Minodayz: I guess we can finally say we have reached the finale of finales. Time to really say goodbye to these darling characters. It’s been quite a journey but it’s also nice to come to a close. While we wish for more, I guess, we’ll just have to settle in knowing our foursome have grown up.
Here is the last of the Epilogues….
and some special treats at the end!
Don’t forget to check out tranzgeek’s WASFIL fanfic special event!
Also, if anyone would like to help translate Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort, please email tranzgeekz@gmail.com. No prior experience necessary. There is a large community here to help you out if you’d like to try your hand. : )
Chapter 61 (Epilogue/Short Story 2)
There is nothing permanent in this world.
Li Erqin had never considered that there would be a day when Rong Si would forget her.
However, he did forget.
It was the second year after they had graduated from University, and the year before they were married.
It wasn’t as if anything serious had happened. When getting off work one day, a car had lightly grazed Rong Si. There were no open wounds; it was just his left temple that had a huge, swollen bump. He didn’t think anything of it. When he returned home, he applied a hot compress to it and didn’t even mention it to Li Erqin.
However, when he got up the next day, without any warning at all, he had completely forgotten everything.
Li Erqin was at work when she received Rong Si’s call.
Never before had Rong Si called her at work; even his texts were rare. So, when she received the call, she was highly puzzled, until the other party asked, “Excuse me, are you Er Lan?”
(TN: ‘Er Lan’ is LEQ’s father’s nickname for her, which Rong Si seems to have adopted.)
A familiar voice, but an unfamiliar tone.
Li Erqin was stunned.
In the middle of her shock-filled silence, the other party’s voice sounded. “You seem to be the person I most frequently contact on my cell phone so I figure you must be someone I know very well.”
Rong Si was not the type of person to play such a joke. Li Erqin gathered her wits and became serious. “Rong Si?”
“I’m having a bit of a problem,” Rong Si explained. “I seem to have lost my memory.”
“Are you joking?”
“No.”
After hanging up, Li Erqin applied for annual leave and then dealt with the most important priority – to accompany Rong Si to the hospital for various tests, and then, to wait for the report.
Everything was normal.
Holding the report, Li Erqin quietly looked at Rong Si.
That person sitting opposite her, with the same expression; those eyes, indifferent and polite. This was his normal attitude towards other people.
Except her.
But now, it also included her.
Li Erqin smiled at Rong Si. “Are you kidding me?”
Apologetically, Rong Si said, “I’m sorry.”
“Then . . . if I told you that I am your girlfriend, would you think that I am pulling your leg?”
“I know.”
“Huh?”
“I know that you’re my girlfriend.”
Li Erqin was just about to laugh when she heard Rong Si say, “But, I’m sorry, I can’t remember you.”
“And, so?”
Rong Si’s expression was full of apologetic regret. “We might have to be friends for a period of time.”
“I see . . .” Li Erqin’s mind was blank, but she still managed to smile. “It’s ok, I can understand.”
“Thank you.”
When Li Erqin heard his response, the corners of her mouth turned down, but she quickly put on an indifferent expression and said, “I’m only going to have to suffer being wronged for this period of time. When your memory comes back, I will return (to being your girlfriend), too!”
Rong Si smiled distantly, with a distinct air of awkwardness.
A month later, both Peng Zige and Su Zi, who were aware of the situation, had applied for leave together to visit Rong Si.
Rong Si’s memory loss had affected his work, so he had been dismissed and found himself with plenty of time on his hands. The four of them simply decided to go on a trip together.
However, from Peng Zige’s perspective, the Rong Si who had lost his memory was still the same old Rong Si.
And it was Li Erqin who was not the same old Li Erqin he knew.
She was neither sad nor depressed.
She was excessively lively.
When Peng Zige, who was used to interacting with a ‘zombie-like’ Li Erqin on a daily basis, suddenly saw her being so bubbly, he was so shocked that he didn’t dare to speak aloud. “Erqin, why are you acting this way now?”
