Chapter Ch208.1 - He Walked Through Mountains of Daggers and Seas of Flames and Lived Through Many Lives, All For the Sake of Seeing Him Again (1)
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina
16. He Walked Through Mountains of Daggers and Seas of Flames and Lived Through Many Lives, All For the Sake of Seeing Him Again (1)
When Fang Nan finally made it here after being informed of the accident, he found Xie He sitting near the hospital’s mortuary. He looked lonely, as if he was the only person left in the world...But there was a stark contrast between his steady, calm expression and his messy, sorry appearance. It was like he wasn’t actually all that sad.
Fang Nan had been worried but he sighed in relief seeing this....It seemed like President Xie was all right.
That made sense. After all, so many of his ex-boyfriends had died. It wasn’t the end of the world for another one to die. Actually, President Lu had lived the longest, hadn’t he?
It was rare for him to only pass away now....
Fang Nan wasn’t familiar with Lu Ting. Although he felt a bit sorry, it wasn’t to the point where he’d forget himself. He said to Xie He respectfully, “President Xie, you should go back first. I’ll handle this.”
He frequently handled the funeral arrangements for Xie He’s ex-boyfriends. He was already familiar with the procedures.
But Xie He shook his head. His eyes were like bottomless pits as he slowly said, “I’ll handle it this time.”
Fang Nan was startled. When he heard Xie He’s calm tone and saw his still expression, he felt his heart thud. It felt like he was facing a really intense sorrow....But when he looked at Xie He again, the other’s expression didn’t look any different from that of the past.
It must have been...his imagination?
Xie He looked away. He said, “You go handle the paperwork necessary for taking him back. I want to take Lu Ting back.”
Fang Nan quivered. He didn’t dare ask anything else. He promptly went to do what needed to be done. His efficiency was really high so he finished the paperwork very quickly. He then arranged for a car to take Xie He and Lu Ting’s corpse back.
This place was far from Xie He’s city. By the time they were back, it was already the dawn of the next day.
Xie He didn’t plan on resting. He began to arrange for Lu Ting’s funeral without rest.
Fang Nan began to realize that something was wrong. Xie He had never taken part in the funerals of his other ex-boyfriends before. Having Fang Nan arrange them had been the extent of his affection. He had never bothered to oversee them, let alone participate in the actual funeral.
But this time, Xie He personally handled everything. He didn’t let anyone else help. It was like...he was really handling the funeral of his beloved.
Fang Nan suddenly realized that this was what was supposed to be expected..
This was how a normal person acted. What Xie He did before...had made them all forget that all those people who had died had been Xie He’s boyfriends. They had been his lovers who had shared a pillow with him. Xie He, however, had never acted like someone with normal emotions. He had seemed apathetic and coldhearted to the point of being terrifying.
But this time, Xie He treated Lu Ting like anyone would their beloved. But it was because of this that Fang Nan felt sad. He would rather Xie He have acted like he had before.
Anyone who had to watch their lovers die over a hundred times would eventually grow indifferent to it. But even if it was only once that they were affected, then they would end up hurting for a lifetime.
Even if Xie He didn’t look like he was all that upset, that didn’t mean he wasn’t hurting.
A corpse could not be left alone for long. In a few days, Xie He finished his arrangements.
The weather wasn’t bad on the day of the funeral. The sun shone down and the sky was a cloudless blue. It was clearly such a tragic day, but God didn’t seem to be cooperative.
Because Xie He had personally come and seemed to be taking this matter seriously, many people came. It was a very solemn event. Many of Lu Ting’s past friends, Xie He’s friends, and everyone in their social circles had come....Everyone felt that it was so regretful that such an accident had occurred.
President Zhao and co. had also come. These two had been so in love not long ago, but in the blink of an eye, they were forever separated. Their emotions were complicated&#k2026;but when they thought about it carefully, it felt like a logical turn of events.
Hadn’t all of President Xie’s ex-boyfriends also died? But Lu Ting had lived the longest. Their relationship had also been so good. It had made them forget that terrifying curse of death. They had thought that Xie He and Lu Ting would be able to continue on like that forever&#k2026;.
But in the end, nothing had changed.
President Zhao was Xie He’s old friend. He had seen this happen many times before. But this was the first time he had come to one of Xie He’s ex-boyfriend’s funerals. If it wasn’t for Lu Ting’s identity and Xie He’s attitude, he would never have come.
Shouldn’t I comfort Xie He at a time like this? was what President Zhao thought.
