The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 47

The hotel where Luo Qingyan and the little merman stayed was close to the seaside. Standing by the window of their room, they could see the ocean.

Luo Qingyan loved watching the sea, but she refused to go near it. Her inner worries and fears remained ever-present. The little merman occasionally brought up the idea of experiencing the sea together, but he never forced her.

Their days in H City passed leisurely and peacefully, sampling new delicacies, exploring beautiful spots for casual strolls, falling asleep safely in each other’s arms.

The little merman quietly accompanied Luo Qingyan all along. He had originally intended to patiently wait for her to gradually change on her own, but as time went on, she seemed to have stagnated, even showing signs of regression, growing increasingly melancholic and fearful. So, he decided it was time to take her hand and guide her forward.

That day, the two woke from their midday nap in the sunlight.

Luo Qingyan loved feeling the warm sun, so they never closed the blackout curtains during their naps, only the sheer ones that let light through. At this moment, the warm golden sunlight filtered through the white sheer curtains, creating an especially beautiful scene.

“Want some water?” The little merman woke up faster. Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked at the person beside him on the pillow. “Your lips are a bit dry.”

Still somewhat drowsy, Luo Qingyan nuzzled the soft pillow while lying flat on the bed. “If my lips are dry, can’t you just kiss me?”

“You’re dehydrated, a kiss won’t be enough.” The little merman reached out and gently tapped her nose. “Have some water first. I’ll pour you a glass.”

Luo Qingyan stretched lazily. “Then after I drink, you can kiss me.”

“Alright.” The little merman slowly pushed aside the thin blanket and sat on the edge of the bed to put on his clothes.

Luo Qingyan squinted at his back as he faced away from her. He took off his pajamas and picked up a shirt to wear. With his movements, the muscles of his back became distinctly outlined, looking quite attractive.

She couldn’t help but smile, then propped herself up and shifted slightly toward the edge of the bed. Reaching out, she traced his back with her index finger, not just a light touch, but a slow glide along the lines of his muscles.

The little merman turned sideways, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just thought your back looks nice.”

“Then, should I not put on my clothes for now?”

Luo Qingyan chuckled and withdrew her hand. “No, no, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then, what did you mean?”

“Can’t you tell what I mean?” Luo Qingyan propped her head on one hand, her eyes glimmering. “When I touch you with my finger, what do you feel?”

“Feel?” The little merman tilted his head in thought. “A bit ticklish.”

“Nothing else?”

He fiddled with the shirt in his hands, looking confused.

“Alright, alright.” Luo Qingyan let her hand drop and lay flat on the bed again. “You really are an innocent little merman.”

After a moment of thought, the little merman said, “If you think my back looks nice, do you want to go swimming?”

“Huh?” Luo Qingyan turned to look at him, her brow slightly furrowed in confusion.

“Not in the sea, just the hotel’s indoor pool,” he quickly added. “I haven’t swum in a while and would like to be in the water. You could also try touching the water. Do you know how to swim?”

“Sure, I can do freestyle and butterfly,” Luo Qingyan replied, not entirely sure if she felt like swimming at the moment but answering the question anyway. “I even participated in swimming competitions back in school!”

“Did you win first place?”

“That’s not the point,” Luo Qingyan narrowed her eyes slightly, avoiding the little merman’s gaze. “Just being able to compete was already quite an achievement!”

“Oh, right. Many humans can’t even swim!” The little merman paused for a moment. “So, shall we go swimming later?”

Luo Qingyan stared at the ceiling, thinking it over. She didn’t want to disappoint him. “Alright.”

The hotel’s indoor swimming pool was temperature-controlled, with water that was neither cold nor murky. However, since it wasn’t summer, there weren’t many people swimming.

Although Luo Qingyan had changed into her swimsuit, she kept a thick towel wrapped tightly around herself. She wasn’t particularly keen on getting into the water and dawdled her way toward the pool. The little merman noticed her hesitation and naturally didn’t push her. In the end, she settled into a lounge chair by the poolside to watch him swim.

