and the others have already loaded all the luggage into the cars and the escort team is ready. We can set off at a moment\u2019s notice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin stared at him foolishly for a moment, then squeezed his hand. \u201cThen let\u2019s leave now. I\u2019d like to stop by the university town\u2026 Is that fine?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cOf course,\u201d Lian Jun replied, raising his lover\u2019s hand to his lips to kiss it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The car drove down the street. Watching the increasingly familiar scenery of the university town rushing by, Shi Jin reached into his pocket and closed his hand on the key inside. It was the key to Li Jiuzheng\u2019s apartment, where he was going now.<\/span><\/p>

As for why\u2026<\/span><\/p>

He pulled out his phone, opened the messaging app, and swiped to the last text message Li Jiuzheng sent him this morning: <\/span>[Thank you, I understand. Please continue to hate me, and I will continue to love you. You\u2019re a gift from God, to be cherished dearly. See you in the new year [heart emoji]]<\/span>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

This sounded like something a melodramatic emo youth would send, which was Li Jiuzheng\u2019s typical messaging style. Shi Jin usually didn\u2019t pay too much attention to them, but a familiar phrase that had been engraved in Shi Jin\u2019s memory made him unable to ignore this particular text message.<\/span><\/p>

\u2018A gift from God,\u2019 these words are really\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cYour fifth brother must\u2019ve already returned to Rongcheng,\u201d Gua Two, sitting in the front passenger seat, said. He glanced outside the window at the university town with not a soul in sight and rubbed his arms in an exaggerated manner. \u201cWith all the students home for the holidays, this looks like a ghost town, especially at night. Ah, how scary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cHe didn\u2019t return to Rongcheng,\u201d Shi Jin replied, awakening from his thoughts. He looked in the direction of Li Jiuzheng\u2019s apartment. \u201cThat\u2019s where his mother and grandparents are buried. He wouldn\u2019t have gone back to spend the New Year there.\u201d At this time last year, Li Jiuzheng also stayed in B city, and immediately rushed to save Shi Jin after accidentally receiving his call for help.<\/span><\/p>

Yes, save. No matter Li Jiuzheng\u2019s later actions, when considering only the situation at that time, Li Jiuzheng did save him. In addition, in the previous life, Li Jiuzheng also saved the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019. The mental torture aside, at least when it came to \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 body, Li Jiuzheng fulfilled his responsibility as a doctor\u2014not only did he save \u2018his\u2019 life after the serious car accident, but even brought \u2018him\u2019 to his private hospital to personally care for him.<\/span><\/p>

And that mental torture\u2026<\/span><\/em> Shi Jin thought of what Li Jiuzheng said in front of his mother\u2019s grave last year, and pursed his lips.<\/span><\/p>

He suddenly understood some of Li Jiuzheng\u2019s thoughts and actions. This person was really like a child, shifting back and forth between pure good and pure evil, incapable of properly expressing his emotions and feelings.<\/span><\/p>

Maybe, just maybe\u2026 When Li Jiuzheng was saying all those terrifying words standing beside the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 hospital bed, and when he took out a scalpel and asked if he should help \u2018Shi Jin\u2019 \u201cbe free from pain\u201d… Maybe it wasn\u2019t meant to be as malicious as it came across\u2014maybe, it was actually meant with kindness.<\/span><\/p>

He was ill. Like Shi Weichong, he broke, quietly crushed under the pressure of his parents\u2019 emotions.<\/span><\/p>

After all, doctors do not heal themselves. Perhaps, there was no pretense and no mask, and Li Jiuzheng\u2019s inconsistent moods were simply a manifestation of his illness.<\/span><\/p>

When he was in pain, he wanted to drag everyone to hell with him, and when he was back to his senses, he tried his best to seize the warmth that hadn\u2019t slipped away\u2026 It was the same, they were all the same. Moreover, despite their similar circumstances, the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019 had lived in happiness and surrounded by family love, however false it later proved to be. Li Jiuzheng, though, had nothing\u2014no true mother, father, or brothers. All he was given was a harsh reality and a huge pile of negative emotions he was unable to process.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What young genius\u2014this was nothing more than a pretty label forced on Li Jiuzheng. All there ever had been was a cornered kid who figured out this was the only way he could save himself. Children\u2019s thoughts were sometimes really simple: the more they learned, the faster would they grow up, and when they were big, they would be able to solve whatever problems they struggled with, and find solutions to everyone else\u2019s problems, too.<\/span><\/p>

\u2018But if you\u2019re dead, what should I do.\u2019<\/span><\/em><\/p>

The words Li Jiuzheng once said suddenly flashed through Shi Jin\u2019s mind, and his scattered thoughts abruptly coalesced. He clenched the key in his pocket. His mind had never felt more clear and awake.<\/span><\/p>

In his last life, Li Jiuzheng had long gone crazy. He lost his father and mother, and his relationship with his older brothers was completely utilitarian, and his only younger brother, who was special to him because of his mother\u2019s brainwashing, was about to die. Whether they made him feel pain or hope, if all the people important to him were gone, what was he supposed to do? What could he do? What would a mentally ill person, that was now all alone in the world and had never mentally grown up, do?<\/span><\/p>

For the first time, Shi Jin had started to wonder\u2014what happened after the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019 died? To the one who showed killing intent towards him countless times but never really acted on it, and instead had been trying to snatch him back from the angel of death\u2014what happened to Li Jiuzheng?<\/span><\/p>

