Chapter 18

The lights in the room were turned off, and the room became dimly lit.

Zhang Jingzhu sighed and turned over, facing Cheng Shuinan. She wasn’t asleep, so she saw everything Cheng Shuinan did.

Under the cover of darkness, he pushed Lucky, who was curled up at the edge of the bed, away. Then, he pushed the folding bed a long distance towards Zhang Jingzhu, until he completely occupied the space beside her bed. Only then did he lie back down.

Not long ago, Cheng Shuinan’s aggrieved face appeared in her mind. He put on a bright, pleading expression, asking Zhang Jingzhu to support him. Even after he got rid of Lucky, he wasn’t satisfied and lay directly on the folding bed, stretching out his fishtail to occupy the entire bed surface.

Fortunately, Lucky was a very tolerant dog and didn’t argue with Cheng Shuinan. She found a spot at the edge of the bed that didn’t interfere with the two of them and lay down.

She thought that would satisfy Cheng Shuinan.

Unexpectedly, he did this sneaky thing after the lights were turned off.

Zhang Jingzhu found his behavior strange, as if she had been marked with a label that belonged to him. Under such circumstances, she should clearly tell Cheng Shuinan that this was wrong and hope that he would leave her bedroom and return to the bathtub. But deep down, she felt a subtle sense of satisfaction because of his careful flattery and possessiveness.

The next morning, when Zhang Jingzhu woke up, the folding bed had been restored to its original position, as if it had never been moved.

She changed her clothes and left the bedroom.

Hearing the sound, Cheng Shuinan immediately poked his head out of the kitchen. In his clear pupils, there was a brilliance that was even more dazzling than the morning sun. He smiled, a little embarrassed and tentative, revealing his sharp teeth.

“Zhang Jingzhu, you’re awake.”

Zhang Jingzhu walked over to him, her gaze passing over his teeth. She noticed his whole fish tremble slightly, and his smile faltered. She laughed, tilted her head, and stared straight at his lips.

“Still bothered by it? Then I solemnly apologize… Your teeth aren’t scary at all.”

Cheng Shuinan smiled and stopped deliberately showing his teeth.

Zhang Jingzhu was preoccupied all morning. She ate breakfast as usual, but she felt that something had changed about Cheng Shuinan that she didn’t know about. The most obvious feeling was his aura. It was as if he had suddenly shed his youthful skin, his face looking mature and handsome, even his “beloved” fishtail seemed to have doubled in size.

Cheng Shuinan’s behavior was even more strange.

She remembered that when he first arrived, he always buried his head in his food at mealtimes. Nothing could stop him from eating. But in recent days, especially this morning:

Zhang Jingzhu had noticed him stealing glances at her several times.

Cheng Shuinan’s gaze was like soft water. When their eyes met accidentally, it was as if he had casually thrown a pebble into the water, causing ripples on the surface. The emotions hidden in his eyes were about to break free, but then he suddenly lowered his head. However, his fishtail quietly rested on her calf, unconsciously stroking her back and forth with its wide fin.

Human sense of smell can’t compare to animals in nature.

The air was filled with the strong scent of a merman in his mature stage.

This scent was like a cloud-sized cotton candy suddenly falling, hitting her head. The sticky, sweet cotton threads turned into sweet juice. If humans could smell this scent, they would probably be overwhelmed by the sweet aroma the moment it entered their nostrils.

Just as Zhang Jingzhu was dizzy from this scent, which she couldn’t detect, Cheng Shuinan suddenly stood up. His handsome face enlarged before her eyes, and a slight dampness hit her face.

Cheng Shuinan reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Then, he sat back down, his eyes shy. “You almost ate your hair.”

Zhang Jingzhu was slightly stunned. She mumbled a perfunctory hmm.

She ran away from home.

Zhang Jingzhu was absentminded all day. She thought she was overthinking, but at the same time, a voice in her heart refuted her. Wasn’t Cheng Shuinan’s behavior obvious enough?

