The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 916: Spotted Cat

"Be careful," Gao Yang said.

Qing Ling nodded, then stepped forward and cupped his face in both hands.

Gao Yang started, but didn’t move.

She patted his face twice before moving to his head, then methodically checked his neck, shoulders, chest, back, and arms like a thorough security check.

Only then did Gao Yang realize what Qing Ling was doing. He said in resignation, “Don’t worry. My mission went well this time. I didn’t lose an arm or a leg.”

“I know,” Qing Ling said irritatedly. “I’m just reassuring her.”

“She can check it herself,” Gao Yang said.

“She won’t come out.”

“Why?”

"Don't know. Maybe she's in her rebellious phase." Qing Ling's harumph made her sound more like an older sister than ever, drawing a smile from Gao Yang.

"What's that look for?" she asked.

"Nothing."

Qing Ling stepped back and raised her right hand. Her Tang Dao materialized beside her.

With fluid grace, she landed on the blade and tied her black hair into a high ponytail, casting Gao Yang a farewell glance from above.

Gao Yang nodded.

The blade whooshed away with Qing Ling, vanishing into the snowy night.

...

Afterward, Gao Yang returned to the living room and talked a little more with his deputies, War Tiger and Nine Frost, before concluding everything. Remembering Fresh Snow’s words, he headed to her room on the second floor.

The door was closed. Gao Yang knocked. “Are you there, Fresh Snow?”

“Oh, wait a minute.” Fresh Snow’s voice came from the other side of the door. “A sec...”

“Okay. No rush...”

A scream interrupted Gao Yang’s words. He teleported inside almost instinctively and didn’t spot Fresh Snow, only a ladder.

When he looked up, a palette with different-colored paints slapped Gao Yang in the face with a splat. It fell after a second, leaving Gao Yang’s face covered in paint.

“Gao Yang...you alright?” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Standing on the ladder, Fresh Snow held a paintbrush in her hand, wearing a baseball cap and an apron, the cloth covered in splotches of colors.

It turned out that she had been restoring the starry sky in the ceiling to give Gao Yang a surprise, but with Gao Yang visiting early, she got nervous, and the palette fell right onto Gao Yang’s face when he teleported in.

"I'm fine..." He tried wiping the paint off but only succeeded in smearing it further.

"Pfft."

Fresh Snow burst out laughing. "You look like a spotted cat, Gao Yang!"

Gao Yang wasn't bothered; it would wash off. He climbed the ladder and handed her the palette. "Here."

Fresh Snow took it and returned to her work.

Gao Yang looked up. The Gao Yang Star had returned, now sporting a leftward-pointing cowlick.

Fresh Snow finished painting and peered down, a spot of yellow paint on her nose like a tiny moon. "How is it?"

"It's good," Gao Yang nodded.

“It feels like...something’s missing, doesn’t it?” Fresh Snow thought for a moment before drawing a smiley face on the star.

Gao Yang Star 2.0, with its stray hair and smile, looked slightly ridiculous, almost uncanny.

But Fresh Snow beamed with satisfaction. This was how the star should look. She hopped down from the ladder, landing lightly before Gao Yang.

Looking up, she touched the drying paint on his face.

"You shouldn't frown so much, Gao Yang. You should smile." Her eyes lowered, gentle and earnest. "Master Spring said that no matter what happens, we must seize the present and lead a good life."

Surprise flickered across Gao Yang's face. He'd been wondering how to tell her about Spring, but she already knew. As their leader, Spring must have properly bid farewell to every Spectre...

"Master Spring was right." Gao Yang met her gaze. "Would you like to spend the Lunar New Year together, Fresh Snow?"

"Really?" Her eyes brightened, then dimmed. "But Sister said you were busy. Everyone needs you..."

“Yes, I mean it. Although it’s a little indulgent...Master Spring said to seize the day and lead a good life, didn’t he?” Gao Yang was speaking to himself, too.

“That’s great!” The girl’s face seemed to radiate wonderful colors that did not belong in this world.

"We'll have Wang Zikai and Xinxin join us."

Fresh Snow considered briefly before nodding eagerly. "Yes! Let's all celebrate together!"

"Then it's settled." Gao Yang nodded. "It's late. You should shower and rest."

"Okay. Goodnight, Gao Yang."

"Goodnight."

Fresh Snow watched him leave.

Once the door closed, she turned around and threw herself onto the soft large bed. So many things had happened recently. Master Spring’s departure, her wish to grow up quickly...it felt like she had gulped down the strange potion an old witch brewed in her dirty cauldron.

But soon the complicated feelings ebbed like a retreating tide, leaving only a serene moonlit beach, and Gao Yang standing there.

Fresh Snow buried her face in her pillow, breathing deeply.

She was already looking forward to spending the Lunar New Year with Gao Yang. She wished that the day would come tomorrow—no, come now.

“Seize the present and lead a good life.”

She repeated the words like an incantation in the darkness.

Energy filled her. Master Spring had spoken true.