The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 650: “Sea King”

Gao Yang paused with his back to the girl. Between continuing walking and turning around to respond, he cautiously picked the latter.

He let out a soft breath and turned around naturally. It was Zhou Jing, Can’s college roommate.

She had light blond curls with trendy makeup that made her look like the young mistress of a chaebol, wearing a long linen dress with black and white stripes, the fabric hugging her pronounced curves while revealing her shoulders and long, alluring legs. She had an eyecatching diamond necklace on her neck. And the checkered purse she was holding belonged to the newest collection this season.

Gao Yang’s first reaction was: geez, are you not cold? You’re gonna have leg aches when you’re old.

“What a coincidence, Zhou Jing.” Gao Yang put on a friendly smile and pulled off the hood of his hoodie.

“Why are you here on your own?” With greater enthusiasm, Zhou Jing put a hand on Gao Yang’s shoulder and smirked. “You were being sneaky. You weren’t doing something bad, were you?”

“Of course not. I just watched The Wandering Blue Planet. It’s quite epic.”

“Really? I’m here for the next screening!” Zhou Jing frowned when she thought of something. “Hey, don’t you live in the Shanqing District? Why did you come all the way here for a movie?”

Gao Yang grumbled inwardly, Why the twenty questions?

“Ah, I had things to deal with in the area, so I swung by for a movie.” Gao Yang asked her instead, “What about you? Why did you come to a screening on your own...”

“Oh, right,” Zhou Jing interrupted him. “Are you still in contact with Orange, Gao Yang?”

Gao Yang quickly drew energy to his fingertips, watching out for the system’s warning. “No. What about her?”

Zhou Jing sighed. “She went off one night saying that she had something urgent to attend to, but she never returned. She didn’t pick up her phone, either. It’s been almost a month. I’m worried to death about her.”

“Oh, really?” Gao Yang pretended to be surprised.

“I’m worried that she might have gotten into a Ponzi Scheme or something...” Zhou Jing looked genuinely concerned. “I had a relative who disappeared one day, only to turn out to have joined a Ponzi Scheme, having been brainwashed. Things were terrible. Fortunately, the police cracked down on the group...”

“Zhou Jing,” Gao Yang cut her off with a smile. “I...well, have something urgent to attend to.”

“Oh, right.” Zhou Jing didn’t mind. “Please tell me if Orange ever contacts you. Ah, right. I called you before, but the number is no longer valid. Why is that?”

She’s being a real bother.

If we weren’t in public, I would’ve just knocked you out.

Gao Yang patiently explained, “I lost my phone some time ago. Since I had been considering changing my number, I replaced it when I replaced my phone.”

“Then let’s exchange numbers.” Zhou Jing took out her phone.

Gao Yang didn’t. He was using an old model, which would arouse suspicion. Just when he was considering how he should resolve the problem, though, a voice yelled.

“Gao Yang, you fucking bastard!”

A punch was going to land on Gao Yang’s left cheek.

He had noticed someone approaching, and he could easily dodge the punch, but he didn’t. It was less suspicious this way.

The furious punch didn’t hurt at all, but Gao Yang still pretended to lose his balance and fall to the ground, letting out a cry of pain.

Pressing a hand to his face, he looked up to see Qiu Qiu.

Face flushed with overwhelming emotions, Qiu Qiu tightened his fists and pointed at Gao Yang. “I considered you my brother, Gao Yang, but you stole my woman from me? You’re a real bastard!”

“Hey, are you out of your mind?!” Gao Yang didn’t even have time to defend himself before Zhou Jing screamed, attracting many to stop and watch.

“I’m not out of my mind!” But he clearly was, and he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Lose your feelings? We don’t work? It’s all bullshit! You cheated on me! You hooked up with someone else and made me a joke!”

“Globy, calm down...” Gao Yang rose to his feet while covering his face. “You misunderstood. I just met Zhou Jing...”

“Shut up! I’ll deal with you later!” Qiu Qiu growled, turning to Zhou Jing. “There are so many men you could pick, Zhou Jing, but why did you have to pick Gao Yang? You knew he was my friend. Why are you such a bitch...”

“A...bitch?”

Zhou Jing lost her temper too, scoffing. “You’re the bitch here. Are you a man or not? Do you even know the game? I simply lost interest in you, so I broke up with you. Do you know what breakup means? If you keep harassing me, I’m gonna call the police...”

“It’s fine that you broke up with me, but you cheated on me when you were still with me! Do you think I wouldn’t notice?! I knew something was wrong. What did you take me for? You were riding a donkey while looking for a stallion, weren’t you?”

Gao Yang felt a headache brewing. Things were clear. Zhou Jing and Qiu Qiu broke up. Unable to accept it, Qiu Qiu chased after Zhou Jing, and running into her with Gao Yang, he misunderstood the situation.

Whatever. It’s a mess. I should just teleport away.

There’s only one more year to the Mist World. I’ve long detached myself from the mundane world. They are free to play out their soap opera on their own.

Gao Yang told himself that, but he couldn’t make up his mind.

What if Zhou Jing and Qiu Qiu were elite monsters? If I wake up their monsterhood, it will be akin to killing who they are.

“Who are these two, babe?”

Gao Yang was still hesitating when another voice interrupted.

Gao Yang and Qiu Qiu turned around at the same time to find a blond man around twenty-seven years old. He was tall and handsome, dressed like a playboy in a flamboyant casual suit, holding two cups of milk tea.

Gao Yang started. So Zhou Jing did cheat on Qiu Qiu. Her new boyfriend was, well, an upgraded version of Qiu Qiu. Given another five to six years, after Qiu Qiu got richer, had a better fashion sense, and became more experienced in flirting, he would look like this.

“You’re finally here, dear.” Zhou Jing immediately softened when she saw her boyfriend. Putting on a pitiful look, she went up to the man and held his elbow.

“This man is so annoying. We broke up, but he kept bothering me. I’m scared...” Zhou Jing acted like she was going to burst into tears.

“Don’t be scared, babe. Don’t cry.” The new boyfriend comforted her in a cheesy manner and kissed her face with his arm around her waist. “Go to the theater first and leave this to me. I’ll find you later.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Jing took the milk tea and turned to leave.

“Stop!” Qiu Qiu was going to chase after her, but the new boyfriend stopped him.

“Hey, hey... Calm down, buddy.” The blond man laughed.

“Don’t touch me!” Qiu Qiu slapped his hand away, furious.

“It’s just one woman, man. You’re not so bad that you can’t find another. This isn’t a problem.”

Once Zhou Jing was far enough away, the blond man put on a frivolous expression. “You’ve tasted her. Why not let me have her, too? I have quite a lot of good chicks to share. I’ll send some to you. We can share in the future, haha.”

Stunned, Qiu Qiu flew into a rage. “Don’t fucking lump me with you! I’m serious about her! Trash like you don’t deserve her!”

The man’s smile stiffened, derision and mockery flashing through his eyes. “Seriously? Now you’re pretending to be a devoted male lead... Ah! I get it now. You haven’t reached third base, have you? That’s sad, bro. Leave it to me. I’ll take her tonight and send you a few pictures...”

“You **** ****!” Qiu Qiu swung his fist at the man.