The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 940: Happy New Year

The third firework split the darkness, bleeding crimson across the night sky. A massive tiger materialized, sprawling over the city like an ancient guardian beast, its presence both magnificent and overwhelming.

"See that? Tiger! That's me! That's me hahaha!" War Tiger's voice cracked with childlike glee as he pointed skyward.

Mischievous Monkey had created about a dozen stools with earth elements at some point. The others had all taken a seat—Gao Xinxin cradling Lovely Lamb, Quiet Book holding Wang Weiyan, surrounded by Lying Wood, Gregor, Dead Pig, Ke Yo, Raven Shark, and Vermilion Bird. Their faces turned upward, transfixed.

Colorful lights danced on their faces and reflected in their eyes. The beauty was so overpowering that they forgot who they were for a moment. Conviction, hope, victory, light...all the abstract things that had driven yet tormented them in equal measures took a backseat in their mind.

At that moment, they merely found joy in the beautiful fireworks and the fact that they had survived to enjoy the sight.

Boom!

Twenty seconds later, the fourth firework bloomed. A white rabbit bounded across the sky, its toes twinkling with rainbow hues.

Lovely Lamb's delighted expression froze. Her eyes welled with tears as she launched herself from Gao Xinxin's lap, running toward the river with raw anguish. "Sister White Rabbit! Sister White Rabbit, don't go..."

"Lovely Lamb!" Gao Xinxin caught her from behind; she sank to her knees, her eyes red.

War Tiger had waded knee-deep into the river, his massive frame silhouetted against the illuminated sky. He raised his flask in silent tribute, draining the last drops.

...

At a tall apartment building in the Feiyang District, a woman in her forties called out from the balcony, “Son! Husband! Come and check! The fireworks are so beautiful!”

“Coming!” Guang Huan was holding a half-burned incense stick, and the middle-aged man behind him was covered in scraps of firecrackers. The father and son had just launched firecrackers downstairs.

Guang Huan kicked off his shoes and rushed to the balcony. It felt like he was walking into a patch of daylight. “Whoa! That’s big! Wouldn’t the entire city be seeing this?”

“Yeah!” His father came up to him and lamented, “I wonder how much the owner of the Millenium Tower spent on the show this year. The man had enough wealth to do anything.”

Guang Huan's smile faded as he watched the lights dance. Loss crept in like a winter draft, driving him to pull out his phone. His fingers found Gao Xinxin's number by muscle memory alone, typing his hundred-and-thirty-seventh unanswered message:

"It's the New Year, Gao Xinxin. The fireworks show at the Millennium Tower this year is particularly beautiful. I hope you're seeing it, too. They all said that you went missing. You must have just gotten tired of your current life, right? You must be leading a different life in another place right now. If you ever think of me, your old classmate, contact me anytime. Happy New Year!"

...

The downtown of Daxu District was packed, all young people out to celebrate the New Year. The roads were crammed with cars, the traffic jam showing no signs of relenting. It was no less crowded than rush hour.

A car with a plate number ending in 36 was unfortunately caught in the traffic jam, but the driver didn’t seem in a rush. She lowered the car window and rested a hand on the frame, enjoying the waves of cheers and the fireworks above.

Chen Ying and Heavenly Dog followed suit, rolling down their windows to let the festival atmosphere flood the car.

Boom! Deep green light washed over them as another firework burst overhead, transforming the city into an underwater dreamscape. The "culprit" materialized—a massive emerald dog sprawled across the night sky.

Heavenly Dog cocked his head. Under his long lashes, his clear eyes glinted, reflecting the beautiful fireworks.

A smile touched his lips.

“Cool.”

...

Central Plaza, Daxu District.

Countless couples kissed at the monument. Zhong Jing and a fashionable young man held each other intimately amid the crowd, kissing passionately with no regard for the others.

“Babe, I’m so happy!” Zhou Jing held the man. “This is our one-month anniversary after falling in love! And it’s the New Year’s Eve. It’s such a meaningful moment!”

“Yes, we’re spending the next new year together, too!” The man sounded excited as well. “I’ll love you forever, babe!”

After a pause, Zhou Jing laughed coquettishly and slapped the man on the chest. “You’re so cheesy!”

