The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 584: Cannot Take It

White Rabbit pinched her own hand discretely before shaking Hong Xiaoxiao awake in a polite manner. Hong Xiaoxiao opened her eyes, confused. Then she jerked up suddenly, looking guilty like she had been caught lazing around at work.

“Done?” she asked.

“The first step’s done.” White Rabbit swallowed a laugh.

War Tiger turned to Gao Yang. “If it’s another Rune Circuit, I’ll let you go with it, but not the Psyche Rune Circuit. You have to do it under close scrutiny.”

“I understand.”

Gao Yang knew the reason very well. The Psyche Rune Circuit corresponded to Qilin’s Eidos. The Twelve Zodiac Signs would never allow anything to happen to it.

A few minutes later, War Tiger took Gao Yang to a single cell set up with an energy barrier. Inside was a bed, a chair, a lamp, a washing basin, and a toilet. Nothing else.

Gao Yang put on Black Gold handcuffs and shackles, locked in the cell along with his watch, Hong Xiaoxiao, who was put under the same restraints.

Finally, War Tiger handed Gao Yang the Psyche Rune Circuit and shut the door. Grabbing a stool, he sat outside the cell, smoking and keeping watch.

Inside, Gao Yang sat crossed-legged on the bed, holding the Psyche Rune Circuit with his eyes closed.

Hong Xiaoxiao claimed the chair, her legs pressed together and her hands rested on her lap, fidgeting with her nails. For some reason, she was a little nervous, and she couldn’t stop her mind from wandering.

It’s my first time sharing a room alone with a cute guy, and he’s somewhat of a supervisor to me. I’m nervous.

When I’m nervous, I want to go to the toilet. Ah, I shouldn’t have drunk so much water.

By the way, how long is it going to take Elder Seven Shadow to level up? Can’t be a whole day, right?

Dang it, I won’t make it that long. But I can’t just use the toilet here, not even if Elder Seven Shadow kept his eyes closed throughout. It’s humiliating.

Ah, Hong Xiaoxiao. What are you even thinking about? You can ask to be let out of the cell. You don’t have the Rune Circuit with you.

But won’t that make me seem fussy? Unprofessional? War Tiger doesn’t seem like the easygoing type.

What should I do? I’m getting more and more nervous, and my urge to use the toilet is getting stronger too.

Shit, shit, shit. I failed the mission last time with Su Xi. What if I fail again...

“Done.”

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao, who had been arguing with herself, looked up jerkily, thinking she had heard wrong.

Gao Yang opened his eyes and got off the bed. “I leveled up.”

Hong Xiaoxiao gaped. Isn’t that too soon?! You’re making me seem like an idiot, Elder Seven Shadow.

“Oh, right.” She jumped to her feet and turned to knock on the door. “Mister War Tiger, we’re done.”

Soon, there was a click from the metal door of the cell. Standing outside, War Tiger looked surprised with an unfinished cigarette in his mouth. “Already?”

“Yeah.”

Gao Yang lightly threw the Psyche Rune Circuit to War Tiger.

War Tiger weighed it in his hand, checking several times that it hadn’t been swapped before putting it in his pants pocket. Then he took out the keys for the handcuffs and shackles and threw them to Gao Yang.

Freeing themselves from the restraints, Gao Yang and Hong Xiaoxiao took their leave without delay. White Rabbit saw them off to the elevator.

Walking out of the lobby of the Millennium Tower, Gao Yang took Hong Xiaoxiao’s blue hairpin off his breast pocket. “Here.”

Hong Xiaoxiao was just about to take it when Gao Yang curled his fingers and pulled it back. “Do you have time? I’ll buy you lunch.”

Hong Xiaoxiao paused. Hm? Was he talking to her?

“Yeah, I have time.”

“Then let’s go.” Gao Yang returned the hairpin to Hong Xiaoxiao. She took it and put it on her hair, brushing her bang. She didn’t know why she was nervous.

The green light was on. Gao Yang crossed the road, while Hong Xiaoxiao trailed after him with her head lowered, another storm brewing in her head.

Oh my god! I’m not dreaming, am I? Elder Seven Shadow’s buying me lunch.

Although I prefer those like Brother Zhong He, Elder Seven Shadow’s a catch too, tee-hee.

Stop! What are you thinking about, Hong Xiaoxiao? A manager only buys their employees a meal for business...

Hong Xiaoxiao was distracted when a hand yanked her by the elbow, and she fell into Gao Yang’s arms with a cry of surprise.

Vroom. A car sped away. It had almost hit Hong Xiaoxiao.

“Watch it.” Gao Yang let go of her.

“Thank, thank you.” Hong Xiaoxiao felt helpless and awkward. She couldn’t help but brush her already neat bang again.

Gao Yang calmly took the lead and asked in a casual tone, “Anything you’d like for lunch?”

“Anything’s fine by me,” Hong Xiaoxiao said honestly.

“How about steak?”

“Sure.”

...

Twenty minutes later, Gao Yang and Hong Xiaoxiao sat at a booth seat by the window in a high-end western restaurant. The interior was elegant and serene with a pianist in a tailcoat playing the piano live. The waiters were all neatly dressed and polite, maintaining a smile on their faces.

Gao Yang waved one of them over and flipped through the menu, ordering a sirloin steak and choosing from the provided sides and desserts.

It was Hong Xiaoxiao’s first time eating at a restaurant this classy, and she felt nervous, the feeling further compounded when the young, handsome waiter looked at her. And she blurted out the universal order.

“I’ll have what he has.”

“Of course, ma’am. A moment, please.” The waiter took the menus and turned to leave.

Gao Yang stayed silent. Hong Xiaoxiao couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She wanted to use her phone, but at the same time she was worried that it would be considered disrespectful. To ease her awkwardness, she took a sip of her lemon water. Not long after putting it down, she picked it up again to take another sip.

Then the mushroom soup was served first. Hong Xiaoxiao sighed in relief. She finally had something to do.

She picked up her spoon and was about to drink the soup when Gao Yang suddenly spoke to her.

“Hong Xiaoxiao.”

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao jumped, the spoon falling from her hand and almost spilling the soup.

“How many people are there in the family?”

Hong Xiaoxiao doubted her ears. She pointed at her nose.

“You’re asking about my family?”