Chapter 31

Zhang Jingzhu’s life had been incredibly blissful lately. Work felt like a vacation. The boss who had acquired the Lianzhu company seemed very chill. Her base salary and benefits hadn’t been reduced. It was just that some ambitious career-driven people, eager for promotions and raises, couldn’t stand the slow-paced work environment and quit.

The remaining colleagues in the office were almost all like Zhang Jingzhu, people who were financially secure and didn’t care about how much they earned.

Finally, news arrived that the boss was coming to the company. At the same time, Zhang Jingzhu received a call from her father, saying he wanted to give her a belated birthday present and invited her to dinner at a Western restaurant in Qingcheng.

Zhang Jingzhu thought she had misheard. Her lips uncontrollably curled upwards. She confirmed again: “Dad, did you say Qingcheng?”

Zhang Yuanhe laughed: “Dad is back in China. You didn’t mishear. I’m waiting for you at the restaurant. I’ve already booked a private room and prepared a birthday present for you. You can guess what it is on the way. If you guess right, there’s a reward.”

Zhang Jingzhu was so happy that she almost jumped up. Although she was no longer a child and was a mature adult, she couldn’t help but show the joy of a little girl when she heard that Zhang Yuanhe had returned to China to celebrate her birthday. “I’ll be right there.”

It was three in the afternoon. Zhang Jingzhu was still at the company. Cheng Shuinan was wearing an apron, preparing to test the mini cake he had just learned to bake.

He set the time and temperature on the oven.

Just as he was about to continue reading his baking book, there was a knock on the door.

Cheng Shuinan was currently in his human form. He wasn’t worried about being discovered. He thought it was Zhang Jingzhu coming back from work early. When he heard the knock, he ran to the door.

He opened the door. The happy expression on his face froze.

It was Cheng Qingyuan.

His cheeks were sunken, and his jawline was prominent. His lips were an almost sickly pale. Although time had left its mark on his face, he still looked like a refined and handsome man. But at that moment, when he saw who had opened the door, his gloomy expression suddenly turned into a near-maniacal smile.

“Nannan, I finally found you.”

The wind howled. Cheng Shuinan’s body started to tremble uncontrollably. Scales instantly covered his chest, back, and cheeks. He clenched his fist. The pain in his palm helped him pull himself out of his fear.

Two similar faces, one with sickly joy, the other with suppressed fear.

Cheng Shuinan took a step back, abruptly opening his mouth, revealing a mouthful of fangs. His sharp teeth gleamed with a cold, menacing light.

Cheng Qingyuan laughed indifferently. He walked inside. The warm temperature inside the house made him sweat. He took off his coat and draped it over his arm. His eyes locked onto Cheng Shuinan, specifically, his skin, which had dried out from the heat.

“It seems you never took my words to heart.”

Cheng Shuinan stared at him warily.

This man was supposed to be his father. But years of imprisonment had made him forget the joy he had felt when he was held in his father’s arms. Even resentment had vanished.

“Leave, or I won’t be polite.”

He was no longer the child who could be easily coaxed. The nourishment he had received had given his muscles strength. Although they weren’t large muscles, his smooth lines were more powerful than Cheng Qingyuan’s. Besides, he was a merman. His sharp teeth could pierce an enemy’s throat in an instant, and his bone spurs could easily pierce through hard bones…

He hoped Cheng Qingyuan would leave quickly and not disrupt his life.

However, his wishes were not granted.

If Cheng Qingyuan had attacked Cheng Shuinan immediately after entering, Cheng Shuinan would have reacted instantly, and he would have had a good chance of winning. But Cheng Qingyuan’s purpose in coming here was clearly not that.

He maintained a charitable smile, the fine lines around his eyes slightly crinkling. “You look much healthier than before. As a father, I’m happy to see this change in you. My apology for the pain I caused you is useless. But I want to defend myself. Nannan, I had to do it.”

Cheng Shuinan pursed his lips and glanced at the clock.