Xie He was dressed in a black suit. He stood there with no expression on his face, as if he was separated from their world.... President Zhao walked over and patted Xie He on the shoulder. He smiled and was about to tell him not to feel sad and that he’d introduce Xie He to a new man.
But the moment Xie He turned around, the moment President Zhao met with Xie He’s bottomless eyes, he suddenly felt the words stick to his throat. He choked for a long time before spitting out, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Xie He nodded and said in a flat tone, “Thank you.”
President Zhao retreated at once and slapped himself. He felt like he had been a bit weird just now. They had gone through this so many times before. He didn’t even know just how many men he had introduced to Xie He... but this time, he couldn’t say it. It was the first time he couldn’t say such a thing....
It was probably...because he couldn’t say such words to a person who was still grieving on his own. Those words would be disrespectful.
But did Xie He really love Lu Ting? Was he really...upset? President Zhao found it a bit hard to believe. He had always thought that Xie He would never be sad or aggrieved over anyone else.
But that probably wasn’t the case, right...? Perhaps he just hadn’t met the one yet, or maybe, it was just that he had never let anyone see his hurt, soft side.
And then, as time passed, everyone had started to believe that he couldn’t feel sadness.
They had all thought he was heartless, that it was just a matter of fact.
Xie He slowly walked forward. His gaze was lowered. He reached out to caress the edge of the coffin, eyes boring into the person inside.
Lu Ting’s eyes were shut. Because his corpse had been tidied up, it looked like he was just sleeping.... Xie He pursed his lips slightly. You knew that this would happen, didn’t you? From the moment you had decided to leave, you had planned your own ending.
I know that you did that because you didn’t want to upset me. That was why you pretended not to love me.... But what I wanted was for you to give me the power to decide. Because I couldn’t be selfish and leave you to suffer alone in making this decision of life or death. Because I wanted to share the responsibility.
I wanted to make the choice myself.
Xie He shut his eyes and let them close the coffin. He then watched, unblinkingly, as the coffin was buried. He watched as the soil piled up. He watched as his view of the other was gradually obstructed....
He stood there for a long time, not moving.
Fang Nan stood not too far away. His forehead was covered in sweat from standing under the sun’s rays. But he didn’t dare go forward.
Everyone else had left. He hesitated for a long time, wondering if he should call Xie He’s name. But as he was hesitating, he saw Xie He turn around. Fang Nan sighed in relief. His boss seemed normal.
Xie He said to Fang Nan, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Fang Nan thought, how could I not worry? This is the first time you’ve gone to your ex’s funeral. But in the end, he didn’t feel it appropriate to meddle in his boss’ matters. He could only keep a more careful eye on the other. He said, “Then that’s good. Please let me know what I can do to help, President Xie.”
Xie He smiled. “Okay.”
................................................
The next morning, Xie He called for an emergency meeting at the company. Several vice presidents sat in the conference room, feeling hard-pressed. A problem had occurred with a huge project they had invested in. The company had planned for many years in order to participate in an oil extraction project by another company. They had invested a lot of money and manpower. But right now, the country’s leadership had unexpectedly changed so all work had been stopped. Their rights to the project might even be affected....They hadn’t earned back any profit yet. If this project were to go under, it would be a tremendous loss to the company.
Several vice presidents were extremely worried. They all wanted Xie He to come over but they couldn’t get through to him.
One vice president asked, “Why isn’t President Xie picking up the phone? It was just another ex-boyfriend that died, right? So what?”
Another vice president said, “I also don’t get it. It’s not like it’s his first time seeing an ex die.”
“I’ll go to his home. We’re already in such a state but he disappeared. This isn’t President Xie’s style.”
Fang Nan stood at the door to the conference room. He had no authority to speak up but the situation was dire....However, he couldn’t help but recall Xie He’s lonely silhouette in front of the tombstone yesterday. He suddenly gathered the courage to block the door and say, “President Xie must have his own plans. It would be better if you didn’t disturb him.”
The vice president that was planning on going to Xie He’s house raised a brow. “Move.”
Fang Nan broke out into a cold sweat. He thought, at worst, I’ll just be fired. He was Xie He’s assistant. He had to help him out.
President Xie had never caused anyone worry. If he wasn’t picking up his phone, he definitely had a reason for it. He couldn’t let these people disturb him.
However, Fang Nan was just one person. He wasn’t a built man either. He couldn’t stop that crowd of beer-bellied vice presidents. He was helpless as they pushed him away.
At this moment, a slightly cold but stern voice sounded behind him. “What’s going on here?”