(T/N: He literally says ‘why are you walking this road’)
Li Erqin was at that moment holding up a boarding pass and excitedly telling Rong Si a joke. When she heard Peng Zige, she turned her head and shot him a glance. “What?”
Peng Zige said, “No. . . nothing.”
The itinerary and accommodation had been arranged by Peng Zige. He, who had long been extravagant in his spending, had booked a hotel by the sea. When the balcony door was opened, the deep blue sea was right in front of them.
Because Rong Si and Li Erqin were ‘just friends’ at the moment, Peng Zige was forced to separate from Su Zi and ‘suffer’ sharing a room with Rong Si.
That evening, Peng Zige accompanied his goddess Su Zi back to her room from a walk on the beach. He thought that Li Erqin would be stuck like glue to Rong Si’s side and therefore had planned on visiting the girls’ room for some covert “sweet times”.
However, the instant he opened the door, he felt a cool sea breeze, with a hint of salt. Li Erqin was alone on the balcony, sleeping on the deck chair in a crooked huddle. The pale moonlight shone coldly on her face, making her seem especially lonesome.
Peng Zige turned to glance at Su Zi. Unconsciously frowning, he asked, “Won’t she catch a cold?”
Su Zi remained silent. When she turned to look at Peng Zige, her eyes were already red.
In a panic, Peng Zige said, “Don’t cry . . .”
Su Zi still cried.
He immediately pulled her back out through the door and hurriedly comforted her. “Why are you crying? Aren’t the two of them ok? Li Erqin isn’t even sad, why are you sad?”
Su Zi was totally unable to stop her tears from falling. “What if Rong Si can’t ever regain his memory?”
Peng Zige didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. “That won’t happen. Maybe he’ll regain his memory tomorrow.”
The more Su Zi thought about it, the more her heart hurt for Li Erqin. “Looking at the way Rong Si treats Erqin right now . . . I’m afraid that he will fall in love with someone else before he can remember he likes Erqin.”
Peng Zige was at a loss for words.
“Anything can happen . . .,” Su Zi continued.
After lunch the next day, Peng Zige rented four beach chairs, and they lay down to rest at the beach. Li Erqin was in particularly low spirits that day. She had not eaten much at lunch and kept dozing off in the deck chair.
Peng Zige and Su Zi thought she was in a bad mood. They dragged their chairs closer together and held a whispered conversation about how to brighten the atmosphere.
Then Rong Si suddenly got up, left, and came back.
Peng Zige hesitantly asked, “Ah Si, why did you go off?”
Rong Si gestured to the water bottle and pills in his hand. “I bought some medicine.”
“Are you not feeling well?”
Rong Si said, “Li Erqin is running a fever.”
In unison, Peng Zige and Su Zi said, “Ah?”
Li Erqin really did have a fever, and it was pretty high. When Rong Si tried to wake her up, she blearily opened her eyes. “Huh?”
“You’re feverish.” Rong Si’s voice was warm and gentle, something he himself did not notice. “Get up and take this medicine, then go back to sleep.”
It was then that Li Erqin realised her body felt as heavy as lead. She obediently swallowed the medicine and was just about to lie down again when Rong Si stopped her.
Li Erqin stared blankly.
Rong Si sighed. His right arm went around her back while his left arm swooped under her knees, and he lifted her up effortlessly in a princess carry.
“Eh?”
“I’m taking you back to the room to rest,” Rong Si explained.
Peng Zige waited until the two figures were in the distance, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, “It’s one thing to just send her back to the room, why does he have to do it in such an intimate manner?”
Su Zi was struck by a sudden realisation. “Is that why you held me back and wouldn’t let me walk with them?”
Instead of answering her, Peng Zige asked another question. “Could Rong Si be feigning amnesia?”
Su Zi could not help rolling her eyes. “What’s the point? You think everyone is like you, with nothing better to do?”
“I’m not like that.”
