I Don't Want To Fall In Love With The Heroine [Quick Wear] - Chapter 23.2

Yu Shaoling’s face immediately crumpled into a piteous mask of impending doom. “Bai Qian! How can you be so cruel? I’m a patient, and aren’t we friends? How can you keep score with me like this!”

Bai Qian deftly changed the subject. “I’m going out to buy a few things. You wait for me at home, just like before.”

The last time she had left the house was about a month ago. Back then, Yu Shaoling was still the arrogant queen; hearing Bai Qian was leaving, she hadn’t shown much reluctance. She had even sent her off with a grand gesture, not forgetting to remind Bai Qian to bring back some beef jerky from the shop.

This time, her attitude was entirely different. She refused to agree no matter what, insisting that Bai Qian take her along.

Unable to dissuade her, Bai Qian finally told the truth. “I found a shop that might sell something to help your tail grow back. If you don’t let go of my clothes right now, I’m not going to help you find it.”

Upon hearing this, instead of letting go, Yu Shaoling gripped her even tighter. Her words were stubbornly childish: “Then I don’t want the tail anymore!”

Bai Qian’s expression hardened instantly. “Say that again?”

The girl was startled by her severe tone. Her small, crumpled face looked aggrieved and piteous. “Bai Qian, you’re scolding me… how could you scold me!”

The woman’s face remained grim. “If I ever hear you say something like that again, I won’t want you anymore.”

The mermaid froze. She blinked, and her eyes turned bloodshot, as if tears would spill at any moment. “Waaa… why won’t you want me? Bai Qian, do you hate me now?”

Bai Qian felt a massive headache coming on. Why are mermaids so fragile these days?

She let her expression soften slightly. Though she wasn’t smiling, she no longer looked as terrifying as before. “Finding your tail isn’t just for yourself—it’s for your Father and Mother. Without it, how will you get revenge? Have you forgotten what the Black Octopus did?”

The girl couldn’t hold back and burst into tears. “I’m… I’m sorry… hic… I shouldn’t have said that… hic… I won’t say things like that ever again. Bai Qian, please don’t leave me. If you… hic… if you don’t want me, I’ll be… hic… I’ll be so sad.”

Pink pearls dropped one by one onto the carpet, clicking softly as they collided.

“Stop. What did I say before? No crying.”

The girl looked at her, her eyes rimmed with red, looking exceptionally piteous. She sobbed, offering a tearful explanation: “I… hic… I can’t stop. You… hic… Answer me, Bai Qian… hic… Do you… hic… Do you really not want me anymore?”

The speed at which Bai Qian could wipe the tears away was no match for the speed at which the pearls were forming. She finally gave up. “If you don’t control yourself, I really won’t want you.”

Yu Shaoling shook her head frantically, using her delicate palms to wipe the overflowing tears. “I’m… I’m not crying. Really. I’m really not crying anymore.”

Bai Qian opened the jewelry box for the third time; this time, the number of pink pearls had increased by fifteen. The girl followed closely by her side, her voice still carrying a soft, lingering tremor from the crying. “Take me with you, okay? Please, Bai Qian, take me with you?”

The woman sighed, her silence serving as consent.

*****

Bai Qian had stumbled upon a post on a niche forum. Following the directions provided by the original poster, the two of them twisted and turned through alleys until they finally found the shop that allegedly sold all sorts of surreal items.

The owner was a short-haired woman who looked to be in her late twenties. When Bai Qian entered, she was sitting on the only sofa in the shop, playing a card game on her phone. She glanced at the two of them for a split second before burying her head back in the screen.

“This is a self-service shop. Everything is 59 yuan—no bargaining. Buy two, get 5 off; buy three, get 10 off, and so on. Pick what you want and calculate the price yourself. The QR code for payment is at the door. I hope you shop with integrity. Come back soon.”

Bai Qian browsed the shelves and found a wide variety of items.

• Dream-Entry Pillow: Fall asleep the moment you touch it. Not responsible for the specific type of dream created; may cause nightmares. Recommended for those suffering from extreme insomnia.
• Relationship Simulator: Three-day usage period. Can customize a partner of the user’s preference. Not recommended for those with poor self-control.
• Luck-Doubling Charm: Can be used once. The target of the effect is random; may double bad luck instead. Recommended for those whose lives have hit rock bottom.

Bai Qian searched the entire room and finally found her target on the bottom shelf—a jar of lotion that looked no different from human body cream.

• Tail Regeneration Liquid: Take 10g per use and apply to the mermaid’s legs. Use morning and night. After one week, the lost mermaid tail will be restored.

