Let's start with the conclusion: Gao Yang was likely about to bid farewell to his life as a distinct "forever single" guy.
The story began two days ago.
Wang Zikai—Gao Yang's ride-or-die best friend—had stolen Gao Yang's phone and sent a 300-word "heartfelt confession" to Li Weiwei as a prank.
By the time Gao Yang found out, it was too late to unsend. Although he immediately sent a follow-up message explaining the situation, Li Weiwei didn't reply. Not only that, but for the next two days, she didn't speak to him at all and actively avoided him at school.
Li Weiwei and Gao Yang were childhood sweethearts. Their families lived close by, they had known each other since kindergarten, and later moved to Licheng District together to attend the same high school. Fate, it seemed, had tied them together.
According to the host's memories from before age six, he did have a crush on Li Weiwei. When he first saw the little beauty in kindergarten, he had secretly decided he would marry her when he grew up. Unfortunately, Gao Yang transmigrated before that dream could be realized.
Over the years, thanks to Li Weiwei, Gao Yang had been the target of much envy and hatred from the male population of their class.
Gao Yang naturally cared for Li Weiwei. Did he like her? Sure, who doesn't like a beautiful girl? But he had never really thought about it that way. If forced to be melodramatic about it, he'd say there was just a lack of that specific "spark."
In two months, they would graduate and go their separate ways.
As his best friend, Wang Zikai couldn't stand it anymore—or rather, he was just bored and looking for trouble—so he decided to "play matchmaker," resulting in this prank.
Now, two days later, Li Weiwei finally replied on WeChat: I accept.
Gao Yang had mixed feelings. Didn't I explain that was a prank text from Wang Zikai? How did you just ignore the explanation?
No, I have to explain it again...
WeChat pinged again: Want to meet up today?
Gao Yang hesitated, then typed: Okay.
2:00 PM. Shanqing District. Dawan Plaza.
When Gao Yang arrived, Li Weiwei had already been waiting for a while.
It was a rare weekend break. Li Weiwei was wearing a pale green sweater, her usually tied-up hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders. A breeze caught her hair and the hem of her skirt, making them dance gently. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and waved happily at Gao Yang. "Over here! Gao Yang, over here!"
The spring wind was gentle; the girl's smile was like a blooming flower.
In that moment, Gao Yang somewhat understood the feelings of the "simps" in his class. He really hadn't appreciated how lucky he was.
Gao Yang walked over with a smile. "Sorry, I'm late."
"It's fine. Qing Ling and I already walked around a bit. I just bought some study materials at the bookstore, and I got two books for you, too," Li Weiwei said.
Only then did Gao Yang notice another girl standing not far behind Li Weiwei—a tall girl with a ponytail, one hand in her pocket, coolly playing on her phone.
The ponytail girl was Qing Ling. 1.67 meters tall, the class sprinter, and Li Weiwei's best friend.
Besides that, Qing Ling was also the universally recognized school goddess.
Her face was undeniably beautiful, but what was truly unfair was her skin—snow-white despite daily training in the sun. Beneath her tight sportswear, her curves were toned and artistic, and her long legs were practically a lethal weapon against straight men.
Interestingly, unlike Li Weiwei, who handed out "friend-zone cards" every other day, Qing Ling had almost no suitors. This was because she never spoke to boys. More accurately, the way she looked at boys always conveyed a physiological disgust, as if she were looking at a fly.
Over time, everyone assumed she had androphobia (fear of men) and stopped boring her with their attention.
However, Gao Yang had a different theory. She didn't hate men; she was likely just a beautiful... lily.
As if sensing Gao Yang's gaze, Qing Ling lowered her phone and looked up, locking eyes with him. The aura she projected was so strong, the disgust so palpable... it made Gao Yang feel like he wasn't just a fly, but a fly staring at shit.
"Qing Ling, want to join us?" Li Weiwei called out to her.
"No thanks. You two have fun." Qing Ling flashed a smile at Li Weiwei—gentle as an angel.
The double standards! It's too much!
That afternoon, Gao Yang and Li Weiwei drank milk tea, watched a movie, and ate Korean BBQ, spending a happy and fulfilling day like normal teenagers.
Late at night, Gao Yang walked Li Weiwei home. On the silent, empty street, Li Weiwei walked a few steps ahead. suddenly, she turned around. "Hey, do you regret it?"
"Huh? Regret what?" Gao Yang asked.
Li Weiwei blushed. "Regret confessing to me."
"Weiwei, actually..."
