"That night, the boy and the Little Mermaid sat together quietly all night. The Little Mermaid gave him a beautiful seashell and kissed him on the lips, hoping he would forget her."
"Grandma had told her that a mermaid’s kiss could make a person forget the memories that belonged to her."
Yu Qianqian’s voice was somewhat choked up.
"Later... he really did forget her, forgot the memories that were theirs. She watched him as he stood on the deck holding the seashell she had given him, staring blankly as he and his parents left on the cruise ship. She watched quietly from not far away, until it became dark."
"Much later, she found out that she could turn into a human, that she could shed her tail. Without hesitation, she swam for half a month and finally reached the shore."
"In a strange environment, there was so much she needed to learn. He had once told her about his city. After earning her first bit of money, she took a bus to his city. It took a long time for her to find him, arriving with excitement and joy... but she didn’t expect that he already had a fiancée."
"Although heartbroken, she stayed by his side, every single day by his side."
"She thought, maybe this was okay, too."
Yu Qianqian’s smile was beautiful and content, and Qin Qin could imagine the happiness of that time, or the sadness hidden within that happiness.
"But then disaster struck. He and his fiancée were in an accident with a truck, putting his life in danger while he was protecting his fiancée."
"The moment she received the news, she rushed to the hospital, to see him declared beyond aid by the doctors. That moment, she heard her heart break."
"Taking advantage of the moments when no one was looking, she slipped into the operating room, and looking at him lying lifeless on the operating table, she didn’t hesitate to lower her head and transfer the Fish Dan within her to him."
Yu Qianqian fell silent for a moment, and Qin Qin was somewhat choked up, "Without the Fish Dan, won’t you not live much longer? Won’t you start to age quickly?"
"You gave him something so important? Was it worth it? He doesn’t even remember you."
Qin Qin felt that Yu Qianqian didn’t deserve this.
"It’s not about what’s worth it or not. What’s done is done. Seeing him come back to life made me very happy."
"Why don’t you tell him everything!"
"No need. He has always believed that his fiancée was the one who saved him." Even if she explained, he wouldn’t believe her because, in his heart, his fiancée was his savior.
"You should be his fiancée; you should be the one with him." Qin Qin felt indignant for Yu Qianqian. This foolish mermaid must have been so afraid of him seeing her age that she sneakily ran away after saving the man, bearing the sorrow of her memories and the despair of solitude alone.
Yu Qianqian shook her head, smiling as she gazed at Qin Qin, her blue eyes captivating and deep, "I am a mermaid, how could I be with him?"
Qin Qin leaned in and suddenly embraced Yu Qianqian tightly, tears she rarely shed falling down her cheeks.
Yu Qianqian leaned against Qin Qin, gently patting her back, "I’m fine, really, I am. If you pity me, just help me save his fiancée, please, just consider it fulfilling my last wish, okay?"
Qin Qin wanted to refuse but couldn’t, "...Okay."
"Thank you, I’m glad I got to know you."
She was truly glad to have met Qin Qin during the countdown of her life.
"This seashell is for you."
Yu Qianqian opened her hand, revealing a delicate white seashell resting in her palm.
Qin Qin took it and held it tightly, "It’s beautiful, I love it."
"I’m glad you like it. I was worried you’d find it too plain."
"No, it’s really beautiful."
Yu Qianqian’s aged face smiled tenderly, "I can’t be away from the sea for too long. Can you go on your own?"
"Yes!" Qin Qin nodded.
"Thank you... Could you not tell him the truth?" Yu Qianqian stood up and suddenly whispered to Qin Qin.
She felt her time was up; she didn’t want him to know everything. Let it all be as if it never happened, let her leave silently, let her disappear quietly on her own.
Watching Yu Qianqian walk into the cabin, Qin Qin turned to face the rising sun, bright and dazzling.
The man from Yu Qianqian’s story was in Jin City, named Bai Jinyan, from a wealthy family, a famous entrepreneur in Jin City, a significant figure in his own right.
Following the address given by Yu Qianqian, Qin Qin quickly found the luxurious villa of the Bai family.
The gatekeeper of the Bai family eyed the young girl standing at the door.