Chapter 1203: Let's say goodbye properly then!

Lin Lang grabbed Bai Mengfan's wrist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, his tone as heavy as the dark clouds of a rainy night.

“Squad leader, if I leave, you will surely die tonight—struck by lightning, in a car accident, or even hit by a flowerpot falling from upstairs, or crushed to death by a collapsing building. There will be no chance of escaping this fate.”

Bai Mengfan froze upon hearing this. Rainwater streamed down his soaked hair, mixing with the redness in his eyes, leaving two streaks on his cheeks.

He forcefully pulled his hand back, took a half step back, and said in a sobbing voice, "I can't drag you down with me! I, Bai Mengfan, have lived an upright life, and even if I die, I won't implicate you."

Lin Lang sighed helplessly, "When a person dies, it's either because their fortune has run out or their lifespan has ended."

"Some people can be saved, they just survive one calamity, but you are bound by fate to a 'certain death calamity.' If this death calamity is not completed today, you will be trapped in an endless cycle, suffering various accidental and tragic deaths, until you die!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Mengfan's lips curled into a desolate, cold smile, his eyes reddening even more, until the rain and tears became indistinguishable.

"Everyone says good people live long and peaceful lives, so it turns out that I, a righteous reporter, am the one who suffers the fate of 'good people don't live long'?"

After a self-deprecating laugh, Bai Mengfan raised his hand to wipe his face, his voice suddenly lowered, filled with barely concealed sobs, "Lin Lang, I'm not afraid of death, it's just... I can't bear to leave my pregnant wife and my parents."

"I only ask you to buy me a little time. I want to call them to say goodbye and give them some final instructions."

Lin Lang's heart softened upon hearing this, and he patted Bai Mengfan on the shoulder, saying, "Okay. I'll try my best to buy you time. You can make a phone call to give your last words."

Bai Mengfan nodded vigorously and hurriedly pulled his phone out of his soaked pocket.

The screen was already wet from the rain. He wiped it again and again with his sleeve. His fingertips trembled slightly from nervousness and the cold. He dialed the wrong number several times before finally succeeding.

The first phone he dialed was his parents' landline.

The phone was answered after three rings, and a familiar mother's voice came from the other end, sounding a little sleepy: "Son? Still awake so late? Are you still covering the news?"

Upon hearing her mother's voice, Bai Mengfan's strength crumbled instantly. Her throat felt like it was blocked, and she couldn't speak for a long time. She could only bite her lip tightly and let the tears flow freely.

"Mom..." His voice was choked with sobs, "It's me, I miss you and Dad."

“Silly child, come home if you miss us. I’ve told you so many times, don’t work too hard while reporting the news, your health is the most important thing.” The mother’s voice was gentle and worried. “Your father was talking about you today, saying that you haven’t come home to eat his braised pork in a long time.”

"Okay, I'll go back after I'm done with this." Bai Mengfan sniffed, trying to make his voice sound normal. "Mom, you and Dad take good care of yourselves, don't overwork yourselves. It's getting cold, remember to wear more clothes. Dad, don't stop taking your high blood pressure medication, make sure he takes it on time."

“I know, I know, we’re all fine. But you, you always risk taking photos to expose shady news. You must be careful about your personal safety.” The mother nagged on and on, completely unaware of the strange tone in her son’s voice.

Bai Mengfan forced back her tears and replied with an "okay." She chatted with her mother for a few more minutes before reluctantly saying, "Mom, let Dad answer the phone."

"Old Bai, our son wants you to answer the phone!"

A few seconds later, Bai's father's voice came through the phone: "Son, is there something you need calling so late?"

Bai Mengfan gripped his phone tighter. He simply couldn't bring himself to tell his father that he was dying. Through his blurry vision, he replied, "No, nothing's wrong. I just had a few drinks tonight and I was missing you and Mom."

Mr. Bai seemed to sense something and tentatively asked, "Son, did you have a fight with your wife? Or is there something wrong that you need money for, and you're too embarrassed to ask me and your mother?"

"It's nothing, Dad. I just suddenly wanted to hear your voice." Bai Mengfan looked up at the dark night sky, raindrops hitting his face and streaming down his face with tears. "Don't worry about me, Mom and I. I'm all grown up now and can take care of myself."

Mr. Bai chuckled on the other end of the phone, his tone a mixture of relief and worry: "You rascal, you've always made things easy for your mother and me since you were little."

"Your job as a reporter is fine, but don't take it too seriously. Those criminal gangs are ruthless. If we can't afford to mess with them, we should stay away. Peace is more important than anything else."

"I understand, Dad." Bai Mengfan gritted his teeth, suppressing the sob in his throat. "As for the family matters... I'll have to trouble you to take good care of Mom from now on. She's not in good health, so don't let her overwork herself. Also, you should smoke less yourself."

"I know, I know, your mother's keeping an eye on things." Mr. Bai paused for a moment, then added, "By the way, how's your daughter-in-law doing lately? Is her belly showing? You should spend more time with her; being pregnant isn't easy."

Mentioning his pregnant wife, Bai Mengfan felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly, the pain almost making it hard for him to breathe.

He sniffed, his voice thick with nasal tone: "Qingqing is fine, I... I'll spend more time with her."

