The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 653: A Little Hungry

Qing Ling had walked into the living room after taking a shower. Dressed in a loose bathrobe with a waistband tied around her body, she looked quietly sensuous. While drying her hair with a towel and holding a hairdryer with her other hand, she walked straight to the sofa, where Gao Yang sat.

“Dry my hair.” She handed the hairdryer to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang broke out of his thoughts and took the hairdryer. “Alright. Sit here.”

She did.

Gao Yang stood up and plugged in the hairdryer, going back to the sofa to dry her hair. The hum of the hairdryer filled the living room, rushing into Can’s ears too.

Standing at the door of the kitchen, she paused, her cheerful smile went stiff before melting into an awkward bitterness. She quietly retreated to the kitchen, closing the glass door.

When she turned around, Hong Xiaoxiao was staring at her. Hong Xiaoxiao knew why Can turned back, but she didn’t know what to say.

“Haha, don’t waste the food. Let’s eat.” Can put on a smile.

“It’s my fault.” Hong Xiaoxiao felt guilty. “I shouldn’t have smoothed your fringe...”

“Geez, what are you talking about?” Can glared at her. “Captain and Sister Qing must have a business to talk about. Do you think they have free time like us...”

“I’m sorry, Can...” Hong Xiaoxiao’s eyes brimmed with tears, and she choked a little.

She had a bad habit. She was used to ignoring her own feelings, but felt others’ like her own. Thinking how disappointed Can must be, she felt much worse than Can did, as if she was the one getting her heart broken.

“Hey, hey, what’s with you?!” Can laughed out of exasperation, or so she acted. “Enough already. I’m fine. I just wanted to make something for him to eat since Captain hadn’t eaten anything since coming back...”

“I’m sorry...” Hong Xiaoxiao was near tears. “It’s my fault...”

Can lowered the tray and threw her arms around Hong Xiaoxiao. “Don’t cry, come on. There’s still next time. It’s alright...”

...

Meanwhile, in the living room, Gao Yang had spent a few minutes drying Qing Ling’s long hair and straightening it. Then he sat back down on the sofa.

Qing Ling was satisfied with Gao Yang’s skill. She raised her hands behind her head and easily tied her hair into a high ponytail, revealing her fair neck and collarbones.

Gao Yang thought she would rise and go back to her room, but she remained on the sofa and didn’t seem intent on leaving.

“You’re taking the sofa tonight?” Gao Yang asked.

“No,” Qing Ling said. “I have something to ask you.”

“Go on.” Gao Yang acted nonchalant.

Qing Ling met his eyes. “You’ve been weird since you returned. What happened?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I got discovered by Raven Shark and almost exposed our collaboration with the Hundred Rivers Union.”

“There’s something else.” Qing Ling was certain.

Gao Yang sighed. He could never hide anything from her.

“I killed Qiu Qiu.”

Qing Ling’s eyes darkened. She knew who Qiu Qiu was. While he was nothing in her eyes, she knew he and Gao Yang were friends.

Gao Yang briefly told her what happened.

Qing Ling commented after hearing him out, “You did nothing wrong.”

“No, I should’ve just left.” Gao Yang stared down at his hands. “Every choice comes with irreversible consequences. I always made the wrong choice. I don’t make a good leader of the Nine Scions. One day, I may doom you all.”

“You’re making things up in your head.”

Gao Yang looked up at her. “I’m making things up?”

Qing Ling nodded and said coolly, “When Li Weiwei was gonna kill you, I didn’t want to save you.”

Gao Yang didn’t say anything.

“Little Qing Ling and Li Weiwei were close friends. Even though Li Weiwei’s monsterhood would remain awake after killing you, she could still have her personhood take over in her day-to-day life, and her friendship with Little Qing Ling would remain. Little Qing Ling wouldn’t be heartbroken for losing a friend.”

Gao Yang nodded.

“But in the end, I saved you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” said Qing Ling. “When I realized it, I had already killed Li Weiwei.”

Gao Yang fell silent again.

“I killed my sister’s only friend to save someone my sister hated. Doesn’t that mean I made a wrong choice?”

