Similar Childhoods

Dense streaks of rain fell through the broken window frame, cutting the distant town into a blur of gray and making the atmosphere inside oppressive as well.

Sitting beside him with her knees hugged to her chest, Robin repeated, "When I was little, I was worse off than everyone here."

Jingxing's hand stopped. All he knew of Robin's past was what Interastral Peace Entertainment had publicized: Sunday, the head of the Oak Family, which ruled Penacony, the "Star of the Festival," was her older brother. Both came from the "Family," and both were Pathstriders of Harmony. She had attended the Harmony Academy at Penacony Paperfold University and studied singing under a renowned Penacony singer.

But neither Robin nor Interastral Peace Entertainment, the company behind her, had ever publicly disclosed her early childhood experiences. Before, Jingxing would have assumed she had grown up in luxury with her brother, but from what she was saying now, that did not seem to be the case.

"At the time, my brother and I were both very young." She lowered her eyes and slowly traced a line across her knee with a fingertip. "A Stellaron, the 'Cancer of All Worlds,' descended on our homeworld, bringing the Antimatter Legion and all kinds of natural and man-made disasters in its wake. Our mother tried to take us away, but..."

Robin paused. "Afterward, my brother and I were adopted by Mr. Gopher Wood, an emissary from the 'The Family,' and brought to Penacony."

Jingxing looked at her profile. Robin had not cried while telling him about her childhood; her voice had not even changed noticeably. Yet precisely because of that, he did not know how to respond.

Comfort her? There was no point.

It had all happened many years ago. Just like Jingxing's own memories of his parents, once a person had chewed over a memory too many times, its flavor grew fainter and fainter.

But Jingxing suddenly blurted out, "Looking at it that way, our childhoods were pretty similar."

They had both been victims of the Path of "Destruction," and both had lost loved ones. The difference was that Robin still had an older brother to rely on, while Jingxing had only his talent for painting.

"My brother worked hard and, with Mr. Gopher Wood's support, eventually became the head of the Oak Family. I learned to sing, released albums, started touring, and gradually became what everyone sees as... a star."

When she said "star," the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, in a gesture that seemed more self-mocking than proud. "Doesn't it sound like the story already has a perfect ending?"

"Yes, a perfect ending," Jingxing agreed. "But I'm guessing you don't see it that way, Miss Robin."

The smile slowly faded from Robin's face, and she turned her gaze to Jingxing. "That's right. I don't."

"My mother gave her life in exchange for my brother's and mine." She opened her hand and stared at the faint lines on her palm. "As a Pathstrider of Harmony, all I can do is use my life to save more lives. Only then can I call it repayment to her."

Jingxing said nothing more.

Once again, he thought of Yaoguang. The woman from the future had explicitly warned him to stay away from Pathstriders of Harmony.

He had not understood then, and he still did not understand now.

Yaoguang knew his future self, and she must also know the future Robin.

She must know that Robin was a beautiful and kindhearted star. So why had she given him that advice?

Jingxing stopped pursuing that line of thought and asked a different question.

"Are you the only one who feels that way? What about your brother?"

Robin was silent for a moment before speaking again. "I think we used to feel the same way, but after some things happened, I think my brother may have come to see things differently."

"But I believe," she said, clenching her fists and gently tapping her thighs, "that he's also working to create a world where no one has to suffer."

Jingxing looked up. Robin smiled faintly. "It's just that, in his eyes, I'm probably no different from anyone else in that world."

Somehow, the refugee camp suddenly flashed through Jingxing's mind: the barbed wire, the guard posts, the searchlights, and Robin, watched by everyone.

A robin locked in a cage... he muttered inwardly. In other words, her brother must have tacitly approved of this supervision?

Then, by helping Robin escape, had he already offended Penacony's number one figure?

"I'm not going to be banned from Penacony, am I?" Jingxing asked out of the blue.

Robin immediately followed Jingxing's train of thought and could only give a helpless smile. "My brother isn't that petty."

Neither of them continued the conversation, and the sound of rain filled the silence in the room.

Jingxing picked up his sketchbook again. His pencil touched the page, tracing the outlines of the tent and the odds and ends beside it, bit by bit.

Robin turned her head for a look. "What are you drawing?"

"Our tent," he replied casually.

"..." As soon as he said it, the halovian Celestial Ring above Robin's head suddenly began flickering like a short-circuiting light bulb.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat. "The tent you drew really does look like a tent."

"Of course." Jingxing spun his pencil, his voice carrying unmistakable pride. "I was the top student at the art academy all through my school years."

"That's nice... I was different." Robin lowered her head. "When I first started learning to sing, my teacher criticized me a lot."

"But your singing is already recognized across the universe as being among the very best, Miss Robin. My art hasn't made a name for itself in the galaxy yet."

"Then let's make a promise." Robin held out the little finger of her right hand. "Pinky swear."

"A promise?" Jingxing was taken aback. "What promise?"

"Once you become a famous artist across the galaxy, come paint an album cover for me."

"Sure," Jingxing agreed without a second thought. He held out the little finger of his left hand and hooked it around Robin's. "I'll get there as soon as I can."

The rain was still falling, and neither of them spoke again.

Before long, Robin's breathing gradually grew slow and even.

Jingxing looked up and saw her leaning against his shoulder, her eyes tightly shut. She was probably truly exhausted.

They had barely had a proper rest over the past two days. After escaping the refugee camp, they had traveled so far without stopping, while staying on guard against the routed soldiers throughout the day.

The combined blows of mental and physical exhaustion were truly hard to bear.

Then he looked down, unfastened his coat, and carefully draped it over Robin's shoulders.

Jingxing picked up his pencil again and continued practicing until the rain outside the window grew heavier and heavier, plunging the entire town into darkness.

Finally, he put down his pencil, tucked Robin into a sleeping bag, carried her into the tent, and then prepared to sleep.

"Good night, Miss Robin."