Chapter 16: Seaweed and Shrimp Wontons (1/2)
Ye Jiujiu stared blankly at the little baby inside the refrigerator. Her body was wrapped in emerald green seaweed, with several pieces hanging on her head. Half-hidden, her face revealed a pair of large, deep blue eyes, as blue as the sea.
The little mermaid was terrified. A hint of panic shimmered in her eyes. She pouted her rosy lips, looking at Ye Jiujiu as if trying not to cry.
"Don't cry, I'll carry you out," Ye Jiujiu said, reaching to hug the child. The mermaid shrank back, but the fridge was too small to escape. She flailed her arms, and her lower body, hidden beneath the seaweed, trembled violently, slapping the fridge like a fish tail.
Ye Jiujiu's eyes widened. Fish tail? Her gaze followed the tail upward and landed on the terrified little face. A mermaid?
Her heart raced. The fridge actually sent me a mermaid? She panicked. "Can you… return the refrigerator?"
The refrigerator didn't respond, only rattled as the mermaid pounded it. "Stop filming! If it leaks electricity, you'll be roasted to a crisp!" Ye Jiujiu unplugged the fridge.
She noticed the compartments were removed and only the bottom groove remained, filled with seawater and the little mermaid. "It's all wet… uncomfortable… can we get out first?"
The little mermaid watched warily, clearly seeing Ye Jiujiu as a possible threat.
Ye Jiujiu offered a lollipop she had taken from the child's previous snacks. The mermaid blinked, letting out soft "ah ah" sounds. Ye Jiujiu guessed: "You still want to eat this?" The mermaid blinked and softly said, "Ah."
"You can eat, but can you come out first?" Ye Jiujiu coaxed gently. After hesitation, the little mermaid raised her milky white hand, placing it in Ye Jiujiu's. A mermaid who loves sweets… too trusting. If traffickers found her…
Cautiously, Ye Jiujiu lifted the mermaid out of the fridge. Seaweed clung to her wet body, and her pink tail splashed droplets across the floor. Ye Jiujiu spoke softly: "Hey… it's okay. I won't hurt you. I just want to help."
The child's blue eyes studied her silently, then glanced at the candy in Ye Jiujiu's hand. Sweets were clearly more trustworthy than humans.
Ye Jiujiu held the mermaid closer. "Careful… careful." She stared at the tail—but it wasn't a tail at all. Two delicate, milky-white legs dangled below.
The mermaid blinked innocently and tugged gently at Ye Jiujiu's sleeve. "Uh… you have legs?" Ye Jiujiu asked, stunned. The child nodded, wiggling her tiny toes as if confirming the truth.
Ye Jiujiu laughed softly, shaking her head. A mermaid with legs… in my backyard… this is officially beyond imagination.
She carried the child inside and dressed her in white T-shirt and Crocs. The little mermaid's attention immediately returned to candy. A dozen lollipop sticks lay at her feet.
"You ate so many at once?" Ye Jiujiu exclaimed. "Almost half of fifty lollipops!"
The mermaid blinked, then grinned mischievously, ignoring limits. Ye Jiujiu crouched beside her, laughing helplessly. "Alright… I give up. You win this round. But promise me—you'll eat slowly from now on."
The child nodded, immediately popping another lollipop into her mouth. Ye Jiujiu exhaled, shaking her head. Raising a mermaid—or a human—is going to be chaos… but adorable chaos.
Later, as they prepared to leave the store, Ye Jiujiu noticed her shopping bag felt heavier. She turned to see the little mermaid holding two more lollipops triumphantly in her tiny hands.
"Ohhh…" Ye Jiujiu groaned. "You little thief!" The mermaid giggled softly, victorious. Ye Jiujiu carefully lifted her into the basket, muttering, "I swear… this is going to be a long day."
By the time they returned home, the sun had risen high, cicadas chirping incessantly. Ye Jiujiu washed and hung the new clothes. When she turned, she saw the little mermaid sitting in the shade under the eaves, wearing her new clothes, surrounded by discarded lollipop sticks.
"You ate so many at once?" Ye Jiujiu asked again, exasperated. The little mermaid blinked innocently, stuffing another candy into her mouth. Ye Jiujiu sighed, sitting beside her. This little mermaid… such trouble, and so cute.
Trying to teach a few words, Ye Jiujiu ruffled her hair. "Cute?"
"Yes, very cute," she said. "Did you grow up eating cuteness?"
The mermaid only cared about candy. "Twice?"
Ye Jiujiu corrected patiently: "It's eat, not 'second.'"
The mermaid struggled: "Tsk… tsk… tsk…"
"Eat!" Ye Jiujiu repeated.
"Second-rate," the mermaid replied proudly.
Ye Jiujiu threw her head back, laughing. "Not second-rate! Eat!"
Later, trying to buy more candy, Ye Jiujiu handed over a lollipop at the checkout. Unnoticed, the mermaid had smuggled two more into her tiny hands. The bag felt heavier again.
"Are you paying for all of these?" the cashier asked.
"Yes," Ye Jiujiu replied, smiling faintly. "She… really likes sweets."
The little mermaid grinned mischievously, victorious once again. Ye Jiujiu shook her head, muttering: This is going to be a long, chaotic, and sticky day… but I'll protect her.