Chapter 781 - Birthday (1/2)

Translator: Legge

Ren Xiaosu left after the banquet ended. As for Yang Xiaojin, she followed him back and did not stay around to catch up with Yang Anjing.

Yang Xiaojin did not say a word throughout the banquet. She neither refuted Yang Anjing nor Ren Xiaosu, and it was like she was just an emotionless eating machine.

After returning to their respective courtyard houses, Ren Xiaosu suddenly asked from across the wall, “I went a little overboard with my words earlier tonight. Are you unhappy that I contradicted your aunt like that?”

Ren Xiaosu heard Yang Xiaojin reply from across the wall, “No, because I often quarrel with her as well. Actually, our relationship has always been more like sisters as she’s only six years older than me. You can say she’s my grandpa’s caboose baby since he had her at 61.”

“Your grandpa is amazing,” Ren Xiaosu said.

It fell silent on the other side of the courtyard wall. However, Yang Xiaojin was not too affected by Ren Xiaosu’s remark. She continued, “But there’s one thing I would like to explain to you about tonight. Actually, she’s also a compassionate person. At least, that’s how I view her.”

Ren Xiaosu did not say anything further. He could sense that Yang Xiaojin had seemingly fallen into a trance as she continued talking at her own pace, “At that time, there were no longer any family ties to speak of in our Yang clan. After my parents got in an accident, there was no one to take care of me. Yang Yu’an only adopted me to inherit the resources my father owned before he died, such as his former subordinates and his authority. It was Yang Anjing who sent me to and from school every day. After school, she would even buy me food, sing nursery rhymes with me, read me fairy tales, and skip rope with me. She also gave me my first sniper rifle.”

The corner of Ren Xiaosu’s mouth twitched a little. That escalated way too quickly. It went from jumping rope with her aunt to being gifted her first rifle all of a sudden.

That was some twist!

However, Ren Xiaosu did not interrupt her. He recalled Yang Xiaojin’s proficiency in singing nursery rhymes and jumping rope and thought Yang Anjing really did seem like she used to spend a lot of time with her.

Yang Xiaojin continued, “It was also at that time when she saw the Yang clan’s attitude towards me that she started to feel disappointed in the entire Yang Consortium. I remember that after I pulled the trigger of a sniper rifle for the first time, she told me, ‘Xiaojin, this era is starting to change.’ I don’t know why she’s so insistent on ridding the world of nuclear weapons, nor do I know when she became the head of the Anjing House and the leader of the Saboteurs. She started getting busier and busier, but I’ve always received gifts from her on my birthday. She’s the only one who still remembers it.”

Ren Xiaosu immediately felt remorseful. “When is your birthday again?”

“April 18th of the Gregorian calendar,” Yang Xiaojin answered. If it were any other girl, they would probably be throwing a tantrum by now. However, she did not get angry and simply stated it matter-of-factly. Then she asked, “What about you?”

“I…” Ren Xiaosu’s voice softened. “I don’t know my birthday.”

Yang Xiaojin was clearly taken aback. She was rather surprised to hear there were still people in the world who did not know their birthday.

However, Ren Xiaosu laughed and said, “But someone tattooed a ‘3-16’ on the inside of my arm, so just take it that I was born on March 16th.”

1

“Who tattooed it?” Yang Xiaojin frowned.

“I don’t know.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head even though Yang Xiaojin could not see him shaking his head.

“You…” Yang Xiaojin suddenly felt a little puzzled. In her impression, Ren Xiaosu was a native refugee who grew up in Stronghold 113’s town. But what normal refugee would have a number tattooed on their arm?

As such, Yang Xiaojin tried hard to remember things, but she realized Ren Xiaosu had never mentioned his past.

Their way of interacting was very strange. Neither of them had ever delved into the other’s past, and they were like two rootless duckweeds in this era of the wastelands, mutually supporting one another just because they liked each other.

Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, “It’s very strange, isn’t it? Actually, I also find it quite odd. My memory is… incomplete.”