Chapter 17 Separated by only one door, break through it for me!

Luo Qingyan could understand the little male fish's fear. After all, the other party's body had not yet recovered, and once he encountered danger, he would be no different from a turtle in a jar. It was only natural for him to be cautious.

However, despite her understanding, she was still very angry!

She trusted him so much that when he heard something was wrong, she immediately went outside to check, without considering her own safety at all. She ran around without getting tired, only worried.

And what about the other person? They don't trust her, they don't care about her, and they're even wary of her!

I'm heartbroken! Utterly heartbroken!

Fish are indeed cold-blooded animals; you can't warm them up!

Hmph! Forget it, I won't get anything out of them. This contract is probably just a scam, and even if it were real, they wouldn't develop feelings of love for a human. Money is much more practical! At least I can live a life of luxury before I die and leave more wealth for my family.

What if the monetary reward is also fake?

Hehehe...

Let's just consider it a good deed done without expecting anything in return.

I hope this little male merman recovers quickly! Then leave as soon as possible! Out of sight, out of mind!

-

Because she was angry, Luo Qingyan went out to shop without saying goodbye to Xiao Nanyu and didn't return home until dinner time.

Dinner was again taken out. She ordered two set meals, one for the little fish and one for herself, so the two of them would eat separately this time.

She delivered dinner to the little merman without saying a word, placed the takeout box on the stool, turned and left, her expression indifferent, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

When the little male merman saw Luo Qingyan, his expression changed. At first, when he saw someone enter the restroom, his eyes widened slightly with a hint of surprise. Then, he lowered his eyes, lowered his gaze, and dared not look directly at the person. He then silently observed the person's every move.

He felt guilty. He wanted to talk to Luo Qingyan, but he sensed the other's anger and that the other didn't want to talk to him. While he hesitated, the other left without a second thought.

In the past, the other person would open the food box and put his portion on the table by the bathtub. Then they would eat together, ask him if he liked it, listen to his feelings about the food, and sometimes even tell him how the food was prepared.

The two chatted and laughed.

But now...

Even without lifting the lid, the dinner on the stool still emitted an enticing aroma, but he didn't feel like eating it, nor did he look forward to it as much as usual.

It seems he has been influenced by humans.

-

After leaving the bathroom, Luo Qingyan first turned on the TV in the living room before going to the dining table to sit down and start eating her dinner.

She wasn't watching TV; she was focused on eating. She turned on the TV to create other sounds in the room, the more the better, because she didn't want the little merman to only hear the sound of her eating.

She hadn't even taken a few bites when Chestnut, who had finished her dog food, came running over, drawn by the aroma of the food.

Chestnut first lay on her lap and thrashed around a couple of times, then opened its mouth and whimpered several times. After she used gestures and sounds to tell Chestnut not to do that, Chestnut obediently sat to the side and watched her, wagging its tail from time to time.

After finishing the meal, she didn't feed Chestnut any of the food she had eaten, but Chestnut still opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, looking happy, and tirelessly followed her around.

Indeed, the puppy's love is genuine and enduring; it is without deception or disdain, and it will not disappear just because there is no exchange of benefits.

Unlike some fish!

-

After finishing her meal, Luo Qingyan only cleaned up the table on her side, and then took Li Zi out for a walk.

She'd clean up the takeout boxes for the little merman after their walk; since he didn't trust her, she wanted to see him as little as possible to avoid them growing tired of each other. She was already quite kind to provide him with food and shelter; everything else depended on her mood, which was perfectly reasonable.

Chestnut was so happy to be able to go out and play so early. She jumped so high that she almost flew when she was on the leash, and she kept barking loudly and joyfully.

With such a loud commotion, the little male merman would not only be able to hear it, but also understand what was going on.

Luo Qingyan moved very quickly. Although Chestnut was quite excited, she was still able to control the situation. She put Chestnut on a leash in a minute or two, and then the two of them left the house to go for a walk outside.

-

The road in front of my grandmother's house is lined with sycamore trees on both sides. In this season, the sycamore leaves are still lush and green, rustling softly in the wind. Walking along the road, all you see is greenery, all you hear is the sound of the wind, and all you can smell is the faint fragrance of grass and trees—it's very pleasant.

