Tidal Engagement - Chapter 10

I didn’t answer immediately.
Some words can’t be picked up too quickly.
Especially with someone like Pei Tinglan.
He’s too good at listening for the cracks.
A hint of softness, a moment of hesitation, a wordless reluctance-he’d remember them all, and at the next tide they’d turn into ropes.
I put the Silver Ring back into the evidence bag.
“Then you’ll learn to wait.”
Pei Tinglan looked at me.
“For what?”
“For me to investigate my mother’s case, for me to confirm the new method is safe, for you to be able to understand human speech at High Tide.”
He was quiet for two seconds.
“That last one might be difficult.”
“Then practice.”
He gave a faint smile.
The daylight fell on his face, finally making him look human.
Though only just.
When the police came to take my statement, he stepped back two paces and didn’t touch me again.
I noticed.
He knew I noticed.
Between us lay a distance neither far nor near, like a tide line that hadn’t risen yet.
I thought at least I could catch my breath after that.
But that very night, I returned to the temporary hotel, and as soon as I unlocked the door, I saw a transparent water tank on the windowsill.
Inside, soaked in water, was a silvery-white scale.
Underneath it was a note.
The handwriting was neat and elegant, very much like the part Pei Tinglan pretended to be.
Miss Lin, A research sample.
I picked up the note. On the back was another line.
Also, I didn’t follow you today.
Does that count as practice?
I stared at that line for a long time, and couldn’t help but laugh.
A soft knock came from outside the door.
My smile faded.
“Who is it?”
Pei Tinglan’s voice came through the door.
“Room service.”
I looked down at my phone.
1 AM, High Tide.
Great.
He failed the practice.

I didn’t open the door.
“Room service delivers scales at 1 AM?”
Silence from outside the door.
“No.”
“Then what are you here for?”
“To make sure you locked the door.”
“I did.”
“Mm.”
He seemed relieved.
I leaned against the door.
“Pei Tinglan, are you lucid right now?”
“Half.”
“And the other half?”
“Is thinking about how to take the door apart.”
I closed my eyes.
“You’re honest, at least.”
A soft laugh came from outside.
“You said to practice.”
“The practice isn’t harassing your partner in the middle of the night.”
“I know.”
His voice dropped low.
“I just smelled your blood.”
I looked down at my hand.
When I took out the water tank earlier, the glass edge had cut a thin line.
The wound wasn’t deep, and the bleeding had almost stopped.
But for the person outside the door, it clearly wasn’t that simple.
I pulled a tissue and pressed it against the wound.
“And now?”
Pei Tinglan didn’t answer.
Through the door panel came the sound of suppressed breathing.
After a long time, he said, “Lin Wu, step away from the door.”
I immediately backed off.
The next second, the door lock made a very soft click.
It wasn’t being taken apart.
It was an extra lock added from the outside.
I froze.
Pei Tinglan’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition.
“Don’t open the door tonight.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the pool downstairs.”
“Pei Tinglan.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t drown yourself.”
He laughed.
“A Sea Monster doesn’t drown.”
I said, “Then don’t scare anyone else to death.”
Silence outside for a few seconds.
“Okay.”
His footsteps faded away.
I stood in place, still pressing the small wound.
The scale in the water tank gave a gentle sway.
I suddenly noticed that engraved on the back of the scale was a tiny character.
Wu.