Yu Shaoling whispered to her, “Bai Qian, my tail was broken by the Black Octopus’s sorcery. This thing looks like some sketchy knock-off. Is it really effective?”

Bai Qian took the jar to the counter to pay. “What if it works? We’ll try it first. If it doesn’t, we’ll think of something else.”

Just as the payment went through, the shopkeeper—who was still focused on her game—suddenly spoke. “We’ve also launched a blind box product. Also 59 yuan per box. Want to take one?”

Bai Qian was about to refuse, but she felt a tug on her sleeve. Yu Shaoling looked at her expectantly. “Bai Qian, I want one. Just buy me one, please?”

Having picked out a blind box, the mermaid girl happily pulled Bai Qian away. As their figures disappeared around the corner, a gentle female voice rang out inside the shop.

“I felt it. That girl… she has the same aura as me. I haven’t been back to the sea in a long time, A-Yan. I miss home.”

The short-haired woman called A-Yan shifted her gaze from her phone to the circular fish tank on the top shelf. Her cold expression turned tender when she saw the tiny, light-blue figure inside. “Then tomorrow, let’s go home and have a look.”

The palm-sized light-blue mermaid swam a circle in the clear water. “A-Yan, I saw them take that bottle of Tail Regeneration Liquid. If I remember correctly, wasn’t that the stuff I brought from the seabed when I came ashore?”

It had been a full two hundred years since she had come ashore.

The woman shrugged indifferently. “It’s made of water anyway. It won’t hurt her even if it’s expired. Besides, the item in that blind box is worth much more than the price. If you think about it, they got a bargain.”

The mermaid sighed. “They seemed like they really want to find the tail. You know how to do it, A-Yan. Should we have given them a hint?”

“No need.” The woman looked at her meaningfully. “Didn’t I discover it by accident back then, too? What is meant to be found will be found. Why worry for them? If you’re so concerned about others, you might as well consider our own plans.”

“Hmm?”

“That bottle of Sea Essence they took—I kept one for myself. Why don’t we try it tonight?”

“…”

*****

As soon as they sat down on the bus, Yu Shaoling couldn’t wait to tear open the plain blind box. Inside was a thumb-sized bottle of sky-blue liquid, clear and beautiful like the ocean. The bottle was engraved with just a few words: Emotional Drink.

Other than that, there were no instructions for use.

“Bai Qian, what is this?”

Bai Qian truly hadn’t seen this kind of drink before, but for some reason, looking at it gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity—it even triggered an urge to throw the thing away.

“It looks like a sketchy product. It doesn’t even list the ingredients. Throw it away.”

Yu Shaoling hurriedly snatched the bottle back and stuffed it into the box. She shook her head frantically, looking like a mother cat protecting her kitten. “I like it! You can’t throw it away! Besides, it cost over fifty yuan—that’s expensive! Isn’t it a waste to just throw it away?”

Bai Qian: “…You have a point. Fine, it says it’s a ‘drink.’ Since it was so expensive, you’d better drink every last drop when the time comes. Otherwise, don’t expect me to buy you anything ever again.”

“Okay! But I don’t want to drink it now. It’s so pretty. Once I’ve admired it enough, I’ll drink every last drop. Is that okay?”

Bai Qian nodded. “Fine. But you have to drink it in front of me so I can check.”

******

Though she had a “hail mary” attitude, Bai Qian didn’t dare just slather an unknown substance onto Yu Shaoling. She tested it on herself first. The liquid was very smooth; when it touched the skin, it simply felt like water being applied.

After observing herself for a full month and confirming there was no itching, redness, or irritation, she finally felt at ease.

“You can use it now. Don’t forget: apply it once every morning and night.”

Yu Shaoling stood up and walked over to her. Without a hint of self-consciousness, she grabbed the hem of her long dress and yanked it upward. “Bai Qian, you apply it for me.”

Bai Qian nearly choked on her own spit. After a few coughs, she scolded the girl in a “tough love” manner: “Didn’t I teach you? When you’re wearing a skirt, you can’t just lift it up like that in front of people! And the safety shorts I put out for you—why aren’t you wearing them!”

The girl, whose skirt had been pushed back down by the dark-faced woman, looked perfectly innocent. “Those pants are too tight. I don’t like them; they’re too uncomfortable.” She added a hint of grievance to her voice: “How can you scold me? I was being good and listening to you. You told me not to show anyone else, and I didn’t! Bai Qian, why are you scolding me!”

Drip.

