Chapter 21 Mermaid 21
After hearing Cheng Shuinan's voice message, Zhang Jingshu fell into a brief daze. She thought she might be hallucinating.
He said he was leaving, but where could he go?
Perhaps everyone has a talent for playing dumb to some extent. As long as "I like you" is not said, then you can pretend not to know and enjoy the other person's efforts and meticulous care as if nothing happened. You can even rationally tell the other person not to try to do anything beyond friendship.
Friendship can last forever, but no one can guarantee the shelf life of love.
Zhang Jingshu never trusted the confessions of her suitors. She thought she would instinctively reject and dislike Cheng Shuinan after hearing his words, but she didn't feel any of these emotions. She was just thinking -
He actually said it out loud.
Didn't he understand what he said before?
Her meaning was very clear: if he didn't mention liking her, he could continue to live in her house.
If he liked to say it out loud, then he would most likely never be able to live in Zhang Jingshu's house again.
A mermaid with almost zero social experience, no relatives, and no home, you can imagine what he would choose.
How could anyone be so foolish as to give up a spacious house and delicious food?
Zhang Jingshu rolled herself into the quilt like a silkworm cocoon, holding her phone tightly, listening to Cheng Shuinan's voice messages over and over again.
She thought, if he wants to leave, let him leave.
She had no reason to keep him.
Since she couldn't possibly respond to Cheng Shuinan's feelings, then they should stop contacting each other. He could go wherever he wanted, and from now on, he would no longer be her business.
Thinking like this.
Zhang Jingshu stared angrily at the void, suddenly threw back the quilt, and called back. The call rang for a long time but was not connected.
He didn't even answer her call!
Zhang Jingshu didn't even change out of her house clothes, but threw on a padded jacket and headed out. The snow was falling harder, and the road was covered in thick snowdrifts. Luckily, the hotel was near her residential complex, just across the street. She didn't dare drive in this weather, so she wrapped herself tightly in her coat and hurried toward the complex.
When she returned home, Zhang Jingshu called Cheng Shuinan's name, but received no response.
The familiar fishy smell disappeared.
Only then did Zhang Jingshu feel panicked.
She ran out in a hurry.
The days in winter are always exceptionally short. The sky, which was bright a moment ago, becomes dark in the blink of an eye. The warm white light of the street lamps shines down, and a series of footprints leave traces on the newly covered snow.
The cold night wind scraped against my face like a knife, causing pain.
Zhang Jingshu was in a hurry when she went out. She just picked up her outer clothes casually, a thin flannel jacket, and wore pajamas inside. The hotel room was heated to the maximum, and her spring and autumn pajamas were more than enough to cope with the temperature.
But her clothes were obviously very cold on the winter night street. Ice chips penetrated her collar and the chill penetrated her spine.
The exhaled air turns into white mist.
Zhang Jingshu searched aimlessly along the roads in the community.
Keep sending voice messages to Cheng Shuinan——
"Cheng Shuinan, where did you go? If you have any ideas, we can discuss it again."
"Cheng Shuinan, if you hear the voice message, reply to me."
…
Cheng Shuinan hid behind the holly trees by the roadside, staring at Zhang Jingshu greedily.
He didn't want to leave, but he couldn't help it.
If the Daughter of the Sea shattered his last delusion about Zhang Jingshu, then the loss of control of his body was the reason why he had to leave.
He couldn't deceive himself. Even if she didn't love him, he had to stay by her side.
As he was in his mature stage, every nerve and every blood vessel in his body was constantly attracted by Zhang Jingshu.
He was very patient, but he still couldn't control his body.
The smell from her body, her gentle words, her smiling or indifferent face, all turned into hot oil in front of him and poured into his internal organs.
He felt like he was being roasted on a fire, his sanity was slowly crumbling, and a voice filled with longing rang out from deep within his heart—
Trick her into going home and possess her.
Isn’t that good?
Haven't you always wanted to have her?
He wanted to, of course he wanted to...he was almost going crazy thinking about it.
But this cannot be done.
Cheng Shuinan tried hard to maintain his precarious sanity, left Zhang Jingshu's house, ran to the gate of the community, squatted by the road, tremblingly turned on the voice call, and sent what was in his heart.
