Chapter 4: The General’s Cat (1)

Translator: deathbutlowkey from dummytranslations
Editor: Mimishijie, vivi 

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“After the explosion, we spent several years as refugees. During that time, I was sent to an interplanetary orphanage. Brother, you were unwilling to stay there so you followed a gentleman out to go work and would only come back every few months.” Shen Zhirou’s complexion didn’t look too good – it was clear that her memories of these days awakened lingering fears in her heart even now. “I stayed there until I became of age. Over the past few years, you’ve also participated in the mech league. It wasn’t until you gradually earned a reputation that our lives improved.”

Shen Zhifan’s mouth opened and closed, but he was speechless.

His elegant brows creased; he hadn’t thought this was the answer that he would get.

The room sank into a lengthy silence.

Shen Zhirou didn’t know how to comfort him. Without a better option, she quietly sat and stared.

This past year, Shen Zhifan really had been extremely busy. Although their lives had improved, the two siblings hadn’t properly sat down and talked in a long time. Training and battles in the mech league had snatched away a good part of Shen Zhifan’s energy and while there were still a few misunderstandings, they didn’t weaken the interdependent siblings’ feelings.

“How…how did they pass?” Shen Zhifan asked suddenly.

Shen Zhirou blanked before managing to respond, her voice low, “Even now, we still don’t know the cause of the explosion seven years ago. The explosions continued for three days, but I’d already been shocked dizzy by the first one and seemed to be in a half-unconscious state the whole time. By the time I regained awareness, only you were left by my side. Everything I know…was what you told me when I woke.”

Shen Zhifan nodded and they fell into silence again.

Shen Zhirou watched her brother with concern. Shen Zhifan’s exquisitely handsome side profile seemed like a plaster figure under the shadow, suddenly silent and sorrowful. It made her unable to say any words of comfort.

She suddenly felt very uncomfortable. When he was sixteen, Shen Zhifan had already gone through that nightmare, but now he unexpectedly had to bear it again.

“I’m sorry, brother…” Shen Zhirou felt herself falling apart. These hardships of the past few years had originally made her much stronger, but she’d always had a tendency to cry. “I’m too useless, I don’t know anything, and I look ugly too…”

Shen Zhifan had, at first, sunk wholeheartedly into sorrow. He was taken by surprise by Shen Zhirou’s assessment of herself and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He lightly wiped his face, then touched Shen Zhirou’s head, consoling her: “It’s alright, it’s all in the past. You’re not useless and you’re not ugly either.”

Shen Zhirou slowly lifted her head: “Really…”

Shen Zhifan glanced at Shen Zhirou’s appearance that could be traced back to their ancestors and automatically discarded the second explanation: “En, you were only twelve then. I believe I definitely worked hard during those past years because you were behind me, so I became even stronger.”

Youngsters always grew up overnight. The previous Shen Zhifan had grown up when he was sixteen, so the current Shen Zhifan could also do the same.

“I can’t say for sure if I chose this period of time to forget because it really was too painful,” Shen Zhifan tried to speak calmly, “Although I don’t why I suddenly lost those memories, you don’t have to worry. I’ve only forgotten, I will be able to recall them soon.”

Shen Zhirou swiftly threw herself into his chest. Curled up in her brother’s warm and wide embrace, it seemed like the grievances of the past years had suddenly raised their heads again. Her sobs were earth-shattering and enough to wake the dead.

Shen Zhifan patted her shoulder softly, his clear eyes gradually becoming calm.

Yesterday, he’d still been a sixteen-year-old youth, carefree and without worries. He would be flushed and excited at meeting an idol he liked, but now he would try to become a twenty-three-year-old adult. Between these two were seven years of memories that he’d forgotten, they might’ve been painful or bitter, but it didn’t matter. He was already in this situation and these were trials that he had passed, step-by-step. There was nothing to be afraid of.

But because he’d lost his memories there were now a lot of troublesome matters. Others weren’t as important, the most pressing would still be the matter of remembering how to pilot mechs to continue making a living.

Shen Zhirou said seriously: “Right now, although brother’s popularity – and income – is high, you had previously signed an agreement with Battlesquad V. At that time you were young and inexperienced, so you signed an overlord[1] contract – something all newcomers usually do. Now, even though your revenue is high, your share allotment is low, and if you don’t fulfil a certain quota they’ll use all kinds of ways to dock your pay. Even though the money that we have at hand isn’t little, it isn’t enough either. Before, you always wanted to terminate the contract, but the termination fee is too expensive so there’s no other way.”

Shen Zhifan nodded, somewhat distressed.

The sixteen-year-old Shen Zhifan had an interest in mechs, but right now, his memories were like a blank sheet of paper.

“This house isn’t ours either, Battlesquad V gave it to us.”

