After Being Parasiticized By A Monster - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: “Sister, Give Me a Kiss.”

A Companion’s Obsession

The wrinkled bedsheets were smoothed, and Cheng Ming meticulously fastened the last button on her collar, pulling her clothing tight.

“You don’t need to clean up. I absorbed everything perfectly. There are no residual fluids,” Little Ming said, sounding proudly accomplished.

Cheng Ming’s face burned. She struggled to normalize her breathing, which hitched again at his statement. Rationally, she knew it was a normal physiological response; it was their shared body, and he was her partner. But emotionally, she wanted to rip the fish-fungus from her body and kick it out of the bed.

The hyphae, bobbing merrily like a happy dog’s tail—the same threads that were its feeding roots and her sensory tentacles, and which had just shamelessly taken possession of her—were slapped away.

“Put them away.”

Unnerved, Cheng Ming decided she needed to move around before sleeping. Little Ming, content with its victory, accepted her angry rejection as a compliment, shrinking back into the short, Yan Li-appropriate haircut.

She unlocked the door, having secured it earlier, and stepped out. The dangerous notes she had scribbled lay shredded in her hand, ready for disposal.

She still had countless questions: What exactly was the monster organization? Why did her mother give her the red shell? Was it a sign to be accepted by the intelligent entities in the sea?

She knew why she was doing all this: atonement. It was her reason for living now.

Yan Rong’s bedroom door was closed, a sliver of light escaping the crack. It was just past eight.

She walked through the silent, dark living room, her gaze drawn to the silvery glow of the balcony. The city, viewed from the 17th floor, was a mirror world of lonely, post-rain stillness.

There’s Yan Rong in that room. There are dozens of families in this building. There are tens of thousands of people in this Defense Center.

The world was crowded, yet at this moment, she felt utterly alone.

Her only solace was that her fractured “self” had a second half, which silently emerged whenever it sensed her distress, shielding her eyes and covering her ears.

“She brought you into this world. You didn’t have a choice,” Little Ming said. “We didn’t have a choice.”

“I know,” she whispered, forcing a slight, almost imperceptible smile.

Putting her thoughts aside, Cheng Ming went to the kitchen. Following habit, she shredded the paper under running water and flushed it down the drain.

On her way back, she checked Yan Rong’s door again. It was closed, with light showing through the crack.

Cheng Ming stopped, reached out, and twisted the metal handle. Click. It was locked.

“Why are you looking for her?” Little Ming interrupted before she could knock. “What if she needs to ‘relax’ like you did?”

Cheng Ming’s brain felt utterly polluted.

“You shut up,” she repeated weakly.

But she had to admit: the sister was an adult and deserved her privacy. Yes, privacy. Cheng Ming dropped her hand, unable to justify the intrusion.

…

The Interrogation

Inside the room, the soundproofing was excellent.

The blue light on the second screen of Yan Rong’s laptop flickered. “Are you sure?”

Yan Rong leaned back in her chair, fingers hovering over the keyboard. After a moment, she replied, “Not sure.”

Not truly unsure, but in denial. The brief happiness of her sister’s return was too short-lived. Since the first video call, she had felt something was wrong. Her persistent questions were a self-inflicted poison, deepening her suspicion. She just wanted more evidence.

She looks so much like Sister. Her appearance was flawless. Aside from the memory-impaired replies, she was exactly the same: the same concern, the same identical, guilty movements when she tried to hide her annoyance.

Then, she had touched her ear. Yan Li’s right ear had nerve damage, making it highly sensitive, so she covered it and rarely let anyone touch it. Yan Rong, as the sick sister, had the privilege. She used to deliberately rub it, savoring the sight of Yan Li’s suppressed discomfort.

But this time, there was no reaction.

She heard that many parasitic monsters were capable of perfect mimicry. Yet, she clung to hope. What if Sister is still alive? If it was just a monster, why was it being so patient?

