RAM Chapter 16

The sensation underwater was peculiar. Merfolk moved swiftly in the ocean, and Lu Xie could hear the bubbling of water all around him. The suffocating feeling in his chest remained intense, and just as he thought he couldn’t hold his breath any longer, Hai San’er leapt out of the water with him in his arms.

The oppressive sensation vanished abruptly. Hai San’er lifted Lu Xie high over his shoulder, and fresh air rushed to meet him. Lu Xie barely had time to breathe before his chest tightened, and he was racked with violent coughs.

“Cough…”

As the world spun, Lu Xie realized Hai San’er had carried him to shore. Once his head cleared, he looked around to find himself on a tiny island. It was so small it could hardly be called an island—just a patch of land in the middle of the sea that could easily be submerged by a strong tide.

“Cough…” Lu Xie’s eyes were bloodshot as he weakly pushed against Hai San’er’s chest. “What the hell is this place?”

Hai San’er didn’t budge. Instead, he patted Lu Xie’s back, a rare note of pride in his voice. “This is my secret base. You’re afraid of water, right? This place isn’t entirely in the sea but far enough from the shore that no one will bother us.”

The isolated island was completely surrounded by water, with waves occasionally lapping over his legs. Apart from the sound of the surf, there was nothing else to hear. Lu Xie glared at Hai San’er with suspicion. The whole setup reeked of something shady. Anyone who didn’t know better might think they were here for some clandestine rendezvous. He wanted to punch Hai San’er for dragging him to such a remote spot.

“Get lost! You almost drowned me! By the time I get back, I’ll be half-dead!”

Perhaps because he was back in his element, Hai San’er seemed emboldened. He didn’t appear the least bit intimidated by Lu Xie’s anger. Knowing Lu Xie’s fear of water, he took it upon himself to ensure Lu Xie’s safety, refusing to show any weakness.

Hai San’er gently rubbed Lu Xie’s back, trying to soothe him. “With me here, nothing will happen to you. Isn’t it peaceful here?”

It was, indeed, eerily quiet. The desolation only made it worse. If Hai San’er left him here, no one would even find his body.

Seeing that Lu Xie was still fuming and silent, Hai San’er continued, “I discovered this place when I was little. Back then, I didn’t dare go to shallow waters or set foot on land. I didn’t even dare listen to humans talk. So I found this little island. It’s very peaceful—lying here, you can watch the stars and listen to the waves.”

“You, afraid? Weren’t you the one who liked running naked on the shore after you grew legs? Hard to believe there’s anything you’d be scared of,” Lu Xie retorted, his tone still sharp.

Hai San’er explained, “I only grew legs after mating with you.” He was still getting used to walking on land with them.

Lu Xie’s face darkened. “How many times do I have to tell you? Stop bringing up mating!”

Hai San’er looked genuinely puzzled. “Then what should I call it?”

Lu Xie was momentarily at a loss—he couldn’t think of a subtler term either.

“Don’t be mad.” Hai San’er leaned closer, looking pitiful as he gazed into Lu Xie’s eyes. “When those people showed up earlier, I didn’t have a choice.”

Didn’t have a choice, or did he plan it all along? Lu Xie didn’t bother arguing further. Instead, he snapped, “And that’s because you’re useless! Don’t you merfolk have any special abilities that let humans breathe underwater?”

Hai San’er looked aggrieved. “I’m just an ordinary merman.”

Merfolk weren’t ordinary to begin with.

“Get lost.”

But instead of moving away, Hai San’er pressed closer. His tail flicked high into the air, swaying side to side, its iridescent scales gleaming in the moonlight and water. The fins occasionally brushed against Lu Xie’s feet as he pleaded, “Don’t be mad.”

Lu Xie’s anger started to fade. He still needed Hai San’er to get him back, and the physical effort he’d spent earlier in the water had drained him. Resigned, he lay back on the ground, using his arm as a pillow to rest and recover.

Taking this as an invitation, Hai San’er shamelessly snuggled up beside him, lying so close that Lu Xie’s hand occasionally grazed his tail.

“I don’t have friends. The animals in the sea are my friends, but they always forget who I am. When I was little, that made me really sad. I found this island and came here whenever I was upset. The more I lay here, the more I dreamed of going ashore and walking on land like humans do.”

“What’s so great about being human?” Lu Xie replied offhandedly. “When you were a fish, all you had to worry about was what to eat each day. Being human comes with a lot more problems.”

“Maybe. But the ocean is vast, and I was so lonely. Lu Xie, you’re the first person to remember me.”

Lu Xie froze for a moment. The sea was silent. If no one remembered Hai San’er, it must have been unbearably lonely. While it was nothing extraordinary for humans to remember a mermaid, for a mermaid, it seemed profoundly significant.

A voice in Lu Xie’s mind warned him that there shouldn’t be anything special between him and this merman.

The humidity by the sea was high, and even in such warm weather, Lu Xie’s wet clothes clung to his body, revealing faint outlines of his abs. His muscular arms rested behind his head, veins popping along his neck.

As the sea breeze passed, Hai San’er couldn’t help but swallow. He flicked his tail fin against Lu Xie’s foot, the sensation ticklish and faintly provocative.

