The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 580: Wang Xiaoxiu

It was two o’clock in the afternoon when Gao Yang woke up. He felt lighter despite still feeling empty inside. There was no one else in the living room, but he could vaguely hear Wang Zikai’s voice coming from outside the window, as well as...Fresh Snow’s voice.

He rose and walked to the open balcony, narrowing his eyes due to the bright sunlight. Wang Zikai and Fresh Snow were playing badminton in the front yard, dressed in black and white sportswear. They were both agile, and they went back and forth in an even match.

Gao Yang followed the shuttlecock with his eyes, his head swinging along the movement of it like a pendulum.

Fresh Snow was the first to spot Gao Yang on the balcony, and she forgot to make a swing because of it. The shuttlecock fell on her head with a quiet thud, but she didn’t feel any pain.

“Gao Yang’s up!” Fresh Snow threw away her racket and took two steps before leaping elegantly onto the balcony, throwing herself into Gao Yang’s arms and nuzzling his chin.

She was covered in sweat from the exercise, and her hair smelled faintly of milk.

“Fresh Snow, when did you get here?” Gao Yang managed to put on a smile, lifting Fresh Snow off him.

“Last night...no, tonight...that’s not right.”

“This morning?”

“Yeah, this morning. You were asleep when I arrived. You slept for so long. How could you sleep more than I did...” Fresh Snow’s smile dropped. Her eyes widened. “You’ve lost weight, Gao Yang!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” Fresh Snow said unhappily. “Are you feeling bad, Gao Yang? It smells like it.”

Gao Yang paused. It seemed that Fresh Snow didn’t know what had happened to him. Yes, it made sense. The Spectres might not have learned of the incident, and Fresh Snow, the scatterbrain among them, naturally wouldn’t know.

“There are just many things on my mind. But I’m okay now.” Gao Yang didn’t get into it. He asked instead, “Has your curse disappeared, Fresh Snow?”

Fresh Snow shook her head. “No.”

“What about your sister and Master Spring...”

“Not for them, either.”

Gao Yang was surprised. With the Malediction dead, the curses plaguing the Forlorn Ghosts should be gone, too. Was it because of the abyss the Malediction left behind? It seemed that he would have to explore it one way or another.

“Gao Yang! Let’s have a big meal!” Fresh Snow didn’t care about the curses at all. She jumped up and down in excitement. “You promised me!”

“This place!” She reached into the pocket of her pants and took out a flier. “I want to have roasted fish here!”

Gao Yang glanced at the flier. The restaurant was located at the Dawan Mall.

“How do you know about the restaurant?”

“Idiot Kai recommended it!”

Wang Zikai was still standing in the front yard, one hand in his pocket and the other hand resting his racket on his shoulder. “The food is good. You should give it a try.”

Despite his nonchalance, he was actually thinking to himself, Gao Yang’s still in pain. He should go out to get some more fresh air. It’ll be more difficult for him to say no to Fresh Snow. Shit, I’m a genius for taking advantage of the situation!

Gao Yang saw through his intention, but didn’t comment on it. Turning to Fresh Snow, who looked expectant, Gao Yang nodded after a few seconds. “Okay, let’s have some fish.”

“Yay!” Fresh Snow was beside herself. She turned around and was going to jump off the balcony, but Gao Yang stopped her. “No rush. I have a mission for you. We’ll go have roasted fish in the evening.”

“What is it?” Fresh Snow asked.

“You’ll know,” Gao Yang said cryptically, turning to call out to Wang Zikai. “Mind getting some stuff for me?”

...

Half an hour later, Wang Zikai returned with bags of different sizes. Gao Yang and Fresh Snow had been waiting on the sofa in the living room.

“You’ve got everything?” Gao Yang stood up and asked.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. We’ll get started then.”

Wang Zikai had bought strong hair dye, colored contacts, and all sorts of girls’ clothes.

Gao Yang was going to dye Fresh Snow’s hair.

He had thought Fresh Snow would be unwilling, but she couldn’t be more excited as soon as she heard what they were doing. She had long wanted to dye her hair, only her sister had forbidden her from doing it.

Between black, auburn, and blond, she chose blond.

Gao Yang washed Fresh Snow’s hair and put conditioner on it. After drying it, he put a plastic cape on her. Meanwhile, Wang Zikai had been mixing and testing the hair dye according to the manual. Although he seemed a little clumsy with it, he put in a lot of effort.

Gao Yang applied the dye to Fresh Snow’s hair before putting a hood on her. Then Wang Zikai heated her hair with a hairdryer.

Fresh Snow started out excited, but then she got bored and fell asleep.

Two hours later, Gao Yang woke Fresh Snow up. He washed her hair and dried it for her. When Fresh Snow stood before the mirror, her hair was a beautiful blond.

“It’s pretty!” Fresh Snow flailed her arms around happily. “Like a princess!”

“Hmph!” Wang Zikai was pleased with himself. “You’re in the hands of a real master. Of course you’ll turn out like a princess on the run from Thisney!”

“Really?” Fresh Snow turned to Gao Yang, batting her eyes in anticipation.

“It’s a princess on the run from the Spectres.” Gao Yang chuckled. “Now’s time for colored contacts.”

Wang Zikai put his hands on his hip. “Haha, I’ve gotten ones for black, brown, blue, gray, green, and mangekyo sharingan[1]...”

Fresh Snow was curious. “What’s sharingan?”

