Chapter 92: I Love Slacking Off
Tao Ning glanced at the lounge chair she had brought over yesterday for resting.
Then, looking at the eager Mermaid, she said, “But the lounge chair is dry. Don’t you need to stay in the water?”
Callista asked strangely, “Why do I need to stay in the water all the time?”
Tao Ning looked at the large tail submerged in the water, covered in icy blue scales, powerful and graceful, possessing a magnificent beauty.
She could imagine how dazzling this tail would look swimming in the ocean, a sight surely unforgettable.
But now, both of them fell silent, looking at the tail, then at each other, with identical puzzled expressions.
Tao Ning: “…”
Callista: “…”
They looked at each other, seemingly not understanding what the other was saying.
Tao Ning suddenly slapped her forehead, realizing, “Oh, you’re amphibious. I was mistaken.”
Seeing Lita swimming in the water every day, she had actually forgotten that the leader had also walked on land by herself. She couldn’t have carried a fish tank with her then.
Mermaids indeed didn’t need to stay in the water constantly, though they preferred living in it. Staying out of the water for too long wasn’t good for them either.
Callista: “?”
Not understanding what Tao Ning was saying, Callista suddenly found herself being lifted horizontally, one arm under her armpits and the other supporting her tail.
Her submerged tail emerged completely from the water, droplets rolling off her fins and splashing onto the floor.
This lightness, different from being buoyed by the water, felt novel to Callista. She immediately forgot the previous topic, wrapping her arms around Tao Ning’s neck, her tail curling up slightly.
This subtle movement indicated Callista’s good mood, which had just improved further.
If a third person were present, they would surely be surprised. First, that the First Star System’s renowned flower vase could lift a Mermaid, whose long tail was no small weight.
Second, that the overlord of the sea would be nestled in someone’s arms.
And seemingly enjoying it.
Placing Callista onto the lounge chair, Tao Ning checked it, confirming it could support the weight of the tail.
Callista was indeed very satisfied, thinking that humans, although lacking in combat ability, were skilled at crafting things.
She lay there for a while, then beckoned Tao Ning to join her.
When being carried, Callista had already felt it. This human was warm and soft to the touch, with a faint pleasant scent. She liked the feeling.
“Why are you just standing there? Come here.” Callista propped her head up with one hand, her waist-length hair spread out, some even reaching the floor.
Tao Ning realized that the Callista of this world was a flirtatious Mermaid.
She was the overlord of the sea, the queen of the ocean, so calling her a “sea king” wasn’t wrong either.
Callista shifted slightly, patting the space beside her: “Since the pool needs to be changed, and you have nothing to do, come lie down.”
[The Mermaid has sent you a cuddle request—]
[Accept] or [Decline]
“…” After standing by the chair for a moment, Tao Ning couldn’t resist the temptation and sat down.
A hand adorned with a beautiful bracelet reached out, pressing on her shoulder, urging her to lie down. Tao Ning didn’t resist, her back against the soft lounge chair.
A shadow fell over her. Tao Ning looked up, her gaze meeting ocean-like blue eyes, soft, cool platinum hair cascading down.
The distance between them shortened, as if they were inches apart.
The weight on Tao Ning wasn’t just the Mermaid’s tail; the cool, smooth feeling was like silk against her skin.
The person leaning on her moved closer and closer, as if about to kiss her.
Tao Ning suddenly raised her hand, gripping Callista’s arm through the gossamer shawl.
She tightened her grip slightly, her breathing becoming rapid, her chin lifting slightly, as if about to do something.
Just as they were about to touch, Callista’s crimson lips moved to the side, her nose nuzzling Tao Ning’s long, pale neck, her warm breath tickling her skin.
Tao Ning, held down, could only let her do as she pleased.
Callista lifted her head, her blue eyes looking at Tao Ning in confusion: “You always smell so good, what is that scent?”
Sometimes, Tao Ning couldn’t tell if the Mermaid was doing this intentionally or not, making suggestive moves and then looking at her with innocent eyes.
It made the person with impure thoughts feel guilty, wondering if they were overthinking things.
Unable to move, Tao Ning could only maintain this position and ask, “Do you know about pheromones?”
Callista hadn’t heard of this term. She shook her head: “No.”
