Chapter 41

41 Returning Home and Getting Beaten

You say your birthday isn’t today? Don’t joke!

After hearing Li Ang’s doubt, Black Goat couldn’t help but sneer:

“Don’t be ridiculous. Either you remembered wrong, or your parents got it wrong, or the kingdom’s registrar messed up the record—your birthday is definitely today.”

“But…”

“No buts. Stop overthinking it.”

Black Goat asked with absolute certainty:

“Do you think it’s more likely that you, your parents, or the registrar misremembered the date—or that a true god’s authority malfunctioned and assigned you the wrong celestial palace?”

“…”

That’s true…

After recalling his past life’s birthday and confirming it didn’t match either, having ruled out every possible explanation, Li Ang reluctantly accepted Black Goat’s claim, deciding his sister must have mistaken his birthday—why not him?

Of course, because he remembered nothing at all!

When he “arrived” three years ago, he was a complete blank slate—not even his own name, which he only learned from Anna.

Hmm… I’ll ask her again when I get back.

Though the exact date of his birthday wasn’t a big deal, if he could truly gain a weakened version of “wish fulfillment” on that day through that 【Star Chart Protection】, he’d better confirm it properly.

After storing this thought, Li Ang pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and began sketching with a charcoal stick.

Practicing spear—earned Bronze Badge

Visiting nurse Hanna—discovered Happy Apartments

Bought smoke for Black Goat, earned Devil Badge—got Silver, but out of money, can’t grind further

Investigate the pipe incident, gather evidence of violations—

Find Black Goat’s “Seven Sheep Offal”—

Hmm… looks like almost everything I planned is done!

Satisfied, he checked off the pipe incident and drew a heart next to “Sheep Offal” to mark the discovery of the Sheep Heart’s whereabouts. Then, clamping the Witch’s Broom between his thighs, he added three new items to the paper with the charcoal.

Investigate the blond middle-aged man from the Ryan family—look for clues about the Sheep Heart—

Confirm my birthday with Anna—see if I can exploit the luck of my birthday next year—

Find a newspaper with connections and guts, expose the pipe incident without revealing my identity—

Hmm… that’s enough for now!

After staring at the paper for a moment, Li Ang, lost in thought, drew a black circle around the word “newspaper.”

I still have some time today—first, visit a few newspapers, buy a few issues, read their news selections, and see which ones dare to expose scandals!

…

Though the theft of Char Water Power Company’s documents wasn’t trivial, in a metropolis of over ten million people, this disturbance barely rippled the surface—the capital continued operating calmly as ever.

As the sun slowly sank westward, the bustling city, described as consisting of “factories, smog, and human seas,” gradually fell silent.

As machinery’s roar faded, countless weary industrial gears poured out of factories one by one, trudging home under dim streetlights, faces etched with exhaustion…

Hasn’t Brother finished work yet?

Without waiting for Li Ang to pick her up, Anna carried her change of clothes and luggage back to Veteran’s Lane. Seeing the dark window of the spare room, she unconsciously bit her lip, then unlocked the door and stepped inside.

“It’s Sister! Sister’s really back!”

“I knew Big Brother wouldn’t lie to me!”

Hearing movement at the door,

the two younger ones had been nervous, but seeing it was Anna—back after days away—they rushed over joyfully, clinging to her thighs like koalas, as if letting go would make her vanish.

“Yes, Sister’s back.”

Dragging the two koalas forward two steps, she struggled to set her luggage on the table, then, like a mother returning from work, gently patted her brother and sister’s heads before bending down to kiss each on the cheek, smiling as she asked:

“While I was gone, were you two good? Did you cause trouble for Big Brother?”

At Anna’s question, the room fell slightly silent. The two exchanged glances instinctively, then, under Melanie’s panicked expression, simple-minded William spoke honestly:

“We were good… but… um…”

“No no! We didn’t do anything!”

“…”

“Hmm?”

Seeing her sister’s eyes narrow sharply, Melanie, caught mid-cover-up, turned her head away and glared fiercely at her dim-witted brother, then sighed in regret and confessed:

“It wasn’t really mischief… it’s just Jack and the others were so annoying, insisting you wouldn’t come back this time… we couldn’t stand it, so we… just played a little trick on them…”

“…”

Hearing Melanie’s explanation, seeing her pained little face, Anna’s heart ached slightly. She reached out and stroked her messy golden hair.

This wasn’t entirely their fault—if anyone was to blame, it was herself.

A few days before this episode, she’d already sensed she might not return, so she’d quietly arranged with neighbors to keep it secret, so Big Brother could keep receiving her pension.

Jack was a kid from the lane, one of those families—probably their parents slipped up, the children overheard, and during play, Jack blurted it out, angering Melanie and William.

William’s nature was calm and quiet—he’d likely just stewed silently, waiting for her return to tell on them. But Melanie, clever, mischievous, and a bit petty, would definitely seek direct revenge.

Hmm… if I’m right, she probably convinced gentle William to join her under the guise of “protecting her sister.” Judging by her stammering, she must’ve tormented those families badly these past days.

“You! Sigh!”

Pinching her sister’s face—softer than a boiled egg—the frail girl shook her head helplessly. She’d intended to let them off lightly, considering how scared they’d been, but finally hardened her voice:

“Don’t dodge me! Tell me honestly—what exactly did you two do these past days?

If it wasn’t too bad, tomorrow I’ll take you to apologize. But if it’s worse than last time, no matter the reason, you’re getting beaten tonight!”

Hearing Anna’s words, Melanie trembled, clutching her skirt, eyes darting as she mumbled:

“Well… if you say it’s not too bad… it might be a little too much… but if you say it’s bad, it’s not exactly terrible… mainly… um… that…”

“Stop saying ‘mainly’ and ‘um’—I knew from the moment you shoved horse dung in Jack’s mouth that we’re definitely getting beaten!”

Tugging at his still-defiant sister, little William efficiently pulled down his pants, exposing his bare buttocks, then turned his head to the two stunned sisters and said seriously:

“Sis, I’ve calculated it—if you’re hitting me, double last time’s amount. But for Melanie… start with five times!”