The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 400: Roommates

“Dang it!”

The boy threw a tantrum, the empty can hitting the floor with a clang and bouncing twice before tumbling to Gao Yang’s feet.

An awkwardness permeated the room.

The boy stalked in angrily before finally noticing a new face. He paused and turned to Mi Shi. “Old Shi, who is this?”

“Gao Yang.” Mi Shi bent down to pick up the empty can and throw it into the trash can, smiling at Gao Yang. “This is Globy, our roommate.”

“Holy shit!” The boy’s anger evaporated, replaced by visible shock and curiosity as he came over to pat Gao Yang on the shoulder.

“So you’re Gao Yang. Didn’t you become vegetable after a car accident? You woke up? That’s like seeing a pig flying on a rocket!”

Why, thank you!

Gao Yang smiled awkwardly but politely.

“I’m Qiu Qiu, the first Qiu as in Qiu Qianchi, and the second Qiu as in hill.[1]”

“Hello, Globy, just call me Little Gao,” said Gao Yang.

“Little Gao! A narrow escape from death is always followed by great fortune!” Qiu Qiu said happily. He quickly took out his phone. “Wait, I have to call our room leader back[2]. Tonight, we welcome Little Gao to our room and celebrate!”

While he was saying that, the door opened again, the light hitting them from the outside.

Qiu Qiu turned around and broke into a peel of laughter. “Oh, speaking of the devil.”

A boy with a shaved head entered with two thermos.

He was about 1.75 meters, not that tall, but strongly built with lithe muscles covering his body. With his pronounced brows, bright eyes, meaty nose, and thick lips, he projected a kind and down-to-earth image.

“Globy, you forgot your thermos downstairs again. I got hot water for you...” He trailed off, his gaze landing on Gao Yang.

“Dajian, this is Gao Yang,” Mi Shi introduced them with a smile. “He woke up and came to school.”

“Oh, you woke up? That’s great! Congrats!” The boy put down the two thermos and grabbed Gao Yang’s hands with a friendly smile. “I’m Lin Dajian, just call me Dajian or room leader. Either is fine with me.”

“Hello.” Gao Yang didn’t expect his roommates to be this friendly. It caught him by surprise.

“Holy mother of god!” Qiu Qiu shouted. “I just got rejected by my goddess today, and Little Gao became a student officially. Blessings come in twos!”

Mi Shi smiled wryly. “I don’t think that’s what the saying means, Globy...”

“I don’t care! I’m eating to my heart’s content and drinking until I’m wasted today! Brother Qiang’s Stall on Degenerate Street, let’s go! I’m buying!” Qiu Qiu swung his arm, flexing his wealth.

“Look at the time, Globy. It’s not even dark outside!” Lin Dajian chuckled.

“How about this?” Mi Shi turned to Gao Yang. “I’ll show Little Gao around and introduce him to the counselor. At six o’clock, we’ll meet on Degenerate Street. Be there or be square.”

“Works for me.” Lin Dajian nodded and turned to Gao Yang. “I may be the room leader, Little Gao, but Old Shi is the top student among us. The teachers may not have time to help you catch up, but Old Shi sure does.[3]”

“Room Leader, we deduct points for puns!” Qiu Qiu snickered. “You’re drinking three glasses first thing tonight!”

“Haha, why not? I’ll still drink you under the table.” Lin Dajian sounded confident.

Gao Yang laughed too. So this is college life. A little different from what I expected, but not bad.

...

Mi Shi showed Gao Yang around and took him to the counselor, who asked after Gao Yang and added his contact on WeChat, inviting him into the class group chat. The other students in the group chat sent messages to welcome him.

Before six o’clock, Mi Shi took Gao Yang to Degenerate Street.

Gao Yang had heard that each college would have a street like this, consisting of restaurants, food stands, internet cafes, karaokes, boutiques, cheap hotels, and other commercial storefronts, making it the main area of entertainment and consumption for college students.

The four of them stopped at a place named Brother Qiang’s Stall, ordering barbecue and beer and claiming a table in the red tent set up outside the storefront.

Night fell. The street was packed with people. Amid the smoke and fire and boisterous chatters, one had to raise their voice to be heard.

Soon, Qiu Qiu finished several skewers of roasted lamb and two cans of beer, his face flushed and his emotions running high.

Shaking his side-part wine-colored bang to the side, he slammed the beer can on the table. “I don’t get it. I’ve got looks. I’ve got personality. I’ve got money. And most importantly...”

He pounded on his chest and turned to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang gave him a confused look, unsure what he was getting at.

“Most importantly, I’m 1.8 meters tall!” Qiu Qiu shouted at the top of his lungs like he wanted everyone on the street to hear. “1.8 meters! Are any of you 1.8 meters?!”

The other three lowered their heads.

Mi Shi was the shortest at 1.7 meters. Lin Dajian was a little taller at 1.75 meters.

Gao Yang was 1.78 meters, but given he was only 18, he still had time to grow taller.

“That woman! She rejected me, who had the looks, the personality, the money, and 1.8 meters!” Qiu Qiu said in disbelief. “It doesn’t make sense! Scientifically!”

“Globy, I’ve got to be honest with you.” Lin Dajian was holding a skewer of roasted fish, having taken two bites. “You’re a catch, but the girl is a goddess at tier 0! She’s got to be a UR card in a gacha game. It’s not surprising that she doesn’t take a fancy to you.”

“That’s right. The picture of her profile someone sneaked on the first day of military training has been circulating in all the group chats at school.” Mi Shi adjusted his glasses and put down his chopsticks with a smile. “There’s at least an army of people who have a crush on her.”

“Isn’t that too much?” Gao Yang drank his cola with a laugh as he listened—the others had forbidden him from drinking alcohol since he had just regained consciousness.

“Ah, she’s the real deal, definitely A-list star material. I’ve kept the photo.” Lin Dajian took out his phone and showed it to Gao Yang. “Here, take a look.”

Gao Yang sputtered the cola in his mouth and got into a coughing fit.

The picture in Lin Dajian’s album featured Qing Ling, dressed in military camouflage.

It was noon, and the sun was blazing. Standing among the crowd, she stood out with her tall, slim figure and fair skin, her sweat drenching a few strands of hair by her ears. Her gaze shifted toward the camera. There was an air of aloofness and distance around her that suggested she didn’t know how beautiful she was. Her eyes seemed to piece into the soul of all onlookers.

“Hahaha, look at this kid...” Lin Dajian guffawed. “He’s so green.”

“Don’t crush on her, buddy!” Qiu Qiu let out a long sigh. “Trust me, trying to get close to her would only bring heartbreak. I’m the best example.”

“Damn woman.” He gulped down beer. “She’s beautiful, but without a soul!”

Ding ding. Ding ding. Ding ding.

Just then, Gao Yang’s phone rang.

He put down the cola in his hand and took out his phone. The messages were from Qing Ling—or Little Qing Ling, to be more precise; she was the one who would send three messages in a row.

Qing Ling: The day after tomorrow!

Qing Ling: 7 p.m.!

Qing Ling: Big Fish Hot Pot!

Gao Yang responded with an emoticon that said ‘OK’ before quickly shoving his phone into his pocket, pretending that nothing had happened.

1. His name is 裘丘, both characters are pronounced qiu, but in different tones. Qiu Qianchi is a character from The Return of the Condor Heroes. And his nickname, 球球, pronounced qiu in the same tone as his family name, means ball. ☜

2. In China, each dorm room has a designated room leader, who’s responsible for the safety of their roommates and the condition of the room. ☜

3. Old Shi in raw is pronounced the same as teacher, lao shi. ☜

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