Chapter 222: END: Forever Partners in this Life
222 - Forever Partners in this Life
Qin Mian had asked his youngest son; his youngest son didn't plan to participate in any promotional activities of the film. So he took his family to visit several classic scenic spots in China, and then went abroad to see the White House in the United States, Big Ben in Britain, Eiffel Tower in France......
After the trip, they came back to China, just in time for the movie premiere. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin were the sons of the investor, plus Lei Ruilin was even one of the leading roles, so they got a better seat. When Lei Ruilin confronted the media interviews, he was not at all timid, but calm without extensive liveliness; he was very popular. Because Qin Ruiqi and him were twins, the reporters readily took more photos for them.
As the investor, Qin Mian had always been mysterious and did not show his face in front of the camera.
After the interview, the film was released to the public. The family of four enjoyed a visual feast. The next day in the news, "Heart Caution" made into the entertainment headlines without incident.
Photos and videos of the two little brothers appeared in newspapers and TV. Very quickly, they gained a group of fans.
When Qin Yongcheng unintentionally switched to the entertainment channel, he saw what Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin look like. The remote control in his hand almost fell to the ground. These two children looked very similar to Qin Mian when he was a child.
Qin Lian came down from upstairs and yawned dispiritedly, "Good morning, Dad."
Qin Yongcheng looked at the dark circles under his eyes and his dull face; he frowned, "What's the matter with you?"
Qin Lian sullenly said, "I also don't know how it can be like this. I haven't slept well recently, always half asleep and half awake. I always feel that there is a shadow swaying in the room, like I'm being watched by something unclean..." As he said that, he couldn't help shivering as if there was a wind blowing at the back of his neck.
"Pack of nonsense!" Qin Yongcheng shouted in a low voice. Seeing his son's head droop, he was filled with powerlessness. He held back his anger and pretended to be casual as he asked, "Any good news from Yunyun?"
Qin Lian was stunned for a moment before he responded, "We've only been married for three months; how can we get that so fast? Dad, you seem to be impatient?" Today's young people liked to move out and live alone after they got married, but Qin Yongcheng now had only Qin Lian as a son, so Qin Lian and Gan Yunyun still lived with their parents after they got married.
Qin Yongcheng glanced at him, picked up the remote control to change the channel, and said with a casual expression, "Your mother and I are getting older, so we want to play with our grandchildren while eating candy1 a bit earlier. Is it strange?"
"No." Qin Lian didn't think about it anymore.
Qin Yongcheng pondered for a while, but still felt uneasy. Three months was not a short time. His father had the problem of low sperm motility. Does Qin Lian also have it?
Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still. He gently suggested, "Qin Lian, if you are free, you'd better have a comprehensive physical examination."
Qin Lian was a bit speechless, but also a bit frustrated. It felt like his father just used him as a tool to carry on the family bloodline. However, Qin Yongcheng had built up power and influence for a long time; he dared not disobey him and only stated his stand immediately. He was going to the hospital today.
On the other hand, Qin Mian lived a natural and unrestrained life. Soon after the photos of Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin were exposed, some directors took a fancy to Qin Ruiqi's cool and calm temperament and invited him to shoot s, TV dramas, and movies through several phone calls.
Qin Mian intended for his eldest son to experience the feeling of filming. He accepted a drama for Qin Ruiqi, which was an ancient costume TV drama. The protagonist was the emperor. He ascended the throne at the age of seven and became a puppet emperor. Qin Ruiqi played the role of the emperor when he was a child. He only acted in the first five episodes, but there were many scenes.
Qin Mian, Lei Tie, and Lei Ruilin accompanied him. It was now the 12th month of the lunar calendar.
The last scene was taken outdoors. Almost everyone in the crew braved the cold wind; their faces and hands were red with cold.
At present, Qin Ruiqi's cultivation was not low. He could adjust his body temperature automatically. Others didn't know about that. They felt heartache and emotional watching the children freezing with them.
It snowed when they came out of the filming site after the last scene. The catkin-like snowflakes drifted profusely and disorderly; the temperature dropped a few degrees.
"I'll bring the car," said Lei Tie.
