It’s Exciting to Snatch the Supporting Male Lead and Run Away [Quick Wear] - 64

 

IETSTSMLARA | He Wants a Mermaid | 64

Jiang Tang was pondering how to explain the creativity of a pink chicken claw, while Ye Jingfan was looking at the question, feeling that it wasn't something his carefree little mermaid would ask.

Little did he know that when one becomes influenced by their company; staying together often leads to being led astray.

Marshal Ye quickly elaborated on the creativity issue in the painting and tactfully mentioned the launch time of a new game, successfully diverting Cheng Qi's attention.

Meanwhile, Lin Su almost received a whole analysis report, systematically analyzing everything from the color of the petals to the number of branches, with the intention of shifting the focus to creativity.

After Dr. Jiang finished analyzing, Lin Su sent over the painting he had done, feeling very embarrassed as he said, "Sorry, the one I sent earlier was someone else's; this is mine now."

The lilies in the painting were vibrant and lifelike, a world apart from the previous pink chicken claw.

Jiang Tang remained silent for a long time and then sent a message, "Can I take back what I said earlier?"

"I didn't expect you to have such a high level of approval for my friend. So, what do you think of my painting?" Lin Su asked with a tone seeking praise.

This time, Jiang Tang began to carefully craft his words as if writing a paper, using magnificent language to praise Lin Su sky-high.

Lin Su chuckled softly, and Cheng Qi suddenly felt sorry for Dr. Jiang, especially when the big shot had a hobby of teasing people. However, the next day, he realized the one to feel sorry for was Marshal Ye.

Lin Su's painting was posted online by a little mermaid; it immediately garnered overwhelming praise.

"Your Highness Lin Su is truly talented."

"This painting is absolutely professional, truly worthy of a genius mermaid."

"I really want to see Prince Cheng Qi's artwork, it must be stunning."

Cheng Qi: "..."

Ugly refusal!

His paintings were ugly and he refused to exhibit them.

"I think I want to quit the painting class, I have no talent for painting!" Cheng Qi covered his face and said, "Yesterday when I went home, the Marshal's subordinate saw my painting, do you know what he said?"

"Pink chicken claw?" Lin Su thought for a moment.

Cheng Qi was stunned: "How did you know? You don't think so too, do you?"

With that last tone, Lin Su felt that if he said yes, Cheng Qi might really cry.

"It didn’t say that." Lin Su innocently held his chin. He thought about the day when Jiang Tang hesitated and finally said "pink chicken feet" in confusion. He finally suppressed the smile on his lips with great difficulty.

Cheng Qi sighed, "Well, that's what Dr. Jiang said. I want to quit the painting class and join the cooking class. If I'm not good at painting, even if I'm abandoned in the future, I'll still have cooking skills to rely on."

"Okay, good luck," Lin Su cheered him on.

The consequence of Cheng Qi joining the cooking class was trouble for the Marshal, because like painting, the mermaids always brought the finished products back to their closest ones to eat.

Cheng Qi wasn't confident in what he made, but even if he wanted to discard it halfway, he needed an opportunity. The result was: "The Marshal said he has an iron stomach, even if he had no food to eat in the past, eating wild grasses was no problem."

Lin Su looked at him and asked, "And then?"

"Then he had diarrhea." Cheng Qi leaned his head on the table, chin in hand, looking at Lin Su, "Do you think I'm useless?"

He’s a jack of all trades, master of trouble.

"It's okay, the Marshal will forgive you for your beauty," Lin Su chuckled.

In fact, Ye Jingfan wouldn't blame him for such a thing at all.

But Cheng Qi continued to stare at Lin Su, chin resting in his hand, "Love isn't just about looks."

"Why not?" Lin Su asked with a smile.

Cheng Qi pondered, "It starts with looks, but loyalty lies in character. If you could spend your whole life with someone just based on their looks, that's almost impossible. People weigh pros and cons, seek advantage and avoid harm. Those who can spend their lives together may not be the best, but they're definitely suitable for each other. Hey, these are all toxic chicken soup from the internet. Brother, have you never dated before?"

"I did," Lin Su smiled, "I just can't remember."

In that moment, Cheng Qi felt like his brother seemed a bit like a scumbag. After all, he still remembered the girl he liked the most in junior high school, confirming his straightness back then. Who knew that in this world, not only did he change species, but he also turned out to be gay.