This was the first time she had ever seen the little merman swim. She had imagined it before, but no matter how beautiful her imaginings were, witnessing it in person still left her stunned.

Instead of diving straight into the water from the edge, the little merman sat down first, dipping his hand into the water and gently swirling it around. He wasn’t testing the temperature, he simply wanted to feel the water. Then, he slid his legs in, letting his entire body follow smoothly into the pool.

In truth, the way he entered the water was similar to how beginners often do it, but his movements exuded a natural harmony from start to finish, so fluid that one could overlook the simplicity of his entry and focus solely on the grace and agility of his posture.

Once in the water, the little merman was truly in his element.

His swimming style resembled freestyle, yet it carried a unique quality, hard to pinpoint but distinctly different from the movements humans typically make, or at least not something humans could easily replicate. It was incredibly soothing, embodying the freedom of a fish while retaining the aesthetic appeal and strength humans admire. It was mesmerizing, impossible to look away from, with every second bringing a new delight.

The little merman seemed to merge with the water, making it feel less like he was swimming and more like he belonged there, effortless and completely natural.

Luo Qingyan watched him, completely captivated, until he swam to the edge of the pool and called out to her, snapping her out of her trance.

“The water temperature is just how humans like it. Would you like to come in for a swim?” The little merman wiped the water from his face, smiling warmly.

“I…” Luo Qingyan hesitated. “Maybe I’ll just sit here by the edge for a bit?”

“Alright, let me help you over.”

“There’s no need.” Before she could finish her sentence, the little merman had already hoisted himself effortlessly out of the water, walked over to her, and extended a hand as elegantly as if inviting her to dance.

“To others, we must look like an overly affectionate couple, with you having to hold my hand for just a few steps,” Luo Qingyan remarked with a hint of playful disdain, yet she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her up and toward the pool.

“Isn’t that what couples do?” The little merman gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his eyes sparkling. “Be careful.”

“It’s not like I’m…” Luo Qingyan started but trailed off, then chuckled. “It’s not like I’m a child. It’s just a few steps, no need to be so dramatic.”

The little merman pulled Luo Qingyan to sit by the poolside. “If you don’t feel like swimming, you don’t have to. You can just watch me swim.”

“Alright. The way you move in the water is so refreshing to watch, like a dance, like art. It’s as if I can see the ocean through you.”

“Then I’ll keep swimming for you,” the little merman said as he slipped back into the water.

“Enjoy yourself, don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly happy just watching you swim.”

“Okay.”

Luo Qingyan and the little merman stayed by the pool until dinnertime before leaving.

They weren’t in a hurry to eat, so they went back to their room to rest for a while before leisurely heading to the hotel restaurant. By the time they arrived, the restaurant was mostly empty, so they chose a table by the window where they could enjoy the night view while having dinner.

The little merman could sense that Luo Qingyan had relaxed a little. He felt reassured that taking the initiative to do things together had been helpful. He had a plan in mind, and it seemed like tonight was the right time to carry it out.

“How about we have some drinks?” Luo Qingyan was in a good mood. While waiting for their food, she gazed at the night scenery outside and suddenly felt the urge.

“Drinks?” The little merman knew about alcohol, but he didn’t think it tasted good. Besides, he wasn’t sure about his alcohol tolerance. Since he had plans for the evening, he didn’t want to risk being in a bad state. Hesitation showed on his face.

“I probably don’t handle alcohol well,” the little merman quickly replied, his words clearly refusing the offer. “If you want to drink, I’ll join you with a soft drink. As for alcohol, let’s save it for when we’re back home!”

“You’re right. It’s safer to try drinking for the first time at home,” Luo Qingyan nodded. “Then we’ll drink next time, we’ll drink until we’re thoroughly tipsy!”