She didn’t solve the emotions that bothered her, so she simply pretended to be oblivious.

When she returned home, she deliberately avoided Cheng Shuinan, who was waiting at the door to greet her.

Cheng Shuinan followed behind her: “Where are you going?”

“Taking Lucky to my mom’s house.”

“Then… are you coming back tonight?” Cheng Shuinan glanced at the kitchen and added in a low voice, “Dinner is ready.”

Zhang Jingzhu remained silent for a moment, unable to bear it. She casually replied, “My mom’s house isn’t far from here. I’ll be back soon.”

When Zhang Jingzhu returned home, it was almost ten o’clock. The food on the table was cold. Hearing the sound of the door opening, Cheng Shuinan immediately straightened up and hopped over to her.

Zhang Jingzhu felt that her behavior was a bit excessive. After all, it was all just her guess. Cheng Shuinan diligently prepared her three meals a day, and even when she deliberately came back late, he looked at her with worried and cautious eyes.

“You… haven’t eaten yet?”

Cheng Shuinan nodded and then said, “I’m not hungry yet.”

Zhang Jingzhu took off her shoes and walked into the house: “Then go eat quickly. I’ll go back to my room to handle some work.”

Cheng Shuinan pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on her. He remained silent for a long time before nodding.

Zhang Jingzhu said she was handling work, but she was actually lying in bed, lost in thought. When the doorbell rang, she was startled and sat up abruptly.

Who could it be at this time?

Zhang Jingzhu told Cheng Shuinan to return to the bathtub and closed the bathroom door.

It was Gu Linyuan.

“Why are you here?” Zhang Jingzhu was surprised by Gu Linyuan’s arrival. It was already past ten o’clock at night, and it was dark.

Gu Linyuan`s expression was not good. He already had a fierce appearance, with his brows lowered and his forehead furrowed. He looked like those vicious bad guys. He didn’t say anything and went straight to the sofa.

“Why is this part of the sofa wet? Did you spill water?”

Zhang Jingzhu quickly threw a pillow at him. “I’m asking you a question. Why are you here so late? I’m about to go to bed.”

“Don’t mention it,” Gu Linyuan pursed his lips. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say it.”

“Don’t be like that.”

Gu Linyuan:”Do you remember the smoke bomb I gave you a few days ago? The one from Zhihe Biological Technology Company. Their eldest son is crazy.”

Gu Linyuan was an adventure travel enthusiast. Whenever he earned enough money, he would go on a trip. His main job was as a jewelry designer. He had his own jewelry store, which was very expensive.

He met Zhihe’s eldest son through buying jewelry.

“My studio is right next to the snack street. I didn’t have time to eat lunch at noon, so I asked my assistant to buy some food from the snack street. It just so happened that Zhihe’s eldest son was at the store with his wife to choose jewelry. I casually asked him if he wanted to eat, and he beat me up without saying a word! I’m so wronged!”

“What did you eat? Maybe he… has food allergies?”

“Just ordinary fried skewers! Fried potatoes, fried squid, fried sausages, things like that… Even if he has food allergies, I just casually asked him if he wanted to eat. He can’t just beat me up! Zhang Jingzhu, whose side are you on?”

Zhang Jingzhu immediately said, “Then he’s wrong. He can’t just hit people. I’m not selling him any jewelry!”

Gu Linyuan: “His wife has a good temper. She even apologized to me. I think that guy should be single. He has a terrible temper!”

Zhang Jingzhu agreed with him for a few sentences and then asked, “You came to see me in the middle of the night just because of this? Why couldn’t you tell me earlier…”

“I just wanted to see you.”

Zhang Jingzhu rolled her eyes: “Speak properly.”

Gu Linyuan immediately sat up straight: “It’s like this. I just came out of my mom’s house and happened to pass by your place. I thought I hadn’t seen you in a few days. What have you been busy with these days? I called you, but you didn’t answer.”

“Nothing much.”

