The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 128: Family Reunion

Gao Yang actually bought the book before his awakening. There was a time when he found himself too frail and resolved to get fit, but after flipping through a couple pages, the book ended up collecting dust on the shelf.

Now was the perfect time to go back to it. Although he could get stronger by simply putting points into his stats, physical training was still important, and he decided to do both.

Fresh Snow and the white cat hung above him like the sword of Damocles. It could fall on his neck at any time.

Tonight, Dragon gave Gao Yang a secret mission. His path ahead would surely be littered with all manners of dangers.

And at some point, Qing Ling’s determination and drive to get stronger had gotten to him. If someone without a system like her was so diligent, what excuse did he have to stay idle?

Changing into a tank top and a pair of shorts, Gao Yang placed down a yoga mat for simple warmups. Then he started doing one-arm pushups.

Before his awakening, he couldn’t even do one rep, but now, his breathing was still steady after finishing a set.

Gao Yang started the next set with his other hand.

He pondered while he trained, and an hour flew by without him quite noticing. He’d done twelve medium-difficulty sets with 10 reps each. At the end, he was entirely drenched in sweat.

He took a warm shower in the bathroom and changed into pajamas before retiring to bed.

It was Saturday tomorrow and the Dragon Boat Festival. They didn’t have school.

Gao Yang slept in a little.

Nine o’clock in the morning, his sister Gao Xinxin barged into his room. “Up! You lazy ass!”

Gao Yang opened his eyes and was immediately awake, but he pretended to be half-asleep and rolled on the bed lazily with his blanket between his legs.

“Get up! Come on!” His sister ran up to his bed and kicked him in the back.

“Hmph...” Gao Yang put up his best act. “Another ten minutes. No, five minutes...”

“Enough sleep! Wake up already!”

His sister grabbed his arm with both hands and dragged Gao Yang up with great difficulty.

Gao Yang rubbed his eyes and turned to his sister.

Her baby-fat face puffed up as she pointed at a clear plastic bag by his bed. Inside was a potted jasmine. “Delivery came. Someone gifted you flowers!”

“Me?” Gao Yang was surprised.

“Yes! Who gave you that?”

Gao Yang got off the bed and picked up the pot. There was a small card tucked in. He unfolded it and saw a line written in elegant handwriting: best regards for the holiday.

Gao Yang folded the card. “A friend.”

“Friend?” His sister didn’t like it. “What kind of friends give each other flowers for the Dragon Boat Festival?”

“It’s none of your business.” Gao Yang ruffled her hair and put the potted jasmine on his desk.

“It must be a girl! I’m gonna tell mom...” His sister trailed off and suddenly shouted, “Whoa! Bro, you, you...”

“What now?” Gao Yang scratched his head with feigned irritation. “It’s too early for all the shouting.”

“You have muscles!”

Gao Yang looked down. One side of his pajama top was caught in the waistband of his pants, and a small part of his abdomen was revealed. The faint lines of abs could be made out.

“Ughuh.” Gao Yang straightened his pajamas, pleased. “I’ve been training. Looks good, huh?”

“The flower, and now the training...” His sister pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You’ve got a girlfriend, Brother!”

“I don’t!” Gao Yang rolled his eyes. “I told you I would let you know if I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“I don’t believe you! You liar!”

“Have it your way.”

They argued while they walked out of the room together. Their mother looked bright today. She was dressed in a pretty monochrome dress with light makeup, looking respectable and graceful.

Gao Yang wasn’t boasting when he said that his mother looked young. When she went shopping with Gao Xinxin, some people even mistook them as sisters.

“There’s breakfast in the kitchen. Grab some bites. We’re going soon,” she urged them as she combed her hair before the mirror.

Today was the day they took Gao Yang’s father home from the hospital.

“Got it.” Gao Yang walked into the kitchen and shoved a pickled mustard green bun into his mouth.

...

An hour later, they arrived at the hospital to go through the discharge process for his father.

His father was optimistic by nature. Although he knew he would probably be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life, he didn’t stay depressed for long and instead adapted to his new life quickly.

Gao Yang pushed the wheelchair as he and his family left the hospital lobby, chatting and laughing.

When they got to the curb, Gao Xinxin hailed a taxi.

Gao Yang lifted his father into the backseat and folded up the wheelchair, putting it inside the trunk. He did all that without a pause or fumble like he’d done it countless times.

When he got into the car, his father praised him to the heavens.

