The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 36

After Little Merman proactively contacted Luo Qingyan, she learned about his recent situation.

Though his forced transition to land was unusual, the terrestrial merman agency proved highly professional and handled everything well. Moreover, Little Merman had discovered some joyful news he couldn’t explicitly share but desperately wanted to convey to Luo Qingyan.

Luo Qingyan was growing accustomed to their half-veiled mode of interaction, so she didn’t press for details and simply accepted his happiness. After all, he’d hinted that his delayed contact was because he wanted to surprise her after completing his training. His increasingly human-like behavior was truly something to look forward to.

His return date remained uncertain, but he assured her he’d come back as soon as possible.

They continued staying in touch afterward. Though each exchange might only consist of a few sentences about daily life, it was enough, both found it comfortable.

…

Today was Fan Shuxin’s wedding day.

Attending her old classmate’s wedding should have been a happy occasion, but the last reunion had been unpleasant, so friction was likely again.

Luo Qingyan intended to avoid conflict as much as possible, weddings were celebratory events, and harmony was key. However, her patience had limits; if anyone went too far, she wouldn’t hold back for anyone’s sake.

It was a beautifully sunny day. Late September weather was particularly pleasant when it didn’t rain, crisp autumn air, gentle breezes, and faint clouds made it perfect for going out.

The lovely weather put her in a good mood, and such a positive start felt promising.

Weddings called for formal attire. Though Fan Shuxin’s event had no dress code, the freedom of choice made it harder to decide. Earlier, Luo Qingyan had even asked Little Merman for his opinion.

Having someone to consult reduced her indecision. She finally settled on a deep purple dress, simple at first glance, just a well-tailored solid-color gown, but upon closer inspection, subtle cut-out details adorned the neckline. The mid-calf length was both elegant and practical for movement.

Trying it on today, she felt it looked just right. She lingered a little longer in the courtyard, the temperature was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold.

She took her time because she’d planned to arrive as late as reasonably possible. Given the unpleasantness of the last gathering, showing up early felt like inviting trouble.

The old her would’ve feared no one and let no one provoke her, but now she just wanted to stay out of drama.

Her good friend Liu Yimiao was a bridesmaid and had to arrive early to help with preparations, so she couldn’t keep Luo Qingyan company. Other classmates had invited her to go together, but they were easier to decline, she could simply say she had other plans and would arrive later. Unlike Liu Yimiao, they wouldn’t stubbornly insist she adjust her schedule.

Fan Shuxin had chosen an outdoor lawn wedding. The ceremony was set for 4:30 PM, but a tea party beforehand meant guests typically started arriving around 2:30.

Guests were expected to gather twenty minutes before the ceremony, so showing up exactly at that time wouldn’t do. Luo Qingyan calculated that arriving around 3:50 would be ideal.

In the end, she arrived at 3:52 PM. The timing was perfect, but the atmosphere felt off the moment she stepped in.

On such a joyful occasion as a wedding, everyone should naturally be relaxed and happy, especially when old classmates gather together, even without new topics, they could reminisce about the past. However, no one was speaking much, and not everyone was present. Luo Qingyan immediately noticed that Fang Tang and Huo Bowen were both absent.

Could it be like last time? Were these two delayed by something and arriving even later than her?

No, besides these two, others were missing as well. Something must have happened.

But the people present seemed to avoid conversation. Luo Qingyan sensed it was best not to bring it up herself, so she stayed quiet without asking anything.

It wasn’t an argument in front of everyone, rather, the two of them were alone in a corner of the tea party when they suddenly started quarreling. Fang Tang pushed Huo Bowen, who fell to the ground, scraping his hand on some gravel. A classmate took him to disinfect and bandage the wound, while Fang Tang ran off, with another classmate chasing after to check on her.

Today was Fan Shuxin’s wedding, a festive day, so arguing was certainly inappropriate. Everyone avoided discussing it, hoping to let the matter fade and keep things peaceful.

Later, before the wedding ceremony began, Huo Bowen appeared, but Fang Tang was still nowhere to be seen.

Other classmates whispered that Fang Tang seemed to have been crying, extremely upset, and wouldn’t be able to make it for the time being.

Luo Qingyan simply listened without comment. If a few classmates hadn’t been discussing it near her, she wouldn’t have even wanted to hear about it. She wanted to stay as far away from those two as possible, unwilling to get involved in any trouble. Instead, she focused her attention on the wedding ceremony.

The newlyweds entered together, arm in arm, walking slowly into the wedding venue to the sound of romantic music.

Fan Shuxin wore a satin wedding dress, her face radiant with a happy smile. Holding a bouquet in one hand and linking arms with her beloved with the other, she looked stunningly beautiful under the sunlight on the green lawn.

The couple stopped at the ceremonial platform and, guided by the host, began the following segments.

First, the bride and groom each gave a speech. Their words included each other, family, and friends, simple and sincere, filled with emotion and warmth.

Next came the vows. They weren’t the usual ones often heard but were written by the couple themselves. There was no talk of life and death, just plain and ordinary, like a casual conversation, yet conveying a sense of enduring love.

Then, the rings were delivered by the couple’s pet dog, a corgi wearing a little dress, carrying a small bag with the rings inside, running toward its owners. As the couple knelt to retrieve the rings, they took a few photos with the dog.

After that was the bouquet toss. The bride didn’t throw her bouquet; instead, she divided it into two parts and gave them to her bridesmaids. The bouquet for tossing was a lucky, prosperity-themed one made of red envelopes. About ten people joined in the toss, all in good spirits, and a couple ended up catching it together.

Finally came the group photo session. The newlyweds wanted photos with all their relatives and friends, so the session lasted quite a while.