The car slowed to a halt. Shi Jin woke up from his thoughts and found they\u2019d arrived in front of the residential building complex where Li Jiuzheng lived . He looked up at the floor his brother\u2019s apartment was on, and was seized by a sudden impulse.<\/span><\/p>

There\u2019s no longer any hope of helping the Li Jiuzheng of the past life. In this life, even if only to return the favor of \u201csaving\u201d, let\u2019s try again.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

For the first time, he consciously accepted all the emotions that were filling his chest. With the experience of the twenty-six years old Shi Jin, he analyzed and digested everything that \u2018Shi Jin\u2019, who died at barely eighteen, could not understand.<\/span><\/p>

Don\u2019t let your emotions control you. It\u2019s fine, you can do it.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

He opened the door and got out of the car, heading towards the entrance to the building Li Jiuzheng lived. His steps became faster and faster until he broke into a run. He smashed the elevator call button and rushed in the moment its door opened.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIs this really fine, Jun-shao?\u201d Gua Two asked with a frown, watching Shi Jin\u2019s disappearing back.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun leaned back in his seat and reached out to touch the place where Shi Jin had been sitting just a moment ago. \u201cIt\u2019s fine, he knows what he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The elevator arrived at the top floor, and Shi Jin strode to apartment number 3602. After adjusting his breathing, he took out the key and opened the door.<\/span><\/p>

The apartment was dark and chilly, the heating not turned on. It didn\u2019t look as anyone was there, but Shi Jin didn\u2019t hesitate and walked straight in. Sure enough, when he came into the living room, he saw a figure curled up on the sofa. \u201cI can only stay here for ten minutes at most or I will miss the flight,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>

The person on the sofa didn\u2019t move, as if he were already asleep.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m afraid of you. I can\u2019t get over the fact that you wanted to kill me.\u201d Shi Jin paused, and his voice relaxed a little. \u201cBut you\u2019re right. Out of all us brothers, you and I are the most similar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Maybe he imagined it, but the dark figure on the sofa seemed to curl up even tighter.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cLian Jun and I are going to Lian Jun\u2019s island for the winter. We\u2019ll spend the New Year there, too,\u201d Shi Jin said, turning sideways. His hands in his pockets clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. \u201cIf you want to go with us, pack up quickly and come downstairs. I\u2019ll only wait for you for five minutes\u2026 Fifth Brother, I don\u2019t want to continue to hate you, it\u2019s too tiring. I, too, want to be free.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Without checking if the person on the sofa was awake and heard him, he turned around and left this apartment that seemed to be void of human presence.<\/span><\/p>

The opportunity had been given. Clinging to his last shred of rationality, he overcame the resistance and fear brought by the memories to extend his hand one more time. He had no spare energy left to care if the other party wanted to grab it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Five minutes later, Shi Jin looked at the door of the building that no one had passed through. \u201cLet\u2019s go or we\u2019ll miss the plane,\u201d he said, glancing away.<\/span><\/p>

Gua One started the car, but Gua Two suddenly said, \u201cWait, someone\u2019s coming out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin raised his gaze and saw Li Jiuzheng running out of the building wearing only a shirt and trousers, hugging a mobile phone, identity documents, and some other belongings. Despite it being the middle of the winter, his forehead was covered with sweat. He paused at the door and looked around anxiously. Seeing the car that was about to leave, he rushed over and stopped in front of it, blocking the way. \u201cXiao Jin, I-I want to go with you,\u201d he said, gasping for breath. \u201cI was looking for my ID, I forgot where I put it. Don\u2019t leave me, I want to go with you, please let me go with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin looked at him through the car window, seeming to see himself in the past, asking for help with all he could. He closed his eyes and reached out to open the door.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cHurry up and get in, we have a plane to catch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng\u2019s eyes lit up with surprise and joy. He quickly walked around the car to the open door and got in, sitting down next to Shi Jin. His body was racked by shudders, whether caused by the cold or something else.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin took out a blanket and wrapped it around him, and found out that Li Jiuzheng rushed out without shoes. By now, the snow that had stuck to his feet already melted, soaking his socks and staining the car floor mat.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, I got the car dirty.\u201d Li Jiuzheng noticed Shi Jin looking at his feet, and his expression turned embarrassed.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d This time Shi Jin took out a towel, motioning for his brother to take off the socks and dry his feet.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng hurriedly obeyed. His movements were anxious, like those of a child that was afraid of doing something wrong and being abandoned.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin looked at his pale, nervous face, and felt his shaky heart slowly steady. For all the world it seemed that as long as he said something even slightly harsh, his brother would dissolve into tears. Was this kind of person someone to be afraid of?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator’s Notes:<\/h4>
  1. “I had a local childhood name, Dazhuang<\/span>“<\/strong><\/em> – in case you’re wondering, Shi Jin’s childhood name is \u5927\u58ef, which can be translated in a number of ways\u2014for example, “big and strong”, lol.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Translator: Eques<\/em>
    Editor: –
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    Eques:<\/h4>

    This is an important chapter, so sorry for the grammar errors. <(\uff3f\u3000\uff3f)><\/p>

    Lian Jun is still the epitome of perfection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":11238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[66,35,67,39,69,37],"class_list":["post-16498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dpb","tag-betrayal","tag-bl","tag-comedy","tag-modern","tag-system","tag-transmigration"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/cdv-e1584612887502.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16498"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16674,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16498\/revisions\/16674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}