Su Zi couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
Peng Zige laughed. “I’m busy every day!”
“Busy doing what?”
“Liking you!”
“ . . .”
“Of the 24 hours in a day, I don’t rest for even a single second!”
“Sweet talker.”
“Then, why are you smiling?”
“. . .”
“You don’t need to pretend, your laughter is spilling out.”
“. . .”
“Aiyo! Why are you hitting me again?”
Li Erqin’s sudden illness was not entirely due to being exposed to the chilly night air. People’s moods and emotions always need a form of release. If forcing oneself to pretend that nothing is wrong doesn’t result in psychological or emotional issues, then it will manifest in some physical ailment.
Everyday, in front of Rong Si, she exerted all her strength and ability to brush aside her feelings. This way when she was finally by herself and able to be still, she was so exhausted that she would fall asleep before the wave of sorrow could engulf her.
She had never had the time to consider the depth of her sadness. Nor did she have the time to think about how long it would take for Rong Si to regain his memory, or what she would do if he never remembered her.
A month was neither long, nor short. Li Erqin had not even begun to be aware of the toll the situation was taking on her physical and emotional well-being.
When she awoke, the sky was not yet completely dark. Although the sun had dipped below the horizon, there was still a tinge of red above the sea.
She had slept so deeply that she was unaware that she had had an injection. She must have been sweating because her back felt sticky, and her throat was painfully raw.
The rooms in the hotel were all laid out in the same way so she didn’t notice anything unusual until a glass of water suddenly appeared in front of her.
In surprise, she followed the line of the hand in front of her, with its clearly defined bones and joints, until she looked up to see Rong Si.
She blinked.
Rong Si placed the glass on her bedside table. “Drink some water. It’s warm, not hot.”
Li Erqin didn’t care about the warm water. In a hoarse voice, she asked, “You remember?”
Rong Si shook his head.
“Not even a little bit?” She looked at him expectantly.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok.” Li Erqin stretched out her hand and took the cup to drink some water. Just as the cup reached her lips, she muttered, “There’s no need to apologise. This situation isn’t something you wanted to happen.”
Rong Si quietly watched her drink little sips of water. When she put down the cup, he spoke again, asking, “Do you want some more water?”
“No need, thanks.”
Rong Si smiled.
Li Erqin looked at him hesitantly. “Do you have something you want to say?”
Rong Si nodded.
“Good or bad?”
In a casual tone, Rong Si said, “I think it would be considered good.”
Li Erqin let out her breath. “Go ahead and say it.”
Rong Si paused for three seconds.
The room was so still that it was alarming.
Li Erqin had the illusion that she could hear her own heart beating.
“I think I like you,” said Rong Si.
Silence.
Li Erqin’s entire body was suddenly suffused with a strange sensation; she felt numb, but also as if something was swelling up inside her. This sensation accompanied the sudden fierce thumping of her heart. “What did you say?”
“I like you.”
“Have you regained your memory?”
“Nope.”
“Then . . .”
“I definitely like you.”
In front of Rong Si’s warm and gentle eyes, Li Erqin’s head buzzed and her eyes reddened. From the day Rong Si had lost his memory and called her until now, she had never broken down. When she heard Rong Si say, “I’m sorry, it looks like we might have to be friends for a period of time”, she had felt as if every bone in her body had been pulverised. Yet, she had not cried.
Who would have thought that it would be these four words that would open the floodgates.
“Ah Si,” she called out in a nasal tone.
“Uhm?”
“You’re done for.”
(T/N: The actual words are ‘你完了’ – you’re finished.)
Rong Si did not understand.
“You have no way to escape from me in this lifetime.”
Rong Si smiled faintly.
He knew what she was getting at.
Li Erqin burst into tears. “Even if you lose your memory ten thousand times, you’re always going to like me again.”
Rong Si reached out a hand to hold hers.
Li Erqin grumbled, “What are you doing holding my hand? Shouldn’t you be holding me at this time?”
