RAM Chapter 15

Lu Xie really wanted to punch that thing down, but he decided it would be too cruel to treat a fish like that. After all, according to Hai San’er, he was the last remaining merman in the sea. For the sake of preserving the species, Lu Xie couldn’t risk rendering him incapable of continuing his… fishly duties. With a roll, Lu Xie moved off Hai San’er and back onto his own bed, issuing a sharp warning, “Go to sleep. Make another sound, and I’ll send you back to the rooftop to enjoy the wind.”

The thought of wind didn’t scare Hai San’er, but the idea of not being able to sleep with Lu Xie did. Reluctantly, he mimicked Lu Xie by crossing his arms and closing his eyes.

Rainy nights were perfect for sleep—even heavy rain. The sound of water pattering against the windows was soothing. Living by the sea, they were long accustomed to the howling winds and rain. Before long, Hai San’er calmed down and scooted closer to Lu Xie, settling into his warmth and falling into a peaceful sleep.

The soft sound of breathing came from behind him. Lu Xie turned his head slightly to see Hai San’er clutching a corner of his blanket, already fast asleep. Peaceful and quiet like this, he wasn’t so bad. Did he really have to be scolded to behave? Not only was he shameless, but he was also an infuriating fish.

The next morning, the sky was clear and bright, the horizon blending seamlessly into the azure heavens. The sun hung high, its blazing rays crowned with a halo of light that made people dizzy.

Lu Xie dragged Hai San’er out of bed to wash up. Hai San’er stared blankly at the toothbrush handed to him. Lu Xie didn’t have much patience for teaching fish, so he kept his instructions brief, relying mostly on meaningful glances. Thankfully, Hai San’er wasn’t completely clueless. He had a knack for mimicking and managed to brush his teeth decently, though he wasn’t a fan of the toothpaste’s taste—it was spicy and unpleasant.

“Come here,” Lu Xie called after rinsing his face, motioning Hai San’er to follow him downstairs. Still preoccupied with why toothpaste was spicy, Hai San’er quickly spit out the foam, splashed some water on his face, and hurried after Lu Xie.

The wound on Hai San’er’s head, which had begun to scab the night before, appeared even more healed this morning. The scar was now hardened—remarkably fast recovery. Lu Xie glanced down at Hai San’er’s face. Hai San’er tilted his head up innocently, blinking his glassy, bead-like eyes at him.

If Hai San’er were ever sold to a lab and his incredible healing abilities were discovered, he would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

“Lu Xie, why aren’t you saying anything?” Hai San’er asked, blinking curiously.

Lu Xie snapped out of his thoughts. What did it matter to him, anyway? To cover his distraction, he pressed a hand against the bump on Hai San’er’s head. Hai San’er yelped in pain, curling up on the lounge chair. His wound healed quickly, but the bump itself was stubbornly slow to disappear.

“Let me put some medicine on it.”

When Lu Xie brought out the herbal ointment, Hai San’er pinched his nose in disgust. He’d wanted to complain about the smell last night—it was awful!

“It stinks!”

“Stop whining! All the ointments smell like this!”

Ignoring his protests, Lu Xie applied antiseptic to the scar and rubbed some ointment on the bump, eliciting loud yelps from Hai San’er.

“Done. Why are you so delicate? You sound like a pig being slaughtered.”

Tearing up, Hai San’er clutched his head. “I’m a fish!”

Lu Xie ignored him and went to the kitchen. He planned to cook some fish fillets that had been sitting in the fridge. When he returned with the prepared dish, Hai San’er had sprawled out comfortably on the lounge chair, nibbling on a pumpkin and taro bun.

“Don’t eat too many snacks before a meal.”

Snacks, meals—what did it matter? For merfolk, food was food.

Still, Hai San’er couldn’t help but peek into Lu Xie’s bowl. When he saw the neatly sliced fish fillets, he was overcome with grief.

“You… you’re so cruel!”

Lu Xie rolled his eyes. “Are you eating or not?”

“I’ll eat!” Hai San’er replied righteously. “But I wouldn’t chop it up like that!”

What a lunatic.

It was Hai San’er’s first time eating cooked fish, and he had to admit it tasted pretty good. He tearily ate two big bowls.

Without The Little Mermaid to watch, Hai San’er quickly grew restless after lunch. The weather after the storm was beautiful, drawing crowds of tourists to the beach. Hai San’er stared longingly at them playing in the water, itching to join.

He was terrible at hiding his thoughts—everything was written plainly on his face. Unfortunately, Lu Xie wasn’t one for indulging such whims. “Go in the water now, and you’ll scare everyone. By tomorrow, the beach will be crawling with mermaid hunters.”

“You’re awful!” Hai San’er huffed, turning his back to Lu Xie and picking at the lounge chair. Of course, he knew he couldn’t go into the water now without being seen. Wasn’t he allowed to be envious?

Lu Xie wasn’t completely heartless. While cleaning up, he casually remarked, “You can go in tonight when no one’s around. But don’t stay in too long—your head wound hasn’t fully healed.”

Hai San’er’s eyes lit up. He scrambled off the lounge chair, watching Lu Xie’s retreating figure with glee. Lu Xie wasn’t so bad after all.