He thought, if he left, she would definitely come back.
He would be satisfied if he could just take one more secret look at her.
To him, Zhang Jingshu was the bright moon hanging high in the sky, pulling him out of the mire. How could he dare to contaminate her with his filthy body? Even the thought of it was wrong...
Passing through the layers of snowflakes and lush holly leaves, Cheng Shuinan's gaze, which was infatuated but also concealed with a frantic struggle, fell steadily on Zhang Jingshu.
Zhang Jingshu's hair was covered in snowflakes. The cold snowflakes melted into water, soaking her hair. She shivered with cold. The air she breathed in was tinged with icy cold, and at that moment, she smelled a sweet fragrance.
That was the smell coming from Cheng Shuinan's body.
"Cheng Shuinan, I know you're nearby. Come out right now, or I'll be angry." Zhang Jingshu stood there, looked around, and added harshly, "...Did you hear me?"
No one responded.
She wrinkled her nose and followed the sweet scent towards the holly bush, but soon the smell disappeared.
Zhang Jingshu was angry and anxious. He was clearly nearby, yet he was hiding. She felt an inexplicable annoyance in her heart. She walked to the side of the road, stepped on the icy road, and suddenly slipped and fell to the ground.
Zhang Jingshu felt her butt crack in two. Luckily, she fell backwards, her tailbone aching. At the same time, an inexplicable sense of grievance filled her chest. She sat there, curled up her knees, and hugged them. Tears welled up without warning.
There was a rustling sound coming from the holly bushes behind me.
Zhang Jingshu's crying got louder.
Cheng Shuinan stumbled out and knelt beside Zhang Jingshu, his tone worried: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Zhang Jingshu, does it hurt?"
Zhang Jingshu didn't look up, buried her head in her arms, but one hand quietly grabbed his clothes, holding it tightly in her palm.
Cheng Shuinan took a few steps forward: "Where did you bump into? How do you feel? Let's stand up first, okay?"
Zhang Jingshu raised her eyes, her eyes were red.
Actually, I didn't really want to cry, but my butt was so painful that tears suddenly welled up in my eyes without any warning. I could have controlled it, but Cheng Shuinan's worried tone was like a flood that burst open, and tears streamed down my cheeks.
She said angrily, "Aren't you leaving? What are you doing here? What's it to you if I fall? Anyway, whether I get hurt or die, it's none of your business. If you want to leave, just leave quickly..."
Cheng Shuinan squatted quietly beside her.
He pursed his lips and tentatively wiped the tears from her eyes.
Zhang Jingshu did not refuse. She opened her eyes wide and glared at him accusingly.
"It's my fault." Cheng Shuinan said, "The ground is cold. Don't sit here. Let's go back first."
Zhang Jingshu: "I can't go back. My leg is broken."
Cheng Shuinan's eyelashes seemed to be unable to bear the weight of the snowflakes, and he blinked rapidly a few times. The cold snowflakes melted between his eyelashes, and there were inexplicably water stains in his eyes. He looked aggrieved and a little helpless.
Zhang Jingshu noticed that his clothes were soaking wet. He wasn't wearing a padded jacket, only a thin sweatshirt. The tip of his finger on her cheek felt cold, like an icicle hanging from the eaves. It was cold, icy, but strangely, she didn't hide.
She held the corner of Cheng Shuinan's clothes tightly, and she was not worried that he would suddenly run away.
His hands drooped at his sides, clenched into fists. The hand that had touched her cheek was quietly hidden against his chest, gently curled up a few times.
Zhang Jingshu's eyes were red, tears gathered in her eye sockets, and her gaze suddenly fell on his face.
Her vision was hazy, but that didn't prevent her from seeing his movements clearly. Cheng Shuinan's raised hand suddenly dropped, as if he wanted to touch her but didn't dare.
"Zhang Jingshu, it's very cold outside. Let's go home first, okay?"
Zhang Jingshu shook her head: "Not good."
Cheng Shuinan's eyebrows knitted together, completely unsure how to persuade her. The cold snowflakes melted into water, temporarily suppressing his restless emotions. He looked helplessly at Zhang Jingshu, who was clearly in a bad mood. His past experiences were like paper, and he had no knowledge of how to persuade a girl.