"I thought you'd be happier that I said yes." Li Weiwei tilted her head, her eyes showing a hint of insecurity. "But I guess you never know. Do you boys lose interest the moment you get the girl? Realizing you didn't actually like her that much?"
"No, actually that message..."
"Gao Yang." Li Weiwei narrowed her eyes in dissatisfaction, studying him. "What is wrong with you today? Are you hiding something from me?"
"...Am I?"
"Yes! You've been absent-minded all day." Li Weiwei sounded annoyed.
In truth, Gao Yang was distracted. He had intended to use this "date" to take his mind off things, but the more he tried not to care, the more his mind wandered back to the horror.
After hesitating, Gao Yang finally asked, "Li Weiwei, let me ask you a question."
"Shoot."
"Back in middle school, didn't your grandma pass away from a brain hemorrhage?"
"Yeah."
"Did you see her one last time?"
Li Weiwei paused, blinking. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, did you see her body after she died?"
"I was at school. By the time I got home, my parents had already sent her for cremation."
"I see."
Gao Yang thought: As expected.
"Is that strange?" Li Weiwei looked puzzled.
"It's nothing..." Gao Yang stopped himself.
Before transmigration, Gao Yang was only six, but he had attended the orphanage director's funeral. He had long vaguely realized that this parallel world had some differences from his previous one.
For instance, in this world, many people were cremated immediately after death, skipping customs like "viewing ceremonies."
It was rushed. As if they were destroying evidence. Just like his grandpa. Just like Li Weiwei's grandma.
Thinking of this, Gao Yang felt a sudden chill.
"What's wrong... you look pale." Li Weiwei noticed his expression.
Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, "Li Weiwei, have you ever considered that the world we live in is actually full of danger?"
Li Weiwei immediately tensed up. "What are you trying to say? You... you're scaring me..."
"I was grabbed by a mental patient last night, you know that?"
"I heard. Thankfully the police shot him, or you might have been hurt. I was really worried about you." Li Weiwei blushed slightly. "Actually, that incident is why I decided to accept your confession."
Gao Yang shook his head. "No. Actually, he didn't intend to hurt me. He was warning me."
"Warning?" Li Weiwei was confused. "Warning you about what?"
Gao Yang briefly recounted the event, and also mentioned the death of his grandfather when he was five.
Li Weiwei grew increasingly frightened, unconsciously stepping closer to press against Gao Yang's arm.
"Could it have been a dream? You were so young..."
"No, it was definitely not a dream!" Gao Yang was certain.
"So you think your grandpa was..." Li Weiwei didn't dare finish the sentence.
Gao Yang shook his head. "Not necessarily. I just feel like something is wrong."
"Didn't you peek into the room back then?" Li Weiwei asked. "What did you see?"
Gao Yang fell silent. In the dream memory, he did see something, but even he wasn't sure if it was a hallucination.
"Actually..."
"Ah! Forget it, don't say it..." Li Weiwei lowered her head. "Let's just hurry home."
"Li Weiwei, do you not believe me?" Gao Yang grabbed her hand.
Li Weiwei froze for a moment. She took a second to overcome her fear, then nodded vigorously. "I believe you."
"I believe you too. I don't know who else I can tell but you." Gao Yang took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Actually, I saw a hand."
"A hand?"
"Yeah. Accurate to say, an arm. It was as thick as a grown man's thigh, covered in greyish-green scales. The scales looked like bugs crowded together, writhing and undulating. It was disgusting..."
"Oh god..."
"I don't know what that thing was, but it definitely couldn't be a human hand." Gao Yang frowned.
"Gao Yang." Li Weiwei looked up at him. "The hand you saw... was it like this?"
Gao Yang jumped in shock!
—Severe pain shot through his wrist!
He looked down. Li Weiwei's slender, pale arm had suddenly split open. Greyish-green fleshy scales were burrowing out from inside, layer by layer.
Under the moonlight, the scales shimmered with a pale, sinister sheen. They grew longer and longer, drilling into Gao Yang's skin like leeches, greedily sucking his blood.
"Li Weiwei... you..."
Li Weiwei quickly extended her other hand, grabbing Gao Yang by the neck and lifting him up effortlessly. The writhing greyish-green scales on her arm transformed into soft, viscous tentacles, drilling into Gao Yang's mouth, nostrils, ear canals, and even the corners of his eyes.
Gao Yang's skull was under unimaginable pressure. He felt like his head was about to explode like a watermelon in a microwave within seconds.
"Gao Yang, thank you." Li Weiwei's voice hadn't changed; in fact, it sounded even gentler than before.
She smiled. "You are the first Awakened I've ever met."
"..."
"I will never, ever forget you."