The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 388: Company

Gao Xinxin quickened her steps and walked toward the bus stop nearby with her head low, standing by it. The golden light of the setting sun hugged her gently, yet it only made her seem more rueful and down.

Guang Huan’s heart spasmed. Yes, he had feelings for Gao Xinxin. He had been drawn to her the moment he saw her in the crowd during military training, the first day of school.

And it was because she was such a wonderful girl, yet she was always frowning, pulling a face that said she wasn’t happy at all.

There seemed to be a lot on her shoulders. While she didn’t seem to care about anything, it was a front to protect herself. She had shut the world away and drew herself a circle to stay in.

Lovely and brooding, prideful and sensitive, artistic and mysterious...

Everything about her was intoxicating to Guang Huan. She was his dream girl.

He wanted to get close to her and find out more about her. He wanted to enter her world.

Her family must be having difficulty. Perhaps something serious had happened to them.

She had led a difficult life like a lily in the wild, beautiful and strong. Quietly, she weathered the difficulties; quietly, she yearned for love and warmth, for someone who could actually understand, appreciate, and empathize with her...

Vroom.

Suddenly, the enthralling rumble of a car engine broke Guang Huan out of his thoughts. He looked up to see a race car speeding from the end of the road. It was worth at least twenty million yuan.

The driver was a handsome young man with blond hair.

The car soon stopped by Gao Xinxin. The young man took off his sunglasses and waved at her.

She got into the car with an impassive expression and shut the door.

Vroom.

A few seconds later, the car sped away, disappearing at the other end of the road, the only proof of its existence being the lingering sound of the engine.

Guang Huan stood rooted to the spot, gaping. What just happened? Did he just...see something he shouldn’t have seen?!

In the speeding sports car, both Wang Zikai and Gao Xinxin were quiet.

Awkwardly, Wang Zikai broke the silence. “I’ve paid for your brother’s bill for last month.”

“Okay, I’ll pay you back next month.” Gao Xinxin was speaking in an overly polite tone.

“I told you it wouldn’t be necessary. Gao Yang’s my brother. I should do something for him...”

“He’s my brother, my family,” Gao Xinxin cut him off coldly. “I’ll take care of him. I appreciate the thoughts.”

“Gao Xinxin!” Wang Zikai sighed in resignation, feeling a headache brewing. “Why are you being so stubborn?”

Gao Xinxin fell silent.

During the time her brother was unconscious, she found herself stuck in her own obstinate thoughts, as if she was in a fight with someone. She didn’t know what had gotten to her, either.

Only much later did she realize that she was fighting life itself, that she was fighting fate.

She had had a wonderful family, yet overnight, she lost her grandmother forever, and her brother had fallen unconscious, entering a vegetative state.

It was all because of a goddamn natural gas explosion.

On June 23rd, a road had sunk down in the early morning, leading to the collapse of many buildings and a natural gas explosion, triggering a serious fire. The casualties totaled several hundreds.

The rescue effort lasted three days, during which the citizens were plunged into great collective heartbreak.

It had been the headlines on many social media platforms for a long time. People talked, demanded answers, and made accusations. Over time, however, the incident gradually faded from public consciousness.

After all, life went on for most people.

To the families of the victims, however, the pain and damage inflicted remained looming over them. It would take years to heal.

Gao Xinxin’s family was one of them.

Her grandmother had been killed in the disaster, and her brother had been unconscious ever since. Up until today, he had stayed in a hospital ward for three months.

According to official investigation, things went like this:

Gao Xinxin’s grandmother slept little due to her age, and she woke up early every morning, catching a bus with her welfare card to the park for a stroll or to the market for groceries.

Early in the morning, the bus she was riding on happened to drive past the road where the incident took place. The explosion led to lines of cars crashing into each other, and her grandmother ended up thrown out of a window, killed on site.

Gao Yang, who should’ve been staying the night at Wang Zikai’s place, was on the bus too for some reason.

Gao Xinxin could only speculate. Perhaps he had pulled an all-nighter at Wang Zikai’s place and took his leave early the next morning. On his way home, Gao Yang ran into her grandmother, who was leaving home, so he rode the bus with her and ended up getting caught in the explosion and the resulting car accidents too.

There were some external injuries on Gao Yang, but none were that serious.

The doctor said that he might have fallen unconscious due to concussion, and there was no telling how long it would take for him to wake up. It could be days, or it could be a lifetime.

Gao Xinxin and her family knew what the doctor was insinuating: Gao Yang had entered a vegetative state.

...

As she dwelled on her thoughts, Wang Zikai had already parked by the road across from the hospital.

“Thanks.”

Gao Xinxin got out of the car with the canvas on her back.

Wang Zikai wanted to say something, but decided not to follow her in the end.

Due to Gao Yang’s condition, Gao Xinxin had asked for special permission from her homeroom teacher as soon as school started.

Every day, she would forgo evening self-study to spend time with her brother at the hospital, doing physical therapy massages and talking to him. At night, she would go home and sleep. The next morning, she would go to school early and start the morning self-study.

Since Wang Zikai had all the time in the world, he volunteered to drive Gao Xinxin around, picking her up after school and driving her home at night.

It wasn’t safe for a girl to walk home on her own so late at night.

With Gao Yang unconscious, his sister was Wang Zikai’s sister. Wang Zikai felt the responsibility to take care of her.

Sitting in the car, Wang Zikai watched as Gao Xinxin crossed the road with a crowd, looking sad even though she had her back to him. He let out a long sigh. Why haven’t you woken up, Gao Yang? What happened that night? Who was responsible for your condition? I have to avenge you!

I can overcome the curse of Sleeping Beauty now. We’ve promised to save the world together. You must honor your word!

...

Click.

Gao Xinxin opened the light blue door leading to the ward. It was a room for two people, but the other bed was currently unoccupied, leaving Gao Yang on his own.

Gao Xinxin took off the canvas on her back and placed it in a corner along with her painting kit, looking right at home.

She turned to walk up to the window, parting the curtains halfway to allow a stream of soft sunlight in. The setting sun cast her face in a warm red. The cool autumn breeze rustled her hair, bringing in a faint smell of cooking.

Gao Xinxin stood by the window, facing the boisterous yet serene city outside. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath like she was sorting through her feelings, or maybe she was praying.

Three seconds later, she opened her eyes with a relaxed, joyous smile.

“Brother!” She skipped her way to the bedside. “I’ve come to visit you.”

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