So he could only keep getting closer to Zhang Jingshu, raising his hands to block the snowflakes falling on her head.
He racked his brains to find the reason why she was angry: "Is it, is it because I left suddenly? I should have waited for you to come home and told you in person, but I was scared. When I saw you, I didn't want to leave... Zhang Jingshu, do you understand? I want to stay by your side, even if, even if you don't like me, even if one day in the future you like someone else, I think I will leave quietly like in the story, without causing you any burden..."
Cheng Shuinan blocked most of the snowflakes. Zhang Jingshu was half held in his arms. When she raised her head, she could touch his smooth white chin. Because of the mermaid genes, his chin was clean and without stubble, like a peeled egg.
Her clothes were soaked with snow and felt damp. At this moment, Zhang Jingshu suddenly realized that Cheng Shuinan in front of her was no longer the weak mermaid imprisoned in the warehouse. He had grown up, and his broad embrace made her feel at ease.
Zhang Jingshu's nerves, which had not been relaxed, relaxed in vain at this moment. She felt a little uncomfortable not being able to see Cheng Shuinan's expression, but she slowly moved her forehead forward and pressed it against his chest. She could feel Cheng Shuinan's body suddenly stiffen, and the words he said changed his tone.
She looked like she had won a battle, with the corners of her lips raised high, and her tone was slightly seductive, even though she herself was not aware of it: "Yes, even if you don't get your love, you can still stay. Don't leave again."
Cheng Shuinan's hands, raised high above her head, gradually fell to her waist. He lowered his head, and the scent of Zhang Jingshu rushed into his nostrils crazily. His dark pupils suddenly became turbid, like an overturned paint box.
His fingertips touched her clothes and then suddenly withdrew.
Resist the urge to hold her in your arms.
"No... Zhang Jingshu... I will hurt you..."
Zhang Jingshu looked up, confused, and touched his chin. Still unaware of the impending danger, she stared at him closely, "You won't hurt me. What could you possibly do to hurt me?"
He laughed twice nonchalantly.
The snowstorm had unnoticed intensified, and the night sky was shrouded in a heavy, gloomy light. Apart from the occasional speeding car, there were almost no pedestrians along the road.
Cheng Shuinan moved closer, even closer, in an action even bolder than a hug.
Zhang Jingshu was hugged forward by him. She was not prepared and was suddenly pressed against the mermaid's broad and cold chest. She was so scared that she let out a small cry and then froze in place, embarrassed and not knowing what to do.
If her perception was correct...
Only then did she realize that Cheng Shuinan's pupils had changed at some point. They were no longer clear streams, but occasionally revealed shyness and nervousness. They became turbid, as if a fire had been burning. The flames tore through his entanglement and fear, and the strong love in his eyes surged out.
The hands around the waist loosened.
Zhang Jingshu left the embrace that made her tremble.
Cheng Shuinan tilted his head, lowered his eyes, and used his eyelashes to block the emotions in his eyes: "In my current state, it is difficult to guarantee that I will not do anything to you. Zhang Jingshu, you should go back quickly. I have to leave."
"Why, suddenly like this?"
"It's the mermaid's maturity."
——Ah, estrus?
Only then did Zhang Jingshu realize that something was wrong with Cheng Shuinan.
It wasn't so much that his clothes were wet by the snowflakes, but rather that his body secreted more water. Within a few minutes, at a speed visible to the naked eye, the pores on his forehead, cheeks, neck, and every exposed part of his face closed like nectaries secreting nectar, and water droplets covered his skin, causing his eyes to become unfocused.
The city air, no matter the time of day or the place, always smelled of murky car exhaust, and the cold weather exacerbated the difficulty of breathing outdoors. But at this moment, Zhang Jingshu felt as if she were surrounded by flowers, the sweet fragrance coming from all directions making her dizzy.
There is something wrong with the taste.
She had no time to think.
At this moment, she was in a bad mood from which she could not extricate herself.
Cheng Shuinan himself said that he couldn't control his current physical condition. If he was allowed to leave——
Given his current mature physical condition, if he meets someone with other thoughts, or returns to the ocean as he wishes and meets fellow mermaids, will they get together?