“Shit! I knew you’d like that...” Wang Zikai perked up and was ready to give her the whole spiel, but Gao Yang stopped him in time.

“Blue. Blue looks good with blond hair.”

“Then I’ll have the blue ones.” Fresh Snow went with Gao Yang’s pick readily.

Wang Zikai couldn’t just give up. “But mangekyo...”

“I want the blue ones,” Fresh Snow repeated.

“Sit.”

Gao Yang pointed at the sofa, and Fresh Snow immediately took a seat.

“Lift your head.”

Fresh Snow tilted her head toward Gao Yang.

“Open your eyes wide.”

She tried her best to open her eyes.

Gao Yang cleaned his forefinger with eyewash and picked up one blue contact lens, moving it toward Fresh Snow’s eye.

“Ah, it feels strange...”

Fresh Snow couldn’t help but blink when the cool, soft lens came into contact with her eye. Tears leaked out, and she couldn’t stop moving her head.

Gao Yang quickly placed his other hand on Fresh Snow’s forehead. “Don’t be scared, Fresh Snow. Look at me.”

“Where should I look...”

“Wherever.”

“Oh.”

Fresh Snow’s gaze was quickly drawn to Gao Yang’s eyelashes.

His eyelashes were dark and long, fluttering in tandem with his breathing. Slowly, Fresh Snow’s gaze shifted to the eyes under the dark lashes. They were soft and black like a tender vortex, drawing closer and threatening to suck her in. And his breaths scattered on her skin like a breeze sweeping across a lake or a butterfly gliding over grass, enchanting.

Fresh Snow lost herself to the strange feeling somewhere between sleepiness and dizziness. Her heart pounded more quickly against her ribcage, and her skin felt hot.

Huh?

Strange, what’s happening to me?

Am I sick? No, ghosts don’t get sick!

Fresh Snow was going to dissect the cause of the strange feeling when Gao Yang lifted his hand off her forehead, and his beautiful eyelashes, soft eyes, and warm breaths drew far too.

“Done.”

Fresh Snow broke out of her reverie to feel something cool and awkward on her eyes, but she soon got used to the feeling.

She blinked, beaming excitedly at the mirror. “Looks good!”

Her joy washed away the strange feeling that hit her earlier.

“Now you’re gonna put on some new clothes,” said Gao Yang.

“Yeah.”

Gao Yang rummaged through the pile of clothes Wang Zikai had bought and ended up picking a brown woolen sweater and a beige long skirt.

When Fresh Snow returned in the new clothes and a bear backpack, she looked like a college girl with a bright, sweet temperament. No one would suspect her of being a Spectre.

“Good.” Gao Yang nodded in satisfaction for a job well done.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Wang Zikai couldn’t wait.

“A sec. We need a cover story.” Gao Yang thought for a moment. “Fresh Snow, you’ll be Wang Xiaoxiu[2] when you’re out and about from now on. You’re a distant cousin of Wang Zikai’s and have spent more of your life abroad.”

“No!” Fresh Snow stuck out her tongue at Wang ZIkai. “I don’t wanna be Stupid Kai’s sister!”

“Ha, I’m stupid?” Wang Zikai made faces at her before turning to Gao Yang. “Be honest, bro. Who’s the stupid one between us...”

Gao Yang paused. He couldn’t choose.

“Ahem.” Gao Yang cleared his throat. “Fresh Snow, I won’t take you with us if you don’t play along.”

Fresh Snow debated with herself for two seconds before quickly submitting, “Hmph, then I’ll be Wang Xiaoxiu.”

Worried that Gao Yang would go back on his word, she quickly rushed up to take Gao Yang’s elbow, shouting over her shoulder, “Let’s go, Stupid Kai!”

“Call me Brother Kai! You’re my little sister!”

Fresh Snow smiled mischievously. “Alright, Stupid Kai. I’ll call you that once we’re outside.”

“You better!”

...

Night fell. The three of them arrived at the roasted fish place at the Dawan Mall. Wang Zikai was used to splurging, and he ordered the most expensive dish at the restaurant, the Supreme Roasted Fish Combo.

After a while, two servers came over, carrying a sedan chair between them, followed by a few people who dressed like the chefs. Amid the choruses of percussion, the large bowl of roasted fish was served.

Well, it wasn’t so much a bowl but a basin, one that reminded Gao Yang of the baby basin he used to take bath in.

Everyone at the restaurant stared at them as the dish was served, and Gao Yang realized then what made the dish supreme.

It was effectively the global announcement following the acquisition of a five-star monster in a gacha game. It was about flexing, simple as that.

Gao Yang sighed inwardly. It was right for him to disguise Fresh Snow, or someone would target her sooner or later.

Fresh Snow was a typical paper tiger. She was the one whining about getting roasted fish all the way here, but once started, she got full after a few bites.

Gao Yang didn’t have an appetite, either, and he only ate a little.

Wang Zikai gaped at the large basin of roasted fish. “You’re done already? Seriously?”

“I’m full.” Gao Yang sipped on the buckwheat tea.

“I’m full too!” Fresh Snow grabbed Gao Yang’s elbow with both hands and started snuggling him.

Wang Zikai frowned. “What do we do then? It’s too much of a waste!”

So you know it’s a waste. Would you please pay attention to the added note in the parentheses the next time you order? It says the dish is for ten people.

“Gao Yang!”

A deep, velvety voice of a man called out then.

1. From the manga/anime Naruto. ☜

2. Xiao means little, and xiu means snow. ☜