To Love You Again

To take a long vacation, Linfeng needs to speed up his work. He did not tell his plan to Xiong Zhi because he wanted to surprise her.

Finally, after having less sleep than usual and taking less breaks, Linfeng finished his preparation.

"What? You are going to take a vacation? Is that why you have been working nonstop these past few weeks?" Jang Shin asked, stunned.

"Yes. It's been a long time since Xiong Zhi and I took a vacation. So, Jang Shin-" Linfeng held Jang Shin's shoulder and looked at him solemnly, "You have to manage SC for a while without me. I would not answer any calls regarding business and will not attend any virtual meetings even if it is urgent. I will leave everything to you."

Jang Shin opened his mouth to disagree.

Linfeng said hurriedly, " Then after my vacation, you can bring Tang Xinyang somewhere. You can take a vacation overseas with a nice view of the ocean. Even if you take a break longer than mine, that's alright. You can leave everything to me then."

Linfeng laid a tempting offer. However, Jang Shin still hesitated.

"When will you go?"

"This weekend."

Jang Shin: !!

The man paled.

Linfeng noticed his reaction. "Why? Do you have plans that day?"

Jang Shin avoided his eyes while answering. "Ahm...I'm not sure yet."

Linfeng held Jang Shin's chin and make him look in his eyes. He declared solemnly, "I will allow you one week of vacation. Just let me go this weekend."

Jang Shin could not answer.

"As I recalled, the upcoming weekend is not any special for you two. Your anniversary and monthsary had passed. Your birthdays are still months away. But for us, this weekend is special. It's our anniversary. You will spare us some time, right?

" Linfeng even guilt-tripped Jang Shin.

Jang Shin lowered his eyes.

He and Tang Xinyang had already made plans for the weekend.

The couple had been quarreling because Jang Shin had been postponing his date with Tang Xinyang under the pretense of work.

But Jang Shin could not be blamed.

If the date was a casual date like a simple dinner or a stroll in some wonderful park, he could squeeze the dates into his schedule. No matter how busy he was, he would make time to attend to their precious dates.

As said in the saying, 'if there's a will, there's away'.

But Tang Xinyang's definition of date was quite excessive.

She always strongly suggests going to another country to experience a life-threatening activity that needs days of preparation for their dates. Such as surfing on Gold Coast, climbing Mt. Everest, sky diving in Dubai, or eating exotic foods in Eastern countries.

Jang Shin sometimes wondered if that was really a 'date' or just an act of suicide.

His coward self delayed those dates as much as he could under the facade of 'work'.

But this excuse would not work forever.

Tang Xinyang become fed up and made a huge fuss. She told him to resign or unless they would break up.

She even said this in a determined voice:

"You don't need to work under him! Just come to the Tang empire! I'll make you the Vice-Chairman!"

Jang Shin: "..."

Wasn't it too much for a power-tripping?

Besides, he would just be transferred and work under another tyrant.

What's worst was this new tyrant would easily give him breaks whenever she wanted. He could not use the 'work' excuse to save his life.

Of course, Jang Shin could not resign nor he could break up. So, in the end, he promised that he would take two days off this weekend.

He still remembered those threatening remarks that were still fresh in his mind.

Tang Xinyang held his shoulders the way Linfeng was holding him now.

"Remember your words. If you dare to break them, I'll make sure you would know the right term of 'bullying'."

Jang Shin shuddered.

So between Linfeng, his childhood friend and boss, and Tang Xinyang, her scary girlfriend, who would he choose?

There's no need to hesitate!

He was more afraid of Tang Xinyang!

Thus, Jang Shin looked sideways and answered weakly. "...I think so."

Linfeng patted his shoulder in satisfaction. "I'll be relying on you then. You don't have to worry, I already deal with the major projects and the most troublesome works. Just remember that I'm off-limits for that entire time, okay?"

Jang Shin nodded with a complicated heart. How would he solve this?

"Where are you planning to bring her?" Jang Shin asked to ease the discomfort in his heart due to lying.

Linfeng's eyes turned bright. He really made a great preparation since this year's anniversary would be more special.

