Afterlife Department

Chapter 120 – Birthday

"Darling." Huo Huainan called when Huo Zichu went inside the car and closed its door. He sighed when Huo Zichu suddenly burst into tears. He hugged her tight as the surrounding turned dark when the sun has set. 

Zheng Dongming is dead, as well as Shang Bucui – their old friend. He had avenged their son, whose 24th birthday is only a few hours away from now. 

S City General Hospital. 

"Ge!" Zhang Su called and hiss tears fell when he saw Zhang Bao lying on the bed. "Ge!" he cried and hugged him tight. 

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! My wound! You'll reopen my wound, idiot!" Zhang Bao told his younger brother. However, there's a smile on his face.. 

Earlier, he saw Zheng Dongming came and told him he wanted to visit Rong Zhe. He lowered his guard, that was his mistake. Thus, he gave the old man a chance to stab him when he turned his back on him. 

He sighed as he patted his younger brother's back. He can't believe that was the benevolent man who gave all his wealth to them, making them siblings live through for another ten years. However, after these ten years and that man returned to claim the life he had given to them. 

"Xing-ge…" Hao Baiyun cried as he watched Gu Xingfeng sleep. Fortunately, Gu Xingfeng had turned his body at the last minute, making Zheng Dongming miss his heart. 

Xiao Xie smiled as he patted Hao Baiyun's back to comfort him, only for Song Mingfan to pull his hand from Hao Baiyun and held it tight.

"If I had died, what will you do?" Song Mingfan asked as he played with Xiao Xie's fingers. His head was wrapped in bandage. However, he didn't wait for Xiao Xie to answer. 

Xiao Xie felt something cold touched his finger. He didn't need to turn to see Song Mingfan slipped a ring on his finger. He has already seen the ring box earlier when he saved Song Mingfan. Song Mingfan was holding it tight, despite he had fallen unconscious from the impact of the explosion. 

"I will follow you." He turned and answered. 

Song Mingfan was satisfied with Xiao Xie's answer and he intertwined their fingers. Ke Congyi who was watching them felt sour and he looked away, only to see Xue Liping's vacant look as he lied on the bed next to his. They also suffered injuries. Among them, only Jiang Xinduo wasn't harmed since he was in the hospital. Now, he's dealing with the aftermath of the incident. 

Stable World, Supernatural Department. 

"I'm alright now. Leave me alone first." Hao Baiyun told Fei Xuli and Jing Yu. 

The two looked at each other. "Yes, young master." They answered and left, only to meet Gu Xingfeng who was panting. They could finally sigh in relief as they handed Hao Baiyun to the man. 

"Ah Bai." Gu Xingfeng called as he walked towards Hao Baiyun.

Hao Baiyun was watching the fireworks through the glass window. It's as if he could see two figures on the rooftop of one of the buildings, also watching the fireworks like him. However, when he blinked, the two figures were gone. 

He felt Gu Xingfeng hugged him behind. "Xing-ge." He called. 

Gu Xingfeng smiled. "Earlier, I felt I was stabbed. Then, I felt my chest hurt." He said. When he felt Hao Baiyun frozen in his embrace, he sighed. "Ah Bai." He called. "He lived." He told him. "My other self… he lived." He said and smelled Hao Baiyun's hair to calm himself. "I can also feel him." He whispered. 

Hao Baiyun drew a sharp breath and he turned, only to be met by Gu Xingfeng's lips. Finally, the tears he was holding back now streamed down his face. Not because of sadness, but because of joy. One of his premonitions failed… unlike his premonition with his family when he was young. Now, he can let go of the dark past he was carrying. 

Normal World, S City, business district. 

"I remember now." Huo Ling said as they stood on the rooftop of a building. "The reason why Shang Mi and her father went abroad is because I rejected her." He said. 

"Why did you reject her?" Yi Bing asked. 

"Because I only see her as a sister. I don't want to let her hopes up. And – " he took a deep breath. " – I have fallen in love with someone." He said and watched a firework shot to the dark sky. 

Yi Bing's eyes widened. 

"When I was three and learned to recognize everything, I started acting spoiled." Huo Ling said as he watched the fireworks continuously painted the night sky with its vivid colors. "One time, I ran away and went to the playground to cry because they haven't bought my favorite candy. Then, someone gave me one." He sighed. "I was already wary of strangers since my parents always warn me about them. But, this person just silently left the candy on the bench. I was hungry at that time, too, so I ate it. Then, my parents suddenly arrived and scolded me, but they were crying and also apologizing." He smiled. "Starting then, during my birthday I'd go to the playground and wait. As if a miracle, there really would be a gift there waiting for me on the bench." He chuckled. "That's why, when my parents took me to the city, I was sad and thought I wouldn't receive the gift. Thus, I tried going to the nearest playground to wait and see." He said. "There, I really saw the familiar gift wrap. It was a pity they didn't show their face. I wouldn't mind if they're ugly. Because of them, I started to learn how to be satisfied with what my parents gave me." he explained. When he was three, that was the first time and the last time he had seen the stranger. "However, they stopped sending me a gift." He said and his eyes were filled with sadness.

