The Creatures that We Are

Like high school students getting caught sneaking out of their dorm at midnight by their teacher, the six of them shot to their feet and hid the beer behind their backs.

Colorless had come to the rooftop, followed by Rewind.

“Team Leader!”

“Sister Colorless.”

They greeted Colorless awkwardly.

Colorless recognized the situation at first glance. Rather than getting angry, she smiled apologetically. “Sorry, but I’m going to have to break up the party.”

“A mission?” Harvest Song asked.

“Sort of.” Colorless sighed. “We’ve confirmed that One Stone and Ting Ting deflected. They are very likely to be joining the Nine Scions. The Third Hospital is no longer safe, so we’re moving out again tonight.”

Old Seven's fingers tightened around his beer can until the aluminum creaked. He threw his head back, draining it in one long pull before crushing the empty can. The metallic crunch spoke of emotions he couldn't voice.

"Let's go." Wandering Tune's bitter smile didn't reach his eyes as he raised his hand, conjuring a small portal to the basement.

As the group shuffled toward the shimming doorway, Harvest Song remained still as stone.

"What is it?" Colorless's sharp eyes caught the hesitation.

Harvest Song's impassive face turned toward the glittering cityscape, her gaze drawn to the Daxu District. "Sister Colorless, can we wait a few more minutes?"

"Why?"

"The New Year is coming."

Harvest Song had hidden in the highest glass window of the building earlier to wait for the arrival of the new year, or more specifically, the familiar sight from her memory.

While Team Leader Goldthread was still around, he once took the team to the Daxu District on the Lunar New Year’s Eve. Harvest Song remembered how beautiful the fireworks that night were.

A complicated light glinted in Colorless’ eyes.

A few seconds later, she nodded. “I’ll give you ten minutes.”

…

Meanwhile, Daxu District.

A car raced along the brightly-lit road. Liao Liao gripped the wheel, Chen Ying rode shotgun, while Gao Yang and Heavenly Dog occupied the back seats.

After leaving the S Base, Gao Yang had immediately contacted the recon team, meeting at a halfway point. Only after personally confirming that Liao Liao, Chen Ying, and Heavenly Dog were curse-free did he allow himself to relax. The team had been searching the Daxu District, and knowing Gao Yang needed to return to the Spectres' Mansion, they'd offered him a ride.

Heavenly Dog sat lost in his own world, white headphones sealed over his ears, eyes closed. His recent comprehension of Mute had only deepened his silence. Between Requiem and Mute still at low levels, his voice affected most people like an assault—except for Zhang Wei, who Gao Yang suspected could probably maintain an enthusiastic conversation with Cthulhu Themself.

Gao Yang checked his phone. Ten minutes to midnight. No chance of making it back to Fresh Snow and Wang Zikai in time.

Ring, ring.

Every phone in the car chimed simultaneously. They found messages from War Tiger in the group chat titled Nine Twelve♥♥♥.

"Worried that the New Year's bells will be so loud that you can't hear my blessing, worried that the New Year's Eve's firecrackers will be too noisy for you to get my greeting, I choose to greet and give you the blessings early! Happy New Year! Fortune comes to you! Love, Uncle Tiger!"

Gao Yang's lips twitched. These are such obviously canned messages. Couldn't you at least edit them properly? It's already New Year's Eve, not "early" anymore.

Liao Liao eased off the accelerator, fingers flying across her phone screen to send a message on behalf of the recon team:

"Welcoming the new year, may all of you have the wind of fortune in your back, soaring luck ahead of you, peace throughout the four seasons, blessings in all aspects of life, a smooth year incoming, stars watching over you, riches coming from all directions, harmony in the relationship, a perfect time in all things, a hundred smooth sailings, a thousand good fortune, and ten thousand good wishes!"

Nine Frost's message followed, the screen lighting up with words from their solitary mission.

"Happy New Year. The Li City looks beautiful now. Thinking that you are in the city, too, I feel a greater warmth from it. Your watcher, Nine Frost."

"Holy!" Liao Liao's eyes widened. "A message like this from an aloof man like Nine Frost? You really can't judge a book by its cover."

“He’s always been a warm-hearted man who values his bonds.” Chen Ying smiled faintly. “You just haven’t had the chance to get to know him.”

Ring.

Nainai's message arrived on behalf of the Ni Nation mission team:

"To all subjects in the Mist World, the holy light of the Empress shines upon the land. In the coming new year, all of you will be safe, healthy, and blessed under the grace of this Empress. Nai, the incarnation of Heavenly Way, the commander of all beasts, the maker of all rules, the weaver of fate, the only descendent of the Creator Witch and the First Fallen Angel, and the Thorn Empress."

"As expected of her." Liao Liao's laugh bounced off the car windows. "Her whole title is longer than her blessing."

Ring.

Gao Yang's phone chimed alone this time. Qing Ling's message waited:

[Qing Ling: This is the younger Qing Ling. Happy New Year. (From both me and my sister.)]

[Gao Yang: Happy New Year. (For both you and your sister.)]

[Qing Ling: Gao Yang, what are you doing now?]

[Gao Yang: Just done with work. On my way home. You? Everything alright?]

[Qing Ling: Yeah, don’t worry.]

[Gao Yang: That’s good.]

[Qing Ling: Take a photo now, Gao Yang.]

[Gao Yang: Of what?]

[Qing Ling: Your surroundings. Show me the city welcoming the New Year so that I can enjoy the atmosphere vicariously.]

[Gao Yang: Okay.]

Deep in the Ni Nation desert, fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows across Dr. Jia's underground laboratory. Machines hummed and blinked as Dr. Jia wove between them, lost in his busy work.

In the dim resting area, Little Qing Ling perched on the bed in her tank top and shorts, long legs tucked close, face buried in her knees. Her phone rested against her feet, held loosely in her right hand.

Nainai curled up on the same bed. After getting woken up, she sent a message she had typed out in advance before falling asleep once more. Wearing chiffon pajamas, she slept all curled up, quiet. One would struggle to connect her sleeping form to the chuuni girl she was when awake.

Buzz. Qing Ling’s phone vibrated. Gao Yang had sent a photo taken through the car window of the street cast in warm yellow light. It was late at night, but there were still a lot of pedestrians.

Festive red lanterns hung from the lamp lights, and colorful string lights wrapped around the trees. Almost every door was decorated with couplets. Spent firecrackers carpeted the ground like crimson leaves.

Little Qing Ling stared at the photo, dazed.

The longing hit her like a physical ache. She yearned to be at his side, to needle him with teasing remarks just to see his resigned defense or that gentle smile.

She wanted to hold his hand, hug his arm close, rest on his shoulder.

She wanted to close her eyes and stay in companionable silence with him in the wind. Then they would open their eyes and exchange a smile that said more than tens of thousands of words.

She wanted to love him as a spouse, to wake up with him in the morning, to go to work separately, looking forward to a warm dinner together, and maybe a casual stroll along the river at night.

She wanted to be with him day after day, year after year, until they built a life like Gao Yang’s parents together. It would be great if they could have a son and a daughter—a gentle, mature older brother and a smart, lovely younger sister.

She wanted that future. She wasn’t only thinking about it.

[Qing Ling: Gao Yang, I have something to tell you.]

[Gao Yang: Go on.]

[Qing Ling: If one day I disappear, don’t forget about me.]

Houseau3's Thoughts

Oh, this is the most explicit we've seen Little Qing Ling's feelings for Gao Yang.

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