Instead of worrying about his safety, you're afraid he'll belong to someone else.
Zhang Jingshu thought so.
Cheng Shuinan touched her wrist through her clothes and tried to pull her up.
Zhang Jingshu didn't let him have his way. She grabbed his shirt by his chest, causing Cheng Shuinan to stumble forward. He barely managed to steady himself and avoid being crushed. His hair was wet, messy and covered his eyebrows, making him look beautiful and seductive.
"Zhang Jingshu, let me go..."
"no."
Zhang Jingshu leaned in to sniff his scent: "Is this the scent of your maturity? It smells so good, it must have other uses. Tell me, what is the use of this scent? Is it used to seduce people..."
Cheng Shuinan quickly retorted: "No! I didn't!"
Zhang Jingshu: "What is that for?"
Cheng Shuinan avoided Zhang Jingshu's close gaze, held his breath, and tried to stabilize his shaky rationality: "I, I don't know, I don't know."
"You are lying, there must be something wrong with you." Zhang Jingshu said.
Cheng Shuinan looked extremely uncomfortable now. He wanted to get close to her but didn't dare to, nor could he leave her. Her hands were tightly grasping his clothes, and he looked miserable because of her pulling.
Her eyelashes trembled with tears and her red lips were slightly pursed.
Zhang Jingshu's fingers gripped him tighter: "I fell down and it hurts so much. I can't stand up. You have to hold me."
Cheng Shuinan looked at her suspiciously.
Zhang Jingshu sat on the ground.
Cheng Shuinan said in embarrassment: "Zhang Jingshu... I... I dare not touch you..."
Zhang Jingshu loosened her hands and hugged her knees: "Then let me continue to sit on the ground. Go away. Why are you still standing in front of me? Go away."
Cheng Shuinan's gaze fell on Zhang Jingshu's face for a long time, staring at her carefully and scrutinizingly, completely unable to understand what she meant. He had already told her very clearly that he was now in a mature stage, and he was even bold enough to offend her and let her feel his embarrassing desire.
Zhang Jingshu's scent filled the air.
He didn't struggle for long. He tensed his back, like the nerves in his head, and picked up Zhang Jingshu horizontally. He couldn't tell what she was thinking, but the moment he picked her up, her arms naturally wrapped around his neck, like holding a steaming fireball.
Dare not think, dare not look.
…
Zhang Jingshu looked up and saw the full moon.
Just like the moon that rescued him from the warehouse that day, clear and bright.
Cheng Shuinan's embrace was firm and powerful, and the sticky liquid had a strong fishy smell, followed by an even richer sweet fragrance.
He touched her gently with his fingertips, and the arms holding her trembled violently.
"Zhang Jingshu, stop touching me."
Zhang Jingshu nodded and stopped moving.
After returning home, Cheng Shuinan put Zhang Jingshu on the sofa and turned around to leave.
"My legs are lame, and I don't know if I'm hurt. Just put me down and leave. All those words of love you said before were fake, right?"
Cheng Shuinan said nothing, found the medicine box, picked it up and half-knelt in front of her, lowering his head and not looking at her.
"Your pants..."
Zhang Jingshu blushed and raised an eyebrow: "What? Do you want to take it off?"
Cheng Shuinan hummed vaguely.
Zhang Jingshu was thinking about whether to take off her clothes. She was also shy, but Cheng Shuinan was even more nervous than her, so she seemed to be at ease.
His face was as red as a boiled crab.
He half-knelt in front of her, not knowing what he was thinking, his hands clutching his pants at the knees, making them wrinkled.
Before Zhang Jingshu could figure out what to do, he suddenly stood up, staring at her fiercely and resentfully. In just a few seconds, while Zhang Jingshu was stunned, he ran towards the door.
The accident happened in an instant.
Cheng Shuinan fell limply to the ground. The two legs that had once filled him with anticipation, in the blink of an eye, burst through his loose sweatpants. Scattered pieces of pants hung on the shiny black fish scales. The huge fish tail covered with slippery mucus replaced his legs, and the fish scales seemed to become even harder.
Compared to the nervous and shy Cheng Shuinan, they obviously didn't know how to control their emotions. When they noticed Zhang Jingshu's gaze, their closed scales opened slightly and their tail fins that were on the ground were raised high, as if they wanted to touch her, but they couldn't do so because the distance was too far.
