This was Gao Yang's first time in a love hotel. Frankly, he hated it.
Red lights, red carpet, red walls, red furniture, red bed curtains—it felt like a cramped spider demon's lair.
Qing Ling locked the door, drew the curtains, and assembled the sniper rifle with eerie efficiency.
With time to kill, they sat in awkward silence—Qing Ling on a bizarrely shaped "love chair," Gao Yang on the waterbed. Only he fidgeted under the weight of the moment.
Then his phone rang.
Wang Zikai's voice blared: "Bro! Don't do it! Once you cross this line, you're tainted! A man without self-respect is rotten cabbage! I despise you!"
"Women ruin your R-flash combos!"
"Get out here! Ranked grind till dawn—that's the righteous path!"
"I'm in 601! Giant screen, surround sound—epic vibes! Bros before—"
Gao Yang hung up.
"Are you lonely?" Qing Ling asked.
"Huh?"
"Why befriend idiots?" She looked genuinely puzzled.
"It's… complicated."
Qing Ling stood. "I'm showering."
The bathroom was a semi-transparent glass cubicle. Though frosted, silhouettes were clear. Soon, her jacket, skirt, and even underwear hung on the door.
She really doesn't see me as a threat, huh?
Gao Yang stared at his phone, but the lower half of the glass was clear—her calves, the water cascading down—
Qing Ling emerged in a towel. "Your turn."
"Do I have to?"
"We're supposed to be a couple here. Every detail must fit." She opened a condom box, tore one packet, then wrapped it in tissue—stashing it in her bag.
"One enough? How many do you usually use?"
"…One's fine."
After staging the room, they "rested." Gao Yang's mind raced with actual questions.
5:30 AM. The alarm buzzed.
Gao Yang sat up. "You said beasts lack reproductive systems."
Qing Ling nodded, tossing him a drink from the minibar.
"But Huang's married," he pressed. "Statistically, his wife's probably a beast."
"Likely."
"Wouldn't that… expose him?"
"Beasts mimic human anatomy. There are subtle differences."
Qing Ling sipped her drink. "My cousin was my first mentor. He slept with many girls. Only one felt… different."
"That's when he awakened?" So playboys do get karma.
"Men can tell. Beast males react instantly. Humans… build up."
Gao Yang flushed, recalling that test.
"Women? Harder to explain." Qing Ling eyed him. "We could try. Gain experience."
He choked on his drink.
"Problem?"
"N-no. Maybe… later." He checked his phone. "It's time."
Qing Ling unfolded the third note, her gaze sharpening.
"Who are we killing?" Gao Yang already knew.
She handed him the note:
—6 AM. Riverside Scenic Belt, Platform 2. Kill the woman beside me. Head or heart.
Gao Yang pieced it together: Huang would be with the target—colleague, friend, or family. By framing them as shooters, he'd have an alibi.
Qing Ling pushed the love chair to the window, mounted the rifle, and peered through the scope. A towel-clad sniper—surreal.
"Target spotted."
Through the scope, Gao Yang saw a graceful woman in a red dress and white shawl, watching the sunrise.
Huang jogged up in workout gear. She handed him water, wiped his sweat—wife.
After a chat, Huang ran off. The woman lingered.
"She suspects he's awakened," Qing Ling murmured. "He's eliminating the risk."
She steadied the rifle. "My shot."
Gao Yang's chest tightened. If it were my family… Could I pull the trigger?
"Target still. Three… two…"
Pfft—
The suppressed shot sounded off.
Gao Yang looked up—and froze.
So did Qing Ling.
In the split-second she fired, a figure had dropped from above, taking the bullet.
Now, sprawled on the observation deck, clutching his shoulder—
Wang Zikai.