Since The Red Moon Appeared

Chapter 11: Lots of toys

Though I don’t know when I’ll be confirmed for the job, the initial wage is already pretty decent… The regular payout is $5,000, adding on the $1,000 I get from my original job, I’ll be able to earn $6,000 a month… Also not to forget about all the bonuses I can get from finishing missions –  $30,000 for a level 1 psyche monster, $300,000 for a level two…

To be honest, the $6,000 I can definitely get every month without any bonuses is sufficient for my wants… Subtracting $500 for food and drinks, I can earn $5,500 monthly, $66,000 yearly, $660,000 in a decade…

Back in the orphanage, it’s probably time for them to move, considering all the hazards they need to deal with every day and the lack of electricity and water supply… I heard if I was to buy a big house that can fit the children and the two staff, I’d need around a million dollars and if I earn that amount every year…

“15 years.”

Lu Xin thought hopefully.
He was still young and lively; he should be able to work for 15 years.
If he could manage to complete even more missions, the time needed will be shortened drastically as well.

Obviously, there were things he should take into consideration.
Like getting sacked during the testing period.

But if everything were to actually go well, not only would he be able to quickly buy a new house for the orphanage, have money for his food and meals, he could even bring teacher Xiao Lu to one of the main cities to cure her crippled legs.

…

…

He walked leisurely down the road with his hands in his pockets while thinking about the ideal future.
He stopped as he reached the house.

“What are you doing brother? Dad and mom are waiting for you so we can eat.”

A voice said coming from above him.
Lu Xin lifted his head and saw his little sister with a subtle smile who was sitting on the lamp post while embracing her teddy bear.

“Perfect! I just had something to tell you.”

Lu Xin pondered, thinking of how to start the conversation.
He lifted his head slowly and said, “I just got a new job.
A job that pays me a lot more than my previous job.
I want to do it but it requires me to borrow your strength, can I do that?”

“Borrow my power?”

She giggled while distorting her face to form a deformed smile, “Then what would you give me in return, brother?”

“Screaming chicken?”

The smile quickly disappeared from her face and she turned to leave.

“Hang on, hang on… We can discuss this.”

The first thing he needed to do for this job was to deal with his little sister. 

“What kind of toy do you want?” 

Halted by his shouting, his little sister stared at him with slight irritation.

“You know what I want…”

She took a peek at Lu Xin’s serious expression and smiled, like a spider, she jumped and landed next to him, “The ones that are fun to play with!”

A small frown creased Lu Xin’s forehead as he realised what she was suggesting.
His little sister stared at the drunk man who was having a go at the walls with bright eyes.

“I love those that can talk and move.
I love it when they’re still intact so I can rip them apart and put the parts back together.
Can you give me that toy? I won’t help you if you don’t…”

“Why is it your first intention to always hurt someone?”

“Then riddle me this, why can others hurt me?”

Pause.
He didn’t know how to answer.

He took a look at his sister’s delicate face and in a split moment, he saw the pain in her eyes.

“You can use yourself as a toy if you don’t want me to hurt others.”

The uncanny smile sent a chill down his spine.
Lu Xin could only remain silent and watch his little sister’s fingers pointing at him.
The sharp fingertips could cause painful consequences.

However, her fingers never reached him.
Lu Xin felt a warm sensation on his arm, in which a long scar can be seen.

“You’re such an idiot…”

She said quietly.

“Only you would try to protect me when they hurt me.”

Like an innocent girl fit for her age, she embraced Lu Xin with her small arms and dove her face into her brother’s chest.
Lu Xin stared at her crying face for a while and only a sigh escaped from his mouth.
He could only console her by lightly stroking her shoulders,

“Do you know that I’m different from before?”

The curiosity couldn’t be hidden even from her tear-stained face,

“What?”

“I got a job.
A better job with lots of money! I can’t give you those kinds of toys but I can buy you some other ones.”
He declared seriously and noticed a busy market nearby.

“Buy whatever you want! Okay?”

A slight smile and vitality came back to her sorrowful face.

…

…

Lu Xin gave all the money he got from the “café monster” to the orphanage but he himself also had some savings from his original work.
He found an old ATM and took all the money out. 

The beautifully dressed barbie, cute teddy bear, puppet with movable arms… Lu Xin bought them with no regret.
Without caring about the money or the weird gazes he received, he bought everything that his precious sister wanted.

He knew the others couldn’t see his sister, so it was inevitable that he might receive some scornful looks when talking to her.
He usually paid attention to these kinds of things, but he just couldn’t care less today. 

Eventually, he gathered all the toys and brought them and his little sister to a bridge.
She sat in the middle of them and started scraping them all.
The dismemberment of the barbie toy, plastic surgery on the teddy bear, amputation on the puppet… She destroyed all the toys to her heart’s content and the satisfied expression finally came back to her face.

As for Lu Xin, who was leaning on the railing and smoking a cigarette, he quietly looked at his sister playing with her toys.

“I’m very happy, brother!”

She lifted her head and gave Lu Xin a huge smile.

“Then would you lend me your power?”

She stood up from the scraps of toys,

“Oh my foolish brother, don’t you know you can just forcibly use it?”

“… Yeah but… I still want to ask you first.”

Joy could be captured by her true and beautiful smile, she extended her arms and presented Lu Xin with her delicate hand.

“I’ll always be by your side when you need me!”

Clap

Under the red moon, a pair of brother and sister slapped hands in harmony to make their promise.