Chapter 20: An act of survival, no apology needed
After the discussion, everyone was a little tired, especially Tang Qiuyue, whose emotions had fluctuated many times, and her inner endurance was about to reach a critical point.
The girl in red who always had a bright smile on her face and looked innocent, gradually lost her vitality after coming into this world, and her eyes were almost lifeless.
Everyone returned to their respective rooms, lay down to rest, replenish their energy, and calm their minds.
"Apple Baibai!"
When only Pingguo Xinshan and Xu Rener were left, Pingguo Xinshan suddenly called out to Xu Rener. Xu Rener stopped and looked back at her, showing confusion and bewilderment.
Seeing this, Apple Xinshan smiled lightly and apologized first:
"Sorry, I'm used to it. I think I should call you Xu Ren'er."
"That's fine. The name is just a convenient nickname. You can call me Apple Baibai or Ren'er if you want."
Apple Xinshan squatted down, keeping her eyes level with Xu Ren'er, and said softly, "During the time you've been with us, you haven't been able to speak normally. It must be very difficult."
Xu Rener: ...
For a moment, she was not sure whether Apple Xinshan's words were sarcastic sarcasm or pure concern from the heart.
"It's okay. After all, my origins were unknown at the time. If I reveal my uniqueness again, I'm afraid you will treat me as an alien and eliminate me!"
After thinking about it, Xu Ren'er felt that Apple Xinshan should have no ill intentions, and responded with a smile.
Hearing this, Pingguo Xinshan smiled slightly and suddenly asked, "Ren'er, how old are you?"
This question made Xu Rener slightly stunned:
"Why do you ask that?"
"At first I thought you were the same age as those two young men, because you had a close relationship and a great understanding of each other, which only comes from long-term interactions. You might have been together since childhood.
But I suddenly remembered that during the time we were together, despite my repeated attempts, your disguise as a normal dog was flawless.
To be honest, teenagers rarely have this kind of forbearance and patience.
Today I listened to Mo Youli describe your words and actions at the auction, as well as the way you think about problems when discussing them.
The two younger generations might not be able to notice it, but we can smell the youthful vigor and vitality that they should have, which is emitted from time to time and is so strong that it is difficult to ignore.
However, you alone do not exude the youthfulness that should be there, but instead have many familiar scents that only people like us have.
So I think you are much older than fifteen, maybe even over twenty."
Xu Ren'er patiently listened to Apple Xinshan's analysis of her true self. When Apple Xinshan finally summarized her thoughts, Xu Ren'er couldn't help but laugh out loud. She admitted:
"You guessed right, I'm actually about the same age as you."
Apple Xinshan raised the corner of her mouth, moved to the window, opened it, and through the window, the tracks of pedestrians on the street were clearly visible.
"How about we go downstairs and have a little chat?"
"good."
——
A man and a dog walked carefree on the street. Although there were not many people in Yuantu Town, Xu Ren'er, who was not in disguise, still attracted the attention of many fruit lovers along the way.
"Are there many dogs like you over there?"
Apple Xinshan naturally noticed the surrounding environment. She looked around, thought about it, and casually started a topic.
"Not many. Just like here, there aren't many animals like me that can actually speak. But..."
Xu Ren'er thought of the time when she participated in the martial arts competition in Jiucai Country. The pink-green chicken and the five-colored python were both creatures that could speak naturally.
"but?"
Apple Xinshan was waiting for Xu Rener's next words.
"There are only three countries in this world, but in our world, there are actually many, many countries. One of them is called the Polo Country. That country is not inhabited by humans, but by other creatures. They can speak from birth and are born with a talent for martial arts..."
As soon as the topic started, Xu Ren'er began to briefly describe the Polo Kingdom to Apple Xinshan. Since there was enough time, she expanded on other countries with Apple Xinshan, and also described the Juzi Kingdom, the Cabbage Kingdom...
Apple Xinshan listened carefully along the way and asked a few details from time to time. The relationship between the two guys seemed to become particularly harmonious in an instant.
"Besides the ones I already know, do you have any other friends over there?"
Apple Xinshan asked curiously.
"Yes. There's a country called Jiucai Country over there. They held a national martial arts tournament. Many contestants from different places came. Through the competition, I also made some like-minded friends."
"Martial arts tournament? Can you tell me in detail? What kind of format does your martial arts tournament take?"
"Of course! At that time, the competition was divided into three rounds..."
So, the topic was extended and the two sides had another long interaction.
Apple Xinshan listened quietly most of the time, and occasionally joined in the conversation. Through Xu Rener's description of her past experiences, Apple Xinshan felt that her relationship with Xu Rener had become closer.
The simple communication easily broke her previous inherent cognition and gave her a better understanding of Xu Rener.
"We've been talking for so long, have some apple juice to quench your thirst."
Apple Xinshan flicked the apple pendant on her waist with her fingers, and snapped her fingers with her other free hand, and a small paper cup appeared out of thin air.
The paper cup moved to the front of the ornament, and the ornament automatically opened a small hole and sprayed outwards, and a cup of steaming apple juice was successfully completed.
