I think I almost understand adults now. Their actions are no different from children—they don’t do what they want to do, and they don’t say what they want to say.
I thought this was a lesson only children could summarize, but I never expected adults to follow it too.
The sister in front of me is clearly a “Zodiac.” She kills without blinking, having executed nearly a hundred family members, yet now she’s teaching me how to survive. Meanwhile, Uncle Wan back then kept insisting he was doing what was best for me, yet waves of killing intent occasionally wafted from him. They all wear two faces.
“But I want to help them…” I said. “Sister, if someone saw you as a ‘hero,’ wouldn’t you help them?”
“No, because I know I’m not,” the Zodiac sister replied. “In this world, I can’t even grasp ordinary humanity, let alone its twisted forms.”
“But this is what I want to do,” I said. “It’s what I believe is right. As long as I keep doing what I believe is right, it doesn’t matter if I die.”
Suddenly, I thought of Kuafu, Yugong, and Jingwei.
They did it well—I want to learn from them.
Seeing how stubborn I was, the Zodiac sister didn’t press further, only shaking her head helplessly.
She couldn’t understand me, and I couldn’t understand her.
Just then, Sister Thought approached from a distance, carrying a large, flat cloth bundle. Seeing me talking to the “Executioner,” a flicker of worry crossed her.
“Hero little brother…!” she called out, setting the bundle down and running over.
She shielded me behind her, glaring at the Executioner with a stern expression. “Hey… he’s just a kid… You don’t need to drag him into the game, do you…?”
“Ah…” The Executioner shook her head. “Don’t worry, I know how important he is. I’m not desperate for one more life.”
“Good… good…” Sister Thought nodded in relief. “Thank you…”
“Don’t mention it.”
The two sisters exchanged a glance—this was probably the first time Sister Thought had ever spoken to her.
Though their personalities were completely different, I always felt they were somehow alike.
“Hero, come with me.” Sister Thought tugged at me, pulling me toward the cloth bundle.
I stared at the large object in confusion. It was slightly bigger than my desk, wrapped in cloth, lying flat on the ground.
“Hero little brother!” Sister Thought looked delighted. “Remember what I told you yesterday? I have something for you!”
I blinked at her. She had promised to tell me where to find a sword and a crown, so why had she brought back something so big?
She propped the bundle upright, then gently pulled away the cloth.
When its true form was revealed, my eyes widened. Beneath the dirty fabric was a bicycle that looked almost brand new.
I froze.
“Um… Hero little brother, don’t be disappointed,” Sister Thought said. “After talking to you yesterday, I searched everywhere. A crown and sword were too hard to find, but I got you the ‘white horse’ a prince rides!”
She pushed the bicycle forward, presenting it to me.
Though rusted in places, the dust had been meticulously wiped away, and the torn seat had been repaired with a soft cloth cushion.
The handlebars were wrapped in sponge—it seemed she had used every method she could think of to fix it up.
Instead of taking the bike, I just stood there, stunned.
“What’s… wrong?” Sister Thought’s expression faltered. “Hero little brother, I know it’s a bit crude—”
“No…” I murmured. “I love it…”
“Really…?”
“Yeah!!”
I was so happy. I had always wanted a bicycle of my own.
But I never dared to ask for one.
When I was very young, I wanted many things. I’d point at the giant lollipops hanging in the corner store and say, “I want that.”
Back then, my parents would say, “If you behave, we’ll buy it for you,” then hurry me away after I agreed.
Gradually, the way I spoke changed. Whenever I walked with them and saw something I wanted, I’d point and say, “Mom, Dad, if I keep behaving, will you buy me that someday?”
They’d nod eagerly, and I’d be overjoyed.
But no matter how long passed, no matter how well I behaved, I never got what I wanted.
Now, though, I had a bicycle of my own.
That day, I rode it in circles around the small plaza downstairs. Sister Thought and the Executioner stood at opposite ends, silently watching.
Only when my legs ached and my face was windblown did I finally stop in front of Sister Thought.
“Done riding?” she asked.
“Sister…” I said, “now that I have my own bike… I’ll start searching for the crown and sword tomorrow, so I need to save my energy.”
“I already found them for you.” She pointed at a small box tied to the bike’s rear. “Your crown and sword are in there.”
Surprised, I opened the box.
Inside was a crown folded from newspaper and a sword made the same way.
Though crafted from newspaper, they were beautifully folded.
“A crown and sword… made of paper?” I blinked.
“I’m sorry, Hero.” Sister Thought gave a pained smile. “First, let me say—I’m not treating you like a child by giving you these playthings. I just wanted your wish to come true. Even in this city where resources are scarce, you should be able to have what you want.”
Why was she apologizing?
I loved them.
Whether I liked something didn’t depend on its value or material—it depended on who gave it to me.
Though made of paper, they meant the world to me. I’d protect this crown with my life.
That day, Sister Thought placed the crown on my head herself. I became a true hero—the “Happy Prince” of Jade City.
Even if my end was to be dismantled by everyone, someone would remember me.
But fairy tales are just fairy tales. No matter how heartbreaking their endings, they’re still beautified.
The darkness in human nature is uglier than a prince stripped of his gold leaf. When laid bare, it makes even the ugliest things in the world seem radiant by comparison.
I never imagined a day would come when the poor would capture the swallow, using its life to blackmail the Happy Prince into serving them forever.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage