Chapter 32

After the revolution’s success, the Siren Star System took nearly three years to barely begin recovering.

The mermaid population had dwindled far below its former numbers. The vast seas held only scattered mermaids here and there, a shadow of their past glory.

You Fuzhou had watched the old recordings of humanity’s first discovery of the Siren Star System. They were breathtaking scenes.

Back then, the Siren Star System teemed not just with mermaids but with all sorts of sea monsters, as if humans had stumbled into a fairy-tale wonderland.

And later, it was humans who shattered that wonderland.

Once reconstruction was underway, an invitation arrived in Yu Yan’s hands.

The Siren Star System’s current chief had invited Yu Yan and You Fuzhou to visit as guests.

Very few people knew about Yu Yan’s half-mermaid heritage. Among humans, only You Fuzhou and Rong Yao were in on the secret. Even among the sea monsters, it wasn’t widely known—this particular mermaid chief had simply guessed it himself.

He was a mermaid of the Whale Clan. At first, he hadn’t noticed anything special about Yu Yan. But one time, when You Fuzhou came to change the water, he assumed You Fuzhou had rescued a mermaid who was too difficult to transport and deliver. So he asked about it.

You Fuzhou had replied at the time, “No… I’m using it to raise fish.”

Vinyard found that odd. “Is it some other sea monster?”

Mermaids fell under the broad category of sea monsters, but among all sea monsters, only mermaids possessed thought processes, emotions, and independent consciousness akin to humans. It was perfectly normal to keep other sea monsters as ornamental pets, so long as there was no abuse. To mermaids, those other sea monsters were like any other creatures in the human world. Mermaids kept them as pets themselves, and some even served as food.

Vinyard had said, “If it’s another kind of sea monster, you don’t necessarily need Siren Star System water. Regular seawater or water mixed to match it would suffice.”

He figured it was a hassle for You Fuzhou to make the trip every time, so he offered to help. “If you don’t mind, tell me what kind it is, and I’ll give you the best formula for it.”

But You Fuzhou had shaken his head, said it wasn’t necessary, and politely thanked him.

Seeing the refusal, Vinyard hadn’t pressed further.

Later, during in-person meetings and conferences, Vinyard finally met You Fuzhou’s guide for the first time.

He had often heard the others talking about how remarkable this guide was, and how devoted the pair were to each other. Most were especially curious about what Yu Yan’s spiritual body looked like.

Though some guides disliked manifesting their spiritual bodies, Yu Yan had never materialized his even once in public. Guides differed from sentinels in this regard—guides would spiritualize when using mental power at high intensity or exceeding a certain threshold, as it allowed them to wield their abilities more effectively.

Indeed, Yu Yan had never spiritualized outside.

Moreover, he was tall and imposing. His stature made Vinyard fail to recognize him as a guide at first glance.

If not for that instant when their mental fluctuations synced and Yu Yan turned his head to glance at him—sending a wave of high-level guide pressure that made Vinyard instinctively look away—he might have mistaken Yu Yan for a sentinel.

But…

Vinyard wasn’t entirely sure.

Because Yu Yan looked a bit like a Shark Clan mermaid.

Once mermaids came ashore, they could shift into human form, which closely resembled humanity’s. But a closer look revealed subtle differences.

Ordinary people or humans might not spot them, but merfolk could. The contours of the face just didn’t quite match.

That was why humans found mermaids so beautiful. No matter the race, every mermaid possessed a unique allure that humans simply couldn’t match.

They weren’t human to begin with, after all—just another species, alien to humanity.

Vinyard said nothing during the meeting. Nor did he know that, just before it began, Yu Yan had pulled You Fuzhou into a shadowed, empty corner and murmured softly, “Vinyard seems to suspect something about me.”

Mermaids were natural guides—or rather, merfolk didn’t distinguish between guides, sentinels, or ordinary folk. From birth, they wielded mental power and possessed their own spiritual worlds.

Thus, a mermaid’s mental power was distinctive.

Vinyard was among the strongest of the current-generation merfolk. True merfolk didn’t fit neatly into human rankings anyway; their mental power fluctuated through various phases, making it unstable at times.

Truth be told, neither You Fuzhou nor Yu Yan had expected Vinyard to notice. You Fuzhou was human, and Yu Yan only half-mermaid. He rarely interacted with full merfolk and still had no idea how Vinyard had picked up on it.