"Okay, be careful and drive slowly." Qin Mian put on a hat and a scarf for the two children. A honk suddenly sounded not far away. It was obviously aimed at them, which made him confused.
The door of the low-key black car opened and Qin Lian got out of the car. He looked at Qin Mian for two seconds before he opened the back door.
It was Qin Yongcheng who got off this time. After glancing at Qin Mian, his eyes fell on Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin, full of love and relief.
Qin Mian stood still, watching them approach.
"Since you're back, why don't you come home?" Qin Yongcheng asked.
After Qin Yongcheng took Qin Mian back to the Qin family, he was good to Qin Mian. But his mother's death was greatly related to Qin Yongcheng. Moreover, Qin Yongcheng did not participate in the most important stage of Qin Mian's life - the first 15 years. Therefore, Qin Mian did not have much deep feelings for Qin Yongcheng.
He only called him "father" in indifference.
Qin Yongcheng did not mind his indifference; his ardent eyes fell on the two children, "These two little ones are my grandchildren, right?"
Qin Lian's expression turned gloomy, his mood dispirited.
Qin Lian had gone to the hospital and the result of the check-up was that his sperm motility was low. The doctor said that it extremely affected pregnancy. Therefore, Qin Yongcheng decided that Qin Lian and Gan Yunyun could not have a son. He was a little worried and sent people to look for Qin Mian again. Qin Lian couldn't hardly retain his composure and let the cat out of the bag. Qin Mian's whereabouts were soon known by Qin Yongcheng.
Qin Mian said, "They are my sons. The eldest is Qin Ruiqi and the youngest is Lei Ruilin."
Qin Yongcheng's face changed. He had investigated Qin Mian and of course knew that Qin Mian was with a man.
At this time, Lei Tie drove over and saw two strangers standing with his wife. There was not a thread of surprise on his face. When his eyes swept over Qin Lian, there was even a touch of ridicule.
He was wondering if he was still too polite to Qin Lian. After scaring Qin Lian for a few days, surprisingly, Qin Lian could still hold himself up with all his might.
"Wife." Lei Tie strode to Qin Mian's side, stood still, and very naturally embraced Qin Mian's shoulders.
Qin Yongcheng's face darkened, and he coldly asked, "What did you call him?"
Lei Tie said in a dull voice, "I know your purpose. Your youngest son has an unmentionable disease and there is perhaps a lack of male offspring. So, you put your idea on my wife and sons."
Qin Yongcheng was shocked. This man investigated him, too? He had no idea.
Qin Mian squeezed Lei Tie's hand hard; Lei Tie actually didn't tell him what he knew.
Lei Tie also squeezed his hand, meaning to explain later.
"So that's it." Qin Mian said, "Father, A-Tie is my spouse. Ruiqi and Ruilin are our sons. As for why I didn't go home, you can ask your youngest son."
Qin Yongcheng looked at Qin Lian with puzzlement, and saw that Qin Lian's eyes were evasive, obviously feeling a little guilty. His face turned cold. In the end, he didn't blow his top on the spot. He turned to Qin Mian and said, "Regardless, let's go home first. It's not nice standing here."
Qin Mian shook his head. "I think it's better to talk about meeting again after you ask him. Ruiqi, Ruilin, get in the car. A-Tie, let's go home. It's snowing harder and harder. It'll be hard to drive if we delay any longer."
Lei Tie nodded and opened the door for his wife and sons.
Qin Yongcheng was very efficient. Early the next morning, he called Qin Mian and told him that he already knew about Qin Lian pushing him down the stairs.
"It's really Qin Lian's fault. I'll ask him to apologize to you and make it up to you. Now I want to talk to you about that man. Being with a man—"
Qin Mian interrupted, "We have been together for many years. Our sons are 8 years old. Do you think you can separate us?"
Qin Yongcheng's voice was serious, "Oh? In other words, you don't care about the Qin's right of inheritance?"
Qin Mian felt very funny and did laugh, but he didn't plan to explain his origin to Qin Yongcheng, "Father, have you really investigated my background now? I'm not interested in the Qin at all."
"Qin Mian!"
