I Don't Want To Fall In Love With The Heroine [Quick Wear] - Chapter 21: World 2: The Mermaid Whose Scales Were Peeled

Bai Qian stood frozen for two heartbeats before she began to struggle.

To a high-order mermaid, the feeble resistance of a “low-class human” was utterly laughable—no more threatening than a toothless kitten trying to bite a tiger.

The girl’s fingertip pressed into the dimple on Bai Qian’s cheek. With a slight exert of force, she pried open the woman’s tightly sealed lips just enough.

The act of taking, it seemed, was an instinct even for creatures like mermaids. Without needing to be taught, the girl’s tongue surged forward, ignoring the push and pull of resistance, and forcefully invaded that warm, moist sanctuary.

A spark, ignited upon contact.

The violet hue on the girl’s face gradually receded, replaced by a healthy glow. The hand that had been on Bai Qian’s dimple slid backward, brushing against her cheek and tangling into her soft, dark hair. Her movements were lingering and ambiguous, carrying a trace of unconscious intimacy.

When Bai Qian finally regained her senses, she realized the strength drained by the psychic attack had returned.

Yu Shaoling reclined back into the bathtub with a look of satiation. Her cold expression had softened significantly, and her narrow eyes swept over Bai Qian like a supreme ruler. She parted her lips to grant a favor: “Low-class human, come here. Since you helped me, I shall allow you to serve me.”

Bai Qian ignored her bossy attitude, surprised by something else entirely: “I can understand you now?”

Yu Shaoling’s elegant brows knit together, seemingly puzzled herself as to why she could suddenly understand the person before her.

Before she could think it through, Bai Qian scrambled up and squatted back by the tub.

“Do you remember me?”

Yu Shaoling’s exquisite face was a mask of noble arrogance. “Hmph. I don’t deign to know you.”

Bai Qian: “…”

The “Princess” grew dissatisfied with her hesitation. “What are you staring at? Low-class human, serve me at once.”

With that, the girl tilted her body toward Bai Qian. The way she raised her hand held an innate, effortless allure—sultry and enchanting.

“Clean this hand for me. Otherwise—” Her gaze cut across Bai Qian’s delicate neck, her eyes sharp as blades, cold and full of underlying threat.

Bai Qian didn’t hold a grudge against this ungrateful creature. She obeyed, taking the girl’s slender hand and cleaning it as she had done before.

Yu Shaoling rested her head against the edge of the tub. From this angle, she could see the woman’s perfect jawline, her inviting red lips, her straight nose, and those eyes that seemed to contain an entire galaxy. Unwittingly, she became like a spectator mesmerized by a beautiful landscape, falling into a trance.

“There. Take a proper bath yourself. I’ll bring some clothes in for you.”

The woman’s gentle voice broke the spell, snapping the girl out of her trance. Her face stiffened, clearly annoyed at her own lapse in composure.

“Hey, low-class human. You haven’t answered me. Where is this exactly, and why am I here?”

The soft warmth on Bai Qian’s face vanished at the repeated use of “low-class human.” “I have a name. You can call me Bai Qian.”

The mermaid let out a disdainful huff. “A human name is unworthy of passing my lips.”

Hearing this, Bai Qian stopped her service, stood up, and walked straight out.

Yu Shaoling called out in frustration, “Hey! Low-class human, answer me!”

“Low-class creature, aren’t you afraid I’ll use my psychic power on you again?!”

No matter the threats, Bai Qian did not look back.

Yu Shaoling grumbled to herself for a long while until the bathroom door finally opened again. She fell silent instinctively, her eyes full of resentment as she watched the person enter.

Bai Qian held a set of pajamas. She hung them up with detached grace, ignoring the mermaid who was practically vibrating with rage, and turned to leave once more.

Yu Shaoling couldn’t hold it in. She spat out bitterly, “Bai Qian! You damned low-class human!”

Bai Qian’s footsteps faltered. She turned back with a faint, mocking smile.