You Fuzhou frowned. He didn’t want anyone else knowing about Yu Yan’s half-mermaid blood. Part of it stemmed from a sentinel’s innate possessiveness, but mostly because it spelled trouble if word got out.

Reproductive isolation between humans and mermaids, lab experiments… Humans would reject it as unnatural, some monstrous heresy, and the merfolk would feel the same. Most merfolk still hated and distrusted humanity for destroying their home—and humans truly had ravaged the Siren Star System.

Sure, there were good souls like You Fuzhou who wouldn’t care and might even worry if Yu Yan had endured inhuman torment. But ugly voices would arise too. All these years, they’d kept it secret from the world by mutual agreement, precisely to avoid complications.

Yu Yan wrapped an arm around You Fuzhou’s waist and lowered his gaze. “I’ve caused you trouble.”

You Fuzhou willingly took the bitter sip and leaned in closer, kissing him. “No, you haven’t.”

He already had a plan. “After the meeting ends, we’ll talk to him and come clean. If he can’t accept it, we cut off cooperation, and you erase his memory.”

It couldn’t get out—it wouldn’t be good for Yu Yan.

Yu Yan blinked slowly. “What if I can’t erase his memory?”

You Fuzhou thought it over seriously. “Then we’ll find some other way to keep him quiet.”

Was there a way to ensure silence without killing him?

You Fuzhou frowned.

Yu Yan chuckled softly. “Baby.”

He kissed the corner of You Fuzhou’s lips. “No need to worry like that. I have a way.”

He added, “No one gets hurt.”

In the end, though, their precautions proved unnecessary. After the meeting, they approached Vinyard, and You Fuzhou got straight to the point. “Yu Yan says you might have figured something out.”

He didn’t specify what, but Vinyard paused, then smiled faintly. “Yeah… but Mr. Yu doesn’t quite seem like… How is that possible?”

“He only has half the bloodline.”

You Fuzhou’s tone was even. “I want this to stay between us. No one else finds out.”

Vinyard froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. “How did that even…”

“An experiment,” Yu Yan said calmly.

Vinyard had been captured by humans himself once. He knew what those three simple words concealed. His fists clenched, and he looked at Yu Yan with heartache for one of his own kind.

But he knew some things didn’t need saying. Yu Yan wasn’t fragile.

“You can rest easy,” Vinyard said. “I won’t tell a soul.”

And with that, the matter stayed buried in his heart, never mentioned to another living being.

.

Now, with the war over, Yu Yan understood what Vinyard’s invitation really meant.

Swimming freely in the open ocean felt worlds apart from a tank or pool. And for Yu Yan’s bloodline, the Siren Star System was another home.

When You Fuzhou saw the invitation, he hugged Yu Yan from behind. Fresh from a spiritual guidance session, he felt so relaxed that his lion ears and tail had emerged. Right now, he was in full clingy-cat mode, his tail looping around one of Yu Yan’s legs, the fluffy tip rubbing and patting at it by turns.

It was incredibly enticing.

Cats never realized just how adorable they were.

You Fuzhou rested his head on Yu Yan’s shoulder, his cheek pressed to Yu Yan’s, eyes half-lidded in a daze as he mumbled, “Should we go?”

Yu Yan knew that if he nodded, You Fuzhou would handle every preparation. The mermaid city-states lay deep underwater, and as a human, You Fuzhou would need diving gear to follow.

But as Yu Yan slowly typed a reply to Vinyard, he turned his head to nuzzle You Fuzhou’s beast ear. You Fuzhou hugged him even tighter in bliss, a meaningless little sound rumbling in his throat.

Like a cat in heat, coquettish and sweet.

Yu Yan chuckled lowly.

You Fuzhou really loved having his ears rubbed and kneaded.

After all this time together, he wasn’t as shy-faced as he’d been at the start. He’d even actively spiritualize sometimes, just to nuzzle with those ears.

Yu Yan had asked him once how it felt. Better than shallow guidance, You Fuzhou had said.

It showed.

Because You Fuzhou’s spiritual body—that majestic white lion—would roll on the ground in ecstasy at moments like this.

So catlike.

So cute.

With a smile, Yu Yan said, “We’re not going.”

His reply to Vinyard read—

【I prefer my little pool】

Going would expose too much.

Though the war was over and Yu Yan could leverage his victim status to frame his identity positively, he had no interest in that.

He just wanted a normal life with You Fuzhou.