From noon to evening, Hai San’er watched the crowds come and go along the beach, eagerly waiting for nightfall. When the coast was finally clear, he tugged Lu Xie excitedly.

“Lu Xie, no one’s here!”

With Hai San’er’s strength, Lu Xie nearly stumbled as he was dragged along. He quickened his pace to keep up but stopped firmly a meter or two from the shore.

“Stop! You go in by yourself.”

Hai San’er had hoped Lu Xie would join him. Stripping off his clothes and placing them on a rock, he turned back to confirm, “You’re really not coming?”

“Don’t swim too far,” Lu Xie said, sitting down on the rock.

As Hai San’er stepped into the water, his legs transformed into a magnificent tail. Supported by the tail, he looked taller and more imposing than ever. Reaching out to Lu Xie, he said, “Come on, Lu Xie. It’s not scary.”

To Hai San’er, the ocean was gentle, and he wanted Lu Xie to overcome his fear. “Come on, I’m here.”

Under the moonlight, the sea shimmered like silver, casting an ethereal glow on Hai San’er’s dazzling tail. In that moment, he wasn’t the silly merman Lu Xie was used to—he was a graceful sea spirit. That simple “I’m here” was imbued with power and reassurance, and for once, Lu Xie felt a sense of security from the foolish merman.

Hai San’er didn’t rush into the water. Instead, he lay down, letting the waves wash over him repeatedly. He patted the wet sand beside him. “Lu Xie, come here.”

Lu Xie wanted to refuse, but Hai San’er wouldn’t let up. Turning over, he continued calling out to him, “Lu Xie, really, it’s fine.”

Hearing his name over and over, Lu Xie wavered. The merman lying there had rescued him from a storm. No one understood the sea better than he did. Lu Xie didn’t want to live in fear forever, always a landlubber. Tentatively, he approached.

“Lie down,” Hai San’er urged, patting the spot beside him.

Lu Xie cautiously sat down on the sand, letting the waves lap at his body. Memories of drowning and the suffocating sensation of inhaling water flooded his mind. Panic rose, and he was about to bolt when a strong hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him off balance and onto Hai San’er.

“Don’t move,” Hai San’er said firmly. “Close your eyes, relax, and try not to resist. The ocean is forgiving. Go with the flow, and you’ll feel something different. It’s not as scary as you think.”

Struggling to overcome his fear, Lu Xie followed Hai San’er’s advice and closed his eyes. Without sight, his other senses heightened. The sound of the waves grew sharper, the sensation of water against his skin more vivid, sending shivers through him.

“It’s okay,” Hai San’er whispered near his ear. “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

In the stillness of the seaside, Hai San’er’s low voice was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. Lu Xie’s tense shoulders began to relax, though he still couldn’t resist a retort.

“You’re a fish, of course you’re fine. I’m not,” Lu Xie said irritably.

“But you’re my mate. How could I let anything happen to you in the sea?”

Madman. Lu Xie wanted to curse him out but couldn’t bring himself to shatter the rare inner calm he felt. Ever since the storm at sea, he hadn’t been this unafraid of the water.

The heavy blast of a ship’s horn echoed from afar, signaling a large vessel cutting through the waves. The roiling waters surged closer, nearly engulfing them. Lu Xie couldn’t handle the sudden change and tried to sit up, but distant voices of strangers cut through the sound of the waves.

Someone was approaching.

Before he could react, a strong arm wrapped around his waist, pulling him into Hai San’er’s embrace. In an instant, the water surrounded them completely as Hai San’er dragged him underwater. Lu Xie held his breath, his eyes wide with panic, silently demanding to know what Hai San’er was doing.

“Someone’s here,” Hai San’er whispered.

It was a girl’s voice that reached them first, faintly audible from above the surface. “There were too many people during the day. Nighttime’s better—quieter, and not so hot.”

Hai San’er didn’t dive too deep, staying close enough for them to vaguely see the couple sitting on the shore. It seemed like they weren’t planning to leave anytime soon.

But Lu Xie couldn’t hold on much longer. His face flushed bright red from lack of oxygen. Seeing this, Hai San’er freed one hand, pinched Lu Xie’s jaw, and, to Lu Xie’s shock, pressed his lips against his own.

Lu Xie instinctively tried to struggle, but panic from the water overwhelmed him. Acting on pure survival instinct, he clung to Hai San’er, opening his mouth to inhale the oxygen Hai San’er was transferring to him.

Initially, Hai San’er had only intended to give Lu Xie air, but when Lu Xie’s mouth opened, his tongue moved of its own accord, slipping in and tangling with Lu Xie’s.

By the time the kiss ended, Lu Xie was utterly drained, slumped against Hai San’er’s shoulder. Meanwhile, the couple onshore was still there, their intimate behavior growing bolder.

Hai San’er adjusted his hold on Lu Xie, lifting him slightly in his arms. He gave Lu Xie’s butt  a playful pat. “Hang on tight. I’ll take you somewhere.”

It was hard enough to speak underwater, let alone fight back against this shameless merman who dared to spank him. Lu Xie could only seethe inwardly. Once they got back to shore, he swore he’d make Hai San’er pay for this.