Qin Lian's current situation was almost equal to having no fertility. Except for Qin Mian, Qin Ruilin, and Lei Ruilin, there were no other successors of the Qin family's industry. This was a clear fact to Qin Mian and Qin Yongcheng. Therefore, Qin Yongcheng became furious and believed that Qin Mian was threatening him in order to propose more requirements.
"I'm serious." Qin Mian didn't like Qin Yongcheng, but he didn't intend to make the other party angry. "If you think it's necessary, I can write a document to give up the right to succeed."
Qin Yongcheng was silent for a long time before he asked, "Do you hate me?"
"Not really." Aware of the abnormality in the space, Qin Mian said quickly, "I can cure Qin Lian's disease, but not now. I have something else to do. I'm hanging up."
Lei Tie appeared out of thin air, looking serious, "Wife, White Spot is going to transform."
"What? So soon?" Qin Mian was surprised, "Its cultivation speed is even faster than ours?"
Lei Tie explained, "It just found out that it has part of the bloodline of the mythical beast Celestial Mastiff in its body. These days, it has been staying in the space, so its promotion speed is very fast."
"Let's hurry in and have a look." Qin Mian was worried about White Spot's situation.
Lei Tie grabbed him, "When the daemon [yao] cultivator transforms, there will be a Heavenly Calamity. It can't continue to stay in the space."
Qin Mian responded quickly, "Are you worried that it will be the same situation as last time?"
Lei Tie nodded solemnly, "Yes. We don't know how the descendants of the mythical beast are transformed. We'd better prepare for everything. We have two days at most, according to White Spot's perception."
Qin Mian did not know whether to cry or to laugh. This White Spot really makes people choiceless.
He made the best use of the time to write a prescription for Qin Lian; it was not for Qin Lian, but for Qin Yongcheng. He didn't have to check Qin Lian's pulse. Sperm motility was no more than those few reasons. He wrote a prescription of warm supplementation; the effect was slower at most, but there would be no side effects. He specially commissioned the express company to deliver the goods to Qin Lian after a year. This one year should be considered a punishment for Qin Lian.
After returning home, Qin Mian and Lei Tie put important things into the space, and took their two sons to a deserted place outside the countryside.
In case the family got separated again, only Qin Mian, Lei Tie, and White Spot remained outside, while Qin Ruilin, Lei Ruilin, Golden Fur, and Golden Eagle were all in the space.
Qin Mian gave Qin Yongcheng a last phone call. "Father, I have entrusted the express company to send the prescription to Qin Lian in a year later. You don't have to worry about having descendants. Also, I have prepared a bottle of health care medicine for you, which should be delivered to you before dark. By this time, I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Our family of four is cultivators of Trueness. Sooner or later, we'll leave this world. Take care of yourself. Goodbye."
At this time, Qin Yongcheng, who was in the office, was shocked. When he returned to his senses, he called back. The other party had turned off the power.
White Spot lay on the ground quietly, waiting for the most critical moment to break the cultivation barrier.
Qin Mian and Lei Tie sat side by side on a rock.
At this time, Qin Mian had time to ask White Spot what was actually going on.
White Spot explained, "In the previous incarnation, you saved me. Thus, you and I were bound by fate. There are causes and consequences. The reborn you and the reincarnated me meeting again concluded that 'cause'. I've had memories of my previous ascension, but the content is so confusing that it's like a game of chess in my head. So, I didn't mention it to you. It was not until yesterday that I sorted out my memory. One of my ancestors was the mythical beast Celestial Mastiff, which is why I could unconsciously comprehend the cultivation method."
"I see." Qin Mian asked curiously, "Where did you get the ring that you gave me back then?"
White Spot said, "Found it accidentally. At that time, I only felt that this thing was good."
Qin Mian was speechless for a while. That's pure luck.
It was rare for Lei Tie to ask a question, "How did you die in your previous life?"
White Spot said in depression, "... too careless. I was found out being too wise close to a daemon, so I was beaten to death."
Qin Mian and Lei Tie: ......
"BOOM!" a muffled thunder rumbled in the sky.
Qin Mian and the penalty violator Lei Tie quickly got up.
White Spot made a long wheezing noise in the open air, "AWOO~~!"
Qin Mian and Lei Tie looked at each other and retreated a hundred meters away. Heavenly Calamity was only aimed at the instigators. As long as they could resist the pressure of the calamity thunder, it was fine to stand closer.