The Creator must have made her out of water. After a few whimpers, the girl’s reddened eyes were once again filled with crystalline pink tears. “Waaa… I didn’t show anyone else, but you’re still scolding me… waaa…”

Bai Qian’s temples throbbed. She didn’t know where things had gone wrong, but ever since they returned from that shop, this girl had become a total crybaby. She’d cry every few days over things Bai Qian considered trivial.

Bai Qian had tried scolding her and flicking her forehead as she used to, but instead of stopping, the girl would only cry harder. A few days ago, because Bai Qian was busy drawing and ignored her, the girl had curled up on the sofa and cried until she was almost hyperventilating, covering the cushions in pink pearls.

Bai Qian had only discovered her when she went to get water. By then, the girl was gasping for air, her eyes swollen like walnuts—a truly piteous sight. A mermaid’s constitution was fragile; after such a heavy bout of crying, she had to rest for two full days to recover her energy.

Since then, Bai Qian didn’t dare let her cry like that again. Even when she was so angry she wanted to cook the fish, the moment she saw those watery eyes about to overflow, she had to swallow her rage.

This time was no different. The crybaby mermaid, now accustomed to being coaxed, sobbed piteously and habitually leaned toward Bai Qian.

Bai Qian helplessly pulled the girl—who was slightly taller than her—into her arms, her voice softening. “I wasn’t scolding you; I was trying to reason with you. Didn’t I tell you last time? No matter who it is, you aren’t allowed to lift your skirt. Did you forget?”

The girl rested her chin on Bai Qian’s shoulder, whimpering an explanation: “I didn’t show anyone else. I only showed you. You aren’t ‘anyone else’!”

“…”

“Bai Qian, you’re the most important person in the world to me. I want to give you everything I have. Including… what you said was precious and hidden under my skirt. I want to show it all to you.”

The tender atmosphere turned bizarre in an instant.

Bai Qian’s lips twitched. “While I’m moved by what you said before… I truly have zero interest in seeing what’s under your skirt. Thank you.”

Yu Shaoling pulled back abruptly. Her eyes, no longer leaking tears, were as red as a rabbit’s. She was unhappy. “Are you disgusted by me? Why won’t you look then!”

Bai Qian exhaled slowly to steady her nerves. “Fine, let’s drop the subject. Let’s talk about the medicine for your legs instead.”

The simple mermaid was successfully distracted. She nodded. “Then you apply it for me.”

“Do it yourself. I’m busy. I have to submit my drafts tomorrow, and more than half aren’t finished yet.” Bai Qian was an expert at lying with a straight face. Usually, when she mentioned work, Yu Shaoling would go off and play with her phone.

Today, for some reason, the girl had a stroke of “inspiration.” Instead of leaving, she offered her own solution: “It’s okay! If you can’t finish, I won’t sleep tonight. I’ll pull an all-nighter with you.”

Bai Qian: ? Are you trying to kill me?

Yu Shaoling pointedly grabbed a corner of her skirt again. “Bai Qian, apply the medicine for me first. Once it’s done, you can go back to work.”

“I refuse.”

The girl’s mouth began to pout. Bai Qian’s eyelid twitched, but instead of using tears as a threat, the girl surreptitiously lifted the hem of her skirt just enough to reveal a vast expanse of pale, enticing skin.

“Either you help me, or you watch me!”

“…”

How did this stupid fish’s logic get so warped!

After applying the medicine with a grim face, Bai Qian unceremoniously kicked the girl out of the studio. The room finally went quiet. Bai Qian rubbed her throbbing temples and began her work.

The massive fish tank Yu Shaoling had bought was eventually installed in the master bedroom. The room was large enough to fit her “new bed” with plenty of space to spare.

Bai Qian dutifully blow-dried the mermaid princess’s hair. While tidying the cord, she urged, “Go to sleep.”

Yu Shaoling grabbed the ends of her hair, catching a faint scent of cherry blossoms. “Why do I have to wash my hair every other day anyway? I sleep in water; won’t it just get wet the moment I lie down?”

Bai Qian paused. That was a good question. “It’s the same as me requiring you to brush your teeth twice a day. If you need a reason… think of it as a sense of ceremony.”

“Ceremony?” The girl smiled. “I think I like that word.”

“Alright, it’s late. Get in your tank. I’m turning out the lights.”

“I still have something to do.”

Yu Shaoling had been squatting with her head on Bai Qian’s lap while her hair was being dried. Now, she stood up right in front of her. She tilted her head down, her amber eyes staring at Bai Qian with intense seriousness. “Bai Qian, do you really not want to see my most precious thing?”

“…” 

Bai Qian was speechless. “Thank you for the offer, but I truly don’t need to. If you really want to thank me, please just cry less often. That would make me much happier.”

