The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 14

It’s perfectly normal to ask someone who has tried new foods which one tastes better.

Luo Qingyan bought both chocolate and vanilla flavors because she thought both were delicious. Her choice of vanilla was simply because, at that moment, she felt vanilla tasted better. She never expected that, after hearing her answer, the little merman would offer her the vanilla ice cream.

“I thought you were asking for my recommendation!”

“Don’t you want the vanilla? Then you can have the chocolate,” the little merman said calmly.

“It’s not that I don’t want it,” Luo Qingyan shook her head slightly. “I wanted you to choose the one you’d like to try.”

“Both are new to me, so I can try either. That’s why I let you have the one you prefer.”

“Ice cream is delicious, but it’s not good to eat too much. How about you take a bite of each and then decide which one you like?” Luo Qingyan held out both ice creams toward the little merman.

“I’ll have the chocolate, then,” the little merman said, reaching for the chocolate ice cream. “I know many humans don’t like eating things others have already tasted.”

“Alright! Let’s not drag this out, ice cream doesn’t taste good once it melts.” Luo Qingyan handed him the chocolate ice cream. “If you like ice cream, I’ll buy you other flavors next time.”

“Okay.” The little merman took the ice cream and took a small bite. The next moment, his eyes lit up with delight. “It’s cool and soft, melting in my mouth instantly, filling it with fragrance. So delicious!”

“That’s the magic of ice cream,” Luo Qingyan said, taking a bite of her own. “The first taste of ice cream is the absolute happiest, it’s like the satisfaction of finally lying down after a long, tiring day. Totally worth it!”

“Mhm!” The little merman couldn’t get enough of the ice cream, taking bite after bite. “Eating delicious food really brings so much happiness!”

“Exactly! High-sugar, high-calorie foods like ice cream and hamburgers stimulate dopamine release, easing anxiety and making people happy. Hey, next time, let’s have burgers and cola! And milk tea, cake, pizza. There are so many delicious things to try. Just thinking about it makes me happy!” In the past, Luo Qingyan rarely touched such foods to maintain her figure and health.

Who would have thought that, despite her long-term healthy eating habits and regular exercise, she would end up with an incurable illness?

Maybe it was because work was just too exhausting!

“Mhm, the foods you recommend are all delicious,” the little merman said with a beaming smile as he ate his ice cream. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at the teacup on the stool. “That, what kind of tea is this? It smells like flowers.”

“This is jasmine tea,” Luo Qingyan explained. “It really does contain jasmine blossoms, which is why it has a floral scent. Hey, do merfolk in the sea know about the scent of flowers?”

“The ocean is vast, and the shores are vibrant. Besides, human ships often sail the seas, bringing many new things with them.”

“I’ve seen many humans, but I’ve never gotten to know any.”

“Do you not like humans?”

“It’s not about liking or disliking. To me, humans are no different from other creatures.”

“But they are different, aren’t they?” Luo Qingyan drew out her words. “Merfolk can fall in love with humans, but not with other creatures, right?”

“If you put it that way, then yes, there is a difference.”

“Do you have someone you like? A human or a merman?”

The sudden question made the little merman widen his eyes and tilt his head slightly.

Luo Qingyan continued, “I’m single now, so I can pursue you freely. But what if… what if you already have a merman you like? Wouldn’t my efforts be in vain? No matter how hard I try, it’d be useless, right?”

The little merman thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head.

“You don’t have a merman or human you like!” Luo Qingyan’s lips immediately curved into a smile. “Then I can pursue you without any worries. Hey! Do you think it’s possible for you to fall for me? I mean genuinely, like the true love of a merman?”

The little merman’s gaze didn’t waver. “Do you think you could fall in love with me? A human’s genuine affection?”

“Of course,” Luo Qingyan replied without hesitation. “Anything is possible! You’re really interesting, and I genuinely like you more and more!”

This time, the little merman’s gaze flickered away. He lowered his eyes to look at the ice cream in his hand. “Yes, anything is possible.”

“If you say so, I’ll take that as a yes?”

The little merman didn’t answer. He silently finished his ice cream, then shifted his gaze to the teacup. “Can I try the jasmine tea?”

Luo Qingyan hadn’t finished her ice cream yet. She reached out and touched the teacup. “Well, you can, but this cup has gone cold. Let me get you a fresh, hot one.”

“Does tea have to be drunk hot?”

“Not necessarily. It depends on the type. But at least for this kind, it tastes better hot.”

“Then I’ll try it next time you’re drinking it!”

“Alright. Mixing cold and hot isn’t good for the stomach, and if you’re not used to drinking tea at night, it might cause trouble.”

“Not suitable for drinking tea at night?”

“Jasmine itself is fine, but tea leaves contain caffeine, which can stimulate the brain and make it hard to sleep.”

“Oh, I see. Doesn’t it keep you awake?”

“I drink coffee and tea every day for work, so, I’m used to it. I’ve built up a tolerance, so it doesn’t affect my sleep. Since you’ve never had it before, it’s better not to try drinking it before bed.”

