The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 24

Tao Xingyou’s blind date was arranged surprisingly fast. The matter was only brought up before dinner on Sunday, yet by Monday evening, it was settled for Tuesday afternoon.

The reason given was that the man was on leave and had plenty of free time, so he left it to the woman to choose the meeting time. Since Tao Xingyou happened to be free on Tuesday afternoon, she decided not to wait until the weekend and opted to meet as soon as possible.

Luo Qingyan received the news just before going to bed on Monday. Since she was on vacation and merely accompanying her cousin, she didn’t mind the rush. In fact, she preferred getting things done sooner rather than later.

Early the next morning, she told her grandmother about the plan. Her cousin had informed her too late the previous night, and her grandmother had already gone to bed, so she waited until today to share the news.

Her grandmother was, of course, delighted. She held Luo Qingyan’s hand and gave her a lot of advice, even insisting on giving her money for dinner. Luo Qingyan had to accept it on behalf of Tao Xingyou, as it had been agreed upon the night before.

Knowing her grandmother’s temperament, Luo Qingyan took the money and joked about reimbursing any excess or making up the difference if it fell short. This pleased her grandmother even more, and she offered a few more words of guidance.

After lunch, Luo Qingyan skipped her nap and headed out immediately.

She told her grandmother she needed to buy a few things. Her grandmother, aware that young people often prepare for blind dates, didn’t ask further and simply reminded her to be careful on the way. In reality, Luo Qingyan was going to deliver lunch to the little merman. Seizing the excuse to go out, she could spend a little more time with him.

“Xiaomei, are you hungry?” Luo Qingyan went straight to the bathroom as soon as she got home. “I brought you Yangzhou fried rice, lemon chicken drumsticks, and seaweed egg drop soup today.”

“Mm, no rush. Take your time,” the little merman replied, sitting upright in the bathtub. The small table tray was open, but the iPad was set aside. He was already prepared for his meal.

Luo Qingyan moved efficiently, placing the takeout bag down with one hand while slipping off her shoulder bag with the other. She quickly unpacked the containers and arranged them on the tray. As she did so, she glanced at the little merman and remarked, “I’ve noticed you don’t seem to have an internet addiction. Every time I come, you’ve already closed your iPad and set it aside. You never seem reluctant to put it down.”

“Internet addiction?” The little merman was busy opening the lids of the containers on the tray and seemed puzzled by the term.

“Haven’t you come across that term online?” Luo Qingyan handed him the chopsticks and spoon after setting out the food. “Actually, now that I think about it, people don’t really use that term much these days! Oh, I get it. Maybe it’s because everyone is glued to their phones now, so, well, it’s like the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Does ‘internet addiction’ mean being addicted to using phones and going online?”

“Wow, you caught on really quickly. You’re so smart.”

“I think I’ve heard the term before, but it just didn’t click when you mentioned it earlier.”

“So even you have moments of forgetfulness!” Luo Qingyan’s tone was teasing.

“Of course. Everyone has moments when their memory fails them,” the little merman replied without any hint of discomfort.

“Alright, alright. Hurry up and eat. It’s getting late.”

“Mm.” The little merman picked up his spoon and began eating the fried rice.

“It’s fine. Having something to eat is already good enough,” he said, taking another spoonful. “It’s delicious.”

“I’ve been thinking I should move here sooner. Otherwise, it’s always inconvenient, and I worry.”

“Great!” The little merman’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Sigh… but it’s easier said than done. I don’t know how to explain it to Grandma,” Luo Qingyan frowned slightly. “I came back specifically to spend more time with her, and ever since she heard about that home invasion case involving a woman living alone, she’s been especially worried about me.”

“I’m here too. You’re not alone.”

“Should I tell Grandma about you?” Luo Qingyan smiled wryly, then paused. “Actually, you could serve as an excuse. Maybe I could approach it from another angle.”

The little merman picked up a piece of lemon chicken thigh with his chopsticks and chewed slowly, his eyes fixed on Luo Qingyan the whole time.

“Let me think about it some more. Anyway, I’ll definitely be staying with Grandma this week. You’ll have to make do for a while.” Luo Qingyan stretched her arms out and twisted her neck, loosening up her body. “Oh, by the way, I’m going with my sister to a matchmaking meeting later. I won’t be back for dinner, and I probably won’t have time to come over tonight either.”

“Matchmaking?” The little merman, who had been about to drink his soup, stopped abruptly.

“Matchmaking is… wait, let me check how the encyclopedia defines it.” Luo Qingyan stood up as she spoke, reaching for her bag on the nearby cabinet.

“I know what matchmaking is.” The little merman’s voice stopped Luo Qingyan in her tracks.

“Right, matchmaking has existed since ancient times. You should know about it.” Luo Qingyan immediately sat back down on the low stool. “Do mermaids have matchmaking?”

“No.” The little merman replied calmly, then picked up his soup bowl and took small sips.

“Do you look down on matchmaking as a method?”

“No. Different species have their own ways. It’s all for the purpose of reproduction and survival.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Luo Qingyan nodded, pondering for a moment before the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. “Then what is the purpose of reproduction and survival?”

Sensing the shift in Luo Qingyan’s mood, the little merman put down his soup bowl and spoke slowly: “I don’t know why. It’s just natural law, like water constantly cycling, the earth constantly changing, the sun, moon, and stars shifting across the sky.”

Luo Qingyan let out a soft sigh, leaning back slightly: “Yeah, I don’t know why either. It’s just natural law.”

Then came a period of silence. The silence in the bathroom felt particularly pronounced – perhaps because of the small space, perhaps because of the monochromatic color scheme, or perhaps because everything was visible at a glance, with few scattered items.

