Becoming the Keeper of an Alluring Merfolk - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Be Responsible for Me

Song Xiu’s staff dormitory was in the hemispherical building behind the laboratory. It was a standard single unit with one bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom. With white furniture and silver walls, there were no bright colors except for a plastic cactus on the windowsill.

Song Xiu subconsciously wanted to carry Shui Se to the bed, but Jian Xu’s cough reminded her that the Merman couldn’t be dehydrated for long. She instead placed her in the bathtub and slowly ran the water.

Shui Se slept peacefully, her breathing noticeable and steady, occasionally emitting soft whimpers like a small animal. Song Xiu nervously adjusted the water temperature, knowing it should be similar to the pool water—neither too cold nor too hot. Jian Xu, leaning against the bathroom door with her arms crossed, was completely puzzled, even slightly disdainful: “Song Xiu, why bother? Now that you’ve brought her over, you have to go through the trouble of looking after her separately. It would be easiest to put her in the pool and care for her with the others.”

“As long as she can talk, I can’t treat her like an animal.”

“By that logic, parrots can talk, and they’re still put in zoos for people to look at.” For some reason, Jian Xu’s tone sounded particularly sarcastic. Song Xiu found it hard to believe this came from a biological researcher. Not wanting to argue, she didn’t reply. Snubbed, Jian Xu took the hint and left without looking back.

As night fell, the water in the tub gently rippled. Shui Se’s long pink hair fanned out in the water like a soft sea anemone. She lay on the edge of the tub, her wet eyes staring unblinkingly at Song Xiu. “Do you really not want to go back?” Song Xiu squatted by the tub, asking softly, her slender fingers unconsciously stirring the water’s surface.

Shui Se’s ear fins trembled slightly, and her tail traced a small, graceful arc in the water: “Go back? Back to that cage?” Her voice was bright and lovely; though she was mocking herself, her tone was incredibly gentle. The Merman suddenly plucked up the courage to reach out and grab Song Xiu’s wrist: “Since you saved me, you have to be responsible for me.”

Song Xiu was stunned. Shui Se’s fingertips were ice cold, but they gave her an inexplicable feeling of heat. “Okay… I promise you.” On a complete whim, she agreed. She was surprised herself; the word ‘responsible’ carried a heavy weight. Could she truly handle it, having just transferred here?

For the past two decades, Song Xiu had always been a highly rational person, never making promises lightly. But at this moment, looking into Shui Se’s expectant eyes, she willingly and voluntarily jumped into this gentle trap as if enchanted.

Hearing the affirmative reply, Shui Se’s eyes immediately lit up, and her ear fins happily unfurled. She pulled Song Xiu’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. Her cool face gently rubbed against the warm palm. “Human hands are so dry and warm.” Song Xiu felt her heart skip a beat. She involuntarily stroked Shui Se’s face; the slick, wet sensation was highly addictive. Shui Se suddenly leaned closer, her nose almost touching Song Xiu’s. “Did you know? A Merfolk only recognizes one partner in a lifetime.”

“You…” “Shh,” Shui Se’s fingertip pressed against her lip. The Merman slowly slipped into the water, leaving only a pair of smiling eyes visible. Song Xiu stared blankly at the ripples on the water, feeling her last vestiges of rationality gradually dissipate with each concentric wave. She reached up to touch her own lips, where the coolness of Shui Se’s fingertip seemed to still linger. “Goodnight, Shui Se. I’m going back to rest now.” “Don’t close the bathroom door, okay? I’ll be scared.” “Okay.”

Song Xiu lay back in bed. Above her was the half-open window. The sound of the sea constantly crashing against the cliff wall was very conducive to sleep. The Merfolk’s soft breathing occasionally drifted from the bathroom. It felt as if she were adrift in a lone boat on the ocean.

When she woke up again, it was to the vibration of her wristband; her keeper job was officially beginning. The first thing she did upon getting up was rush to the bathroom. The moment she saw Shui Se, Song Xiu nearly forgot how to breathe. At some point, Shui Se’s lower half had transformed from a fish tail into a pair of long, slender, pale legs. The water in the tub had been drained, and she was curled up inside, naked. Although her long, pink, curly hair covered the crucial areas, it still made Song Xiu’s heart flutter. “Shui… Se… Shui Se?”

“Hmm?” Shui Se opened her eyes sleepily: “Song Xiu, I forgot to tell you, I can grow legs. But you absolutely mustn’t tell that Jian Xu; she’ll dissect me.”

Song Xiu nodded repeatedly: “I’ll find you some clothes.”

“Mhm.” Shui Se replied obediently, then clumsily managed to stand up, first testing the cold bathroom tile with her left foot.

Only after confirming she was steady did she move the other foot. “So cold.”

“Wait a moment, don’t come out yet. I’ll get you slippers.” Luckily, the dormitory items had spares, so slippers, towels, and toothbrushes were easy to handle. As for clothes, Song Xiu found an exploration team uniform that she rarely wore and gave it to Shui Se.

“It’s clean. I only wore it once, washed it, and never wore it again.” Song Xiu handed the outfit—a white T-shirt, a brown utility jacket, and knee-length shorts—to the Merfolk standing blankly. “I don’t know how to wear it,”

Shui Se blinked innocently, “I need your help.” Song Xiu was still a bit shy, but she helped Shui Se put them on. The clothes were slightly large but fit well. Instead of looking cool, she looked very cute wearing them.

“It suits you well.” “But I like wearing little dresses. I saw some in the ocean.” “Do you mean a sundress?”

“I think so. I like those. Although these are nice, they feel… stiff.”

“That’s because the utility fabric isn’t very comfortable. I’ll take you shopping once I get paid.”

“Okay!” Shui Se agreed instantly.

“Then I’ll just quickly wash up and go feed those Sirens. Are you sure there are no other Merfolk like you in there?” Shui Se shook her head, “No.”

Then she tilted her head again, “I think… I think there were some at first. I… I can’t remember clearly.” Shui Se had a headache. Her companion seemed to have been taken away, and she didn’t know where to.

“Don’t open the door for anyone but me, okay?”

“Okay! I’ll wait for you to come back.” Song Xiu left with a shy smile. Shui Se sat on the edge of the tub, yawning: “Xiao Hen, I’ll find you… I can use her to find you.”

She remembered that shortly after arriving at the institute, her companion, Xiao Hen, who had come in with her, was taken away because she revealed she could grow legs.

The night was dark, and Shui Se had been heavily sedated, so she couldn’t see who took her away. She must be so scared.

The Sirens communicated to her through gestures that Xiao Hen had definitely been dissected and studied by Jian Xu’s group. “Xiao Hen, where are you? I miss you so much.”