Shen Zhifan nodded.

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“After the explosion, we spent several years as refugees. During that time, I was sent to an interplanetary orphanage. Brother, you were unwilling to stay there so you followed a gentleman out to go work and would only come back every few months.” Shen Zhirou’s complexion didn’t look too good – it was clear that her memories of these days awakened lingering fears in her heart even now. “I stayed there until I became of age. Over the past few years, you’ve also participated in the mech league. It wasn’t until you gradually earned a reputation that our lives improved.”

Shen Zhifan’s mouth opened and closed, but he was speechless.

His elegant brows creased; he hadn’t thought this was the answer that he would get.

The room sank into a lengthy silence.

Shen Zhirou didn’t know how to comfort him. Without a better option, she quietly sat and stared.

This past year, Shen Zhifan really had been extremely busy. Although their lives had improved, the two siblings hadn’t properly sat down and talked in a long time. Training and battles in the mech league had snatched away a good part of Shen Zhifan’s energy and while there were still a few misunderstandings, they didn’t weaken the interdependent siblings’ feelings.

“How…how did they pass?” Shen Zhifan asked suddenly.

Shen Zhirou blanked before managing to respond, her voice low, “Even now, we still don’t know the cause of the explosion seven years ago. The explosions continued for three days, but I’d already been shocked dizzy by the first one and seemed to be in a half-unconscious state the whole time. By the time I regained awareness, only you were left by my side. Everything I know…was what you told me when I woke.”

Shen Zhifan nodded and they fell into silence again.

Shen Zhirou watched her brother with concern. Shen Zhifan’s exquisitely handsome side profile seemed like a plaster figure under the shadow, suddenly silent and sorrowful. It made her unable to say any words of comfort.

She suddenly felt very uncomfortable. When he was sixteen, Shen Zhifan had already gone through that nightmare, but now he unexpectedly had to bear it again.

“I’m sorry, brother…” Shen Zhirou felt herself falling apart. These hardships of the past few years had originally made her much stronger, but she’d always had a tendency to cry. “I’m too useless, I don’t know anything, and I look ugly too…”

Shen Zhifan had, at first, sunk wholeheartedly into sorrow. He was taken by surprise by Shen Zhirou’s assessment of herself and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He lightly wiped his face, then touched Shen Zhirou’s head, consoling her: “It’s alright, it’s all in the past. You’re not useless and you’re not ugly either.”

Shen Zhirou slowly lifted her head: “Really…”

Shen Zhifan glanced at Shen Zhirou’s appearance that could be traced back to their ancestors and automatically discarded the second explanation: “En, you were only twelve then. I believe I definitely worked hard during those past years because you were behind me, so I became even stronger.”

Youngsters always grew up overnight. The previous Shen Zhifan had grown up when he was sixteen, so the current Shen Zhifan could also do the same.

“I can’t say for sure if I chose this period of time to forget because it really was too painful,” Shen Zhifan tried to speak calmly, “Although I don’t why I suddenly lost those memories, you don’t have to worry. I’ve only forgotten, I will be able to recall them soon.”

Shen Zhirou swiftly threw herself into his chest. Curled up in her brother’s warm and wide embrace, it seemed like the grievances of the past years had suddenly raised their heads again. Her sobs were earth-shattering and enough to wake the dead.

Shen Zhifan patted her shoulder softly, his clear eyes gradually becoming calm.

Yesterday, he’d still been a sixteen-year-old youth, carefree and without worries. He would be flushed and excited at meeting an idol he liked, but now he would try to become a twenty-three-year-old adult. Between these two were seven years of memories that he’d forgotten, they might’ve been painful or bitter, but it didn’t matter. He was already in this situation and these were trials that he had passed, step-by-step. There was nothing to be afraid of.

But because he’d lost his memories there were now a lot of troublesome matters. Others weren’t as important, the most pressing would still be the matter of remembering how to pilot mechs to continue making a living.

Shen Zhirou said seriously: “Right now, although brother’s popularity – and income – is high, you had previously signed an agreement with Battlesquad V. At that time you were young and inexperienced, so you signed an overlord[1] contract – something all newcomers usually do. Now, even though your revenue is high, your share allotment is low, and if you don’t fulfil a certain quota they’ll use all kinds of ways to dock your pay. Even though the money that we have at hand isn’t little, it isn’t enough either. Before, you always wanted to terminate the contract, but the termination fee is too expensive so there’s no other way.”

Shen Zhifan nodded, somewhat distressed.

The sixteen-year-old Shen Zhifan had an interest in mechs, but right now, his memories were like a blank sheet of paper.

“This house isn’t ours either, Battlesquad V gave it to us.”

Shen Zhifan nodded.



Chapter 4: https://dummytranslations.blogspot.com/p/generals-cat-chapter-4.html