Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 70 (End)

Chapter 70

Immediately, Li Guizhen’s expression changed, and she muttered, "You didn’t discipline your son properly. I was just worried."  

"Leave! If you want to live peacefully with Li Mingyi, stay out of Jiajia’s affairs." Yang Jianjun’s tone carried a threat, as if he had some leverage over Li Guizhen.  

Li Guizhen was somewhat afraid of this side of Yang Jianjun and reluctantly left. She didn’t appear before Yang Jiabo for the next few years. Rumor had it she got married and was doing alright.  

"Dad..." Yang Jiabo called softly.

Yang Jianjun ignored him and turned to Wei Jing instead. "You should go too."  

"Alright." Wei Jing felt Yang Jiabo’s grip on his hand tighten, so he patted it reassuringly. "Uncle, my feelings for Jiajia are genuine. Please take some time to calm down. I’ll come back tomorrow."  

Yang Jianjun didn’t respond, sitting on the sofa and staring blankly at the floor. Wei Jing understood his love for Yang Jiabo, he needed time to process. Once everyone had left, Yang Jianjun and Yang Jiabo sat silently in the living room, lost in their thoughts. Yang Jiabo didn’t know how to begin. He had hurt his father, who cared deeply for him, and guilt weighed heavily on him.  

The two sat quietly until sunset, when Yang Jianjun let out a long sigh and asked, "When did you two get together?"  

"Two months ago." Yang Jiabo watched Yang Jianjun carefully, not missing a single change in his expression.  

"Wei Jing took such good care of you, even hiring doctors for you. I should’ve noticed sooner." Yang Jianjun was frustrated. His son had been right under his nose, yet he’d let someone "steal" him away.  

"He’s the person who treats me best in this world, after you, Dad."  

"Does his family know?"  

"No, but we don’t plan to keep it a secret forever."  

"Jiajia, what if I asked you to break up?" Yang Jianjun tested.  

Yang Jiabo didn’t answer, lowering his head as tears fell. He didn’t want to hurt his father, but he also couldn’t bear to leave Wei Jing. If forced to choose, he wouldn’t know what to do.  

Yang Jianjun sighed again, his tone grave. "Have you thought about what you’ll face if you stay together?"  

"I have. I even tried to run from it. But being with him makes me feel at peace."  

The father and son spoke openly for a long time. Yang Jianjun neither agreed nor disagreed.  

The next day, before dawn, Wei Jing returned—clearly worried about Yang Jiabo. This time, Yang Jianjun didn’t send him away. Instead, he spoke with him alone all morning. Yang Jiabo waited anxiously, his mind racing with guesses about their conversation.  

When they finally finished, Yang Jianjun’s expression remained stern, but Wei Jing gave Yang Jiabo a reassuring look. That evening, Wei Jing’s parents, Wei Changdong and his wife, were invited to the farm.  

The three parents sat on opposite sides, their expressions grim. Before them sat Wei Jing and Yang Jiabo, side by side. Yang Jiabo had never felt so nervous, he hadn’t expected to face both sets of parents so suddenly.  

After interrogating the two, the parents shooed them out and closed the door for a "parental meeting." Not only was Yang Jianjun struggling to accept their relationship, but Wei Changdong and his wife were also deeply shaken.  

"Don’t worry, they’ll agree," Wei Jing said, holding Yang Jiabo’s hand as they strolled around the farm to ease his nerves.  

"What if they don’t?"  

"Then we’ll find a way to make them agree."  

Wei Jing’s confidence rubbed off on Yang Jiabo, helping him relax and think positively.  

After the meeting, Wei Jing left with his parents. Yang Jianjun and the Wei Jing’s parents reached some unspoken understanding - they wouldn’t force them apart, but they wouldn’t give them approval either.  

For the next few years, Wei Jing never appeared in person but called Yang Jiabo daily. Yang Jiabo missed him terribly but couldn’t visit. He knew about the agreement between Wei Jing and his father.  

If Wei Jing could convince his family and stay true to his feelings for three years without seeing Yang Jiabo, Yang Jianjun would finally accept them. Wei Jing knew this was Yang Jianjun’s way of delaying things to avoid hurting Jiajia. But it didn’t matter, he’d prove his sincerity, and Jiajia would stand by him.  

After their temporary separation, Yang Jiabo noticed several beautiful, glamorous new employees at the farm. Wherever he went, he’d "coincidentally" run into them.  

At first, he didn’t think much of it, but after repeated encounters, he finally caught on - this was his father’s "honey trap." Yang Jiabo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only pretend not to notice and subtly keep his distance.  

After a while, Yang Jianjun seemed to realize his plan had failed. Soon, the farm’s guests were mostly sweet, affectionate couples - some even bringing adorable children.  

To "save" Yang Jiabo, Yang Jianjun seemed to be trying every trick in the book. Wei Jing faced similar tactics. Their families avoided extreme measures, opting instead for subtle influence.  

Wei Jing’s family was large and full of clever minds. Between work and handling his relatives, he stayed busy. Ren Boying, aware of their situation, was green with envy but still helped brainstorm solutions.  

Whenever Wei Jing and Yang Jiabo talked, they shared updates about their situations. Since their parents hadn’t outright rejected them, their future still held hope. Yang Jiabo, skilled in growing medicinal herbs and making health-boosting meals, often sent care packages to the Wei family. He never missed a holiday gift, either, even mailing farm-fresh fruits to keep his presence alive in their minds.  

When Wei Feng learned about them, he stayed silent for three days before deciding to support them. What else could he do? One was his brother, the other his best friend. He’d always felt Wei Jing treated Jiajia better, now he knew the reason.  

Time flowed like water. Just as Yang Jianjun and the Wei family tried to "boil the frog slowly in warm water," Wei Jing and Yang Jiabo did the same. Three years passed in a blink, and their feelings hadn’t faded—if anything, distance made them stronger.  

[温水煮青蛙 (wēn shuǐ zhǔ qīngwā): lit. boiling a frog slowly in warm water; fig. gradual changes that go unnoticed until it's too late]  

Though Wei Jing never appeared in person, traces of him were everywhere at the Yang farm. Yang Jianjun had exhausted every method to separate them. By now, he’d given up hope but couldn’t bring himself to approve outright—choosing instead to turn a blind eye.  

The Wei family weren’t much different. Yang Jiabo had helped their family and was a good kid. If they couldn’t break the two apart, they had no choice but to grudgingly accept it.  

It took nearly five years for Yang Jiabo and Wei Jing to finally win their families’ approval. By then, Wei Jing’s company was stable, entrusted to a manager. When needed, Yang Jiabo would accompany him on business.  

When not working, the two lived a peaceful rural life on the farm. The land was fertile, whether growing crops or raising livestock, the quality was exceptional, keeping business thriving and demand high.  

Yang Jianjun had no grand ambitions, and Yang Jiabo had no ambition beyond being a salted fish. Wei Jing was more than happy to keep him from overworking. Though the farm never expanded, it remained lively, filled with birdsong and blossoms - a place full of life.  

[咸鱼 (xiányú): lit. salted fish, chinese internet slang describing someone content with a passive, low-effort lifestyle, similar to the "lying flat" movement.]

-End-

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 69 Part 2

“You earn your own money. I’m asking for yours, you’re my son, and it’s only right to support your parents.” Li Guizhen spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.  

“That’s not happening.”  

Li Guizhen and Yang Jiabo argued for a long time, but in the end, they parted on bad terms. Yang Jiabo knew she wouldn’t give up easily and would surely come back, so he called a relative to ask about Li Guizhen and Li Mingyi’s situation.  

Three months ago, Li Mingyi’s wife and child had gone to visit relatives but died in a car accident. The sudden loss of his wife and son left Li Mingyi devastated, and he fell ill for a time. Fortunately, Li Guizhen took care of him tirelessly, and he eventually recovered. The two had a past connection, and since both were single, they got together after the hundred-day mourning period for Li Mingyi’s wife and child. The relative also told Yang Jiabo that the driver responsible for the accident had paid Li Mingyi a substantial amount in compensation.  

Later, Li Guizhen came by twice more, but Yang Jiabo, knowing they weren’t short on money, refused to give in to her demands. Aside from Li Guizhen’s pestering, Yang Jiabo’s life was sweet and fulfilling. Distance did nothing to weaken their bond, and Yang Jiabo often felt like he was living in a dream.  

Two months later, Yang Jiabo’s mental state improved even further. His treatment came to an end, and Dr. Luo left the farm. Wei Feng and Dr. Chen also departed. Wei Feng needed rehabilitation for his leg, and the local rehab center was far inferior to those in the capital. Yang Qing also returned to school.  

With fewer people at home, the place grew quieter, but Yang Jianjun was happy. However, just two days later, a regular guest referred some out-of-town visitors for a short stay, and the bamboo house became lively again.  

After arranging accommodations for the guests, Yang Jiabo headed down the path toward the pond. A newly arrived guest had ordered grilled fish, so he needed to catch one and bring it to the kitchen for the chef to marinate. Focused on fishing, Yang Jiabo didn’t notice the tall figure appearing behind him.  

"Jiajia—" Wei Jing gazed at the person he had been longing for, his eyes filled with warmth.  

Yang Jiabo turned around in disbelief, then, overjoyed, threw down the fishing net and rushed into his arms.  

"Brother, how many days off do you have this time?"  

"Only three." Wei Jing opened his arms to embrace him.  

After a brief hug, Yang Jiabo happily led Wei Jing to the most secluded pavilion to sit down. The two, deep in the throes of love and separated for over two months, knew best how much they had missed each other. No matter how restrained they tried to be, small intimate gestures were inevitable.  

"What are you doing?!" A shrill voice shattered the peace of the secluded corner.  

"Why are you here?" Yang Jiabo stared at Li Guizhen in surprise but showed no panic. He and Wei Jing had grown up together and had always been close.  