Tao Ning’s voice lowered, explaining gently, “We humans have conducted research and found evidence that if you like another person’s scent, it’s your genes making a choice, a subconscious mutual attraction, indicating you’re a perfect match.”
“Just like in the Mermaid tribe, when a Mermaid reaches mating season, she will be attracted to another Mermaid, and if they choose each other, it means their pheromones are highly compatible.”
Despite the flirtatious words, Callista’s expression changed slightly, and she sat up.
Callista said, “Really?”
Tao Ning, still held down, looked at her innocently.
Callista stared into Tao Ning’s eyes for a long moment, keenly catching a fleeting smile. She felt she had caught her: “This is fake, isn’t it?”
Tao Ning’s shoulders slumped, and she looked away, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.
The smile was subtle, but how could it escape a Mermaid’s sharp eyes?
Curling her tail, kneeling on the lounge chair, she grabbed Tao Ning’s shoulders and shook her, trying to use this action to hide the heat rising in her face: “Tell me, is that right? It’s not true, right?”
Tao Ning asked, “If I weren’t the most beautiful person on this ship, would you still be so clingy to me?”
Callista hesitated for three seconds: “I think I would.” Because no one else could understand what she was saying.
Tao Ning, however, said, “You hesitated.”
Callista: “…”
The warm human pillow instantly moved away, leaving Callista with a lonely back.
For the first time, she found this human a bit petty.
Callista couldn’t help but wonder if she had really been wrong, and if this human truly liked her.
This thought was quickly dismissed.
No, no human could endure the loneliness of the deep sea. That’s why she had grown up alone.
After growing up, she had heard stories about her parents from the elders of her tribe, all of them shaking their heads and sighing.
Callista had no feelings towards the human mother she had never met and the father who had removed his reverse scale and died, because she had grown up and become the leader of her tribe.
This was something even her father couldn’t achieve, but she had. She was no longer the little Mermaid hiding in coral reefs, afraid of being attacked by sharks.
After learning human language, she heard a lot about Tao Ning’s identity. They called her Zang Yuzhu.
They said Zang Yuzhu was famous in the First Star System, had a loving family, and a guardian. The person who brought her ashore was her older brother, and perhaps through Zang Yuzhu, she could find her people.
And her background, it sounded very similar to her own mother’s life.
Callista thought about it and believed that Zang Yuzhu had many ties on land and wouldn’t be willing to stay in the ocean.
Even if she was willing, it would only be a momentary impulse, like her young mother, blinded by appearances.
Upon hearing that one of her people had come ashore, her first thought was to find them and bring them back to the ocean.
As the leader, she had a responsibility to protect her people and couldn’t abandon her duty and leave the ocean.
The self-proclaimed mature and rational Mermaid leader analyzed the situation, nodding in agreement with her own conclusion, then looked up.
Tao Ning still had her back to her, slightly hunched, looking inexplicably pitiful.
Callista’s heart softened. She casually picked up a peach from the table, tapped Tao Ning’s shoulder, and offered it to her.
Here’s some fruit, hopefully you’re not angry anymore. Let’s talk, it’s too quiet, I’m not used to it.
Tao Ning was deep in thought when she felt a tap on her shoulder, and then something appeared before her eyes.
The long, slender hand holding the peach remained motionless, as if saying, I won’t leave until you take it.
She stared at it for a moment, her heart relaxing.
Mermaids didn’t have the concept of “why marry if you can flirt” or “love is forbearance.”
They were still driven by instinct, seeking instant gratification, acting on whims.
When happy, they would come closer, offering their most treasured possessions. When they felt something was wrong, they would push you away. Then, without understanding anything, seeing you unhappy, they would come back to coax you.
Expecting Callista to think like a human was setting herself up for disappointment. Tao Ning never expected her to change in just a few days.
Besides, when it came to feelings, giving didn’t always guarantee receiving. If it had to be reciprocal, it would become a transaction.
In this vast world, meeting each other was the greatest fortune.
Taking the peach, Tao Ning pulled out her butterfly knife and skillfully began cutting it.
The peach was divided into several pieces, held in her pale palm, the fruity aroma filling the air.
Callista’s mouth watered. She reached out and took a piece.
