Becoming the Keeper of an Alluring Merfolk - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Song Xiu Gives Shui Se a Physical Exam, Rewarding Her with Snacks

“Song Xiu, the institute has decided to conduct a systematic physical examination for all merfolk.”

As soon as she started work that day, Jian Xu’s voice came from behind.

Song Xiu was downstairs, recording the merfolk’s feeding status at the glass wall.

“When?” She turned around, subtly blocking the pool where Shui Se and the others were.

“Now.” Jian Xu shook the tablet in her hand, which listed the detailed examination items.

In the pool, Shui Se’s ear fins instantly pressed flat against her hair, her pink long hair floating in the water. Song Xiu didn’t need to look back to imagine her nervousness; the miserable state of Little Coco after her last physical was still fresh in her mind.

“I’ll do it. Shui Se has been a bit sensitive lately; she might have a stress reaction if strangers approach.”

Jian Xu raised an eyebrow, her expression meaningful: “Are you sure? The full physical includes blood drawing and scale sampling.”

“I am very sure.” Song Xiu’s voice was firmer than expected. “I am her feeder; I understand her habits.”

Jian Xu stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: “Fine, you do it then. But I need to record everything on the side.” She added pointedly, “The Director values this examination highly, especially for the articulate one.”

A thin layer of sweat broke out on Song Xiu’s back. She turned to look at the pool; Shui Se was submerged, only her panicked eyes visible.

Song Xiu walked up the stairs to the pool edge. She squatted by the side, her voice soft, “Come up, okay? It’s just a routine check-up.”

Shui Se hesitated for a moment, then slowly surfaced. Her tail nervously slapped the pool wall, splashing water that wet Song Xiu’s trousers.

“Don’t be afraid,” Song Xiu said in a voice only they could hear, “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Shui Se’s ear fins trembled lightly, and she finally swam to the edge. Song Xiu picked up the electronic scale and motioned for her to get on. The Jiao-person hesitated, then supported her body and voluntarily sat on the scale.

“49 kilograms, within the healthy range.”

Jian Xu’s fingers swiped twice on the tablet, expressionlessly: “Continue.”

Song Xiu put on medical gloves and gently supported Shui Se’s chin: “Open your mouth, let me look at your teeth.”

Shui Se obediently opened her mouth, revealing two rows of fine white teeth. Unlike the ferocious mermaids, the Jiao-person’s teeth were only slightly sharper than a human’s. Song Xiu’s finger brushed over her canine teeth, feeling Shui Se’s breathing suddenly quicken.

“Teeth are healthy, no cavities,” Song Xiu reported professionally, but couldn’t resist lightly brushing Shui Se’s lower lip with her thumb. The Jiao-person’s ear fins instantly opened and closed in excitement, a scene that Jian Xu happened to catch.

“Eye examination,” Jian Xu interjected abruptly, her voice carrying an unexplained meaning.

Song Xiu picked up the penlight: “Shui Se, don’t be scared, look at my finger. Pupil reaction is normal, no conjunctival congestion.”

Jian Xu suddenly stepped closer: “I’ll do the scale sampling. This requires professional technique.”

Song Xiu immediately shielded Shui Se: “I told you, she’s prone to stress. Last week, Little Coco almost bit a researcher during sampling, did you forget?”

During the few seconds of their standoff, Shui Se’s tail tightly wrapped around Song Xiu’s calf, the scales making a faint rustling sound against her work pants.

“Suit yourself.” Jian Xu finally took a step back. “But the Director needs a complete examination report. Don’t miss any items.”

Song Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, turning to soothingly stroke Shui Se’s hair: “Turn over, I’ll check your caudal fin.”

Shui Se submissively turned around, revealing her cyan fish tail. Song Xiu’s hand started from the mating scales below the small of her back and checked all the way down to the caudal fin.

This was their first intimate contact in front of another person since they had established their relationship. Shui Se’s scales slightly opened with Song Xiu’s touch, shimmering with a mother-of-pearl luster.

“Scales are intact, no defects, caudal fin movement is normal.” Song Xiu forced herself to maintain a professional tone, even though her fingertips were slightly trembling from touching Shui Se.

Jian Xu suddenly scoffed: “A truly model feeder and a model pet.”

Song Xiu pretended not to hear the sarcasm in her words: “What else needs to be checked?”

