Chapter 33

Zhang Jingzhu tried her best to suppress her anger. She wanted to scold Cheng Shuinan severely. Even if he could come and go freely, he shouldn’t have met Cheng Qingyuan alone.

It was because she cared so much that she was overly worried.

She turned her head, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

The hand he was holding became sticky. Even after transforming into a human body, the liquid hadn’t disappeared immediately. It was still covering the surface of his body, as if he had been drenched in water.

He bent down, meeting her gaze from below. Zhang Jingzhu’s expression was a bit fierce, as if she was holding her breath. He dared only to hook her hand and gently shake it a few times.

Even if Zhang Jingzhu was extremely angry, seeing his face would make her anger disappear. But she was still worried. After all, he was the person who had imprisoned him. His cruelty was beyond human comprehension. What if he wanted to hurt him again?

She cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze: “If anything happens next time, tell me immediately.”

Cheng Shuinan let her squeeze his cheeks into a ball. He nodded. His voice was a muffled

“Now you can tell me why you went to see him,” Zhang Jingzhu released his face, glancing at Cheng Qingyuan, who was lying on the ground. His complexion wasn’t good. It seemed like he had been choked and was lacking oxygen. “And… how did he end up lying on the ground?”

Cheng Shuinan hesitated at first, unwilling to tell the truth. He never had firm principles in front of Zhang Jingzhu. She threatened him with a few words, and he spilled the beans. Perhaps he was worried that she would think he was more dangerous. His facial expression unconsciously transformed into one of grievance and sadness.

After all, Cheng Qingyuan was his father. But he could pinch his father’s neck without changing his expression. If it hadn’t been for that phone call, he would have succeeded.

Even now, he still didn’t regret it. He just felt sorry. If he had acted sooner, he wouldn’t have to be in this cramped little house with Zhang Jingzhu, spilling everything to her.

If he could, he still wanted to be clean and beautiful in Zhang Jingzhu’s heart, like the merman in a fairy tale who would rather hurt himself than let others get hurt.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t. At least not now.

After listening to Cheng Shuinan’s words, Zhang Jingzhu finally understood why she had been inexplicably itchy lately and why liquid had occasionally seeped out. Had she been assimilated by merman genes? It was unbelievable.

Would she become a fish?

How would she explain it to her parents? Would she really have to live in the ocean with Cheng Shuinan? Oh my god, she just wanted to build a house by the sea. The sea belonged to Cheng Shuinan, but she still wanted to go shopping, go to amusement parks, and have dinner with her family and friends occasionally…

Lost in thought, Zhang Jingzhu was pulled back to reality by the cold air that hit her face. The air was icy and cold, with a faint, damp smell of the ocean. Cheng Shuinan had straightened up without her knowing. He leaned towards her. He was still bowing his head, but this time, his cheek was clearly closer to hers.

“Can you go out first? I’ll go find you when I’m done here…” His eyes seemed to be filled with water. His long eyelashes were like they were dripping with water. His soft and gentle voice spoke with a plea: “Don’t be afraid of me. Don’t abandon me… I’ll find a way to maintain your body’s condition. Can we live like before?”

Zhang Jingzhu was stunned. She hadn’t recovered from the news that she might become a fish. Then, her brain buzzed—Solve? How would he solve it.

She recalled what Cheng Shuinan had just said. Whether it was to maintain his human form for a longer time or to treat humans who had been invaded by merman genes, they needed Sweet Dream Fragrance. But the Zhihe Biotechnology Company, which manufactured Sweet Dream Fragrance, no longer sold it to the public.

There was only one bottle left.

Obviously, they couldn’t use it.

So what did Cheng Shuinan mean…

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t hesitate: “No.”

Her well-maintained facial expression instantly cracked. Cheng Shuinan didn’t expect her to answer like that. Almost immediately, thick fog welled up in his eyes. He grabbed her hand, forcefully squeezing it into her fingers, tightly interlacing their fingers. Then, he asked in a voice that trembled as he tried to control it: “Then what do you want to do? Tell me, Zhang Jingzhu.”