The sole of Lu Xie’s foot was sensitive, and the teasing touch sent a tingling sensation through his limbs. Never one to back down, he pressed his foot against Hai San’er’s tail and began grinding it into the sand. Back and forth, neither of them stopped. Soon, Hai San’er’s tail wrapped around Lu Xie’s calf, its smooth, mucus-coated scales leaving trails on his skin as it rubbed against him.

The slippery sensation sparked an itch deep in Lu Xie’s chest. As they tussled, Hai San’er’s arm slipped around his shoulders, bringing his face dangerously close. Their breaths mingled.

“Do you want to touch it?”

For a moment, Lu Xie’s mind went blank. He couldn’t even comprehend what Hai San’er meant by “it” until Hai San’er pulled a glistening pearl from his pouch. Coated in a translucent film, the pearl shimmered under the moonlight, as though waves rippled within it.

When Lu Xie didn’t respond, Hai San’er placed the pearl in his palm. “It reacts when we’re together.”

Lu Xie had always doubted that the tiny pearl could turn into a merman. But now, holding it, he felt a faint pulse of life. It seemed to breathe in his hand.

All living beings inspire awe, and Lu Xie was no exception.

“It’s getting prettier, isn’t it?”

There was no doubt about it. Lu Xie even felt a strange sense of pride. If this little thing could truly become a merman—if it really was his child…

A sudden warmth spread through his palm as Hai San’er intertwined their fingers, his breath brushing against Lu Xie’s nose. Before Lu Xie could react, Hai San’er pushed him down onto the sand and kissed him.

“What are you doing?” Lu Xie’s voice lacked its usual assertiveness.

“Kissing you.” Hai San’er guided Lu Xie’s hand to return the pearl to his pouch. “You stepped on my tail fin just now.”

So what?

Lu Xie retorted, “Didn’t you step on me first?”

“Merfolk use their tails to touch their mates as a courtship gesture,” Hai San’er explained. It was a signal, and Lu Xie’s response had made him think Lu Xie was reciprocating.

Lu Xie’s head buzzed. What the hell? Stepping on a merman’s tail was like stepping on… that?

“That wasn’t a courtship signal. That was me trying to beat you up.”

Hai San’er held Lu Xie’s hand against his cheek, pouting. “But you stepped on me.”

Hai San’er’s cheek was warm, and Lu Xie tried to pull his hand back, but Hai San’er held it firmly.

“Lu Xie, can’t we mate yet?”

Not yesterday, and not today either?

Tonight felt different from last night. Lu Xie had responded to him, and now Hai San’er was desperate, wholly fixated on him.

Lu Xie really wanted to crack open the merman’s head and see what kind of structure was inside. Was this the sort of thing you could just schedule on a whim?

“The water temperature is perfect tonight, and so is the environment. It’s an ideal time for mating,” Hai San’er thought. Most importantly, Lu Xie had stepped on his tail fin. Hai San’er couldn’t imagine a better moment for them to mate.

Full of anticipation, Hai San’er once again swept his tail fin up and down Lu Xie’s calves. Merfolk used their tails to attract their mates, he was just short of fanning his fins open like a peacock in front of Lu Xie. How could Lu Xie not like him?

Goosebumps crawled up Lu Xie’s legs and spread across his entire body. He curled up his legs, trying to escape, but the merman’s strength was terrifying. Hai San’er tightly coiled his tail around Lu Xie’s legs, preventing him from moving.

The slick mucus from the tail had already covered Lu Xie’s legs. Feeling increasingly irritated, Lu Xie forcefully shoved Hai San’er away and rolled to the side. However, the small island wasn’t big enough—his momentum sent him plunging into the sea. The water pressure quickly pressed against his eyes and nose, and all he could hear was the muffled roar of the ocean.

“Lu Xie!”

Hai San’er cried out in alarm and dove in after him. Clearly startled, Lu Xie struggled desperately in the water, sinking rapidly. Fortunately, the merman was faster. Hai San’er grabbed him and swam swiftly through the water. As they broke the surface, water droplets scattered in every direction, glinting coldly under the moonlight.

“Cough…”

Hai San’er patted Lu Xie’s back with concern. “Don’t struggle in the water. Relax.”

“Fuck! It’s your fault for bringing me to this godforsaken place. I turn over and end up falling into the sea! Take me back to the shore!”

Far from land, Lu Xie felt a complete lack of security. He was being entirely led around by Hai San’er, utterly at a disadvantage.

Hai San’er, however, remained unmoved. As Lu Xie panted heavily and sat upright, he repeated his command: “Take me back to the shore.”

“No.”

Hai San’er refused decisively. He had realized that in the sea, Lu Xie was weaker than usual, relying on him unconditionally.

Lu Xie was stunned—this brat actually said no to him.

“Lu Xie, let’s mate.”

It wasn’t a question; it was a declaration. A fiery surge of anger shot through Lu Xie’s chest, but before he could react, Hai San’er pressed his lips to his. Holding Lu Xie tightly, Hai San’er plunged back beneath the waves.

Faced with the choice of punching and kicking the merman or simply surviving, Lu Xie’s instincts took over. He clung tightly to Hai San’er’s back as seawater flooded his clothes and pants—and then there was a pair of large hands slipping inside as well.