Becoming the Keeper of an Alluring Merfolk - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Touch Yourself

The night before the Dragon Boat Festival, the institute’s broadcast sounded: “During the holiday period, personnel can choose to take leave or remain on duty. Those remaining on duty will receive double pay.”

Song Xiu signed the agreement to stay on duty with virtually no hesitation. She couldn’t risk leaving; who knew what Jian Xu might do to Shui Se in her absence.

“What is zongzi?” Shui Se leaned on the edge of the bathtub, watching Song Xiu tidy the small, seldom-used kitchenette.

Song Xiu wiped the counter, “It’s glutinous rice and filling wrapped in plant leaves.”

Shui Se’s ear fins twitched with curiosity: “Is it delicious?”

“I’ll make some for you to try tomorrow,” Song Xiu smiled and pinched the tip of her nose. “Sweet zongzi, savory zongzi, I know how to make both.”

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Song Xiu was surprised to encounter Jian Xu in the hallway. The other woman was wearing pajamas and holding a lab access card.

“You didn’t go home?” Song Xiu subconsciously blocked the direction leading to the dormitory.

Jian Xu shook the access card: “Double pay, why pass it up?”

Song Xiu tightened her grip on the shopping bag, which contained zongzi leaves and glutinous rice she had asked the transport plane to bring yesterday evening. She watched Jian Xu walk toward the laboratory, feeling that something was strange.

Since the canteen staff had all gone home, the entire kitchen was empty, so Song Xiu didn’t use the small kitchen in her room. She tied on an apron and drained the soaked glutinous rice. Shui Se watched from the side with curiosity.

“Can I help?”

“Of course.” Song Xiu handed her a zongzi leaf. “Fold it into a funnel shape, like this.”

The two worked in perfect coordination, quickly wrapping over twenty zongzi. Song Xiu specially prepared a customized version for the merfolk, using seaweed to wrap minced fresh fish and shrimp.

“These are for Jian Xu,” Song Xiu set aside a few. “It’s a holiday, after all.”

Shui Se’s ear fins immediately flattened against her hair in alert: “Why give them to her?”

“To ease relations,” Song Xiu placed the lid on the steamer. “We can’t always be confrontational.”

Shui Se reluctantly nodded.

“Good girl. I’m going to deliver the zongzi.”

Jian Xu’s dorm door was closed. Song Xiu took a deep breath and knocked. After nearly a minute, the door opened a crack.

“What is it?” Jian Xu’s voice was tinged with impatience.

Song Xiu held up the zongzi: “It’s the holiday, want to try some?”

Jian Xu behind the door froze for a moment, her gaze lingering on the zongzi for a few seconds before she finally took them: “Thank you.”

Back in the canteen, the aroma of the zongzi already permeated the space. Shui Se was staring eagerly at the steamer.

“What did Jian Xu say?” she asked impatiently.

“She didn’t say much.” Song Xiu lifted the lid, the steam carrying the fresh scent of zongzi leaves wafting out. “Want to taste one now?”

“Mm!” Shui Se took the peeled zongzi. The glutinous rice was translucent, revealing a dark red bean paste filling in the middle. She blew on it, took a careful bite, and her ear fins instantly spread wide.

“So delicious! Better than gummies!”

Song Xiu saw the bean paste on the corner of her mouth and couldn’t help but wipe it away with her thumb. Shui Se took the opportunity to suck on her finger, her tongue lightly brushing the pad of the digit. This unconscious action instantly made Song Xiu’s ears burn.

She withdrew her hand, “No messing around. We have serious business to do.”

The merfolk’s “fish zongzi” needed to be fed while they were still warm. Song Xiu carried the insulated container to the Jiao-person section. Little Coco was the first to smell the scent and swam eagerly to the edge of the pool.

“Dragon… Boat… Festival… Safe?” The little merperson tilted her head, repeating the phrase Song Xiu had taught her with uncertainty.

Song Xiu smiled and handed her the special zongzi: “Try it.”

