The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 266: Toilet Break

Although Qilin hadn’t put it into words, he basically meant that now that the Twelve Zodiac Signs had agreed to trade their Time-Space Rune Circuit, it was only right for them to show Dragon the appropriate respect.

Surnamed Li was, of course, happy with the development, and she said that she would bring her people to the meeting at once.

Lying lazily on the sofa, Vermilion Bird used her phone and yawned. “I’m falling asleep. A cup of milk tea will be the perfect pick-me-up. Hey, can we get takeout here?”

Gao Yang tried his best to hide his disapproval. “You must be joking, Sister Xia.”

“Ah, how silly of me!” Vermilion Bird ignored him and raised her voice in excitement. “I can just tell White Tiger to bring me some. Seven Shadow, you want a cup too?”

“...I’m good.”

Gao Yang pictured the leading figures of the three organizations holding a meeting together while Gao Yang and Xia Li, two Elders, gulped down milk tea on the side; the mental image made him shudder.

Click.

The door to the reception room opened. Lovely Lamb came in.

She was dressed in a light violet fantasy-style dress with her hair tied into two cute buns, her flushed face looking bashful. In a slightly clumsy manner, she came up to them with a tray, carrying two cups of black tea.

“Sister Vermilion, Brother Gao...Dark...Seven Shadow, have some tea.”

Gao Yang sighed in relief. It took a few tries, but you used the right name, Cute Little Lamb.

“Wow, thank you!” Vermilion Bird’s voice grew a few shades softer and warmer. She rose to take the cups from Lovely Lamb and placed them on the tea table.

She asked softly, “What’s your name, kiddo? How old are you?”

“Lovely Lamb!” the girl answered loudly. “I’m seven and a half!”

“Lovely Lamb! What a good kid you are!” Vermilion Bird pinched her small face and teased, “Your dress is so pretty, Lovely Lamb. Sister would like to try it on too. Would you mind?”

“Hm.” Lovely Lamb puffed up her cheeks and thought seriously for a few seconds. “But my dress is too small for you.”

“Haha, then why don’t you lend me your dress once you grow up? Promise?”

“Promise!” Lovely Lamb agreed happily. “Sister Vermilion Bird, Brother Seven Shadow, goodbye.”

She skipped away.

Vermilion Bird watched her close the door behind her with an adoring smile. “She’s so cute. Dang it, I have to get her into the Guild. She’ll be our most beloved member!”

Gao Yang smiled wryly. “She’s already that here.”

Thinking of something, Vermilion Bird smirked at Gao Yang. “It seems that you have a good relationship with the Twelve Zodiac Signs members, Seven Shadow.”

“Really?” Gao Yang played dumb. “Maybe I’m just easy to get along with.”

“That is true.” Acting nonchalant, Vermilion Bird asked, “Dragon said he owed you one. For what?”

Gao Yang had come up with an explanation in case she asked the question.

“I had quite a big part in the Twelve Zodiac Signs getting the Psyche Rune Circuit and the Time-Space Rune Circuit. Dragon was going to reward me, but I jumped ship before he could. He didn’t like owing anyone anything.”

“Heh, he’s a man of principles then.”

Gao Yang didn’t deem that a response. Every unnecessary word he said was ammunition that could be used against him.

His phone rang then. He glanced at Vermilion Bird.

“Your family?”

Gao Yang nodded.

Vermilion Bird picked up her cup of black tea and made an OK sign, silently telling him that she would stay quiet.

“Hello?” Gao Yang picked up.

“Where the hell are you, Gao Yang?!” Gao Xinxin demanded.

“Playing games at Wang Zikai’s.”

“Wang Zikai again! Are you two brothers from different parents or what?” Gao Xinxin sounded irritated. “We’re leaving for Naldives tomorrow night!”

“I know.”

“Then why aren’t you home yet? We have to pack, have a family meeting, and look up information for the trip...”

“I’ll leave that to you.” Gao Yang smiled. “I’ll be home a little later and pack up tomorrow. There’s enough time.”

“Hey! We’re going to Naldives, for crying out loud! Going on a vacation abroad! Can’t you take it a little more seriously?” Gao Xinxin then said, “Oh, right. Is Wang Zikai with you? Let me talk to him.”

“Ah, well, he’s on a toilet break and hasn’t come out.” Gao Yang felt a little guilty. Although he and Wang Zikai had been covering for each other for years, he could be exposed if his sister got down to the matter.

“Forget it. Remind him to bring his passport. He seems like the forgettable type to me, always forgetting something.” Gao Xinxin snorted.

“Wait, wait!” Gao Yang was surprised. “Passport? What? Don’t tell me that Wang Zikai is going to Naldives with us?”

Gao Xinxin was also surprised. “He is. Didn’t he tell you?”

“He didn’t.”

“Well, he probably wanted to surprise you,” Gao Xinxin said dismissively. “I had a deal with him, and in return, I let him tag along on our family trip to Naldives. Mom’s unhappy about it, but Dad’s pleased. Granny and I think it’s not a bad thing.”

“What deal?”

“It’s none of your business. I’m hanging up.” Gao Xinxin ended the call.

Gao Yang paused. So his sister did ask Wang Zikai to talk to Gao Yang about attending a local college as a favor, didn’t she?

“Ah, that’s right.” Vermilion Bird gave him a pointed look. “You’re going on a vacation to Naldives tomorrow.”

Gao Yang admitted, “Yeah, to celebrate my sister’s and my graduation.”

“For how long?”

“A week.”

“When you come back, the Crimson Tide will be three days away.”

Vermilion Bird rubbed at her lower lip. “And during the vacation, you have to carry the Knowledge and Time-Space Rune Circuits with you to level up your Talents. What a busy schedule you keep.”

“Please stop teasing me, Sister Xia.” Gao Yang put on a pitiful look. “I’m already burning on both ends.”

“Serves you right for being greedy.” Vermilion Bird found joy in his misery. “You want to establish yourself in the world of awakeners, yet you can’t let go of your loved ones in the mundane world.”

Gao Yang didn’t have a comeback for that. It was true that he had been greedy.

Things will be much easier if I have a single-minded focus on getting stronger like Qing Ling, but I don’t.

If one day I get killed because of my greed, I’ll only have myself to blame.

“Don’t count your chickens just yet,” Vermilion Bird reminded him. “Once the meeting of the big three is done, both of us may be assigned missions. Then you may not be able to go to Naldives.”

Gao Yang nodded. “I know.”

If he couldn’t go on the vacation, he would have to play the pity card, breaking an arm or a leg so that he could opt out of the family trip under the guise of recovering from his injury.

Mind cluttered with thoughts, Gao Yang picked up his cup of black tea and slowly took a sip.

Hm, the taste...?

A thought flashed through his mind.

He stood up and said casually. “Sister Xia, I’m going to the restroom. You?”

Vermilion Bird glared at him. “What, are you three? Need company on a toilet break? Just go on your own!”

Gao Yang had asked the question expecting this exact reaction, of course.

“Right, I’m going.”

He walked out of the reception room and waited outside for a few seconds to make sure that Vermilion Bird hadn’t secretly followed him.

Then he walked toward the restroom before making a right turn halfway, heading to the Snake Door.