The mermaid had no habit of going back on his word. He lifted the kitten and fetched an ice cube from the refrigerator to apply on her swelling to reduce it. Shu Tang grimaced with pain but laughed at the same time, even as she held the ice against her swollen feet, she was still laughing.
The mermaid lowered his gaze and hissed softly at her, asking why she was so happy.
Shu Tang accidentally let it slip: “Going to Yan City to cure the disease means I won’t have to fear the day you might die.”
It was as if the mermaid always thought Shu Tang could easily die, so he never took her to dangerous places. The kitten was also worried about the day when everyone around her might die suddenly due to a surge in mental power.
Thus, the mermaid understood why she had been having nightmares recently.
He noticed the mermaid across from her was momentarily stunned, and she simply laid it all out, hugging her knees and sighing:
“Little Rose, if you were to die, where would I go to find you again?”
At this point, Shu Tang had to admit that she had long grown accustomed to the mermaid’s pampering and love. If something happened to him one day, she would indeed carry on, but she would feel very sad every rainy day.
She rested her face on her knees, watching the mermaid under the dim yellow light of a small lamp in the living room.
Such a gaze was a nuclear weapon capable of easily defeating this stubborn beast, making him bow his head in submission.
So, the mermaid pulled her legs over and placed them on his lap to apply the ice.
He gave his answer again: “Okay.”
…
The departure from South Island City was set for the nineteenth.
July 18th.
“South Island City will experience heavy rainfall in the next three days. Please take precautions…”
While the mermaid was listening to the weather forecast, Shu Tang was defrosting a box of frozen fish meat from the refrigerator.
Shu Tang said, “I haven’t been to other places yet.”
People living in the safe zone seldom leave their cities. The furthest Shu Tang had been was to the seaside of South Island City.
“I don’t even know what Yan City is like.”
The mermaid did not particularly like Yan City. In the occasional fragments of memory, it was a city filled with flying sand. How could a fish from the sea like a dry, sandy city?
Curious, Shu Tang leaned over and saw the mermaid writing the words “Flying Sand” on the table, after which she fell into contemplation.
The mermaid watched as Shu Tang turned around to grab a watering can.
Mermaid: The weather is dry, what does that have to do with a pot?
Shu Tang: “It’s dry there, so I brought a pot to keep your tail hydrated whenever needed.”
Mermaid: ?
She sprayed water toward the mermaid’s tail and said, “Just like this.”
Mermaid: “…”
The mermaid fell silent for a moment, tilting his head.
He felt that Shu Tang just really wanted to spray him.
In the afternoon.
Shu Tang brought all the defrosted fish from the refrigerator to feed to Zhen Zhen in the sea.
Shu Tang, worried about Zhen Zhen encountering pollutants again, leaned on the railing of the boat and spoke a lot to Zhen Zhen, telling it to be smart and to escape quickly if needed.
The mermaid, flicking his tail, occasionally showed a face full of sarcasm.
But whenever Shu Tang turned around, the mermaid would look away as if nothing had happened.
Clearly, the mermaid thought if Zhen Zhen couldn’t even survive in this area he had cleaned, then Zhen Zhen might as well go feed the pollutants.
Of course, the box of fish meat was just a bite for Zhen Zhen. It seemed to understand they were leaving and kept making whale sounds after eating.
Shu Tang held the mermaid’s hand as they walked back.
They looked one last time at the Sea of Tears.
Shu Tang thought she had grown tired of the scenery here, but as they were leaving, she suddenly realized this lonely place had become incredibly dear to her.
She said to the mermaid, “Little Rose, even if you regain your memory, let’s come back after we cure the illness, okay?”
Mermaid: This is their nest, why change the place?
As the time of departure approached, the initial joy passed, and the uncertainty of the future made her feel anxious and reluctant to leave.
However, when Shu Tang turned her head, she saw the mermaid leaning against the rocks, watching the sea.
Strangely, her mood calmed down.
July 19, rain.
After breakfast, Shu Tang received a call from her father and some money he sent her.
Father’s exact words: “Don’t starve to death in Yan City.”
When the mermaid heard this, he hissed over, implying: “I won’t let the kitten starve.”