Lately, they’d been deliberately fading from the public eye.

But…

Yu Yan gently patted You Fuzhou’s hand. You Fuzhou loosened his grip a bit, letting Yu Yan turn to face him.

Eyes curving in a smile, Yu Yan asked, “Have you seen mermaid clan’s traditional attire?”

You Fuzhou had, in documentaries.

He paused briefly, instantly grasping Yu Yan’s implication. His ears burned hot, but the tail that coiled even tighter around Yu Yan betrayed his thoughts.

Yu Yan said, “Then I’ll have Vinyard send a set over.”

Three days later, Yu Yan floated up from the pool, draped in resplendent mermaid silk.

The silk was adorned with all sorts of jewels that glittered alongside the iridescent fabric under the night sky, casting shimmering ripples of light. The translucent gauze offered teasing glimpses of his sturdy, handsome physique, and even the scales on his body gleamed with beauty.

You Fuzhou stared, utterly entranced—especially at the pearl chains dangling from Yu Yan’s pointed ears like earrings…

He resembled an elf.

Light and graceful, yet brimming with an enigmatic allure.

Yu Yan flicked his tail, and the cool, sinuous fish tail coiled around You Fuzhou’s calf.

It was massive, easily wrapping both of his legs in its embrace.

Such a familiar motion. In the next instant, Yu Yan curved his lips into a predatory smile, his eyes flashing with that sharp, aggressive intensity You Fuzhou knew all too well—like a hunter who’d snared his prey.

And just like that, You Fuzhou was dragged into the water. He wrapped his arms around Yu Yan’s neck, pressing their bodies flush together.

“Pretty?” Yu Yan asked him.

You Fuzhou murmured his agreement in a low voice.

Yu Yan chuckled and leaned in for a kiss. “You’d look good in it too.”

And so…

You Fuzhou found himself haphazardly draped in the mermaid silk amid the water, with Yu Yan even removing the pearl chains from his own ears. One chain was looped around You Fuzhou’s neck, the other bound to his tail.

The faint tinkling of the jewels intertwined with the lapping of waves, creating a symphony all its own.

In his mermaid form, Yu Yan was equipped with two, so things weren’t wrapping up anytime soon. That unique anatomy was overwhelming for a human—even a high-grade sentinel might struggle to keep up. To spare You Fuzhou from overexerting himself and harming his body, Yu Yan eventually untied the chain from his neck and secured it elsewhere.

You Fuzhou tensed up even more dramatically, teetering on the edge of endurance, but Yu Yan was being particularly wicked today.

He used his mental power to control him, preventing You Fuzhou from untying it himself—and even compelled him to actively straddle the fish tail.

You Fuzhou felt like he was losing his mind.

He truly couldn’t take much more, especially with Yu Yan toying so ruthlessly with his five senses…

One moment they surged, the next they vanished; one moment the sensations were faint, the next they crashed over him like a tidal wave…

And the mermaid silk was maddeningly abrasive, particularly when Yu Yan deliberately kissed his nipples through the fabric.

After the first round concluded, the second one involved Yu Yan wrapping the silk around them deliberately… Even the initial contact, so light and fleeting, was enough to push You Fuzhou right over the edge on the spot.

By the time Yu Yan had finished both rounds, You Fuzhou was utterly spent. His tail and ears drooped limply, at the mercy of Yu Yan’s playful pinches and strokes.

Yu Yan carried him off to bathe, gazing at You Fuzhou—who had already drifted off against his chest. Still, he shut down You Fuzhou’s senses before indulging himself twice more.

He had no choice.

The cat was just too adorable; it was impossible not to indulge.

But such behavior only meant that when You Fuzhou woke the next morning, every nerve ending ignited in a frenzy. It felt exactly like they were in the midst of it all over again, even though they weren’t.

He knew it had to be Yu Yan taking advantage of him in his sleep last night—Yu Yan always did this.

Yet You Fuzhou couldn’t bring himself to complain.

Because he understood Yu Yan’s intentions: he didn’t want to disturb his rest, even if he himself wasn’t fully sated…

If anything, maybe the fish had the better end of the deal?

“…A-Yan.”

You Fuzhou couldn’t stand the lingering, unnatural sensations any longer—especially with his body responding to them. “Dial back my senses.”

Yu Yan planted a soft kiss on him. “Nothing much today, and nothing tomorrow either.”