His long, white neck was exposed to Cheng Qingyuan.

His pupils contracted abruptly.

“Your current condition doesn’t look good. You can feel the changes in your body. That’s not a good sign… Nannan, the merman race may have fierce abilities, but there’s a fatal flaw. If you stay away from the ocean for a long time and stay in the human world, you will die.”

“I’ve done a lot of experiments. There’s no exception to any merman. You’ve been in the human world for eighteen years. Maybe because you have half human genes, you haven’t had a relapse. But now, your body is sending you a warning…”

Cheng Shuinan pursed his lips, trying to control his trembling body. These words, which sounded like concern, tore a huge hole in his heart. He suppressed his intense emotions and asked: “Why did you lock me up?”

Cheng Qingyuan: “I told you, I had to do it.”

Cheng Shuinan’s face turned white. Anger swept over him like a raging storm. Just as he was about to lose control and lunge at him, the soft carpet on the floor pulled him back from his frenzied thoughts. This was Zhang Jingzhu’s home, their home.

He couldn’t dirty it.

Cheng Shuinan clenched his fist: “Please leave. Even if I die, I’ll die here.”

Cheng Qingyuan didn’t leave. He showed no fear of Cheng Shuinan’s fangs. Instead, he showed a look of longing. This expression was fleeting. He regained his gentle demeanor.

“I’ve seen the warehouse video. She’s a very brave girl.”

He paid to take care of the company’s affairs. He wasn’t locked up for long. Those bodies were mermen who died after transforming into humans. Even if they investigated, they wouldn’t find anything

The only thing that bothered him was that all the surveillance videos in the warehouse had been destroyed. He didn’t know where Cheng Shuinan had gone.

Fortunately, there was a small courtyard nearby.

Zhang Jingzhu’s car appeared in the footage.

He finally found Cheng Shuinan.

Cheng Shuinan’s suppressed frenzy instantly became uncontrollable when he heard his words. His legs suddenly transformed into a fishtail. The black scales were like a majestic armor. He stood tall in front of Cheng Qingyuan. His curly hair, his erect ear fins, his face was cold and stern.

“I warn you, don’t hurt her.”

Cheng Qingyuan slightly tilted his head, looking at the excessively handsome Cheng Shuinan. He seemed to see his wife with her silvery-white fishtail. Compared to Cheng Shuinan’s current appearance, his wife’s face was always gentle. A tearing pain suddenly shot through his head. He reached out and covered his forehead.

His eyes shifted between affection and hatred several times.

He regained his composure.

Cheng Qingyuan rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arm. His arm was thin, only skin and bones, with a few scattered scales.

He enjoyed Cheng Shuinan’s shocked expression. He slowly said, “Strange, isn’t it? But it’s true. I discovered it through experiments. Merman genes are too powerful. Mermen who live with humans for a long time, their genes will change the sequence of human genes. This process is irreversible. That girl, I don’t know if you’ve affected her. If you have, it’s bad.

 Humans whose genes have been altered, unless they have medication, it’s difficult to continue living in human society. In the end, she will only resent you.”

Cheng Shuinan’s expression changed instantly, as if a pause button had been pressed. He slowly raised his eyes and, for the first time, looked intently at Cheng Qingyuan’s face. He didn’t seem to be lying.

He repeated in a low voice: “She will… die?”

Cheng Qingyuan was satisfied with his current expression. He couldn’t tell whether he was more relieved or more. This child in front of him had always made him conflicted. He said, “Don’t be nervous, Nannan. I can’t guarantee her health, but she’s definitely been affected. You should know about Sweet Dream Fragrance.

 Unfortunately, there’s only one bottle left. As long as you leave here and come home with me, I’ll agree to give Sweet Dream Fragrance to Zhang Jingzhu to save her.”

“Nannan, Dad is doing this for your own good… I’ve done too many wrong things in the past. Now, I just want to make it up to you.”

They got into the private car.

Cheng Qingyuan pinched his throbbing forehead.