Since they had just eaten dinner and it was not advisable to engage in strenuous exercise, Luo Qingyan walked very slowly. Li Zi walked along, sniffing the various scents along the roadside, stopping and starting as she went, equally unhurried.

"Qingyan, did you take Chestnut out for a walk?"

As Luo Qingyan walked, she savored the breath of nature, trying to clear her mind as much as possible. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings when a voice pulled her back to reality. Looking closely, she saw several of her neighbor's aunties and grandmothers chatting by the roadside. The one who had called her was Aunt Zhang, the same Aunt Zhang who had asked her what kind of light bulb she used before.

"Mm." Luo Qingyan smiled and nodded. She didn't dare ask if the other person had bought the lamp; a simple greeting was enough for now, and she didn't want to have any further conversation.

"Aunt Chen's granddaughter is really beautiful. She used to work in S City, right? Graduating from a prestigious university and getting a job at a big company, that's really impressive!"

"That's right, it must have been tough for a girl to be out there all alone for so many years! It's not easy!"

“Going back to my hometown is great. Our city of G is developing very well now. There are many migrant workers from other places, so there are plenty of job opportunities. You won’t have trouble finding a job.”

The aunties and mothers-in-law naturally shifted the topic to Luo Qingyan.

However, Luo Qingyan didn't want to be the center of attention at all. She loosened the leash, letting Chestnut run further, then quickened her pace to catch up, her gaze still fixed on the aunties and grandmothers: "Yes, it's good to be back. Our G City is getting better and better. Hey, the puppy's eager to play, I'll go walk it first, you all chat slowly."

"Chestnut is so happy to see you back, she loves running around and playing everywhere." Aunt Zhang waved with a smile, "Go on, go on."

"Okay, bye!" Luo Qingyan quickly waved goodbye, then left with Chestnut.

-

Upon arriving at the park where she often took walks, Luo Qingyan first let Li Zi choose the route. After walking around for a while, she got a little tired and went to sit down in a less crowded corridor.

She doesn't want to go home too early today; she's fine with going home before bedtime.

Even if it plays for a long time, it'll only be two or three hours. Chestnut, of course, never gets tired of playing and can stay outside for as long as it wants. When its owner sits down to rest, it squats down beside him to rest as well, its eyes and nose continuing to work, looking around and sniffing.

The atmosphere in the park is very comfortable, both lively and quiet.

After resting for about five minutes, Chestnut suddenly stood up, staring straight at one spot, twisting its body and wagging its tail like a propeller.

"You met a good friend dog?" Luo Qingyan had seen Chestnut in this state before. When she met a good friend dog, she was excited and expectant, but she wouldn't do anything reckless. She followed Chestnut's gaze and saw a Wire Jack Russell Terrier. The dog was also quite excited, wagging its tail and pulling on its leash as it came over.

"Are they good friends?" a gentle voice asked.

Luo Qingyan then noticed that the owner of the Jack Russell Terrier was a young man with deep-set eyes, a slender figure, and a casual outfit that gave him a somewhat lazy look.

“Oh, this is my mother’s dog. My mother usually walks it. I don’t know its friends,” the Jack Russell Terrier’s owner added.

“My grandma usually walks the dog,” Luo Qingyan explained. “They must be good friends. My dog ​​behaves like this when it meets a good friend.”

“Then they can play together.” The owner of the Jack Russell Terrier smiled faintly. “My mother told me that unfamiliar puppies shouldn’t play together. Our puppy is a bit impulsive, like a bomb.”

"Let them get used to the scent first." Luo Qingyan gripped the leash tightly and moved her hand to guide Chestnut forward slowly. If things went wrong, she could immediately pull Chestnut back.

The Jack Russell Terrier's owner was equally careful, constantly monitoring the dog's condition.

Once the two puppies could touch each other, they immediately snuggled together, sniffing each other, and then started jumping around, extremely happy.

"They really are good friends." Luo Qingyan said as she straightened the leashes in her hands. The two puppies were so excited that they kept turning around and the two leashes got tangled together.

“My dog’s name is Pudding.” The owner of the Jack Russell Terrier probably felt that there was a difference between male and female dogs, and that it wasn’t good for the leashes to keep getting tangled together. So after Luo Qingyan separated the leashes, he stepped back a little, controlling the leashes so that Pudding could touch Chestnut, but they could no longer be tangled together.