Would she cruelly abandon him after learning that his existence would make her a freak? Perhaps that would be the best choice for Zhang Jingzhu. She was human. How could she tolerate a merman she had casually rescued, not only carrying dangerous genes but also threatening her?

Cheng Shuinan wanted to be understanding and tell her, “It’s okay. No problem. Whatever you want to do, I’m fine with it. Even if you abandon me, it’s okay.”

If it were the old him, he would have chosen that.

But now, making him let go after he had gotten Zhang Jingzhu, how could he possibly do it?

Cheng Shuinan’s expression showed a torn struggle between conflict, anxiety, and grief, finally turning into a frantic obsession. Zhang Jingzhu’s fingers were squeezed between his, and the increasing pressure made her feel a stinging pain.

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t understand why his emotions were fluctuating so violently. Looking at his expression, it was as if the world had collapsed. She said, “Gently,” then decided to abandon her plan to surprise him. After all, he looked terrible. His face turned pale instantly after she rejected his proposal.

She said, “I’ve already bought ownership of the Nightlight Sea and contacted an architectural firm to build a small house by the sea. We’ll live there later…”

Cheng Shuinan’s eyes widened.

The… ownership of the Nightlight Sea?

Zhang Jingzhu was satisfied with Cheng Shuinan’s sudden frozen expression. His scattered gaze slowly focused on her and brightened visibly. He was afraid he had misheard: “Really?”

“…What about your job? Don’t you want to live in human society? It’s bustling here. There are so many new and exciting things…”

“It’s not like we’re never coming back,” Zhang Jingzhu remained silent for a moment. “If I hadn’t become a merman.”

Would it be bad to become a merman he thought to himself.

Then, they would be the same kind. He wouldn’t have to worry about being abandoned by her one day because of their different races.

He didn’t dare to say this. It was too selfish. He should stop this thought, but he couldn’t control it.

However, no matter what form he took, returning to the ocean was clearly better than staying here.

He felt like he was swimming in honey. He wanted to ask a few more times if it was really true. Perhaps he felt it was annoying. He pursed his lips and only made a soft  sound from his throat. But he couldn’t contain his joy.

The small house that held Cheng Shuinan’s few good memories from his childhood was now merging with Zhang Jingzhu. Crossing the river of time, the faint scent of orange and iris intertwined. Cheng Shuinan left a restrained kiss on Zhang Jingzhu’s lips.

“Just the two of us?” he asked.

Zhang Jingzhu nodded: “Just you and me.”

Cheng Shuinan smiled. He hooked her finger and wouldn’t let go.

Since he had seen his mother’s body, Cheng Shuinan naturally wouldn’t leave it alone. He discussed it with Zhang Jingzhu. They decided to take Lian’s body to the sea, sink it to the bottom, and return to where she had originally grown up.

When he was carrying Lian away, they were stopped. Cheng Qingyuan’s driver burst through the door, meeting Zhang Jingzhu’s gaze.

The driver was tall and strong. He was wearing black sunglasses and looked intimidating. Just as Cheng Shuinan was getting ready to fight him, the driver bypassed them and ran to Cheng Qingyuan’s body. He checked his breath and breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Jingzhu pulled Cheng Shuinan: “Let’s go.”

But the driver suddenly spoke: “I hope you don’t blame Sir. Sir has been sick since Madam passed away. The doctor diagnosed him with schizophrenia. It’s getting worse and worse. I’ve seen him talking to himself several times. He’s talking to Madam.”

Cheng Shuinan paused slightly, his expression unclear.

His breathing clearly stopped for a moment. Then, he felt Zhang Jingzhu’s gentle palm on his arm. This pulled him back from his frenzied emotions. He didn’t respond. He wanted to leave quickly.

But Zhang Jingzhu turned around: “What do you mean by that?”

The driver was stunned: “I don’t mean anything. I’m just telling you that Sir is really sick.”