Countless thoughts appeared in his young mind at that time when the mysterious man stopped sending him gifts. Like the man was caught in an accident, or the man had also moved his residence. Or… the man has died. 

"I was depressed, and so I rejected Shang Mi. Thus, she also left me." He bitterly smiled. "I didn't expect, after ten years, her father would see as the dean." He said. "He told me everything that happened to Shang Mi. In order for me to repay my mistake, he gave me a poison. However – " he said. " – he didn't force me. Taking the poison is my own choice. I took it after Zhu Min raped me. I thought, it was my retribution." He explained. 

Yi Bing felt he's about to explode because of the emotions he felt. His ears were ringing thus he didn't hear the latter part of what Huo Ling had said. Huo Ling… Huo Ling fell in love with me?! He thought in shock as he stared at Huo Ling's side profile. That was me. I'm the one sending him gifts during his birthday. He thought. 

That time when Huo Ling was three, Yi Bing was worried about him thus he gave him a candy to let him immediately go back home. He didn't expect that next year, when Huo Ling turned four, Hou Ling would be waiting for his gift. He saw Huo Ling's expectant eyes as he looked around in the playground. He's afraid Huo Ling would catch a cold thus he left him his gift. 

Then, when Huo Ling was five, Yi Bing had seen him silently waiting in the playground and the mosquitos are biting his fair skin. He immediately killed the mosquitos and then left Huo Ling's gift like the previous years. 

When Huo Ling turned six, Yi Bing saw him brought a slice of cake and placed it on the bench. Huo Ling was hiding somewhere to take a peek of him, but Yi Bing knows better. Thus, he made the gift appear out of thin air on the bench before he left with the cake. Huo Ling's reaction was priceless and cute when he saw the gift appeared and the cake disappeared. 

When Huo Ling was seven, Huo Ling tried to catch him again but he failed. 

When Huo Ling was eight, Huo Ling sent him a letter asking for his name. 

When Huo Ling was nine, Huo Ling asked him again for his name. 

When Huo Ling was ten, Huo Ling asked if he was a child trafficker. Yi Bing didn't know whether to laugh or cry that time. If he is a child trafficker, he would have long abducted him. 

When Huo Ling was eleven, Huo Ling sent him a letter asking if he's a pedophile. He also told him he already had parents and he didn't want to be adopted. Yi Bing laughed in irritation as he tore the letter. 

When Huo Ling was twelve, his family moved to the city and Yi Bing saw him overjoyed seeing his gift since he realized he can still receive gifts from him.

When Huo Ling was thirteen, Yi Bing sent him his last gift after he saw him with Shang Mi. He heard from Shang Mi she was his fiancée. He also had received a message from Gu Shi calling him back to their headquarters. 

He went back to the Afterlife Department before he came back to the Normal World. Huo Ling had become a fine man. He didn't know Huo Ling was depressed during the nine years he didn't receive his gift. 

Why did I forget it? Yi Bing thought. Did Gu Shi wipe my memory?! He clenched his fists as ice appeared beneath his feet. So, that's why he called him back. That's the reason he was called back to the Afterlife Department – to wipe his memories. 

"I'm about to become twenty-four." Huo Ling said as the clock moved towards midnight. 

Huo Ling's voice woke him from his thoughts and he immediately calmed himself. "Huo Ling." he called as he took out a gift with his shaking hands. "Happy birthday." He told him. 

"Hahahaha. It still isn't mid… night…" Huo Ling said and his voice trailed off when he saw the familiar gift wrapper. His eyes widened as he slowly raised his head to look at Yi Bing. "Did… I tell you what my gifts are look like?" he asked as his tears fell. 

"No." Yi Bing answered. 

"I must have had – " Huo Ling said as he forced a smile despite his tears. 

"No." Yi Bing said. 

"I… didn't…?" Huo Ling asked as he touched the familiar small box wrapped in a blue wrapper with a red string tied. He pulled the string and the gift opened, only to reveal the familiar orange ball with an angry face. He laughed as more tears streamed down his cheeks. "Why is it this ball again?" he asked, his voice complaining but he's smiling brightly. Not only it was the same gift for the past ten years, but it's also the pendant of the necklace Yi Bing gave him. 

"I – " Yi Bing said and he didn't know how to explain. 

Huo Ling sweetly smiled as he looked at him. "Yi Bing." He called. "Thank you." He told him before he closed his eyes and he drifted closer to Yi Bing's face. 

Yi Bing's eyes widened when he heard what Huo Ling whispered to him. He was about to grab him when he saw Huo Ling disappeared, leaving the orange ball with an angry face to fall on the ground and bounce towards his feet. "Huo Ling…" he called and felt his eyes stung while his chest hurt. Before he knew it, something fell from his eyes and dropped on the orange ball on the ground. 

In spring, I look for you. 

In summer, I wait for you. 

In autumn, I long for you. 

In winter, I love you. 

"Yi Bing, I love you."