The coldness on Yu Shaoling’s face had melted into pure fury. Her amber eyes, tinged with dark mist, seemed to spray sparks of fire.

Bai Qian met her gaze calmly, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line.

“You damned human, I command you to answer me!”

Bai Qian’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She curled her lips but said nothing, turning on her heel and leaving. The door slammed shut with a sharp bang, sealing away the girl’s tireless rage.

Yu Shaoling stood up in the tub, her long, straight legs stepping onto the floor. She made a move to rush out and demand an explanation from that ungrateful human. But after two steps, she finally realized something was wrong. Her body froze, and she looked down in disbelief.

Her face went deathly pale.

Where was her tail?

*****

Bai Qian was just about to head downstairs to make some food when a piercing, agonizing mermaid’s wail erupted from the bathroom. The sound was more haunting than nails scratching against a blackboard.

She instantly forgot her annoyance and ran back.

Pushing the door open, she saw the girl, her eyes bloodshot, frantically and humiliatingly striking her legs—legs that were now identical to a human’s. Painful groans escaped her throat, and every time her clenched fist hit the tender skin, it left a startling red mark.

Bai Qian caught the girl’s hand mid-air. Yu Shaoling looked up, seeing the clear pity in the woman’s eyes.

The girl struggled like a madwoman, her beautiful eyes filled with venom. She hissed and shrieked with hatred, “Was it you? Was it you! You damned low-class human! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

To a mermaid, losing a tail was no different than a human losing their limbs.

Bai Qian had seen this image before. In the final act of the original plot, the dying protagonist was dragged from her cage by the villain. She had been drugged, unable to use her powers or struggle, forced to watch as the heartless man carved her scales off one by one.

The floor had been covered in blood. The mermaid’s throat had given out from the screaming. Her once-pure eyes had lost their spark, shrouded in a dark, lifeless mist. When the last scale was stripped, she was discarded like a rag. Her cold body lay in a pool of blood, her hatred turning into tears of blood that flowed down her pale cheeks.

Bai Qian didn’t dare recall any more of that gruesome scene. The reality was vastly different from the plot, but she had no time to wonder where things had diverged. Her priority was to calm the girl down before she spiraled into total madness.

She gripped the girl’s thrashing hands and pulled her into a tender embrace, whispering into her ear: “I know you’ve lost things, and forgotten things. But please, trust me. I will help you find them.”

Bai Qian carried a scent that was hard to describe. It was like gardenias wet with morning dew—a fresh, tranquil fragrance that provided an inexplicable sense of security.

Yu Shaoling’s resistance faltered for a second before turning violent again. Her voice was hoarse from screaming. “It was you! You caused this! Who else could it be? You even dared to bring me to this strange place! You cruel, lowly human! I will never let you go!”

Mermaids were creatures of extremes when it came to emotion. If they trusted someone, they were foolish enough to hand over their entire heart. Conversely, if they didn’t, no matter how much the other person showed their sincerity, they would never believe a single word.

Bai Qian knew this well. She stopped trying to comfort her with words and slowly pulled the girl back. In a moment of distraction, Yu Shaoling swung her hand; her sharp fingernails caught the side of Bai Qian’s cheek.

Drip.

A string of blood beads seeped from Bai Qian’s delicate skin, falling into the tub and blooming into a pale red mist in the water.

Yu Shaoling smelled the blood in the air and momentarily lost her focus. Taking advantage of that hesitation, Bai Qian pressed both hands against the girl’s cheeks.

The mermaid’s skin was ice-cold. The touch of the warm palms made her tremble involuntarily. Yu Shaoling snapped back to reality, her gaze turning even colder at the bold gesture, and she raised her hand to strike Bai Qian’s arm.

Bai Qian didn’t dodge. The exertion caused another drop of blood to trickle down her face, tracing a long, thin crimson line down her pale cheek. She ignored the sting. The softness in her eyes was like moonlight scattered into a sea of stars.

“I know you won’t believe me easily.”

