As soon as Shen Tang stepped out the door, she bumped into Jia Lan walking towards her.
The young man was tall with long legs, his aura dignified, and his handsomely cool face was flawlessly beautiful, especially those blue, peach blossom-like eyes, like the most exquisite artifact in the world, favored by gods as Venus is.
However, he looked somewhat haggard, with faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept all night.
Shen Tang recalled the system’s words, feeling guilty—this damn man had been eavesdropping all night!
This was just too awkward.
Every day, it couldn’t be that every time she and Beast Husband enjoyed themselves, the other Beast Husbands were listening next door, right?
She must find a house with good soundproofing in the future!
Jia Lan’s light gaze swept over her, his thin lips curled slightly, sneering, "The sun is almost down. Just waking up?"
At that moment, he seemed to revert back to that old, caustic Mermaid Prince who never held back from criticizing people!
Shen Tang was about to speak to ease the awkwardness when she heard him grumbling, "Hurry up and come eat!"
Shen Tang remembered today’s task and swallowed her grievances, ignoring this damn man’s harsh tone.
She was indeed hungry.
She went downstairs to eat.
Lu Xiao had already prepared the meal.
He set the alarm clock, timing it so Shen Tang would be awake, and warmed up the food in advance, so she’d have something to eat right when she woke.
Lu Xiao’s gaze fell on Shen Tang, a gentle smile playing on his lips, "Worked hard all night, must be starving. Eat more."
Shen Tang blushed slightly, sitting down to eat, noticing the meat soup was different today.
She scooped a spoonful of soup, examining it carefully—a mix of sea cucumber, abalone, oysters, kidney... all kinds of nourishing food, combined in such a way she couldn’t quite imagine the taste!
Her mouth twitched slightly, awkwardly looking at Lu Xiao, "This soup..."
Doesn’t quite seem like his handiwork.
Lu Xiao explained in a low voice, "This was personally made for you by the little prince this morning. He went out at dawn to catch the ingredients and spent all morning cooking up this bowl of soup."
Shen Tang turned her surprised gaze towards Jia Lan, astonished that this dignified Mermaid Prince would actually cook by himself.
But what did he mean by this?
This pot of ultra-nourishing soup—if she drinks it all, she’d have a nosebleed!
Jia Lan looked away uncomfortably, urging coldly, "Drink up, or it’ll get cold!"
Shen Tang took a sip—it actually tasted pretty good. After all, with Lu Xiao’s guidance, it wasn’t as disastrous as she imagined.
Seeing Shen Tang obediently finish the nourishing soup, Jia Lan’s thin lips curled slightly, then he disdainfully looked her up and down.
Last night, she didn’t last even half an hour before falling silent.
With such a weak body, how could she endure him in the future?
Their Mermaid’s mating season...
It doesn’t end without a day and night.
Shen Tang was worried about how to approach Jia Lan, not noticing the youth’s dark gaze like a wolf eyeing its prey, flickering with a deep, hidden light.
When Shen Tang looked up at Jia Lan, he quickly looked away, his fair ears slightly red.
Shen Tang sighed; with this pure Mermaid Prince, how could she speak up?
She could make risqué jokes with Shen Li and Xiao Jin but had no guts to talk dirty with Jia Lan.
She feared Jia Lan might swipe her away with his tail.
Chewing the seafood soup in her hand, sudden inspiration struck Shen Tang, she eagerly looked at Jia Lan, "The seafood you caught last time was quite tasty, how about we go catch some more this afternoon?"
Jia Lan turned to look at her, not refusing, "...Okay."
Shen Tang was surprised, not expecting Jia Lan to agree so easily; she hadn’t even needed the tactics she prepared.
This precious Mermaid Prince was quite lazy; after being tricked into farming once, he never bothered going far again.
Let alone accompanying her out.
This was something she’d never dared dream of before.
Fearing her ill intentions were too obvious, Shen Tang lightly cleared her throat and looked at Lu Xiao, "Are you coming along?"
Lu Xiao shook his head with a smile, "Wishing you both a great time; I have some work at home to tidy up this afternoon, so I won’t be a bother."
Shen Li was also not interested in swimming or catching fish.
Shen Tang and Jia Lan set out in the afternoon.
For the first time heading out alone together, the atmosphere was different from usual; they didn’t speak much along the way, just quietly walked one before the other along the mountain path.
In the woods, the rustling wind sounded, sunlight dappled, falling through tree gaps onto the ground, Shen Tang couldn’t resist playing hopscotch.
She playfully skipped over the ground’s light spots, her skirt curling in the wind, her figure graceful and charming, outlining a sexy curve.
Jia Lan watched her, his cheeks flushed, and his body felt subtly warm.
The impulse suppressed within him, like a beast breaking free from its cage, surfaced again...
Shen Tang didn’t notice the stone underfoot, almost twisting her ankle and falling.
Jia Lan quickly rushed forward, grabbing her hand to stop her from hitting the ground face-first.
The next second.
The youth pulled back his hand as if electrified.
His fingertips trembled slightly, retaining a burning sensation.
He never knew a female’s hand could be so soft.
"Thank you, Jia Lan." Shen Tang turned to look at him, smiling with her teeth showing.
Facing her radiant smile, Jia Lan’s heart beat faster, almost leaping to his throat.
He looked away, unnaturally saying, "...Just happened to be convenient."
The two continued towards the riverbank.
Jia Lan walked slowly, following Shen Tang.
The wind frequently lifted the female’s long hair, brushing past his neck and face.
The hair was black and shiny, thick and lush like seaweed.
Jia Lan’s heart itched; he wanted to touch it.
He did so instinctively.
His slender fingers grazed her hair.
Shen Tang halted, turning to look at him.
Jia Lan hurriedly withdrew his hand, stammeringly explaining, "Y-you had a leaf on your head, I took it off for you."
His exquisitely cold face blushed slightly, turning away, unwilling to meet her gaze.
[Ding, congratulations to the host, Jia Lan’s affinity +5!]
Shen Tang was first surprised, then smirked, holding his hand and running towards the riverbank, "Look! We’re here!"
Jia Lan looked down at their entwined hands, feeling lost.
It seemed that piece of skin was burning up.
Upon reaching the riverbank, Shen Tang let go of Jia Lan. She squatted beside the river, smiling, "Look here, there are lots of little fish and shrimp, and frogs. Not sure if they’re edible..."
Jia Lan came back to himself, regretfully rubbing his fingers, lifting his gaze to the river.
It was just an ordinary small river, the resources not particularly abundant.
With such quality ingredients, he generally wouldn’t eat, let alone serve them at his table.
Jia Lan approached, pulling Shen Tang along, "Come, I’ll take you to a good place!"
Shen Tang turned to meet the boy’s deep blue eyes, like a calm and vast ocean, yet hiding unknown undercurrents.
He spoke softly, "Hold on to my waist."
Shen Tang’s face heated up, thinking she heard wrong.
Seeing she was slow to act, Jia Lan’s handsome face flashed a hint of impatience. He directly grabbed her arm, wrapping it around his slender waist, "Hold tight, or I won’t fish you out if you fall!"