“My dog’s name is Chestnut.” Luo Qingyan also tried her best to control the leash. She didn’t really like talking to strangers, but today she felt it was nice to talk to polite people. “It’s all about food. Apparently, a dog’s name means it has a huge food supply.”

“Yes, and there’s also Coke, glutinous rice balls, and Oreos—it all sounds cute and delightful.” Seeing that Luo Qingyan was willing to chat, the owner of the Jack Russell Terrier continued slowly, “Pudding is still young, but she has a lot of energy and loves to go out and play. How old is Chestnut?”

"He's over three years old and still playful, but he's much more composed than at his most mischievous stage. A dog's personality is also related to its breed; terriers are indeed relatively lively and active."

"Yes. Also, terriers are stubborn, and Shiba Inus are even more stubborn than terriers. You can see them outside even during thunderstorms."

...

It's incredibly pleasant to watch the puppies play and chat about them in a beautiful park.

Since we're not in a rush to go home, it's good to let Chestnut and Good Friend Dog play a little longer. Chestnut is so cute and devoted to its owner, it deserves to play happily for a while longer.

A gentle evening breeze was blowing.

-

It was already 9 PM when we parted ways with Pudding. We couldn't play anymore; it was time to go home. Pudding's house and Grandma's house were in opposite directions, so we said goodbye at the place where we were playing and then went our separate ways home.

Chestnut had a great time today, and her steps were especially light as she walked home. Luo Qingyan was also in a pretty good mood; Pudding's owner had high emotional intelligence, and chatting with her was comfortable.

Under the bright moon and gentle breeze, a man and his dog lived a carefree life.

Standing at her front door, Luo Qingyan suddenly remembered that she hadn't cleaned up the trash left by the little male fish after dinner. She had originally planned to go straight back upstairs, but she couldn't stand having trash piled up in the bathroom, even though the little male fish was capable of cleaning itself.

Even if she's angry, she still has to clean up the mess. This is a house that Grandma has carefully maintained; she can't let a mermaid who suddenly appeared make her neglect it. Besides, the little male merman hasn't recovered yet and will have to stay in this house for a while; the two of them will eventually have to meet again.

Back home, Luo Qingyan first removed the leash from Chestnut, then wiped its feet. It had been playing for a long time today, so its four feet needed to be thoroughly cleaned before she slowly walked to the bathroom.

Reaching the bathroom door, her pace quickened instantly. She strode inside, swiftly aimed at the trash, and silently went straight for it. The little merman had already filled a bag with all the trash; without offering a comment, she grabbed the bag and prepared to leave.

"I'm sorry!" the little merman said, his tone unusually urgent.

Luo Qingyan, who was turning around, paused for a moment. She felt a pang of sympathy, but she had her principles. How could she forgive him so easily with just an apology, especially since the little merman was hiding so much from her? She stopped walking and looked at the little merman expressionlessly: "Fine, I accept the apology. Is there anything else you want to say?"

The little merman hesitated.

"Since you're unwilling to say anything else, then I'll make myself clear." Luo Qingyan's voice was cold. "First, I saved you entirely out of human kindness. I have no obligation to save you, so if saving you would threaten my safety or the safety of those around me, I will abandon you immediately."

"Secondly, given the lack of trust between us, I will keep my distance from you for my own safety. You can continue to live here, and I will provide you with food, but there is no need for any other contact."

"Third, I can't expect any reward in life. As for monetary rewards, if they are real, then give them; if they are fake, it doesn't matter, just don't repay kindness with enmity. I will see my rescue of cats and dogs through to the end, even if they hiss at me and I get no reward in return."

After speaking, Luo Qingyan gave a forced smile, then calmly looked at the little male merman.

The little male merman's eyes changed, as if he was thinking, and he thought for a while.

Luo Qingyan wasn't in the mood to stay long. She didn't want to force anyone, so she turned and left.

There were no voices trying to stop him from behind.

Indeed, humans and mermaids are different.

-

The next day, Luo Qingyan was still angry.

The thought of her little male merman hearing her every word and action at home made her quite unhappy. Since she had other things to do anyway, she focused all her attention on them.

This morning, I made some contacts regarding car rental.

At noon, I ordered takeout randomly, and still ate separately from Xiao Nanyu.

In the afternoon, I went out to run some errands.