“That’s interesting. Can I just drink jasmine without the tea?”

“You can… Your train of thought is really adorable.” Luo Qingyan chuckled softly. “Do you want to try it now?”

The little merman shook his head. “No, next time. I was just curious.”

“Alright, we’ll have some tomorrow! It’s getting late, and I should get ready to wash up and rest.” Luo Qingyan finished her ice cream, stood up, and called for Chestnut.

“Okay, see you tomorrow.” The little merman patted Chestnut and waved goodbye to him.

“Hey! Chestnut was really well-behaved while we were eating ice cream. He only fidgeted a couple of times before sitting quietly.” A hint of confusion crossed Luo Qingyan’s eyes. “He used to fuss for much longer. Has he become calmer from being around you? Or can you communicate with dogs?”

The little merman smiled faintly. “Perhaps.”

“Heh, the mysterious merman is back online.” Luo Qingyan also smiled, then turned and waved casually. “Alright then, good night.”

“Good night.” The little merman’s voice was soft, but he suddenly thought of something and called out a bit louder, “What kind of flowers do you like?”

“Huh?” Luo Qingyan stopped and turned back. “Why are you asking that all of a sudden? Because of the jasmine tea?”

“Yes. And I know humans really like flowers.”

“Hmm… Seeing flowers does make people feel happier. But I don’t think I have any particular favorite. What about you?”

“I haven’t seen that many flowers, but the ones that left a deep impression on me include water cabbage flowers, roses, baby blue-eyes, sweet peas, irises, and pancratium lilies, all exceptionally beautiful!”

Luo Qingyan froze for two seconds. “Some of the flowers you mentioned, I’ve never even heard of them. You’re more knowledgeable than I am, at least when it comes to flowers.”

“I just happened to learn about them by chance.”

“Heh, so modest.” As Luo Qingyan said this, Chestnut leaped onto her leg twice. She bent down to pat Chestnut’s head. “Alright, it’s time to rest now. We’ll play again tomorrow!”

With that, the girl and the dog left the bathroom.

…

Luo Qingyan slept soundly and woke up early the next day.

By the time she finished washing up, it wasn’t even seven o’clock yet.

As she went downstairs to the living room, Chestnut, hearing the noise, came wagging his tail to greet her.

Strangely enough, Chestnut had run out from the bathroom. Could it be that Chestnut had woken up early with no one to play with and decided to bother the little merman?

Luo Qingyan picked up Chestnut and quietly approached the bathroom.

When she reached the doorway, she noticed that the little merman in the bathtub was already awake, and seemed to have been up for a while.

“Good morning.” Luo Qingyan forced a smile and decided to greet him first.

“Good morning.” The little merman smiled gently.

“Um… did you wake up on your own, or did Chestnut wake you?” As she spoke, Luo Qingyan unconsciously rubbed Chestnut’s head.

“We woke up around the same time. I was half-asleep when I heard the ‘tap-tap-tap’ of his footsteps, and when I opened my eyes, he was right in front of me.” The little merman’s smile remained, showing no sign of annoyance.

“That’s good, as long as he didn’t disturb you. You two really get along well.” Luo Qingyan’s expression softened. “I’m going to make breakfast now!”

“Okay.”

Today’s breakfast consisted of black rice and red date porridge, boiled eggs, pan-fried sausages, and steamed sweet potatoes.

The black rice and red date porridge had been simmered overnight in the rice cooker on a timer; the eggs only needed six or seven minutes in the egg boiler; the small sausages were scored and air-fried for eight minutes; the sweet potatoes were larger and required a bit more steaming time, about twenty minutes.

Just as Luo Qingyan finished her tasks in the kitchen, Chestnut came to her with a toy ball in his mouth. Since there was still some waiting time, she took Chestnut out to the small yard to play.

Outside, the sun was bright, and the air was fresh, perfect for playing.

Once Chestnut started playing, he became incredibly energetic, never seeming to tire and only growing happier. Luo Qingyan quite enjoyed playing with him, so she let him go wild and joined in the fun herself.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

What interrupted their playtime was a single bubble that drifted over from somewhere.

The bubble shimmered with rainbow colors under the sunlight, utterly beautiful. Yet, for some reason, it kept floating right in front of Luo Qingyan. No matter if she stepped back or moved sideways, the bubble followed her.

“What kind of bubble is this? So strange!” Luo Qingyan looked around, puzzled. “Where did this bubble come from? And why only one?”

Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she reached out a finger to pop the bubble. The bubble didn’t evade her and burst at her touch.

“There’s a burnt smell coming from the kitchen.” As the bubble popped, the little merman’s voice appeared in the air.

Luo Qingyan’s first reaction was delight, so the bubble was the merman’s way of communicating! Her second reaction was panic, the water in the pot steaming the sweet potatoes must have dried up!

A flustered figure rushed into the house and dashed toward the kitchen.