The Creatures that We Are

When Fresh Snow didn’t respond, Wang Zikai said vehemently, “None of you know Gao Yang. I know him!”

“Really?” Fresh Snow blinked.

“Of course!” Wang Zikai was emphatic. “He’s smart and cares deeply, but in some way, he’s not that bright.”

“He’s dense?” Fresh Snow tried to decipher Wang Zikai’s words.

"Yeah, he's dense!" Wang Zikai's eyes lit up with approval. "Not bad. Your vocabulary is getting expansive."

Fresh Snow smiled, remembering her sister's words: The second best way to grow up is to watch a thousand movies, and the best way is to fall for someone.

She'd done both, but still wasn't sure if she'd grown up yet.

Wang Zikai scratched his head, wrestling with words—vocabulary had never been his strong suit. "Gao Yang's really dense about certain things and can't figure himself out. If you wait for him to realize it on his own, it'll be the next century!"

Fresh Snow sank into contemplation.

After a pause, Fresh Snow looked up. "Why?"

"You don't know this, but back in Naldives, he came to me about you." Pride colored Wang Zikai's voice at being trusted with such a secret. "He was really struggling because he wanted to save you so badly. He spent ages wondering if he should let you eat him."

He leaned forward, eyes intense. "Think about it. How long had you known each other then? You weren't family or anything. If he didn't like you, would he have considered giving his life to save you? He's not a psycho!"

Fresh Snow held Wang Zikai's gaze, perfectly still. She did that sometimes; her brain would stutter when something shocking happened, like a cat frozen by unexpected movement. She was still new to being a person, after all.

Unsettled by her unusual reaction, Wang Zikai shifted. "What... did I say something wrong?"

After what felt like ages, Fresh Snow blinked slowly, as if pieces were falling into place. A smile spread across her face. "Thank you, Stupid Kai."

The formal gratitude made Wang Zikai squirm. He waved dismissively. "Don't mention it. It's just a small favor."

"No, it's a big favor. You found me a puzzle."

Fresh Snow's eyes sparkled with newfound purpose. "And it's the most important puzzle for me."

…

At midnight, Gao Yang slipped quietly into the mansion.

Darkness filled the rooms, save for a shaft of moonlight that bathed Fresh Snow on the living room sofa, curled up with a pillow in her arms.

The study room door on the second floor stood slightly ajar. Gao Yang focused his hearing and caught Wang Zikai's faint snoring. Despite having plenty of bedrooms now, his friend still preferred his old refuge.

Moving silently, Gao Yang retrieved a box from the storage room—his New Year gift for Fresh Snow. Inside lay a pair of red Mary Jane shoes that had caught his eye in a store window, instantly reminding him of her.

Fresh Snow’s second form was a cat. Even after she learned to put on clothes, she rarely put on shoes. Most of the time, she ran around barefooted.

Gao Yang opened the box, confirming the shoes were perfect, then secured it with a white ribbon. On the attached card, he wrote simply: Happy New Year.

Back in the living room, he placed the box on the tea table, then draped a blanket over Fresh Snow. Settling on the other end of the sofa, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

…

When Gao Yang surfaced from his shallow sleep at nine, morning sunlight flooded the living room.

The first day of Lunar New Year had arrived with perfect weather.

Wang Zikai and Fresh Snow sat across from him, dressed in their finest for an outing. Though clearly waiting for him to wake, they performed an elaborate show of casual conversation.

"The weather's nice, Fresh Snow," Wang Zikai announced.

"Yeah, yeah." Fresh Snow nodded with excessive enthusiasm.

"On a nice day like this, we should go outside. It's said that sunlight not only helps you sleep and prevents depression, but also makes you smarter!"

"Yeah, yeah." Fresh Snow bobbed her head again.

Gao Yang snorted softly. They reminded him of an eager cat and dog vying for attention.

He lifted his head slightly. "An outing's not a bad idea, but I need a bath first. And to get changed. It's such a hassle..."

"I'll pick your clothes!" Wang Zikai vaulted over the sofa like a hurdle, racing toward the first-floor walk-in closet. "Trust my taste. You're gonna be second only to one in terms of handsomeness!"

"I—I'll draw your bath!" Fresh Snow scrambled up, refusing to be outdone, and darted toward the bathroom.

Gao Yang sank deeper into the sofa and snorted again, this time with undisguised satisfaction.

Who's the most valued member of the family?I am.

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