She ate dinner outside in the evening before going home and packed a portion for the little male fish.

When she got home, she took the packed food to the bathroom for the little merman, remaining silent and moving quickly. The little merman seemed to want to say something to her, but she hurriedly left, saying that Chestnut was hungry and she needed to feed him dinner quickly.

After Chestnut finished eating, she checked the time and went into the bathroom to clean up the mess left by the little male fish. She still wouldn't talk to the little male fish, and she had the excuse of taking Chestnut out for a walk to leave quickly.

The little male merman wanted to talk to Luo Qingyan, but he could sense Luo Qingyan's reluctance. He wouldn't force someone, so he went along with Luo Qingyan and didn't force himself to talk to him.

-

Luo Qingyan's anger gradually subsided after taking Chestnut out for a walk in the evening.

After a busy day, I finally had some free time to appreciate the world, which made me feel much more comfortable.

It wasn't that she was willing to have more contact with the little male merman after she calmed down; she wouldn't offer her enthusiasm only to be met with indifference. She simply wanted to find peace within herself.

In the past, she wouldn't have engaged in such internal strife. She might have even gone so far as to send the little male merman to the lake in the park and then left him alone, parting ways with him. After all, she had already saved the little male merman from the brink of death, and there was food in the lake. What she did wasn't excessive at all, and she didn't expect anything in return. It could be said that she had done everything she could.

Looking back now, sending the little male merman to the lake was indeed a good idea, a really good idea.

Sigh... I guess it's because I'm sick; both my body and mind have changed.

She can't be cold-hearted or indifferent; she can't help but think a lot.

She was happy during the few days she spent with the little male merman. Besides the joy of having hope for life, the mere act of being with him was comfortable. He was interesting and seemed like a good person.

In fact, the other party was on guard from the beginning, and clearly stated that the two parties were in a transaction. The ordinary reward was money, but the greatest reward related to life was not something that could be obtained just by wanting it.

If you think about it carefully, even if you just find a kitten or puppy, the animal will react and protect itself. So, the little male merman is a merman with thoughts similar to humans, so of course he would consider more.

Therefore, she couldn't just abandon him.

Her anger stemmed from the unequal power dynamic; mermaids could communicate with humans, and the other person would surely sense her goodwill. She treated the other person with such sincerity, yet the other remained wary and distrustful, leaving her deeply disappointed.

Perhaps, there's still a tinge of resentment.

Death lurked behind her, but a glimmer of hope clung to the little merman. Though the hope was faint, she fought on relentlessly. Her efforts weren't entirely feigned; they were genuine. But just when she felt a sliver of hope, the other side poured cold water on her hopes.

The pain of seeing hope appear and then disappear is more painful than having no hope at all.

Getting over the pain isn't easy; ignoring the little merman won't make you move on.

Her mind was in complete turmoil, and she was even a little lost.

So, first calm down, first put down your anger. She has to face everything herself; there's nowhere to escape.

-

After much thought, Luo Qingyan walked for a long time without realizing it. When she came to her senses, she was standing in the middle of a lively crowd.

People strolled around the park in an endless stream.

It's so lively!

It belongs to the hustle and bustle of the human world.

Chestnut was always in a happy state, her eyes looking around, her nose constantly sniffing the air, full of curiosity about the world.

People come and go, each following their own life path. Along the way, there are joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, and all walks of life. Happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy can switch at any time and cannot be completely controlled because no one can predict what will happen in the future.

All we have is the present moment.

What you have is the most important thing.

At this moment, dusk is falling. The night is not scary; the dim light actually gives people a sense of security. No longer being stared at nakedly, no longer being scrutinized nakedly, everything becomes blurred, dispelling the hustle and bustle of the day and leaving behind a space that belongs only to oneself.

The lights in the park were all on, and they were all relatively soft lights that were not dazzling and were enough to make it easy to see the path underfoot.

The hazy, indistinct scenery around me had a strangely cinematic feel to it.

The main road was always crowded with people, some strolling and enjoying the scenery, others stopping to chat, and people coming and going; on the lawn, there were many children running and playing, laughing and jumping, full of energy; the rest area was full of people, some just resting, some chatting and enjoying the scenery, some playing on their phones, and some eating.

The everyday life of ordinary people.

Luo Qingyan's mood calmed down; it calmed down in an instant.

