Becoming the Keeper of an Alluring Merfolk - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Taking Shui Se to the Zoo

The closed bathroom was filled with steam. The bathtub, which was almost full, had most of its water spilled out due to Shui Se’s tail swishing and Song Xiu’s overly large movements.

“E-enough, Song Xiu…”

“Then why don’t you kiss me?”

Shui Se wanted to kiss, but Song Xiu gave her no opportunity, clearly teasing her on purpose. After several failed attempts, she had no choice but to bite down on Song Xiu’s collarbone. Only then did Song Xiu stop tormenting her.

“You bit me! It hurts, blow on it.” Song Xiu frowned slightly, deliberately showing a pained expression.

Shui Se anxiously retracted her ear fins: “Really? I didn’t bite that hard. I’ll blow on it for you.”

The breath from the Jiao-person carried a thread of coolness, which thoroughly pleased Song Xiu. Her wife was the cutest; she had a temper when she should, and when it was time to be obedient, she was exceptionally so.

After Shui Se transformed her legs again, Song Xiu drained the bathtub. After drying their bodies and hair, she carried Shui Se to bed: “How about I take you to the zoo tomorrow? The Director said Mengwei voluntarily applied to cover for me for a day.”

“A zoo? Are there hamsters like Xiao Mi there too? I want to see other colors.”

“There aren’t any hamsters, but there are many small animals you’ve never seen, like little rabbits, sika deer, and miniature horses. It’s great fun, and you can feed them carrots.”

Shui Se nodded repeatedly, filled with anticipation.

Early the next morning, Chen Mengwei knocked on their door. Even though she was only covering for one day, she meticulously asked about many important details, including when to let the merfolk out for exercise, how much to feed each one at every meal, and what to show on the big screen.

“Mengwei, Zheng Zheng will likely make some demands since she sees you as easygoing. Absolutely don’t agree to everything and let her run wild. Just tell her everything needs to wait until I get back.”

“Okay, I understand. Actually, I’m considering transferring to the feeder position. If I join, you can take normal time off on holidays, and it’ll be easier for you to spend time with Shui Se.”

“That sounds great, but the salary for my position is only two-thirds of a researcher’s, even after becoming permanent. You’d be losing out.”

“It’s fine. I can also handle the veterinarian role part-time. That way, my salary should be about the same as a researcher’s. With the subsidy, I might even earn more.”

Song Xiu quickly pulled her into the room, whispering: “Jian Xu has always been the official veterinarian. You know she has a good relationship with the Director. If you snatch her position, she’ll definitely cause trouble.”

“No wonder she’s so arrogant, she’s a nepotist. It doesn’t matter. Since I could parachute into a good researcher position, I naturally have connections too. Maybe my backing is even bigger than hers.”

Song Xiu was stunned for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh. So, she was the only poor laborer here; how was it that everyone else had connections?

“Then why didn’t anyone compete with me for the feeder position initially?”

“Because the subsidy is the lowest, it’s the hardest work, and you’re the first to take responsibility if the animals aren’t cared for properly or if information is leaked. Crucially, there are no opportunities for promotion. But now that I’m here with you, you’ll be less stressed.”

“I see. No wonder they transferred me on the last day of my internship. It was because they couldn’t find anyone.”

“Well, I’m off to work. Have fun.” Chen Mengwei patted Song Xiu’s shoulder and hummed a tune as she left the dorm.

Shui Se, who had been sitting on the sofa eating millet crisps, stood up and fed a piece to Song Xiu: “What does ‘promotion’ mean?”

“After researchers have worked for a certain number of years, they are transferred to better-paying units. I won’t be.”

“Why? That’s not fair.”

“It’s a long-standing human custom. For ordinary people like me, it doesn’t matter much. Come on, let’s change clothes and head out.”

“Okay!”

In the Jiao-person section on the other side, Little Coco ate the fish chunks fed by Chen Mengwei with curiosity: “Where is Sister Song Xiu?”

“She has a day off. How about I take care of you all along with her from now on?”

Little Coco chewed, her cheeks puffed out, and replied: “That sounds quite good. Sister Song Xiu will get more rest. She works too hard by herself.”

“So thoughtful. No wonder Xiao Hen likes you so much.”

“Of course! By the way, are you interested in Sister Xiao Hen?” Little Coco flicked her tail and squinted slightly. “I guessed right, didn’t I?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“By that? What do you mean?”

“I mean… suppose I really am interested in Xiao Hen?”

“Then steal her away.”

“But she can’t leave Jian Xu right now, unless I can figure out a way to break her pseudo-spawning period.”

“Then research it.”

Chen Mengwei burst out laughing: “You’re right, I just need to figure it out. Thank you, Little Coco.”

“Just remember to secretly open one extra sea urchin for me. Keep asking, and I’ll answer anytime.”

“Hahahaha, what kind of weird stuff did Song Xiu teach you?”

“I learned it from TV, hehe.”

When it was time to feed Zheng Zheng, she predictably raised all sorts of questions and demands.

“When will the things Song Xiu promised me arrive?”

“Soon. The package has already been shipped here.”

“Can I eat human food for dinner?”

“That…”

“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll starve myself.”

“Alright, fine. I agree, but you have to eat all the prescribed food for breakfast and lunch.”

Zheng Zheng finally nodded. After eating, she went off to watch her own TV alone.

Since the adult merfolk couldn’t communicate, the feeding went quickly. After mopping the floor and playing Barbie in a Mermaid Tale and The Penguins of Madagascar back-to-back for Little Coco as she requested, Chen Mengwei finally had some free time.

She hesitated about whether to go to Jian Xu’s place to check on Xiao Hen’s condition.

It’s normal for a feeder to check on her Jiao-person, right?

Or… was there a better way?

Little Coco was attracted by Chen Mengwei, who was crouching by the pool with a worried look: “Sister Xiao Hen promised me that she’ll come and tell me a story after dinner every day. You can see her tonight.”

“Really?”

“Of course. If Jian Xu is mean to you, I’ll help you too. But… you absolutely must not bully Sister Song Xiu during work. If I find out, I will definitely badmouth you in front of Sister Xiao Hen.”

“Okay, I promise, I absolutely won’t bully Song Xiu.”

Just as she finished speaking, Song Xiu video-called Chen Mengwei.

“Hello, Mengwei, please project this onto the big screen. I want to show Little Coco and the others the little animals at the zoo.”

Chen Mengwei agreed and did as asked. Immediately, Little Coco shrieked with excitement. On the screen, Shui Se was crouched on the ground, feeding a white rabbit a carrot. A friendly green budgie was perched on her shoulder.

All the merfolk watched intently, except for Zheng Zheng, who stubbornly refused to look. No matter how excited Little Coco was, she completely ignored it.

Chen Mengwei disliked this attitude, so she walked over and manually turned off Zheng Zheng’s TV.

“Zheng Zheng, that’s very disrespectful, do you know that? If you don’t turn around and look, you won’t get dinner tonight.”

“You!”

Chen Mengwei realized that Song Xiu’s overly gentle approach wouldn’t work on Zheng Zheng, so she became even more firm: “Hurry up! I’m not kidding!”