The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 823: Last Trade

Gao Yang opened his eyes to find himself sitting cross-legged on a bed. It was dark and quiet around him, but he recognized the familiar room at first glance. It was his bedroom in what was once his home.

The light curtains swayed, allowing cold moonlight to flood in and paint a band of gray-blue light across the room. A woman sat in the band of light like an actor playing a one-woman act on stage.

Liu Qingying was dressed in a fitted red qipao that hugged her curves with her silver-white hair cascading down her chest. With her long jade-like legs crossed, she sat on a swivel chair that was a little short for her, her gaze captivating and hazy.

It was a recreation of their first meeting in a dream.

But this time, Liu Qingying no longer smiled seductively, and Gao Yang was no longer the young man who hadn’t seen the reality of the world.

Gao Yang quickly looked around, lamenting, “At some point, I began to look forward to the different experiences you gave me when I entered a dream. I couldn’t help but wonder what setting Director Liu would show me and what character I would play.”

He let out a soft bitter laugh. “Surprise, surprise. I’m playing myself from a year ago.”

Liu Qingying chuckled. “I thought Captain of the Nine Scions didn’t like the dreams I directed. You were always scowling when you entered them.”

“Reverse psychology,” Gao Yang said like he was joking. “Then you would create an even more interesting dream for me next time.”

“You naughty boy.” Liu Qingying laughed coquettishly and brushed a hand through the long hair falling on her chest. “I’ll be frank with you, Captain Nine Scions.”

“Go on.”

“From now on, I will not trade information with you or any of my clients, including this time.”

“Why?”

“I’m washing my hands of this and joining the Ocean River Union.” Liu Qingying’s tone was soft but serious.

Gao Yang hid his surprise. He hadn’t expected it.

“I thought you had your own organization.”

Liu Qingying smiled in lieu of a response.

“May I ask why you choose to join the Ocean River Union now?”

Liu Qingying narrowed her eyes and looked at Gao Yang inquisitively. A few seconds later, she smiled. “It’s fine for me to tell you since you’re bitter enemy with the Union. They aren’t going to believe a word out of your mouth.”

“That is true,” Gao Yang agreed.

“I’m joining the Union to take responsibility for my impulsive action.”

“Impulsive action? Take responsibility?” Gao Yang considered the two key phrases.

“To avenge Little Ba, I made a wrong move and caused a substantial change to the situation. I must do everything I can to amend that, no matter the cost.”

Liu Qingying lifted her chin slightly with catharsis tugging her lips. “Still, I don’t regret anything since I got to kill Dust with my own hands.”

“I don’t fully understand,” Gao Yang admitted. “Would you give me more details?”

“I can’t.” Liu Qingying smiled. “I wouldn’t have said that much if not to compensate and thank you. It’s compensation for selling information on the Nine Scions to the Union even though I had a feeling that you wanted me to do so. It’s gratitude for your reminder that night at Aurora Town. Without it, we may not have caught Dust.”

Gao Yang nodded slightly, accepting Liu Qingying’s compensation and gratitude.

“I had you consumed the blood-stained candy,” Liu Qingying paused, “Because I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Simply put, I’ve planted a dream in your subconscious that would last about half a year.”

“If, and I do mean if,” Liu Qingying’s eyes glinted with focus, “One day I die, you’ll soon enter the dream, and you’ll know what I’ve entrusted to you. If I live, we’ll treat it like it’d never happened.”

Gao Yang nodded. “Okay. But I can’t promise that I’ll grant you the request if the day comes.”

“Haha, it’s fine. You have the right to decide.”

“Alright.”

There was a brief silence.

Liu Qingying leaned in with a hand on her cheek, her smile growing softer and more seductive. “There’s a long night ahead of us. Remember what I said to you in the first dream we had together? If you’re willing...”

“I’m good,” Gao Yang rejected her impassively. “Thank you for offering.”