Little Coco took a bite, and her green eyes immediately narrowed into slits. Song Xiu released the other merfolk as well. Song Xiu patiently gave each one a portion, and luckily, they all loved the food.

When she returned to the dormitory, Shui Se had already finished two zongzi. She was lying in the bathtub, looking longingly, wanting to eat another one.

Song Xiu warned sternly: “Eating too much is really not good for your stomach, you know.”

“Alright then. It’s time for a bath now,” Shui Se said with a bit of a grievance.

She obediently slipped into the bathtub, her cyan tail glistening with a pearl-like sheen beneath the water’s surface. Song Xiu sat on the edge of the tub, rolled up her sleeves, and picked up the showerhead to adjust the water temperature. The sound of the running water was particularly clear in the quiet bathroom.

“Turn around,” Song Xiu said softly, her fingers sinking into Shui Se’s pink long hair.

Shui Se obediently turned to sit, facing away from Song Xiu. Warm water flowed over the Jiao-person’s hair. Song Xiu squeezed out some shampoo and gently massaged the lather.

Shui Se’s hair was much finer and softer than a human’s, sliding like silk between her fingers.

“Does that feel good?” Song Xiu’s fingertips massaged her scalp.

Shui Se let out a purr-like sound, her tail unconsciously slapping the water, splashing droplets that wet Song Xiu’s collar. The foam kept sliding down Shui Se’s neck.

Song Xiu’s hand paused for a second. She forced herself to look away and continued to focus on washing the long hair.

After rinsing clean, Shui Se suddenly turned around, splashing a wave of water. Song Xiu was caught off guard and got a face full of water, the droplets dripping down her chin.

“Did you do that on purpose?” Song Xiu squinted.

Shui Se smiled, her ear fins fully spread, and water droplets still clung to her pink eyelashes. She reached out to wipe the water from Song Xiu’s face, but her fingertip paused by her lips.

Both of their breaths quickened simultaneously.

Song Xiu grabbed Shui Se’s wrist, pressing the restless hand against the edge of the bathtub. Shui Se looked up at her, her light brown eyes reflecting Song Xiu’s image entirely.

Shui Se’s voice was wet with water vapor, “Touch me…”

Song Xiu swallowed: “Where?”

Shui Se’s ear fins instantly turned bright red. She lowered her eyes, her tail nervously moving underwater.

“The mating scales…”

“Touch yourself.” Song Xiu suddenly smirked, releasing the hand she had constrained.

“No, I want you to touch me.”

Song Xiu immediately slid her hand into the water, her fingertips tracing down the waistline, stopping abruptly just before they reached the target.

“I want you to do it yourself,” she whispered close to Shui Se’s ear fin. “Let me watch you.”

Shui Se, already thoroughly aroused, had no choice but to tremble as she reached for herself. The moment of contact, she jolted, her tail violently slapping the water, splashing water over most of the bathroom.

Song Xiu quickly pressed down on her shoulders: “Gently, the scales will get hurt.”

Shui Se shook her head, grabbing Song Xiu’s hand: “Touch together. Like it~”

Faced with the request, Song Xiu chose not to be polite. She suddenly leaned close to Shui Se: “So, is it okay now?”

Shui Se knew what she was asking.

“Yes, Song Xiu can do anything.”

“Then can you tell me how to open them?”

“You have to break them, or pluck them off.”

This was clearly something Song Xiu hadn’t expected. She thought Shui Se could control it herself.

“Will it hurt a lot?”

“Yes,” Shui Se nodded honestly.

“Then let’s not do it yet. We’ll take our time later.” In any case, Shui Se’s mating scales were sufficient for now.

Song Xiu instead started caressing Shui Se’s ear fins, which were also sensitive.

Shui Se felt like she was going to die in Song Xiu’s hands. She wanted to hide but had nowhere to go: “Don’t touch… don’t touch…”

“I have to touch them. Shui Se’s ear fins feel so good to touch.” Song Xiu insisted and did not let go. The sensitive ear fins moved restlessly. Shui Se’s mind was a mess, and she felt like drooling.