The mermaid today is not the Zhu Yan from ten years ago.
Even though he remembers parts of his past, the mermaid’s way of thinking is still different from that of normal people.
The monster does not want to go back to being Zhu Yan, nor does he want to change the status quo. He’s like a stubborn conservative, left behind by the times.
Onlookers find his stubbornness laughable.
However, he knew well that this was because it was the only thing he had left.
It’s like a wealthy person, able to gamble away a fortune.
But the monster only had three pitiful coins in its pocket.
All it could do to make amends was to bring Shu Tang here, trying its best to hold onto this moment.
Shu Tang was still on the shore trying to persuade the mermaid:
“Little Rose, do you remember how I was preparing to pursue a master’s degree recently? Yan University in Yan City is very good.”
“I am still your therapist, and it makes sense for me to accompany you to Yan City for treatment.”
“Once your illness is cured, you won’t have headaches anymore.”
“When you regain your memory, we’ll go register our marriage; as things stand now, our marriage certificate wouldn’t be valid.”
With each word, Shu Tang felt more guilty.
But she still tried to find the right words: “Little Rose, if you ever want to return to South Island City, we can come back together. Treating your illness might take only half a year, just think of it as going out for a trip.”
But as Shu Tang spoke, she too began to feel anxious:
If they went to Yan City, would they really have a day to come back?
The mermaid lifted his head from the sea, looking at the shadow of the little trickster on the shore.
He knew she was lying, even her tone was not firm enough.
The mermaid clearly felt her wavering.
Thus, the mermaid appeared again.
He emerged from the sea and hissed at her: Isn’t it better to just keep things as they are?
They could stay forever in the forbidden land.
As long as the mermaid was unwilling, no one could come in; the mermaid was becoming stronger day by day, and with him, she would never be interfered with, no matter where they went.
Under the mermaid’s gaze, Shu Tang miraculously understood his meaning, and she too, uncontrollably wavered.
If Little Rose were to remain Little Rose for a lifetime, that naturally would be wonderful; they could live together, kiss every day, and grow old together.
But Shu Tang remembered the box full of medals.
She could selfishly keep the mermaid.
But what about Zhu Yan? Would he really be willing to spend his life trapped on a small island, giving up all honors and everything to remain a Little Rose?
Shu Tang did not speak.
And so, the mermaid knew her answer.
…
The mermaid disappeared this time and did not appear until nightfall.
At first, Shu Tang thought the mermaid was still angry, but when she realized that the mermaid hadn’t even provided dinner, she suddenly remembered that the mermaid hadn’t taken his medicine in the morning or at noon.
Since the mermaid’s spirit form had expanded again, Shu Tang had been very anxious, because, based on the last time the mermaid’s spirit form evolved and caused a psychic power outbreak, expansion was accompanied by disturbances in psychic power.
But because they had argued today, she hadn’t had time to take his medicine.
However, Shu Tang looked around, but the boat was nowhere to be found; the sea was empty.
Shu Tang gathered some water and pills, and called out on the rocks: “Zhen Zhen!”
Zhen Zhen appeared quickly.
Shu Tang swam over and climbed onto Zhen Zhen’s back: “Zhen Zhen, let’s go find your dad.”
Initially, Shu Tang was worried that Zhen Zhen might dive into the water, but Zhen Zhen was smart and took Shu Tang to a nearby group of reefs.
However, it seemed as if sensing the mermaid’s somewhat chaotic psychic magnetic field, as soon as Zhen Zhen delivered Shu Tang, she immediately turned around and fled.
Shu Tang saw the mermaid in an instant.
The fierce beast was enduring severe neuralgia, its sharp fins stood erect, looking very painful.
—Almost the moment she saw him, Shu Tang realized that he had to go to Yan City.
Neuralgia was cumulative; once the severe neural pains accumulated to a certain extent, they would trigger a psychic power outbreak.
Almost the moment he heard footsteps, the mermaid opened his eyes and let out a sharp hiss, almost instantly assuming a defensive posture.