“You put her through so many dangerous missions. She deserves compensation for her efforts, no?” Yan Rong smiled harmlessly at the robot’s screen. “You need to show appreciation if you want future cooperation.”

The small robot sputtered a comical emoji. After half a minute, white text scrolled across the screen:

“What do you want?”

…

The demands were settled, but Yan Rong’s smile faded. She turned her head toward the wall. The Defense Center was unreliable, so she had to take matters into her own hands. Yan Li’s high rank and frequent classified work meant her room was routinely inspected. Yan Rong couldn’t install cameras or recording devices. Otherwise, she would have found a fault by now.

Her expression hardened. She put the laptop away and wheeled herself toward the door. She didn’t know what her “sister” was doing. Was she asleep?

The door lock had been modified. She tapped the smart button on her armrest. Dah. The lock disengaged.

As the door opened, the room’s light sliced into the dark hallway. Yan Rong’s hand instantly gripped the wheel to stop the chair.

At the end of the hall stood a figure, an outline in the dim light. The person stepped forward, revealing a familiar body and face. Her eyes, glowing faintly, gave Yan Rong the predatory sensation of being stalked.

Cheng Ming leaned on the door handle, blocking her exit, and smiled down at her:

“Rongrong, are you doubting me?”

…

Cheng Ming had been observing Yan Rong for all 69 days since she was rescued. Yan Rong’s reactions in their brief time together were highly suspect. She was too restrained, too lacking in the frantic joy one would expect. And why lock the door? Was she guarding against her?

Cheng Ming hadn’t planned to impersonate Yan Li forever. She only wanted to buy time. If necessary, she could be honest, or even resort to threats. Using spores to control Yan Rong was the last resort she hoped to avoid.

Cheng Ming met her gaze with a placid, gentle smile—a look that could be interpreted as a test, a warning, or even a joke.

Yan Rong froze. She had been caught completely off guard. Finally, she relaxed her grip on the wheel and bit her lip. “Yes, Sister… I suspect you don’t remember much about us and are just pretending to be close. Aren’t you tired?”

Cheng Ming paused. “I…”

She was caught. Yan Li’s memories concerning Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals had been her priority; Yan Rong’s memories had been neglected.

“I’m sorry, Rongrong…” She knelt down, bringing herself to eye-level.

“It’s not your fault, Sister,” Yan Rong said, shaking her head.

Just as she was about to offer some understanding platitude, Cheng Ming took her hand.

“Will you sleep with me? I remember I promised to make it up to you before I left.”

Yan Rong froze. “Huh?”

Two consciousnesses reacted: the stunned Yan Rong outside, and the instantly hysterical Little Ming inside.

Despite the piercing noise in her head, Cheng Ming remained outwardly calm.

Yan Rong, recovering, burst into laughter. “Oh, Sister, you’re too much… No, thank you, Sister. I know you never sleep well when you’re with me.”

Her eyes curved like crescents, bright and overtly cheerful. “I’ll reluctantly let you owe me this one until you’ve fully recovered. But as compensation for deceiving me—”

She held out her hand. “Sister, give me a kiss.”

Cheng Ming instinctively raised her arm. Realizing the request wasn’t for a hug, but a kiss, she reacted two seconds too late.

“No kissing!”

Little Ming was in full meltdown, screaming in her mind. “Yan Li and she don’t have a bedtime kissing habit! She’s testing you!”

Cheng Ming’s body seized up. If she leaned forward, Little Ming would absolutely fight her for control. She remembered its promise: If anyone gets closer to you than I am, I will kill them.

Yan Rong chuckled, collapsing against Cheng Ming’s shoulder, unable to stop laughing. “Fine! I’m just teasing you, Sister!”

Tears welled in her eyes, shining against the back-light. Cheng Ming couldn’t see the tears, but she heard the whisper in her ear: “I know your memories are important. But when you’re all better, you have to remember to compensate me, okay?”