Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Mermaid Keeper
Yu Zhizhi turned back to look at the cabin door.
The grip on her wrist gradually loosened.
No longer restrained, she got up and slowly approached the wooden door.
From outside the door came a familiar voice.
"Ms. Zhi Zhi, are you asleep?"
’It’s Luther.’
Yu Zhizhi’s voice was light. "Not yet."
Luther’s tone was calm. "I was passing by and saw your light was still on, so I thought I’d come check if there were any problems."
A note of concern entered the young Guard Team member’s voice. "Is everything all right?"
Luther was still very worried about leaving the Rabbit Clan Lady alone with a Merman.
Since Louis was on leave for three days, he was considering asking the team if he could guard the Rabbit Clan Lady around the clock.
Luther’s intention was obvious.
He had made a special trip here while on patrol.
Yusen, sitting on the sofa, tossed a crisp piece of apple into his mouth, his expression indifferent. He even looked at the little rabbit by the door with some curiosity.
Now was the perfect time to call for help.
It was also a great opportunity to lock him back in the bathroom.
Yu Zhizhi was a little nervous. Afraid that Luther might hear that something was wrong, she said in a low voice, "Everything’s fine. I’m about to go to bed now."
"Alright. Good night, Ms. Zhi Zhi."
"Good night."
Yusen had thought the little female wouldn’t pass up this opportunity.
Unexpectedly, she didn’t even mention him.
Yu Zhizhi turned around and found the Merman staring at her. Ever since he’d gotten out, he had been eating apples non-stop, and the apple slices on the plate were almost gone.
’He really does love apples.’
"Why didn’t you let him in?" Yusen placed the plate back on the coffee table. He felt his legs were a bit unresponsive and clumsy.
They were nothing compared to his fishtail.
Yu Zhizhi replied softly, "Luther might have... a little bit of a prejudice against Mermaids."
"That’s not prejudice. Everything he told you is true." Yusen had a serious expression. "If I’m unhappy, I really might just—kill you, you know."
The little female became visibly frightened. Her face paled, and she slowly backed toward the stairs.
Yu Zhizhi gripped the railing with both hands. "You... you wouldn’t..."
"Why wouldn’t I?"
"You could have done it long ago, but..."
’Mermaids are so beautiful. I can’t imagine them with blood on their hands. Besides—if I have a Mermaid Baby, I’ll need Yusen to take the baby back to the sea.’
Therefore, Yu Zhizhi really wanted to get closer to Yusen and be on better terms with him.
Thinking that she might already be pregnant with a Mermaid Baby, a smile touched her lips, and her body, which had been trembling slightly, calmed down.
"I’m going to sleep. If you’re tired, you can go to the attic. It’s empty."
After speaking, she climbed the steps to the second floor and returned to her room.
Yusen watched the little female’s disappearing figure. A visible smile had been on her face before she went upstairs.
The young man couldn’t help but wonder—
’What’s she so happy about? This little rabbit... she racked her brains to make me drink that medicine, yet she has no intention of locking me back in the bathtub. And now, she’s even gone upstairs to sleep by herself. ...Can she actually sleep? Isn’t she afraid I’ll snap her neck in her sleep?’
’Thinking back on all her previous actions... If I have to find an explanation, then what she’d once said about "liking me" suddenly seems a bit more believable.’
A flash of pleasure crossed Yusen’s ice blue eyes.
He stood up and walked toward the stairs.
The discomfort in his legs was getting worse. It seemed that, having just transformed, he wasn’t at all used to human legs.
Yusen arrived at the attic and saw a bed after entering.
The moment he lay down, his legs transformed into a light blue fishtail.
The young man touched the shimmering scales on his tail, a proud look on his face. "A Merman’s tail is still better. Human legs are useless."
But despite his inner disdain,
why had he maintained his human form after regaining a little strength?
Perhaps it was because he wanted to be a little closer to that little female rabbit.
On the Beast World Planet, other clans could maintain their human forms perfectly well; only the Mermaid Clan was an exception.
Perhaps it was because the beast blood in their bodies was purer.
Their human genes were on the verge of disappearing.
And for that reason, a Merman’s beastly nature was more violent, completely at odds with their beautiful, delicate appearance.
「The next day.」
Yusen was still asleep when he heard the soft pitter-patter of footsteps.
As a wave of jasmine scent washed over him, he knew without opening his eyes that the little female had come to his bedside.
Yu Zhizhi had thought about it all night.
She felt she should have a proper discussion with the Merman.
"Yusen?" she called softly.
The Merman on the bed was covered with a thin white blanket, his fishtail exposed. It was the first time Yu Zhizhi had ever seen a Merman in a bed, and it had a strange kind of beauty.
The young man on the bed turned his head, opening his ice blue eyes. "What is it?"
His voice was raspy from just having woken up.
In his peripheral vision, he saw the little rabbit unceremoniously sit down on the edge of the bed. She leaned in closer, holding up a map in her hands to make sure he could see it.
"I did some research. The closest place to the sea is right here—"
"The Divine City."
Yusen glanced at the map. "So?"
Normally, females who kept Mermaids liked to take them to places with a sea.
Because Mermaids in the sea were at their most beautiful.
Yu Zhizhi smiled slightly. "I can take you to the Divine City. That way, you can go back to the sea!"
"...?" Yusen thought he must have misheard.
"You’ve been away for so long. You must miss home, right?"
Yu Zhizhi put away the map and said solemnly, "I’m willing to help you get home."
’...Back to the sea?’
Yusen never would have thought that the little rabbit would have such an idea.
’She spent seven broken dreams on me, and now she’s willing to let me go?’
"But it might not be possible right now."
Yu Zhizhi did a quick mental calculation.
’Tomorrow, or the day after at the latest, I’ll know if I’ve conceived. The baby won’t be born for another month. By then, Yusen can leave with the Mermaid Baby.’
"But I promise you, I will do everything I can to help you leave," Yu Zhizhi said with utmost sincerity.
Yusen stared at the little rabbit’s face for a long while. She seemed to be serious.
"Conditions?" he asked.
’Truthfully, I could just kill her, cause some havoc in Paradise, and still find my own way back to the sea. I’m just curious about her reasons for doing this.’
’What is this little female plotting?’
Yu Zhizhi faltered. ’If there is a condition, it’s only the baby, but I can’t be sure if I’m pregnant yet.’
That night, she had been delirious with fever.
But in her memory, they had indeed mated. Otherwise, the poison in her system wouldn’t have been cured so easily.
"Just... wait a few more days. Let me think." Yu Zhizhi stood up and slowly backed away. "It won’t be too long!"
"Mm," Yusen replied faintly.
Yu Zhizhi left the attic.
She went to the kitchen.
With Louis gone, she had to figure out how to make something to eat.
The refrigerator was still full of fruits and vegetables. She picked up a carrot, wondering whether to boil some noodles or steam some rice.
’Oh, right! I haven’t given the Merman his medicine for the day yet.’
She didn’t really think it was necessary...
But thinking of Luther’s warning, she hesitated before turning on the projector.
In the search bar, she typed out two keywords.
[Mermaid] [Caretaker]
Soon, a series of news articles appeared on the floating screen, scrolling slowly.