She continued wandering around with the chestnuts for a while, then, seeing that it was almost time, she prepared to go home. She didn't want to linger outside any longer; it was her home, and she should go back.

-

I got home before nine o'clock, still early.

Luo Qingyan initially wanted to go back to her room and watch a movie, but as she walked up to the second floor, she felt it would be too stuffy to go back to her room so early. Of course, she wouldn't go to find the little male merman, so she made herself a cup of juice and took Chestnut to sit down in the courtyard.

Chestnut wanted to play as soon as it got outside. It ran around wildly for a while, and then went to Luo Qingyan and pounced on him, wanting him to play with it.

Luo Qingyan, who was sitting in the chair lost in thought, did not want to move, but Chestnut was too persistent, so she simply picked Chestnut up and held it in her arms.

When it was first picked up, Chestnut squirmed and was restless, but it gradually calmed down in Luo Qingyan's arms. After moving around a few times, it found a comfortable position and curled up obediently on its owner's lap, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Luo Qingyan especially loved listening to the puppy's sighs. She could deeply feel that this tiny little thing was a vibrant life, living very happily in the home that humans had built for it, a feeling of warmth and comfort that was hard to describe.

Holding the chestnuts, she felt completely at ease and closed her eyes contentedly.

A warm and cozy person and a warm and cozy dog ​​enjoy the peaceful night.

However, not long after closing her eyes, Luo Qingyan inexplicably felt that there was something in front of her. Her first reaction was that she was not at peace deep inside, so she always felt that the outside world was not peaceful either. Therefore, she did not open her eyes, but took a deep breath to calm herself down.

The chestnut in her arms was restless, so Luo Qingyan naturally opened her eyes.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by bubbles.

Only two lights were on in the courtyard. In the darkness, the bubbles, though not particularly colorful, were still quite eye-catching. They also shimmered when near the light source. As the bubbles flowed slowly, they twinkled, as beautiful as stars, cool and radiant.

The moment Luo Qingyan opened her eyes, she felt as if she were in a dream, overwhelmed with an indescribable emotion. In that instant, she wished that this moment could last forever, that she could stay in this instant, casting aside everything else, grasping only this moment, and never looking back.

But she quickly came to her senses and returned to reality.

Bubbles floated around her; without a doubt, they were the little male merman's bubbles.

"Good girl, Chestnut." Luo Qingyan put her left arm around Chestnut's body and stroked Chestnut's head with her right hand, trying to shift her attention to Chestnut.

So be it, the bubbles are just bubbles. Maybe the little merman was bored and made a bunch of bubbles. Even if these bubbles were made for her, she has the right not to accept them. Seeing them is one thing, and they may be pretty, but so what?

If the little merman just makes a bunch of bubbles to amuse her, she sees them, but that's it. If the little merman tries to use the bubbles to send a message, she doesn't want to listen.

After a short while, she calmed Chestnut down, then held Chestnut firmly in her arms and leaned back in her chair to continue resting.

Countless bubbles floated all around, which was indeed very beautiful.

Suddenly, the bubbles burst on their own, one after another, in an endless stream, accompanied by the little male merman's voice.

"I'm sorry, I was too guarded and forgot how you felt."

"Now that I'm in human society and living among humans, I should think about things from a human perspective. It was my oversight."

"I'm very sorry. You tried your best to help me, but I was only focused on being on guard. It was my fault, and I apologize to you."

"I wasn't honest enough, so it's perfectly normal for you to be angry. I'm sorry, but because what's behind me involves the merfolk, it's not just my personal matter, so I really can't tell you everything."

"I can guarantee you will be safe. If you sense any danger at any time, you can abandon me, and I will not resist."

"Please don't be angry. Your health is already poor, and the more angry a person gets, the worse their health becomes. The fault lies with me, and you shouldn't bear the negative consequences."

"I want to make up for my mistake. If possible, please tell me what I can do to make you feel less sad. I will try my best to do anything I can."

...

As Luo Qingyan listened, the scene of the little male merman saying these words one by one in the bathroom appeared in her mind.

The little male merman, curled up in the bathtub, was thinking and talking. Bubbles appeared in the air, one after another, until the bathroom was filled with bubbles.

Somewhat cute.

