This was Gao Yang's first time at a love hotel, and to be honest, he didn't like it.

The red lighting, red carpet, red walls, red furniture, and red canopy all combined to create a stifling atmosphere, reminiscent of a cramped spider's lair.

Qing Ling locked the door, drew the curtains, opened a metal box, and with a brief examination, skillfully assembled the sniper rifle.

It was still early, with nothing much to do.

Qing Ling sat on a strangely shaped chair while Gao Yang sat on the soft waterbed. Their eyes met, creating a subtle atmosphere—though Qing Ling appeared calm, Gao Yang didn’t quite know what to do with his hands.

Suddenly, Gao Yang’s phone rang.

It was a call from Wang Zikai, “Bro! Don’t act on impulse! Think it through! If you take this step, there’s no turning back! You’ll be tainted! A man who doesn’t respect himself is like rotten cabbage! I despise you! Pah!”

“A woman’s no good, she’ll only slow down your Flash!”

“Hurry up and get out of there! Let’s rank up together, that’s the righteous path!”

“I’m in Room 601 of the e-sports center! Big screen, surround sound, it’s awesome! Get up here, bro! Let’s rank up till dawn!”

Gao Yang hung up.

“Are you lonely?” Qing Ling asked.

“Huh?”

“Then why do you associate with idiots?” Qing Ling’s face was full of confusion.

“Well... it's complicated,” Gao Yang replied with an awkward smile.

Qing Ling stood up and walked into the bathroom, “I’m going to take a shower.”

The bathroom was a separate space with partially frosted glass. Though it wasn’t completely clear, the outline was still visible.

Soon, Qing Ling hung her jacket and skirt on the glass door, followed by her white lingerie.

Does she not see me as an outsider?

Gao Yang quickly lowered his gaze, but the lower half of the glass was transparent, allowing him to see her slender legs and smooth ankles. As the sound of rushing water filled the air, warm water mixed with white foam slid along the contours of her legs, eventually washing away at her ankles.

Gao Yang took out his phone and began scrolling.

Qing Ling soon finished her shower and emerged, wrapped in nothing but a sensual towel.

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She said to Gao Yang, “You should take a shower too.”

“Is it necessary?”

“To outsiders, we’re just a couple in a love hotel. Everything must appear logical, leaving no room for suspicion.”

Qing Ling spoke as she walked to the nightstand, opened a box of condoms, took one out, and tore open the package. She then wrapped the condom in tissue paper and placed it in her bag, seemingly planning to take it with her.

She thought for a moment and asked, “Is one enough? How many do you usually use?”

“...”

Gao Yang was at a loss for words, unsure of what to say, “Just... one.”

After leaving behind all the appropriate "traces" in the room, the two of them took a short nap. Naturally, Gao Yang didn’t sleep at all; his mind was occupied with various thoughts—serious ones.

…

At 5:30, the alarm rang, and Qing Ling opened her eyes, turning over to get out of bed.

Gao Yang, who had been awake the whole time, got up eagerly and asked, “I remember you mentioned before that beasts don’t have reproductive systems.”

Qing Ling nodded as she walked to the mini-fridge in the corner, opened the door, and took out two bottles of drinks. She tossed one to Gao Yang and opened the other for herself, taking a sip.

“I have a question,” Gao Yang said as he twirled the drink bottle in his hand, “Officer Huang... is married, right?”

Qing Ling nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“By the one-in-a-thousand chance, his wife is likely a beast, isn’t she?”

“Probably.”

“So if they ever... wouldn’t that be a problem?”

Qing Ling took another sip, “Beasts don’t lack reproductive systems; they lack genuine human reproductive systems, but they can imitate them. There are subtle differences between the two.”

“Imitate? Differences?” Gao Yang pondered.

Qing Ling replied calmly, “I awakened when I was very young. The first human I met was my cousin.”

“Oh.”

“He slept with many girls, but one day, when he slept with a human girl, he noticed the experience was different from before.”

“And then he awakened?” Gao Yang felt conflicted. This suggested that scumbags are doomed to a bad end—if Qing Ling’s cousin hadn’t awakened, he wouldn’t have died.