Received [one hug from Rong Si].
Translator: shl
Editor: maripaz
‘Hurry Ah Si, we can’t keep them waiting!’ Peng Zige was trying hard to get Rong Si out the door, but Rong Si seemed to be his usual detached self. Even at this time, he was staring out as if he was solving some intricate problem.
‘Come on, Erqin would not be pleased if you are late.’ At that, Rong Si seemed to come out of his reverie and picked up pace.
**
“Su Zi, do we really have to do this?” Li Erqin tugged and fussed.
“Yes!” Su Zi replied, almost ready to call it quits! Li Erqin was near impossible.
“So how long more til we meet them?” Li Erqin asked impatiently.
“Peng Zige is driving so they should be there before us. Stop fussing and let’s get on the way too.”
“But….” Li Erqin did not get to finish her sentence because Su Zi was glaring at her.
“Oh ok…lets go.”
Standing where he was, Rong Si heard some rustling and hushed whispers. He turned back to see Li Erqin coming towards him. Somehow he never thought she could surprise him any further. He knew that he had liked her since High School, thru Uni and even the time when he had forgotten her. Yet his heart knew her, that she was his.
Li Erqin saw the look that came over Rong Si’s eyes. She was rather overwhelmed and remembered the time when he had rushed to her home after she was hurt. The same intensity that had spoke volumes, it spoke of his protection, his faith in her, his love for her. Back then it had began with a ‘like’ but through the years and their time together, it had turned into something so immensely unbelievable. He was hers.
When she stood before him, Rong Si felt the knot in his throat cleared. She looked up at him with eyes that were trusting and entrusting. Everything that had happened, everything that they had been through and everything that was happening around them seem to spin about like a whirlwind of memories. Finally as he held her in his arms and leaned down, her eyes brightened and were brimming with anticipation and promise. His lips found hers. He found home and tasted sweetness. He had his world in his arms, his wife for the rest of their lives and more.
Li Erqin, “when do I say I do?”
Rong si “……..”
“We already did, now where were we….!”
(Minodayz : ok that was so my spoof! Didn’t need me to say it too! I’m a major sop and wanted a nice wedding. So yup, here’s my add on.)
Minodayz Musing :
OK I am rejoicing that PZG and SZ have returned married and ohhhh so lovey dovey but SERIOUSLY, did the author have to go amnesia on us!!!! I get it that the idea was to highlight the love that RS has for LEQ was like stamped into his DNA but we really didn’t have ‘to go down this path’. I would have much rather the wedding day, or even little RS or LEQ together with PZG/SZ. Wish we could really end on a higher better note. Anyway, the team has decided that this is fanfic so it’s not related! LOL!!!
Well, speaking of fanfic, I know some translators have been itching to do some fanfic, so hey, watch this space – we might have RMX story and possibly RS family story too.
Our team has shared some of their thoughts…
Here is a word from our Meraki Head Honcho :
Tranzgeek:
I’m so happy for the Male God staff that they managed to finish their first novel, but at the same time, I know we will all miss the characters and translator comments from Male God! It was definitely a great journey, and I feel extremely blessed for having so many new translators and editors join because of Male God, which was a project I previously started, but then handed off to minodayz (which is probably the best decision I could have ever made). Thank you so much to the translators and editors who partook in this journey, and of course, thank you to the readers who enjoyed the novel and stayed with us the entire way! I know that minodayz and her team will definitely continue to be great, and soar into even greater places, and I’m really proud of what they have accomplished! Make sure you look out for the next novel that minodayz and her team will be translating and thank you for tuning in! 🙂
Maripaz:
I really loved how funny and sweet the story was, all while being grounded in reality (with the exception of the last epilogue). It sometimes reminded me of really good comedians who can find humor and heart in real life without resorting to curse words or exaggerated stories or drama. I live for character development and loved how there were none of the usual cliches (except that amnesia bit) and all the characters were fleshed out, likeable and real. Even Rong Si’s ill-fated female suitors were understandable and evoked some pity.
