Becoming the Keeper of an Alluring Merfolk - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Not Enough Kisses

◎Threatened by Jian Xu, Xiao Hen is forced to avoid Chen Mengwei◎

Zheng Zheng could only turn to look at the screen with a reluctant expression. It was certainly false to say she wasn’t envious or curious; she also wanted to genuinely visit the city center. She could transform her legs, too.

Why was she inferior to that Shui Se?

Shui Se, who was cuddling a small parrot at the zoo, sneezed.

“Are you cold? Should we go back to the hotel now?” Song Xiu, whose video call had dropped due to unstable network, quickly walked over to Shui Se and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m not cold. It must be the clan leader and the others thinking of me, that’s why I sneezed.”

“As long as you’re not cold, we’re good. There’s a cat café outside the zoo. Let’s go have coffee. But we can’t bring the little parrot into the cat café.”

“Okay.” Shui Se reluctantly put the little parrot back into its cage. She rubbed its small head with her fingertip and watched it for a long time before leaving with Song Xiu, their fingers laced together.

It was called a cat café, but it also had dogs and some reptiles inside.

Shui Se held a cappuccino, her eyes sparkling. For the first time, she felt her own Xiao Mi wasn’t as exciting. The cats and dogs were so cute. While other customers favored purebred cats and dogs, she and Song Xiu circled the big yellow tabby and the raccoon cat.

“Song Xiu, can’t we keep them?”

“We definitely can’t have a dog. We might be able to have a cat, but… Xiao Mi is on its food chain. It might be eaten, so we can’t keep one for now.”

“So that’s why.” Shui Se put down her coffee, one hand petting a dog’s head, the other scratching a cat’s chin.

“Hahaha, you sound so disappointed. Xiao Mi will be sad if he hears this.”

“I think Xiao Mi is paying less and less attention to me. Its little head is full of food, drink, and escaping. Why does it always want to run away? I’ve been so, so kind to it.”

“It’s a hamster’s nature. Just like the difference in personality between merfolk and Jiao-people.”

Shui Se suddenly leaned in and kissed Song Xiu’s cheek.

“What… what was that for?”

“Don’t you like it when I kiss you? I think what you said was very good, so I wanted to kiss you.”

“Good…”

“What exactly is wrong? Hmm?” Shui Se picked up the coffee on the table and took a few sips, utterly perplexed.

“Want to try my Americano?”

“Yes!”

Song Xiu was about to adjust the straw, but Shui Se stopped her: “We already kissed. There’s no need for that.”

Song Xiu’s face reddened even more. Fortunately, the people around them weren’t paying much attention. Shui Se took the cup, drank a few sips, and immediately froze.

“It tastes like a fish’s gall bladder.”

“Hahaha, I knew you wouldn’t like it.”

“Why do you like it?”

“Because it’s cheap and it wakes me up. Those four years in university, I had to attend classes and work part-time. I got used to drinking it and no longer find it bitter.”

“That sounds so pitiful. I wish you could come with me to the bottom of the sea. I’ve collected quite a few treasures from sunken ships. They could be exchanged for lots and lots of money.”

“Treasures, what kind of treasures?”

“Blue… blue and white porcelain? And several chests of gold, silver, and jewels from pirates. The Clan Leader says they’re just pretty stones to us Jiao-people, but they must be very useful to you. Do you want them?”

Song Xiu simply smiled and shook her head, declining.

She knew she was just an ordinary person. Meeting Shui Se was already a blessing from the heavens. If she acquired those treasures as well, it would likely bring both fortune and disaster.

It was getting late when they left the cat café. Song Xiu didn’t plan to take Shui Se back to the dormitory. She had already booked a hotel room. The dormitory bed was too narrow and hard; she couldn’t let Shui Se always suffer.

They checked into one of the best hotels in Binhai City. Normally, especially during holidays, the price would be exorbitant.

Now, due to the effect of the moon, tourists were down by two-thirds, and the price had dropped by more than half.

The hotel suite was spacious and bright, and outside the floor-to-ceiling window was the entire luminous sea, glowing with a soft blue light in the darkness.

As soon as Shui Se entered, she dove onto the soft, large bed, completely sinking into the duvet. Her tail unconsciously transformed, its scales gleaming like pearls in the warm light.

“Song Xiu! This bed is so soft and spacious! Hurry and try it!”

Song Xiu laughed and walked over. As soon as she sat down, Shui Se pulled her down, and they both sank into the fluffy bedding. Shui Se naturally rolled into her arms, nuzzled her neck, and sighed contentedly: “It’s so much more comfortable than the dorm bed.”

“Then we’ll stay out more often from now on,” Song Xiu rubbed the top of her head, gently stroking her long hair.

Shui Se looked up, her eyes sparkling: “Really?”

“Really,” Song Xiu leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Whenever you want.”

Shui Se immediately pressed her advantage, rubbing her lips against Song Xiu’s mouth, like a playful little animal: “Then can we kiss more now?”

Song Xiu chuckled and pinched her cheek: “Didn’t we just kiss at the cat café?”

“That was different.” Shui Se declared righteously. “There were too many people there. It wasn’t enough.”

Song Xiu simply flipped over and pulled her underneath her, gently stroking her chin, deliberately teasing her: “And now? Is this enough?”

Shui Se blinked, then suddenly hooked her arms around Song Xiu’s neck, tilting her head back to kiss her.

The kiss was deeper than usual, carrying the faint bitterness and sweetness of coffee. Shui Se’s lips were soft and cool, but her tongue was warm, like a charming yet dangerous whirlpool at the bottom of the sea, eroding Song Xiu’s sanity bit by bit.

