The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 17.2

The next day, Luo Qingyan’s anger had not subsided.

The thought that the little merman could hear her every word and action at home made her quite uncomfortable. Since she still had things to do, she focused all her attention on them.

In the morning, she handled matters related to renting a car.

At noon, she ordered takeout casually and still ate separately from the little merman.

In the afternoon, she went out to take care of some errands.

In the evening, she had dinner outside before returning home and brought back a meal for the little merman.

Once home, she quickly brought the takeout to the bathroom for the little merman, still without saying a word and moving swiftly. The little merman seemed to want to say something to her, but she hurried away, using the excuse that Chestnut was hungry and needed to be fed dinner.

Later, after Chestnut finished eating, she checked the time and went into the bathroom to clean up the mess from the little merman’s meal. She still refused to speak to him and used the excuse of taking Chestnut for a walk to leave quickly.

The little merman wanted to talk to Luo Qingyan but could sense her unwillingness. Not one to force others, he went along with her wishes and didn’t push for conversation.

While taking Chestnut for a walk in the evening, Luo Qingyan’s anger gradually subsided.

Having been busy all day, she finally had a moment to slow down and take in the world around her, feeling much more at ease both physically and mentally.

Her anger dissipating didn’t mean she was willing to interact more with the little merman, she had no intention of forcing her warmth where it wasn’t welcomed. She simply wanted to find inner peace.

In the past, she wouldn’t have been so emotionally drained. She might even have considered sending the little merman to the park’s lake and washing her hands of the matter, letting them go their separate ways. After all, she had already saved him from the brink of death. There was food in the lake, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable. She wasn’t expecting anything in return and had already done more than enough.

Thinking about it now, sending the little merman to the lake really wasn’t a bad idea. It would be quite fitting.

Sigh… Perhaps it was because she was sick that both her body and mind had changed.

She couldn’t remain cold-hearted and detached, and she found herself thinking too much without meaning to.

During the days she had spent with the little merman, she had felt happy. Besides the hope of survival bringing her joy, simply being with him was comforting. He was interesting and seemed like a good person.

In truth, he had been guarded from the start, clearly stating that their relationship was a transaction, ordinary compensation would be money, but the greatest reward, tied to life, wasn’t something one could simply demand.

Thinking it over, even if she had picked up a stray cat or dog, the animal would have been stressed and self-protective. How much more so for a merman with a mind similar to a human? Of course, he would have more considerations.

So, she couldn’t just abandon him.

The reason for her anger was the imbalance. The merman was capable of communicating with humans and must have sensed her goodwill. She had treated him with such sincerity, yet he remained highly vigilant and distrustful, which left her deeply disappointed.

Perhaps there was also a hint of resentment.

Death loomed behind her, and the little merman held a glimmer of hope. Even if that hope was slim, she had fought for it earnestly. Her efforts weren’t entirely fake, they were sincere. But just as she felt a flicker of hope, he had doused it with cold water.

Hope appearing and then vanishing was more painful than never having hope at all.

Moving past that pain wasn’t easy. Ignoring the little merman wouldn’t make it go away.

Her heart was in turmoil, and she felt a little lost.

So, first, calm down, find peace. Everything had to be faced by her alone, there was no escape.

Lost in thought, Luo Qingyan had unknowingly walked for a long time. When she snapped back to reality, she found herself standing amidst a bustling crowd.

People strolled through the park in an endless stream.

So lively.

The liveliness of the human world.

Chestnut remained in a joyful state, her eyes darting around, her nose constantly sniffing the scents in the air, full of curiosity about the world.

People came and went, each following their own life paths. Along the way, there were joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, the myriad facets of human existence. Emotions could shift at any moment, impossible to fully control, for no one could predict what the future held.

All anyone truly possessed was the present moment.

What one had was what mattered most.

At this very moment, twilight deepened. The night was not frightening; instead, the dim light offered a sense of security. No longer subjected to blatant scrutiny or judgment, everything grew hazy, dispelling the busyness of the day and leaving behind a space uniquely one’s own.

The park lights had all turned on, casting a soft glow, not harsh, but bright enough to see the path ahead.

The hazy surroundings inexplicably evoked a cinematic feel.

The main path was always crowded: some strolled while admiring the scenery, others paused to chat. People came and went. On the lawn, children ran and played, laughing and jumping, brimming with vitality. The rest areas were packed, some simply resting, others chatting, enjoying the view, scrolling through their phones, or snacking.

The warmth of human life.

Luo Qingyan’s mood settled, calming abruptly in a single moment.

She wandered a bit longer with Chestnut and, seeing that it was about time, decided to head home. Today, she didn’t want to linger outside any longer. That was her home, and she ought to return.

She arrived home before nine, still early.

