"I, I, I like how you take your work seriously, like your polite manner with people, like your demeanor, like everything about you. This is the first time I’ve liked someone like this." Hu Yiqiao loudly confessed, regardless of the crowd around her.
"Are you sure what you like is a person?" Tang Zheng suddenly sneered.
"I’m sure!" Hu Yiqiao affirmed without hesitation.
"I’m asking, are you sure what you like is a person?" Tang Zheng stood up and sarcastically said to Hu Yiqiao, "What do you like? Is it my appearance? This appearance of mine seems pretty good in human aesthetics."
"What do you mean?" Hu Yiqiao finally snapped back, realizing that Tang Zheng’s words were not simple.
"I’m not human. Let me show you my true form." Tang Zheng stood up, loosened his tie, took off his suit, muttering, "These aren’t cheap, I don’t want to ruin them."
"Then go undress behind the screen," Mo Bai Ning suddenly spoke, "That suit must be worth tens of thousands, right?"
"Indeed, a month’s salary." Tang Zheng looked at Mo Bai Ning appreciatively, "I’ll undress at the back then."
"What are you talking about? Tang Zheng, what are you doing?" Hu Yiqiao’s heart started to swell with fear, feeling the forthcoming events were beyond her expectations.
"Showing you the real me." Tang Zheng walked to the screen at the courtyard, sounds of rustling echoed, he was evidently removing his clothes.
Hu Yiqiao stood up, her tightly clenched hands started trembling, staring intently at the screen.
Before long, a black foot stepped out, followed by a black, scaly beast emerging. Its appearance somewhat resembled a lizard, an upright lizard. Eyes tinted red, long white fangs, tail dragging on the ground.
Hu Yiqiao stared helplessly at the beast before her, shaking her head in disbelief that the refined Tang Zheng’s true form was this.
"Manager Hu, seeing me like this, would you still say you like me?" Tang Zheng slowly approached Hu Yiqiao, "I’m not human, understand? I’m a demon, living within human society. I have my own preferences and pursuits. I don’t want your so-called liking to disrupt my life or interfere with my interests and pursuits."
"Is this your true form?" Hu Yiqiao gradually sat down, looking at Tang Zheng.
"Yes." Tang Zheng said slowly, "So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t disturb my life. I learned how to survive in human society the hard way, learned countless things to better blend in human life. What you like is merely a shell. There are plenty of good-looking humans, go find them." Saying this, Tang Zheng turned to go back behind the screen to transform back into his human form and change his clothes.
"No!" Hu Yiqiao loudly retorted, "Your human appearance is indeed attractive, very much enhancing; but! That’s not the sole reason I like you, nor is it the main reason. What I like is your diligence in work, your considerate attitude towards people, your persistence to understand things you don’t know!"
"Are you serious?" Tuoba Wu widened his eyes in disbelief at Hu Yiqiao.
"Even with this appearance, I still like, like, really like you! Tang Zheng, I like you—!!!" Hu Yiqiao shouted, her voice growing louder, almost exhausting her strength, her voice deafening.
The courtyard fell silent.