RAM Chapter 35

Lu Xie enrolled Hai San’er in a literacy class designed for young children transitioning to school. Initially, he had signed him up for an adult literacy program, but Hai San’er’s lack of wariness and defensiveness caused trouble. No matter how much Lu Xie emphasized caution, Hai San’er couldn’t navigate the hidden agendas of the adults in the class. His good looks and innocence made him an easy target for those with ulterior motives.

In the children’s class, Hai San’er was initially teased and excluded, but his remarkable tolerance for the younger human children’s behavior meant he never perceived their actions as malicious. As an adult, he wasn’t easily hurt by their teasing. In a classroom where every little boy claimed to be Ultraman, even if Hai San’er accidentally revealed that he was a mermaid, it wasn’t a big deal. The little girls would simply invite him to play pretend games. However, with his large frame, Hai San’er was often assigned the role of a sea monster rather than a mermaid.

On weekends, Lu Xie would close up his shop early to pick Hai San’er up from class. Afterward, the two would head to the supermarket to shop for groceries.

City life had its perks—supermarkets were brimming with variety, offering everything from daily essentials to Hai San’er’s favorite pumpkin taro buns. With so many brands, even Hai San’er felt overwhelmed by the choices.

To prevent him from eating soap again, Lu Xie had recently switched to buying body wash instead. He reminded Hai San’er, “This is for bathing only, not drinking.”

Hai San’er leaned in to sniff the lemon-scented bottle. It smelled great but was disappointing—it was yet another bathing product. Remembering his experience with soap, he quickly backed away. He didn’t want to vomit again, it had been an awful feeling.

“How’s the literacy class going lately?” Lu Xie asked, finally understanding why some parents were so invested in their child’s school life.

Not a fan of the hygiene aisle, Hai San’er tugged Lu Xie toward another row of shelves. “It’s great! I’ve learned a lot of characters.”

Lu Xie, fully embracing his role as a parental figure, picked up a packaged instant meal and pointed at the words on it. “What does this say? Read it out loud.”

Even Hai San’er wasn’t thrilled about being tested after class. Though he disliked the “pop quiz,” he didn’t dare show displeasure to Lu Xie. Dutifully, he read the text aloud without hesitation.

Surprised by Hai San’er’s quick learning and strong memory, Lu Xie patted him on the shoulder. “Not bad! You’ve learned a lot.”

Though Hai San’er didn’t enjoy the tests, he loved being praised by Lu Xie. His earlier annoyance vanished in an instant. But when he saw Lu Xie reaching for another product, presumably for another test, Hai San’er discreetly slipped away.

He intended to wait for Lu Xie by the cashier, but the crowd made him feel like he was in the way. Shooed away by a cashier, he ended up retreating to the supermarket’s back exit.

Standing in a quiet corner near the exit, Hai San’er stared at his shoes, hands in his pockets. He didn’t dare wander too far, worried that Lu Xie wouldn’t be able to find him.

“Hey, handsome! Check this out—our grand opening!”

A flyer suddenly appeared in his view. Hai San’er looked up, confused, and saw a staff member in a mascot costume.

“For me?”

The staff member nodded and handed him the flyer, which advertised the grand opening of an aquarium. It included a notice for hiring mermaid models.

“Yeah, for you! Interested?”

Before Hai San’er could respond, Lu Xie appeared, looking frantic. He hadn’t even finished shopping before running out to find him. Relief washed over him when he spotted Hai San’er standing near the back door, talking to someone in a costume.

“Hai San’er!”

Just as Lu Xie was about to scold him, Hai San’er ran up with the flyer in hand, his face lit with excitement. “Lu Xie, they’re hiring mermaids!”

Lu Xie’s head spun as he scanned the flyer. “Hiring mermaid models”?

The mascot staff member explained, “Our aquarium is hiring mermaid models. I think this gentleman fits the role perfectly.”

Lu Xie nearly choked. He had feared they might have to relocate again, but it was just a job offer. Skimming the flyer, he noticed the job details were clear: salary, working hours, and benefits were all spelled out. It seemed like a perfect fit for Hai San’er.

Even so, Lu Xie hesitated. He wasn’t sure if Hai San’er’s mermaid traits were entirely gone—what if he transformed back upon contact with water? Moreover, he worried about workplace dynamics. Hai San’er was too naïve to handle potential conflicts or manipulation.