"What were you doing just now? What’s your relationship?" Li Guizhen was agitated, looking at them as if they were monsters.  

"What do you think our relationship is?" Yang Jiabo felt a flicker of unease, had she noticed something? He hadn’t figured out how to tell his father yet, and given his mother’s temperament, the secret might not hold.  

"Auntie Li, Jiajia and I grew up together. You know we’re as close as brothers," Wei Jing said, subtly shifting to shield Yang Jiabo.  

"Don’t lie to me! I saw you hugging earlier, and I heard everything you said!"  

They had been followed, Li Guizhen had been quietly trailing them. Wei Jing’s expression darkened. Yang Jiabo paled slightly, but Wei Jing clasped his hand tightly, interlacing their fingers.  

"Since you’ve found out, Auntie, I won’t hide it anymore. I love Jiajia and want to spend my life with him," Wei Jing said solemnly.  

Li Guizhen ignored him, her furious gaze fixed on Yang Jiabo. "All these years, how has your father raised you? If people find out my son is a pervert who likes men, where will that leave my dignity?"  

Yang Jiabo could only sigh inwardly, this was just like her. His mother’s only concern was always her own reputation.  

"Leave Dad out of this. My life is none of your business."  

"None of my business? Everyone knows you’re my son!" Li Guizhen’s shrill voice carried far.  

Noticing people approaching in the distance, Wei Jing said calmly, "Someone’s coming. Auntie, let’s discuss this properly back at the house."  

Though this was a secluded spot, Li Guizhen’s loud voice could be heard from afar.  

"I have nothing to say to you!" Li Guizhen ignored Wei Jing, her emotions running high. "Cut ties with him immediately!"  

"Let’s go back first," Yang Jiabo said, ignoring her outburst as he pulled Wei Jing toward home.  

Li Guizhen reached out to grab Yang Jiabo, but Wei Jing blocked her. Seeing Wei Jing protect Yang Jiabo, she glared at him hatefully, then began cursing as she called Yang Jianjun.  

Caught completely off guard, Yang Jianjun was deeply shaken by the revelation of Wei Jing and Yang Jiabo’s relationship and remained silent. Li Guizhen made a scene, demanding they break up, but Yang Jiabo ignored her, only watching his father with concern.  

Furious that Yang Jiabo disregarded her, Li Guizhen raised her hand to strike him. Unable to reason with her, Wei Jing shielded Yang Jiabo firmly.  

"Enough!" Yang Jianjun snapped. "I’ll handle Jiajia’s matters. You haven’t cared for him all these years, no need to start now."  

"I’m his mother! Why can’t I interfere?" Li Guizhen retorted.  

"Then shall we calculate all the child support you never paid?" Yang Jianjun glowered at her. "Or would you prefer I have a talk with Li Mingyi?"

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 69 Part 1

Chapter 69

“Why are you here?”  

“I heard you got beaten up, so I came to see you.”  

Yang Jiabo looked at the fruit basket in Li Guizhen’s hand, and his tense mood eased slightly.  

“I’m fine.” Politeness and detachment were the best ways for them to interact as mother and son.  

“I heard someone came to the restaurant, got into a fight with you, what happened?” Li Guizhen looked at Yang Jiabo reproachfully. Though she didn’t know the details, she had already mostly decided it was Yang Jiabo’s fault.  

Yang Jiabo knew exactly what she was thinking, it had always been like this. Feeling irritated, he replied impatiently, “Nothing much. Zhang Yi’s mother just seized the chance to make trouble. After all these years, she’s still holding a grudge and deliberately retaliating.”  

“Flies don’t bite seamless eggs. You need to fix that temper of yours, or sooner or later, you’ll suffer for it.” Li Guizhen immediately launched into lecturing him.  

[苍蝇不叮无缝的蛋 (cāngying bù dīng wú fèng de dàn): lit. Flies don’t bite seamless eggs; fig. Trouble arises from underlying flaws.]  

“If you came here just to say this, then you can leave.” Yang Jiabo’s expression turned cold.  

Li Guizhen couldn’t accept her son giving her attitude. Her voice sharpened as she said, “You—I’m your mother! Can’t I even say a few words to you?”  

Yang Jiabo didn’t want to argue with her. He knew Li Guizhen too well, she never visited without a purpose. So he changed the subject. “Aside from checking on me, what else did you come for today?”  

“I’m getting married.”  

“Congratulations.” Yang Jiabo was surprised. Not long ago, she had been pestering his father to remarry, and now suddenly she was marrying someone else. Still, this was probably a good thing.  

“Uncle Li and I have finally gotten together. All these years haven’t been easy for either of us.” Li Guizhen’s expression carried a mix of nostalgia and joy.  

“Oh.” Yang Jiabo realized right away that the man she was about to remarry was the same one she had an affair with back then. “He’s willing to divorce and marry you now?”  

Li Guizhen hesitated, fidgeting before finally saying awkwardly, “His family died in a car accident.”  

That answer was completely unexpected. Yang Jiabo froze for a moment before asking, “When did that happen?”  

“Three months ago.” Li Guizhen sounded somewhat guilty.  

Yang Jiabo was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond. “Well, in that case, you two should live well together.”  

“Of course.” Li Guizhen hesitated for a while before speaking haltingly, “You know, back when I married your father, we had nothing. Your grandmother never liked me, she always favored your uncle.”  

“So?” Yang Jiabo waited for her to continue.  

“I’ve never had a good life all these years, but now I’ve finally gotten what I wanted. We’re not holding a wedding, just traveling abroad together, treating it as both a honeymoon and a marriage trip. But… I’m a little short on money lately. Since you’re doing well now, you should show some filial piety to your mother.”  

Yang Jiabo fell silent. She wanted him to pay for her and her affair partner’s honeymoon abroad? Was she insane, or was he? His money was earned through hard work with his father. He had no problem covering her living and medical expenses, but anything beyond that was out of the question.  

When he didn’t respond, Li Guizhen cautiously added, “It’s not much, just twenty or thirty thousand. Consider it your wedding gift.”  

“You focus on living your life. I’ll only cover your living and medical expenses.” Yang Jiabo felt like every encounter with his mother pushed him closer to a breakdown.  

Their values were too different to ever align. At first, Yang Jiabo, not understanding the full picture, had thought Li Guizhen was the problem. But after learning about the ingrained beliefs of the village she grew up in, all he felt was speechlessness.  

In their worldview, marrying a man meant marrying for food and clothing—once a woman married, the man was responsible for providing for her. That might sound reasonable in a traditional sense, where men worked outside and women managed the home.  

But it didn’t mean the man should support you while you did nothing, leaving him to handle chores and childcare alone. A family required cooperation and division of labor. If one side only took without contributing, the balance would collapse.  

As for children, the village belief was that everything a child had came from their parents, so children had to be filial. That wasn’t entirely wrong, but there was a limit. Excessive exploitation of children was treated as natural.  

So Li Guizhen believed Yang Jiabo’s filial piety was only right and proper. If she asked him for money, and he could afford it, why not? As for her affair, it was only because Yang Jianjun couldn’t provide her a good life, so it wasn’t entirely her fault. With such clashing values, what Yang Jiabo saw as wrong or unreasonable, Li Guizhen saw as perfectly justified.  

“Now that you have money, you’re just going to watch your mother live in hardship? This is the one rare happiness in my life.” Li Guizhen started crying as she spoke.  

“My money was earned through hard work with my dad. I won’t give it to you so you can enjoy yourself with the man you had an affair with.” The memory of Li Guizhen and that man together still disgusted him.  

In his past life, his illness had worsened, and after his father passed, he hadn’t bothered with Li Guizhen’s personal life. He didn’t even know if she had ended up with that man.

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 68 Part 2

"Am I dreaming?" Yang Jiabo wondered if he was still asleep. He tugged the blanket up, ready to go back to bed.  

But Wei Jing wouldn’t let him run. He poked Yang Jiabo’s slightly swollen cheek. "Does this hurt?"  

"A little... but it still doesn’t feel real." Yang Jiabo felt like he was floating.  

"Then how about this?" Wei Jing pressed a light kiss to his forehead.  

Yang Jiabo’s vision blurred. The warmth on his forehead told him, he had just been kissed. His face burned as if on fire. Once the realization fully hit, he felt foolish, his entire body overheating. Summoning his courage, he blurted out, "I like you. What about you?"  

"Silly, isn’t it obvious? I like you too." Wei Jing was overjoyed by Yang Jiabo’s confession.  

"When did you start liking me?" The happiness felt too sudden, too unreal.  

"I don’t know. Maybe a long time ago..."  

They had grown up together, and somewhere along the way, their feelings had quietly changed. Even Wei Jing couldn’t pinpoint exactly when.  

"Were you so good to me because you liked me?"  

"Yes."  

Two new lovers exchanged silly, meaningless words until they gradually drifted off to sleep.  

Despite their heartfelt confessions before bed, Yang Jiabo wavered after waking up. The gap between him and Wei Jing was vast in every way—their families would never approve, let alone his illness...  

Yang Jiabo’s sudden avoidance left Wei Jing baffled. They had been fine before falling asleep, why the change? 

Watching Yang Jiabo dodge his gaze, slinking along the walls to avoid him, Wei Jing was both amused and exasperated. He strode forward, catching Yang Jiabo before he could flee, pulling him into a room and locking the door.  

"W-what are you doing?" Yang Jiabo’s eyes widened, guilt written all over his face.  

"I should be asking you that. Did you really think you could take it back after waking up?" Wei Jing closed in, trapping Yang Jiabo between the wall and himself.  

"I—I blacked out last night. I don’t know what you’re talking about."  

Wei Jing laughed in disbelief. Pressing his forehead against Yang Jiabo’s, he said firmly, "Tell me the truth."  

Yang Jiabo felt Wei Jing’s breath against his face, sending tingles down his spine.  

"I’m not good enough for you. And our families would never agree."  

