Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Boss Yu Fishes, the Willing Get Hooked

Underwater, Lan Yin’s fishtail swayed gently, sending out a ripple.

His aqua-blue eyes stared unblinkingly at the water’s surface. His long, matching hair draped behind him, making his skin appear even more porcelain-pale.

Hearing the commotion on the bank, Lan Yin prepared to surface and call for help as planned, but a hemp rope was unexpectedly tossed into the water.

He frowned slightly, wondering what Yu An was up to, when he heard her muttering to herself on the bank:

"Long ago, there was Jiang Ziya fishing with a straight hook. Today, there is me, Yu An, fishing with a hemp rope. In both cases, only the willing will take the bait!"

"Oh, little fish, little fish, if we’re destined to meet, bite my rope and let me pull you up."

As Yu An mumbled on, a flicker of speechlessness crossed Lan Yin’s normally cold, desolate eyes.

He took a deep breath, glanced at the coarse hemp rope, and wrinkled his nose in distaste.

’There was no way he was going to bite it. But his plan was to become Yu An’s savior. If she didn’t get in the water, wouldn’t his plan fail?’

Lan Yin considered for a moment, then wrapped the hemp rope around his tail.

’Worst-case scenario, he’d just switch plans. Posing as an accidentally injured victim would work, too. As long as he could get home with Yu An, that’s all that mattered.’

On the bank, Yu An suddenly felt a tug, as if a big fish had taken the bait. She gave a mighty pull—

SPLASH! A Beastman with a human torso and fishtail was hauled ashore.

Yu An asked, "Lu Lu, is this the fish you were talking about?"

Lu Lu affirmed, "That’s right. A male Merfolk. I wonder if he smells fishy."

Yu An picked up a branch and walked over to poke Lan Yin’s tail. "Hey, you still alive?"

Lan Yin furrowed his brow and composed his expression, preparing to pin the blame on Yu An. But just as he looked up, he saw her let out a sigh of relief. "Good, you’re alive. Since you’re okay, I’ll be on my way."

"Wait—"

Lan Yin hadn’t expected her to leave so decisively. He quickly called out to her, "Don’t go! My tail is injured!"

"What’s that got to do with me?" Yu An said, as if a thought had just struck her. In a tone of disbelief, she added, "You’re not trying to scam me, are you?"

She scrambled back several steps, her face a mask of vigilance, looking as if she’d hoist her vehicle over her shoulder and flee the second Lan Yin tried to blame her.

"But my tail really was injured by the rope," Lan Yin said, clutching his bleeding tail. "Shouldn’t you do something about it?"

"I shouldn’t!"

Yu An retorted self-righteously, "If I hadn’t pulled you out just now, you would’ve drowned! How dare you try to scam your own savior?"

’Drown?’

In all his long life, Lan Yin had never heard anything so absurd. "I’m a Merfolk! How could I possibly drown?!"

"Who knows?" Yu An shrugged. "The fact is, I saved you."

Lan Yin had never met anyone like her. He took a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain level. "Fine. Let’s just say... you saved me. In that case, could you see your good deed through to the end and take me home to treat my wound?"

"Nope," Yu An refused flatly. "Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to pick up strange males off the street?"

Lan Yin was taken aback, but he understood. He was in disguise, so to Yu An, he was just some strange male. For safety’s sake, it was only natural she wouldn’t take him home.

Seeing that Yu An was about to leave, a new plan quickly formed in his mind.

"Oh... all right, then."

He lowered his gaze. When he looked up again, his face was filled with helplessness and his voice trembled slightly. "I wasn’t trying to scam you. I just... I don’t know where my home is, and I’m a little scared being all alone."

"I think I have amnesia. I can’t remember anything. But the moment I saw you, you seemed so familiar. I thought you were someone I knew, so that’s why I..."

Lan Yin trailed off. The corners of his eyes were red, his gaze shimmering with unshed tears. He silently hugged his tail, his entire posture radiating confusion and anxiety.

A playful glint appeared in Yu An’s eyes. She stepped closer, studying him for a moment before a look of sudden realization dawned on her face. "So it’s you!"

’She recognized him?’

’He was in disguise, so how could she possibly recognize him? Would she think he was here to snatch her Zaizai and put her guard up against him?’

Lan Yin’s heart sank, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He feigned a look of joy. "We really know each other? Then what’s my name? What’s our relationship?"

"Of course we do," Yu An said with a wide smile. "Your name is Yu Dan. When we were little, you played at your house, and I played at mine. We were childhood friends, you see."

Lan Yin’s brain short-circuited for a moment. He couldn’t seem to understand what Yu An was saying. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"But none of that matters. What’s important is that we made a promise when we were little: when we grew up, you’d be my servant. Are you here to fulfill that promise now?"

Lan Yin: "..."

’He got it now. Yu An was just spouting absolute nonsense!’

"You poor thing, Yu Dan," Yu An said, feigning being moved. "I can’t believe you still remembered our promise. You even got injured and lost your memory just to find me."

Lan Yin’s face was stiff. He told himself to just endure it for now, for Zaizai’s sake.

"So... so that’s how it is. Then, can you take me home?"

He said, crestfallen, "I’ve forgotten where my home is. I have nowhere else to go."

"Of course," Yu An patted his shoulder, her hand conveniently sliding down to pat his fishtail. "Let’s go. Time to go home, my most loyal servant, Yu Dan~"

Lan Yin forced himself to remain calm. His fishtail transformed into a pair of legs, revealing a noticeable gash on his calf.

’It hadn’t gone according to plan, but at least the outcome was good.’

As for why Yu An had spun such a web of lies, Lan Yin had his suspicions.

’Mo Yan would never wait on her, but Yu An was used to a pampered life. Now that she had to handle all her own food, clothing, and shelter, she surely couldn’t stand it.’

’So, his arrival had given Yu An a wicked idea.’

’But Yu An wouldn’t get her way. He was the King of the Merfolk Clan, not some servant. The moment he found an opportunity, he would take Zaizai and leave immediately!’

Feng Xuan was busy bonding with Da Hu and San Dan, while Mo Yan was cooking with Xiao Yu.

The little one sat obediently by the cutting board, hugging his tail and occasionally passing seasonings to Mo Yan.

Just as the food was ready, Yu An’s voice drifted in from outside the cave. Mo Yan turned off the stove, picked up Xiao Yu, and went to the entrance to greet her. "An’an, you’re back... Who is he?!"

Han Li was nowhere in sight. Instead, a frail-looking strange male followed behind Yu An, seeming quite dependent on her.

Remembering that Yu An had also just picked up Han Li, Mo Yan had an ominous premonition.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Yu—"

Lan Yin, whose attention had been captivated by the little Merfolk, snapped back to reality and cut her off. "I think I remember something. My name is Lan."

’The name "Yu Dan" was awful. He absolutely could not lose face in front of Zaizai!’

Yu An, ever adaptable, went with the flow and briefly explained Lan Yin’s supposed origins.

"This must be your Zaizai," Lan Yin said eagerly. "Since I’m your servant, let me hold him."

He reached for Xiao Yu. After receiving a subtle cue from his Female Mother, Xiao Yu obediently let Lan Yin pick him up.

Mo Yan pulled Yu An aside and protested, "An’an, why did you bring another one home? Aren’t we enough for you?"

"Who knows if some strange male off the street is clean? And if you’re tired of me, don’t you still have those other two?"

He would rather compete with the other two. At least he knew where they came from.

Yu An gave a helpless smile. "Take a closer look at who he is."

’Faking a chance encounter and faking amnesia, and he still thinks he can snatch Zaizai from her?’

’In his dreams!’