Chestnut got excited when it heard the sound from the bubbles, and Luo Qingyan had to use some effort to control it. Fortunately, it was the little male merman's voice, not a stranger's, and it gradually calmed down with its owner's comforting words.

Luo Qingyan appeared calm on the surface; her surprise and joy were fleeting. After comforting Chestnut, she held her and listened patiently to the little merman's words coming from the bubbles. There were plenty of bubbles; no rush.

The moonlight was soft and gentle.

Luo Qingyan didn't say a word until she heard all the bubbles, looking completely relaxed. She looked up at the night sky and sighed, then lowered her head to stroke the chestnut, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The apology and explanation have been received.

Then what?

She doesn't know yet.

The night air was tranquil and gentle, truly refreshing.

-

Early in the morning, Luo Qingyan felt the bright sunshine even before she opened her eyes.

The room's curtains are ordinary light-transmitting fabric curtains, so even when the curtains are closed, you can still feel the sunrise and sunset in the room.

Because of her work, Luo Qingyan used to stay up late and had short sleep durations. Therefore, in order to fall asleep quickly and have the deepest sleep possible, she needed to ensure that her surroundings were quiet, including the light. She was not used to sleeping without blackout curtains, so she wore an eye mask while sleeping during her stay at her grandmother's house.

She was a restless sleeper. When she woke up early in the morning, her eye mask was a little crooked, and light shone through the gaps, touching her eyelids.

I slept well last night and woke up naturally, which was very satisfying.

The beautiful weather today puts me in a good mood.

She got up and then went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

-

Luo Qingyan didn't see the little male fish last night. Although the bubbles all over the yard surprised and delighted her, it was enough for her to accept it quietly.

After preparing breakfast, she first served it to the little male fish, as she planned to eat separately today.

The little male merman had already woken up. The moment she pushed open the bathroom door, his gaze was already on her. Given his hearing, he probably had already started noticing her as she walked into the bathroom.

She didn't say anything, and prepared to leave the breakfast behind and go.

"Are you feeling better?" This time, the little male merman was well-prepared and spoke up before Luo Qingyan even put down his breakfast.

Luo Qingyan had expected the little male merman to talk to her before entering the house, so she wasn't surprised. As she put down the breakfast, she said, "It's alright."

"I overlooked human characteristics, I was wrong, I... I'm sorry, I apologize to you, please forgive me." The little male merman spoke quickly, as if afraid of being left. "I, you... what do you want to know? I'll tell you as much as I can, or... let me put it another way, just to give you a general idea, so you can feel at ease."

"I want to know what you're afraid of?" Luo Qingyan decided to be direct, regardless of whether the little merman was willing to answer or not, she just wanted to ask what she most wanted to know. "This is important to you, isn't it? Can you tell me?"

The little merman's expression hardened, and he frowned slightly. But after thinking for a few seconds, he still answered, "I'm not exactly scared. I'm avoiding a force. Due to an accident, this force is mixed with some other things I don't like, so... I'm a little apprehensive. But don't worry, that force won't threaten your safety or the safety of those around you."

"Oh." Luo Qingyan nodded calmly. "Is that force related to humans?"

A flicker of surprise crossed the little merman's eyes, but it vanished in an instant. He remained calm, appearing to be deep in thought.

Luo Qingyan caught that hint of surprise, and she raised an eyebrow slightly: "Otherwise, why don't you trust me? I'm just a human!"

"I... well... in human territory, I'm somewhat connected to humans." The little merman's eyes darted around. "Humans are indeed... very complicated..."

"Why do I hear a hint of praise in this? Well, not exactly praise, but... it sounds like it's saying that humans are both troublesome and amazing."

"Humans, that's certainly true."

"Then I'll take that as a compliment."

"Yes, I was praising you." The little merman sensed the atmosphere was gradually easing, so he didn't argue and went along with Luo Qingyan's words, "Is there anything else you want to know?"

Luo Qingyan had a lot of curiosity about the little male merman, but it all seemed to have vanished at this moment. She couldn't think of anything else she wanted to know: "That's all for now. If I have something I want to know in the future, would you still be willing to answer? You can't just miss this opportunity, can you?"

"Sure." The little merman blinked, his spirits lifting a bit.

"Okay, that's settled then." Luo Qingyan turned around. "You go have breakfast!"

The little merman opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and then his eyes glazed over slightly: "Okay."