Gu Linyuan:”I don’t have anything to do either. I just came to sit for a while. There’s one thing I should tell you. If Lianzhu goes bankrupt, you’re welcome to come to my place. I’m just short of a small assistant.”

Zhang Jingzhu: “Forget it. Working at your place is worse than me lying at home and relaxing.”

Gu Linyuan got up to leave. As he was leaving, he jokingly suggested: “My mom is still urging me to go on blind dates. I told her, don’t worry, if I reach the age and can’t find a suitable partner, I’ll chase Zhang Jingzhu.”

Zhang Jingzhu reached out and swatted his face away.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud from the bathroom.

Gu Linyuan looked inside: “What was that sound?”

“Nothing, nothing. Maybe something fell over. Go back quickly. I want to sleep!”

After sending Gu Lin away, Zhang Jingzhu rushed to the bathroom to check the situation.

Bathroom.

Cheng Shuinan was curled up underwater. His back was arched, and his fishtail was bent, hugging himself.

The blood under the scales was burning hot. Pain came from all directions, hitting his nerves hard. This pain was bearable, but the sound of the man laughing and joking with Zhang Jingzhu reached his ears, giving rise to a deep sense of possession and jealousy in his heart.

They seemed to have known each other for a long time. Zhang Jingzhu would comfort the man with a gentle tone and even use a coquettish tone that he had never heard before to argue with the man:

He was so sad he wanted to cry.

The tears that had accumulated in his eyes fell with a plop, splashing water.

The bathroom door was opened by Zhang Jingzhu.

Cheng Shuinan’s tearful expression made Zhang Jingzhu’s heart skip a beat.

She walked over and squatted by the bathtub: “What’s wrong? Why are you crying…”

Cheng Shuinan surfaced, the cold water hitting his black fishtail. The tail that was always full of strength seemed weak and powerless at this moment.

His hands rested on the edge of the bathtub, openly revealing the jealousy in his eyes to Zhang Jingzhu.

“Zhang Jingzhu.”

“… Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Who is he?”

Before Zhang Jingzhu could answer his question, the world suddenly spun. She was pulled into the bathtub by Cheng Shuinan.

Her clothes were instantly soaked. The fishtail pressed heavily against the back of Zhang Jingzhu’s knees. The hard, cold scales pressed against her skin through the water-soaked fabric, causing a slight sting.

Cheng Shuinan’s hands rested on her waist, pulling her body up to the surface. However, his arms were subtly forceful, slowly confining her in his embrace.

His clear, innocent eyes were tinged with a hint of uncontrollable desire.

Mermen in their mature stage were like they had been cast under a mysterious spell. Their desires were amplified without limit. Those mermen who were usually simple and kind would do things during this period that even they couldn’t imagine.

And Cheng Shuinan not only had to endure the discomfort brought by his mature stage, but also had to endure the tearing pain of his fishtail. It was as if a blunt knife was cutting his tail. All his meridians and blood fought back, but ultimately they were no match for:

Perhaps, he didn’t have much desire to resist.

After all, Cheng Shuinan was constantly praying and longing for a pair of human legs.

He opened his eyes wide, his gaze clearly reflecting Zhang Jingzhu’s panicked face. Her hair was wet from the water and stuck to her face. The water splashed over her body and hit his fishtail. It was as if he was infected by her temperature, becoming scorching hot.

He should let go of her and apologize.

Let her leave the bathtub.

But at the same time, a voice in his heart shouted, Haven’t you always hoped to hold her one day?

Now that your wish has come true, why pretend?

His chaotic heart couldn’t find a solution.

His eyes were serious, and he stammered, “Zhang Jingzhu… I… I like you…”

His sudden confession was drowned out by Zhang Jingzhu’s surprised exclamation.

He slowly lowered his head, staring disbelievingly at the water below, where his fishtail was entangled with her legs.

The waves surged, the burning sensation in his heart subsided, and his cheeks suddenly turned red.