The Monsters of Room A

I sat by the lake with a fishing rod in my hand when my body suddenly shuddered. I asked my assistant, Xiao Zhong: “Xiao Zhong, didn’t you have the bottom of the lake cleaned out?” Xiao Zhong lowered his head and said: “Brother Chi, we did. The fish were stocked recently too. If we wait a little longer, one should bite.” I snapped: “Cleaned out? Look, there’s a head floating up in the lake, and you call that cleaned out? Get people over here to clean it again, right now.” Xiao Zhong glanced at the empty surface of the lake. His expression was complicated, but he replied calmly: “Understood, Brother Chi. I’ll get someone over right away.” The lake was clear to the bottom, its surface glittering in the sunlight. Every so often, a few playful fish leapt out of the water before darting back beneath the surface.