Rebirth: Once Again With You

"Shen, there's something I need to tell you."

Dai Shenqiang silently waited for his brother to continue. His expression was flat and with no expectation in his eyes. However, it held a silent pressure in it.

"I'm really sorry, Shen. Something urgent came up, and I'm afraid I must leave now."

"I see." Dai Shenqiang smiled faintly again. "Then you should be careful on the way back."

Dai Zhiqiang felt more awkward since he didn't even ask him why. Even though the reason should be pretty obvious, since this wasn't his first time bailing out on their plan for work, Dai Shenqiang usually would still ask him why and when he would return.

He must be pretty angry if he didn't say anything like this. Dai Zhiqiang bit his lips anxiously.

"I...have no words to say. Sorry, Shen."

"It's okay, Brother. You have to work if you want to pay for our living expenses. I'm not a kid anymore, so I understand."

Dai Zhiqiang visibly felt better when he heard that. He was afraid he would bear a grudge for this, but he had matured greatly.

"Thanks. I will see you again as soon as possible. Please send my regards to Father and tell him I'm very sorry."

"En. Take care, Brother."

Dai Zhiqiang rose from his seat before he remembered something. He put a paper bag he had brought with him on the table. "This is a little present for you. I know nothing about painting, so I just bought what the shopkeeper recommended to me."

Dai Shenqiang opened the bag, and his eyes dimmed when he saw various supplies from luxurious, high-quality brands. It confused the older man.

He expected him to be more pleased than this, but it might have something to do again with how much he had grown.

"Thank you, Brother. I'll use it well," Dai Shenqiang said without looking up.

"No problem. Then, I'll leave first. I will call you once everything is settled down. Take care of yourself too."

Dai Zhiqiang turned around and walked out of the shop in a hurry. His mind was preoccupied with the thought of Ye Wang matters that he failed to notice the deep loneliness in his brother's eyes as he watched him leave.

At that time, if only he had noticed Dai Shenqiang's unusual mood, he probably could have stopped it.

Whenever Dai Zhiqiang's memory traced back to that point, he always regretted it.

If he knew it would be his last conversation with his brother, he would never leave him like that.

***

The news struck him like a lightning bolt in the middle of a fine day.

​ "W-What did you say just now?" Dai Zhiqiang's voice quivered as he asked with widened eyes.

Lin Xiang was unable to raise his head. He felt too ashamed and guilty to face Dai Zhiqiang. "I'm sorry."

"I don't need your shitty apology." Dai Zhiqiang's voice was dangerously low. It was his tone when he was ready to unleash his wrath, letting the Cerberus run amok on the ground.

However, Lin Xiang wasn't scared of him. If he thought about how this news would break his junior's heart to pieces, he would rather him go berserk instead.

Alas, the truth was always bitter and harsh. Lin Xiang steeled himself before repeating, "Your brother has just passed away. I'm very sorry for your loss."

THUD!!!

Dai Zhiqiang slammed the table hard. His pupils and heart shook wildly as he had difficulty digesting the news. "What kind of nonsense is that? Shenqiang was fine the last time I saw him. He said he had many friends, and his hand's condition had gotten better than before."

"Kiddo..."

"He should be living his fullest right now! Yet you want to tell me that he is gone now? Bullshit! Say another word, and I'll ensure it will be your last!"

Lin Xiang couldn't bear to see the grief on his face. They had known each other for a long time, and he considered Dai Zhiqiang one of his irreplaceable brothers.

"Lies. Just why? No, it's impossible!" Dai Zhiqiang screamed before standing up and about to run outside if Lin Xiang didn't hold him back by the shoulder.

"Wait, where are you going?!"

Dai Zhiqiang swatted his hand roughly. "I'm going to see my brother with my own eyes!"

"Even if you go now, you will only see his broken corpse!"

Those words managed to stop Dai Zhiqiang in his tracks. He slowly turned around with disbelief written all over his face. "What did you just say?"

Lin Xiang covered his face. He didn't want to tell him this, but this was better than letting him go in such a messy state of mind and having him witness what was left of his brother.

"Kiddo, there is something that we have been hiding from you. Your brother actually couldn't adjust well to the new environment. He got involved with some bad kids and even did drugs. And his hand's condition never got better. He just pretended in front of you."

Dai Zhiqang's mind was blank. He could hear what Lin Xiang said, but his brain refused to register the information.

"That poor kid didn't want you to know since he didn't want to hinder you. He asked the doctor not to tell him this because he would eventually tell you later. As for his lifestyle..." Lin Xiang paused somberly before continuing, "We couldn't tell you about it."

Dai Zhiqiang staggered behind and could only stand straight when his back was pressed against the wall. "So, all of you already know about this? All of you are in this together?!"

Lin Xiang's face twisted like he was in pain before he fell to his knees. "I have no excuse. You can take my life if you want."

"Oh, I will get to that part soon, don't worry," Dai Zhiqiang sneered coldly. "I assumed the boss must also know about this? But he deliberately hid things so it wouldn't distract me from my job, even forbade you to tell me about it?"

Lin Xiang's silence was all the answer he needed.

Dai Zhiqiang laughed so hard, almost like a crazy person. "Hah...hahhahaha! Ahahaha! I see now. So that's how it is!"

The shocking news must have hit him hard. Dai Zhiqiang was clearly laughing, but it sounded like the wailing of a helpless child in Lin Xiang's ears. He continued to kneel silently while keeping his gaze lowered like a sinner.

Then, the laughter abruptly stopped. What followed was the sound of rapid footsteps leaving the room.

When Lin Xiang looked up, Dai Zhiqiang was already nowhere in sight.

***

Dai Zhiqiang gazed emptily at the landscape below. Everything looked so small from here, making him feel insignificant.

This was the last view his brother had seen before he decided to end his life.

Dai Shenqiang loved high places like this since the view always urged him to draw.

Dai Zhiqiang wondered what was on his mind during his last time?

It had been a few months, but it still didn't feel real. Even though he had witnessed and confirmed his brother's body by himself, he still couldn't believe it.

No, he didn't want to believe that his brother was no longer in this world. It felt like it was only yesterday that they had a good talk, sharing a story about their lives with each other. Did he already plan to die when they met at that time?

When he gave him his present, he looked kind of sad. Dai Zhiqiang knew that, yet he still left him anyway. Why did he do that?

Because Dai Shenqiang said he was fine?

Because Ye Wang's matters distracted his mind?

He thought about these questions for a long time after Dai Shenqiang's passing. But it was only now he realized the answer, and thus he dared to climb up here.

Dai Zhiqiang wished everything would be fine; that's why he subconsciously brushed off the abnormality. So he wouldn't feel as guilty when he left.

He ran away because he couldn't bear to face his brother like a coward.

The wind blew strongly in this place. It chilled him to the bone.

Dai Zhiqiang looked at the sky, tears slowly cascading down his cheeks. The overwhelming guilt and sadness bubbled inside him, slowly killing him.

It was all his fault. His decisions cornered his brother and crushed his will to live.

"Just wait for a little bit more. I promise I will see you again after everything is settled. I will follow you soon so you won't feel lonely again."

Dai Zhiqiang's eyes darkened as a murderous intent swirled inside them.

"Before that, I need to make those who make you suffer pay first. "