When it was time for photos with the bride’s classmates, Fang Tang appeared. She and Huo Bowen stood far apart, both still seeming angry. No one said anything, not wanting to bring any unhappiness before the newlyweds.

Once the group photos were done, the wedding ceremony concluded, and everyone gradually moved toward the dining hall.

Dinner was set to start at 6:30 p.m., so after a short rest, it was time to eat.

Naturally, Luo Qingyan walked to the dining hall with her classmates, her steps quick as she wanted to avoid getting tangled in any annoying matters.

However, just as they were about to take their seats in the restaurant, Liu Yimiao suddenly appeared and pulled her away.

“Why are you, the bridesmaid, here?” Luo Qingyan felt something was off when Liu Yimiao dragged her toward an empty spot. “Is there something important? Do we need to go somewhere else?”

“The ceremony is over, it’s fine.” Liu Yimiao led Luo Qingyan to a corridor some distance from the restaurant entrance, where no one else was around.

“What are we doing here?” Luo Qingyan glanced around, unable to figure out the purpose of the location.

Liu Yimiao looked serious and spoke softly, “Did you know Fang Tang and Huo Bowen had an argument today?”

Hearing it was about Fang Tang and Huo Bowen, Luo Qingyan felt a sense of foreboding but replied calmly, “I arrived late and didn’t see it, but I heard others mention it.”

“I… well…” Liu Yimiao hesitated, then sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

Liu Yimiao took a deep breath. “Don’t get mad when I say this, I just want to sort this out. They said the argument between those two has something to do with you.”

“I wasn’t even here when they argued.” Luo Qingyan understood Liu Yimiao was only explaining the reason, but she couldn’t help feeling exasperated.

“I know, but it mainly involves things from high school.”

“Hah! Unbelievable. It’s been over ten years since graduation, and they’re still dragging it up. Those two are…” Luo Qingyan abruptly stopped herself, not wanting to say anything harsh.

“I think there’s a misunderstanding, and you’re the victim here.” Liu Yimiao looked serious. “What exactly happened back then among the three of you?”

Luo Qingyan furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment. “I’ve always felt everyone made too big a deal out of what happened back then. I thought it was just youthful ignorance, but now it seems what I know might differ from what you all know. So, could you first tell me what you’ve heard?”

Liu Yimiao’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She thought for a few seconds before speaking, “Well, what we know is roughly that Fang Tang liked Huo Bowen, but Huo Bowen liked you, and you also had a bit of a crush on Huo Bowen but felt high schoolers shouldn’t date, so you didn’t get together at the time…”

By this point, Luo Qingyan’s frown had deepened, but she sensed Liu Yimiao hadn’t finished. “And? There’s more, right?”

“And…” Liu Yimiao pursed her lips. “There was some conflict among the three of you, related to the Culture Festival performance. It was kind of like two girls fighting over one guy, that sort of official versus intruder vibe…”

“What nonsense is this?” Luo Qingyan felt the absurdity and struggled not to roll her eyes. “It’s completely different from what I experienced, saw, and know. Did someone exaggerate the story, or is someone deliberately stirring trouble?”

“Completely different?” Liu Yimiao’s eyes widened further. “Even the general direction isn’t…”

Before she could finish, Luo Qingyan’s phone rang, interrupting her.

Luo Qingyan took out her phone, it was a call from a classmate. She excused herself to Liu Yimiao and answered, “Hello?”

“Qingyan, where did you and Yimiao go? Dinner is about to start, the servers have already come to ask if the seats are occupied.” The classmate had come to urge them back to the banquet hall. Today’s wedding reception was serving individual courses, so arriving too late would be inappropriate.

“Alright, we’ll head back right away.” Luo Qingyan hung up the phone and explained the situation to Liu Yimiao.

Since the meal was about to begin, they had no choice but to return. They decided to eat first and discuss other matters afterward.

Luo Qingyan and Liu Yimiao returned to the dining area, both acting as if nothing had happened. With the servers starting to serve the dishes shortly after, no one else asked any further questions.

However, Luo Qingyan’s mind was in turmoil. She knew that many things looked different from various perspectives, and everyone’s understanding varied. When stories were passed around, they were rarely objective. She wished to ignore certain matters and certain people, but unfortunately, those matters and people always found their way to her, leaving her with no escape.

Unexpectedly, amid her distress, she received a WeChat message from Little Merman.

To Luo Qingyan, Little Merman felt like someone from another world. When she was with him, she could cast aside all the chaos and complications. So, she poured out her frustrations to him for quite a while.

She made it clear that she disliked certain people and even felt the urge to leave. However, there were some unpleasant matters she had to handle, and there was still the after-party to attend. The newlyweds had made it clear that no one was to skip it, and unless something truly unacceptable happened, she had to show them respect.

With Little Merman, she didn’t have to pretend to be the good girl. He understood the multifaceted nature of humans, allowing her to vent her grievances freely.

After letting off steam, she also said a few kind words about Little Merman. She genuinely believed humans were far more complicated than mermaids, and she much preferred spending time with him. She eagerly looked forward to his return as soon as possible.

Their previous conversations had always been brief, but this time, Little Merman patiently chatted with her for a long while, offering comfort and reassurance, and once again promised to return as quickly as possible.

By the time their conversation ended, the meal was nearly over. Fortunately, chatting with Little Merman had lifted Luo Qingyan’s spirits, giving her the energy to face the troubles ahead.

What was bound to happen would come eventually.

But she hadn’t expected that before Liu Yimiao approached her, he would send her a WeChat message saying that Fang Tang also wanted to talk to Luo Qingyan.