Song Xiu’s breathing grew ragged, her palm caressing Shui Se’s waist, touching her scales.

Shui Se made a soft “Mmm” sound, instinctively trying to pull away, but then apologized: “I didn’t really mean to pull away. It tickles.”

“It’s alright,” Song Xiu chuckled, lightly tapping the scale with her fingertip.

Shui Se’s ear tips turned faintly red. She leaned in again and rubbed her cheek against Song Xiu’s: “Another kiss then?”

Song Xiu let her have her way. They lingered on the bed for a while until Shui Se’s stomach let out a loud rumble. Song Xiu laughed and propped herself up: “Hungry?”

Shui Se nodded, her eyes still glued to Song Xiu: “But I still want hugs.”

Song Xiu rubbed her head: “Food first, then hugs.”

She called room service and placed an order. While waiting for the food, Shui Se was glued to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the sea. Song Xiu hugged her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. They quietly watched the fierce luminous waves in the distance.

“Song Xiu,” Shui Se suddenly called out softly.

“Hmm?”

“Can we go to the zoo again tomorrow morning?” She turned her head, her eyes full of anticipation. “I still want to feed the little rabbits and the little parrots.”

Song Xiu’s heart completely melted. She kissed the corner of Shui Se’s eye: “Okay, we’ll go tomorrow morning. The zoo opens at six. We’ll just have to make sure we get back before nine, which is when work starts.”

Shui Se immediately smiled, turning to bury her face in Song Xiu’s embrace. Her tail unconsciously wrapped around Song Xiu’s legs, the scales gently brushing her skin. The cool, silky touch made Song Xiu instinctively tighten her arms, holding her closer.

Whether it was the coffee or genuine excitement, they stayed up late watching shows and videos before finally falling asleep. This was the most peaceful night they had spent together since they met. Even though the bed was large enough for them to lie flat, they unconsciously drifted closer and slept in an embrace.

Early the next morning, Song Xiu and Shui Se went to the zoo and managed to feed the little rabbits and the little parrots right when it opened.

When they returned to the institute, it was close to nine o’clock. Shui Se went straight to her room. Xiao Mi hadn’t seen her last night and hadn’t nibbled much on his sunflower seeds this morning, chirping frantically against the bars of his cage.

Shui Se quickly opened the cage door. Xiao Mi immediately scurried into her palm, his tiny paws clinging to her finger, seemingly complaining about her and Song Xiu’s “night out.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll bring you next time!” Shui Se poked his bulging cheeks. Xiao Mi squeaked, turned to gnaw on the peanut in her palm, and reluctantly forgave her.

On the other side, Song Xiu had just changed into her shirt and work uniform when she saw Chen Mengwei standing at the corner of the corridor, looking somewhat dazed.

“Mengwei?” Song Xiu walked over and gently patted her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Chen Mengwei snapped out of it, forcing a smile: “Nothing… I just didn’t sleep well.”

Song Xiu raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving: “Did something happen with Xiao Hen?”

Chen Mengwei pursed her lips and finally sighed: “She… she’s avoiding me.”

“Avoiding you?” Song Xiu was taken aback. “Didn’t she promise to tell Little Coco a story every day?”

“She did, but she didn’t look at me the entire time.” Chen Mengwei rubbed her temple, her voice softening a little. “I originally planned to chat with her for a bit after she finished, but she went straight back to Jian Xu’s place without even saying goodbye.”

Song Xiu frowned: “What trick is Jian Xu pulling now?”

“I don’t know. But I have a strange feeling about Xiao Hen’s attitude, as if she’s being forced to distance herself from me.”

Song Xiu pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something: “Did you mention researching the pseudo-spawning period yesterday?”

Chen Mengwei froze.

“I only glanced at the surveillance yesterday, the part where you were talking to Little Coco. I wasn’t sure before, but looking at this now, Jian Xu most likely has surveillance access.”

“I see. So she threatened Xiao Hen?”

“Not necessarily a threat, but she definitely applied pressure.”

Chen Mengwei clenched her fists, her knuckles turning slightly white: “I need to talk to her.”

“Don’t rush. If you go straight to Xiao Hen now, you’ll only make Jian Xu more wary. We should observe for a couple of days and see Xiao Hen’s reaction. Also, we need to figure out how to revoke Jian Xu’s access.”

Chen Mengwei took a deep breath, barely suppressing her emotions: “Okay.”

Just as they were talking, footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor. Jian Xu and Xiao Hen walked slowly towards them, hand in hand. Xiao Hen’s head was bowed, her blue long hair covering half her face, making her expression unclear.

As they passed, Chen Mengwei instinctively called out: “Xiao Hen.”

Xiao Hen paused but didn’t turn around. She merely gently pulled her hand free from Jian Xu’s, whispering: “I’m going to find Little Coco.”

Jian Xu smiled slightly, her gaze towards Chen Mengwei carrying a hint of smugness: “Researcher Chen, no, Feeder Chen, Veterinarian Chen, morning.”

Chen Mengwei ignored her, her eyes following Xiao Hen’s retreating back until she disappeared around the corner.

“Jian Xu.” She suddenly spoke, her voice frighteningly calm. “You had better pray that I don’t find any evidence.”

Jian Xu’s smile froze, and she immediately scoffed: “What, is Researcher Chen declaring war?”

Chen Mengwei didn’t answer, simply turning to leave.

Song Xiu’s gaze flickered between the two, a vague sense of unease stirring in her heart.