Cheng Qi himself was half ignorant about love, so he diverted the topic, "Anyway, even though we have robot housekeepers cooking at home now, Dr. Jiang must really want to taste dishes made by your own hands, right? How about it, interested in a one-day trip to the cooking class with me?"

In his impression, such busy big shots must have only studied textbooks and various extracurricular interests when they were young, with maids at home, they definitely would not be able to do something as difficult as cooking.

Though his painting couldn't compare, Cheng Qi was determined to outshine the big shot in cooking.

"Great, I also want him to taste my cooking," Lin Su grinned.

Cheng Qi had always thought that being able to prepare multiple dishes at once was something only seen on TV until he witnessed Lin Su handling various ingredients simultaneously. The knife skills were absolutely not something one could act out; after all, the vegetables were genuinely sliced uniformly.

In just one hour, Lin Su had prepared a total of twelve dishes, neatly arranged in a three-tiered bento box, with a heart-shaped egg on top. Regardless of the taste, they certainly looked and smelled delightful.

Lin Su sealed the three-tiered bento box with its lid, but he left a portion of each dish for tasting. However, the little mermaids were still immersed in his splendid knife skills and hesitated to approach.

"If you don't mind, could you taste them for me?" Lin Su asked Cheng Qi.

Cheng Qi smiled and approached, "I won't hesitate then."

The first dish... it looked unfamiliar. But when Cheng Qi put the spoon in his mouth, he was stunned by how the food was melting in his mouth.

It was soft and delicious, with a hint of meaty aroma, while the slight fishy taste was masked by the flavor of red wine.

The sensation made him feel like he was floating on clouds of flowers. So, the little master wasn't deceiving anyone.

"This is delicious!" Cheng Qi exclaimed sincerely, even feeling tears welling up.

Were all CEOs this versatile nowadays? Handsome, good at cooking, talented, with a good temper, and making money... How could ordinary people like them live!

He was mistaken. Dr. Jiang must be the happiest person in the world.

Finally, he understood why Lin Su was avoiding these mermaids. After spending so much time with him and getting to know him, it was true that he seemed like a legendary diamond-level bachelor.

As for his mermaid identity, it didn't matter to the big shot. True love could transcend races.

Cheng Qi's sincere praise sparked a genuine desire among the mermaids who were being tantalized by the aroma.

Lin Su glanced at Cheng Qi and gave a subtle signal. Cheng Qi bit the chopsticks and called out, "Come on, everyone, taste it. Lin Su isn't stingy, right?"

"Right," Lin Su agreed.

The mermaids eagerly approached, tasting the dishes one by one, and their praises were continuous:

"So delicious."

"Really, really delicious."

"Even better than my favorite restaurant."

"Dr. Jiang is so lucky."

"Prince Lin Su, where did you learn cooking?" a mermaid asked tentatively.

"I taught myself," Lin Su smiled.

He didn't elaborate further, and based on his occasional intimidation, the other mermaids didn't dare to ask randomly. After all, they couldn't handle someone who could raise a shark as a pet.

The teacher also tasted Lin Su's dishes and gave extremely high praise, unlike the usual thoughtful "it's the thought that counts" comments: "Your knife skills are excellent. With dishes like these, you could easily win top prizes in cooking competitions."

Teachers always carried authority, and the mermaids around looked at Lin Su with admiration.

Prince Lin Su, who had once lived in such difficult circumstances, was still so outstanding. He truly deserved the love of the imperial people.

After school, mermaids were always picked up by their protectors. Marshal Ye couldn't always make it, being busy with military affairs, but even if he couldn't come, he would send his adjutants to ensure tight security and prevent any opportunities for other suitors.

On the other hand, the rumors circulating on the Star Network about Dr. Jiang being obsessed with work didn't deter him at all.

In the past, Lin Su would often bring some gifts, like a bouquet of flowers from the flower arranging class or occasionally a toy he had made when bored... Those were easy for him to handle. Unlike today, when Lin Su got into the car, campus security brought in a giant bento box.

Lin Su could have carried it himself, given his S-level physique capable of wielding a great white shark in the sea. But since others thought he couldn't, and Lin Su didn't want any rumors spreading on the Star Network about Jiang Tang not knowing how to take care of mermaids, he simply didn't refuse the help.