"I purchased an island and named it after her." Linfeng then excitedly told his plan to Jang Shin.

Jang Shin listened very well. Suddenly he had an idea.

***

It had been three weeks since Lu Jin was released from prison.

With the attentive care of Lu Yin Ze and the frequent visit of his friends, Lu Jin was quickly nourished back to health.

Every morning, he would stroll in the garden of the Lu villa. Absorbing the sun and taking deep breaths of the fresh air from the greeneries, he looked much calmer and more peaceful.

Spending time with nature and visiting the burial ground, were Lu Jin's daily routines.

Sometimes, Lu Yin Ze's friends, which were now Lu Jin's friends, would visit him.

Guan Gu Ri and Guan Xixin visited him in the first week. Tang Yin and Tang Xinyang on the second week. Then Xiong Zhi and Linfeng on the third week. Bivia Chang and Prosecutor Huo also visited him on the weekdays.

It was as if the group have a tacit understating to visit him alternately to entertain him.

Lu Jin felt their efforts and genuine affection. Although it was awkward to face them at first, after that welcome party where everybody was wasted, they become much closer. They could even exchange jokes with each other now.

Lu Jin was still unfamiliar with this warmth. But he did not avoid the affection these people gave him.

Slowly, and step by step, he was opening up to their warmth.

Finally, the day that Lu Jin was waiting for arrived.

Lu Yin Ze gave him one of his private boats and prepared everything for him to venture on the sea.

Lu Jin did not choose Ming Zhi Yi's death anniversary but he chose his parent's wedding date anniversary. He chose the right time and date to send his father off.

And today was the day.

Lu Jin was on the deck of the private yacht. There was a furnace burner in front of him. Beside him were several boxes.

The boxes contained Ming Zhi Yi's belongings and some things that his father treasured.

Lu Jin first burned Ming Zhi Yi's gloves. This glove was used by his father often. Especially when he was committing wicked deeds. Then he burned the suitcase that held the different knives his father liked.

Then he picked up the diary. Lu Jin touched the surface of the diary. It was worn out and old. The paper inside had long yellowed.

This diary accompanied his father in his last moments.

Lu Jin also put the diary in the furnace. He wanted to send this to his father so that his father would not be lost in the void called death.

Alas, he arrived at the last remaining thing in the box.

It was a small jewelry box.

When Lu Jin opened it and saw what was inside, his pupils trembled.

He held it carefully between his fingers. It was the wedding ring that Ming Zhi Yi always kept but never wore after their mother's death.

Because of this ring and the other belongings, it took Lu Yin Ze and Lu Jin three weeks to gather all of them. Thankfully, everything was prepared before the wedding anniversary came.

Lu Jin watched everything burn silently. The orange flames were devouring those items as if it was really sent to the afterlife.

When everything became ashes, Lu Jin collected them.

He spread the ashes in the ocean hoping those objects would find their way back to his father.

When the sky turned into a pale tint of orange, Lu Jin took Ming Zhi Yi's urn.

It was now time to send his father off.

Lu Jin had never seen his father watch the sunset.

For Lu Jin, witnessing the sun set was the second most beautiful thing after his brother's happiness. He wanted his father to witness its beauty too, even if it was after death.

He muttered a low goodbye and a few words of farewell. He spread Ming Zhi Yi's ashes and watched them scattered in the wind then to the ocean.

Lu Jin remained standing on the deck, watching the sun disappear on the horizon. It was as if through that bright rounded fire that slowly descends and disappears, his grief would also fade along with it.

...

Lu Jin returned to the mansion and have dinner with Lu Yin Ze. The news sent by his brother made him stunned.

"An outing?"

Lu Yin Ze nodded with a smile. "Yup. Jang Shin is inviting everyone. And that 'everyone' included us. Will you go with me?"

Lu Jin was taken aback. He really did become a part of their group.

An invitation from a friend...a friend outing...

It was rude to reject, right?

Lu Jin smiled helplessly. "Sure."

Although his tone was helpless, there was genuine mild happiness in his eyes.

He was a sinner, but he could not avoid their affectionate reached-out hands, right?