The little merman continued eating slowly, his movements gentle, even the sounds from his mouth were very quiet.

Silence and faint sounds.

It seemed one could almost feel the passage of time.

After a while, Luo Qingyan shook her head and stood up: “Take your time eating. Just throw the trash in the bin when you’re done. I’ll leave your dinner in the thermal container – eat when you’re hungry. I’m going to rest in the bedroom for a bit, then I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Will you go matchmaking too?” The little merman swallowed his food but didn’t pick up any more.

Luo Qingyan stopped her departing steps and thought for a moment: “Answer one question for me first, okay?”

“Okay, ask away.”

“Do mermaids ever grow old alone? I mean without a partner, without offspring, living by themselves until they die. The voluntary kind – choosing that lifestyle themselves, not being forced into it. At least not settling when they can’t find true love, preferring to be alone rather than compromise, valuing quality over quantity.”

“Mermaids have always been like this. They only form contracts and stay together when they are truly in love, and only then do they have offspring. Otherwise, they can live alone or with other mermaids of similar temperament.”

“Mermaids of similar temperament? Not family? What if one of the mermaids living together suddenly finds a mermaid they love? Wouldn’t the remaining mermaids lose their companions again?”

“Mermaids live independently once they grow up. The ocean is vast, and we can explore it on our own. As for mermaids living together, if they choose to live in a group, it’s usually not just two of them. There are at least four or five, and sometimes as many as ten or twenty. If one of them finds true love during that time, we would be happy for them, it’s a good thing.”

“It sounds like true love among mermaids is rare and worth celebrating, but wouldn’t that mean mermaid offspring become fewer and fewer? What if they become an endangered species?”

“Mermaids have long lifespans, and besides, mermaids have their own ways.”

“Is it because they have many offspring? Like other fish, laying eggs or giving birth to a large number of fry?”

The little merman pursed his lips. “You could say that.”

“The harder it is, the more precious it becomes!” The little merman’s voice was soft yet carried weight. “Life itself is heavy and comes with a price. It’s just periods of peace make it easy to forget that.”

Luo Qingyan’s expression shifted slightly. “Yes, often we only realize the importance of something when we’re about to lose it. And merely understanding the principle isn’t enough, you have to experience it firsthand. Unfortunately, by then, it’s too late.”

“Then hold on to what you have.” As the little merman spoke, a notification sound came from Luo Qingyan’s bag on the nearby cabinet.

“Yes, you’re right. Hold on to what you have.” Luo Qingyan’s voice carried a hint of melancholy. As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. She took it out and saw that it was her cousin, Tao Xingyou, calling. She went to her bedroom to answer the call.

“Sis, I sent you a few photos. Can you help me decide which outfit looks best?” Tao Xingyou’s voice sounded rushed. “I can’t make up my mind, my brain is about to explode.”

“Alright, let me take a look.” Luo Qingyan switched to the WeChat chat window to view the photos. “Hmm… one, three, four, and six all look good. Just pick the one you like the most!”

Tao Xingyou: “Ah! So many options? I can’t decide. help me…”

Luo Qingyan: “Then go with one. Is one the first outfit you put together?”

Tao Xingyou: “Yes, but I think three looks fresher.”

Luo Qingyan: “Then go with three. If you liked one, you wouldn’t even be considering three.”

Tao Xingyou: “But actually, four is also really nice. The skirt is something I like…”

Luo Qingyan: “Just go with three. If you’re asking me, I’d pick three. But my opinion is just a suggestion, I always think you should choose the one you like the most.”

Tao Xingyou fell silent for a few seconds. “Alright, then I’ll go with three. How are your preparations going, sis? Should I pick you up in half an hour?”

Luo Qingyan’s mind raced. “I’ll come to your place, and we can go to the café together from there. It’s closer to your home.”

Tao Xingyou: “Sounds good! Then you can check out my outfit when you get here. I’ll probably struggle with choosing accessories too, so you can help me decide.”

Luo Qingyan: “Alright, I’ll head over soon.”

After hanging up the phone, Luo Qingyan was about to head out after saying goodbye to Little Merman.

“Xiaomei, I’m off to my sister’s place now!” Luo Qingyan stood at the bathroom door, not planning to go inside.

“Okay.” Little Merman was still eating but had almost finished. Seeing the person at the door about to leave, he called out, “You haven’t answered my question yet!”

Luo Qingyan had nearly forgotten about it. As soon as Little Merman mentioned it, she remembered: “Oh, you mean the blind date? I won’t go. I don’t like that kind of setup. The purpose of a blind date is too straightforward, dating, marriage, having kids. It’s just not for me. Besides, why would someone who’s about to die go on a blind date? That would just waste the other person’s time! Answer given. I’m off now, bye!”

“Alright, be careful on the way.” Little Merman raised his voice to say goodbye, as Luo Qingyan was already heading toward the front door.

Later, Luo Qingyan went to Tao Xingyou’s house, where Tao Xingyou was still agonizing over accessories and shoes.

She understood her cousin’s desire to look her best for the blind date and take it seriously, so she didn’t rush her and instead gave thoughtful suggestions as much as possible.

With someone offering advice, Tao Xingyou’s indecision eased considerably, and she quickly settled on accessories and shoes. The two of them ended up leaving a bit earlier than planned.

The journey went smoothly, and they soon arrived at the agreed-upon café.

The other party had arrived even earlier.

When Luo Qingyan saw the two people across from them, she was momentarily puzzled because one of them looked familiar, yet she couldn’t recall who they were.