“So what? Sick people should go to the hospital. If they’re too sick, they should stay in a mental hospital and not come out,” Zhang Jingzhu said in a deep voice. “Can he escape the fact that he hurt Cheng Shuinan just because he’s sick? If he’s sick, why doesn’t he lock himself up in the warehouse?”

The driver was speechless.

Zhang Jingzhu pulled Cheng Shuinan: “Let’s go. Don’t talk to them anymore.”

Cheng Shuinan smiled and nodded. He was pulled out of the house by her. She was walking very fast. It was obvious that she was angry. He was pulled along, stumbling, but he had a sweet smile on his face.

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t hesitate at all. After leaving Cheng Qingyuan’s neighborhood, she drove to the Nightlight Sea. Lian’s body hadn’t changed at all after leaving the freezer. She was quietly held in Cheng Shuinan’s arms, as if she were just sleeping.

The Nightlight Sea wasn’t actually the merman’s natural habitat. Their habitat was much farther from the human coast. For convenience, Zhang Jingzhu came to the commercial area of the Nightlight Sea. Recently, because of the body incidents, the Nightlight Sea had been closed to the public.

She rented a yacht. Lian’s fishtail was wrapped in a blanket. They boarded the evening yacht and sailed towards the center of the ocean.

The driver complained that Zhang Jingzhu’s aimless requests were difficult for him. But money shut his mouth. Zhang Jingzhu offered twice the usual price. Besides, he hadn’t had any business for a long time.

Zhang Jingzhu’s request was simple: sail as far as possible towards the center of the ocean.

He thought they would have to drive for a long time. But after only one night, he received a new request.

“Turn right ahead. There’s a small island. Just drop us off there.”

The driver couldn’t help but feel curious: “There’s an island ahead? I’ve never heard of it. The navigation system doesn’t show it either. Is it undeveloped? It’s best not to randomly land on an unknown island. It’s dangerous. Are you going on a trip? I can recommend an island. The facilities there are very complete. It’s definitely better than this island that appeared out of nowhere.”

Zhang Jingzhu interrupted him: “No, thank you. Just drop us off when you get there.”

Driver: “Okay, then. Give me your phone number. Contact me when you return.”

Zhang Jingzhu agreed. She had originally wanted to rent the yacht, but she didn’t know how to drive, and the driver couldn’t stay there and wait for her. So she had him return first.

They landed on the nameless island. The fog grew thicker. Zhang Jingzhu grabbed Cheng Shuinan’s sleeve and followed him. “Are you sure this is the place? It’s foggy. I can’t see anything.”

“This is the place,” Cheng Shuinan said. “My intuition tells me this is it. I smell the scent of mermen. It’s very strong.”

The entire island was shrouded in fog. Zhang Jingzhu couldn’t see anything. She clung to Cheng Shuinan and walked forward. She felt the temperature around her gradually rising. This feeling had been obvious on the yacht. The waves crashed against the rocks, and the splashes landed on her ankles, feeling cold.

The down jacket made her feel hot. She stopped and took off her coat, draping it over her arm. A large field of purple flowers appeared in front of her, like fluttering butterflies. Cheng Shuinan stopped.

He placed Lian in the field of flowers: “Mother, I’ve brought you home.”

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t bother him. She stood alone in the iris field. The purple flowers were blown by the sea breeze. The air was filled with the scent of flowers. At that moment, she finally felt a sense of her own possible abnormality.

Even the cheapest koi, even if the seller repeatedly assured you that they were easy to raise, if you don’t have experience and buy them home and raise them in a carefully prepared tank, you’ll always encounter various problems.

Water quality, water temperature, oxygen concentration—if any of the conditions don’t meet the standards, those lively fish will become listless at some point. When you go to admire them again, you’ll find that they’ve left.

At first, Zhang Jingzhu didn’t understand. Mermen who left the sea only needed water in their lives. Why couldn’t they live long in human society? It wasn’t until she came here that she had a firsthand experience.

The air was fresh and humid, with no trace of pollutants. The city she lived in was always filled with all sorts of messy smells. But here, the air was clean, making her want to take a deep breath.

Every pore on her skin was trying to open, absorbing the moisture that could nourish them.