...

At the observatory on top of the Green Mountian, Nine Frost sat outside the marble railing with his back arched, wearing a windbreaker and a black baseball cap with a pair of binoculars around his neck. In his hand was a half-finished chocolate stick. The dangerous steep bluff stretched right below his feet.

His left arm bore a bloodied gray badge marked with "4", while golden thread on his right tactical glove spelled out "9". Wind whipped around him as he watched the massive fireworks climb almost to his level. He smiled, taking another bite.

...

Tabletop Cafe Borderruners, Degenerate Street of Li City University.

It was said that the owner of the shop had pawned it to Wang Shu, an employee, at a cheap price after going abroad, leading to an exodus of old customers. It couldn’t be better for Wang Shu, though. She couldn’t deal with too many customers. It was too exhausting.

Tonight, for example, many had come to play games overnight, filling all the booths at the shop. Wang Shu had been busy from eight at night to twelve at midnight. She couldn’t even drink water properly, and if she went on a toilet break, her phone would ring thrice.

“Shop Owner, two cups of coffee!”

“Coming right up!”

“Shop Owner, the rules of this game is so complicated! Please explain for us!”

“Just a moment!”

“Shop Owner, I have a huge crush on you! Will you be my girlfriend?”

“Is it truth or dare this time?”

Boom!

Golden light flooded through the lobby's window wall, turning night to sudden day. Wang Shu froze mid-motion, tray in one hand, phone in the other, game box wedged under her arm.

As she turned to the window, celebratory cheers erupted around her, welcoming the lunar new year. Her eyes narrowed in a lazy smile. "Happy New Year. Another year older now."

...

Office of Superintendent Su, Third Hospital.

In the dark room, a television was playing the New Year Gala. Qilin, still wearing a white coat and his gold-framed glasses, sat on his chair with his eyes closed in rest, his hands clasped on his abdomen.

The sudden bloom of fireworks painted the office in an ethereal light. He opened his eyes slowly, chair pivoting to face the window behind him with deliberate grace.

Harsh light transformed Qilin's gentle features into an alabaster mask. His left eye reflected the sky's display, deep and dark as a midnight lake, seeming to search beyond the immediate spectacle for something more distant, more significant.

A soft whir announced Surnamed Li's arrival from the adjacent room, her wheelchair gliding forward until she joined Qilin at the window.

The changing fireworks cast changing lights in the office. It was as if the two of them were sitting in an expressway to the future, awaiting their stop.

Surnamed Li removed her tortoiseshell glasses and lowered her head, taking two Black Gold bullets out of her pocket. They no longer had their use, yet she continued to stare at them for a long time.

Then she put the bullets away and raised her head. “We should go.”

Qilin didn’t turn around or respond. His eyes remained fixed on the sky.

...

Rooftop of the inpatient building, Third Hospital.

The firework show at the Millenium Tower lasted close to four minutes. Then finally, the last zodiac sign, pig, occupied the sky for twenty seconds before fading into the dark.

Colorless, Rewind, Harvest Song, Old Seven, Crimson Bee, Wandering Tune, Lin Fu, and Bumblebee stood transfixed, quietly watching the beautiful grand show in silence. Though the show came from enemy hands, none could deny its magnificence. It would remain, they knew, the most spectacular fireworks display they'd ever witnessed.

They even found comfort in that. At the night welcoming the Lunar New Year, as they were haunted by helplessness, anxiety, and confusion, at the least they would have a happy memory that followed the tradition.

Boom!

The second phase erupted as countless fireworks ascended in perfect harmony, painting a massive white heart against the canvas of night. Another thunderous crack, and the heart burst into pink flowers. Their petals scattered like living things, transforming into thousands of rose-hued butterflies that seemed destined to carry light into every home they touched.

Colorless's stern mask cracked, her eyes softening. After a thoughtful pause, she said, "Many things have happened this year, everyone. We all have too much to say and don't know where to even start. It's the same for me. Nevertheless..."

She stepped forward, bending to retrieve a beer can. The snap of the tab opening cut through the night. She raised the can in a toast to her companions.

"Happy New Year."

The others exchanged glances, smiles blooming as they lifted their own cans in response.

"Happy New Year!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om