"Whether you’re good enough is for me to decide. You haven’t even tried, how do you know they’d disagree?"  

"I—"  

"You were the one who confessed first. You don’t get to back out now." Wei Jing’s words were resolute.  

"My family has no money or influence. I barely went to school, I’m not particularly good-looking, and I’m sick..." Yang Jiabo’s voice grew smaller, his words increasingly despondent.  

Wei Jing sighed and pulled him into a hug. "None of that matters. You work harder than anyone to live well, and that’s what I love about you. Let’s face any challenges together, okay?"  

"I’m scared..." There were too many obstacles ahead. He feared his illness wouldn’t hold out. Worse, he feared Wei Jing would one day grow tired of him, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.  

"Don’t be. I’ll always be here for you. Trust me."  

"I trust you."  

Yang Jiabo couldn’t bring himself to give up Wei Jing, this was the first time he had truly fallen for someone. He decided to follow his heart, cautiously taking a huge step forward. They agreed to keep their relationship a secret until they figured out how to break the news to their families.  

That morning, when Yang Qing woke up, he found his brother absent-minded, following Wei Jing around like a lovesick fool. Something felt off between them, but he couldn’t quite place it, maybe they were still hungover. Others also noticed the change but assumed Yang Jiabo was simply relieved now that the ordeal was over.  

Happy days always pass quickly. Soon, it was time to part, Wei Jing had to return to the capital. Yang Jiabo worried. Their relationship was already difficult, but now they’d be separated by distance.  

"Don’t overthink it. I’ll visit whenever I can." Wei Jing ruffled Yang Jiabo’s hair affectionately.  

"I’ll come see you instead. You’re the busy one." Yang Jiabo had always planned to live a laid-back life, so he had plenty of free time.  

"Have you thought about moving to the capital?" Wei Jing didn’t want to be apart and hoped to bring him along.  

Yang Jiabo considered it but shook his head. As much as he didn’t want to be separated, the thought of leaving everything familiar behind terrified him. He wasn’t ready.  

"Don’t worry. Once the company stabilizes, I’ll have more free time." Wei Jing already had a plan in mind.  

"Big brother, it’s getting late. What’s taking so long? Don’t miss your flight." Wei Feng urged.  

Wei Jing shot his brother an annoyed look. "If you’re feeling better, hurry home. Stop bothering Jiajia all the time."  

"Yeah, yeah." Wei Feng waved him off dismissively. 

Some brother you are, Jiajia never once complained or told me to leave

After seeing Wei Jing off, Yang Jiabo felt an emptiness, as if something were missing. He even considered moving to the capital but quickly dismissed the idea when he thought of all the practical challenges. He’d rather be the one traveling back and forth.  

Just then, his phone buzzed, a message from Wei Jing.  

[I already miss you.]  

[I miss you too.] Yang Jiabo replied with a silly grin.  

His heart swelled with sweetness, filling him with determination to figure out how to win over his father.  

"Jiajia."  

The voice made Yang Jiabo’s smile freeze instantly.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 68 Part 1

Chapter 68

"Jiajia, is your hearing alright now? You really scared me that day." Wei Feng said, still shaken.  

"I'm fine." In truth, Yang Jiabo had also been frightened.  

Upon hearing that Yang Jiabo had been discharged from the hospital, Zhang Yi's mother brought a group of people to his doorstep, demanding an apology and compensation. The people Zhang Yi's mother brought were all educated individuals, they didn’t make a scene or curse in the streets but instead argued with reason and subtly threatened him without leaving a trace.  

Yang Jiabo was furious and immediately wanted to confront the Zhang family, but Yang Jianjun and Wei Jing stopped him. Yang Jiabo wanted to face it himself, avoiding the problem wouldn’t solve anything, but he couldn’t overpower these two.  

Wei Jing didn’t waste words with them and directly hired a lawyer to handle the matter. The Zhang family had many relatives in the area and decent connections in various fields. Zhang Yi's mother tried to pressure them with her influence but failed. The two sides couldn’t reach an agreement and refused to reconcile, eventually taking the matter to court.  

The lawyer Wei Jing hired was formidable and ultimately won the case. Zhang Yi's mother, unwilling to accept the verdict, refused to comply with the court’s ruling. Yang Jianjun then took the judgment to the school administration, forcing Zhang Yi's mother to obey.  

The alumni reunion that day wasn’t just attended by teachers and students but also school administrators. The incident became widely known, causing quite a stir, and Zhang Yi's mother’s reputation in the eyes of the leadership plummeted to rock bottom.  

The fallout was severe. Not long after, Zhang Yi's mother was transferred to a rural middle school as a teacher. She wasn’t young anymore, and this transfer meant she wouldn’t return before retirement, let alone get promoted. Before the transfer, Zhang Yi's parents finalized their divorce.  

Despite this, Yang Jianjun still felt she got off too lightly, though it did give him some satisfaction. He hadn’t forgotten what happened years ago, Yang Jiabo’s expulsion from school was largely their doing.  

Aside from Zhang Yi's mother, another person deeply affected by this incident was Liu Yueting, who had organized the reunion. She had used her parents’ connections to invite many leaders, hoping to expand her network and pursue the person she liked. Instead, things backfired.  

After the incident, though no one said it outright, many mocked her behind her back. Furious, Liu Yueting's already feeble crush on Wei Feng evaporated. She wanted to take her anger out on the Yang family, whom she saw as the root cause, but the Wei family shielded them. Left with no choice, she directed her resentment toward the Zhang family and Zhang Yi's mother.  

With the matter resolved, Yang Jianjun happily prepared a lavish feast and invited friends and family to celebrate. Coincidentally, Yang Qing was back on break. Upset that no one had told him about everything that had happened in his absence, he sulked until Yang Jiabo managed to cheer him up.  

The dinner was lively, and even Wei Feng drank quite a bit. Wei Changdong and his wife were delighted to see his son's injuries healing well and his overall condition improving. Wei Changdong drank heavily with Yang Jianjun, thanking the Yang family for taking care of his two sons. In high spirits, they inevitably overindulged.  

After the gathering, Yang Jiabo stumbled to bed and fell into a deep sleep. He woke up in the middle of the night, his body burning with heat and his mouth parched, so he got up to drink some water. When he saw Wei Jing lying beside him, he froze. Wei Jing had also drunk a lot that night and was sound asleep, undisturbed by the noise.  

Yang Jiabo didn’t think much of it. After drinking water, he quietly lay back down. The alcohol-induced heat made it hard for him to fall asleep again. He opened his eyes, and the moonlight streaming through the window cast a faint glow on Wei Jing’s handsome face, making it impossible to look away.  

"Ah—"  

After who knows how long, an almost imperceptible sigh echoed in the room. Wei Jing’s eyes seemed to flicker.  

"You’re so good to me. What would I do if you left me?" Yang Jiabo murmured, thinking his voice was too soft for anyone else to hear—but he underestimated the silence of the night.  

Wei Jing’s eyelids twitched. He had woken up when Yang Jiabo got out of bed, and now, hearing these whispered words, his heart raced. Jiajia was sometimes insecure and timid, and Wei Jing, unsure of his feelings, had been careful not to scare him. Now that Yang Jiabo was speaking his true thoughts under the influence, Wei Jing wanted to hear what else he might say.  

The room was silent for a long time. Just as Wei Jing wondered if Yang Jiabo had fallen asleep and was about to open his eyes, he heard him mutter dejectedly again.  

"Brother, what should I do? I think I’ve fallen for you." The words seemed directed at Wei Jing, yet also at himself.  

"Then just be with me." Unable to hold back any longer, Wei Jing responded to the confession from the person he loved.  

Yang Jiabo’s body stiffened instantly. He nearly forgot to breathe, his mind buzzing, thoughts scattering. It took him a long moment to stammer out, "Brother, you... you were awake?"  

Amused by his reaction, Wei Jing chuckled. "How could I sleep through someone whispering a confession in my ear?"  

"I—I—I—" Yang Jiabo never expected to be caught red-handed. He stuttered, at a complete loss for words.  

"Don’t be nervous. Relax." Wei Jing patted his back soothingly, as if comforting a child.  

Their position was so intimate it almost seemed like an embrace. Yang Jiabo felt surrounded by Wei Jing’s presence, with no escape. What had once felt normal now seemed unbearably ambiguous.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 67 Part 2

In the end, negotiations broke down, and Wei Feng and Liu Yueting nearly came to blows. Liu Yueting got her deposit back and took her guests elsewhere. What was supposed to be a grand alumni gathering ended in disgrace. Even after relocating to a high-end hotel, few showed up, most had already left on the spot.  

As soon as the guests dispersed, several posts about the incident popped up on local forums. Whether it was “Teacher Assaults Someone” or “Teacher and Restaurant Owner Brawl,” the story was juicy. Word of what happened spread quickly through departing guests. Fortunately, this wasn’t the era of viral short videos—otherwise, the news would’ve spread even faster.  

____

Yang Jiabo stared at the hospital ceiling, the sharp sting of antiseptic in his nostrils. The rhythmic beep of monitors underscored his self-recrimination: After all these years, I still dropped my guard.

Yet for the first time, the familiar storm of rage hadn't come. Perhaps Dr. Luo's methods were finally taking hold, his hands remained steady where they'd once tremble with unchecked fury.

His condition wasn’t serious. After three days in the hospital, he was discharged with no lasting issues. Yang Jianjun lectured him harshly, worried about his mental state, and barred him from handling the fallout.  

On the day of his discharge, Yang Jiabo was pleasantly surprised to see Wei Jing personally driving him home. Wei Jing had only gotten the news the day after the incident and had rushed over after wrapping up his company affairs. Only he knew how frantic he’d been upon hearing Yang Jiabo had been hospitalized—only seeing him in person had eased his mind.  

“Does it hurt?” Wei Jing asked softly as he applied medicine to Yang Jiabo’s face.  