The two of them ate breakfast separately again.

-

After finishing breakfast and washing the dishes, Luo Qingyan was about to rest for a while when she heard a knock on the door outside the courtyard.

Her first thought was to worry about the little merman, so she ran to the bathroom. She couldn't let anyone else see him; first and foremost, she had to close the bathroom door.

Who will come at this time?

My cousin or uncle? But it's past nine o'clock, they should have already gone to work. Did something come up? No, they have the key, and they usually contact her first if they want to come over.

A delivery? Her order shouldn't have arrived today, and deliverymen usually call beforehand. Actually, if it's a delivery, that's fine; no one will come into the house, and the little merman won't be at risk of being discovered.

No matter who it is, the other person must not be allowed into the house.

Or, why not just not open the door and pretend you haven't gotten up yet?

What if there's an emergency?

Just as Luo Qingyan was feeling anxious, she heard voices coming from outside.

"Qingyan, it's me, Aunt Zhang!"

Luo Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the bathroom door. Instead of rushing to the courtyard, she explained to the little fish at the door, "I didn't know who was knocking on the door just now. It startled me. It's a neighbor. They won't come in, don't worry."

After saying that, she turned and walked out, even jogging a few steps, as it wouldn't be good to open the door too late.

"Hello, Aunt Zhang!" Luo Qingyan immediately put on a relaxed expression after opening the door. "I was clearing the dishes and didn't pay much attention to the noise outside."

"Oh, wow! You're up pretty early. Lots of young people sleep in until noon on their days off!" Aunt Zhang said with a smile, her voice booming. "Um, I'm an old lady and don't need much sleep. Did I disturb you?"

"No," Luo Qingyan said, though she remained worried. Surely he couldn't have come to ask her about anything related to the lamp. "Is there something you need?"

"Oh, I... I'm tending to the yard, and my pruning shears broke, so I came to borrow them."

“Pruning shears, right? Please wait a moment, I’ll get them for you.” Luo Qingyan said, turning to walk into the courtyard. Unexpectedly, Aunt Zhang followed her in. She quickly gestured for her to sit down in the courtyard, “Aunt Zhang, please sit for a while, I’ll go get them.”

"Okay, okay, I'll sit for a while." Aunt Zhang walked towards the chair, but her eyes followed Luo Qingyan as he ran into the house.

Luo Qingyan felt the gazes behind her, but she didn't want to think about it; getting the pruning shears out was the priority. Luckily, the shears were in the storage cabinet in the living room, and she grabbed them and immediately returned to the courtyard.

"Aunt Zhang, here are your pruning shears." Luo Qingyan handed the pruning shears to the other woman before she had even stood still. She took the shears out of the cabinet, holding the scissors but leaving the handle empty so she could easily hand them over.

"Thank you." Aunt Zhang stood up, took the pruning shears, but didn't leave.

Luo Qingyan watched as Aunt Zhang, who had received the pruning shears, stood still. She knew there was something else going on, so she smiled and tilted her head slightly: "Is there anything else?"

Aunt Zhang's gaze swept over Luo Qingyan, and she glanced into the house several times. She pursed her lips, smiled as if she wanted to speak, but her face was full of hesitation.

Looking into the house was not a safe sign, and Luo Qingyan's alarm bells immediately went off. She quickly changed the subject, saying, "Aunt Zhang, do you need anything else? I... I have something to do later, so..."

"Uh...no, I..." Aunt Zhang's smile was loose and unsteady, as if it might fall off at any moment. "Um, Qingyan, when...when is your grandma coming back?"

"I'll be back this weekend."

"Oh, that's good. With your family around, you won't be lonely."

"Huh?" Luo Qingyan felt that Aunt Zhang's words had a hidden meaning, and there was a strange sense of foreboding.

"Um..." Aunt Zhang took a breath and lowered her voice, "Is there anyone else at your house? Just... are any friends coming over tonight?"

"Friend..." Luo Qingyan was puzzled, so he spoke cautiously, "What do you mean?"

“It’s just…” Aunt Zhang looked troubled, gripping the pruning shears tightly with both hands. “Oh dear, it’s like this, someone said they saw several men come here. It’s fine for you young people to like to have fun, but, but you have to be careful! What you… what you did was not good. I know you’re not that kind of person. When your grandmother comes back, she can’t stand that kind of thing either.”

