Chapter 40: Chance Encounter

Chapter 40: Chance Encounter

The three true humans still needed to tidy their rooms, so Liu Hai went ahead to play in the pool by himself.

Watching Liu Hai’s cheerful figure, A Yu couldn't help but remark, "...He really seems to have gained confidence."

Xiao Jin nodded in agreement, "He’s already fully convinced he’s a mermaid."

Jiang Xun sighed.

"Well, if we're being honest," Xiao Jin turned back, "this is all the boss's fault, right?"

"Because you didn’t want anyone to expose his lie, you made such a big deal out of that topic, and everyone just ran with it."

"Now there are even people creating creepypasta rules about our lab..."

Jiang Xun: "...Then why don’t you go expose him?"

Xiao Jin put on a righteous face: "How could I possibly do such a thing!"

"Hah." Jiang Xun stuck his hands in his pockets. "Alright, hurry up and clean your room. Don’t let our 'Little Mermaid' starve."

......

Northern "Smoked Grandma" Restaurant.

"We're here!" Xiao Jin opened her camera. "Wait a sec! Let me take a picture!"

Their group was quite noticeable, especially with the addition of a handsome young man in a wheelchair.

But Liu Hai was too excited about being outside to contain himself, looking around constantly and smiling enthusiastically at everyone before they could pity him.

"Hehe." Liu Hai grinned widely as he watched a little girl stare at him in awe, then tugged at Jiang Xun’s sleeve. "Jiang Xun, look! It's a kid!"

"Yeah." Jiang Xun sighed. "That’s a pretty common sight for humans."

"But not for me!" Liu Hai explained. "Don’t humans get excited when they see baby animals too? You even make weird noises and everything."

Jiang Xun: "...Just to clarify, not everyone does that."

"Fine, I admit it—I do." Xiao Jin returned after taking photos. "Alright, let’s go in!"

The restaurant wasn’t big, and there weren’t many customers, but the aroma of food inside was delightful. Liu Hai took a deep breath and sighed contentedly, "Smells amazing."

"Feel free to sit anywhere!" The woman behind the counter called out without looking up. "The menu’s on the wall—just let me know when you’ve decided."

"Got it!" Xiao Jin replied, scanning the menu as she sat down. "Oh, is this the signature dish Mr. Laurence told us about?"

"I think so." A Yu pulled out his phone. "Let me check."

"Honestly, when I first saw Mr. Laurence’s face, I thought he’d be some stern old-fashioned guy." Xiao Jin propped her chin on her hand. "Turns out he’s actually really thoughtful. Worried we wouldn’t know what to eat here, so he recommended this place and even invited us to the northern cafeteria."

"Guess you really can’t judge a book by its cover."

Noticing Liu Hai staring intently at the menu, she grinned and asked, "So, anything catch your eye?"

Liu Hai turned to her honestly: "I can’t make it out."

The handwritten cursive on the aged menu was still too difficult for a beginner like him.

"Oh, sorry." Xiao Jin laughed and ruffled his hair. "Oh, let me tell you something fun!"

"This place actually went viral online a while back because of its name—'Smoked Grandma.' Sounds weird, right? But because it was so weird, lots of people came to try it."

"Turns out the owner was just really good at smoked dishes. Rumor has it she was the head chef here..."

Just then, the woman from the counter brought them silverware and overheard. Smiling, she said, "Sadly, my mom’s retired now. But don’t worry—she still makes the smoked foods, so the flavor’s exactly the same."

"Decided what you’d like?"

Her gaze flickered to Liu Hai’s wheelchair, and she paused. "Ah..."

Liu Hai followed her eyes to his blanket and tensed. "Wh-what’s wrong?"

"Oh, nothing." The owner awkwardly looked away and then offered, "Would you like some dried fish? It’s on the house."

"Thank you!" Liu Hai said politely. The owner waved it off and scooped him a heaping bowl of dried fish.

"Don’t worry," Jiang Xun interjected smoothly. "He just has difficulty walking—it’s not a serious illness."

"Oh, I see." The owner relaxed. "That’s good to hear."

"Were you worried about me?" Liu Hai realized, touched. "Thanks, but I’m okay!"

"Alright, alright." The owner chuckled sheepishly. "Consider it my mistake, but my dried fish won’t disappoint."

A Yu spoke up: "We're ready to order!"

After ordering, they shared the dried fish and chatted. Xiao Jin frowned at her phone: "Hmm..."

"What’s up?" A Yu peeked over. "Oh, you’re searching 'Mermaid Mystery' and 'The Billion Riddle'? Any luck?"

"None at all." Xiao Jin tossed her phone aside and slumped onto the table. "But I’m so curious! That painting was in the north—could it be related to northern mermaid legends?"

"Liu Hai, what do you think—"

Liu Hai, munching on dried fish: "Crunch crunch."

"Never mind." Xiao Jin flopped back. "Pretty sure a billion means less to Liu Hai than fish snacks."

"Here you go! Smoked fish sausage, pan-fried smoked fish..." The owner brought their food, and Xiao Jin took the opportunity to ask, "Hey, owner, do you know any mermaid legends from the north?"

