The Merman I Picked Up Is Too Delicious - Chapter 48

Luo Qingyan had that wondrously warm dream again. This time, however, she awoke to find the little merman holding her in his arms, as if the dream’s warmth had lingered into reality.

“Awake?” His gentle voice whispered by her ear, sending a tingling sensation through her.

“Mmm.” Luo Qingyan nuzzled her head against his chest and let out a soft sigh. “I’m so tired…”

“I tried to be as gentle and careful as I could.” The little merman ruffled her hair and planted a kiss on her head. “Would you like to sleep a bit longer?”

“Gentle… careful…” Luo Qingyan chuckled softly, lowering her gaze. She tried shifting her body slightly, only to feel aches all over. “What would it be like if you weren’t gentle or careful?”

“You’ll find out someday, if you want to know.”

“Is it different in the sea?” Luo Qingyan bit back a smile, her hand resting on his waist stroking gently. “Here, there are no scales anymore.”

“You like my scales?” His voice carried surprise and delight.

“Yes, they’re beautiful.” Luo Qingyan lifted her head, reaching up to touch his forehead and ears. “The scales on your face are beautiful, and the fins on your ears are beautiful too. I love them all.”

“Then let’s form the covenant. I’m even more beautiful in the ocean. You can look at me every day, for as long as you want.”

“Why are you always in such a hurry to form the covenant?”

“Because I’m afraid you’ll die.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

“Because I’m being honest, completely sincere! I want you to be well, to grow better and better, and to be with me forever.”

Luo Qingyan wrapped her arms around him, her gaze drifting slightly as she let out a soft sigh. “What is forming the covenant like?”

“It’s special, a kind of special only the two of us can feel. Others watching might not notice a thing.” The little merman explained patiently. “As for the specifics, I can’t really describe it. Words can’t capture it well. But as long as we’re in the ocean, as long as we truly love each other and are willing to form the covenant, it can be done.”

“It sounds so simple and peaceful. I thought forming a covenant would require many conditions, special rituals, and a lot of complicated things.”

“The best life is one that’s simple and peaceful.”

“You’re right. A turbulent life isn’t necessarily good. When that time comes, we might even miss the quiet and calm. Isn’t that what humans strive for, to eventually attain a peaceful life?”

“Mmm.” The little merman murmured softly. “Do you have any other questions about forming the covenant?”

“Hehe! I didn’t expect you to be so eager.” Luo Qingyan traced her fingers along his back, thinking for a few seconds. “I get scared when facing unfamiliar things. But with you here, I feel at ease.”

“Yes, with me here, you don’t need to worry.”

“Then…” Luo Qingyan paused unconsciously after speaking, pressing her lips together firmly before making up her mind. “Where do we enter the sea? Even though H City isn’t cold, swimming in the ocean in this weather would seem strange and conspicuous. Should we take a boat out to sea? Maybe pretend we’re going deep diving or something.”

A glimmer of delight flashed in the little merman’s eyes. He loosened his grip slightly and looked down at the person in his arms. “No need. We’re going to Lizhu Bay. Last time we visited, I noticed a secluded rocky shore there. We can enter the sea from that spot.”

Luo Qingyan tilted her head back, meeting the little merman’s smiling face, and a faint curve touched her lips. “Alright, let’s go today.”

Though they had agreed in the morning to go to Lizhu Bay, to enter the sea, and to form the contract, Luo Qingyan kept dragging her feet. It wasn’t until after four in the afternoon that they finally arrived at Lizhu Bay.

“Let’s take a walk around here first,” Luo Qingyan suggested. She didn’t want to back out at the last moment, but she couldn’t suppress the turmoil in her heart.

“Are you still worried?” The little merman tightened his grip on Luo Qingyan’s hand, interlacing their fingers.

“Why are you so calm?” Luo Qingyan’s heart suddenly tightened, and she lowered her gaze. “Maybe I’m just too nervous. After all, I’m the one who’s sick. I’m the one who needs this contract to extend my life. I… I’m really afraid it might fail. If that happens, I’ll lose my last hope.”

“Because forming this contract holds other meanings for you, it’s natural for you to feel anxious and fearful. No matter how much I reassure you, I can’t completely erase those negative emotions. After all, we are both independent individuals.” The little merman lifted Luo Qingyan’s hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I believe in you, I believe in myself, and I believe in us.”

“Mermaids, what’s the difference between what you call true love and the love humans perceive?”

“The essence of love is no different, it’s felt with the heart.”