“No,” Yang Jiabo mumbled. His cheek was still slightly swollen, and talking tugged at the sore spot.  

“Fall into a moat and gain wisdom. Stay away from people who hold grudges against you. You never know what they might do in the heat of the moment.”  

[吃一堑长一智 (chī yī qiàn zhǎng yī zhì): lit. Fall into a moat and gain wisdom; fig. Learn from one’s mistakes.]

“She’s a highly educated teacher! Who’d expect her to suddenly hit someone? Honestly, she seems crazier than me.” The memory made Yang Jiabo scowl.  

“You’re not crazy,” Wei Jing corrected sternly.  

“Right, our brains work differently from hers.”  

“Don’t worry about this matter anymore.”  

“Dad and Wei Feng said the same thing. They won’t let me get involved. I just feel bad for Wei Feng.”  

“He’s been freeloading at your place, doing some work is the least he can do. Besides, I’ll help too. Actually, this mess is partly his fault.”  

Yang Jiabo looked at him, confused, waiting for an explanation.  

Wei Jing leaned forward, lowering his voice. “That whole reunion was organized by Liu Yueting - one of Wei Feng's more persistent admirers. She comes from a powerful family and isn't lacking in brains either. When she somehow discovered Wei Feng was recovering here, she saw her chance. She decided to host the event at your place, make it a big affair, he'd have no polite way to refuse showing up.”

Yang Jiabo let out a low whistle, equal parts impressed and skeptical. "Now that's dedication. But why go through all this theater? If she wanted to see him, why not just drop by with some fruit basket and well-wishes?" He shook his head, unable to decide if the scheme was romantic or ridiculous.

“Probably reads too many novels and watches too many dramas. She wanted a grand, dramatic gesture.”  

“Yeah, that’s more impressive. Most people would’ve been moved.” Yang Jiabo nodded thoughtfully.  

Wei Jing gave a dry chuckle. “Well, her grand romantic scheme backfired beautifully. Instead of some storybook reunion, she ended up across the negotiating table from him - all formalities and cold calculations.”  

Yang Jiabo snorted, then immediately regretted it as pain shot through his bruised face. “Oof.” he muttered through gritted teeth, “Wait, did I ruin Wei Feng’s chance at love?”  

A knowing smile played at Wei Jing's lips. “Trust me, he'd thank you for it. That woman's schemes would've driven him up the wall.”  

“Got it.”  

Wei Feng had always been the straightforward type. Liu Yueting's elaborate schemes and dramatic gestures didn't impress him; they just set off all his alarm bells. To him, all that theatricality reeked of calculation rather than genuine affection.

“What are you two doing?”  

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives - Wei Feng appeared at the door, staring at them in shock.  

[说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào): lit. Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives; fig. Talk about someone, and they show up.]  

“Applying medicine. What’s wrong?” Yang Jiabo was baffled by Wei Feng’s "what the hell?" expression.  

“N-Nothing.” Wei Feng glanced at the cotton swab in his brother’s hand and laughed awkwardly, mentally scolding himself for overthinking. 

Why did I think Big Brother was kissing Jiabo just now? 

Wei Jing noticed Wei Feng’s lingering gaze and pondered it silently.  

“We were just talking about your admirer,” Yang Jiabo said with a grin, then hissed in pain as his cheek protested.  

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Wei Feng hobbled in on crutches and gave a brief rundown of the past few days under Yang Jiabo’s curious stare.  

“Is she still contacting you?” Yang Jiabo couldn’t resist asking.  

“Nope. Pretty sure I’m blacklisted now.”  

“Do you regret it?”  

“Not at all. She’s not my type.” If anything, Wei Feng was relieved.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 67 Part 1

Chapter 67

Teacher Jin’s sharp, piercing voice drew the attention of everyone around, instantly making the scene the center of focus.

Don’t get angry, don’t get angry, Yang Jiabo tried hard to suppress his surging emotions.  

“What’s going on?”  

“Looks like an argument over there.”  

Whispers spread around them.  

“Teacher Jin, what happened?” Another teacher, familiar with Teacher Jin, stepped forward to ask.  

“It’s nothing, really. Just ran into a former student. At my age, I can’t help but nag a little, it must be annoying.” Teacher Jin smiled politely, though her gaunt face and drooping eyebrows gave her a somewhat mean-spirited look.  

The surrounding teachers frowned slightly, their eyes filled with disapproval, some even showing hints of disgust.  

Yang Jiabo was highly sensitive to shifts in others’ emotions. In a hostile environment, he was prone to losing control.  

“There was a reason you got expelled back then. A person should learn to reflect in order to grow. After all these years, you haven’t changed at all.” Zhang Yi’s mother spoke with unmistakable malice. The gazes directed at Yang Jiabo grew even sharper.  

Yang Jiabo took a deep breath, straightened his back, and tensed up as if preparing for battle. He adjusted his expression slightly and flashed a mocking smile. “I’m more surprised you didn’t get fired. Must be nice having connections.”  

“Let’s all go inside. We’re here for a gathering, no need to ruin the mood.”  

“Yeah, yeah, let’s disperse.”  

People around them tried to mediate. Yang Jiabo, being a businessman, was ready to let it go for now, as long as things didn’t escalate further. After all, there were many guests today.  

Zhang Yi’s mother, however, remembered how her daughter’s suicide had humiliated her, how her husband had been demoted, how she had almost been fired. Because of that incident, she and her husband had remained ordinary teachers all these years, which was a disgrace for a family like theirs. After their daughter left for college, she never returned home, rarely even called, clearly estranged. And all of it - her family’s misery, her career’s stagnation, was because of this little delinquent standing before her.  

Years of hardship, her daughter’s resentment, her husband’s blame, relatives’ mockery, colleagues’ exclusion - all of it had been bearable as long as she didn’t see him. But now, with the root of her suffering right in front of her, old and new hatred burned away her reason. She raised her hand high and slapped Yang Jiabo across the face.  

Slap!

The crisp sound echoed far, leaving everyone stunned. No one had expected Zhang Yi’s mother to resort to violence.  

Yang Jiabo felt a stinging pain in his cheek, his ears ringing sharply. Realizing he’d been hit, he instinctively punched her in the nose, drawing blood immediately.  

“Ah! How dare you hit me?!” Zhang Yi’s mother, who had never suffered such humiliation, lunged at him with her nails. Yang Jiabo dodged behind Teacher Jin, who ended up getting scratched across the face.  

“The staff are assaulting customers! Call the manager, now!” Teacher Jin, caught in the crossfire, was furious but still grabbed the frenzied Zhang Yi’s mother. Only then did the onlookers snap out of it and step in to separate them.  

Brother Bai and the waitstaff quickly surrounded Yang Jiabo, shielding him.  

“What’s happening?”  

“No idea.”  

Amid the chaos, Yang Jiabo’s head spun, his ears still ringing, making it hard to hear anything.  

“Your staff attacked a customer! Where’s the manager? We’re filing a complaint!” Zhang Yi’s mother shouted.  

Brother Bai and the staff gave the troublemaking customer an odd look. “The one you just hit is our young boss.”  

Teacher Jin, recalling her earlier remarks, stiffened, her face suddenly aching as if she'd been slapped by her own hypocrisy.

“Brother Bai, Brother Bai, I can’t hear. Take me to the hospital.” Yang Jiabo clutched Brother Bai’s arm.  

“Alright, don’t panic.” Brother Bai called Yang Jianjun.  

Yang Jiabo couldn’t make out what he was saying, only growing more uneasy and angrier. “Brother Bai, I’m injured and need medical treatment. Close the restaurant for today.”  

“Young boss, don’t be rash. There are a lot of guests today.” Brother Bai tried to dissuade him.  

“What? I can’t hear you.”  

“Oh no, the young boss is really hurt.” Brother Bai grew frantic.  

“What’s going on?”  

Just then, Wei Feng arrived in his wheelchair, immediately recognizing the tense atmosphere. Brother Bai hurriedly briefed him on the situation. Though Yang Jiabo noticed Wei Feng's arrival, his impaired hearing left him stubbornly repeating one demand - the restaurant must close immediately, no compromises. As tempers flared, a few teachers attempted to intervene and calm the situation.

Yang Jianjun arrived shortly after by car and immediately drove Yang Jiabo to the hospital. With his mobility restricted, Wei Feng remained at the restaurant to deal with the fallout.  

Wei Feng was a decisive man. If the boss, Yang Jiabo, said to close, then they closed. His presence alone was enough to stabilize the situation, though most of the actual arrangements were handled by Brother Bai.  

The moment the restaurant made its announcement to clear out guests, someone immediately notified Liu Yueting, the event’s organizer. When she hurried to the scene, finding Wei Feng waiting for her drained all enthusiasm from her expression.   

After learning what had happened, confirming the boss was hospitalized, and glancing at Zhang Yi’s mother (whose nosebleed had stopped), Liu Yueting gritted her teeth in frustration. But there was nothing she could do, she had to negotiate with Wei Feng. She had assumed her family background would earn her some leeway, especially with so many guests present. Surely a man like Wei Feng would show some consideration.  

To her surprise, Wei Feng was unyielding. No matter what she said, his response was the same: The boss is in the hospital. We’re not operating today. As for losses? At this point, no one cared. Wei Feng believed that, as long as it didn’t affect their livelihood, money was far less important than peace of mind.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 66

Chapter 66

“Then you should think carefully. If you don’t love him, stay away. Don’t let him grow more and more dependent on you.” Ren Boying spoke earnestly, a trace of melancholy between his brows. “More importantly, you need to figure out how to handle family relationships.”  

“I understand.” Wei Jing nodded.  

“Whatever you choose, brother will support you.” Ren Boying knew how tough it was. His own feelings had no clear path forward, and he didn’t want his brother to struggle the same way.  

The two drank until slightly tipsy before a designated driver took them home. In Wei Jing’s heart, a small sprout broke through the soil and grew vigorously.  

