The Creatures That We Are

Guang Huan only recognized the threat then, and he nodded vehemently.

“What’s your relationship with my sister?”

“We’re a couple owwww...” Guang Huan blanched, feeling like his fingers were breaking.

“I’ll give you one more chance.” Gao Yang leveled Guang Huan with a dark gaze. He didn’t even bother to use Lie Detection. “Be honest with me.”

“Friends, we’re friends...” Guang Huan chickened out immediately.

“Why did you lie?” Gao Yang pressed.

“Xinxin—ahhhh...”

“Do you think you have the right to call her Xinxin?” Gao Yang said grumpily. “Call her by her full name.”

“Gao Xinxin...she asked me to put on an act with her...” Beads of sweat dripped down from Guang Huan’s forehead.

“Why?”

“Xin...Gao Xinxin said that she couldn’t lose when you’ve got a girlfriend, so she told me to play her boyfriend...”

Do you have holes in your brain, Gao Xinxin? Is this where sibling rivalry should apply?

Gao Yang didn’t let go of Guang Huan’s fingers. “Let me ask you this: do you have a crush on my little sister?”

Guang Huan was taken aback; he forgot about the pain and mustered the courage to say with a flushed face, “Yes, I have feelings for Gao Xinxin.”

Good, you’ve got a backbone.

Still, you aren’t good enough for her.

“Although she doesn’t like me now...” Guang Huan said with a look of determination, immersed in his role as a romance lead in his head. “But I believe that faith can move mountains. I’m willing...willing to wait for a miracle!”

Miracle my ass!

Do you know that love can’t be forced?!

“Ahem.” Gao Yang tamped down the urge to lay into the boy and instead played along, letting go of Guang Huan’s hand. “I won’t deny that there’s a slim chance, and you’re free to like whoever you want. I won’t intervene.”

“Really?” Guang Huan held onto his aching fingers, his eyes glinting with rekindled hope.

“Yeah.” Gao Yang nodded, speaking in an earnest tone. “I think you’re quite dependable.”

Guang Huan was flattered by Gao Yang’s compliment.

“But I believe there are quite a lot of people chasing after my sister, and unlike you, most of them aren’t dependable.”

“Yeah!” Guang Huan got angry thinking about it. “Some of them don’t even actually like Gao Xinxin! They’re just vain, shallow boys salivating over Gao Xinxin’s beauty. They only pursue her because they think it’ll make them look good!”

Gao Yang grumbled inwardly, Pot calling kettle black!

“So, if you ever see someone unreliable trying to get close to my sister,” Gao Yang held Guang Huan’s gaze, speaking in a severe tone, “You must tell me as soon as possible.”

Guang Huan was excited. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect her well!”

“Good.” Gao Yang nodded with satisfaction and took out his phone. “Come on, let’s add each other as friends.”

The two exchanged contacts.

Gao Xinxin happened to return to the table then. She was in a good mood. “Brother, the orange cat is so cute!”

Gao Xinxin’s eyes shifted. She meekly sat down next to Gao Yang and held onto his arm in a cutesy way. “I have something to talk to you about, Brother...”

“I refuse.”

“How could you just say that! I haven’t even told you anything...” Gao Xinxin pouted.

Gao Yang rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to. It’s all on your face.”

“You have school. I do too. If you have a cat at home, Mom and Dad are gonna be the ones taking care of it. They are tired enough as it is. Don’t put more burden on them.”

Gao Xinxin sighed. “You’re right.”

“You want a cat, just get one once you are able to take care of it yourself.”

“Okaaaay.” Gao Xinxin was easily convinced.

Guang Huan stared at her, mouth agape. So Xinxin has a cute side. She acts petulantly and pouts.

I knew it. I knew her aloofness was a front she put on to protect herself.

I’m glad. I feel like I know her a little better. I’m one step closer to her true self, and one day, she’ll turn back to me...

“Ahem.”

Gao Yang could tell from Guang Huan’s expression that he was daydreaming the impossible again.

Don’t even think about it, you brat!

The dishes were served one after another. Gao Yang knocked on the table and glared at Guang Huan. “Eat.”

“Okay.” Guang Huan picked up his bowl and lowered his head.

“Have three bowls, you hear me?”

“Yeah, of course.” Guang Huan started digging.

...

After dinner, Gao Yang sent Guang Huan away and escorted Gao Xinxin home. Then he went back to his dorm with the present they had gotten for their mother. They would give their mother a surprise tomorrow.

One o’clock in the morning, Gao Yang went to the old auditorium on campus to meet up with Qing Ling, having a thirty-minute sparring session with blades.

After some time, Qing Ling noticed Gao Yang’s distraction and seized an opening to kick the Tang Dao out of his grip, pressing the Xiu Dao to his neck.

Displeased, Qing Ling said, “Don’t waste time if you don’t want to train.”

Gao Yang smiled apologetically. “That doesn’t count. Let’s try again.”

“Something on your mind?” Qing Ling knew Gao Yang well.

Gao Yang had been agonizing over how to start the conversation. It surprised him when Qing Ling brought it up unprompted. He sighed softly. “Well, Can you do me a favor tomorrow?”

“What favor?” Qing Ling turned to walk to the balcony, opening a bottle of water and taking a sip.

“It’s my mother’s birthday. I’d like to take you home for dinner.”

“Sure.” Qing Ling didn’t think there was a reason to say no to free meals.

“Um, but you’ll be coming as my girlfriend,” Gao Yang added.

“Why?”

Gao Yang went up to her and said honestly, “I used you as a cover story a few times. My parents have always wanted to see you. I can find an excuse for you, of course.”

“But I still think that if they meet you, it’ll be more believable when I use you as a cover story next time, and they’ll be less likely to suspect me. You get what I mean?”

Qing Ling nodded. “Okay.”

Gao Yang knew Qing Ling wouldn’t say no, but he didn’t expect her to say yes so easily.

“Can we start training now?” Qing Ling asked.

“Um, a moment.” Gao Yang smiled wryly. “We have to make sure our stories match first.”

“What stories?” Qing Ling frowned.

“There’s some backstory.” Gao Yang opened his bottle of water and drank from it. “I have to tell you in detail, or we’re gonna get exposed tomorrow.”

Qing Ling’s brows furrowed further.

“We were classmates and only started dating officially after the college entrance exams. Then, during the Crimson Tide, we almost broke up. You planned to go abroad. Feeling pessimistic about a long distance relationship, I asked for a breakup. You couldn’t accept it and threatened to kill yourself.”

“During those days, I’ve been staying with you to comfort you. You’re a sensitive, fragile, and sentimental girl who loves me so much that you cannot lose me...”

Qing Ling’s expression darkened. She splayed her right hand, and the two blades flew back to her with a whoosh, reflecting cold, fierce light under the moon.

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