Chapter 31: Sorry

Chapter 31: Apologies

The sole mermaid capable of saving the alien race.

The entire Research Institute was abuzz. The news wasn't deliberately suppressed; if it were made public, the entire star system would likely be swept up in a fervent frenzy.

Who wouldn't covet the innate talents of the aliens? Yet, no one had been able to resolve their propensity for madness. The Empire’s Marshal was a living example.

But now, the only solution had emerged.

The Research Institute worked almost through the night to devise a series of plans, not only to test the mermaid’s mere presence but also whether his song had the same soothing effect.

Ai Er, as Deng Xi’s caretaker, participated in the meeting. The Research Institute had its responsibilities: they wouldn't exploit the aliens’ racial talents, but they were tasked with stabilizing them, ensuring they could at least live among normal people with fundamental human rights.

They would offer Deng Xi a series of special privileges in exchange for one song from the mermaid.

It was a fair trade.

Until, in the cold depths of the night, the director’s office was disturbed by an unexpected visitor. A mechanical glove, glinting coldly, pushed the door open.

Everyone was stunned by the Marshal’s sudden appearance.

Si Jisheng, bringing a chill with him, said coldly, “Since the genetic testing is done, return what’s mine.”

The director quickly understood and gave Ai Er a look. Ai Er carefully retrieved the two scales from the petri dish and strode over to hand it to him.

The black mechanical glove plucked the two scales from the growth medium. A hint of cold disdain was discernible in his expression as Si Jisheng lifted the petri dish. With a few crisp *cracks*, it disintegrated into powder between his fingers, the nutrient solution dripping to the floor from his grip.

It was a seemingly minor action, yet it felt no less than a resounding slap to the faces of everyone in the Research Institute. The young researchers flushed with indignation, and even the usually composed Ai Er was visibly upset. “Marshal, what is the meaning of this?”

Si Jisheng merely looked calmly at the director. “He is not a member of the Research Institute, nor is he obligated to help you soothe the aliens.”

The director stood up steadily and sighed deeply. “Marshal, but we have decided to make you our primary candidate for treatment.”

Si Jisheng remained unmoved, his silver eyes fixed indifferently on the two scales in his hand. One was still bloody, even staining the clean, translucent blue scale with filthy blood.

The director continued, “You know better than anyone how dire your condition is. It’s not the Research Institute that needs him—it’s you.”

Si Jisheng clenched his fist and turned to leave. “The military has no shortage of healers.”

The director said gravely, “But this is the only method that can fully treat you. And… the royal family and the Council are already aware.”

Si Jisheng paused mid-step, stopping in place.

The director looked at his back. “If you want to take the mermaid away from the Research Institute now, you’ll need to give the Council and the royal family a reason.”

Suddenly, the director stepped forward and, under the gaze of his students, bowed deeply to the seemingly unshakable figure before him.

Ai Er cried out anxiously, “Director!”

The elderly director said quietly, “About what happened back then… I’ve always harbored guilt in my heart. This time, the Research Institute can provide the Marshal with this reason.”

A long silence followed.

“Only this much.”

He would use this reason to take the mermaid away—nothing more. As for the rest, it had nothing to do with Deng Xi.

With that, Ai Er could only watch helplessly as the figure left. She quickly turned to help the director up. “Director, why must you do this? You had no part in what happened back then.”

The director waved his hand. “Go and make the preparations.”

By the time Ai Er finished organizing the application documents, morning had arrived. The moment Deng Xi woke up, she immediately brought him to the meeting room, where the lights had been on all night.

She gently escorted him in and asked softly, “Deng Xi, do you need me to stay with you?”

His long, curly golden hair nearly covered his face. After a long pause, he gave a slight shake of his lowered head.

Ai Er sensed something was off with Deng Xi’s mood. Assuming the Marshal’s overwhelming presence was too much for the little mermaid meeting him for the first time, she smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. The Marshal is usually quite reasonable. You should speak privately first—I’ll step out.”

The door to the meeting room closed softly.

Silence instantly filled the room.

Deng Xi held his breath as he looked at the man standing with his back to the light. His long shadow stretched grotesquely across the polished floor, almost comically distorted.