The girl didn’t let her derail the conversation. “Since you don’t want to look… then I’ll let you touch it.”

Bai Qian’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could react to the terrifying implications of that sentence, her hand was snatched and guided toward the “mysterious territory.”

Yu Shaoling’s expression was as pure and harmless as ever. “You’re so good to me; I want to give you something in return. I can’t give you Sea-Beef right now, but you told me this was my most precious thing. I don’t understand why, but since you said it, it must be very important.”

The unusual softness under her palm made Bai Qian’s face turn a shade of red so deep it looked as if a volcano had erupted. She was so stunned by the shocking move that she didn’t know how to react for a moment. Just as she was about to pull her hand back—

Searing pain.

The hand that had been holding her gently suddenly tightened with massive force. Amidst the pain, there was a faint crack.

Bai Qian’s face contorted. She gasped and looked up with mounting fury at the person who had suddenly turned feral.

The warmth and shyness had vanished from Yu Shaoling’s face. Her entire aura had shifted. She looked as if she were shrouded in a dark cloud; her jaw was tight, and her amber eyes were now a cold, lightless black.

She pulled Bai Qian’s hand out from under her skirt with disgust, as if it were some filthy contaminant. She threw the woman’s wrist aside and wiped her hand on her hem…

She wiped her hand clean.

Her tightly pursed lips parted slightly, and though the words she spat out were unintelligible, the tone was unmistakably cold and ruthless.

“******” (Who sent you? What were you trying to do to me? You lowly, filthy human.)

Bai Qian: “…”

This girl has lost her memory again!

And honestly, could she be any more innocent? This brat was the one who had grabbed her hand and forced the contact, and now she was the one looking sinister and interrogating her!

Despite her internal protest, Bai Qian didn’t dare let her mind wander for long. The current Yu Shaoling was significantly more terrifying than the last time this had happened.

Bai Qian glanced out of the corner of her eye to gauge their positions. Good—she still had a chance to run. Since she couldn’t understand a word Yu Shaoling was saying, and to avoid a worse outcome caused by the language barrier, escaping was the best option.

Just as she moved her left leg, her intent to flee was intercepted by the high-intelligence, cold-blooded mermaid. Yu Shaoling let out a cold laugh and raised her hand, tapping the center of Bai Qian’s forehead. That familiar, long-forgotten sensation of electric current instantly surged through her entire body.

The girl looked down, staring at her with a dangerous intensity.

“******” (Did you think I would give you a chance to run? Foolish human.)

Bai Qian collapsed back onto the bed, powerless. Realizing escape was hopeless, she simply gave up struggling. A mermaid whose severed tail hadn’t yet regenerated couldn’t use psychic power to kill; it was because of this detail that Bai Qian wasn’t overly panicked.

At the very least, her life wasn’t in immediate danger.

But just as that thought crossed her mind, a dark shadow pressed down over her.

The girl approached with a frozen expression. Those hands—so exquisite they seemed made for playing the piano—clamped coldly around the woman’s slender, white neck. She curled her lips into a smile, a curve that dripped with cruelty.

“******” (What a pity. I’ll have to deal with you myself.)

The very second her throat was squeezed shut, the girl’s expression shifted violently.

Just as Bai Qian felt the air being stripped away, she was released. She let out a pained cough, and the moment she opened her eyes to see why the girl had let go, she was pinned by the throat once more.

The movement was the same, but this time, it carried an invisible, sultry weight.

The mermaid, hit by a sudden flare-up of her symptoms, unceremoniously claimed her prey with a kiss.

******

Two hours ago, Bai Qian had already been kissed by the girl. That kiss had been timed perfectly—kept strictly to ten seconds.

Long-term “kissing duties” had made her exceptionally sensitive to the passage of time during these encounters. Now, being kissed again, the ten-second mark arrived, and Bai Qian habitually reached out to push the girl away.

The psychic power that could drain her of all strength had lost its effect the moment Yu Shaoling’s lips touched hers.

The woman’s hand pressed against the girl’s chest, but the amnesiac mermaid didn’t pull away as obediently as usual. A surge of dissatisfaction rose in her chest. She pinned Bai Qian’s restless hands above her head and pressed down with force.

The hand that had been on her neck simultaneously and skillfully pressed a certain spot, forcing Bai Qian to gasp and open her mouth. She was compelled to endure the invasion of the girl’s long, intruding tongue.

Even as she took what she wanted, Yu Shaoling released the woman’s snowy neck, moving her hand lower to coil around her slender waist.

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