Liu Qingying smiled slyly. “Although you’ve changed a lot, a cute side of you remains the same.”

“Miss Liu.” Gao Yang hesitated before posing his question. “I have a feeling you aren’t the frivolous type. Why must you act like it?”

Liu Qingying blinked before lowering her eyes, muttering, “Why? Yeah, why did I...?”

She didn’t seem to have an answer, or she had one but didn’t care for it.

She looked up and winked at Gao Yang. “You’re one of the most attractive men I’ve ever met, Gao Yang. It’s a pleasure to know you.”

“And you’re one of the most attractive women I’ve ever met,” Gao Yang said.

“What an honor to get the compliment from you.” Liu Qingying raised a hand and readied her fingers for a snap. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” Gao Yang nodded softly.

Snap.

Liu Qingying vanished from under the moonlight. Then the moonlight disappeared too a second later, followed by the four walls of the bedroom, the floor, the ceiling, the desk, and the bed, like a stage in a game getting deleted part by part.

Gao Yang sat cross-legged in the void.

Then a deep darkness overwhelmed him, and his consciousness blurred.

...

Let Life Be Beautiful like Summer Flowers, Sunbound Road, Daxu District. Three days later.

The sun finally showed its face after days of cloudiness. Songstress was in a good mood from seeing the warm sun first thing in the morning. Humming, she watered the flowers with a can filled with nutrient water.

Ring. The wind chimes clinked. A customer was here.

“Welcome. What flowers are you seeking...” Songstress turned around and paused. “Vice Captain?”

War Tiger wore a brown jacket, fitted pants, and work boots with messy curls and stubbles covering his face. With his hands in his pockets, he flashed her a casual smile. “I happened to be in the neighborhood and swung by to take a leak. My bladder’s gotten weaker recently. It’s always feeling full...”

“Uncle Tiger’s as crude as ever.” Songstress smiled with resignation. “The restroom’s inside.”

“Thanks.” War Tiger didn’t rush in to use the toilet, but instead turned around and called out, “You two should come on in, too.”

A few seconds later, a man and a woman entered. It was Lying Wood and Quiet Book.

Lying Wood was dressed in an elegant suit with dark brown glasses. While his appearance was average, it was well-balanced and made one feel at ease. He greeted her with a smile, “Senior Songstress, nice to meet you. I’m a trainee, Lying Wood.”

“Hello.” Songstress nodded with a smile. “I heard Uncle Tiger talk about you.”

“Hi, Sister Songstress! I’m Quiet Book, another trainee.” Quiet Book wore a short white down jacket with jeans and winter boots, her silky black hair running down her shoulders. She looked bookish and sweet.

“Hi.” Songstress always stayed in her flower shop when there wasn’t a meeting. She knew that Zhong He had joined with some other members, of course, but with them being put under War Tiger’s charge immediately after joining, this was Songstress’ first time meeting the new members.

“Sister Songstress, to tell you the truth, you’ve always been a role model to me.” Quiet Book smiled bashfully.

“Oh?” Songstress was surprised by the compliment. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“I’m telling the truth!” Quiet Book said seriously. “You’re stunning, and you run a beautiful flower shop. You also sing well... Eh, I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve always wanted to have a life like yours since I was little.”

Songstress chuckled. “You may not believe it, but I’ve always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher since I love kids. Unfortunately, my Talent makes it so that I can’t talk too much.”

Quiet Book made a face. “If you become a kindergarten teacher, you’ll learn how naughty kids can get!”

They got on like a house on fire and started chatting happily.

Unable to get a word in, Lying Wood quietly appreciated the flowers in the shop.

War Tiger used the toilet before going outside to smoke. Then seeing that Songstress had gotten to know the new guys, he twirled his fingers and sent the cigarette butt flying to the edge of the trashcan with precision. Embers went out at the impact, then the cigarette butt bounced into the trashcan in an arc.

He turned around and opened the door to the flower shop. “Come with me upstairs, Songstress.”