Chapter 6

The bathroom was quite spacious, with a dry and wet separation. A bathtub almost two meters long was placed at the far end.

The house was renovated by someone her mother found. She had told her mother that the bathtub took up too much space in the bathroom and she rarely used it. But her mother, Ms. Zhao Qian, had to take a bath every day. She said it could tighten her skin and delay aging, and complained that Zhang Jingzhu lived too roughly, so she had to install a bathtub.

Now it seemed that installing the bathtub was a very wise move, otherwise she wouldn’t know where to put such a big “fish”.

Zhang Jingzhu turned on the bathtub faucet. While she was adjusting the water temperature, Cheng Shui’nan sat quietly beside her. He was probably curious about his surroundings, his black eyes looked here and there. He was still a little nervous about being in a strange place, his fish tail pressed tightly against his side, and his wide, soft fins inadvertently fell on her feet.

Zhang Jingzhu went back to the house and changed into slippers. Her socks were soaked through, and she was uncomfortable, but she didn’t move. The fish tail was like it was covered with a layer of water film. It didn’t feel much different from ordinary fish, but it was more slippery. The sticky, moist fluid on the surface of the fin soaked her socks, and then the icy sensation touched her ankle.

Zhang Jingzhu moved her foot.

The fish tail seemed to be startled, and it quickly retracted.

Zhang Jingzhu turned her head to look. Cheng Shui’nan was leaning weakly against the white porcelain wall, his fish tail was bent at his side, the fin that had touched her was hidden behind the shelf she had placed next to her. He hurriedly lowered his eyes, not daring to look at her.

Zhang Jingzhu just thought he was nervous, and reached out to touch the water temperature: “Can you test the temperature? Is it too cold or too hot?”

When they were in the warehouse, it was probably because of the environment, Zhang Jingzhu only thought Cheng Shui’nan was pitiful. Even though he was so dirty that he looked like he had been fished out of a garbage bin, she had ignored it. Now he was sitting in a clean bathroom, the walls were covered with white porcelain tiles, and the frosted sliding door was decorated with pink flowers that were girly. His messy and unkempt image was nowhere to be found.

Cheng Shui’nan obediently lay down in the bathtub.

The clear water waves flowed over his body. The bathtub was just the right length. Cheng Shui’nan lay flat in it as Zhang Jingzhu asked, and a small part of his fin was outside the bathtub. He lay on his back, facing the bright incandescent light on the ceiling, staring for a long time, and a white halo appeared in front of his eyes. Zhang Jingzhu’s helpless voice came.

“Close your eyes, don’t keep staring at the light.”

“Okay, I got it.” Cheng Shui’nan closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again: “You, go and rest, I can, heal myself.”

Zhang Jingzhu took the showerhead off and held it in her hand: “I know you can heal yourself, but your body is too dirty. Wash it first. I’m going to rest. Can you wash yourself?”

Cheng Shui’nan tried to raise his hand, but it wouldn’t listen to him. He was like a fish on a chopping board, ready to be slaughtered. Only his eyes were wide open, filled with intense anxiety and unease. Perhaps because he had been staring at the incandescent light for too long, there seemed to be a bright halo in his eyes.

“I, I…can’t.”

Zhang Jingzhu understood his feelings.

He was brought home, to the home of the person who helped him, and naturally he wanted to make a good impression. He didn’t want to trouble her, to make her think he was a burden, so he was eager to prove himself.

Zhang Jingzhu didn’t want to waste time on this. She turned on the showerhead, and the warm water splashed on Cheng Shui’nan’s head, instantly soaking his curly black hair. As she rinsed his hair with water, she said:

“I understand how you feel. You don’t have to worry too much. The most important thing now is to heal your wounds. Look at your body, there’s not a single spot that’s good. How could it heal in a day? Don’t worry about staying here…I’ll tell you if I need your help. Don’t rush.”

Cheng Shui’nan listened carefully.

Zhang Jingzhu noticed that his ear fins would expand slightly when she spoke, and when the water flowed over them, they would retract as if they were stimulated. His focused gaze pulled back his scattered thoughts. His eyes were very black and bright, and his gaze fell on her. She would inexplicably feel a strange sensation, as if she was being sucked into a deep and vast vortex.

Zhang Jingzhu couldn’t help but praise him: “Your eyes are very beautiful.”

The rinsing of the water revealed Cheng Shui’nan’s true appearance. The mud and blood on his face slid off, his skin was fair, and under the light, he seemed to glow faintly. The most striking thing was his eyes. His pitch-black pupils seemed to contain stars, and they would suddenly flicker with a faint light when Zhang Jingzhu stared at them.

His eyelashes were long and curled, his nose was high and straight, his lips were thin and red, like a flower petal that had just spit out dew in the morning. She didn’t know if it was because the temperature of the showerhead water had become hotter, but he suddenly turned his head away, and his pale face flushed red.

Zhang Jingzhu quickly lowered the temperature. Just as she was about to drain the dirty water from the bathtub and refill it with new water, she suddenly heard Cheng Shui’nan’s low voice: “Zhang Jingzhu’s eyes are even prettier.”

Zhang Jingzhu squatted in place, stunned.

Cheng Shui’nan nervously pursed his lips, daringly glanced at her, then the whole fish shrank into the water.

He couldn’t forget the day, three days ago, outside the dark and dirty warehouse, a meteor suddenly streaked across the dark sky. His numb heart, in Zhang Jingzhu’s stolen glance, naively and humbly gave rise to the thought of wanting to be redeemed.