“Our Yang Yang has grown into a man!” His father slapped him on the shoulder. “Look. He’s gotten so much more well-built!”

“Of course.” His mother smiled from the passenger seat. “Our son is now the pillar of the family. He’s a real man.”

His sister scoffed on the side.

“What’s that, Xinxin?” his father asked.

“Don’t delude yourself, Dad. Do you think Gao Yang turned into an adult for us? Nooooo.” Gao Xinxin pouted and snorted. “He’s got a girlfriend!”

“I didn’t that’s not it don’t speak nonsense!” Gao Yang quickly denied it. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about, Dad, Mom!”

His father laughed heartily. “You should focus on studying for the entrance exam, Yang Yang, but once you graduate, you should bring your girlfriend home to introduce us.”

His mother chuckled as well. “Yang Yang is old enough to want a relationship. But don’t cross the line, okay? You have to do things properly.”

“Dad! Mom! I don’t have a girlfriend!” Gao Yang said, exasperated.

...

Another great surprise was waiting for them when the parents and children got home.

Gao Yang’s grandmother was there, watching TV from the couch.

“Granny!” Gao Xinxin didn’t even take off her shoes before she ran up to the old woman and threw her arms around her. “I’ve missed you!”

His grandmother stroked her hair and pinched her face. “Granny has missed you as well, child.”

“Why didn’t you tell us, Mother? I could’ve picked you up.” Gao Yang’s mother helped him push his father into the hallway.

His grandmother chuckled. “There’s no need. Gao Yang’s uncle came to the city for business today, so he brought me along.”

“I’ve shown you a humiliating side, Mother,” his father tapped on the wheelchair and said self-deprecatingly. “Your son will be a useless man from now on. I won’t be able to even catch up to you.”

“You weren’t that useful before,” his grandmother chided, the love in her eyes at odds with her words. “Rest well from now on. With all of us here, the family will stay strong.”

“How wonderful. We’re all together again for the holiday,” his mother choked out with reddened eyes. She hurriedly turned to enter the kitchen. “I’ll make something delicious today.”

“I’ll help wash the vegetables.” Gao Yang followed her into the kitchen like the considerate son he was.

At noon, they had a full meal altogether. And they ate some rice dumplings for the occasion. The five of them conversed with smiles on their faces, the atmosphere light and warm.

Halfway through the meal, his mother suddenly put down her chopsticks and said, “Our two children have matured a lot during this time, most of all Yang Yang. If not for him, I would have broken down already.”

“True.” His father patted him on the shoulder from his wheelchair. “Old Qing told me it was thanks to Yang Yang that the factory overcame the hurdle.”

“It’s mostly Wang Zikai,” said Gao Yang. “I only introduced them.”

“Yang Yang, you’ve been coming home late or even stayed the night outside sometimes,” his mother’s tone grew heavy with concern, “Is it because you’ve been messing around with Wang Zikai?”

Gao Yang nodded while eating. He had gotten used to using Wang Zikai as an excuse.

“That’s not messing around, sweetheart.” His father spoke up for him.

His mother was displeased. “Then what?”

“That’s...social functions for business.” His father gave her an obsequious smile.

“For business? He’s still a student, and studying should be his top priority.” His mother sighed heavily. “Yang Yang, the entrance exam is coming in a month. You can’t start slacking off now. It’ll decide your future.”

What would decide my future had already happened, Mom. It was my awakening.

Gao Yang put away his bowl and chopsticks to nod at her reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Mom. I haven’t let all this get to my study. I’ve actually gotten better grades recently.”

“That’s good.” His mother relaxed a little.

In the afternoon, Gao Yang got some cramming done in the study room.

After awakening, his increased stats had made his mind clearer and keener. His memory was thus enhanced, and while he had been a good student before, it had become even easier for him to do well in tests.

After dinner, they pushed Gao Yang’s father around the neighborhood. His father greeted everyone they met with such optimism that their neighbors weren’t sure if they should offer words of comfort.

Once they returned home at night, Gao Yang started today’s training. Then he took a shower and returned to his bedroom late. He turned off the light, locked his door and window, and pulled the curtains.

Then he turned on the lamp on his desk and checked the potted jasmine. There was nothing noteworthy about the pot itself.

He shifted his focus to the flowers. As expected, there was a faint, red fingerprint on one of them.

Gao Yang picked off the petal with the fingerprint and put it to his lips for two seconds. Then he burned it by conjuring fire at his fingertip.

He lay down on his bed. Soon, he found himself pulled into a Sweet Dream.