She handed the paper cup to Xu Ren'er. Xu Ren'er took a few sips and found the taste to be average. It was pure natural with no additives and had the original flavor. Compared with the products sold on the market, it was not very tasty.
But it does quench your thirst!
"I thought the pendants on your waists were just status symbols, but I didn't expect they could actually make juice. So, do you never have to worry about being thirsty?"
"Yes. But this kind of homemade juice still doesn't taste as good as processed juice. And drinking the same flavored juice for a long time can easily cause nausea."
Generally speaking, unless absolutely necessary, we would rather buy processed juice or original juice produced by other fruit families than drink juice produced by our own species."
So that's how it is. Xu Ren'er thought to himself, no wonder he had never seen anyone use pendants to produce juice during his time in the Fruit Kingdom.
They just walked casually, without any direction, saying whatever they thought of along the way, with no restrictions on the topics.
They walked until they reached a sparsely populated suburb, where they finally stopped.
The ground is covered with withered yellow leaves. Nature has layered the colors of each tree. The upper half of the tree is lush green, while the lower half is covered with withered yellow leaves. The closer the leaves are to the ground, the darker the color becomes.
No one spoke, and there was silence all around. A yellow leaf fell from the tree and blended into the pile of fallen leaves on the ground, making it impossible to tell the difference.
After a long time, Pingguo Xinshan finally spoke, and her tone was filled with deep helplessness.
"Although I've always been half skeptical of you, I still believe we'll be together for a very long time...
It has been so long that even if one day you really are sent by the Vegetable Kingdom, I am willing to risk all the honors I have ever won to save your life for the sake of our friendship.
I thought we were destined to be together, but I never expected that our connection would be so short and shallow."
Xu Ren'er, her apple is Baibai, she does not belong to this world. When the incident of the watermelon tribe is settled, she will go back.
She was destined not to be a part of her family.
Apple Xinshan's rare softening of attitude moved Xu Ren'er's heart. She lowered her eyes and said from the bottom of her heart:
"I'm sorry."
"No! You don't have to apologize to me."
Apple Xinshan rejected Xu Rener's apology and said:
"Suddenly arriving in a completely unfamiliar world, I think you must be more apprehensive than anyone else. All your concealment and deceptions from me were based on the premise of not harming my interests.
So, I can understand everything you do. Everything is just for the sake of surviving in this world.
It’s an act of survival, no apology needed.”
Xu Ren'er looked up at her, her eyes full of emotion, her brain becoming dull. After a long time, her brain finally became active. She thought for a moment and said:
"In fact, even if you and I are separated by different dimensions and it is difficult for us to meet again in this life, we are still family, and I will never forget you."
These heartfelt words made Apple Xinshan couldn't help but smile. She suddenly teased:
"Then if the person you call your family put a tracker on you, would you still consider her family?"
Xu Ren'er was slightly stunned and didn't understand what she was saying for a moment.
“You are not a member of the Apple Tribe. Your identity was only reluctantly recognized by our sacred tree through me, the Apple Tribe’s guarantor.
The apple pendant around your neck was created by the sacred tree by copying the information on my pendant. Therefore, the sacred tree will reflect all your whereabouts to me through the pendant."
As soon as these words were spoken, Xu Ren'er immediately thought of the day before she left for the auction. She slipped out alone and then met Mo Youli.
She thought that Pingguo Xinshan and Qingti Yaoming didn't know whether she had left the inn. It turned out that she was completely exposed the next second after she left the inn.
Xu Ren'er was puzzled. "Since you knew my whereabouts, why were you willing to take me to the auction? Aren't you afraid that I might tamper with the auction?"
In this regard, Apple Xinshan said meaningfully:
“Known dangers are kept under our noses, giving people peace of mind.”
"Then why are you telling me this information now?"
"Since it has been confirmed that you are not sent by the Vegetable Country, I don't need to monitor you any further.
And, most importantly…"
Apple Xinshan suddenly knelt on one knee and looked directly at Xu Rener.
Seeing this, Xu Ren'er instantly became alert, fearing that she would do something harmful to her.
Just as she was about to take action, she met Pingguo Xinshan's eyes, which were a pair of eyes full of kindness.
Her tense nerves relaxed, and Xu Ren'er chose to trust Pingguo Xinshan and let down her guard. She thought, she would not harm her.
A strong wind blew by, and due to the obstruction of the branches, the yellow fallen leaves piled on the branches were blown away from the trees with a "rustle" sound, and swayed in the wind.
The clean and bright sky, the falling leaves flying all over the sky, and a beautiful woman in red clothes half-kneeling in front of a cute white dog form an extremely poetic picture.
Apple Xinshan stretched out her hands and gently stroked the apple pendant hanging on Xu Ren'er's neck, with a gentle smile on her lips.
In just a few seconds, the apple pendant changed color, from dull to dazzling.
In a trance, Xu Ren'er seemed to see Apple Xinshan leaning close to her ear and whispering:
“I removed the automatic tracking function from the pendant.
Xu Ren'er, we are family and friends. I will no longer monitor you. At this moment, we will always be equal."
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