“I… I have you in my heart, but I’m afraid it’s not enough.”

“I understand your concern. For mermaids, being able to enter each other’s worlds signifies affection. For humans, human love is more guided by the heart, isn’t it?”

Luo Qingyan pressed her lips together and paused for a long moment. “What if we can’t form the contract?”

“That won’t happen,” the little merman said with unwavering certainty, looking straight into Luo Qingyan’s eyes. “Because I love you, and I can feel that you love me too, sincerely and deeply.”

Luo Qingyan suddenly felt a warm current envelop her anxious heart. “Alright. I’ll trust you.”

The little merman looked at her with sincere earnestness. “Are you sure you’re willing to form the contract with me?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m willing.”

“Good.” The little merman’s expression relaxed considerably. “Don’t be nervous. Let me first help you experience the ocean! It’ll help you relax.”

“Experience the ocean?” Luo Qingyan’s eyes widened slightly. “Swimming, in the sea? Can I do that?”

“Of course. Weren’t you able to move freely in the water last night?” As he spoke, the little merman took Luo Qingyan’s hand and led her toward the rocky shore.

With the little merman guiding and supporting her, the two of them reached the rocky shore without any trouble.

Luo Qingyan leaned against a large rock while the little merman held her hand, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

“The water here doesn’t look very deep. Are we going to walk in slowly?” The vast sea lay before them, and the thought of stepping into it made Luo Qingyan’s heart race, her voice trembling slightly.

“No need to walk. We’ll leap into the sea.” The little merman gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

Luo Qingyan took a deep breath. She knew she couldn’t hesitate for too long, the longer she waited, the more her resolve would waver. She tried to block out everything else and focused only on the little merman. “I’m ready.”

“Alright, let’s go then!” The little merman tightened his grip on Luo Qingyan’s hand and leaped toward the ocean in one swift motion.

Luo Qingyan instantly felt her vision and mind go blank, yet she could sense the extraordinary distance of their jump, soaring through the air with the surreal sensation of crossing from one world into another.

The immense impact left her somewhat dazed. In her haze, someone embraced and kissed her. Of course, it was the little merman.

“Open your eyes, it’s alright,” his gentle voice whispered against her ear.

Still slightly disoriented, Luo Qingyan slowly opened her eyes, reassured by his voice that she was safe. As she did, she found herself surrounded not only by azure seawater but also by vibrant schools of fish and stunningly beautiful corals.

“So beautiful!” she exclaimed without thinking. With the merman’s pearl in her mouth, she could speak and swim freely.

“Shall I take you for a swim to explore?” the little merman asked, now fully transformed into his merman form. His sharply defined face was subtly adorned with glistening scales, and translucent blue-green fins on his ears seemed to emit a soft glow. His once short black hair had become flowing, wavy silver locks that drifted smoothly in the water. Below his waist, a magnificent tail shimmered with iridescent scales and a faint luminescence, its long, elegant fins dancing gracefully in the currents, utterly breathtaking.

Luo Qingyan smiled sweetly and nodded. “Mm.”

With her agreement, the little merman immediately wrapped an arm around her and began to swim.

The two glided effortlessly through the water, moving swiftly and steadily as if the sea itself were aiding rather than resisting them.

Occasionally, the merman would release Luo Qingyan for a moment, but she never felt lost, the motion of his tail kept the water buoyant around her, supporting her effortlessly. Gradually, she adapted to this unrestrained, free-flowing movement, feeling as though she could swim on her own, a sensation of unparalleled liberty.

Together, they roamed and played in the vast ocean.

They weaved through coral groves, each formation more dazzling and unique than the last, some resembling mops, others like lingzhi mushrooms, lanterns, or bath sponges, an endless array of wondrous shapes and surprises.

They danced among schools of fish, large and small, each moving at different speeds and in varied styles. The fish seemed eager to swim around them, sometimes circling playfully, other times following their direction. Their scales were incredibly smooth, gliding like silk to the touch.

They watched an octopus on the move, a striking red one that was not only eye-catching but also amusing in its behavior. It drifted slowly among the corals before spotting a crab and capturing it with lightning speed. But with other predators nearby, it needed to relocate its prize to a safer spot. Using two tentacles to clutch the crab, it walked with the remaining limbs, looking remarkably like a human carrying a briefcase.

They blew bubbles in the seawater. With the ability to breathe freely underwater, they could exhale streams of bubbles, small ones, large ones, all delightfully amusing. By waving their hands and feet, they could generate clusters of bubbles, while a single flick of the merman’s tail produced a massive, shimmering cloud.

