The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 938: Think

Chapter 938: Think

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.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

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.

The others' faces twisted with similar conflict, but all held their tongues.

"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.

[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.]