Chapter 39: Little Boyfriend

Chapter 39: My Little Sweetheart

The white-haired child’s mother was Little Mute’s therapist, so the “great hero” the child spoke of was very likely Little Mute himself.

Deng Xi could easily imagine it: even if Little Mute grew up among humans, he was probably ostracized because of his tail, left with no one to play with, forced to stay alone in a corner.

My poor dear.

Deng Xi clumsily ran his fingers through the silver hair.

The meticulously tied-back silver strands were ruffled, a few stray locks sticking up. Si Jisheng’s breath hitched, and after a long pause, he finally said, “No one ever said that about me.”

Deng Xi frowned unhappily. “But I already know. Little Mute shouldn’t lie.”

Past pains—Si Jisheng had no wish to dredge them up. Logically, few besides himself would even remember these things.

Unless they came from Dr. Li’s mouth.

Si Jisheng had no intention of employing humans who lacked professional integrity. He paused, then asked, “What exactly do you know?”

Deng Xi braced his hands on Si Jisheng’s shoulders, using them to steady himself, suddenly realizing he might have said too much.

That human child’s mother hadn’t told her child—did that mean it wasn’t something to be shared?

Deng Xi bit his lip. “I guessed.”

In his panic, he glanced down at his tail. “Those human children didn’t like my tail.”

Deng Xi was no fool.

He knew normal humans didn’t have rabbit ears or fishtails, and that most ordinary humans, unlike Ai Er and the others, viewed them as monsters.

“They said people with tails are monsters.”

“Did they say that to Little Mute too?”

Si Jisheng slid a steadying hand behind Deng Xi’s back to keep him from falling into the flying chair if his tail failed him. He murmured, “No.”

Deng Xi tilted his head, puzzled. “Really?”

Si Jisheng nodded.

Deng Xi blinked. “Is it because Little Mute hid his tail?”

Si Jisheng stiffened.

Deng Xi thought of the medicine the white-haired child took—how painful it seemed afterward. Since coming to the human world, he’d rarely seen Little Mute’s tail.

A pang of sadness struck Deng Xi.

Because he suddenly realized that when he first met the silver-tailed man, those injuries might not have been caused by large fish in the ocean, but by humans.

The Little Mute he’d wanted so badly to protect in the sea had actually suffered terribly in the human world. The silver-tailed man might have been hurt by many humans before slowly becoming the hero the white-haired child admired.

It wasn’t right.

Deng Xi thought.

“Little Mute, don’t take the medicine anymore.” Deng Xi assumed the silver-tailed man, like the white-haired child, used drugs to hide his tail and grow human legs. His blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Our tails aren’t an illness.”

“Little Mute isn’t a monster.”

The Mermaid Language murmured in Si Jisheng’s ear. When he lowered his gaze, he met the wide, earnest eyes of the little mermaid looking up at him.

“Actually, the first time we met, I secretly touched Little Mute’s tail.”

His throat tightened—so it hadn’t been his imagination after all. Si Jisheng’s chest rose and fell slowly.

Deng Xi’s ears turned faintly red as he confessed, but he pushed through his embarrassment and murmured, “I really like Little Mute’s tail. It’s shiny and very pretty.”

This was virtually a mermaid’s courtship.

Si Jisheng forced down a swallow.

“Little Mute, can you not take the medicine for me? Don’t hide your tail.”

“You don’t need medicine—my tail can turn into human legs too.”

It took Deng Xi a moment to realize he’d misunderstood. Little Mute hadn't hidden his tail on purpose. He froze. “Then what illness is Little Mute treating?”

Si Jisheng said quietly, “It’s unrelated.”

A blush instantly bloomed to the corners of Deng Xi’s eyes.

“I—I—I—”

In their mermaid tribe, a fish who secretly touched someone’s tail upon first meeting would be labeled a little deviant and arrested!

Deng Xi had planned to keep this from Little Mute forever—never telling a soul. But he’d just let it slip!

Not only had he sneakily touched someone, but he’d even complimented Little Mute’s tail afterward!

As if after committing the crime, he’d brazenly announced it to the victim, completely without shame.

Deng Xi stammered for a long time, unable to get another word out. His guilt was undeniable—he’d confessed it himself.

Si Jisheng asked hoarsely, “Did you like it?”

Deng Xi bit his lip, the pink flush spreading down to his neck. After a long pause, he whispered faintly, “A little.”

“Just… a little good.”

