Chapter 28

Xiao Mei’s past wasn’t a lie. The only lie she told Zhang Jingzhu was her purpose.

She didn’t accidentally escape to the Lianzhu company to hide. She deliberately hid in the rest room. But unexpectedly, Zhang Jingzhu had a strong scent of a mature male merman.

In the merman race, male mermen represent strength, bravery, and fearlessness. They are the most terrifying predators in the deep sea. Female mermen are beautiful and delicate. They don’t have the bone spurs and sharp teeth of male mermen. They are protected and bear the responsibility of reproduction.

It was because of the strong scent that Xiao Mei abandoned her goal of killing Zhang Jingzhu and instead sought out information about Cheng Shuinan.

Xiao Mei’s body was covered in silvery-white scales under the moonlight. She was undoubtedly beautiful, radiating a charming glow. Her curly hair cascaded down, resting on her shoulders. Her light brown eyes, which had deliberately shown weakness and innocence in front of Zhang Jingzhu, were now filled with overwhelming hatred and madness.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t kill her, otherwise, I might not have seen you…” A sudden chill attacked. Xiao Mei noticed that Cheng Shuinan’s eyes narrowed, and dark black scales instantly appeared on his cheeks. She gave a cryptic smile.

“What a foolish idea. There are still mermen who willingly fall in love with humans. Don’t you know that humans are the most hypocritical, disgusting, and cruel species? They imprison you, threaten you, and force you to give them what they want in the name of love. Then, they ruthlessly discard you, like throwing away something dirty…”

Xiao Mei gritted her teeth: “We are all mermen. Only we should be together.”

Cheng Shuinan stood quietly beside her. If he had only thought she was hypocritical before, now he was on high alert. Scales densely covered his body. His gentle face suddenly sprouted dark black scales. Under the heavy moonlight, he looked strangely eerie and terrifying.

Xiao Mei was not afraid at all. She smiled: “You’re still young. You actually believe human lies. Zhang Jingzhu may love you now because of your beautiful appearance and doesn’t mind your merman identity. But have you thought about what will happen in a few years? When she abandons you, you will be discarded like a piece of cloth. Or worse, she will hand you over to those despicable humans who enjoy torturing mermen.”

Cheng Shuinan retorted: “She won’t.”

Xiao Mei scoffed. She lowered her voice: “Cheng Shuinan, you are the most naive merman I’ve ever met. Ha, naive is not a good word. Look at yourself now. I’m sure you know better than I do how difficult it is to maintain this human form… Humans need to socialize. And you, you can’t guarantee that you won’t suddenly change your form. At that time, will those humans who are hindered by your socializing still tolerate you and love you unconditionally?”

Cheng Shuinan’s spine suddenly stiffened. His fingers slowly curled up, and his eyelashes blinked weakly a few times, focusing on Xiao Mei’s face, which was full of mockery.

“Sweet Dream Fragrance… doesn’t work either?”

Cheng Shuinan’s steady face instantly crumbled, like a child who had had his candy taken away. He was helpless and pitiful. Even the scales on his cheeks seemed to tremble slightly. Just looking at him, you could imagine his well-protected heart trembling violently and uneasily.

Xiao Mei was amused by his expression. She laughed: “Of course, it works. But there are only a few bottles of Sweet Dream Fragrance. They’re all gone. Mermen like us who have used Sweet Dream Fragrance, as time passes and the effects wear off, we can’t turn back into human legs…”

There was warm sunshine and fresh air outside, and a bustling city. There were many things that Cheng Shuinan was curious about and wanted to explore. But compared to Zhang Jingzhu, they all became dull and lifeless.

Even if he couldn’t transform back into human legs and could only hide in the bathtub, waiting for Zhang Jingzhu to come home from work, he would be willing.

But over the past few days, he had clearly felt the fluctuations in Zhang Jingzhu’s emotions. She liked holding his hand in crowded places and openly introducing their relationship—

They were the most intimate lovers.

He wanted to protect Zhang Jingzhu. On a snowy night, he could go to her company to pick her up without any worries. There might be many things waiting for them in the future. But Cheng Shuinan noticed that his body’s changes were becoming uncontrollable. He would develop scales without any reason. He had to use all his strength to suppress the itch in his legs and prevent his fishtail from appearing in public.

When that day came, he couldn’t go shopping with Zhang Jingzhu or pick her up in the rain or snow… Would she get tired of that kind of life? Would she no longer want him?

Xiao Mei continued: “Humans want to benefit from us. Why can’t we retaliate? Sweet Dream Fragrance contains a strong blood smell. Perhaps it’s caused by human blood. Why don’t we try it… Kill Zhang Jingzhu, take her blood. We can split it evenly, or you can have more, whatever you want. Then, we’ll inherit her property and continue to live in human society…”

Her body suddenly changed. Her silvery-white fishtail landed on the sofa, splashing a large amount of water. She stared intently, gradually showing disgust: “Why do we have to live in the dark and terrifying deep sea, while humans can come and go freely in the city? Cheng Shuinan, look at yourself. This beautiful and strong fishtail, which looks beautiful and strong to mermen, besides initially satisfying human lust, later, they will find the fishtail sticky and disgusting, disgusting, ha… I find fishtails disgusting now…”

 Disgusting, disgusting.