To treat Wei Feng’s leg, Yang Jiabo not only used his stored medicinal herbs but even cut a piece from the little fleeceflower, Yang Jiabo was worried the little fleeceflower would come crying to him at night, which made him a little scared. But he didn’t dream of anything, thinking that strange dream before had just been a coincidence. Aside from this, he also consulted Dr. Chen for medicinal recipes, adjusting the meals according to Wei Feng’s condition. The peaceful days passed quickly, and before they knew it, Wei Feng had already stayed at the farm for a month. His injuries were healing well, and he had even gained some weight.  

Every day, Wei Feng either went fishing with Yang Jiabo or played chess with the two doctors, then called Wei Jing to brag about his heavenly life.  

“Brother, Jiajia isn’t just good at growing herbs, his cooking is amazing too.” Wei Feng was in high spirits, so happy he felt like soaring to the sun. “Dr. Chen said my recovery is going much better than expected. The efficacy of Jiajia’s herbs is surprisingly good too, there’s a chance I’ll fully recover.”  

“That’s great. You’ve said this many times already.” Wei Jing’s reaction was indifferent.  

“You don’t get it. I mean recovering to how I was before the injury, that’s practically a miracle. It’s all thanks to Jiajia’s prescriptions and Dr. Chen’s skills.” Wei Feng’s tone suddenly turned troubled. “But after recovering, I’ll need to train harder. It’s only been a month, and my abs are almost gone. I’ll need at least half a year to recuperate. Good grief, will I end up with a beer belly by then?”  

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell Jiajia not to feed you too well. Whole grains are healthy and filling, with some greens on the side, that’ll do.” Wei Jing genuinely meant it. Now that his foolish younger brother was no longer at risk of disability, there was no need for such a refined lifestyle.  

Thinking about his own daily work meals, sometimes too busy to even eat, while his troublesome little brother was being pampered with delicious food by Jiajia, it felt like he’d just bitten into a pound of lemons.  

“Brother, if you really do that, you’ll lose me.” The thought of eating nothing but greens made Wei Feng feel miserable.  

“Wouldn’t be a loss.”  

“Are you really my brother?”  

“Yes, really.” Wei Jing admitted. “I’ve got things to do. I’ll visit you in a few days.”  

“When are you coming? I’ll have Jiajia prepare a guest room for you.” Wei Feng had grown so comfortable at the farm that he unconsciously spoke like its owner.  

Wei Jing felt displeased and replied bluntly, “I’ll contact Jiajia myself. Do you really treat that place as your own home now?”  

“Mom said the same thing, she told me to move back once I’m better.” Wei Feng couldn’t help complaining. “Go back for what? Those two are so busy I barely see them. Go back to eat cafeteria food or guard an empty house? Whatever, I’m hanging up.”  

Wei Feng didn’t notice anything odd about his words. He immediately called Song Yufang to share his good mood, and Song Yufang tearfully said she’d have to thank Yang Jiabo properly.  

During Wei Feng’s stay at the farm, Wei Changdong and Song Yufang frequently sent over gifts - food, daily necessities, health supplements for Yang Jianjun, electronics popular with young people, and anything they could think of. Originally, they wanted to give money, but Yang Jiabo refused.  

“Jiajia, the restaurant’s been booked today. Keep an eye on things, the guests will arrive in the morning.” Yang Jianjun had gone up the mountain early to pick vegetables and assigned Yang Jiabo the task.  

“Got it.” After gaining some fame, Yang Jiabo had become quite familiar with handling private bookings.  

After breakfast, Yang Jiabo headed to the restaurant, which was already bustling. A few guests were still eating. Seeing the restaurant manager finish assigning tasks, Yang Jiabo walked over and asked, “Brother Bai, who’s coming today? They’re here so early.”  

“An alumni gathering. Heard it’s teachers and students from No. 1 High School.” Brother Bai checked the stock of cigarettes and alcohol at the front desk. “People these days have so many events. Elementary school reunions, middle school reunions, high school reunions, college reunions, and now alumni gatherings. The more you study, the more reunions you have.”  

“Is some rich alum treating everyone?” These kinds of gatherings were hard to organize without a sponsor, and the host usually had an agenda.  

Brother Bai grinned slyly and lowered his voice. “Rumor has it, it’s a girl from a wealthy family. Word is, her goal is to pursue a guy.”  

Yang Jiabo felt a toothache. He didn’t understand the girl’s approach. “Does it have to be this complicated?”  

“You don’t get it. The guy she’s after was in the same grade but a different class. Not only does his family have connections, but he’s also outstanding himself.”  

“Brother Bai, I didn’t expect you to be so well-informed.” Yang Jiabo was surprised by his gossip skills.  

“Hah, it’s not just me, everyone here knows.” Brother Bai smiled meaningfully. “Want to know who the guy is?”  

“Who?” Yang Jiabo had zero interest, but he didn’t want to ruin Brother Bai’s excitement.  

“You’d never guess, it’s Wei Feng.” Brother Bai was delighted. “Apparently, the school invited outstanding alumni to give speeches, and Wei Feng was one of them. His heroic injury made the news, so his classmates all know about it.”  

Yang Jiabo was stunned, not knowing what to say. “Does Wei Feng know?”  

“Of course not. They asked us to keep it a secret, wanted to surprise him.” Brother Bai sighed. “Ah, youth.”  

Yang Jiabo gave him a strange look. Brother Bai was only in his late twenties, barely older than them.  

“I’m young too, but I’d never go to such lengths.”  

“Let’s hope it’s a pleasant surprise and not a shock.”  

Since it was a holiday, the No. 1 High School teachers arrived early. Yang Jiabo recognized many faces, but the encounter felt like something from another lifetime, and not in a touching way.  

Even after so many years, his memories of school hadn’t faded. Frowning, Yang Jiabo wondered if he should avoid them: No, I can’t run away. I need to face this head-on.

The girl hosting the event had booked the entire day. The morning crowd was small, but by afternoon, the farm was lively. Guests were everywhere - playing cards, fishing, experiencing farm life.  

Seeing new arrivals, Yang Jiabo quickly went to greet them. “Private rooms 11 and 12 are still available. I’ll have someone take you there.”  

“Are you… Yang Jiabo?” The person asked uncertainly.  

“Yes.” Yang Jiabo nodded politely, already recognizing her.  

“Back then, I kept telling you all to study hard, but you wouldn’t listen. By the time you realize how important education is, it’ll be too late.” Teacher Jin sighed.  

Yang Jiabo’s expression darkened: What’s she trying to say?

“But as long as you work hard, academic qualifications are just decoration,” Teacher Zhou quickly mediated.  

“Times have changed. Nowadays, even decent jobs require diplomas.”  

True to form, Teacher Jin remained as unpleasant as ever. Yang Jiabo didn’t want to waste time with her. “Please head inside and rest. Dinner will be served at six.”  

“Isn’t this the student who dropped out due to mental issues? Why is he here?”  

The shrill voice grated on the ears. After so many years, Zhang Yi’s mother looked even more spiteful. Of all the people to run into… Yang Jiabo felt a surge of hostility.  

“Auntie, you look more mentally ill than I ever was. How did your family let you out?”  

“So rude! Have you forgotten how your teachers taught you?” Teacher Jin scolded.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 65 Part 2

An hour later, Yang Jiabo figured enough time had passed and wandered back. From a distance, he saw Li Guizhen storming off angrily while Yang Jianguo’s expression was dark inside. Yang Jiabo sighed but said nothing, this was exactly what he’d expected.  

When Yang Jianguo saw him return, he composed himself, leaving only concern for Yang Jiabo. Now that he understood more about his son’s condition, he called Dr. Liu to provide counseling. Though Yang Jiabo didn’t think it necessary, he cooperated under his father’s worried gaze.  

But Yang Jiabo had underestimated Li Guizhen’s influence on him. It wasn’t until nightfall that he realized the nightmares hadn’t left him. He dreamed again of his past suicides, his consciousness drifting hazily between life and death. He knew he was dreaming but couldn’t wake up, forced to watch helplessly as everything unfolded.  

After struggling for most of the night, he finally broke free from the dream as dawn approached. His eyes were sore, his head throbbed dully, and his body felt sticky with sweat. Yang Jiabo smiled bitterly, hating himself for his weakness. Rubbing his temples, he headed to the bathroom to wash off the discomfort. Sitting by the window, he stared blankly at the faint light on the horizon.  

The nightmare lingered in his mind. He shook his head, trying to dispel the unpleasant images and focus on happier memories. Gradually, he realized that most of his vivid memories were of moments spent with Wei Jing.  

Yang Jiabo was in agony. He knew his own feelings, he wanted to be close to Wei Jing, to rely on him, to be with him. But he couldn’t. Even if he weren’t ill, there were still pressures from family and society. More importantly, he liked Wei Jing, but Wei Jing might not feel the same.  

What he didn’t know was that he wasn’t the only one struggling. Wei Jing was also staring at the predawn sky, lost in thought. Wei Jing had always maintained a strict routine, waking early without fail. But today was different, he had woken up startled from a dream.  

The day before, Wei Feng had called him, and they’d talked at length about Yang Jiabo. But Wei Jing hadn’t mentioned a word about Yang Jiabo’s condition or private matters. After hanging up, he went about his usual routine.  

But at night, he dreamed of Yang Jiabo - his frail body curled up, brows furrowed, looking helpless and vulnerable. Wei Jing couldn’t resist reaching out to smooth the wrinkles between his brows. He lay down beside him, pulling him into his arms and patting his back gently, as if soothing a child.  

Yang Jiabo nestled closer, perhaps finding comfort, and the tension in his lips eased into a peaceful smile. Wei Jing stared at that smile, momentarily stunned. How long had it been since he’d seen Jiajia so relaxed?  

He seemed to carry so many burdens, locking them away without sharing them with anyone. Outwardly, he appeared cheerful and easygoing, but alone, he was always weighed down, fragile as a child.  