With a "crack", the sky was suddenly torn open by an invisible hand. A lightning bolt as thick as an adult arm sprang out of the crack like a giant predatory snake.
"AWOO~~!" White Spot looked up at the sky without fear. When the thunder descended, he jumped up and went head on.
"BOOM!"
A strong wind swept through Qin Mian and Lei Tie, blurring their sight. In the next second, their body felt light and directly fell downward.
Lei Tie maneuvered his vital spirit, held his wife to suspend in the air, and steadily went downward.
Qin Mian pulled himself together, looked back, and saw a teenager about 10 years old closely following him and Lei Tie. Before he could take a proper look at the teenager, the three of them fell to the ground.
The teenager had hair hanging loosely, regular features, and a proud look. He was wrapped in a black robe and had no shoes on his feet. Probably not used to wearing clothes, he frowned and pulled at his robe, making it more messy.
Qin Mian said, "White Spot?"
"Yes, master. It's me. I've succeeded in taking human form!" White Spot smiled at Qin Mian with a joyful look in his eyes.
Qin Mian chuckled and went forward to help him tidy up his robe.
"Congratulations!"
Lei Tie looked around and saw the pit on the ground. "Wife, this is where we left at that time."
Qin Mian clicked his tongue, "We've been there for about half a year; I wonder how long it's been here."
"I'm going to scout the village."
Lei Tie flew away and soon returned.
"It shouldn't be long. I saw Miao Miao. She's still that big."
Qin Mian relaxed, "That's good. Let's get the children out and go back to the village."
Ten minutes later, five people, one bear, and one eagle appeared at the entrance of the village.
White Spot carried Qin Ruiqi on his left and Lei Ruilin on his right. He looked so relaxed, like carrying two kittens. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin both held on his shoulders and looked at him curiously. Although they knew him to be White Spot, they still thought it was incredible.
White Spot looked arrogant, but doted on the two children very much; he grinned with a good-natured manner at them.
Lei Xiangli went outside the village with a vegetable basket and saw Qin Mian and the others. First, he was surprised, and then happy. He ran over quickly.
"Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law! Where have you been for so long? Why didn't you notify us before? We've been looking for you all over the place."
Qin Mian was embarrassed as he said, "Something unexpected happened. The people on the top asked us for urgent things, so..."
He deliberately spoke vaguely, so Lei Xiangli subconsciously thought that "the top" referred to the emperor and nodded in understanding, "As long as you're fine."
He looked at the boy in black robe curiously, "Who is he?"
Qin Mian and Lei Tie had a proper discussion while on the way.
"This is my adopted son, Qin Ruixuan, two years older than Ruiqi and Ruilin."
Since he was adopted, there must be a story. Lei Xiangli did not ask anymore and said with a smile, "I see. Congratulations. Why don't I see White Spot?"
"White Spot went into the mountain." Qin Mian said this to make it convenient for Qin Ruixuan. Later, he could appear in human or animal form.
"Oh. By the way, Fifth Brother and his wife are also back to celebrate the New Year. Fifth Brother hasn't been back for several years. Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law. What do you think about spending the New Year together in the evening? Your family also came back on New Year's Eve; these are two happy events that come at the same time."
Qin Mian was a little surprised. He didn't expect that today was New Year's Eve. With no Du Shi and Lei Daqiang making trouble, he and Lei Tie didn't mind being close to the brothers. They nodded in assent.
Lei Xiangli said happily, "great. See you all wear so little, hurry to go home, and I'll go back and talk about it with my third brother and fifth brother. "
In the evening, Qin Mian's family, Lei Xiangyi's family, Lei Xiangli's family, and Lei Xiangzhi's family had a reunion dinner at Qin Mian's home. The adults sat at one table, the children sat at another table, next to a bear and an eagle. It was very lively. After all the dishes were served, everyone raised their glasses with a smile.
"This new year, we'll get better and better. Here's to you!"
Qin Mian and Lei Tie looked at each other with a smile; their hands were clasped under the table. As long as the spouse was always around, every day was a fairy-tale day.
Thanks for the journey!
Footnotes
(idiom)enjoy a happy and leisurely old age