My Girlfriend’s a Monster

Luo Ke’s kiss came swiftly and precisely, effectively silencing Zhong Qingxiao’s impending shout. If she hadn’t steadied his chair, he might have toppled backward. They shared a brief kiss before Luo Ke leisurely released his lips and nudged the sandwich toward him, saying, “Eat up.”

Zhong Qingxiao’s expression was less than cheerful. He glanced at his girlfriend’s composed demeanor, exhaled softly, and lamented, “I might have to give up on Berry Sandwiches for life, Xiao Ke.”

Was he already overwhelmed? Luo Ke tore off half of the sandwich and began chewing.

“It’s indeed clean, perhaps cleaner than any Berry Sandwich you’ve ever bought,” Luo Ke remarked.

Despite her demonstration, Zhong Qingxiao still seemed disinterested in eating, so Luo Ke didn’t press him. Together, they left the bakery.

Breathing in the outside air, Zhong Qingxiao asked Luo Ke, “Was that Monster similar to Huo Sisi?”

Luo Ke shook her head. “High-level Monsters are inherently superior. Those with monstrous appearances like that one start at a low level. I slapped it a few times when we first met, and it seemed to evolve out of fear.”

Zhong Qingxiao was truly at a loss for words.

Luo Ke bounced along, her spirits high. To match the date’s atmosphere, she wore a strawberry-colored uniform skirt and the headband Zhong Qingxiao had given her.

“Want some water?” Luo Ke asked. “We can buy some at the supermarket.”

Bottled water usually has a shelf life of several months, and the supermarket’s stock hadn’t expired yet.

Zhong Qingxiao’s mood improved slightly as they entered a nearby convenience store. He picked up a bottle of mineral water, while Luo Ke opted for orange juice.

The store was deserted, with no one to charge them.

“Want to visit the amusement park?” Luo Ke suggested.

Shen City boasts numerous theme parks, but they’re typically crowded. Luo Ke was certain they’d be empty now.

“Sure,” Zhong Qingxiao agreed. Since they were out on a date, it made sense to find something to pass the time.

“After the amusement park, we’ll find the meat you like and then head home,” Luo Ke nodded.

With traffic completely halted, Luo Ke casually dismantled a car door, triggering a piercing alarm that echoed down the street. Zhong Qingxiao hurriedly intervened.

“No, we can’t,” Zhong Qingxiao said. “Without keys, we can’t drive it.”

Luo Ke pondered for a moment, then returned to the bakery. Five minutes later, she emerged with a set of keys.

“The chef said we could use his car,” Luo Ke explained.

Zhong Qingxiao asked, “Has he driven it since becoming a Monster?”

“No,” Luo Ke replied, leading Zhong Qingxiao to the car. “His legs are too short to reach the pedals.”

Zhong Qingxiao sighed in relief.

Time had passed, and Zhong Qingxiao couldn’t quite recall his last amusement park visit, but it certainly wasn’t as eerily quiet as this.

The vast amusement park was devoid of people, not even a breeze disturbed the silence.

But

Could the park’s attractions still operate normally?

“Let’s find the switches,” Luo Ke suggested, unconcerned. She could activate them herself as long as the machines were functional.

However, Luo Ke underestimated the complexity. Times had changed, and amusement parks no longer had individual control rooms like the ones she visited in elementary school. After searching for a while, she found that only the Ferris wheel and roller coaster could be manually activated.

The Ferris wheel was missing a segment, but it didn’t seem to affect its operation.

She led Zhong Qingxiao onto it.

Zhong Qingxiao still felt uneasy. For humans, amusement parks weren’t just entertainment facilities; they should be filled with laughter, children running around, and the enticing aroma of sweets and cotton candy.

But now, there was nothing, only the creaking of the Ferris wheel and the clanging of a dangling steel bar.

In the vast amusement park, it was just him and Xiao Ke, so empty it was impossible to feel joy.

“Don’t you like it?” Luo Ke asked, leaning close to Zhong Qingxiao. “You seem to be thinking about something else.”