But upon realizing it was her, the mermaid’s fierce expression disappeared.
He just glanced at Shu Tang and then turned away.
Shu Tang brought the pill to the mermaid’s mouth.
When she handed over the water, the mermaid dodged it and swallowed the pill dry.
Shu Tang: “…”
Shu Tang thought this behavior of the mermaid was too childish; she hadn’t acted like this even when she was three years old and throwing tantrums with her parents.
The mermaid, leaning against the rocks, was silent for a while, then took her water, gulped it down in one go.
Then, he pushed it into her hand.
He lifted his eyelids and looked at her.
— Drink water, stop being childish.
Shu Tang: “…”
She sat down right next to the mermaid.
She asked him, “Do you see how painful it is when the illness strikes?”
Upon hearing this, the mermaid forcibly smoothed out his pained frown.
He even nonchalantly flicked his tail to indicate that it wasn’t painful at all.
Shu Tang found it incredible.
She rephrased, “If we were to register our marriage now, everyone would say that I am taking advantage of you in your vulnerable state.”
The mermaid clearly wavered for a moment.
But quickly stated: Then let’s not register.
Shu Tang said, “Aren’t you afraid I might marry someone else?”
The mermaid glanced at her.
Then he flicked his tail and shattered a rock.
He indicated: Her leaving him would be like this stone.
Shu Tang: “…”
Shu Tang racked her brain:
“Little Rose, look, you’re learning to speak so slowly now, but once you’re better and regain your memory, wouldn’t you be able to communicate with me normally?”
The mermaid then slowly looked at her.
And said clearly and emphatically, “Won’t go.”
The startled Shu Tang: “…”
Shu Tang was shocked: “When did you learn to say those words!”
Shu Tang felt that their relationship might already be breaking apart even before they reached Yan City.
But at this moment, the mermaid stopped talking again.
The monster was very aware that a large part of Shu Tang’s love stemmed from a peculiar kind of pity. Knowing this, the monster often showed weakness in front of her to garner more affection;
Today was no different.
When she looked at him with that gaze, the monster could clearly feel her love.
But if one day, when the illness is cured, would that pitying look in Little Cat’s eyes still exist?
This monster thought such thoughts were despicable, but it was just that shameless, craving her everlasting affection.
At that moment, Shu Tang resorted to a bargaining trick her mother had taught her:
“If you don’t go, I’ll go back first.”
The mermaid stood still, watching her without moving.
She continued walking, pausing intermittently, keeping an eye on the shadow behind her.
But the mermaid did not follow.
She saw a nearby search and rescue boat.
She climbed aboard the boat, shouted “Zhen Zhen,” turned her head, and saw no trace of the fish.
She immediately had Zhen Zhen take the boat away.
Even as Zhen Zhen led them away from the island, the mermaid still had not appeared.
Shu Tang sat on the deck, a bit annoyed by the wind.
Shu Tang did not want to change this way of life. And going to Yan City, she should have been the one feeling uneasy and anxious.
She did not realize how long she had been zoning out until the night deepened, and she remembered that all the food in the cabin had been moved to the island.
She turned around and saw that the boat had already gone far away.
Surrounded by the vast sea, it looked a bit scary in the dark.
Shu Tang felt a bit hungry and a bit lost.
After sitting for a while, she took out her fishing rod to fish: no matter what, she had to eat dinner.
Shu Tang felt she did not love the mermaid at all anymore. He was inconsiderate and heartlessly left her alone in the vast sea to starve.
While Shu Tang was being angry all by herself, she completely forgot something:
Zhen Zhen was gone, and the boat did not have an autopilot function, so how did it set off?
As she fumed, Shu Tang realized she had caught a fish.
As she reeled in the line, she remembered she forgot to put bait on the hook, and when she looked down:
There was a huge mermaid, looking up at her.
Shu Tang: “…”
—Neither had lowered their heads.
It was just a passing mermaid that happened to be caught by a little cat.