Noticing Tao Ning’s gaze, Callista remembered that this was something she had given away and said a bit sheepishly, “I’ll just have one.”
The Mermaid wasn’t aware of her habit of not keeping her word. She said she would only have one, but ended up eating half.
One peach, cut into four pieces, shared equally between them.
Then Callista looked at her with a look of wanting more. Tao Ning, meeting her gaze: “…”
She hesitated between telling her the ancient story of sharing a peach as a symbol of homosexual love to scare this flirtatious Mermaid, and fulfilling her every request.
After a moment of contemplation, Tao Ning chose the latter.
She silently picked up another peach and, under Callista’s expectant gaze, cut it open. This time, all of it went into Callista’s belly.
This afternoon, Callista seemed to have taken a liking to being on land, not mentioning returning to the water.
Tao Ning didn’t bring it up either, sitting by the side and browsing information on the Starnet.
Callista, watching curiously, touched the virtual screen, her hand passing through it, touching nothing.
She also saw the dense patterns on the screen and moved closer, asking, “What are you doing? Why are you looking so intently?”
Tao Ning replied in Mermaid language, “Research on psychic power.”
Callista’s next question was interrupted by a sudden, violent tremor. The water in the pool sloshed, spilling over the edge.
It wasn’t the tremor of a jump, but more like the ship being attacked.
Tao Ning remembered the incident recorded in the original world line, where the returning ship was attacked, followed by a heroic rescue and the Mermaid’s repayment.
But it wasn’t now; it happened later, after the Mermaid was transferred separately. After all, the ship was so large, and with Song Man in command, it was unlikely to be breached.
Callista, unaware of what would happen later, listened attentively for a moment and said, “I hear many people outside, attacking this area.”
She could even hear…
“Someone wants to capture me for experiments.”
Callista asked, puzzled, “What are experiments?”
Tao Ning briefly explained the term, and Callista’s expression turned to disgust, muttering a Mermaid curse.
Callista said, “Useless humans, their own psychic power isn’t strong enough, so they think there’s a way to improve it through us. How ridiculous.”
Tao Ning asked, “Can you tell who’s attacking?”
In this emergency, naturally, no one would announce which organization was attacking.
Callista listened attentively again, then shook her head after a long while: “I can’t tell. There are too many sounds mixed together, it’s difficult to distinguish.”
The tremors subsided three hours later. Judging by the time in the First Star System, it was already evening.
During this time, Tao Ning hadn’t left, and no one had come, as everyone was busy defending the ship.
Callista, tired from playing, went into the water to rest, leaving Tao Ning alone, reading lengthy articles on her smart device.
It wasn’t until near dawn, after everything had been settled, that the swimming pool door opened.
Song Man was at the front, followed by Gu Yuan, whose seniority was lower than hers, showing respect by walking a step behind.
But in Tao Ning’s view, her understanding was that his rank wasn’t as solid as Song Man’s, and walking side-by-side would damage his image.
Gu Yuan was skilled at maintaining appearances, appearing gentle and affectionate, always choosing the most advantageous course of action.
Tao Ning feigned confusion, standing up and asking, “Major General Song, Cousin? It’s so late, why are you both here?”
Song Man, having just commanded a successful defense against a space pirate attack, still carried a martial air. She said coldly, “I just received instructions from the Federation. To ensure the Mermaid reaches the First Star System as soon as possible, you will be leaving ahead of the main fleet.”
Tao Ning thought: Here it comes.
She couldn’t reveal her understanding in front of these people, so Tao Ning’s eyes widened in confusion: “Why leave early? Weren’t the attackers defeated this afternoon?”
She asked too many questions. Song Man, having just finished a video conference, was in no mood to explain, looking towards her adjutant.
Gu Yuan, however, explained first, “The previous supply station betrayed our location and leaked the information about the Mermaid on board.”
“We predict there will be more attacks. Our main fleet is too large and slow-moving. The Federation has decided to have the Mermaid jump back to the First Star System first, while the main fleet will stay behind as a cover and jump later.”
After speaking, Gu Yuan comforted her, “Don’t worry, we’ll arrive safely.”
Song Man interrupted the endless explanation, her tone brisk: “That’s it. Get ready, we’ll be leaving soon.”
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