The Love-Hate and Grudges Between Me and the Mermaid - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Recently, residents have claimed to have discovered mutated creatures near the seaside. The government has dispatched experts to investigate. Please do not panic, spread rumors, or be afraid; remain calm…”

“…Believe in the Empire; the Empire is with you!”

The dilapidated bus slowed down. Accompanied by the clear and pleasant voice of the broadcaster, the mist outside the window dissipated, revealing a shabby bus stop covered in trash.

Bu Yan, carrying a large pile of snacks, struggled to get off the bus with the crowd. She casually answered a call from her unscrupulous boss: “Yes, I quit! Do whatever you want.”

After speaking, she hung up instantly.

Three seconds later, her phone received a threatening text message.

Bu Yan deleted it without even looking and blacklisted her boss.

An hour ago, she suddenly discovered she had transmigrated into a novel titled Trash Mountain, becoming an obscure background character.

According to the plot development, the entire world would enter the apocalypse in two months.

As an ordinary person, she would either starve to death while fleeing, be killed by mutated creatures, be backstabbed to death by other humans, or die in a fight… anyway, it all summed up in one word: Death.

Since that was the case, why bother working? How much better would it be to take her savings and lie flat comfortably at home for two months?

Thinking of this, Bu Yan rewarded herself with a piece of fried chicken and a large bottle of cola.

After eating and drinking her fill, she flopped onto the sofa and continued scrolling through the news on her phone:

Shocking! Experts have confirmed that mutated species are manually stitched together.

Another one: Police have arrested those spreading rumors.

And another: Investigation finds the Empire’s environment is excellent; biodiversity is gradually recovering.

Bu Yan: “…” Mental.

Cold knowledge: People show off whatever they lack the most.

This applies not only to people but also to the Empire’s political parties.

According to incomplete observations, this world has nothing left except for flies, mosquitoes, dung beetles, and cockroaches.

In the many days she had been here, she hadn’t seen a single cat. Recovering, my ass!

But none of this had anything to do with her. After being a “grind-or-die” workaholic for so many years, she only wanted to enjoy her final moments.

Thinking this way, Bu Yan continued eating snacks and watching dramas.

By the time she snapped out of it, evening had arrived. Cold wind gusted outside and rain poured down; the two entities collided against the glass, making a sharp pitter-patter sound.

She grabbed her phone to check the time: 10:23 PM.

Time to sleep.

Lying in bed, Bu Yan reflected on her first day here.

Only one word could describe it: Melodramatic.

When she first realized the world was entering the apocalypse, she possessed a warm heart dedicated to saving all of humanity. She sent an anonymous private message to the Imperial Prime Minister, basically saying the end of the world was coming and to make preparations in advance.

She thought the Prime Minister would praise her grandly; who knew they would send a legion to arrest her!

But Yan was so scared she immediately retracted the message and deleted her account.

Afterward, she warned her colleagues both explicitly and implicitly, only to be harshly scolded.

Since then, her warm heart had turned completely cold.

She swore that from then on, she wouldn’t care about anyone else; she would just live her own life well.

However, she had only lived this way for three days, and it had rained for three days.

After lunch on the third day, the rain stopped. At the same moment, an urgent knocking sounded at the door.

It felt as if the person would keep knocking forever if Bu Yan didn’t open up.

With no other choice, Bu Yan shuffled over in her slippers. She opened the door and asked crossly:

“Who is it!”

“It’s me, Sister,” a soft, waxy voice replied.

Bu Yan pushed the door open to see a blue-haired young girl.

Perhaps because she had waited outside for a long time and been caught in the rain, her hair hung wetly behind her back. A blue dress clung to her body, and she trembled whenever the wind blew.

She looked fragile, boneless, and utterly pitiful.

But in reality, as soon as the door opened, she “pa” slapped a piece of paper hard against Bu Yan’s face.

She said angrily: “I’ve finally found you, you scumbag woman!”

