The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 323: Scheming at Night

“Oh, right.” He turned to Gao Yang. “Do you want to die, bro?”

“No,” Gao Yang said honestly. “But...”

“Then does Fresh Snow want to eat you?” Wang Zikai cut him off.

“I don’t think so, or she would’ve done it already.”

“Then that’s it!” Wang Zikai clapped.

“But...”

“No fucking but!” Wang Zikai interjected again. “You’re a good guy, bro, but you always think yourself into a corner!”

Gao Yang paused.

“A fruit cut off prematurely won’t be sweet, and a meal forced down your throat isn’t going to taste good! Even if you do sacrifice yourself and let Fresh Snow eat you, is Fresh Snow going to be happy about it? No, she’s gonna live in guilt and pain her whole life. Do you really think that’s worth it?”

Gao Yang was taken by surprise.

He never expected Wang Zikai to say something so insightful. Was it because he could see more clearly as a bystander?

“You’re right.” Gao Yang held Wang Zikai’s eyes and for the first time in his life, he gave up on thinking. “What should I do then?”

“Nothing. If Fresh Snow does die, you cry and mourn her, and you eat and live like you’ve always done. At the end of the day...” Wang Zikai turned to the sea with a serious look on his face.

Then he abruptly looked back at Gao Yang and broke into a grin, “You’re gonna wake up the next day the same dog!”

Gao Yang gave him a confused look.

“Hahahah, isn’t that funny hahaha?” Wang Zikai was still laughing.

“How is it funny?” Gao Yang’s lips twitched.

“Hahaha you’re still gonna be a dog! Ahahahaha!” Wang Zikai held onto his belly and laughed even harder. “You’re a dog hahaha! Woof, woof!”

Finally, Gao Yang burst out laughing too. He punched Wang Zikai in the chest. “You really have a few screws loose in your head. You’re the dog hahaha, hahaha...”

“Hahaha woof, woof!”

“Woof, woof! Woof!”

The two stood amid the ruins on the island, barking like dogs while laughing like idiots.

...

White Dew picked up her sister and fought to her heart’s content before leaving behind a great mess for Wang Zikai to deal with.

Came morning, Wang Zikai struggled to find an explanation for how the Fairytale Villa disappeared overnight.

Therefore, he decided to not try at all. He insisted that he didn’t know anything, and that when he woke up, the building was already gone, and he was lying on the ground, the stars greeting him when he opened his eyes.

Gao Yang didn’t step in and played ignorant. After all, Wang Zikai wouldn’t attract too much suspicion as a monster; if Gao Yang intervened, on the other hand, trouble would come knocking.

He returned to the villa his family was staying at before the day broke and got three hours of sleep.

The rest of the day, he kept his family company as they enjoyed the vacation.

Due to the destruction of the Fairytale Villa, Wang Zikai was questioned by the local police and didn’t return until night fell, looking drained.

Since he had lost his accommodation, and the F Island didn’t have a room for him until the day after tomorrow, he had to turn to Gao Yang for a place to stay the night.

Gao Yang’s family welcomed him with open arms, and they sympathized with Wang Zikai for the incredible misfortune that befell him.

That evening, they had a pleasant meal together, chatting as they ate.

And when it was late, Gao Yang’s grandmother, parents and sister retired to their rooms.

Wang Zikai and Gao Yang squeezed themselves onto the sofa in the living room, chatting away. They talked about going to college. The results of the college entrance exams would be announced in a little more than twenty days, and Gao Yang would fill out his enrollment wishlist.

Wang Zikai wanted to go to the same college as Gao Yang, which would require the help of his old man, of course, and he didn’t know if he would get what he wanted.

Whatever the result, Wang Zikai had made up his mind. He didn’t care if he would get a degree out of his time investment; he would be content with accompanying Gao Yang for the next four years. He didn’t have anything to do by staying at home anyway.

Gao Yang was moved, but also rueful.

He would be applying for college after the Crimson Tide. Who knew if he would live to do that?

Then they talked a little more until exhaustion crept up to Gao Yang. He fell asleep.

Since his awakening, his sleep time had halved, and he rarely dreamed. Even when he did, his dreams were more disjointed streams of consciousness than concrete images. This time, however, he had an unusually clear dream.

The large, oppressive blood moon hung low in the sky. The entire Li City was covered in crimson blood fog.

Standing on an empty street, Gao Yang was surrounded by the bleeding bodies of his companions.

A hand grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off the ground.

Having trouble breathing, Gao Yang couldn’t make out the person’s face no matter how hard he tried to open his eyes.

Then the person’s other hand pierced through his chest easily.

...

Gao Yang’s eyes widened. Although he was suddenly awake, he didn’t make any sound, nor did his body move.

He was still lying on the unfolded sleeper sofa calmly, and Wang Zikai, who should be sleeping beside him, was gone.

Where did he go? Didn’t he need to sleep?

Just when the thought flashed through Gao Yang’s mind, he heard faint noises coming from the open balcony outside. Two people were talking.

With a Charisma of 500, his senses were keen enough for him to focus and pick up the conversation with enhanced hearing.

His heart pounded and raced—it was Wang Zikai and Gao Xinxin.

“No, I have to eat this instance,” Wang Zikai said willfully.

“I told you to wait. Be patient.” Gao Xinxin’s tone was composed, but demanded obedience.

“I can\'t wait any longer. I’ve waited enough!” Wang Zikai grew anxious. “This isn’t what we agreed on!”

“Quiet, you’re gonna wake him up.”

Wang Zikai said confidently, “No, he’s dead asleep.”

“Do you really think he won’t notice? You don’t know how cunning he is.” Gao Xinxin scoffed. “Then this will be all for nothing.”

“Then why don’t we just eat...”

“No!”

Bam!

Gao Yang appeared before the floor to ceiling window leading to the balcony and parted the curtains, catching the two conspirators off guard.

“Whoa!”

“Gah!”

Gao Xinxin and Wang Zikai were squatting on the balcony, their shock compounded by their guilty conscience.

Ha, again? Gao Yang scoffed inwardly. I’m not making the same mistake a third time! I’m not going to overthink myself into a frenzy once more!

“You two! What are you doing here, all sneaky?!” Gao Yang acted like he just caught them red-handed.

“No-nothing...” Gao Xinxin sprang to her feet, trying to hide the low tea table behind her.

Wang Zikai didn’t know where to put his hands in his panic. “Haha, we couldn’t sleep, so we had a chat...”

“Move!”

Gao Yang grabbed Gao Xinxin by the elbow and pulled her to his side. “Gao Xinxin! It’s past midnight, and you’re a girl. Aren’t you worried...”

He trailed off.

On the wooden tea table were two cups of instant noodles that hadn’t had enough time to steam yet, and next to them was an opened can of spam, the last one of those Gao Yang had brought on this trip!

Gao Yang had been saving it like his life depended on it! He had been reluctant to finish it!

“My, my spam!” Gao Yang felt true heartbreak at that moment.

“Um, hey bro, Wang Zikai and I got hungry at midnight, and instant noodles were a little plain on their own, so we borrowed your spam...”

“Borrowed?” If his parents and grandmother weren’t sleeping, Gao Yang would’ve laid it on them properly.

“I can’t wait any longer! I’m digging in!”

Throwing shame out of the window, Wang Zikai grabbed the can of spam and chucked it into his bowl of instant noodle, making a run for it.

“Hey, come back!” Gao Xinxin chased after him with her own cup of instant noodles. “Half of that is mine!”

“Stop! I’m having some too! You’re gonna each give me half of your cup!” Gao Yang ran after them too.