My Marriage Partner is a Crazy Mermaid - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Possessiveness

After adding the contact, the chat window displayed the initial interface: You are now friends with H. Start chatting!

Meng Ke waited for a moment, but no new messages appeared, nor was there a “typing…” indicator.

“After all that talk, I haven’t told you my name. I’m Li Weijing. You can call me Brother Li, or whatever; we don’t have many rules here.”

As Li Weijing spoke, Meng Ke put her phone away. “Brother Li, I’m Meng Ke.”

The two arrived at the rescue base. Behind a massive dark blue iron gate painted with the words “The Base,” which stood about three meters high and looked solemn and heavy, Li Weijing fished a remote control from his pocket to open it. Meng Ke peeked inside.

The area was vast, lined with two rows of blue single-story buildings. Various animals, large and small, were chirping and chattering inside the rooms.

“The ones on this side are healthy and ready for release in a few days. The new arrivals are over here, and the serious cases need to be quarantined.”

Meng Ke followed Li Weijing further inside. The interior was cleaner, devoid of the chattering noise, and the air carried the faint scent of disinfectant.

“That’s the kitchen over there.”

The “kitchen” here was used for chopping raw meat for the rescued animals, not for human use.

Li Weijing led her on a casual tour before stopping at the office area and pointing. “Our boss is over there. Go do a simple check-in with her. I’ll go handle this Scops Owl.”

Meng Ke nodded, looking through the glass. A woman sat at a computer with her back to the window.

Li Weijing took a few steps, then circled back, shielding his mouth with his hand to whisper a warning: “The boss has a bit of a temper. Be careful.”

Meng Ke gave an “OK” gesture.

After Li Weijing left, Meng Ke walked around to the main entrance. Signs were posted on every door: Trauma Treatment Room, Medicine Storage, Station Manager’s Office.

Before entering, Meng Ke knocked. Without looking up, the woman simply said, “In.”

Meng Ke walked to a spot not far behind her and caught a glimpse of the computer screen—it seemed to be information about mermaids.

“Hello, I’m the new interviewee. My name is Meng Ke.”

The woman stopped a rapid-fire burst of typing and turned around. She didn’t ask anything else, only: “From Tan City?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Liang Xiao.”

“Are you busy tonight? Accompany me to the city center.”

“I’m free.”

The first impression this woman gave was one of cold elegance. Her straight black hair fell perfectly, shimmering with light and shadow—it was smooth enough to be a spokesperson for Rejoice shampoo.

When she turned fully, she confirmed Meng Ke’s suspicion. Her eyes were almond-shaped, a rounded and gentle shape, yet she didn’t seem gentle at all. At first glance, she resembled a cold-blooded animal—a snake. Her voice was crisp and lacked a sense of pressure, a different kind of “cold” compared to Xie Yuhan.

After greeting Liang Xiao, Li Weijing came over to hand the Scops Owl to Meng Ke for processing.

Meng Ke hadn’t touched a wild animal in a long time, so she was a bit rusty, but muscle memory kicked in and she quickly became proficient. She spent the afternoon performing a routine check on the owl and fed it one last time before heading out for the evening.

“Meng Ke, the boss is calling for you.”

“Coming.”

Remembering she had to accompany Liang Xiao, Meng Ke did a quick wash, changed her clothes, and waited outside the Station Manager’s office.

When Liang Xiao pushed the door open, Meng Ke was startled. The boss had changed into a white shirt and a black suit—it was far too formal. In this line of work, clothes were usually as ragged as possible; there were almost no occasions to wear a suit. Meng Ke didn’t ask, though. Starting a new job meant speaking less and doing more.

“Do you know how to tie a tie?” Liang Xiao dangled a black silk tie in her hand.

“Yes.” Meng Ke took the tie. Holding it felt a bit strange; tying someone’s tie felt overly intimate. She stole a glance at Liang Xiao, but seeing no ulterior motive, she reached up and tied it for her.

Liang Xiao lowered her head, tugged at the knot to loosen it slightly, and frowned with an almost imperceptible sigh. She still hated formal clothes; they were too constricting. Having a tie around her neck gave her a strong, uncomfortable sensation of being leashed.

At the door, Liang Xiao pulled out car keys. “Can you drive?”

“Yes.”

“Then you drive.”

“Okay.”

Meng Ke took the keys and got into the driver’s seat. Liang Xiao opened the passenger door and slid in. “I stayed up all night yesterday; my brain is a bit foggy.”

After the car started, Liang Xiao brought up the navigation and gave an address. She then leaned back, buckled her seatbelt, turned her head toward the window, and fell asleep.