“Mm, for today, let’s just enjoy the delicious food.” As soon as the little merman finished speaking, the waiter began serving their dishes.

Even without alcohol, Luo Qingyan remained in high spirits. She alternated between admiring the night view outside and chatting with the little merman. Their dinner lasted an hour before they finally finished.

After dinner, the two took a stroll in the hotel garden.

On their way back, the little merman seemed to be dragging his feet.

Luo Qingyan found it odd and asked directly, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to go back? You seem a little off.”

The little merman pressed his lips together, thought for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and said, “I want to give you a little surprise, but I need to go back to the room first to prepare. I just don’t know how to ask you to come back later so I can go ahead.”

Luo Qingyan covered her mouth and chuckled. “A surprise is supposed to be a secret, how could you just blurt it out like that?”

“Because I really couldn’t think of an excuse for us to go back separately,” the little merman said with a troubled expression. “Actually, it’s not really a big surprise. I just, wanted to make you happy.”

“The fact that you’re so thoughtful already makes me happy,” Luo Qingyan said, taking a small step back with a smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Alright, you go back first. I’ll follow later.”

“Great! Just five minutes, you only need to come back five minutes after me.” The little merman’s face lit up with joy, barely able to contain his excitement.

“Okay, I’ll stay in the garden for five more minutes.”

“Be careful on your own, and keep an eye on the time!” The little merman walked backward for several steps before turning around and running off.

Luo Qingyan, waiting in the garden, was naturally curious about what surprise the little merman had prepared for her. She had her guesses but tried hard not to speculate. After all, knowing there was a surprise already diminished its impact somewhat. What if she guessed the specifics and ended up less amazed? Wouldn’t that disappoint the little merman?

Lost in thought, Luo Qingyan wandered the garden for five minutes before heading back to her room. On her way, she unconsciously quickened her pace, but then the thought that the little merman might still be setting up the surprise made her worry about returning too early. So, she alternated between hurrying and slowing down.

Fortunately, by the time she arrived, the little merman was already waiting for her by the door.

“Is everything ready? Are you waiting outside so we can go in together?” Luo Qingyan glanced at the door.

“Yes, it’s all set.” The little merman reached out to take her hand. “It’s just a small gift. I hope it makes you happy.”

“Do I need to close my eyes or anything?”

“No need. You’ll see it as soon as the door opens. I’ll be behind you, guiding you inside and closing the door.”

“Guiding me inside?” Luo Qingyan smiled brightly. Before she could say more, the little merman opened the door and gently nudged her forward.

The moment she saw the room, Luo Qingyan was utterly stunned, completely forgetting to step inside. It really was the little merman who had to guide her in.

It was snowing inside the room!

Snowflakes drifted down as if falling from the ceiling, scattering over the bed, the desk, the sofa, and the floor. In several spots, the snow had accumulated into patches of varying depths, pure and flawless. On the table by the window, a small snowman with a distinct face had even been built.

Luo Qingyan reached out to catch a snowflake drifting down from above, examining and feeling it carefully. She gasped in surprise again, “It’s… real snow! How did you do this?”

The little merman brought over a coat and draped it over her shoulders. “I can control water, so naturally, I can find a way to turn it into snow. Do you like it?”

“I love it! Of course, I love it!” Luo Qingyan tugged the coat tighter around her, her eyes sparkling. “Even if you had told me about this surprise, I could never have imagined it would be so… so beautiful! It’s like a dream! Real snow, indoors!”

“I’m glad you like it.” The little merman beamed, raising his hand as a few snowflakes followed the motion of his fingers. “I can control the intensity of the snow too. Just let me know what you prefer.”

“You really are like a character straight out of a fairy tale,” Luo Qingyan said, her eyes growing moist. “So handsome and with such a healing ability. I used to think my luck was terribly bad, but now, meeting you is the best thing that could have happened.”

“Meeting you is my good fortune too.” The little merman bowed slightly and extended his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“The honor is mine.” Luo Qingyan placed one hand in his and reached to remove the coat with the other.