The ocean was truly fascinating, an endless realm to explore and admire.

As they continued swimming, Luo Qingyan should have grown increasingly tired, but instead, she felt her body growing lighter and more buoyant, as if she were floating on air.

She wanted to mention this peculiar feeling to the little merman, but somehow, she knew in her heart that he already understood, there was no need for words, and he likely felt the same way she did.

Then, it was as if the seawater had dissolved into her body, or perhaps her body had dissolved into the sea.

After that came a sensation both clear and hazy, clear when it came to the little merman, hazy when it came to the world around them.

A brilliant radiance enveloped everything.

Luo Qingyan felt as if she were floating in a state of bliss, an indescribable joy washing over her. When she finally snapped back to reality, the little merman was pulling her toward the surface.

“Are we going back?” Luo Qingyan asked.

“The sky and sea are especially beautiful at this time,” the little merman said, turning to look at her. “Vast stretches of blue in layered shades, with warm orange hues embedded in the distance, so warm and serene. It’s what humans call the blue hour.”

“I’ve never seen the blue hour from beneath the sea before!” Luo Qingyan exclaimed. As she spoke, the little merman pulled her up to the surface, and her eyes immediately lit up. “It’s so beautiful! It feels tranquil and timeless, as if the entire river of history has been compressed into this moment.”

The distant scenery was just as the little merman had described, but seeing it with her own eyes brought an added sense of clarity and awe.

The entire world was bathed in vast expanses of blue, utterly silent. At the horizon, where the sky met the sea, the orange glow seemed like both a beginning and an end, the universe contained within the heart.

“Shall we walk on the sea?” the little merman suddenly suggested, wrapping his arms around Luo Qingyan from behind. “The view is even more beautiful from the surface.”

“The surface? How?” Luo Qingyan asked in surprise, turning her head to look at him.

“Like this,” the little merman said, taking her hand. Together, they spread their arms and rose gently until their feet lifted from the water, only their toes lightly skimming the surface.

“Are we flying or standing on the sea?” Luo Qingyan marveled, looking down at the deep ocean beneath them. “How is this possible? The sea can really support our weight?”

“Of course it can. Try walking,” the little merman replied, releasing her left hand and instead wrapping his arm around her waist. As if dancing, he guided her step by step.

With each step they took, ripples spread beneath their feet, glowing ripples, like flowers blooming instantaneously in the dark. The little merman’s tail stirred up a continuous trail of ripples, one blossoming flower after another. It was dreamlike, breathtakingly beautiful.

“Shall we dance?” the little merman whispered, resting his head on her shoulder.

“Dance?” Luo Qingyan glanced down at his tail, a slow smile spreading across her lips. “With your tail?”

“Of course. We’re in the sea, what better way to dance?” He gave her hand a gentle tug, spinning her halfway around to face him. “I can feel that you want to dance too.”

With that, he led her into a dance, just as she had once guided him by the fountain.

Ripples shimmered around them as they moved gracefully.

They danced between the sky and the sea, as if the entire world consisted of only the two of them.

The heavens vast, the ocean profound.

…

When the dance ended, the little merman led Luo Qingyan to sit on the water’s surface.

“So, how was it? Dancing on the sea feels different, doesn’t it?” he asked, pulling her close so she could lean against his shoulder.

“Mm, incredibly light,” Luo Qingyan replied, her heart still fluttering. “Is it the same when dancing underwater?”

“Right, you can slowly experience it later.” The little merman’s voice held a smile. “Are you truly willing to live with me in the sea from now on?”

“Why not? Life beneath the waves is even more vibrant!” Luo Qingyan was startled by her own words, unsure why she had spoken as if she had already witnessed life under the sea.

“First, live this human life well,” the little merman said, nuzzling his cheek against the head of the person beside him. “Then, we can slowly explore the wonders of the ocean together.”

Luo Qingyan felt something had changed, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. She looked up at the little merman and asked, “When… will we form our bond?”

The little merman gazed down at her, smiled softly, and took her hand, placing it over his heart.

Luo Qingyan gasped, the sensation of something different within her becoming unmistakably clear. It was as if a warm current flowed between them, binding them tightly together. Staring into his eyes in astonishment, she asked, “Has the bond already been formed?”

“Yes,” the little merman replied, his smile deepening, before he pressed a tender, reverent kiss to her forehead.

The twilight deepened, stretching over the vast sea and sky.