Cheng Shuinan, on the other hand, lay there like a fish that had been out of water for too long, giving up struggling.
Zhang Jingshu jumped off the sofa and squatted beside him.
"Why suddenly..."
As soon as Zhang Jingshu's hand touched his fish tail, it was pinched by the scales.
Cheng Shuinan raised his eyes, his watery pupils filled with humble pleading: "Don't touch me."
Zhang Jingshu didn't take her hand away. She thought to herself, it was obviously the scales moving on their own.
"Go to the bathroom." Zhang Jingshu saw that he was indeed in pain, so she gave up her teasing thoughts and took his arm and tried to pull him up, but he pulled her down to the ground.
The fish's tail pressed down, and the damp and sticky smell penetrated the fabric of the clothes. Zhang Jingshu heard the sound of tearing cloth. She lowered her eyes and looked down, and found that it was his tail fin. The broad and soft tail fin actually had sharp bone spines, which easily scratched the clothes and cut a long gash.
Zhang Jingshu shu shuddered as her skin was suddenly exposed to the air.
Cheng Shuinan frowned, his patience had reached its limit. He knew clearly what Yuwei was doing, but he couldn't control it. He could only clench his hands tightly, digging his nails into his palms, and the stinging sensation barely allowed him to maintain his sanity.
The fish tail circled Zhang Jingshu and pulled her towards her chest, but he placed his hands on his chest, tilted his head back and tried to back away.
"Zhang Jingshu, please, leave me... I can't bear it."
A humble, pleading voice filled with strong desire rang in my ears.
Zhang Jingshu seemed to be in a daze, or just thinking, she did nothing. Her eyes fell on Cheng Shuinan's flushed face. His pupils became increasingly cloudy. He tilted his head back, his long, white neck stretched out like a swan singing.
The smell that a mermaid emits during her maturity is definitely problematic.
But Zhang Jingshu was very sure that she was awake now.
Even if she was really bewitched, she did it willingly.
——Why reject him?
Cheng Shuinan was still begging her to leave him.
Zhang Jingshu was wrapped by the fish's tail and pressed against his chest.
Cheng Shuinan's thick curly hair covered the carpet, like ink spilled on white rice paper, dyeing the back of the paper and entangled with her hair.
The scent he wanted to stay away from was becoming stronger and stronger in front of him. He didn't understand why she was still...still coming over after he told her to leave?
I opened my eyes, but my vision was blurry.
Zhang Jingshu's determined gaze met his eyes.
She asked: "Cheng Shuinan, you are in pain, I can help you."
"No, I don't want your help. Stay away from me."
Zhang Jingshu's fingers rested softly on his chest, just like the day she rushed into the warehouse and asked him if he wanted to leave. It was like bright light tearing through the darkness, and he felt the warmth, kindness, and temptation from her.
"Cheng Shuinan, tell me the truth, what do you want me to do..."
Cheng Shuinan pursed his lips and said nothing, still struggling.
Zhang Jingshu's patient voice rang out: "Isn't my current attitude clear enough? I've thought about it. I won't fall in love with anyone else. I don't trust them. Their love seems hypocritical and short-lived to me, but... I am willing to believe you..."
"Actually, I'm very selfish. If I can't get all your love, I'd rather not have any at all. But you can meet my requirements, right?"
Yes of course.
Cheng Shuinan looked at her with a misty gaze.
A faint light appeared in his cloudy and dark vision, but he was afraid that it was just an illusion. He was torn and painful inside, but he also wanted to indulge himself and follow his inner thoughts.
Zhang Jingshu is right in front of me.
What are you still struggling with?
The bewitching voice sounded again: "Cheng Shuinan, I can help you. You are in pain now. Are you sure you want me to leave you?"
Zhang Jingshu pretended to push away the fish tail.
"No..." Cheng Shuinan grasped her arm with his pale fingertips, raised his eyes, and pleaded with watery eyes, "Don't leave, help me."
Zhang Jingshu leaned closer to his slightly parted lips and asked, "How can I help?"
His tail wrapped around her, he leaned forward: "Zhang Jingshu, kiss me..."
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