“Keep the coat on so you don’t get cold,” the little merman said, holding the coat in place to help her put it back on. “Even though I tried to keep the snow’s chill contained, the whole room will still grow colder because of it.”

“Alright, I’ll keep it on.” Luo Qingyan fastened the coat properly, then glanced at the little merman’s thin shirt. “Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m not afraid of the cold.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m so envious.”

“Don’t envy those things; enjoy the present.” Seeing that Luo Qingyan had put on her coat, the little merman took her hand. “Let’s dance.” As soon as he finished speaking, music began playing from the room’s speakers.

“How did you do that?” Luo Qingyan glanced at the speakers in surprise.

“I can use water to press the play button.”

“Now I’m envious again.”

“What’s there to envy? You have me!”

“Well, I don’t think I fully have you yet, do I?”

“I’m ready to form a contract with you anytime.”

Luo Qingyan gently stroked the back of the little merman’s hand. “I meant what humans call ‘having’ someone.”

The little merman thought for a moment, then blinked. “Do you think we need to have what humans consider intimate contact before we can form a contract?”

Faced with the little merman’s calm demeanor, Luo Qingyan felt a bit helpless. “Are you… always this composed? Yes, humans feel excitement during intimate moments, and it often leads to other emotions. Don’t mermaids experience that?”

“Mermaids do, but it’s different.” The little merman’s expression shifted slightly. “Physical intimacy does affect the formation of a contract, but only to a small extent. The most important thing is the bond between us. You really don’t need to worry.”

“Then, what if I want you to… now?”

The little merman responded with a kiss, then slowly pushed Luo Qingyan onto the bed. “If you think this small influence is important, I’ll follow your lead.”

“Follow my lead? Does that mean you don’t want to?”

“Not exactly… I… do want to.”

Their passionate kiss brought them closer than ever.

It seemed as though even the snow filling the room couldn’t lower the temperature.

The kiss grew more fervent and lingering.

“Wait, I…” Luo Qingyan gasped softly. “I… I want to see your true form.”

The little merman paused for a moment, tilting his head slightly. “Do you want to go to the sea with me?”

“Would the swimming pool work?” Luo Qingyan touched the little merman’s lips. “Don’t you have the ability to clean it?”

“Sure.”

The indoor swimming pool had operating hours and was already closed.

But there were always ways to get in, especially since the little merman had special abilities. There was no need to worry about surveillance either.

The closed indoor pool was dimly lit, with only faint ripples of water visible. The little merman, with his excellent vision, held Luo Qingyan’s hand tightly as they walked step by step.

“Are you sure you want to see my true form?” Standing at the edge of the pool, the little merman confirmed once more.

“Yes.” Luo Qingyan nodded solemnly.

“Are you ready?”

“I am.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the little merman kissed her and then carried her into the water.

Luo Qingyan instinctively closed her eyes as they entered the water. She felt something in her mouth, something the little merman had given her.

“Don’t be afraid. Open your eyes.” The little merman’s voice echoed. “My pearl is in your mouth. You’ll be free in the water.”

Luo Qingyan slowly opened her eyes and found that she felt completely comfortable, moving with ease. Then, she saw that the little merman’s legs had transformed into a beautiful, large tail, swaying freely in the water.

Feeling that she could speak, Luo Qingyan tried to form words. “Can I touch your tail?”

“Of course.” As he spoke, the little merman wrapped his pelvic and caudal fins around her, holding her tightly so she couldn’t break free.

Luo Qingyan suddenly recalled how the little merman had never allowed her to touch his tail fin before. In this moment, she seemed to understand why one shouldn’t casually touch a fish’s fin. She reached out to stroke the scales on his waist, feeling his slight tremble and eagerness.

She lifted her head and kissed him deeply.

The water surface remained undisturbed, while beneath it, the currents entwined in intimacy.