Perhaps craving warmth, Yang Jiabo nuzzled against him, but his thick black hair got caught on Wei Jing’s shirt button. The once peacefully sleeping Yang Jiabo opened his drowsy peach-blossom eyes, gazing at him blearily before breaking into a happy smile.  

"Brother, you’re here."  

"Mhm, go back to sleep."  

"Then stay with me." Yang Jiabo pleaded like a child.  

"Okay."  

"Brother, you’re the best." Delighted, Yang Jiabo kissed Wei Jing’s cheek.  

The soft touch startled Wei Jing, his gaze involuntarily dropping to Yang Jiabo’s moist lips. They looked so soft—would they feel the same? Acting on impulse, Wei Jing leaned in and kissed him. Just as he’d imagined, they were tender.  

Then Yang Jiabo’s arms wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. In that moment, Wei Jing forgot everything, losing himself completely, sinking deeper and deeper…  

Just as he was about to lose control and claim the person in his arms, he jolted awake. After a cold shower, sleep eluded him. Wei Jing was bewildered, he had actually developed desires for Jiajia, whom he’d always treated like a younger brother. His heart was in turmoil. Remembering the dream, he didn’t know how to face Yang Jiabo. When had his feelings changed?  

That day, Wei Jing was distracted. Nearing the end of work, he hesitated outside Ren Boying’s office before knocking.  

"Brother Ren, want to grab a drink?"  

"Sure." Ren Boying gave him a knowing look.  

After work, they found a nice restaurant nearby. While waiting for their food, Ren Boying teased, "You’ve been absent-minded all day. Did your little sweetheart confess to you?"  

"No, he just sees me as a brother." Wei Jing didn’t notice the slight dejection in his own voice.  

"Oh, so the confession failed?" Ren Boying joked.  

"Neither." Wei Jing organized his thoughts. "I might… like Jiajia."  

Ren Boying stared at him in surprise. "Tsk, I never thought the ever-clever you could be so dense about feelings."  

"Is it that obvious?" Wei Jing was stunned.  

"The affection in both your eyes is practically overflowing. Anyone with eyes could see it."  

"Then there must be a lot of blind people." Wei Jing thought Ren Boying was exaggerating—so far, he was the only one who’d noticed.  

Ignoring his sudden contrarian tone, Ren Boying asked, "When are you planning to confess? I can tell Jiajia likes you too. As your elder brother, I advise you to take the initiative—otherwise, that turtle of a younger brother of yours will never dare to make a move."  

"I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet." This sudden realization had left him unsure how to face Yang Jiabo.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 65 Part 1

Chapter 65

The two arrived at the door and saw it was open, with Yang Jiabo’s loud scolding coming from inside.  

"Enough." Yang Jiabo always found it hard to stay calm when facing Li Guizhen, easily agitated. After being nagged for so long, he couldn’t hold back anymore.  

Li Guizhen was stunned by his shout, her eyes reddening as tears streamed down. "I’m your mother. How dare you yell at me?"  

Yang Jiabo looked at her pitiful appearance as she cried and wiped her tears, but his heart remained numb, he had seen this scene too many times. Suppressing his emotions, he spoke as calmly as possible: "You and Dad are impossible. Crying won’t change anything. I’ll give you the alimony on time, but I don’t want to say anything more."  

"Jiajia, is something wrong over there?" Wei Feng called from the doorway.  

"It’s nothing." Yang Jiabo walked to the door, forcing his expression to soften. "Why are you here?"  

"We heard the arguing and came to check." Wei Feng glanced at Li Guizhen, who sat with her back to them. "Aunt Li, if you have something to say to Jiajia, say it properly. At your age, you need to control your temper, getting too worked up isn’t good for your health."  

Li Guizhen felt too embarrassed to face Wei Feng, a junior, and found his words unpleasant, so she simply pretended not to hear him.  

"Sorry for worrying you. I still have things to handle, so you can go back first," Yang Jiabo said awkwardly.  

"Then we’ll leave. Call us if you need anything." Wei Feng turned to Li Guizhen again. "Aunt Li, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself."  

"Mhm." Li Guizhen responded dismissively.  

Dr. Chen gave an awkward smile and nudged Wei Feng to leave. After they were gone, the sound of crying grew louder inside. Yang Jiabo closed the door directly, sat back in his original spot, and watched Li Guizhen coldly without a word.  

"Wuu… I’m your mother, you unfilial son. I shouldn’t have given birth to you in the first place." Li Guizhen repeated these same phrases, hoping Yang Jiabo would comfort her so she could take the opportunity to dismount the donkey on the slope. But he ignored her completely. Thinking of her lonely life now, she was overwhelmed with sorrow. She regretted everything and wanted to make amends, to have the family live together again.  

[借坡下驴 (jiè pō xià lǘ): lit. Dismount the donkey on the slope; fig. Take the opportunity to back down or withdraw gracefully.]

Li Guizhen was a selfish person who never believed she was at fault—or if she was, she thought she could just change and everything would be fine. She never considered whether her family could forgive her or accept living with her again.  

"If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to be your son either." Yang Jiabo’s tone was so cold it sent a chill down Li Guizhen’s spine.  

Li Guizhen was both furious and heartbroken. She couldn’t understand why Yang Jiabo was treating her this way, grieving over her son’s lack of filial piety and care.  

Yang Jiabo suppressed his irritation and spoke as evenly as possible: "Some things, once missed, are gone forever. Instead of clinging to regrets and trying to reclaim the past, you’d be better off starting fresh, finding someone new, and living well. Even if you forced Dad to reconcile, what good would it do? The past is an insurmountable barrier, the rift in our hearts won’t disappear."  

No matter how much Yang Jiabo disliked Li Guizhen, she was still his mother. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt her. Seeing her so deluded and confused, he couldn’t help but offer a few words of advice.  

"You—"  

Li Guizhen opened her mouth to say something, but just then, Yang Jianguo returned. As soon as he entered, he shot Yang Jiabo a worried glance. Seeing that he was fine, his furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He turned to Li Guizhen impatiently. "Why are you here?"  

"I came to see you and Jiajia, and to discuss something with you." Li Guizhen wiped her tears, her tone uncharacteristically gentle.  

"We’re doing fine, and there’s nothing left to say between us. You should leave."  

Yang Jianguo’s immediate dismissal made Li Guizhen start crying again. Frowning, he glanced at Yang Jiabo worriedly and said, "Jiajia, I can’t leave right now. Go check on the restaurant for me."  

"Okay." Yang Jiabo agreed readily and stood to leave. Though he was already in charge of the restaurant, Yang Jianguo’s request was clearly just to send him away. He stopped by the neighbor’s first to reassure Wei Feng before leisurely heading toward the restaurant.  

Watching him leave, Wei Feng sighed. "Every family has a difficult scripture to recite."  

[家家有本难念的经 (jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīng): lit. Every family has a difficult scripture to recite; fig. Every family has its own troubles.]  

"Time erases all past suffering." Dr. Chen seemed lost in thought, as if recalling something.  

Wei Feng figured Dr. Chen might be thinking about the past and didn’t disturb him. Instead, he took out his phone and texted Wei Jing. He and Yang Jiabo had lost contact for years, and since he’d be recuperating here for a while, he needed to ask his brother for more information.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 64

Chapter 64  

"It's a bit scarce, but I'm not running a pharmacy, it's enough for my needs. As for aesthetics, what's more important than health?" Yang Jiabo glanced at Wei Feng's injured leg. "Your leg injury will also require those medicines."  

"You've gone to so much trouble for me. Once I recover, I'll find you some beautiful flowers." Wei Feng's tone suddenly shifted as he said with nostalgia, "Jiajia, you were so adorable when you were little, all pink and tender."  

Yang Jiabo rolled his eyes, unsure how the conversation had taken such a turn. "You were pretty silly as a kid too, adorably dumb."  

"Where was I dumb? I was a perfectly normal child back then." Wei Feng believed he had been quite bright compared to his peers. As for his brother and Yang Jiabo, they were hardly normal.  

"Sure, whatever you say." Yang Jiabo opened a nearby cabinet and took out a thin blanket. The weather had turned chilly lately, and the quilt he had prepared for Wei Feng was a bit too light.  

"I'm just stating facts."  

The two bickered and teased each other, dredging up old memories, yet strangely, the years of separation melted away, as if they had returned to childhood. It wasn’t until Yang Jianguo called them for dinner that they realized how much time had passed.  

Wei Feng recuperated at the farmhouse. Dr. Chen treated him daily with acupuncture, while Yang Jiabo ensured he was well-fed. Within days, the weight he had lost returned. Wei Changdong and his wife visited whenever they could, watching his condition improve day by day, their gratitude beyond words.  

Compared to the care the Yang family showed Wei Feng, the couple felt they had failed as parents. Yang Jianguo, having noticed their guilt, reassured them with his own experience—after all, Wei Jing had once looked after Yang Jiabo. Only then did the Wei couple ease their hearts.  

News of Wei Feng’s likely recovery soon reached the Wei family. Old Master Wei was overjoyed, and his own condition improved slightly. Wei Jing, upon hearing the news, wanted to visit—both to see Wei Feng and Yang Jiabo. This time, it was all thanks to Jiajia. 

Staring at a photo of the two on his desk, Wei Jing pondered what gifts to bring - something for Wei Feng, and of course, something for Jiajia, who had worked hard.  

Wei Feng’s days at the farmhouse were peaceful, except for one oddity - a relative of the Yang family named Luo Lixin. The man often loitered around Yang Jiabo, their interactions seemingly friendly yet carrying an undercurrent of something else. After several encounters, Wei Feng finally pinpointed the strangeness. Having dealt with psychologists in the military, he was sensitive to the field.  