The driver asked with concern: “Sir, are you in pain again? Should I call the doctor?”

The refined demeanor on Cheng Qingyuan’s face disappeared. His eyes were filled with dull pain and the ruthlessness of a demon crawling out of hell. He said no, took off the old-fashioned pocket watch he was wearing around his neck, opened it, revealing his wife’s gentle smile. The corners of his lips curled up. He gently stroked her smiling face: “You must blame me, but Lian, I can’t help but hate him. If he hadn’t been born, we would still be together, wouldn’t we?”

He pressed the pocket watch against his face, his expression full of longing: “I miss you.”

Zhang Jingzhu arrived at the restaurant where she had made an appointment with her father. Before she even entered, she bumped into a woman who was about to go out. The woman’s face looked terrible, as if she had been scared. Her exquisite and beautiful face was covered in cold sweat.

The woman staggered forward, almost falling. Zhang Jingzhu was about to reach out to help her, but she suddenly stopped falling, as if someone had pulled her back. She stabilized herself.

She turned to look at Zhang Jingzhu: “Just now… did you see that?”

Before Zhang Jingzhu could answer, the woman ran away. Then, Zhang Jingzhu felt a gust of cold wind suddenly blow past her. She felt uncomfortable and rubbed her arm.

Her ear was itchy. She reached out and touched it. It was sticky, like the water from Cheng Shuinan’s fishtail. She thought maybe she had rubbed against it unknowingly. She wiped it clean with a tissue.

She didn’t pay much attention and walked into the private room.

Zhang Yuanhe was already waiting for her inside.

His face had the marks of time. He smiled, his wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes, but he had the charm of a mature man. “Jingzhu. My precious daughter. Dad misses you so much.”

Zhang Yuanhe was witty and humorous. He always played the role of a playful companion and confidante in front of his daughter. Zhang Jingzhu was closer to her father than Zhao Jing. Although Zhang Yuanhe was seen as a playboy by outsiders, even the most unrestrained person would become a safe harbor and a solid mountain in front of their daughter.

During their meal, Zhang Yuanhe talked about his daughter’s love life.

“Your mom called me a few days ago and scolded me. I pretty much understand. The boyfriend you found isn’t to her liking?”

Zhang Jingzhu nodded and took out her phone to show him a picture of the two of them.

“He’s very good.”

Zhang Yuanhe rubbed Zhang Jingzhu’s head: “You like him a lot?”

Zhang Jingzhu nodded.

Zhang Yuanhe smiled: “Can’t my daughter support a man?”

Zhang Jingzhu: “No wonder Mom scolded you. If you said that to her, she wouldn’t want to listen.”

“As long as my daughter wants to listen.”

Zhang Jingzhu’s heart warmed.

After dinner, Zhang Jingzhu was waiting for Zhang Yuanhe’s present. He didn’t mention it, so she stretched out her hand in front of him, a mischievous smile on her face.

“Dad, where’s my present?”

Zhang Yuanhe: “So impatient? You’ll definitely like it. I was just in the mood to surprise you. Then your mom scolded me on the phone. I’ll tell you secretly. Your mom said you’re unrealistic, too bold, and love to take risks. She said it’s your bad genes from me. When I heard that, it turns out you want to live by the sea. What’s wrong with that? If you want to do it, go for it. Dad will always support you!”

He handed Zhang Jingzhu a document.

It was the contract for acquiring the Lianzhu company.

Zhang Jingzhu looked at the words at the top of the document. She was stunned. She exclaimed in surprise: “Dad, I love this present!”

She had calculated her assets. Acquiring the entire Lianzhu company wouldn’t be enough, so she only wanted to buy the Nightlight Sea, build a house, and live by the sea with Cheng Shuinan. She definitely had to quit her job at the Lianzhu company.

But now, not only could she keep her job, but she had also become the CEO of the Lianzhu company.

She couldn’t wait to go home and share it with Cheng Shuinan.