The Creatures that We Are

"That time with Officer Huang, I would've still been living with guilt if not for you," Zhong He said.

The memory clicked into place, and Hong Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to carry that moment to this day.

Zhong He smiled bitterly. “Although he turned bad in the end, it didn't concern me. At least back in that hospital, he was just a good man trying to protect his wife and kid. Yet I made a mistake and got his whole family killed."

He gave Hong Xiaoxiao a grateful look. “Thank god you showed up and saved his family. Saved me too. Like...a ray of light.”

"No, no.” Hong Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hand in denial. “You’re going overboard.”

His eyes found hers, filled with gratitude. "Thank god you showed up and saved his family. Saved me too. Like... a ray of light."

"No, no." Hong Xiaoxiao's hands fluttered in protest. "You're going overboard."

"It's really not." Zhong He's grateful gaze softened. "I remember how you looked then. You were dressed in an ill-fitted professional suit with a brown messenger bag. Your hair was shorter then, and you had a childish hairpin on the left side of your fringe. You pursed your lips and put on a fake smile of enthusiasm. You couldn't really meet anyone's eyes..."

Can's voice suddenly echoed in Hong Xiaoxiao's mind: "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."

A ringing filled her head as she stared at the handsome, kind young man with monolid eyes. In that moment, all her sorrow, hesitance, and anxiety melted away like frost under warm sunlight.

"Hong Xiaoxiao." Zhong He waved his hand before her eyes. "Are you listening?"

"Huh? Yeah, yeah..." Hong Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality, quickly averting her gaze. "Was it obvious that I was faking a smile?" she asked, voice small.

"It was more than obvious," Zhong He's tone turned playful. "You could've just written 'I'm working so hard to put on a smile please buy my stuff' on your face’, and it wouldn't have been more obvious."

"Pfft..." Laughter bubbled up from Hong Xiaoxiao's chest.

"I like this smile better. It's cuter."

Heat rushed to Hong Xiaoxiao's ears, her mind going blank.

Wait, what's this?

Is that flirting? Is he flirting with me?

It's... it's so sudden! I'm not prepared for it!

"I... I mean, I..." she stammered.

BAM! The door flew open as Yellow Lotus burst in, the very picture of a deadly seductress on a mission. "Old Zhong! I know you have a bladder problem, but why are you having it in Hong Xiaoxiao's room?"

"First, I don't have a bladder problem." Zhong He rose smoothly, sliding one hand into his pocket as his familiar haughty expression settled back into place. "Second, this isn't Hong Xiaoxiao's room. We happened to run into each other and chat a little."

"Fine, fine. Why are you explaining yourself to me?" Yellow Lotus dismissed him with a wave. "War Tiger's looking for you. Go."

"Alright." Zhong He strode out without another word.

"You should eat, too, Little Hong." Yellow Lotus leaned against the door frame, eyeing Hong Xiaoxiao on the bed. "Don't just stay holed up here."

"Yeah, okay."

Hong Xiaoxiao exhaled in relief as she stood, walking toward the door with a carefully maintained posture. Just as she reached it, Yellow Lotus slammed it shut and pinned her against the wall, hands planted on either side of her head as she leaned in close.

They formed a tableau: a sleek, dangerous leopard cornering a trembling fawn.

Yellow Lotus's eyes narrowed to predatory slits, her face hovering so close their noses nearly touched. "Don't think about it, Little Hong. That man is mine."

The color drained from Hong Xiaoxiao's face. Her tongue tripped over itself as she stammered, "You misunderstood, Sister Lotus! I, I, I have nothing to do with Zhong He hmmmm...hmph!"

Yellow Lotus's fingers caught her chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

"I'm not unreasonable. If you're willing to grovel and be the side piece, I'll allow it." A wicked smirk crossed her lips. "Actually, you're quite cute. I can swing both ways."

Hong Xiaoxiao froze, heat flooding her face as her hair stood on end. Her whole body burned, caught between terror and mortification.

"Ahaha."

Yellow Lotus released her, patting her shoulder. "Just a joke, sis. No need to be this scared."

She yanked the door open and strode out, her long hair snapping like a whip behind her.

Hong Xiaoxiao's heart thundered in her chest. Her knees gave, and she slid down the wall, feeling like she'd narrowly escaped death.

These past three minutes had been the most intense emotional rollercoaster of her life, careening between extremes so rapidly her brain short-circuited like an overclocked CPU.

She curled into the corner, hands covering her burning face. "Holy..."

...

Moonlight filtered through the forest behind the mansion, casting a lacework of shadows across the ground. Chen Ying sat cross-legged before a grave marked by a simple kite. Though she appeared to be resting with closed eyes, her Sensory swept the three-kilometer radius continuously. At any sign of suspicious movement, she'd alert the others by radio. With the great fight approaching, vigilance became ever more crucial.

All seemed peaceful for now. The only movement she'd detected five minutes ago had been Heavenly Dog—no one else could maintain that precise speed through the sky.

Chen Ying's eyes snapped open as she sensed a new presence. She remained calm, recognizing the approach.

"It's me," Gao Yang said as he drew near.

"I know," Chen Ying replied. "Did you use a Talent twice in the mansion?"

"Are you able to detect things so finely with Sensory now?"

"In a short distance, yes."

Gao Yang nodded. "Heavenly Dog's back. The Ocean River Union has cleared up the battlefield. They're likely going to respond to the challenge. You don't have to stay on guard here. Go back and eat something with the others."

"I'm not hungry." Chen Ying's gaze remained fixed on the grave. "Before setting out, I want to stay with Little Tian a little longer."

Gao Yang fell silent.

Then, her voice barely above a whisper, Chen Ying asked, "Gao Yang, do you remember suddenly calling me to have beef offal noodles after you returned from Ni Nation?"

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