Many thanks to tranzgeek for giving me this opportunity to edit a fun, fictional piece and of course a big thank you to Minodayz for taking on the role of the head of the team (when I think she’d rather just be a casual translator). She took great care of everyone, kept things light and imbued her own feelings (which I thought were in line with the vibe of Male God) into her writings, translations and the pictures and gifs she laboriously looked up. I’m very grateful to have joined this particular site and team and hope you readers enjoyed Male God and had as much fun reading this story piecemeal as we did bringing the story to you. “Love life!” : )
Minodayz: Finally, MG is a wrap our dear readers. Special shout out:
READERS : A BIG BIG THANK YOU!!! You’ve made the journey fun and enjoyable and even when things got a little tough going, you hung there with us. Thanks for reading and supporting us. For most on the team, this is our first foray into the translating world of novels and to have your support has been such a pleasure and honor. To journey weekly with us, has been such an encouraging vehicle to keep us going. You coped with us through scheduling, shorter post, our typos, our (ahem >-> Minodayz) ‘English’ and still you cheered us on. Thanks for being awesome readers!!! Hope to see you around Meraki and Discord.
Tranzgeek : you’ve found a hidden treasure in this book and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for taking in us newbies and giving us free reign to take this novel to the end. Your support has been priceless.
Miumiu : Thanks for being a good guide and support when we first started. We wish you all the best in your other projects.
Libramuse : You were a wonderful proofreader and great sounding board. I know you were a great support and encourager for us newbies. You know we miss you heaps and wish you well too. Don’t stay away too long aye!!!
MissBookie : for starting Sebastian crooning and jumping in to help edit my hopeless ramblings.
Yun : For being with us at the beginning and giving us a good start.
SHL : You were God sent when I had to do lots of travel and attend to family matters, you were that angel what came and made sure MG carried on. You know how much we appreciate you. Your support also means heaps to us newbies.
Yecats : you came in and gave it a go – we hope you’ll go on and give it another shot. You can do it!!! Thanks again.
Togekiss : For being a ray of Sunshine, popping in to help out in a crunch too.
Kira : You came in at just the right time to give a hand and we appreciated it too. Glad you came onboard the MG wagon.
P/S : If there are others whom I have miss, I am thankful for your help with MG and for being part of the team. My grey matter is a little off kilter with age, so do forgive me if I’ve left your name out!!!
Finally Maripaz, if I had to say who ran MG, it would have been you. You shoulder most of the weight as editor, translator and making sure our post goes out each time. For cheering me on when I’m fledging, and being supportive when I’m running behind and being so kind! The best partner this newbie could have ever have for her first ever project. I don’t know how you did it with your schedule but THANK YOU!!! MG wouldn’t have made it this far if it weren’t for you, the backbone of the project. Words can’t express enough but just wanted you to know – you’re precious!!!! This novel is probably more yours than mine so I give credit where credit goes!!!
SOooooooooo on that note….
MG team, Awesome Foursome – signing out!!!!
(Minodayz : tissues, tissues, tissues….(˶‾᷄།།‾᷅˵)
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Fanfic
Excerpt:
“You like me!” Ruan Ming Xian eyes were alight with mirth as he looked down into a pair of fiery eyes. Eyes that were obviously shooting a thousands arrows at him at this moment, yet, his heart was brimming.
“Are you CRAZY?” Xue Xiao En shouted and glared at him with fury.
“What could have made you THINK that I would like someone like you? That would just make me the crazy one!” Xue Xiao En was agitated, her heart was pounding in her ears, but was she really angry or was it something else? Maybe, just maybe she was really going crazy.
Minodayz : do share your thoughts… do you think we have a story for RMX??? Hmmm….
For a review of this translation of Male God, click here!
For a fanfic about Rong Si’s parents, click here!
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MerakiTranslations 
Thanks alot for the translation😘😘😘
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