"Wh...what men?" Luo Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, then held her breath. Several men—it definitely wasn't referring to the little male merman, but where did several men come from?

"Qingyan, I'm not here to gossip. My thinking is quite progressive, mainly because... well! I'll just tell you directly, last night someone passed by your house and saw several men there. Not everyone is progressive, especially some traditional people, so... everyone was talking at once... However, some of what they discussed was correct."

Luo Qingyan suddenly realized that the misunderstanding was caused by the talking bubbles that filled the yard last night. She quickly tried to explain, "You misunderstood, didn't you? I was home alone last night. Oh, I was listening to a radio drama in the yard, like a radio. It was late at night, and I shouldn't have been listening to a radio drama in the yard."

“It wasn’t the sound, it was someone who saw it.” Aunt Zhang looked troubled. “The key is that more than one person saw it, so… oh dear, it’s really hard to say.”

Luo Qingyan was truly at a loss for words, unable to defend herself, but she felt she still needed to find a way to explain, her mind racing. Suddenly, she noticed the courtyard wall, which was taller than a person, and immediately pointed at it: "Aunt Zhang, look how high the courtyard wall is, how can passersby see people inside? Perhaps they heard me playing a radio drama and then made wild guesses?"

"Maybe someone else saw it when those men went out of the courtyard?"

Hearing this, Luo Qingyan's heart sank. Sure enough, people only believe what they want to believe, and even automatically fill in the gaps and explain away any illogical points.

Forget it, it's all a mystery. Explaining too much might backfire.

“Aunt Zhang, I know you're concerned about the younger generation.” Luo Qingyan forced a smile. “I don't know how the misunderstanding arose, but I understand what you mean. You're right. It's a situation where things might seem awkward, so I'll try my best to avoid it. Thank you for reminding me. I have something to do later, so I'll leave it at that.”

"Okay, then I won't see you off. Just leave the pruning shears by the door when you're done."

"Okay, okay, please help me!"

The smile on Luo Qingyan's face vanished the moment the courtyard gate closed.

What utter nonsense!

It's common for rumors to spread, but how could it be this outrageous? At most, there were some male voices coming from the courtyard, and it's been twisted into her being with several men…

How much oil and vinegar must have been added? It's gone through countless iterations; it's utterly absurd!

What's more troublesome is that this matter is definitely not over yet.

Let's put her reputation aside for now, because it's hard to explain in a short time, and any explanation might just seem like a cover-up, making things worse. The most urgent thing is to protect the little merman. This kind of gossip will definitely put her in the middle of it all, so her grandmother's house will no longer be safe for him. We need to move him away as soon as possible, away from this place of trouble.

Without hesitation, Luo Qingyan sped up the process as quickly as possible.

She's always been efficient and decisive; she's been busy all day and the preparations are basically complete. She'll pick up the rented car tomorrow morning, and expects to be able to transport the little male merman away by tomorrow evening.

-

Go to bed early and get up early.

The next morning, Luo Qingyan went to the car rental shop.

The car rental company offers car delivery, but Luo Qingyan wants to check the car in person so that she can get a replacement immediately if it's not suitable.

Unexpectedly, things didn't go smoothly. The car they originally wanted to rent was suitable, but it had some problems, so they had to change it. This back-and-forth at the rental shop caused quite a delay.

To make matters worse, her phone inexplicably lost signal, and restarting it didn't help. She could only wait until she rented a car before getting her phone repaired.

After leaving the car rental shop, the whole morning was gone. Luo Qingyan decided to go home first, check on Xiao Nanyu's safety, have lunch, and then get her phone repaired in the afternoon.

On her drive home, her phone rang. Although it was a scam call, at least she had a signal. This should have been a good thing. However, she then received several WeChat messages. Since she was only about ten minutes away from home, she decided to check them when she got there.

Unexpectedly, when she checked her phone after parking at home, she was instantly horrified.

My cousin couldn't get in touch with her and was worried something had happened to her, so she came to my grandmother's house to look for her.

At this very moment, her cousin should be separated from her by a door.

Author's Note: First release, the original is only available here!

It's now a paid content! Thank you to all the readers! [Sprinkling flowers]

My darlings, you can check out the author's other works in their column; maybe you'll find something you like~ [shy][kiss]