Luo Qingyan had initially planned to retreat to her room and watch a movie, but as she headed upstairs, she felt that shutting herself in so early would be stifling. Of course, she wouldn’t seek out the little merman. Instead, she made herself a cup of juice and took Chestnut to sit in the yard.

Chestnut always wanted to play outdoors. After dashing around wildly for a while, she bounded back to Luo Qingyan, eager for her to join in the fun.

Sitting in the chair, lost in thought, Luo Qingyan didn’t feel like moving. But Chestnut was too persistent, so she simply picked her up and held her close.

At first, Chestnut squirmed restlessly, but once settled in Luo Qingyan’s arms, she gradually calmed down. After shifting a few times, she found a comfortable position, curled up obediently on her owner’s lap, and let out a contented sigh.

Luo Qingyan loved hearing the little dog’s sighs. It made her deeply aware that this small, warm bundle was a vibrant life, living happily in the home humans had built for her, a feeling of indescribable warmth and coziness.

Holding Chestnut, she felt utterly at ease, inside and out, and closed her eyes in contentment.

A warm person and a warm little dog, fully savoring the tranquil night.

However, not long after closing her eyes, Luo Qingyan inexplicably felt as though something was in front of her. Her first thought was that her inner turmoil was making the outside world seem unsettled. So, she didn’t open her eyes but took a deep breath, trying to calm herself further.

But Chestnut grew restless in her arms, and Luo Qingyan naturally opened her eyes.

As soon as she did, she found the surroundings filled with bubbles.

In the small courtyard, only two lights were lit. Amid the darkness, the bubbles lacked vibrant colors yet remained strikingly visible. When they drifted near the light source, they shimmered with a subtle glow. Their gentle, flowing movement created a twinkling effect, as beautiful as stars, cool and brilliant.

The moment Luo Qingyan opened her eyes, she felt as though she were in a dream, overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion. In that instant, she wished time would stand still, freezing this very moment forever. To let go of everything and simply hold onto this fleeting second, never moving forward again.

But she quickly snapped back to reality.

Bubbles drifted around her, and without much thought, she knew they must be the little merman’s bubbles.

“Be good, Chestnut.” Luo Qingyan wrapped her left arm around Chestnut’s body and gently stroked the dog’s head with her right hand, trying hard to shift her focus onto Chestnut.

So, what if there were bubbles? Maybe the little merman was just bored and created a bunch of them. Even if these bubbles were meant for her, she had the right not to accept them. She saw them, and yes, they were beautiful, but so what?

If the little merman had simply made these bubbles to amuse her, she had seen them, and that was the end of it. If he intended to convey a message through the bubbles, she didn’t want to hear it.

After a while, she had calmed Chestnut down. Holding the dog securely, she leaned back in her chair to rest.

Countless bubbles floated around, undeniably beautiful.

Suddenly, the bubbles began to burst on their own, one after another, in an unbroken chain, and the little merman’s voice echoed from each one.

“I’m sorry, I was too guarded and forgot to consider your feelings.”

“Since I’ve entered human society and am interacting with humans, I should think from a human perspective. I was inconsiderate.”

“I sincerely apologize. You’ve been helping me with all your heart, yet I was only focused on being cautious. That was wrong of me, and I apologize.”

“It’s only natural for you to be angry, I haven’t been honest. I’m sorry, but the matters behind this involve the mermaid tribe, not just me personally, so I truly can’t reveal everything.”

“I can assure you that you won’t be in any danger. At any time, if you sense even a hint of danger, you can abandon me. I won’t resist.”

“Please don’t be angry. Your health isn’t great to begin with, and the more humans get angry, the worse it gets for them. The fault is mine; you shouldn’t have to bear the negative consequences.”

“I want to make up for my mistakes. If possible, please tell me what I can do to ease your sadness. Whatever is within my power, I will strive to do it.”

As Luo Qingyan listened, an image formed in her mind of the little merman in the bathroom, speaking these words one by one.

Curled up in the bathtub, the little merman thought aloud as bubbles appeared one after another in the air, growing in number until the bathroom was filled with them.

It was somewhat endearing.

Hearing the voice from the bubbles, Chestnut grew a bit excited. Luo Qingyan had to exert a little effort to keep the dog under control. Fortunately, it was the little merman’s voice, not a stranger, and with her owner’s soothing, Chestnut gradually calmed down.

On the surface, Luo Qingyan remained quite composed; her surprise and delight were fleeting. Once she had settled Chestnut, she held the dog and listened leisurely to the little merman’s words carried by the bubbles. There were many bubbles, so there was no need to rush.

The moonlight was soft and hazy.

Luo Qingyan didn’t say a word until she had heard all the bubbles, maintaining a relaxed and unhurried demeanor. She gazed up at the night sky, sighed softly, then lowered her head to stroke Chestnut, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

The apology and explanation had been received.

And then?

She didn’t know for now.

The night air was serene and gentle, truly refreshing.