The girl let out a silent, cold scoff. Her gaze swept over Bai Qian, and when she glimpsed the trail of red on her face, her pupils contracted instinctively before quickly returning to a mask of loathing and hatred.

Bai Qian held her face and continued softly, “I am human. You are a mermaid. If you wished, you could kill me with your psychic power at any moment, couldn’t you?”

Yu Shaoling’s expression proved she was right, though a flash of unease crossed her eyes. Bai Qian caught it but pretended not to notice.

Mermaid psychic power, before the tail is lost and regenerated, cannot be used to take a life. Bai Qian knew this. Clearly, the amnesiac Yu Shaoling knew it too.

“So, I want to make a deal with you.” Bai Qian released one hand and held it out in a gesture used by humans for a verbal agreement. Her smile was like winter sun—warm and endlessly gentle. “I will help you find your lost tail. Until then, you must stay by my side. You don’t have to fear me breaking my word; after all, my life is yours to take at any time, isn’t it?”

Yu Shaoling stared at her for a long time. Throughout, the woman’s expression didn’t change; the sincerity in her eyes held not a grain of deception. Bai Qian didn’t rush her. She waited quietly until the girl spoke.

“And what do you want from me?” Her voice was flat, but Bai Qian knew this meant she finally believed she wasn’t the one who had hurt her.

Bai Qian reached out, her pinky finger gently hooking around the girl’s slender finger. As their thumbs touched, she whispered, “I only need you to stay away from a man named Tong Shaoqing.”

Yu Shaoling frowned. “Who is Tong Shaoqing?”

“That isn’t important right now. What matters is—what do you remember?”

After a long silence, Yu Shaoling spoke slowly. “I remember… a Black Octopus hunting me to the shore. I have no memory of what happened next. Then, I woke up here.”

The fact that she was willing to answer meant the deal was struck. Bai Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Black Octopus couldn’t come on land; that villain could be ignored for now. Her mission was simple: keep the lead away from the scumbag and find her tail.

Yu Shaoling had calmed down, her intelligence returning once the shock passed. “He killed my father and mother. He wanted to kill me too. If not for… where did you find me?”

“The beach.”

The girl sneered. “Then my tail must be his doing. You said you’d help me find it. How soon? I want my revenge. The sooner the better!”

Yu Shaoling’s arrogant, confident aura had a unique charm. Bai Qian couldn’t help but curve her lips. Perfect—this was exactly the career-focused protagonist she wanted to see.

“To be honest, I don’t know how to do it yet. But since I promised, I will find a way as soon as possible.”

Yu Shaoling decided to trust her, and her attitude softened. “Thank you. It seems you ‘lowly’ humans aren’t all as cunning and annoying as the Sea Mentor described.”

Bai Qian’s gentle smile cracked. “Mention ‘low-class human’ one more time and I’ll throw you right back out.”

The girl was about to argue, but she bit her lip and swallowed the words. “Since you’re helping me find my tail, I shall allow your name to be spoken by me. Bai Qian, was it? Fine. I’ve remembered it.”

Even though they knew each other’s names, the formalities had to be observed. Bai Qian played dumb. “And how should I address you?”

Yu Shaoling let out a disdainful huff. “Low—you are not worthy of speaking my noble name.”

“…”

Bai Qian stood up. “Then please wash yourself, get dressed, and come down. I’ll be in the dining room on the first floor.”

Yu Shaoling called her back immediately. “I am the future ruler of the Mermaid Kingdom! Do you think a trivial task like bathing is worthy of my own hands? Come here. I command you to wash me. Also, this outfit made of my power cannot touch sunlight. You must keep it in the water to maintain it. Understood?”

Her response was a sharp bang as the door was slammed again.

The future Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom was fuming. “Bai Qian! Get back here! You rebellious low—rebellious woman! Do you think I won’t kill you with my power?!”

Mermaids were born with hearing many times more sensitive than humans. After her shout, she heard no response—only the sound of the woman’s footsteps heading further down the stairs.