Gao Yang smiled bitterly. “Right.”

Qing Ling continued, “But none of this would have happened if I didn’t save you. Does that mean I made the right choice?”

Gao Yang blinked, realizing what Qing Ling was trying to say.

Qing Ling knew Gao Yang understood, but she still stared at Gao Yang’s eyes and said seriously, “There’s no right and wrong or good and bad. A choice is a choice, and we only have to make it.”

Gao Yang’s brows gradually relaxed. He leaned into the sofa and let out a long breath, losing the tension in his body.

He rubbed his belly. “I’m suddenly hungry. Want a bite?”

“I’ve rinsed my mouth.” Qing Ling thought for a few seconds. “But I can do that again.”

...

Inside the kitchen, Hong Xiaoxiao’s emotional outburst had ended as quickly as it started. She leaned against the counter and started talking to Can.

“Why do you like Captain?” Hong Xiaoxiao asked. “He’s cute, but there’s more than one cute guy in the world.”

“You’re shallow! It’s not about the looks!”

“Lies!” Hong Xiaoxiao gave her a friendly shove.

“Haha, alright. I care about the looks, too, and Captain’s handsome! He’s smart and reliable, and he’s also gentle and considerate. He ticks all my checkboxes!” Can smiled with infatuation.

Then she remembered something, and her smile dropped. She sighed softly. “Back in the Eleventh Highschool, everyone thought I was bitten by a rune corpse and wouldn’t live. Outside of Xiran, they had all decided to give up on me; even I had given up on myself.”

“But not Captain. He talked to me and comforted me. I was so scared. I bawled my eyes out while holding onto him.”

“It was dangerous. If I turned, he could get bitten without the time to react, but he didn’t push me away. He didn’t give up on me until the very end.”

“Little Hong, do you understand? Captain’s like a ray of light in the dark. He lights me up. For the first time, I felt like I could die without fear.”

Can broke into a happy smile again, scratching her head. “Haha, I may be melodramatic.”

“I envy you.” Hong Xiaoxiao’s eyes flickered. “Is that love? When am I going to have something like it?”

“It can’t be forced.” Can was a little proud. “Is there anyone you like, Little Hong?”

Hong Xiaxiao didn’t expect the conversation to shift to her. She smiled bashfully. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve fallen for him, but I do have some feelings for him.”

“Who is it?”

“Zhong He.”

“The one from the Hundred Rivers Union?”

“Yeah.” Hong Xiaoxiao nodded. “He’s my type. Tall and thin with small eyes. Even though he looks a little arrogant, he’s actually quite nice, and he’s got a good sense of humor.”

“But...he feels like a playboy to me.” Can had met Zhong He twice, and he didn’t leave a good impression on her.

“Huh, really?” Hong Xiaoxiao was surprised.

“Yeah! It’s said on the internet that people like him are the most tricky playboys. You should be careful!”

“Ah, why should I? He’s not gonna be interested in me.” Hong Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hand in denial. “I’m just enjoying the view. My mom told me that men were all the same. Handsome or not, they all play tricks. Then I might as well find myself a hot guy. At least it’ll be pleasing to my eyes.”

“Um, that makes a lot of sense.” Can felt inspired.

Click. The glass door opened. Gao Yang stood on the other side. “What are you talking about?”

“No! Nothing!” Can felt caught. “You aren’t gonna rest yet, Captain?”

“Qing Ling and I are a little hungry. We’re getting some food.”

“Ha, haha. What a coincidence!” Can quickly picked up the tray on the counter. “Hong Xiaoxiao and I just made coffee and sandwiches. We haven’t finished them. You should have them.”

“Really? That’s great.” Gao Yang took the tray from her. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Just dig in, or it’s gonna be cold.” Can smiled with her eyes.

“Okay.”

Gao Yang left the kitchen. Can let out a long breath.

When she turned around, Hong Xiaoxiao was staring at her with tears in her eyes again, and the corners of her mouth twitched.

“Can...I’m sorry. It’s all my fault...”

“Geez, again? I’m fine! I’m really fine...”