The Creatures that We Are

Wu Dahai thought about it the whole night carefully. Although he did find War Tiger’s argument convincing, he hesitated.

Then a few days later, Qing Ling and Officer Huang got dragged into the mess with Black Tortoise when going on a mission. Ghost Horse’s true identity was revealed, only for him to be killed in the fight.

Three days later, the organization held a funeral for Ghost Horse.

To tell the truth, Wu Dahai and Ghost Horse weren’t close, and they hadn’t talked much.

Ghost Horse’s death did sadden Wu Dahai and make him feel regret, but the more overpowering emotion was shock.

The shock made Wu Dahai think.

Ghost Horse loved Songstress, but after his death, he had forever lost his chance to confess to her.

And I like Qing Ling. Although she doesn’t like me, I’ll forever lose the chance to tell her if I die.

The thought alone made Wu Dahai’s chest tighten.

It was a strange feeling. Not exactly pain, but a weight on his chest. It made him feel ill at ease like he had lost half of his soul.

That wasn’t the end of it, though. That very night, Surnamed Li invited the leaders and high-ups of the three major organizations out of the blue and announced the looming arrival of the Crimson Tide.

Wu Dahai learned of the terrible prophecy that the Crimson Tide would end up claiming all of them after the meeting, which left his mind blank.

Death suddenly felt much closer than before.

He was very likely to die in ten days.

The first thing that flashed through his mind when his head started working again, surprisingly, was Qing Ling’s face.

At that moment, Wu Dahai realized that what he felt for her was love.

Ah, so even a lowly pervert like me can feel something as precious as love.

That night, he begged War Tiger, “I heard that Qing Ling is going to Naldives with White Rabbit, Teacher. I want to go with them. I want to confess to her before I die.”

For the first time, War Tiger didn’t mock him, nor did he comfort him with the empty promise that he wouldn’t die.

Instead, War Tiger patted him on the shoulder and said, “You’ve finally grown up, Haizi.”

…

Thinking back to all that, Wu Dahai felt suddenly melancholy, but also calmer.

Qing Ling was busy eating shrimp balls with her head lowered, her fine, fair profile lit up by the flickering string lights wrapped around the arches.

Wu Dahai watched her quietly without doing or saying anything.

Night wind came, rustling the white tablecloth on the table and Qing Ling’s hair, making a mess of Wu Dahai’s heart.

It felt right, this moment.

Qing Ling looked up from her food with a pause. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Wu Dahai shook his head with a smile. “I’m not hungry.”

“Hm.”

Qing Ling continued to eat.

“Hey, Qing Ling.”

“Hm?”

“I have feelings for you.”

Qing Ling paused, her eyes flickering. She wasn’t completely clueless; she simply didn’t care enough to pay attention. “I know.”

“Not like before…” Wu Dahai scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Real feelings. I’ll still like you even if I can’t have you.”

This time, Qing Ling didn’t respond.

“Would you give me a chance?”

Wu Dahai spoke carefully. “If that’s impossible, we can start from being friends… Maybe you’ll then find me not so terrible.”

Qing Ling shook her head. “No.”

“Whoa, that’s blunt!” Wu Dahai called out.

“Little Qing Ling doesn’t like you.”

“And you?” Wu Dahai couldn’t just let it go. “Have you taken even a tiny bit of liking to me?”

Qing Ling thought for a moment before meeting Wu Dahai’s gaze. “I don’t like you either.”

Wu Dahai lowered his head and smiled sadly, feeling a little hurt. “I knew I was easy to hate.”

“I don’t hate you either,” Qing Ling added.

“Haha, really?” Wu Dahai felt a little better.

“But Little Qing Ling really hates you.”

“You don’t have to add that part.” Wu Dahai wasn’t sure if he should cry or laugh.

Then he noticed that Qing Ling had stopped eating. Instead, she sat quietly without moving her hands.

“What is it?”

“I’ve rejected you,” Qing Ling said seriously. “Can I keep eating?”

Wu Dahai blinked. It turned out that he wasn’t the only one who had changed, so had Qing Ling, no longer the girl who only cared about herself and would do anything to achieve her goal. ṚãΝƟ𐌱Êṩ

When had she learned to be polite?

Wu Dahai couldn’t help but smile when he saw the serious look on her face. “Eat. Eat as much as you want!”

Qing Ling looked back down and started eating again.

For some reason, Wu Dahai felt another pang in his heart.

Shit, even now, I still find her incredibly cute!

It seems that I’m not getting together with a girl like her in this life.

I hope that in my next life, You will give me a chance to be the protagonist, God, you jerk!

“Eat. I’m gonna go get some air.”

Wu Dahai stood up.

Qing Ling didn’t answer, too focused on her food.

Wu Dahai walked onto the beach and felt the wind hitting his face, collecting himself. Then he took out his phone and found Gao Yang’s number. The cool light of the screen illuminated the sad look on his face.

“Hello?”

“I have a request. You will say yes if you’re a man.”

“You…tell me what it’s about first.”

“No, you must agree first. If you don’t, I’ll jump into the sea.”

“Calm down. Tell me what it is. I’ll agree if it’s something I can do.”

“Qing Ling’s having seafood hot pot, on her own. Come join her.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, ‘huh’? Such a pretty girl is having hot pot by the beach with no one to share the food with. Are you going to let her be alone? Don’t you feel a pang of conscience? I’m sending you the address. Come ASAP!”

“Wait, why is she having hot pot on her own…”

“Gao Yang!” Wu Dahai cut him off angrily. “If you ever get together with Qing Ling, you must treat her right! Or I’ll never forgive you! You hear me?”

“We’re just friends…”

“That’s why I said, ‘if you get together with her.’ You get it?”

Without waiting for Gao Yang to respond, Wu Dahai ended the call with an angry jab at the screen.

He wasn’t so dense that he wouldn’t know that if Qing Ling was going to fall for someone, it would be Gao Yang.

Even though he was already out of the picture, he still wished for Qing Ling to be happy.

…

Gao Yang hung up and contemplated as he gazed at the calm water of the ocean.

Letting out a sigh, he turned to go back to the living room. “Dad, mom, Wang Zikai just ordered take out, and he asked me to join him. I’ll keep him company.”

“That idiot,” Gao Xinxin retorted. “I told him to join us for dinner, but he said he didn’t like the food.”

His father said, “Hey, he grew up having the finest food. It makes sense that he’ll be picky.”

“Little Kai? It’ll be good if you join him.” His grandmother chimed in.

“Go.” His mother had some rice before lowering her spoon and saying with some concern, “Don’t go near the water at night, you two. It’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

Gao Yang got changed and put on his shoes, leaving the villa.

Checking the address Wu Dahai sent him, he quickly made his way there.

When he arrived at the restaurant five minutes later, though, his phone rang again, and this time, it was Wang Zikai who was calling.

Gao Yang’s heart sank, feeling ominous.

“Hello?”

“Gao Yang! Get your ass over my place!” Wang Zikai said urgently. It was clear from his tone that he was feeling out of his depth.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Fresh Snow! Something’s wrong with her…”

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