The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 517: Perhaps

Ten minutes later, Gao Yang walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind him, having learned nothing.

Vermilion Bird seemed troubled too. “Do you think she’s actually lost her memory, or is she pretending?”

“I don’t think she’s acting,” Gao Yang said.

“What about your Lie Detection? I didn’t call you here to hear about your gut feeling.”

“I used it late last night. It’s still in cooldown.”

Vermilion Bird sighed, raising the long, slim fingers holding a cigarette to rub at her temple. “If all things fail, we’ll have to kill her and question her body.”

“Will that work?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never questioned a body that has lost their memory. Perhaps I’ll get nothing. Moreover, Edmond seems to have kept her well-protected. He might not have let her know too much about the Godbearer Cult. I won’t kill her unless absolutely necessary.”

“We agree on that.”

Gao Yang suppressed a relieved sigh. He didn’t want to kill Ke Yo. He had promised Edmond that he wouldn’t hurt her. It was an empty promise made under time pressure, yes, and someone as rational as Edmond would’ve known that.

However, Edmond didn’t have a choice. In order to protect Ke Yo, he had to try even when there was a one in ten thousand chance. He was betting that there was an innocent kindness left at the bottom of Gao Yang’s heart, however little.

That humanity was a brilliant miracle, as well as the most dangerous weakness.

“Let me use Lie Detection on her later,” said Gao Yang. “And let’s keep an eye on her. Perhaps she will regain her memory later.”

Vermilion Bird nodded. “Let’s do that.”

...

VIP ward, Shanqing Hospital, six o’clock in the evening.

The night wind lifted the white gauze curtain, allowing a stream of light from the setting sun to pour in like golden waves, casting the room in a layer of soft red.

Dressed in comfortable pajamas, Su Xi sat on the bed, half lying down. Her black hair ran down her shoulders like soft silk. Her makeup-free face was clear and fair, beautiful in an elegant way. She rested her hands on her protruding belly, gently caressing it.

“Sweetheart.” With no other people in the room, Su Xi spoke in an endearing tone.

Officer Huang was peeling an apple by the bed. “Yes?”

“I think I felt our baby move.” Su Xi’s eyes were expectant.

Officer Huang chuckled. “It seems that the child is getting impatient and wants to greet us.”

“Do you think it’s going to be a boy or a girl?” Su Xi asked softly. It was something they had talked about countless times.

“A girl,” Officer Huang said with certainty.

“How are you so sure?” Su Xi’s eyes curved with a smile.

“I have evidence, of course.” Officer Huang didn’t immediately continue. Cutting the apple into small pieces and putting them into the bowl on the nightstand, he picked up a small piece with a toothpick and fed it to Su Xi.

Su Xi opened her mouth to eat the piece of apple.

Watching her, Officer Huang said, “The proof is that you’ve become even more beautiful, darling.”

“Huh?” Su Xi didn’t understand his reasoning.

“I heard that a mother would become less pretty when pregnant with a boy, and prettier when pregnant with a girl.”

“You can never be serious for one second!” Su Xi huffed and reached out to swat him.

Officer Huang was about to say something when the door opened. He turned around in a natural manner, when inwardly, he was immediately alerted.

Standing outside the door was a stranger, a petite woman shouldering a brown satchel. She had a youthful face, but her makeup was done in a mature style, the white shirt and suit looking a little ill-fitted on her. Her shorter flaxen hair was tied into a braid, the bang parted on the side with a hairpin that said, “SL.”

She looked young, like someone fresh out of college and just started working. There was an innocent nervousness to the way she held herself that she couldn’t cover up.

“Hello,” she greeted with disingenuous enthusiasm. “Perhaps you like Issem[1]?”

Officer Huang suppressed an eyeroll. That’s an outed conversation starter even for a middle-aged man like me.

“I like Odlanor[2] better,” Officer Huang said on purpose.

The young girl paused, her poker face breaking. She obviously didn’t know the soccer player well, but she had to stick with her act. “Haha, he’s good too. I watched his game recently...”

“What are you selling?” Officer Huang interrupted her impatiently. The girl might as well have the words “green salesperson” written on her face.

“Oh, right.” The young girl could only follow along. Like a freshman receiving military training getting her name called by the trainer, she took a hurried step forward and fished out a name card from her breast pocket, offering it with both hands.

Officer Huang took it and had a quick glance. Hong Xiaoxiao, a salesperson for some sort of skin care product.

Hong Xiaoxiao glanced at him. When he didn’t immediately shut her off, she gave him the sales pitch she had rehearsed until she could recite it even in her sleep. “Our skin care product contains YCA, extracted with the most advanced technology. It received the level one certificate from the international cosmetics association...”

“It can effectively stop melanin synthesis in the melanocytes and keratinocytes, thus preventing pigmentation and promoting metabolism, facilitating the shedding of keratinocytes. It also helps slow aging, improve skin protection, mitigate acnes, and stimulate blood circulation in hair follicles!”

“Most importantly, it’s 100% safe, even for pregnant women. If you still have doubts, please refer to our website...”

“I’ll buy it,” Officer Huang interrupted.

“Huh?” Hong Xiaoxiao gaped. She had been kicked out before she could finish her spiel more than once, but it was her first time selling a product before she even finished.

What a saint!

“Oh, right, yeah.” Hong Xiaoxiao quickly took out a set of skin care products from her satchel. “How many are you getting, sir?”

“One set. I’ll ask for more if the result is good.”

“Of course, of course!” Hong Xiaoxiao quickly handed Officer Huang a boxset.

Officer Huang took it and placed it on the nightstand without another glance, taking out his phone to pay for the product. Then he shot Hong Xiaoxiao a cool look.

Without missing a beat, Hong Xiaoxiao said, “Do contact me if you like it. I’ll stop bothering you. Have a good day, sir. Goodbye...”

The door closed, and the room quieted again.

“That’s a waste of money,” Su Xi complained softly. “I haven’t used up the skin care products at home yet.”

“She must be having a difficult time freshly graduated from college.” Officer Huang smiled. “And if I don’t buy it, I’ll have to spend time rejecting her. Even if I had the patience to do that, it’d be bothersome to you and the baby.”

“You really...” Su Xi started. “Ah, the baby moved again.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Listen.” Su Xi waved at him.

Officer Huang immediately leaned in to press his ear to Su Xi’s protruding belly. He soon broke into a smile and said softly, “Hey, kiddo. I’m Dad. Be a good kid and stay calm. We’ll see each other soon.”

Clack. The door opened then.

1. A play on the soccer star, Messi. ☜

2. A play on Ronaldo. ☜