"At eighteen."

"Eighteen? That means you're about to take the college entrance exams."

"Yes."

"Any idea where you want to go to university?"

"Not sure yet," Gao Yang replied.

"Given your father's situation..." the doctor sighed softly, "I think it's best for you to consider a local option. The university here is quite good, and it's a top-tier school."

Gao Yang sensed something amiss. The doctor was unusually enthusiastic. He set down his coffee and subtly shifted in his seat.

The doctor, perceptive, smiled faintly, "Are you afraid of me?"

Gao Yang's heart skipped a beat. He remained silent, his gaze subtly scanning for the elevator, emergency exits, or windows, all while feigning ignorance, "Afraid of you? Why would I be afraid of you?"

"Afraid that I might be a beast," the doctor said.

Gao Yang nearly leapt from his chair, but Doctor Zhao swiftly grabbed his wrist. The grip wasn't rough, but firm, controlled. Gao Yang tried to pull away but couldn't; the doctor maintained precise pressure, leaving just enough room for Gao Yang to breathe.

The doctor's smile returned. "Don't be afraid. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Gao Yang thought about it. It made sense, and he began to calm down. Trying to appear composed, he asked bluntly, "Are you an Awakened, or a beast?"

"What do you think?" The doctor countered with a smile.

"I don't know," Gao Yang admitted. The more he learned about the beasts, the harder it became to discern the line between them and humans.

"Red-Eyed, serial number 131. I can tell the difference between humans and beasts by their body temperature. Generally, beasts have a slightly higher temperature, with subtle but consistent differences in distribution." The doctor's brown eyes glinted with a faint red glow. "So, I could tell right away that you're human."

Gao Yang exhaled in relief—just a false alarm.

"My name is Baili Yi," the doctor extended his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Baili. I'm Gao Yang," Gao Yang shook his hand, visibly more relaxed.

"You've only recently awakened, haven't you?" Baili Yi asked.

"How did you know?"

"You seem more afraid of beasts than of the Awakened."

Gao Yang paused, "Shouldn't I be?"

Baili Yi gave a cryptic smile, "What's there to fear about beasts? As long as you follow the rules and continue playing the role of an innocent lamb, you'll be fine. Instead of pretending to be humans, it's more accurate to say they possess both human and beastly personas and bodies. As long as you don't flip the switch inside them, don't activate their 'beast' persona, they are, in a way, just like us—our companions."

Gao Yang reflected. This explanation wasn't far from Officer Huang's understanding.

Baili Yi adjusted his posture slightly, leaning forward as the morning light melted around him, casting a soft golden glow over his glasses' frame. "Humans are far scarier than beasts."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Gao Yang pondered the statement, unsure how to respond. He decided to change the subject, "You're a surgeon, constantly operating. Most of your patients must be beasts. Don’t they ever reveal themselves?"

Baili Yi shook his head, "When not in their beast form, their bodies are no different from ours. It's just that their metabolism, healing, and immune systems are slightly superior. Oh, and their reproductive systems are a little less authentic, though I've seen cases so convincing you'd hardly notice. If it weren't for my Red Eyes, I might have been fooled."

Gao Yang immediately thought of Officer Huang's 'pregnant' wife. Perhaps she was one of those beasts, convincingly masquerading.

Baili Yi continued sipping his coffee, as if discussing something completely mundane, "Beasts have lifecycles, much like humans. They're fragile in youth, strong in adulthood, and deteriorate with age. Since they spend 24/7 diligently playing the role of humans, their beast abilities gradually weaken. The older the beast, the more pronounced the decline. Many elderly beasts, even if they transform back, may have less fighting power than a young human."

Gao Yang recalled Aunt He, who attacked him at the love hotel. Officer Huang had mentioned her severe decline. Otherwise, her combat abilities would have been several times stronger.

"And my family... Are they human, or... beasts?" Gao Yang wanted to know, but feared the answer. His throat tightened, and his heartbeat quickened as he voiced the question.

"I can't tell you. It violates the rules." Baili Yi smiled apologetically, "In fact, just speaking with you today has already bent the rules. I ask that you keep this confidential."

The irony struck Gao Yang—he actually felt relieved. Then, another thought came to him, "Are you part of the organization too?"

"Organization?" Baili Yi toyed with the word, "If you must put it that way, I do belong to a certain group."

"Mr. Baili, I've only just awakened, and I have so many questions. Can I ask for your guidance?" Gao Yang couldn't let the opportunity slip and unleashed a barrage of questions.

"I've heard that beasts lack real reproductive systems. So how are beasts created? And how were we, humans, created? Why do they place us among them and go to such lengths to play these games of make-believe with us? Why do we only unlock our abilities when we discover the truth?

"And why, once we awaken, do the beasts around us immediately switch and try to kill us? How many kinds of beasts are there? Are they all bad? Can humans and beasts have children? Is this just happening to me, or is it the same everywhere?"

Baili Yi chuckled, "Poor kid, you’ve really been bottling this up, huh?"

Gao Yang felt like crying. Ever since his awakening, his mind had been consumed with these thoughts, to the point of madness.

"Sorry, I don’t have all the answers, and even for the ones I do, I can’t tell you," Baili Yi pondered briefly, "Here, let me leave you with one last piece of advice."