The vice presidents were still furious so their expressions were still ugly. As soon as they saw that Xie He had arrived, their expressions turned respectful at once, sheepish smiles painting their faces. One said, “Nothing...we were just about to discuss something with you.”
Xie He nodded. “I’ve already been informed. I’ll call the other party. You don’t need to worry.”
That vice president didn’t look reassured. He said, “Things don’t look good over there.”
Xie He cast him a cool glance. His voice was quiet but carried an unquestionable tone, preventing anyone from talking back. It also had a reassuring effect. “It’s all about profit. As long as we provide enough benefits, the matter will be resolved.”
The vice presidents could see that Xie He was as steady as always, that he wasn’t flustered at all. Their hearts finally settled. They smiled, “President Xie is right.”
Xie He smiled slightly. “You all should head back first. I am well aware of the situation.”
They could see that Xie He seemed to already have a plan. They could also tell that he wasn’t in a very good mood right now. Therefore, they tactfully bid farewell.
Xie He sent those people away with a few words and then returned to his office.
Fang Nan followed after Xie He. He looked like he wanted to say something.
Xie He glanced at him and chuckled, “Did you think that I wouldn’t come today?”
Fang Nan hesitated and then nodded.
He tried imagining himself in Xie He’s shoes. If it had been his wife who had died, he would not be in the mood to go to work, even if the sky would fall down if he didn’t go. However, Xie He had come to work the day after the funeral.... He was also still clear-headed and calm. Everything he said and did was neat and orderly, as if he wasn’t affected at all.
He felt a bit puzzled. Was Xie He really upset over Lu Ting?
Xie He sat at his desk and flipped through important documents. He suddenly looked up at Fang Nan and said, “Actually, I’m not too sure myself.”
Fang Nan drew a blank. “What?”
Xie He’s eyes were dim. He slowly said, “I’m not certain whether that project will overcome this.”
Fang Nan was surprised. He stuttered, “Then why did you say that just now?”
Xie He’s tone was light with no fluctuations of emotion. “I’ve already talked with the other side. There’s still a chance of redeeming the situation but no one can foresee how the political situation will change. The smallest error could lead to a completely different result. No one can give an absolute guarantee. However, I will do my best to lower the chances of failure to the smallest it can be. But despite that...not even I can be certain of how things will turn out.
“There are risks at all times in business. There is no such thing as an investment that is sure to make a profit.
“Back then, when I made the decision to invest, I hadn’t thought about the possibilities of failure due to mishaps. There’s a chance of success and a chance of failure...and a chance that we will lose everything.”
Fang Nan looked pensive. Everyone understood that. There was no such thing as business that could guarantee profit or a 100% success rate.
However, Xie He had always done well. Under his leadership, the company had never suffered any real losses. Even when they did suffer losses, they would end up making a ten-fold or hundred-fold profit back later.... As long as Xie He was around, everyone felt like there was no problem they could not overcome.
And Xie He had never revealed his weak side. He had always been calm and rational. When everyone was anxious, as long as Xie He was around, everyone would calm down. They thought that they could rely on him and trust him.
He had always taken upon himself the task of reassuring everyone. He was their pillar.
But...it was the first time Xie He had said that he wasn’t certain.
Was this deal so challenging that it could even make Xie He uncertain?
Xie He was silent for a while. He told Fang Nan, “You should go. I want to be alone for a while.”
Fang Nan left at once and also closed the door for Xie He.
Xie He sat there for a long time, not moving. He shut his eyes. He then made a heavy mark on the calendar he had maintained since Lu Ting’s death with a marker. Today was the eighth day since Lu Ting had died.
And what he wanted still hadn’t appeared.
He knew that it would come sooner or later...but he was afraid that it might come after it was already too late.
He knew that the shards of Lu Ting’s soul were still in those worlds. But he didn’t know if those worlds had already been retrieved by Lord God. If Lord God had already taken them back, then those shards would disappear forever....He also knew of the affection 666 had for Lu Ting. 666 would definitely do everything he could to buy them time. He would protect Lu Ting’s main soul. However, he didn’t know how long 666 would be able to hold on. It was puny before Lord God.
He was in a race against time with Death....
But he couldn’t do anything but wait.
That was why he felt uncertain.
There was no such thing as a deal that was sure to make profit. After throwing down his chips, he might win it all back but he might also end up losing everything.
If he lost, he could try again. But what he lost, he would never get back.
Even if he gave up everything he had, he would not be able to get it back.
Eve: The main story will end with the next release. But there will be extras following that!
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