One Useless Rebirth

Fan Da put down his pen and gazed at Di Qiuhe’s eyes, which were so similar to his daughter’s. His clear eyes lost focus for a while and he suddenly wore a childish smile. Fan Da said in a proud manner, “Those people believe that I have been senile, and they carve for my properties, but they are not Lianxiu nor you. So, I cannot give them…I can’t…Don’t cry my Qiuhe, I will protect you.

Di Qiuhe looked at him silently.

He Bai watched them and also smiled. He turned to Di Qiuhe and thought that no wonder he was Fan Di’s grandson, their smiles were so similar.

There was a second of silence in the room.

Fan Da blinked and looked down at his palm, then turned back to Hu Zhao, asked, “Is Lian Xiu about to be married? Can you bring me to visit her? I am so afraid to see her get bullied.”

“Of course, uncle Fan, I will.” Hu Zhao answered mildly. He took the blanket from the wheel chair and covered Fan Da’s kneels.

Hearing his words, Fan Da smiled with satisfaction. Then his eyes become dull again, murmuring to himself, “Money gives a girl more courage. Now Lianxiu is to get married, I have to prepare dowry for her, much, much dowry…”

The sun was setting and light in this room was dimming.

He Bai looked at this old man who was murmuring to himself and glanced at the files on the table embodying endless wealth, and finally his eyes stopped at Di Qiuhe, who was indifferent. He Bai felt that sense of suppression in the chest, which made it difficult to breath.

Soon, some lawyers and assistants came and got busy with these files and transference of properties.

They ordered in for dinner, after which Di Qiuhe talked with the lawyers and assistants. Then he pushed the door open and went out beside He Bai, who was standing next to a swing in a trance. Di Qiuhe sat on the swing immediately and ordered, “Little puppy, Hya!”

He Bai came to himself and kicked the seat hard. Then the white, iron, carved swing went high.

Di Qiuhe swung beside He Bai and smiled at him, saying, “Little puppy, can you send me message every day? Even a “morning” can satisfy me.”

He Bai leaned against the post and looked at his smile, saying nothing.

Di Qiuhe swung back again and separated their gaze.

Di Qiuhe didn’t hear his answer so he didn’t talk anymore. He just sat in the swing relaxingly and waited it to stop.

A car drove in the yard and several middle-aged men and women got off. Hu Zhao, on the other side, was ushering them in enthusiastically.

“There are family doctors called by uncle Hu.” The swing stopped. Di Qiuhe sat in it and narrowed his eyes, looking indifferently at those people entering the house, as if they were not asked for taking care of his grandpa.

He Bai also looked at them, changed a posture and continued to lean against the post.

He Bai gazed at him sideways and raised his lips, “My memory of my mother has been quite ambiguous, let alone my grandpa, so every time I see her, I have a sense of unreal.”

He Ba turned back to him. Thinking for a while, he stepped forward and sat beside him, listening quietly.

Seeing that, Di Qiuhe smiled bitterly and changed a topic, “Hu Zhao was my mother’s driver. After she died, Di Bian decided to keep him as his drive, as Hu Zhao was well-behaved and quiet. Then gradually, when I was in middle high school, he finally became the butler. By that time, my grandpa had been weaker. So, now that I look back, I think Hu Zhao should take the credit big time. He guaranteed that I could leave Di’s house and entered my university safely.”

He Bai bent over to deliberately unlace one shoe and then tied it again.

Di Qiuhe moved his eyes to He Bai’s fair-skinned fingers and the white shoelaces, continuing, “My grandpa had an accident at year, so he lost contact with my mum. His head was injured and stayed in coma for half of a year. He has been so senile these years and even cannot remember where his daughter lives, as he has been to so many places. Then he began to look for her, in every country he has been to with my grandma. He made several investments while searching for her and then got rich, as you have seen, but he is still living alone and indifferently.”

“Little puppy, why people like my grandpa do not cherish their originally happy family? They just won’t regret until they lose it.”

Seeing him still in full flow, He Bai unlaced another shoe and continued to tie it.

“If I were him…” Di Qiuhe looked at the shoelaces dancing in He Bai’s hand and just leaned against him with head lying on his shoulder. He studies He Bai’s serious face when he was absorbed in weaving the shoelaces. Di Qiuhe said mildly, “I would try every method to stay with the one I love, go nowhere, and never fall apart. I love him, so I will give him much love and receive much love from him, instead of giving him money and abandoning him.”

The shoelace was gradually weaved as a fat bird with a bald tail. He Bai finished it, raised his great work and turned to Di Qiuhe. He was about to show off his great memory and told him that he still remembered how to weave a bird he learnt as a child, while he met with Di Qiuhe’s mild and attractive eyes. He Bai’s heart was tightened and opened his eyes wide. All he wanted to say was chocked back.

Now all he had intended to do— to change a topic and comfort him, to give him a present to make him happy, to use a bird to amuse him—all disappeared suddenly.

Di Qiuhe didn’t expect that He Bai would suddenly turn to him. He looked away panickily and landedl at his hands. Di Qiuhe was baffled for a while and wore a bright simile, took away that fat bird and pulled its short tail, asking, “Gift for me? That’s cute, thanks.”

The mild eyes, tinted with smile and delight, were as bright as the Milky Way.

Their hearts raced uncontrollably.

He Bai fumbled for his camera subconsciously. When he reached the buttons of his coat, he recalled that he forgot to take it as he left in a hurry.

He should have forgotten his camera…

He was unable to think or move, just looked down at his empty palms. A sense of loss attacked him.

No matter in his previous incarnation or now, He would definitely take his camera all the time. The world in camera was so beautiful and fascinating. He could encounter nice scenery anytime, so it would be a pity if he missed it for not taking the camera.

He had never forgotten, never, but now…

Another car entered the yard and stopped in front of the door. Wang Boyi got off.

“Time to go to the airport.” Di Qiuhe was pleased to take the gift from his lover and was embolden to rub against He Bai’s hair, smiling, “You have been so silent, are you tired? Just sit here, I will drive you back to university when I finish packing.