Zhang Jingzhu took off her shoes and socks and walked barefoot on the ground, which had been warmed by the sun. There were a few round pebbles here and there. She carefully stepped on them. She found a relatively dry rock. She avoided the sticky areas and sat down, putting her feet in the water.

The temperature was cool, and the ripples rose and fell on her feet.

She gazed at the boundless sea, her heart tranquil but troubled.

Living here didn’t seem bad, but she still couldn’t accept that she might lose her legs. Although fishtails were beautiful, she could only admire Cheng Shuinan’s. If she had one, it would be awkward.

Fortunately, for now, she just felt a bit itchy, and she hadn’t developed any scales. As she sat on the rock, lost in thought, Cheng Shuinan walked towards her. His complexion didn’t look good. Before Zhang Jingzhu could ask, he had already reached out and hugged her, glancing discreetly at the wet mark next to the rock.

Then, he transformed back into a merman. His sticky, wet fishtail hooked around her ankle. Zhang Jingzhu was covered in his body’s liquid.

“What’s wrong?” Zhang Jingzhu asked.

Cheng Shuinan pointed to the rock: “There’s the scent of mermen. Don’t get close.”

Zhang Jingzhu said helplessly: “I didn’t touch it. I was just sitting next to it.”

Cheng Shuinan mumbled softly: “Next to it is no good either.”

Perhaps because he had come to the sea, his face was tanned with a healthy redness. His fishtail relentlessly wrapped around her ankle. The hand that was holding her waist was firm and strong. Zhang Jingzhu gave up struggling and let him cover her with his scent, as if he was claiming prey. After a long time, he finally let go.

“Zhang Jingzhu… would you like to go see the seabed with me?” Cheng Shuinan hooked her hand, a little expectant.

Zhang Jingzhu widened her eyes: “The seabed? I can swim, but I need equipment for diving. I’ll suffocate down there…”

Cheng Shuinan’s merman hand wasn’t much different from a human’s. The only difference was that it was slightly cold and damp. He lightly touched Zhang Jingzhu’s ear. That area was wet. He gently rubbed his fingertip and brought it to his nose to sniff. Then, he curled his lips, his eyes satisfied and filled with intense joy.

He pressed his cheek against hers, his voice filled with a smile: “Zhang Jingzhu, your body is changing. Don’t you feel it? You might get scales…”

The body in his arms suddenly stiffened.

Cheng Shuinan knew what she was afraid of. He suppressed his gloom and gently bit her ear with his sharp teeth. He tasted the sticky liquid that belonged to Zhang Jingzhu. He curved his eyes in satisfaction and comforted her: “…Don’t worry. You won’t become a merman. Your body will just change a little.”

Zhang Jingzhu raised an eyebrow: “Are you sure?”

Cheng Shuinan buried his face in her neck and laughed: “If my genes were that strong, humans would have gone extinct!”

Zhang Jingzhu thought about it. He was right.

Besides, Cheng Qingyuan had been facing mermen all day, and he hadn’t changed form yet. It was probably like when a virus invades your body, and your body’s antibodies can’t defeat it, so you get a cold.

It’s just that when your body is invaded by merman genes, the symptoms are irreversible.

Zhang Jingzhu breathed a sigh of relief. The problem that had been bothering her was finally solved. “Then I’ll try it. I’m curious about what the seabed looks like…”

Cheng Shuinan hugged her: “Yeah. I’m curious too.”

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t have any diving experience. She was very nervous at first. Cheng Shuinan’s presence gave her a sense of security. He was holding Lian, so he couldn’t hold Zhang Jingzhu’s hand. He told her to grab his hair.

His hair, which was soaked in water, was thick and strong like seaweed. Zhang Jingzhu really grabbed his long hair, closed her eyes, and let him take her into the water. Her legs unconsciously started to kick. Sensing her unease, his fishtail gently pressed against her ankle. Then, his wide tail fin wrapped around her legs.

Cheng Shuinan comforted her: “Don’t be afraid. I’m right here. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll take you out of