Father Shu: “Is there someone else there with you?”
Shu Tang quickly covered the communicator.
The mermaid casually left.
Shu Tang thought the mermaid did it on purpose.
—Yet, as if oblivious to Shu Tang’s suspicious gaze, the mermaid nonchalantly continued to flick his tail.
Aside from this little incident, they spent the entire morning waiting for news to depart.
However, Shu Tang waited and waited but didn’t receive a call from Chen Sheng until after lunch.
Chen Sheng’s voice was intermittent: “Can’t take the plane, flights are suspended.”
Zhu Yan’s past identity was too sensitive, and his prestige within the Freedom Army too high. Over ten years, the federal landscape had been reshuffled, and the return of the former leader would undoubtedly stir up the situation. Hence, those who didn’t want the mermaid to return would certainly obstruct this operation in every way possible.
Chen Sheng couldn’t reveal much, only that they couldn’t use the airport anymore.
Shu Tang: “So, are we postponing?”
Chen Sheng hurriedly replied: “No, we leave this afternoon. I’ve arranged for armored vehicles from the South Island base; we’ll switch transports in the neighboring city.”
After hanging up, Shu Tang turned to look at the mermaid’s profile, belatedly realizing: Perhaps the flight delay wasn’t due to weather, but because of “Zhu Yan.”
…
Chen Sheng directed them straight to the entrance of Zone 01, so Shu Tang and the mermaid left the restricted area with their luggage.
Shu Tang thought their trip to Yan City would just involve the two of them, maybe along with Old Wu and Little Chen. But upon departure, not only were Chen Sheng and Old Wu going, there was even an escort troop from the Southern Island base.
A line of more than a dozen armored vehicles stretched far out.
At that moment, Shu Tang finally grasped the weight of the title “Great Leader.” Previously, she knew of the mermaid’s past identity, but it hadn’t felt real.
Now, turning to look at the mermaid’s side profile, identical to the one in the military portrait, she suddenly felt a sense of distance.
The mermaid, in fact, did not like noisy environments, especially with so many people. The towering figure of the mermaid slowly scanned the crowd, like a lurking beast, enveloping everyone in a hauntingly silent aura, dominated by his fearsome presence.
Only when the mermaid sensed Shu Tang’s gaze did he lower his head and softly call out, “Tang.”
The people around breathed a sigh of relief and began to move carefully again.
Chen Sheng was in a rush today, only keeping Old Wu behind as he went to rearrange the troops.
Before leaving, Chen Sheng informed Shu Tang that a group of experts had arrived from Yan City to escort them, and told her not to be too surprised later. He seemed to want to say more, but the communicator rang, and he hurried off with a serious expression after a brief greeting.
Their vehicle was positioned right above the first armored car.
Shu Tang pressed the mermaid into the seat and handed him a bottle of water.
In the cramped space, the tall the mermaid’s fin ears touched the ceiling, forcing him to slightly lower his head to look at her.
The mermaid clearly disliked the place. The chaotic mix of unfamiliar smells, loud noises, and the cramped space seemed to cage this fierce beast in an ill-fitting box.
The mermaid frowned at her and said, “Tang.”
His way of expressing discomfort was to nuzzle her cheek. But the space was too small, and his sharp fins accidentally scratched the roof of the car.
Shu Tang handed the water to the mermaid’s lips. He drank from her hand, his brows relaxing slightly.
Looking around the car, Shu Tang sighed and said, “Just endure it a bit longer; it’ll be better once we reach the next city.”
Worried about the mermaid getting carsick, she handed him a mask and some cooling candy.
But someone was already calling her: “Therapist Shu, come and meet the experts from Yan City!”
Shu Tang responded and then turned to the mermaid, “Little Rose, can you sit here a little longer? I’ll go meet some experts and be right back.”
As she turned to leave, the next second the mermaid grabbed her arm.
His pale, large hand held her tightly, his lips pressed firmly together, not letting her go.
Shu Tang glanced around, and taking advantage of the car door’s cover, she leaned over and gently kissed the mermaid’s cool lips.
She said, “Be good, I’ll be back soon.”
And so, the mermaid slowly let go of her hand.
Watching her as she gradually walked away.