"That's good. When you're done with this, bring Qingqing home. Dad will make braised pork for you and boiled fish for your daughter-in-law, who loves it the most." Father Bai's tone was full of anticipation.

"Okay...definitely." Bai Mengfan could no longer hold back, and tears welled up in his eyes. Afraid that his father would notice something was wrong, he hurriedly said, "Dad, I have something to do here, I'll hang up now. You and Mom should get some rest."

Before Bai's father could say anything more, he hurriedly hung up the phone, covered his face with his hands, his shoulders trembling violently, and his suppressed sobs were particularly clear in the rainy night.

He desperately wanted to tell his parents that he might never be able to go back to eat that bowl of braised pork again, and that he would never be able to take care of them in their old age and see them off in their final days.

Lin Lang stood aside, silently taking out a pack of tissues from his personal space and handing it over, his eyes full of reluctance.

"Squad leader, call your wife right away."

"Lin Lang, thank you for being by my side in the final moments of my life." Bai Mengfan took a tissue and hastily wiped away her tears.

Lin Lang didn't know how to comfort Bai Mengfan, and said with a heavy heart, "I'm sorry, class monitor! If I force you to defy fate and break your death calamity, it will bring disaster to our Lin family's future generations."

After hearing this, Bai Mengfan nodded with tears in his eyes: "I understand. Your forced interference with my destiny and karma will backfire. I can't let you bring disaster upon your descendants and ruin the Heavenly Dao and fortune of your Lin family."

"Don't say anything, class monitor, understanding is everything." Lin Lang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and handed it to Bai Mengfan.

"Thanks, brother. It's all worth it to have such a loyal classmate like you in my life!" Bai Mengfan took the cigarette and put it in his mouth, his fingers and lips trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Lang held a lighter and lit a cigarette for Bai Mengfan, saying casually, "Squad leader, all I can do for you now is to accompany you through the last cigarette of your life."

Bai Mengfan took two deep drags of the top-grade cigarette, his whole body trembling as he exhaled the smoke. He forced a smile at Lin Lang before turning on his phone again.

This time, his fingertips trembled even more violently, and he pressed the wrong button several times while dialing because his vision was blurred by tears.

Finally, the call connected, and Su Qing's gentle voice came through the receiver, still languid from just waking up: "Honey? It's so late, why aren't you home yet? Are you working overtime again, covering the news?"

“Wife…” Hearing his wife’s voice, Bai Mengfan couldn’t help but shed tears again. He tried to make his voice sound calm, “I wasn’t working overtime, I just… I just missed you.”

"Silly boy, come back soon if you miss me." Su Qing chuckled, her voice full of dependence. "This afternoon, my mom accompanied me to my regular prenatal checkup, and the doctor said our baby is developing very healthily."

Bai Mengfan's heart felt as if it were being soaked in warm water, both warm and painful.

He imagined his wife stroking her belly and gently talking to the baby inside her, and his eyes welled up with tears: "Wife, you've worked so hard."

"You're the one who's working so hard, honey. You're out there reporting the news so late to earn money to support the family." Su Qing is truly a kind and understanding woman.

Bai Mengfan wanted to tell his wife that he was going to die, but his lips trembled and he couldn't say it, letting his tears fall down his face.

Seeing this, Lin Lang felt a lump in his throat and turned away to take two deep drags on his cigarette.

Lang Ge, a tough guy with a tender heart, really can't bear to see such a moment of life and death.

"Honey, your voice sounds strange. Do you have a cold? Or did something happen?" Su Qing asked with concern.

"No, I just caught a bit of a cold, it's nothing." Bai Mengfan quickly covered it up. "Wife, I want to say a few words to you, listen carefully."

"Okay, honey, go ahead, I'm listening."

“From now on… I won’t be by your side anymore. You must take good care of yourself and the baby.” Bai Mengfan’s voice choked with emotion. “Eat on time, go for your prenatal checkups on time, don’t overwork yourself. If anything happens, tell my parents, they will help you.”

Su Qing sensed something was wrong, and her tone instantly became tense: "Honey, what are you saying? What do you mean you're not by my side? What's wrong with you? Tell me quickly!"

"I'm fine, it's just... I suddenly felt a bit emotional." Bai Mengfan forced back his sobs. "Wife, I love you. Marrying you is the greatest luck of my life."

"If... if I can't be with you and the baby in the future, you must live well, raise the baby to adulthood, and let him grow up to be an upright and kind person."

"Husband, what happened to you? Where are you? I'm coming to find you!" Su Qing's voice was choked with tears; she was completely panicked.

"Don't come looking for me, I'm fine." Bai Mengfan hardened her heart.

"Honey, remember what I said, take good care of yourself and the baby. Also, my parents are getting old, so please help me look after them. I... I will always love you and the baby."

After saying that, without waiting for Su Qing's response, Bai Mengfan gritted her teeth, hardened her heart, and hung up the phone. Unable to hold back any longer, she squatted on the ground and burst into tears.

Bai Mengfan knew that this might be the last time he would hear his parents' and wife's voices, and this regret would become a permanent pain in his heart.

The rain lashed his back, icy cold, but he felt no chill at all; only sharp pain in his chest, like being cut by a knife.

Lin Lang stood aside, silently watching this righteous and brave man let down his guard and reveal his vulnerable side in the rainy night, feeling a mix of emotions.