**These are extra segments from the printed novel that were written exclusively for the book, mild spoilers but nothing too obvious.
Editor: Sky @alterskyfall
Lu Bixing"s Birthday (Additional segment in Chapter 23 of the original text)
It was as if even Zhanlu, who had been quietly resting on Lin"s arms to conserve energy, felt the energy and lit up in excitement. He quickly connected himself to the power source and recharged in glee.
Lin"s gaze grew deep as if he was looking at a rare artifact in a museum, never leaving the figure in front of him. As if he was mesmerized and lost his train of thought for a moment, he suddenly asked, "What day were you born?"
Lu Bixing thought that something was wrong with his hearing- Lin always walked around like he had a permanent "Don"t Talk to Me" disclaimer above his head. He didn"t seem like someone that would start small talk, even as the B4 he knew for years on planet Beijing, let alone as the dignified and cold top commander of the Union!
Unfazed, Lin Jingheng patiently repeated his question. "Is your birthday in May?"
How did he know? Lu Bixing pondered, but answered "…Yeah, on the 29th."
Lin lowered his gaze quietly and repeated this date in his head numerous times. This insignificant date on the calendar now had a special meaning to him.
"It already pa.s.sed," Lin Jingheng said.
"Ah…yeah." Lu Bixing"s mind was still clouded in confusion and awe. "But didn"t you give me a mech already?"
Lu Bixing wasn"t sure if it was just his imagination, but he almost swore he saw Lin"s mouth lift a little into a very subtle smile.
Lin Jingheng"s Birthday (Additional segment in Chapter 53)
The Model 3"s repairs were officially complete as Zhanlu successfully connected to its core. As people watched it take off in awe, the enormous body of the mech covered the artificial sky and soared majestically above the base. During its test flight, the mech roamed the artificial atmosphere like a giant star surrounding the s.p.a.ce station.
Right before its takeoff, Lu Bixing came over in an attempt to lure Commander Lin with a fancy piece of panna cotta cake. The cake itself was carefully decorated with flowers that could almost be used as an advertis.e.m.e.nt photo, but unfortunately, Commander Lin didn"t even bat an eyelash at it. Seeing no reaction from his target, Lu Bixing called from the back, "It"s your birthday today!"
A few steps later Lin Jingheng"s late reaction finally caught on, and he slowly turned his head around.
"What?" he questioned.
"Your birthday, the official profiles from the IU said it was on the 10th." Lu Bixing explained as he looked at Lin"s blank stare. The lack of reaction made Lu Bixing start to doubt himself a bit, and he slowly pulled back the cake. "Is the official source wrong?"
"…No." Lin Jingheng responded immediately. He stood paralyzed for almost a minute before he finally mustered up the courage to walk back towards Lu Bixing. Lin Jingheng picked up the little fork and shoved a small piece of the cake into his mouth with a hollow stare as if he were taking poison. Almost immediately, his personal device responded with an "overconsumption of sugar" warning. This was the first time he had ever broken his diet during nutritional rehab.
Lin Jingheng stuffed the rest of the cake down hastily and gave Lu Bixing a quick glance of grat.i.tude before he ran off uncharacteristically quickly; he even forgot to return the fork.
Lu Bixing"s excitement soared into s.p.a.ce, yet the same excitement crashed back down to earth when he saw the hopeless state of the Self-Defense Squad.