Meng Ke started the car. This was the first time she had gripped a steering wheel since returning to Tan City. Liang Xiao certainly trusted her skills.

The navigation showed an hour and a half to the destination. Before driving, Meng Ke checked her phone; there were no messages, and even the group chat was quiet. It was a first for her—not a single person contacting her. The silence was almost eerie.

An hour and a half later, as the car entered the dim underground parking lot indicated by the GPS, Liang Xiao snapped her eyes open.

“We’re here?” She sat up straight, her voice raspy from sleep.

“Yes. Should we go up directly?” This was the B1 level of a shopping mall.

Above them was one of Qingcheng’s larger malls, surrounded by several five-star restaurants and hotels. The people who came here were usually of high status or wealth. Meng Ke didn’t know why Liang Xiao was here.

“Yes.”

After exiting the car, Meng Ke followed Liang Xiao to the elevator. She watched Liang Xiao pull a blue keychain from her pocket and press the button for the ninth floor.

When the elevator stopped, Meng Ke looked around. This felt more like a private club. There were only a few scattered shops along the corridor; the rest appeared to be private or unlisted.

Passing a coffee shop, Liang Xiao said, “Wait for me here.”

Meng Ke nodded and watched Liang Xiao walk off in the other direction. She turned into the coffee shop; after driving for ninety minutes, she was tired and ordered an iced Americano. She was the only customer in the shop, which was playing soothing pop music. She took two sips of the coffee; the ice hit her like a bolt of lightning, instantly clearing her sleepiness.

Feeling refreshed but bored, she mechanically opened WeChat. This time, there were new messages in the group.

“Keke, how’s the job hunt going?”

“Is the interview smooth? You won’t say what job you’re looking for. I have a hotel in Qingcheng; why don’t you just work at my hotel?”

“Why did you go to Qingcheng to find a job?”

Wu Siyi was quite curious; job opportunities and prospects in Tan City should be much higher than in Qingcheng.

“Found one. I’m on a business trip with my boss. The job I wanted isn’t available in Tan City.”

“Curious.”

“Same curiosity.”

“Wildlife rescue.”

“…”

“Where are you on your business trip?”

“In the city. (Location)”

“My hotel is right next door! By the way, isn’t your ‘wife’ there negotiating a partnership right now?”

“You didn’t see her?”

“Change the label first, there hasn’t been an official announcement yet.”

In her heart, she knew they were just in a contract marriage. It wasn’t at all what she had initially imagined. Calling each other “wife” felt awkward. But Xie Yuhan was here?

Meng Ke switched to the chat with Xie Yuhan and typed: “Are you at Qing Yise?”

As expected, there was no reply. Did Xie Yuhan even use a phone? She had never seen her with one. Perhaps it was in the hands of the bodyguard.

In a private room nearby, Xie Yuhan sat in the center. Cheng Muyuan, the young master of the Cheng family, stood by the door. At 187cm, he was tall and well-built, but his head was bowed like a withered eggplant. The atmosphere was frozen; no one dared to make a sound.

When Liang Xiao entered, she saw exactly this scene. Cheng Muyuan’s back was soaked with sweat; he couldn’t fathom how Xie Yuhan had found out so quickly.

“What a coincidence, I’m early. What about my proposal from last time? I can’t leave Qingcheng, but I found someone from Tan City. She seems good; let her be responsible for the Tan City branch.”

“That’s your business. I’m only responsible for the funding; I won’t interfere with the follow-up,” Xie Yuhan said.

“Then I’ll contact your brother and sign the contract directly?”

“Mm.”

“Then you carry on, I won’t disturb you.”

Liang Xiao pointed to the person behind her and started to walk out.

Having resolved Liang Xiao’s partnership issue in two sentences, Xie Yuhan was about to settle scores with Cheng Muyuan when she suddenly caught a familiar scent.

“Wait a moment.” Xie Yuhan pushed her wheelchair over to Liang Xiao and grabbed her tie, pulling her forward.

“Why do you have her scent on you?”

Liang Xiao snatched her tie back. “You know I don’t like people tugging at my neck. Not even you.”

“Answer my question.”

“Scent?” Liang Xiao tugged at her tie, loosening it. “You mean the person who tied this for me?”

Liang Xiao deliberately stalled, asking just before Xie Yuhan lost her temper: “She wouldn’t happen to be that new wife of yours, would she?”

“Cut the crap.”

“She’s right next door.”

“Want me to call her over? Though, maybe you should dial back the intensity here? Don’t go scaring her off.”