The implication was clear.

You Fuzhou wanted to refuse.

This routine felt too absurd—just rolling out of bed and straight into…

Yu Yan gave him a teasing lick.

You Fuzhou couldn’t resist even a little.

A sentinel’s urges in these matters weren’t something a few words could dismiss.

So after Yu Yan filled that hazy, disoriented post-climax fog, You Fuzhou obediently exposed his belly for Yu Yan to pet.

Savoring the cat once more, Yu Yan unconsciously licked the tip of his canine tooth. The predatory glint in his eyes made You Fuzhou’s heart race when he caught it, his body clenching tighter in response.

Yu Yan paused, then let out a low chuckle. The gentle expression on his face twisted into something else entirely.

He narrowed his eyes at You Fuzhou, his husky voice laced with casual menace. “Baby.”

Yu Yan pinched his ear, his tone commanding. “Look at me.”

The dangerous signal sent You Fuzhou’s pulse skyrocketing. Yu Yan’s face, in this moment, was devastatingly handsome.

You Fuzhou’s ears flushed crimson all the way to his neck, but he obediently opened his eyes to meet Yu Yan’s gaze.

Yu Yan grasped the hem of his garment and tugged it upward. “Good boy. Hold it in your teeth.”

And You Fuzhou obeyed.

In the next instant, Yu Yan seized his waist, hoisting it high to drape over his shoulder—

You Fuzhou’s mind blanked. Powerless, he slid into Yu Yan’s arms.

Unable to struggle, he clutched instinctively at anything within reach—Yu Yan’s arm—and left faint, restrained scratches in his wake.

Yu Yan didn’t mind the sting. He only chuckled lowly, dropping his head with that same intensity to kiss You Fuzhou, tugging the fabric from his teeth before deepening it.

The kitten’s reactions were just too cute… too easy to tease.

By the time they headed to the bathroom for cleanup again, You Fuzhou had lost all will to speak.

Yu Yan cradled him like a child, profoundly grateful he’d once decided a guide needed more than just mental prowess—they required physical training too. Otherwise, he never could have carried his big cat like this.

Yu Yan positioned himself between You Fuzhou and the wall, supporting him with one arm. You Fuzhou cooperated fully, looping his arms around Yu Yan’s shoulders and hanging off him.

With both exerting effort, the hold felt natural and effortless.

The cleanup, though… that was when You Fuzhou started struggling.

Yu Yan rarely damped his senses during these moments. Not ramping them up was about as merciful as the fish got today.

Once they were both dressed, You Fuzhou chomped on half a tube of nutrient fluid while helping Yu Yan prep vegetables. “I heard mermaids can locate their kin through blood and mental power.”

If Yu Yan went to Siren Star… he might trace the source of his half-mermaid bloodline and find his relatives.

Yu Yan paused briefly.

He plucked the nutrient fluid from You Fuzhou’s mouth and downed the rest himself, then smiled. “Mr. You.”

“My family isn’t out there to find,” Yu Yan said. “My family is you and Rong Yao.”

One was his husband, the other his husband’s little sister.

Gazing at You Fuzhou, a mischievous idea struck Yu Yan. “Want to call me husband?”

You Fuzhou’s knife slammed down, cleaving the pork ribs clean through. “…”

His ears turned scarlet in an instant. He stared at Yu Yan, speechless.

Yu Yan crooked a beckoning finger. “Speaking of which, shouldn’t you call me ‘husband’ too?”

He’d never heard it before.

He wanted to.

You Fuzhou felt hotter than the pressure cooker beside him, on the verge of steaming.

But looking at Yu Yan’s amused smile, he finally whispered it, very softly—

“Mm… husband…”

Yu Yan drew a deep breath and switched off the burner. “Finish your nutrient fluid. I’m not hungry for now.”

He shoved aside the cutting board next to You Fuzhou. “Baby, are you hungry?”

Knowing full well what he meant, You Fuzhou nodded dazedly amid the haze of released guide pheromones.

Yu Yan asked again, “Want some fish, then?”

There was no fish in the kitchen fridge…

The only fish was standing right in front of You Fuzhou—and now kissing him.

You Fuzhou mumbled his assent. In the end, sprawled across the open kitchen’s island counter, he couldn’t help thinking this daily routine was downright debauched.

But he loved Yu Yan so much.

Loved him enough to gladly fall into every trap, every scheme.

Unable to resist.