Recalling Yang Jiabo’s past hardships, Wei Feng wondered if those experiences had left psychological scars. His heart ached for his friend, but he hesitated to broach the topic, fearing he might worsen things. Little did he know, Yang Jiabo’s issues stemmed not just from this life but from a previous one - a lingering affliction across two lifetimes.  

Yang Jiabo, unable to stand Wei Feng’s hesitant expression any longer, snapped, "Just say it. If you have something to ask, ask. If you’re not uncomfortable holding it in, I’m uncomfortable watching you."  

"It’s nothing." Wei Feng shook his head. How could he possibly ask outright, "Are you mentally ill?" 

"Acting all coy like this, people would think you’re some delicate maiden." Yang Jiabo scoffed, turning back to the herbs he was processing. His recent harvests required simple preparations before Dr. Chen’s more specialized treatment.  

Wei Feng wasn’t offended. Instead, he joked, "Have you ever seen a maiden as brawny as me?"  

"Can’t say I have." Yang Jiabo smirked before dropping a bombshell. "Luo Lixin is a psychologist. He’s here to treat me."  

His tone was casual, but Yang Jiabo avoided meeting Wei Feng’s gaze. He knew Wei Feng wouldn’t see him as a freak or judge him, yet the tension remained.  

"You overthink things. If something’s bothering you, talk to me. I’ve never been as sharp as you, but at least I don’t have these kinds of worries." Wei Feng’s relaxed demeanor put Yang Jiabo at ease.  

"True. Maybe being a little dumb isn’t so bad." Yang Jiabo’s shoulders loosened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.  

"Jiajia, you’ve got a visitor." Dr. Chen walked in with a tray of dried herbs, his eyes flickering toward the door.  

"I’ll go see." Yang Jiabo set down the herbs, wiped his hands, and headed outside.  

Outside the Yang family’s bamboo house, a woman in her forties or fifties paced nervously, occasionally peering toward the door. She was plump, with permed hair and a stylish blue dress. Though her appearance had changed, Yang Jiabo recognized her instantly.  

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Yang Jiabo frowned, reluctantly approaching.  

"Hurry up and let me in, I've been standing here forever!" Li Guizhen snapped, her glare prompting a silent thought: What an ungrateful child, completely lacking in filial duty.

"What do you want?" Yang Jiabo sighed but unlocked the door.  

Li Guizhen brushed past him, scanning the room for Yang Jianguo. "Where’s your father?"  

"No idea." Yang Jiabo poured her a glass of water and sat across from her. Despite her fashionable attire, age had taken its toll—streaks of white roots peeked through dyed hair, wrinkles deepened, and age spots dotted her temples.  

Li Guizhen sat close, her voice sharp. "How could you not know?"  

"I was asleep when he left."  

"Still so lazy at your age! Greedy and slothful since childhood, a dog can’t stop eating crap, and you’ll never change. Your father spoils you rotten. Who’d ever marry a lazy oaf like you? If you end up a lonely old bachelor, think of the shame you’ll bring me!" Li Guizhen ranted.  

[狗改不了吃屎 (gǒu gǎi bù liǎo chī shǐ): lit. A dog can’t stop eating crap; fig. Old habits die hard.]  

She was a hypocrite—freely criticizing others, especially her son. However, today's outburst was mild compared to the vile, profanity-laced verbal abuse Yang Jiabo had endured in the past.

"Why are you really here?" Yang Jiabo’s expression darkened.  

"Can’t I visit without a reason? You’re my son, what’s wrong with seeing you?" Li Guizhen’s face twisted. "I’m your mother. If I scold you, who are you to glare at me?"  

"Who else is here? And when have you ever visited without wanting something?" Yang Jiabo sneered.  

"Is that how you speak to your elders? What kind of manners did your father teach you? I should’ve known, you’ve always favored him over me!" Li Guizhen’s voice cracked as she burst into tears. "My life is so bitter, I might as well die!"  

"Can’t you just say what you want?" Yang Jiabo massaged his temples, fighting back his rising fury.  

Li Guizhen never expressed herself clearly. Instead, she nagged, attacked, or threatened suicide when things didn't go as she wanted.

The first time Yang Jiabo had seriously contemplated suicide was after a fight with her over house repairs. Li Guizhen was clueless when it came to practical things; when their roof started leaking, she had no idea how to fix it.

Yang Jiabo had handled everything - contracting workers, sourcing materials. But when a neighbor claimed his contractor was overpriced and unskilled, Li Guizhen berated him endlessly without checking facts. Their argument escalated until she wailed about killing herself.  

Overwhelmed by rage, Yang Jiabo had roared, "Stop threatening me with death! I’ll die first!"  

Standing on a rooftop, he felt an overwhelming urge to jump. It was then he first realized something was seriously wrong with his mental health.

Wiping her tears, Li Guizhen said, "I want to remarry your father."  

Yang Jiabo didn’t hesitate. "No."  

"Why not? Or do you want him to find you a stepmother?" Her shrill voice startled him.  

"Have you forgotten why you divorced?"  

"That was years ago! Can’t we start over? Don’t you want our family reunited?" Her tone wavered with guilt.  

"No man could ever get over that."

"You're just refusing to help me! You and your father live comfortably while I'm suffering alone - don't you have any compassion?"

"You reap what you sow." Yang Jiabo felt drained, as he always did after talking to her. If she had genuinely cared about the family, things wouldn't have ended up like this. 

"Cut the lectures. If you're not going to help, I'll talk to your dad myself." Li Guizhen's anger flared, her thoughts turning bitter: Useless son, can't count on him for anything.

Li Guizhen refused to give up, but Yang Jiabo stood firm, refusing to agree or help. Enraged, Li Guizhen turned her attention to Yang Jianguo, unleashing her anger on Yang Jiabo instead. 

Next door, Wei Feng frowned at the harsh shouting and said, "I'm going over there." 

Dr. Chen hesitated, knowing family disputes can be tricky, but concern for his patient won out. "I'll go with you."

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Yang Jiabo looked at Wei Feng, whose eyes were dull and spirits low, then at Wei Changdong and his wife, who wore worried expressions but hesitated to speak. After a moment of thought, he turned to Dr. Chen and asked, "Dr. Chen, how is Wei Feng's condition?"  

"The patient's injuries are severe. Although he has received treatment, the prognosis isn't optimistic, there's a possibility of permanent disability." Dr. Chen sighed inwardly. Another young soldier might have to leave the military due to injury.  

"If there were a good prescription, would there still be hope for Wei Feng's leg?"  

Dr. Chen had spent his life treating patients and had occasionally encountered cases where hospitals were powerless, only for the patients to be saved by rare prescriptions. But such cases were few. After some thought, he replied cautiously, "It's not impossible, but..."  

"But what?" Song Yufang pressed urgently.  

"The patient's injuries have already begun healing from the initial treatment. If too much time passes, even the best prescription may not help much."  

"I'll go invite that Dr. Wang." To save his son, Wei Changdong was ready to do whatever it took, no matter the means.  

"Uncle Wei, wait. I have a prescription here. Let Dr. Chen take a look first."  

Yang Jiabo stopped Wei Changdong and, under the couple's puzzled gazes, found paper and pen to write out a prescription from memory before handing it to Dr. Chen. Knowing what they were thinking, he explained, "This is an ancient formula I came across by chance, specifically for cases like Wei Feng's."  

With years of medical practice, Dr. Chen had often seen patients bringing so-called miracle prescriptions that were completely mismatched to their conditions. Especially with the rise of internet misinformation, self-diagnosing patients had become increasingly common.  

Initially, Dr. Chen had little expectation for Yang Jiabo's prescription, but his professionalism kept him from dismissing it outright. However, as he read the formula, his eyes brightened with excitement. "Quick, give me the patient's medical records!"  

"Here." Song Yufang immediately handed over the prepared documents.  

In the ward, everyone watched Dr. Chen with hopeful anticipation. Wei Feng's entire body was tense, he had been disappointed too many times since his injury. Yang Jiabo wasn't much better, though he had faith in the prescription, he worried it might not suit Wei Feng's condition, given that he was no medical expert.  

After a long examination, Dr. Chen exclaimed excitedly, "There's hope, he might really recover!"  

Hearing this, Yang Jiabo's anxiety finally eased. Fortunately it worked. He turned happily to Wei Feng, only to find him relaxed against the bedding, eyes shining unnaturally bright. Wei Feng hadn't been indifferent to his condition, he had just been putting on a brave face for those who cared about him.  

Dr. Chen still needed to study the prescription further and adjust it according to Wei Feng's condition. Wei Changdong led him to the office, with Song Yufang following to assist. Once the treatment plan was confirmed, they would procure the finest herbs for Wei Feng.  

Thus, the ward was left with only Wei Feng, barely concealing his joy, and Yang Jiabo, who pretended to be calm but was inwardly more excited than anyone.  

"Jiajia, thank you." Wei Feng spoke sincerely.  

"Between brothers, no need for formalities."  

"By the way, where did you get that prescription? It must have taken a lot of effort." Wei Feng committed this favor to memory, already planning to find out what Yang Jiabo had sacrificed to obtain it so he could repay him.  

Yang Jiabo grinned mischievously. "Actually, it's Dr. Wang's family secret. Given his temper, I just prepared for the worst."  

Wei Feng's eyes widened in disbelief as he scrutinized Yang Jiabo. The twist was unexpected. "After all this time apart, I really have to see you in a new light. You seem to know Dr. Wang well, how did you even get his family's secret formula?"  

"Really want to know?" Yang Jiabo teased.  

"Yes!" Wei Feng was burning with curiosity. Weren't family secrets supposed to be closely guarded?  

"It's actually simple." Yang Jiabo organized his thoughts. "Doctors are very protective of their prescriptions, especially critical ones. To prevent leaks, some use special symbols to replace certain drug names. But the hardest to guard against are the dispensers. Dr. Wang has always served private clients, and often, those handling his prescriptions were just experienced assistants, not even licensed pharmacists. Arrogant and dismissive, he never saw them as worth guarding against. If Dr. Wang had been willing to treat you properly, I wouldn’t have resorted to this. Stealing someone’s prescription isn’t right."  

