Rebirth from the Ashes

Chapter 650: Greed Was Only Human Nature

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Sure.” Song Wenye nodded her head firmly.

Taking the lead, Ruan Sisi ushered everyone to sing the birthday song. The song echoed in the living room, filling the air with joy, happiness, warmth, and sincere well-wishes.

After hitting the tune, Shen Xi asked everyone to blow the candles with her.

This was the most special, moving, and happiest birthday she had ever had. Her friends, family, lover, everyone she cared about, were gathered here. Closing her eyes, she blew out the candle and silently made a wish.

With downcast eyes, Li Yuan gazed at the girl’s smiling face under the candlelight. Her beautiful smile, bearing bliss as the candle went out, sent warmth to every inch of his being. Happiness overpoured from within his soul.

Prior to meeting her, the only thing that drove him to live on was finding her and watching her move on in life with joy and happiness. Li Yuan wanted to give her his everything without the intention of interrupting her life.

He changed after crossing paths with her. Greed was only human nature. He grew greedy, longing to witness all her joys and sorrows, and every tiny bit of her life. Li Yuan wanted to enter her world, win her smile, her heart, her everything.

He was a dead man walking before running into her. He had no idea how far his life could take him. Perhaps he would die the day he decided that life was not for him.

After she came into his life, Li Yuan fought to stay alive, even if it was just a second, a minute, or a day more. He wanted to give his all and get on his feet to stand alongside her. He wanted to appear before her and the people she cared about, in the body of a typical person.

Now, everything had come true. He got onto his two feet and would live for a very long time. He would fight for every breath just to grow old with her.

With the girl’s giggling tinkling in his ear, she sneakily grabbed his hand. These were the warm and tiny hands that pulled him from the depths of hell, gave him warmth, and lit up his life.

“Come, come, Mr. Li. Have some cake.” Song Wenye passed Li Yuan the sliced cake.

The girl let go of his hand as Li Yuan reached to take the birthday cake. Shen Xi went to slice the remainder of the cake and distributed it to everyone.

Everyone was feeling the joy in the heartfelt atmosphere.

No one really paid attention to Fu Qingxuan who was pouting in a corner. He brought his phone over and on the screen were Jin Yu, who was now Fu Handing, Shangguan Yanqiu, and Fu Qingye cheerfully wishing her a happy birthday.

Out of the whole family, Fu Qingli was missing in the picture.

The Fu family intended to fly over for her birthday party and was set to make a move last night. However, the unusual snowfall saw the flight canceled. Since the plane was unable to take off, the family could only regrettably participate in the party via video call.

Shangguan Yanqiu found out from Fu Handing about Shen Xi and Li Yuan’s relationship. They both had only best wishes for the couple. Shangguan Yanqiu and Fu Handing were happy for them when the Shen parents gave their blessings to Shen Xi and Li Yuan.

Fu Qingye was not too happy and had mixed feelings about it. Xuan mentioned that not only did Mr. and Mrs. Shen have nothing against the relationship, but they were also in cahoots in the whole thing. By cahoots, he meant that they took Li Yuan’s side and helped him give Xixi the biggest surprise.

He long knew that Li Yuan was capable of making anything happen. Never mind the fact that he could walk now, but even as a cripple, he had the means to get Mr. and Mrs. Shen’s approval to be together with Xixi.

Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Shen were bound to back down since Xixi could be headstrong and liked him dearly. Their relationship was cast in stone despite what anyone had to say.

Shangguan Yanqiu lamented that she was unable to join Shen Xi in her rite of passage into adulthood. Needless to say, disappointment was reflected in her voice.

Yun Jinping tenderly uttered, “The internet is so advanced now, it doesn’t matter where you are. Aren’t you celebrating Xixi’s birthday now? It’s all the same.”

Shangguan Yanqiu was feeling down in the dumps. That said, it was not the same as she could only see Shen Xi but not touch her. Taking in Yun Jinping’s comfort, Shangguan Yanqiu replied with a smile, “I’m just saying. Enjoy your feast. The food’s going to get cold.”

In any case, the regret still remained. She wanted to be there to wish Xixi a happy birthday in person. She was fond of Xixi, just like her husband and Ye.

Yun Jinping returned the phone to Fu Qingxuan and called him to dig in. Otherwise, the food would really get cold.

Fu Qingxuan chatted a while longer before hanging up. Still sulking, he just grabbed a seat somewhere and chewed on the food as if it was tasteless.

Nevertheless, he was able to disguise his foul mood. Apart from the occasional hostility toward Li Yuan, he did not let anyone notice his agitation.

While they were happily feasting on the meal, Ruan Sisi’s phone beeped. Color drained from her complexion when she glanced at the notification. The chopsticks in her hand dropped.

Sitting next to her, Yun Jinping worriedly looked at Ruan Sisi. “Did something happen?”

Ruan Sisi clenched against her phone and pulled her together for a smile. “It’s fine. Go on eating. I’m heading out to make a call.”

Today was the day her teacher reached adulthood. Since everyone was having a blast, she did not want to do anything to dampen the mood. Moreover, it was only a text message. It was not certain yet whether it was true.

Ruan Sisi took off.

Jiang Yin got up and told Yun Jinping that she wanted to go with Ruan Sisi. “I’ll check on her.”

Yun Jinping and Ruan Sisi had been spending a lot of time together lately. Although Ruan Sisi was an heiress of a wealthy family, she worked hard and was well-behaved. Yun Jinping and Jiang Yin adored her and of course, cared for her.

Ruan Sisi dialed the number but was unable to get through. The robotic reply on the other end indicated the call could not connect. With anxiety furrowing her brows, she trotted about in a circle.

Jiang Yin smacked her. “What’s wrong?”

Ruan Sisi gave it a thought before showing the message to Jiang Yin. “This is from Zhou Zhen. She met me in the capital the last time and had seen you too.”

Jiang Yin took a glance at the text message. Only one word was written. [Help!]

“I can’t get through to her. I hope nothing’s happened to her.” Ruan Sisi did not have many real friends in the past and Zhou Zhen could barely be considered one.

Even if Zhou Zhen was not a friend of hers, Ruan Sisi could not sit back and do nothing when someone sent an S.O.S. message.

“I’ll get someone to look into it now.” Jiang Yin turned solemn. This was not the kind of thing that people would joke about. Something bad must have happened.

“Thank you, Ms. Jiang.” Ruan Sisi then made phone calls to family connections to try and locate Zhou Zhen’s whereabouts or what happened to her.

Snowflakes fluttered about the sky.

The community gate.

A gray Bentley cruised along the road. The driver respectfully glanced at the middle-aged man behind. “Sir, do we head in?”

Hiding in the shadows of the darkness, the middle-aged man in the backseat gave out an eerie presence as if suppressing something violent within. Hearing the driver’s words, he suddenly punched the seat and flew into a rage. “Useless piece of sh*t! You good-for-nothings!”

The driver clammed up in fear.

The man turned his oppressive gaze at the driver. “Did you find out who rescued the person?”