“Marriage! We must get married today!”

After saying this, she seemed to suddenly realize her attitude was wrong. She immediately grabbed Bu Yan’s arm pitifully, crying with snot and tears: “Sister, please don’t abandon me, okay…”

Bu Yan: “?”

Wait, this, I… her… Little sister, do you want to listen to what you’re saying?

Dazed, Bu Yan picked up the paper. She didn’t know until she looked, but she was shocked when she did. Not only were there detailed signing times, but even both of their birth dates and times (Ba Zi) were on it.

This girl was named “Yi An.”

At the bottom, there was a fiercely stamped red seal of approval.

Ah, this…

“Can the engagement be canceled?” Bu Yan paused for a few seconds and asked very seriously.

The apocalypse was coming. She didn’t plan on living, but she also didn’t want to drag anyone else down.

“No,” the blue-haired girl shook her head. Her eyes instantly filmed over with mist again. She said pitifully: “If Sister doesn’t comply, I will die.”

Bu Yan: “…”

What kind of feudal leftover thinking is this?

Seeing this and fearing Bu Yan would refuse again, the girl added aggrievedly: “Sister, I know you hate me, but my family met with a disaster. I only came to seek refuge with you out of necessity to stay alive…”

“What does living or not living have to do with marrying me?” But Yan didn’t understand and asked.

Yi An lifted her teary eyes and explained patiently, “Once I marry Sister, I am no longer part of that family. They won’t be able to hurt me.”

Bu Yan: “…” Fine, fine then.

Who told her that “saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda”? Moreover, she was using the original body’s shell.

In all fairness, she should accept.

Bu Yan comforted herself and let Yi An in.

Seeing this, Yi An hopped inside and asked, “Then when are we going to get our Red Book (Marriage Certificate)?”

“Take a shower and clean yourself up first, or you’ll catch a cold,” Bu Yan said, glancing at Yi An.

Yi An nodded as if she understood half of it. Only after confirming multiple times that Bu Yan wouldn’t lie to her did she enter the bathroom with peace of mind.

Bu Yan immediately used the washing machine to wash Yi An’s rain-soaked clothes and quickly tumble-dried them.

She didn’t have any clothes in the house suitable for Yi An and planned to take her shopping in a few days.

But just then, with a “hissing” sound, the kitchen gas stove broke.

But Yan slapped her forehead she forgot! She forgot she was still cooking a pot of noodles.

She rushed over. At the same time, Yi An came out of the bathroom. Seeing Bu Yan’s panicked look and thinking something had happened, she followed closely: “Sister, what’s wrong?”

Because she didn’t quite understand kitchen appliances, Yi An moved the gas switch. Then, with a loud BANG, the kitchen exploded!

Bu Yan reacted first, grabbing Yi An’s wrist and escaping outside.

She quickly contacted repairs.

Seeing the situation, Yi An was stunned.

“Sister, I didn’t do it on purpose…”

She stared blankly at Bu Yan, apologizing in a small voice.

She was naturally pale, and she was wearing a loose, gradient blue gown which made her look even whiter and more slender. Paired with her slightly curly light-blue hair and those pitiful azure-blue eyes…

But Yan’s heart melted instantly. She was a “face-con” (beauty lover) and a “sister-con” (younger sister lover); how could she withstand this kind of stimulation?

The kitchen wasn’t important; what mattered was that the person was okay!

So, Bu Yan tearfully spent 5,000 [credits] on repairs.

By the time the repairs were finished, it was afternoon. The sun was shining brightly—a good day to go out and handle business.

So, she took Yi An to register the marriage.

During the registration process, her body felt very happy and her mood was beautiful. But Yan knew she had done the right thing; the original owner was also satisfied with her actions.

But when night came, Bu Yan finished her shower and lay in bed, looking at her new wife beside her and sighing repeatedly.

How did she end up getting married in such a muddled way?

And hadn’t she agreed to only look after herself and not care about others?

How did she end up married?