“Blood drawing.” Jian Xu handed over a vacuum blood collection tube. “5ml is enough.”

Shui Se flinched the moment she saw the needle. Song Xiu held her hand: “Don’t look, it will be over quickly.”

The instant the needle pierced the inside of the Jiao-person’s arm, Shui Se’s fingernails unconsciously dug into Song Xiu’s wrist. Song Xiu completed the blood drawing without changing her expression, quickly applying a bandage.

“Alright, it’s finished.” Song Xiu took off her gloves and gently rubbed the top of Shui Se’s head. “Shui Se is so good. Soda as a reward tonight.”

This compliment was sincere. Shui Se hadn’t resisted the entire time, even more cooperative than most human patients. The Jiao-person rubbed her palm, her tail happily swaying in the water.

Jian Xu took the blood collection tube, giving them a meaningful look.

She seemed to have noticed something.

Night fell, and only the faint light of the emergency lamps remained in the institute’s hallway.

Song Xiu, carrying a bulging plastic bag, quietly swiped her card to enter the dormitory. Shui Se was lying on the edge of the bathtub teasing Xiao Mi, and her ear fins immediately perked up when she heard the door open.

“I brought a surprise.” Song Xiu shook the plastic bag, which made a rustling sound.

Shui Se’s tail slapped the water, splashing tiny droplets: “Is it soda?”

Song Xiu smiled and shook her head. It wasn’t just soda; she also pulled out a rainbow-colored candy box from the bag. She opened the box, revealing colorful gummy candies neatly arranged inside, each shaped like a marine creature.

Shui Se’s fingertip lightly touched a star-shaped gummy.

“Specially picked for you.” Song Xiu sat on the edge of the bathtub. “Want to try?”

Shui Se carefully pinched a pink seashell-shaped candy and put it in her mouth. The moment the sweetness exploded on her tongue, her ear fins fully unfolded: “So sweet! Delicious!”

Song Xiu took out several other snacks: dried mango, durian freeze-dried, Boli seaweed, Haoduoyu (Many Fish crackers), IF coconut water, Zhen Zhen lychee soda. With each item she took out, Shui Se’s eyes brightened a little more.

“You behaved exceptionally well today,” Song Xiu tore open the dried mango package. “So the reward should be special too.”

Shui Se took the dried mango but didn’t eat it immediately. She gazed at Song Xiu’s profile and suddenly asked softly, “Did that Jian Xu person notice something?”

Song Xiu’s finger paused. She remembered the meaningful look Jian Xu gave before leaving.

“Don’t worry,” Song Xiu stuffed the dried mango into Shui Se’s mouth. “With me here, she can’t do anything.”

Shui Se spoke indistinctly while chewing the snack: “But she has my blood sample.”

Song Xiu opened a can of lychee soda, inserted a straw, and handed it over. “I’ll help you resolve everything. For now, focus on enjoying your reward.”

Shui Se took a sip of the soda from Song Xiu’s hand. The feeling of the bubbles dancing in her mouth made her eyes widen in surprise. She suddenly pulled out the straw, imitating what she had seen on TV by tilting her head back and chugging a large mouthful, resulting in a fit of coughing.

Song Xiu quickly patted her back. “You have to drink soda in small sips.”

Shui Se coughed until her eyes were teary, but she still grinned: “So exciting! Like bubbles in the sea!” She suddenly held the soda can up to Song Xiu. “You drink some too.”

Song Xiu took a sip from her hand, the sweetness of lychee spreading between her lips and teeth.

Shui Se suddenly leaned closer, her pink long hair falling onto Song Xiu’s lap. “Can I eat on the bed?”

She knew what Shui Se meant: transforming into human legs to sit on the bed and share snacks.

“You shouldn’t transform your legs too often recently. It would be trouble if you got discovered.” Song Xiu gently refused.

Shui Se’s ear fins instantly drooped, and her tail listlessly sank into the water. Song Xiu quickly added: “Once we find Xiao Hen and leave this place, you can eat as many snacks on the bed as you want.”

“Really?” Shui Se’s eyes lit up again.

“I promise.” Song Xiu picked up a piece of seaweed. Shui Se opened her mouth to take it; the crisp fragment shattered between her teeth, and she blinked several times in a dazed, cute way.

“So this is what dried seaweed tastes like?”