“You may call me Si Jisheng.” A low, hoarse voice broke the silence, speaking in human language unfamiliar to Deng Xi—yet the tone was one he could never mistake.

Just yesterday, he had been thrilled that his Little Mute could speak, so he had secretly memorized every word spoken to him with great care.

Because he had been so earnest, he remembered every single one.

Deng Xi wanted to ask—where had his Little Mute gone?

His lips parted helplessly before closing again in confusion. After what felt like an eternity, he finally whispered, his voice trembling with confusion, curiosity, and a fragile hope, “Then… where is my Little Mute?”

He seemed to have nowhere to turn, yet he didn’t understand why he had been thrust into such an unbearable situation. Clinging to that faint hope, he cautiously sought an answer.

Si Jisheng stepped forward, his warped shadow lengthening even more under the light. To Deng Xi, it looked like a monstrous distortion.

Si Jisheng closed his eyes briefly, exhaling a breath that seemed to cut through him. “I am grateful for the help you gave me in the sea.”

The human language rendered the words alien and cold, further eroding the already scarce sense of familiarity between them.

Deng Xi felt like he couldn’t breathe. His iridescent gills twitched futilely in the air—but since they weren’t in the sea, the movement was meaningless. So he could only draw a shuddering breath, his voice barely audible in the suffocating atmosphere. “Little Mute… never belonged to the sea, did he?”

Silence made the answer obvious.

His Little Mute wasn’t what he had imagined—someone who, like him, had been born and lived in the sea all his life. Instead, he had always lived in the human world.

Because Little Mute didn’t belong to the sea.

That was why Deng Xi could never find him, no matter how hard he searched.

Deng Xi didn’t dare think further, but his tail, exposed to the air, began to ache faintly from dehydration. The relentless pain made his realization painfully clear.

Little Mute was so powerful in the human world, so…

Deng Xi fought back stinging tears. “You weren’t captured by humans… were you?”

His psyche ached dully, but the restless energy, suppressed by yesterday’s healing pod, couldn’t take effect. Si Jisheng took a deep breath. “They came to rescue me.”

It had been a mistake to wander into that world in the first place, so being taken away by people from another world, leaving the sea behind—it was only natural.

Yes, it was only natural.

Deng Xi struggled to reassure himself, but his tail hurt more and more, the pain grew unbearable, until tears spilled over, wetting his cheeks before rolling down his chin and leaving unsightly marks on his body.

It was utterly humiliating.

Deng Xi's voice caught in his throat, quivering with tears, "What about me?"

Was he being abandoned?

Si Jisheng lowered himself halfway, raising his hand. The cold mechanical glove hovered just inches from Deng Xi's face before he removed it. Finally, with fingertips rough with calluses, he gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Deng Xi's eyes. In a voice rough with emotion, he said, "Didn't we agree to go our separate ways?"

Deng Xi bit his lower lip, shaking his head helplessly. He took a deep breath, only to break down again as he realized he still couldn't stop crying. "No, it's not like that."

"I didn't abandon Little Mute when he was sick."

"We didn't part ways."

"No."

Deng Xi petulantly insisted, "Little Mute can't abandon me either. He can't."

His breath hitched with each sob.

Everything hurt. His tail ached.

His heart ached so much it felt like it was clenching. Deng Xi had never felt this wronged before. He couldn't understand—he was the one who had saved Little Mute, the one who had painstakingly nursed Little Mute back to health, the one who had brought the sick Little Mute home.

How could it be that, in just a few words, the Little Mute who belonged to him had become someone else's? He was his.

His.

"You lied to me," Deng Xi sniffled. "We promised to live together in the sea. You lied."

Si Jisheng very gently wiped Deng Xi's tears again, though no matter how much he tried, they wouldn't stop. He let out a soft hum of acknowledgment, his voice hoarse as he whispered, "I'm sorry. I broke my promise."

But the sea never breaks its promises.

Deng Xi missed the sea.

Between sobs, Deng Xi said, "I hate Little Mute now."

Author's Note:

Second update still late at night—more nutrient solutions mean more updates! More, more!