If he could live freely and without restraint, who would want to die?

Fortunately, she came.

Cheng Shui’nan fell asleep.

Zhang Jingzhu smiled helplessly. He was a very naive person, and he wouldn’t lie to please others, so he was telling the truth when he said her eyes were pretty. What girl wouldn’t like to be praised for her beauty?

Especially by a beautiful merman.

Because of Cheng Shui’nan’s sincere praise, Zhang Jingzhu didn’t feel any annoyance at having to work in the middle of the night. She patiently changed the water several times, until it was no longer cloudy. Only his wound was still bleeding, and the clean, clear water was quickly stained red.

She squatted beside him, not knowing what to do. There was no hemostatic medicine at home. Fortunately, her worry didn’t last. After about ten minutes, she found that the bleeding from Cheng Shui’nan’s wound was slowly decreasing. The bloodstain that had almost spread across his entire fish tail was growing new, pink flesh at a speed visible to the naked eye.

When Zhang Jingzhu lay in bed, it was already three o’clock in the morning. The soft big bed eased her fatigue, and she almost fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. Half asleep, she suddenly realized that mermen lived in the sea, and seawater was salty. Should she add some salt to the water?

She was so tired…she soon forgot about it and fell into a deep sleep.

Zhang Jingzhu’s alarm clock, set for seven in the morning, didn’t last long. It was “switched off” by the drowsy Zhang Jingzhu and she continued to sleep.

When she woke up again, the sun was shining brightly.

It was already ten o’clock. She hurriedly put on her slippers and ran to the bathroom to check on Cheng Shui’nan.

Before she brought him home, Zhang Jingzhu thought he was strong. He had been abused to the point of being disfigured, but he was still alive. But after she brought him home, it was as if there was a strange connection between them. He seemed to become fragile in Zhang Jingzhu’s heart, as if he would die if she did anything slightly wrong.

The bathroom door wasn’t closed. Zhang Jingzhu didn’t see the merman at first, and her heart immediately tightened, as if her chest was being strangled and she couldn’t breathe. Then she saw the ripples on the water surface, the black-scaled fish tail was faintly visible, and the red water waves were filled with the smell of blood.

Cheng Shui’nan smelled the familiar scent. That faint, almost imperceptible scent of iris broke through the strong fishy smell. He slowly emerged, his large fish tail swirled underwater. He sat up, red water droplets slid across his thin, white chest, his curly hair covered his back, and his round eyes, when he saw Zhang Jingzhu’s arrival, were like rising bubbles, constantly showing joy.

His hands reached out of the water, resting on the edge of the bathtub.

“Zhang Jingzhu, you’re awake.”

Zhang Jingzhu looked at him, unharmed, and silently breathed a sigh of relief. She gently nodded, squatted down and checked his condition.

Cheng Shui’nan sat quietly in the bathtub, his low voice called her name skillfully: “…Zhang Jingzhu.”

Zhang Jingzhu opened the valve at the bottom of the bathtub and changed the water: “Hmm, what’s wrong?”

“No, no…nothing.”

He seemed to like calling her name. Even though he couldn’t speak clearly, he called her name perfectly.

Just overnight, his voice had changed dramatically. It was no longer the rusty, raspy, unfamiliar notes, but a clear, gurgling stream.

It was very pleasant, very gentle.

His wounds were also mostly healed.

Zhang Jingzhu handed Cheng Shui’nan the food: “You look so thin, how long have you not eaten?”

Cheng Shui’nan took the meat can and bread. The meat can was neatly placed in a plate by Zhang Jingzhu. Knowing that he could use a spoon, she also prepared a spoon. He held the spoon, his stomach was rumbling with hunger.

He didn’t eat it immediately, but answered Zhang Jingzhu’s question: “…They would prepare food when they were happy, and there was nothing when they were unhappy. Before, I could eat fresh meat, but later it became the fish and shrimp piled up in the warehouse. They were smelly. I was hungry, and I tried to eat, but I would vomit soon after…I don’t remember how long it’s been…”

Zhang Jingzhu was amazed by the merman’s healing ability. He could speak so fluently, but at the same time, she felt heartache. She had seen those fish and shrimp, they were so rotten that they were inedible, but they used them as his food.

Zhang Jingzhu frowned, her expression was not good.

Cheng Shui’nan held the plate close to her. His fish tail under the water swayed a few times, creating endless ripples. The clear, clean water waves stroked his body, and an unprecedented comfort and joy filled his heart.

He slowly smiled, looking at Zhang Jingzhu with eyes that sparkled with light.

“It’s different now. I have fresh food, and…”

Cheng Shui’nan nervously pursed his lips, under Zhang Jingzhu’s gentle and heartbroken gaze, he slowly swallowed her name, his voice sincere and dependent: “…Thank you.”

Zhang Jingzhu had already asked Zhang Ning for a leave of absence. Now she didn’t need to go to work. After breakfast, she went out. The car couldn’t be driven for the time being. She had to find a chance to wash it. She took a taxi to the supermarket, bought food she would need for the near future, and then went to a pharmacy to buy medicine and bandages.

Finally, she went to the flower and bird market to buy a bag of coarse salt for fish.

As she opened the door to her house, the silent environment was suddenly broken by the sound of water splashing. Besides Zhang Jingzhu, there was a merman in the empty and lonely house.