Zhong Qingxiao lowered his gaze, unsure of his feelings, and suddenly couldn’t help but share his past.

“Xiao Ke, I’ve only been to amusement parks twice.”

“Back then, they weren’t themed parks and weren’t as large. My mom took me.”

“Mom?” Luo Ke licked her lips. “You’ve never mentioned her.”

“Yes, she passed away when I was eight,” Zhong Qingxiao said, a nostalgic expression on his face. “The first time was when I was six. My mom and dad brought me. I remember it was spring, early spring, chilly, but the park was crowded. Unfortunately, it rained, and we left early.”

“My dad was busy with work, so we rarely had outings together. The second time was when I was eight. Sadly, she passed away that summer.”

Luo Ke glanced at Zhong Qingxiao, sensing a wave of sadness from him.

“Do you miss her?” Luo Ke asked. Why would he still reminisce about her after 20 years?

Would she miss Luo Meihua if she died? Luo Ke disliked such troubling questions, so she gazed into the distance.

The giant Ferris wheel offered a panoramic view, even revealing Monsters devouring humans in the distance, killing, slicing open chests, and feasting on tender flesh mixed with blood.

The Monsters seemed quite satisfied.

Luo Ke rested her chin on the Ferris wheel’s railing. Such scenes played out daily, from childhood to adulthood, with millions of killings occurring worldwide.

Fish on the chopping board, dogs chased into dead ends, cats with gouged eyes, chickens running headless…

Countless, endless, now just humans as the food source. For Luo Ke, it was all the same.

“I do miss her, but when I dream, I can’t clearly see her face anymore,” Zhong Qingxiao sighed. The amusement park visit at eight was with his mom alone, and they rode the Ferris wheel twice.

He seemed to truly miss it.

Luo Ke squinted and asked, “Zhong Qingxiao, when’s your birthday?”

The sudden question caught Zhong Qingxiao off guard, but he quickly replied, “July 16th. Why?”

“In midsummer,” Luo Ke nodded. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

Her nodding was cute, prompting Zhong Qingxiao to lean in and kiss her cheek.

“We should head down,” Zhong Qingxiao said.

Luo Ke blinked, glancing at the control room below where she’d wedged the switch with a stone.

Her expression was odd, and Zhong Qingxiao followed her gaze, then said with a wry smile, “Xiao Ke, don’t tell me you jammed the switch.”

“Yes,” Luo Ke admitted confidently. “Isn’t the Ferris wheel supposed to be fun at the top?”

“Then… how do we get down?” Zhong Qingxiao chuckled.

“Don’t worry,” Luo Ke said, as Tentacles emerged from her back, expertly wrapping around Zhong Qingxiao’s waist, and they climbed down the Ferris wheel together.

Ah, what a unique experience.

Before leaving, Zhong Qingxiao glanced back at the Ferris wheel, then took his girlfriend’s hand and departed.

“Not happy?” Luo Ke asked. “I thought the amusement park would operate like before.”

“It’s fine,” Zhong Qingxiao smiled. “To me, the Ferris wheel is the essence of the amusement park.”

They left the park, planning to drive to the supermarket, buy some essentials, and find the meat Luo Ke liked.

Zhong Qingxiao was somewhat worried about Yan Cheng and the others. Medicine was hard to find, and they had two teenagers in the car today.

It was surreal; they were struggling for survival supplies while he and his girlfriend were leisurely dating.

“Zhong Qingxiao, will humans really die without anti-inflammatory medicine?” Luo Ke suddenly asked. “Did the medicines I bought from the pharmacy include any anti-inflammatory ones?”

“Injuries usually require them. Some of those medicines have auxiliary anti-inflammatory effects, but for severe inflammation and fever, they might not suffice.”

Luo Ke fell silent. Her cleansing mucus worked for Zhong Qingxiao, but what about Mrs. Luo Meihua and his father-in-law? They didn’t seem very robust.

