The Creatures that We Are

Ting Ting talked a lot without realizing it until her mouth felt dry. She picked up her drink and had a sip.

Liu Qingying responded, “It seems that I should take the chance to watch the movie too.”

“Yeah! It’s really worth it!”

Ting Ting put down the drink and reminisced, “While watching the movie, I thought back to my unawakened time. I was happy then. The summer vacation seemed so long that it would never end. I could sleep until my body had enough rest every day and lazed about on a mat, eating ice cream and watermelon with the company of a fan while I waited for Slam Dunker to come up on the television. The moment the opening played, it felt like something deep inside me was coming alive…”

Ting Ting’s eyes dimmed. “Sister Liu, sometimes I feel like if the world is really going to end and we stand no chance of escaping it, I should’ve just stayed unawakened and led a happy life until the last moment of my life.”

“And you aren’t alone.” Liu Qingying suddenly remembered the bright warm attic with walls of celebrity and anime posters and piles of manga books, romance novels, mixtapes of pop music, and snacks.

She didn’t allow herself to dwell on it. Her eyes remained unfocused under the sunglasses, and she asked casually, “Oh, Miss didn’t harass you or anything while watching the movie, did he?”

“No, he was more into the movie than I was.” Ting Ting snorted. “He told me that he used to be a point guard when he played basketball for his school.”

“And after the movie?”

“We returned to base. But…” Ting Ting’s smile stiffened as she remembered something unpleasant. “He did do something absurd on our way back.”

Liu Qingying smiled with interest. “Details, please.”

“Um.” Ting Ting felt mixed feelings. “He gave me a rose and said that he would show me a magic trick.”

“He does magic tricks?” Liu Qingying was a little surprised.

“He gave me a rosebud, and it suddenly bloomed before me…” Ting Ting stuck out her tongue. “Oh my god, he probably thought it was romantic, but I was cringing so hard…”

Liu Qingying smiled slightly. “I heard that Miss had acquired two new Talents, one of them being Plant.”

“Oh! I never thought of that.” Ting Ting came to a sudden realization. “No wonder he was promoted to Protector. Plant is a strong Talent quite high on the list.”

“Did you leave the rose in your room?” Liu Qingying gave her a meaningful look. “To my knowledge, Plant allows one to watch people with a plant.”

Ting Ting’s jaw dropped. “Holy! He…he’s not gonna be that much of a pervert, is he?”

“Who knows? Girls should protect themselves. It never hurts to be careful.” Liu Qingying advised her gently.

Ting Ting frowned. “Ugh, I’m going to throw away the flower first thing. But won’t that offend Miss? I’ll need to think of a good excuse… Sister Liu? Are you listening, Sister Liu…”

Ting Ting noticed that Liu Qingying seemed miles away mid-talk, and her expression was strange.

Liu Qingying suddenly stood up and put down her cup of coffee, stroking her flat abdomen with one hand. “I’ve got a bit of a stomach ache. I’m going to the restroom.”

“Of course.” Ting Ting didn’t suspect a thing.

Liu Qingying walked out of the monitoring room and made it across the office hall to the women’s restroom, entering the stall on the farside.

As soon as she closed the door, she turned her head and took off her sunglasses with a scowl, her eyes shining a brilliant blue as she used Clairvoyance.

That was the Talent Liu Qingying had acquired right before joining the Ocean River Union.

Soon, the blue light penetrated several walls and locked onto Surnamed Li’s office. Liu Qingying carefully controlled Clairvoyance to make sure that no one would notice her prying eyes.

Qilin was talking to Surnamed Li, and they had used a jammer against eavesdropping. Liu Qingying didn’t need to hear them talk, though; she could read lips.

She had been watching Qilin’s office while chatting with Ting Ting. As soon as the man left for Surnamed Li’s office, she knew that there would be information to be gleaned—if they were meeting this late, it must be something important.

Liu Qingying couldn’t watch them and chat with Ting Ting at the same time, so she excused herself to keep an eye on them from the restroom.

She read their lips. Then Yan Liang showed up too.

—“Sooner is better. Let’s go for tomorrow. Wait for my signal…”

The three finished talking. Liu Qingying immediately deactivated Clairvoyance, her expression turning grave as her brain went on overdrive.

Qilin’s going after the Twelve Zodiac Signs!

He’s betting on the possibility that Dragon’s still in hibernation to catch the Zodiacs off guard, taking the Psyche Rune Circuit and the other Rune Circuits so that his Eidos can reach level 8 to attack the Nine Scions.

Azure Dragon’s death has pushed him over the edge. He’s throwing reservations out of the window!

He must not be allowed to do that, or the consequences will be unbearable!

Do I contact Songstress now with my phone? No, every Union member’s phone is being monitored. Moreover, Miss must have planted something at the shop with Plant to surveil Songstress when he visited.

I have to notify the Zodiacs in person, and I have to do it now!

Liu Qingying made up her mind. She didn’t plan to expose her true purpose so soon, but she didn’t have a choice.

She walked out of the restroom and returned to the monitoring room.

She pretended to focus on work for half an hour, keeping up a pleasant chat with Ting Ting. Once the time seemed right, she suddenly stared at a screen showing the surveillance footage of a harbor. “These two seem suspicious, right?”

“Huh? Really?” Ting Ting didn’t feel the same.

Liu Qingying stroked her chin and said, “If I remember right, the ferry goes to Island Nation, doesn’t it? The Nine Scions had a base in Island Nation before…”

“What do we do then?” Ting Ting was easily led on.

“Don’t alert anyone yet. I’ll go investigate and apply for the leave after I return.” Liu Qingying grabbed her coat and put it on. “Once Liao Liao’s awake, report to her for me.”

“Oh, sure.” Ting Ting nodded. “Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I’m experienced.” Liu Qingying put on a scarf with a smile and walked out of the room.

She quickly crossed the silent office hall and reached the elevator leading to the ground level. Crimson Bee and Bumblebee were sitting on both sides to keep watch.

“Intelligence Department, Liu Qingying. Out to investigate.” Liu Qingying showed them her ID with a serious expression.

“Sister Liu, you’re leaving for an investigation this late on your own?” Bumblebee asked with earnest concern as he stood up.

“It’s nothing dangerous.” Liu Qingying smiled. “More people will only draw attention. I can’t tell you the details.”

“Okay. Be careful.” Crimson Bee didn’t ask more. He turned to punch in the code for the elevator.

Ding. The elevator opened in three seconds. Liu Qingying sighed in relief, but the moment she took a step, a familiar voice spoke up from behind her.

“Miss Liu.”

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