Those words, filled with thick disgust, abruptly tore apart Cheng Shuinan’s struggling and sorrowful world. His eyes gradually brightened, as if he had suddenly grabbed a fairly sturdy branch while falling off a cliff.

Zhang Jingzhu would never say that.

Facing his large black fishtail, Zhang Jingzhu had gone from secretly touching it to openly holding it in her arms. Even when it got wet with water, she didn’t show any disgust. In her eyes, he was beautiful and lovely.

He had nothing to do with disgusting.

Scales grew on his chest and back. The itch in his legs intensified. This time, he didn’t resist. Cheng Shuinan quietly looked at the ferocious Xiao Mei, his face gentle like a spring breeze: “How can a fishtail be disgusting? Zhang Jingzhu loves my fishtail the most. Even if… even if she satisfies her desires, so what? If I can’t transform back into human legs in the future, I’m willing to stay in the bathtub forever, as long as I can be by her side…”

Zhang Jingzhu can do whatever she wants to me.

 As long as she doesn’t abandon me.

Xiao Mei laughed: “You know, he used to say the same thing to me. But later, he sold me…”

Cheng Shuinan pursed his lips and patiently waited for her to finish: “Humans are different. I believe Zhang Jingzhu. Don’t think about hurting her. You know the difference between us. Don’t bring it on yourself.”

He said, “If you hate it here, don’t force yourself to stay. We’ll take you back to the sea tomorrow. The sea is the eternal home of mermen.”

“What about you? You’re a merman too. Why don’t you take advantage of the situation and go back to the sea before anything happens?”

Cheng Shuinan lowered his eyes. His heart was like the winter wind whistling in his ears: “I’d rather stay by her side than go back to the sea.”

When Zhang Jingzhu woke up, she felt like something had happened during the night. But her brain was foggy. She couldn’t remember anything. She only remembered waking up in the middle of the night and Cheng Shuinan rushing over to kiss her. He said something about mermen not being pure and innocent. Then…

She tasted the sweet flavor of a merman on her lips. It was a liquid secreted from the flesh spines on his tongue.

No wonder she slept so soundly in the second half of the night.

Zhang Jingzhu’s eyes hadn’t opened completely. Her clear vision instantly darkened. A black fishtail with neatly arranged scales appeared in front of her. A strong fishy smell filled her nostrils. She turned her head away. The fishtail pushed forward, getting closer. When she was about to fall to the ground, the fishtail bent and wrapped around her waist, pulling her towards Cheng Shuinan’s chest.

The new bedsheets she had just changed were sticky and wet, covered in moist liquid and a few scattered scales.

Cheng Shuinan’s voice echoed in her ear: “Zhang Jingzhu, do you like fishtails?”

Zhang Jingzhu nodded.

The fishtail was forcefully stuffed into her arms. Along with it came the pelvic fin on the side. As he entered his mature stage, the pelvic fin was no longer as soft as before. The wide, thin, gauze-like pelvic fin wrapped around three long spines, very much like the soft swords that could be tied around the waist in ancient times. They were harmless in normal times, only becoming hard and sharp bone spurs when he was nervous or excited.

These long spines, which could easily cut through skin and puncture flesh, were unusually docile in Zhang Jingzhu’s arms. She could pinch them however she wanted. Even if she bundled them up and held them in her arms, it was fine.

They completely cooperated with whatever Zhang Jingzhu wanted to do.

The fishtail, held in Zhang Jingzhu’s arms, seemed restless. It kept pushing into her arms. Zhang Jingzhu realized something was wrong. Sure enough, Cheng Shuinan leaned in front of her. His slightly open mouth was filled with sharp teeth. His scarlet tongue poked out and gently bit her lip.

A stinging pain followed, and then a sweet liquid swept across her lips.

Zhang Jingzhu pushed him: “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Shuinan didn’t say anything. He just wrapped his fishtail tightly around her. After a long time, he whispered in her ear: “Zhang Jingzhu, never abandon me.”

Cheng Shuinan’s anxiety was inexplicable. Zhang Jingzhu thought it was the tension he felt about going to the sea soon. She didn’t pay much attention. He was always clingy.

After packing their things, Zhang Jingzhu drove. Soon, they arrived at the Nightlight Sea.

The Nightlight Sea was vast. The Lianzhu company only built a company and a tourist hotel in the area where shells were abundant. There were many places they hadn’t explored yet.

Zhang Jingzhu parked the car in a deserted area.

For some reason, Xiao Mei seemed like a different person after a night. She was silent and occasionally looked at Zhang Jingzhu with suspicion and caution, making Zhang Jingzhu feel uneasy. If Cheng Shuinan hadn’t been sitting beside her, she would have been really afraid that Xiao Mei would do something bad.

Fortunately, they arrived safely at the beach.

Xiao Mei took the food that Zhang Jingzhu had specially prepared for her. She didn’t even leave a thank you.

Zhang Jingzhu looked at her back in confusion: “She wasn’t like this yesterday. What’s going on…”

Cheng Shuinan turned her gaze back to him: “I told you, mermen are rarely pure and innocent. Only I am.”

His eyes sparkled with scattered light, focused and intently staring at Zhang Jingzhu.

Zhang Jingzhu laughed helplessly. Although he didn’t say it out loud, she could feel what he wanted to say:

Just love me, Zhang Jingzhu.