Deng Xi hid his flaming face against Si Jisheng’s shoulder, his soft cheek pressing into the cold shoulder insignia, leaving pink imprints. But he refused to lift his head.

How cruel.

How could he even ask how it felt?

Deng Xi pursed his lips. His voice muffled by the fabric, it came out small and shy, accompanied by his warm breath that brushed Si Jisheng’s ear. “Then… what about my tail? Did Little Mute think it felt good?”

Having said that, Deng Xi buried his face even deeper, like an ostrich burying its head in the man’s clothes.

Little Mute had touched his tail too.

Why should he be the only one questioned?

Deng Xi was determined to turn the tables.

Then he felt the chest beneath him rumble faintly, followed by a deep, husky voice by his ear.

“Yeah, I like it too.”

Heat instantly spread across his burning face as Deng Xi took shallow breaths, his heart still pounding wildly.

Weird.

Discussing tails like this felt like he and Little Mute were flirting.

But both he and Little Mute were male—right beside Deng Xi’s cheek was the silver-tailed man’s unmissable Adam’s apple.

Courting or whatever...

Must be imagining things!

Deng Xi took a deep breath, embarrassed, and awkwardly changed the subject. “I’m hungry.”

The topic shift was awkward as hell.

Almost immediately, Deng Xi heard Little Mute let out a soft, barely-there chuckle.

But even as a whisper, in the quiet break room, especially at such close proximity, it still felt deafening to Deng Xi.

Deng Xi pushed himself up, not daring to lift his face, his thick lashes fluttering as he pressed a hand to his flat stomach, insisting. “Really hungry.”

“Little Mute, feel for yourself.”

Si Jisheng did as asked and placed his palm over Deng Xi’s abdomen. The merman’s naturally cool body temperature, combined with his mechanical gloves, made his touch feel icy.

The biomechanical gloves allowed Si Jisheng to clearly feel the warmth radiating from Deng Xi’s body—one touch told him the blue-tailed guy wasn't very active.

Warm. Soft.

Just a quick touch before pulling away.

Si Jisheng’s silver eyes darkened as he held back as he said hoarsely, “Mmm, let’s go for lunch then.”

Si Jisheng wasn’t one to ask for special treatment in the military. Unless he lost control of his merman transformation, he usually ate simple meals in the military canteen no problem.

He wanted Deng Xi to try human food.

The Empire’s military uniforms were black, so when a sparkling, translucent pink flying chair suddenly appeared amidst the sea of black, it was impossible to miss.

The golden-haired and blue-tailed little mermaid immediately got everyone looking, but since there were also staff from the treatment center in the canteen, it didn't stand out too much.

What truly captivated everyone was the fact that their Marshal was the one leading the flying chair!

The adjutant was nudged at the elbow, and when he turned around to see the bizarre scene, he choked on his food, coughing violently. “I told you. Transfer the credits to my terminal later.”

Several colonels and generals seated nearby couldn't resist gossiping.

“No way, you actually won the bet. The Marshal really brought his boyfriend to the canteen.”

“Isn’t what’s really weird that the Marshal is actually in a relationship?!”

“No wonder this new species set our Marshal back ten billion. Just like in the records.”

That face was downright unfair.

A female general lowered her voice and nudged the adjutant. “I heard he came from some backwater planet?”

The adjutant nodded. “According to those space pirates, the planet was quite unique—no land, no humans anywhere.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the female general shared a look with a table of female soldiers. Waiting for her chance when the Marshal went to get food and the little mermaid was left alone, she casually walked over to the flying chair.

Deng Xi curiously observed the humans around him. Whenever he made eye contact, he would politely crinkle his eyes, showing a sweet dimpled smile, waiting obediently in place for Little Mute.

Before he could react, a transparent glass jar was placed on his flying chair. A human woman with a tight high ponytail raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you fish people all enjoy dried fish snacks?”

Deng Xi shrank back slightly, nervous but unable to suppress his curiosity. He tilted his head. “What’s dried fish?”

The translucent pink flying chair, the soft golden hair cascading down, and those stunning blue eyes—even the halting Interstellar words that left his lips sounded melodious.

The female general’s motherly instincts went into overdrive, her heart melting at the sight of the legendary new species. The female soldiers behind her chimed in, “He really hasn’t tried anything before.”

Before the little mermaid on the flying chair could react, he found his lap full of human snacks.

“These are our welcome gifts.”

“The Marshal’s little boyfriend.”

Author’s Note:

Feeding the little fish~