“How about we visit the hospital for our date?” Luo Ke’s mischievousness resurfaced. The hospital, Chunfeng Community’s humans would surely encounter something interesting.

“Are you sure, Xiao Ke?” Zhong Qingxiao was surprised. He knew his girlfriend disliked being disturbed by those people, so why the sudden change?

“Of course,” Luo Ke said, slowly approaching him, her fingertips tapping his chest. “You seem distracted, worrying about them. Why not check on them?”

“For me?” Zhong Qingxiao was surprised. His girlfriend was willing to help Yan Cheng and the others to ease his concerns. He was indeed worried, but he thought he’d hidden his emotions well, yet Xiao Ke noticed.

She wasn’t a terrifying Monster; she was still her, the thoughtful and kind Xiao Ke.

Luo Ke gently pressed her lips. Was she kind? Did she suddenly possess kindness?

No, she just found today’s date too dull. Being the first, she wanted to leave a deep and unique impression on her dear wife.

The TV-inspired plans were useless; cinemas, amusement parks, everywhere was deserted. Who would provide them with quality service?

Zhong Qingxiao seemed relieved, then felt guilty. He hadn’t done anything for Xiao Ke.

His human identity prevented him from taking the lead in this world.

“What about the car? Should we return it first?”

Luo Ke shook her head, dismissively waving her hand. “No need.”

Zhong Qingxiao paused. Had the Monster chef given them the car because he couldn’t reach the pedals?

He was about to find it amusing when Luo Ke added, “It’s dead.”

“W-what?” Zhong Qingxiao thought he misheard.

Luo Ke turned, matter-of-factly, “You said you never want Berry Sandwiches again, right? Useless things should be killed.”

Her expression was bright, but her words left Zhong Qingxiao frozen.

Did she do it when she returned to the bakery? She had killed that Monster without hesitation.

Zhong Qingxiao couldn’t articulate his feelings. Earlier, he had seen that Monster. He didn’t like it, but it was the first Monster he’d encountered that retained human memories.

It lived like a human, just with a monstrous appearance.

His shock was palpable, staring at Luo Ke without speaking.

Luo Ke frowned. “What’s that expression?”

Had he developed feelings for a lowly creature? For a hideous and repulsive Monster he’d only met once.

“Zhong Qingxiao,” Luo Ke frowned. “You didn’t think the way it acted today was its true nature, did you?”

“What do you mean?” Zhong Qingxiao was confused.

“It was just scared of me, so it pretended to be nice. Do you know how many human organs it had in its freezer?” Luo Ke calmly revealed.

Monsters need to eat.

Humans or their kind are their only food source.

His dear wife was too kind. How could he be deceived by other lowly Monsters? Only she could deceive him.

That worthless chef existed solely for Berry Sandwiches.

If Zhong Qingxiao didn’t like them, what was the point of keeping it?

It had seen her dear wife, glimpsed her most precious secret. Such a detestable Monster had to be killed.

Zhong Qingxiao’s stomach suddenly cramped violently. He clutched his mouth, leaning against a lamppost, dry heaving, his eyes reddening, tears nearly spilling.

He kept thinking-thank goodness he hadn’t touched that sandwich today.

But what about the ones he’d eaten before…

Zhong Qingxiao’s complexion was dreadful.

“Are you blaming me?” Luo Ke silently approached.

Zhong Qingxiao fought the discomfort and replied, “No, Xiao Ke, I’m just… just…”

He couldn’t find the right words to describe his feelings, a tumultuous mix.

Luo Ke extended her hand, gently placing her palm on Zhong Qingxiao’s abdomen, soothingly massaging him, her expression tinged with possessiveness.

The world had changed, her kind-hearted dear wife had to see that.

Only she could be his life’s sole companion.

“Still going to the hospital?” Luo Ke asked.

Zhong Qingxiao took a while to suppress the indescribable feeling, then nodded, holding his girlfriend’s hand.

“Are you mad at me?” Luo Ke asked.