"Mermaids?" The owner seemed surprised. "The mythical kind?"

"Yeah!" Xiao Jin nodded eagerly. "Specifically from the north!"

"Not sure if it’s unique to the north." The owner thought for a moment, then joked, "Around here, mermaids were seen more as monsters—luring sailors with their songs, drowning them, and eating them."

"But they only ate unfaithful men, never loyal ones."

Xiao Jin exclaimed: "Ohhh—"

"So we’d say..." The owner grinned. "If you meet a cheater, toss him into the sea. If he swims back alive, let him off the hook. Haha!"

Liu Hai, still chewing dried fish: "Crunch crunch, noted!"

Xiao Jin panicked: "Don’t actually learn that!"

"Haha!" The owner set down their dishes. "Dig in while it’s hot!"

The group ate at the restaurant, which wasn't doing great business. Aside from a few tourists decked out in full gear, only a handful of locals came in to buy smoked fish or ham to take home.

“The food’s really good!” Xiao Jin rubbed her belly contentedly. “I should bring some back for my mom—she’d love it!”

“But I didn’t expect this place to fall out of fashion so fast…”

Liu Hai heard the sound of a camera shutter and turned toward the door, where a suspicious-looking person seemed to be holding up a camera, aiming it their way.

“Jiang Xun!” Liu Hai quickly reported. “Someone’s taking photos!”

A Yu stood up. “Boss, I’ll go—”

One of the bundled-up customers inside the restaurant had already risen to his feet, but by the time he pushed the door open, the photographer had already scurried away, leaving only a disappearing back.

His companion hurriedly pulled him back, whispering, “Forget it…”

The man seemed in a huff. He walked over to their table and said, “This meal’s on me. Get whatever you like.”

Xiao Jin’s eyes popped. “Ah… Could you be… Huan Hai?!”

“Shh!” The young man’s companion behind him quickly gestured for her to lower her voice. “Don’t draw attention!”

“You recognized me?” Huan Hai was surprised, pulling his mask down slightly to reveal half of his finely chiseled features, looking somewhat frustrated. “When? Was my disguise not good enough?”

“It was pretty thorough. I even glanced at you earlier, wondering why someone would wear a mask while eating,” Xiao Jin admitted honestly. “I only recognized you when you spoke—your accent comes out when you’re nervous.”

Huan Hai: “…I do not have an accent!”

His agent cleared his throat pointedly. “Ahem, ahem!”

“So…” A Yu piped up thoughtfully. “That person wasn’t actually taking photos of us?”

Huan Hai frowned. “Why would anyone take photos of you guys?”

Xiao Jin pointed at Liu Hai. “Well.”

Huan Hai stared at Liu Hai’s face. “…Newly debuted?”

Liu Hai, munching on fish jerky, shook his head with a “crunch-crunch.”

Huan Hai got nervous. “People are already taking photos of you before your debut?”

“No.” Liu Hai edged closer and whispered mysteriously, “Let me show you something.”

With that, he went to lift the blanket on his lap—

“Wait! What are you doing?!” His agent, bracing for trouble, panicked and shielded Huan Hai, only to see a large, fluffy, fish-like tail.

Agent: “…”

Huan Hai’s eyes widened in shock. “So…”

“Meaty.”

Liu Hai’s “crunch-crunch” paused.

Jiang Xun covered Liu Hai’s ears. “Don’t listen. He’s just talking nonsense.”

“Uh, no.” Huan Hai awkwardly corrected himself. “It’s fine. You’re not debuting anyway. Keep eating—it’s on me.”

Liu Hai eyed him for a moment before reluctantly resuming his “crunch-crunch.”

“So…” Huan Hai scratched his head. “What was that person actually photographing?”

Liu Hai tilted his head. “Wasn’t he taking a photo of *Smoked Grandma*?”

Huan Hai looked thoroughly confused. “What *Smoked Grandma*? What are you talking about?”

“The shop’s name,” Xiao Jin blinked, sharing a look with A Yu. “Didn’t you see the sign before coming in?”

“I was too covered up,” Huan Hai admitted honestly. “I could barely see the road.”

Xiao Jin: “…”

Huan Hai turned to his agent. “Can I go out and take a photo of *Smoked Grandma*?”

“I’ll go, I’ll go.” The agent urged him to sit down. “I’ll take one for you.”

Huan Hai sat down at their table.

“So…” Xiao Jin tamped down her excitement at meeting a celebrity and tried to sound calm. “Why are you here?”

“Hmm—” Huan Hai fell silent for a moment. “Soul-searching?”

He glanced at Liu Hai again, feeling like he looked more and more familiar—whether it was that pretty face or that meaty tail, he felt like he’d seen them somewhere before.

Suddenly, it dawned on him.

“Ah.” Huan Hai suddenly shot up. “You’re—”

Liu Hai looked up cluelessly.

Huan Hai pointed at him. “That mysterious creature from the Ancient Sea!”

“Known,” Liu Hai corrected. “I’m a mermaid.”

Huan Hai: “…”

He turned to his agent, who was still outside taking photos, whispering desperately, “What do I do? I’m bad at lying.”

Author’s Note:

Liu Hai grumbled: “What do you mean by that!”