“Lu Xie, I’ve found the job I want! I want to be a mermaid at the aquarium!” Hai San’er clung to his arm, shaking it excitedly, his eyes sparkling.

Lu Xie, overwhelmed, tried to calm him down. “Hold on! Finding a job isn’t that simple. We need to think this through.”

“But you said I should find something I like and that suits me. This is it, Lu Xie. I really like this!”

The mascot staff member, seeing Hai San’er’s enthusiasm, interjected, “Why don’t you two visit the aquarium and check out the work environment? We’ll have someone explain the details in full.”

Unable to resist Hai San’er’s pleading eyes, Lu Xie reluctantly agreed.

The aquarium was bustling with weekend visitors. Lu Xie and Hai San’er were seated in the audience to watch an animal show. The performance was impressive, and Hai San’er clapped enthusiastically.

“I thought you’d be upset watching animal shows,” Lu Xie whispered. “Didn’t you always say marine life needs freedom?”

Hai San’er replied, “These animals were rescued by the aquarium staff. They chose to stay here.”

“How do you know?” Lu Xie asked, surprised. “Can you understand their sounds?”

Hai San’er nodded. Even without his mermaid form, he could still understand animals. To him, freedom was about choosing one’s own life, whatever form it took.

When it was time for the mermaid performance, the HR representative came over to explain. “I heard you can swim, Mr. Hai. That’s great! We offer specialized training for new hires, but your swimming skills will give you a head start.”

As they watched a mermaid model gracefully swim underwater, her hair flowing in the currents, Hai San’er was mesmerized. He walked up to the glass, his longing evident.

Lu Xie sighed. Even as a human, Hai San’er’s heart yearned for the water. It seemed this job was inevitable.

The HR representative, noticing Hai San’er’s interest, asked, “So, what do you think?”

Hai San’er beamed. “I don’t need training!”

“Uh… mermaid modeling can be dangerous. Training is crucial—”

“I don’t need it.”

Lu Xie quickly pulled Hai San’er aside. “If you want this job, you have to follow their rules. Training is non-negotiable.”

What started as a simple supermarket trip ended with Hai San’er landing a job. As they left the aquarium, Hai San’er was so ecstatic he couldn’t stop bouncing around.

“Calm down,” Lu Xie said, exasperated. “Because of you, I didn’t even finish shopping. We have to go back to the supermarket.”

Hai San’er clung to Lu Xie’s arm, grinning. “But I have a job now, Lu Xie! I can be a mermaid again!”

“Keep your voice down,” Lu Xie glanced at the passersby nearby. Saying you want to be a mermaid at the entrance of an aquarium wouldn’t raise eyebrows, but still, he lowered his voice and reminded, “Remember, you’re human now. Being a mermaid model is just your job, so don’t say anything that might make people suspicious.”

Hai San’er nodded earnestly. Lu Xie had reminded him countless times, and he had already committed it to memory. He couldn’t go around telling people he used to be a mermaid. Others would think he was crazy. Although he didn’t fully understand what “crazy” meant, he knew crazy people got taken away. And if he was taken away, he’d be separated from Lu Xie, which he couldn’t allow.

“I just checked your working hours…”

Hai San’er interrupted, “Our working hours are from 1 PM to 8 PM, with two days off starting Friday. The aquarium provides employee meals, and there’s a shuttle service to and from work. Salaries are paid on the 30th of each month, and they’re issued early on holidays. We also get employee benefits… What are employee benefits?”

Lu Xie chuckled, “You’ve got a pretty good memory. You remembered everything HR said.”

This was about his job, so of course, Hai San’er had memorized it. Even though he didn’t understand every word, he kept it all firmly in mind.

Hai San’er, who had been chattering non-stop, suddenly fell silent. His face was filled with concern. “But what about school? I still have a lot of characters I don’t recognize. If I work on weekends, I won’t be able to attend literacy class.”

“I’ll reschedule your classes to weekdays, but that means you won’t have any time to rest. You’ll have to balance work and school,” Lu Xie clicked his tongue. Even a mermaid, now human, couldn’t escape the grind of working and studying.

The moment Hai San’er heard he could continue school, he was overjoyed. “That’s great! I was worried I wouldn’t be able to study anymore.”

Lu Xie’s jaw dropped. Truly a mermaid—full of energy and eager to improve. His biggest fear was not being able to learn.

“Alright, as long as you’ve got the drive.” Lu Xie patted Hai San’er on the shoulder, wondering how long his enthusiasm would last after a few days on the job.