In his past life, Yang Jiabo had been responsible for dispensing medicine for Dr. Wang’s patients. At first, he was just an experienced assistant, even after getting his pharmacist license, Dr. Wang still looked down on him. Yang Jiabo knew Dr. Wang well: proud, vain, and obsessed with status. Even when posing as humble during charity work, few ever earned his respect.  

Recalling Dr. Wang’s attitude, Wei Feng felt no sympathy. But the stark contrast between the two doctors made him sigh. "Who’d have thought they’d arrive the same day? Our military doctors are truly the best."  

Yang Jiabo nodded. Dr. Chen’s ethics were beyond reproach. "Dr. Chen is an excellent military doctor. Once you’re discharged, come recuperate at my place."  

"This injury will take at least half a year to heal. I don’t want to be a burden." Wei Feng shook his head.  

Yang Jiabo understood his concerns and laid out the facts: "Uncle Wei and Aunt Song are too busy with work, and their jobs make it impossible for them to care for you long-term. Besides, your home isn’t ideal for recovery. I have plenty of time, and my place is quiet and comfortable, perfect for recuperation. There’s also plenty of space; Dr. Chen could move in too."  

But Yang Jiabo had another motive: he wanted Wei Feng closer to the fleeceflower to see if it could aid his recovery. It was rumored to strengthen bones and muscles, it was even used in Dr. Chen’s medicinal wine, perhaps he could slice a piece and add it in.  

This was also him treating a dead horse as a live one. Though Wei Feng’s injury now had hope of recovery, they both knew in their hearts that even if his leg healed, he would never return to strenuous activity. His discharge from the military was already inevitable

[死马当作活马医 (sǐ mǎ dàng zuò huó mǎ yī): lit. to treat a dead horse as a live one; fig. to try every possible remedy in a desperate situation.] 

"As long as you don’t mind the trouble. I’ve heard your Wuquan Farm is like a paradise, just never had the chance to visit."  

"This time, you’ll stay as long as you want." Yang Jiabo waved generously.  

"Then I’ll thank you in advance."  

With the prescription, Dr. Chen soon finalized Wei Feng’s treatment plan. Wei Changdong and his wife were overjoyed, half-wishing they could adopt Yang Jiabo. They learned the prescription’s origin from Wei Feng and, while disapproving of the theft, were deeply grateful for Yang Jiabo’s efforts.  

The good news reached Wei Feng’s grandfather and Wei Jing. Old Man Wei, thrilled, vowed to thank Yang Jiabo and Dr. Chen in person once he recovered. Meanwhile, Wei Jing was already rearranging his schedule to take time off.  

Days later, Wei Feng was discharged. Yang Jiabo brought him and Dr. Chen back to his farm, having prepared a cleaned-out bamboo house next door for them and Gu Gong, a caretaker arranged by Song Yufang. It was already enough trouble for Wei Feng to move in, they couldn’t expect the Yang family to care for him too.  

As for Dr. Chen, retired and longing to return to his roots, but his wife, Liu Jianying, had refused to relocate. Wei Changdong, learning of her materialistic nature, enlisted a senior leader to persuade her, along with a generous fee, ensuring Dr. Chen could stay until Wei Feng improved.  

While everything fell into place, Dr. Wang waited in vain for the Wei family to beg for his help, unaware that someone with foresight and knowledge of his ways had already thwarted his plans.  

Yang Jianguo, knowing Wei Feng was coming to recuperate, eagerly prepared to welcome him. Grateful for Wei Jing’s past help, he saw this as a chance to repay the Wei family. He’d braced himself to meet Dr. Chen again, but the moment was still awkward.  

"Uncle Chen, it’s been a long time."  

Dr. Chen stared before exclaiming, "Jianguo? You’ve grown so much!"  

The middle-aged Yang Jianguo being addressed like a child only deepened the awkwardness.  

"Let’s head inside. Your rooms are ready, I’m sure you’ll be comfortable." Yang Jiabo stepped in to diffuse the tension.  

The bamboo house had three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen, each with an ensuite bathroom. Modifications had been made for Wei Feng’s wheelchair.  

Pushing Wei Feng into his room, Yang Jiabo revealed a space furnished with bamboo furniture, blending antique charm with hidden modern conveniences.  

Wei Feng looked around, amazed. "If I didn’t know this was your place, I’d think I’d time-traveled."  

"Can’t help it, I love classical styles. They’re soothing." Yang Jiabo opened the window, letting in a faint herbal scent that was refreshing rather than overpowering. "Your window faces my courtyard, so this room’s been unused."  

Wei Feng glanced outside at the densely packed, unidentifiable plants - hardly aesthetic but thriving.  

"I thought you were good with flowers. What’s all this?"  

"Relocated the flowers. These are all medicinal herbs now."  

"I heard you grow great herbs, but isn’t this a bit sparse?" Wei Feng doubted such a small patch could yield much. Unaware, most were meant for him.  

Rebirth to Erase Dark History Chapter 61 Part 2

After waiting for over an hour, Yang Jiabo finally spotted a familiar figure. He quietly sighed in relief and went up to greet Zhang Wei, who was surprised to see him after so many years. Yang Jiabo suggested walking Zhang Wei home to see his new place, and Zhang Wei agreed. Though they hadn’t been in touch for years, their childhood bond made it hard to refuse. Wei Jing followed silently behind them.  

After just a few steps, a speeding car suddenly lost control and veered onto the sidewalk. Without thinking, Yang Jiabo yanked Zhang Wei backward, hard enough to make him fall. At the same time, another figure pulled Yang Jiabo into a tight embrace as the car barely missed them, crashing into a nearby wall.  

"Are you okay? Did it scare you?" Wei Jing asked worriedly.  

"I’m fine." Yang Jiabo shook his head. The warmth of Wei Jing’s arms slowly steadied his racing heart. He had been so focused on saving Zhang Wei that he hadn’t noticed his own danger. If Wei Jing hadn’t pulled him back, his clothes would’ve been caught on the side mirror.  

Zhang Wei sat pale-faced on the ground, still shaken from nearly becoming roadkill. Once he recovered slightly, Yang Jiabo and Wei Jing escorted him home. Zhang Wei’s parents, upon hearing what happened, were immensely grateful and tried to insist they stay for dinner, but Yang Jiabo politely declined.  

With Zhang Wei safe, the weight crushing Yang Jiabo’s heart finally lifted. Still, he urged Zhang Wei’s parents to keep him indoors for the next few days. Zhang Wei’s mother readily agreed, she also had been terrified by the close call.  

After resolving the matter, Wei Jing saw Yang Jiabo home before returning to his own family. The incident had shaken him badly—he never expected Yang Jiabo’s premonition to come true. Seeing that out-of-control car speeding toward Yang Jiabo had nearly stopped his heart.  

Wei Jing left in a hurry after the festival, not even getting a chance to see Yang Jiabo again, just a brief phone call to say goodbye.  

A few days later, Zhang Wei and his parents came with gifts to thank Yang Jiabo. From them, he learned that the driver had suffered a sudden epileptic seizure, causing the crash. Due to the high speed, the driver died on impact. Zhang Wei’s family repeatedly expressed their gratitude—if not for Yang Jiabo, their son would have been killed.  

When Luo Lixin returned from the holiday and heard about it, he was equally surprised but dismissed it as coincidence. Ding Xiang, upon hearing the news, also visited the farm to thank Yang Jiabo with gifts.  

After this incident, Yang Jiabo’s life returned to normal. Though Wei Jing still called him daily, Yang Jiabo couldn’t shake the feeling that his attitude had grown somewhat… strange.  

"Brother Ren, what exactly did you mean by what you said last time?" After wrestling with his thoughts for a while, Wei Jing invited Ren Boying out for a drink.  

"Everyone thinks I treat Meng Fan like a little brother, but the truth is, I’m in love with him." Ren Boying’s eyes darkened with melancholy. "What do you think your feelings for Yang Jiabo are?"  

"I—" Wei Jing was genuinely lost.  

"You don’t have to tell me. The answer is in your own heart."  

"What about you and Meng Fan, then?" Wei Jing asked.  

"Who knows? Let things take their course." Ren Boying himself was tangled in uncertainty.  

The two drank in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.  

Before Wei Jing could sort out his feelings, news finally came about Wei Feng. He had been injured on a mission and sent back to recuperate. His condition wasn’t promising, if his leg didn’t heal properly, he might be discharged from the military.  

This was a devastating blow to both Wei Feng and Grandpa Wei. Once his condition stabilized, Wei Feng was transferred to the military hospital under Wei Changdong’s jurisdiction. Upon hearing the news, Yang Jiabo went to visit.  

Wei Feng lay listlessly in bed, forcing a strained smile when Yang Jiabo entered. "Jiajia, you’re here."  

"Don’t force a smile if you can’t. It hurts to see."  

"Don’t be sad. The doctors said there’s still some hope." Wei Feng ended up comforting Yang Jiabo instead.  

"He’s right, so you must follow the treatment properly." Song Yufang’s eyes were shadowed with worry.  

Yang Jiabo asked about Wei Feng’s condition and chatted with him for a while, only leaving when Wei Feng grew tired. Before departing, he pulled Song Yufang aside to inquire about Wei Feng’s medical records.  

"Jiajia, do you have some kind of solution?" Song Yufang grabbed his hands eagerly. She and Wei Changdong knew the severity of Wei Feng’s injury, the chances of full recovery were slim. They had only transferred him back for better care.  

"Auntie, don’t get your hopes up. I’m not sure if it’ll work." Yang Jiabo had no confidence in his own idea.  

"It’s alright. We’ll try anything, no matter how small the chance." Song Yufang brought Yang Jiabo to Wei Changdong’s office.