Chapter 718: The Prince's Vehicle

I think I’ve pretty much figured out adults. Their behavior isn’t much different from children’s—they don’t do what they want to do and don’t say what they want to say.

I thought this was an experience only children could summarize, but I didn’t expect adults to use it too.

The sister in front of me is clearly Xing Guan. She kills without hesitation and has executed nearly a hundred family members, yet now she’s teaching me how to survive. Meanwhile, Uncle Wan kept insisting he was doing it for my good, but he occasionally gave off a murderous intent. They all have two faces.

“But I want to help them…” I said.“Sister, if someone sees you as a ‘hero,’ wouldn’t you help them?”

“No, because I know I’m not,” Xing Guan sister replied. “In this world, I can’t even grasp ordinary humanity, let alone twisted humanity.”

“But this is what I want to do,” I said. “It’s also what I believe is right. As long as I keep doing what I think is right, it doesn’t matter if I die.”

I suddenly thought of Kuafu, Yu Gong, and Jing Wei.

They did it so well, and I want to learn from them.

Xing Guan sister saw how stubborn I was and didn’t say anything more. She just shook her head helplessly.

She couldn’t understand me, and I couldn’t understand her.

At that moment, Si Wei sister was walking over from nearby, carrying a large, flat cloth bundle. She saw me talking to the Xing Guan and a flicker of worry crossed her face.

“Hero brother…!” she called out, then set the cloth bundle on the ground and ran over.

She stepped in front of me and looked seriously at the Xing Guan, saying,“Hey… he’s just a child… you don’t need to drag him into the game, right…?”

“Sigh…” The Xing Guan shook her head. “Don’t worry, I know how important he is. I’m not about to throw away my life over this.”

“Okay… okay…” Si Wei sister nodded in relief. “Thank you…”

“You’re welcome.”

The two sisters exchanged a glance—this was probably the first time Si Wei sister had talked to her.

Although their personalities were completely different, I always felt they were very similar.

“Hero, come with me.” Si Wei sister pulled me along toward the cloth bundle.

I looked curiously at the big thing. It was a bit larger than my desk and lay flat on the ground, wrapped in cloth.

“Hero brother!” Si Wei sister looked really happy. “Do you remember what I said yesterday? I have something to give you!”

I stared at her in a daze. She had told me where to find a treasure sword and a crown, but why did she bring back something this big?

Sister lifted the big cloth bundle and stood it up, then gently pulled off the cloth.

When the thing was revealed, my eyes widened. Under the dirty cloth was a bicycle that looked fairly new.

I was stunned.

“Um… Hero brother, don’t think it’s too shabby, okay?” Si Wei sister said. “After I finished talking to you yesterday, I ran all over. The crown and treasure sword were really hard to find, but I got you the ‘prince’s’ white horse instead!”

Si Wei sister pushed the bicycle forward and placed it in front of me.

The bicycle had some rust in places, but the dust had been carefully wiped away, and the damaged seat had been resewn with a soft cloth pad.

The handlebars were wrapped in foam, and it looked like sister had used every method she could think of and find on this bicycle.

I didn’t step forward to take it; I just stood there frozen.

“What’s… wrong?” Si Wei sister’s face looked a bit uneasy. “Hero brother, I know what I gave you is a bit makeshift…”

“No…” I said blankly, “I really like it…”

“Really…?”

“Yeah!!”

I was so happy. I really wanted a bicycle of my own.

But I never even dared to ask for one.

When I was little, I had a lot of things I wanted. I’d point to the huge lollipops in the store and say, “I want that one.”

Back then, my parents would tell me, “As long as you’re good, I’ll buy it for you,” and after I agreed, they’d quickly take me away from the spot.

Gradually, what I said changed. Whenever I was out with my parents and saw something I wanted, I’d point to it and say, “Dad and Mom, if I keep being good, will you buy that for me?”

They’d agree right away, and I’d be so happy.

No matter how much time passed or how good I was, I never got any of the things I wanted.

But now, I have a bicycle of my own.

That day, I rode the bicycle around and around the small square downstairs. Si Wei sister and Xing Guan sister stood at opposite ends of the square, silently watching me.

Until my legs were sore and the wind had blown across my face, I finally stopped in front of Si Wei sister.

“Not riding anymore?” she asked.

“Sister…” I said, “Now that I have my own ride, I’m going to start searching for the crown and treasure sword tomorrow, so I want to save my energy.”

“I already found them for you.” She pointed to a small box on the bicycle’s rear seat. “That’s your crown and treasure sword in there.”

I was a little surprised and gently opened the box.

Inside was a crown folded from newspaper and a sword also folded from newspaper.

Even though they were made from newspaper, they looked very nicely done.

“A newspaper crown and short sword?” I said, slightly stunned.

“I’m sorry, Hero.” Si Wei sister gave a bitter smile. “First, I want to make it clear—I’m not treating you like a child and making these playthings to humor you. I just hope your wish can come true. Even in this resource-scarce city, you can get what you want.”

Why was Si Wei sister apologizing to me?

I really liked it.

Whether I like something doesn’t depend on how valuable it is or what it’s made of—it depends on who gave it to me.

Even though they were folded from newspaper, they meant a lot to me. I’d protect this crown with my life.

That day, Si Wei sister put the crown on my head herself. I became a true hero; I would be the “Happy Prince” of Yu Cheng.

Even if the ending is that I’m torn down by everyone, someone will remember me.

But fairy tales are still just fairy tales. Even though their endings are heartbreaking, they’re still beautified.

The dark side of humanity is uglier than a prince stripped of his gold leaf. When it’s laid bare, it makes all the ugly things in the world seem beautiful by comparison.

I never imagined that one day the poor would capture the swallow and use its life as leverage to make the “Happy Prince” serve them forever.