The Mermaid Princess, who had been waited on by hand and foot since birth, was turning blue with rage. That annoying human!

Once her tail returned, the first thing she would do was kill this ungrateful, arrogant woman!

******

Bai Qian made two dishes and a soup. It took half an hour. By the time the last plate was set, Yu Shaoling still hadn’t come down. She sighed, untied her apron, and went back upstairs.

She pushed the door open but didn’t see anyone in the tub. She walked a few steps closer and realized the girl was using the bathtub as a bed, lying on her side in the water. The sound of footsteps disturbed her. She opened her eyes, her long lashes creating ripples in the water.

With a splash, Yu Shaoling sat up.

Bai Qian hadn’t paid much attention to her outfit before, but looking at her clearly now, she realized how provocative it was. Below that slender swan neck, her collarbones were fully exposed. Playful droplets rolled down her pale skin, sliding into the curves of her chest, nearly stealing Bai Qian’s composure. She was wearing a bikini top made of solidified energy; her flat stomach and perfect “mermaid line” were on full display.

Bai Qian, acting like a modern-day saint, remained unmoved. She walked to the edge of the tub and looked down at her. “I told you to take a bath, not a nap.”

Yu Shaoling glared at her. “Bai Qian, I command you to serve me! Since you promised to help find my tail and required me to stay by your side, then naturally, you must take care of my daily needs!”

Bai Qian: “The fact that I’m not charging you rent or food is more than enough. You dare ask me to be your servant?”

Yu Shaoling stood up abruptly, splashing water onto Bai Qian. The girl was half a head taller than her; the change in posture gave her a sudden boost of confidence. She tilted her chin down, looking utterly arrogant.

“It is an honor for you to wash me! Do you know how many people in the Mermaid Kingdom long to be my handmaiden? Only the best of the best are chosen to be by my side. Understand?”

Bai Qian was caught between anger and amusement by her sheer, matter-of-fact confidence. Ultimately, she could only shake her head. They were different species with entirely different worldviews; there was no point in being stubborn about it.

Yu Shaoling saw her shake her head and flew into a rage. “Bai Qian! What is that supposed to mean? You don’t believe me?! You hateful low—hateful woman, I’ll use my power to turn you into a disgusting sea pig!”

Bai Qian: “…”

She was speechless. “By mermaid standards, you’ve lived over a hundred years. Why are you so childish? Besides, your power right now can only drain someone’s strength. It has no other use, does it?”

Yu Shaoling blurted out, “How do you know… I mean, of course not!”

Bai Qian stepped back and crossed her arms. “Fine. I won’t dodge. Try turning me into a pig right now. If you succeed, I’ll wash you every day from now on, not just today.”

The girl’s expression shifted through several emotions. Finally, frustrated but stubborn, she insisted, “Bai Qian, wash me! Or else… or else I’ll soak your bed so you can’t sleep tonight!”

Bai Qian was defeated by the sheer childishness of the threat. She sighed and walked back to her.

“I’ll wash you this one time. Starting tomorrow, you do everything yourself. This is the human world; we believe in equality. We don’t have that ‘ruler and subject’ system here. If you want to stay here in peace until I find your tail, you follow our rules. Understood?”

Yu Shaoling’s face was full of defiance, her lips pouting. She was about to speak when she was startled by Bai Qian’s cold, sweeping gaze. She went silent for a moment and then muttered, “Fine. You annoying human!”

Hmph. Low-class, hateful human! Just wait until I get my tail back!

Bai Qian could tolerate anything as long as the girl didn’t put “low-class” in front of “human.”

“Alright. My food is sitting downstairs getting cold. Take it off.”

“Take what off?”

Bai Qian frowned. “Your clothes. How am I supposed to wash you otherwise?”

The mermaid rolled her eyes. She grabbed Bai Qian’s hand and unceremoniously pressed it against a certain spot on her body.

“Bai Qian, this is part of your task too!”

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