Lin Su thanked the security guard, and as the car door closed, Jiang Tang was still staring at the person.

"Just someone helping me carry things," Lin Su chuckled, "I won't flirt with others outside."

Jiang Tang withdrew his gaze, explaining, "I didn't doubt your intentions."

It's just that the person was obviously very attentive to Lin Su. Even if it was just helping, Jiang Tang felt reluctant to let anyone get close to his mermaid. "Next time you need to carry something heavy, let me help you. What's this?"

"I went to a cooking class with Cheng Qi today," Lin Su leaned against Jiang Tang's shoulder, a level of intimacy that Jiang Tang had become increasingly accustomed to, though his earlobes still turned red. "Would you like to taste it for me?"

"Sure," Jiang Tang looked at the large bento box, "You must be tired from making so much. You don't have to work so hard next time."

Of course, he was delighted that his mermaid would cook for him, but as a mermaid, he shouldn't be so exhausted.

"Well, if I'm working so hard, shouldn't I get some rewards?" Lin Su reached up and touched Jiang Tang's cheek, moving closer.

Their gazes met closely, and Jiang Tang's eyes shifted downward. The sound of his heart pounding echoed in his ears, and suddenly, he felt thirsty, as if he needed something to relieve the dryness in his throat.

But as his gaze lowered, he caught sight of a red mark. Just as their noses were about to touch, Jiang Tang grasped Lin Su's hand and held it up in front of him. "Are you injured?"

Lin Su's skin was very fair, almost translucent, which made even the slightest scratches on his fingers stand out prominently. The mark on his index finger was obviously from a blade scraping against it.

【If this was seen later, it would have disappeared by now.】System 06 Detect the tiny red mark.

【So I have to act quickly.】 Lin Su said with a smile.

The marks were naturally caused by accident. The blades in this world are still quite sharp, but since they have been made, the wound must play its due role.

"It must hurt," Jiang Tang held his finger, clearly feeling sorry, "You shouldn't cook next time. I can eat anything."

"Yeah, it hurts," Lin Su held his finger out to Jiang Tang's lips, "Can Mr. Jiang blow on it?"

Jiang Tang hesitated for a moment. He had wrapped wounds for others before but had never done anything like soothing someone akin to comforting a child. "This doesn't have any scientific basis, and there are bacteria in the mouth..."

"Mr. Jiang, please blow on it," Lin Su requested again.

Jiang Tang's Adam's apple bobbed, and he held Lin Su's hand and blew on it. His entire earlobe turned red. "All right, when we get back..."

"It's really effective; the pain is gone in an instant," Lin Su flicked his finger and smiled, "See, it's already healed."

The red mark on his finger was barely visible anymore, and Jiang Tang remained composed. "Although this was just an accident. You shouldn't cook anymore in the future."

"Let's talk about that after Mr. Jiang tastes my cooking," Lin Su lowered his head and approached, "But for now, let's discuss the reward."

Before Jiang Tang could react, his attention was completely diverted by the unfamiliar yet soft sensation on his lips.

Kissing was a very pleasant thing; there was the strange and magical sensation, as well as the intimacy and satisfaction of the soul. However, as a man, how could he let his mermaid take the initiative?

Jiang Tang returned the embrace, trying to regain his dominance. However, he realized that he was the one being held, and his thoughts were unclear, as if he was also immersed in it.

Until the kiss ended, Jiang Tang slowly came to his senses and looked at the merman beside him who blinked at him, and he seemed to be the one who was lost in the confusion.

Aren't mermaids supposed to be delicate and easy to push down? But Lin Su had an S-level physique, so there shouldn't be any problem with his strength, yet his kissing technique was excellent!

Mermaids are born in the deep sea, but they didn't just come out of nowhere. There must be a community, and there must be other members of their kind there. Even if technology hasn't detected it, this kind of thing shouldn't be answered by a mermaid.

"Mr. Jiang isn't speaking. Are you savoring the feeling just now?" Lin Su asked, scratching his cheek with the tip of his hair.

Jiang Tang was never good with words and often found himself at a loss for how to respond to Lin Su's words. "No."

At times like this, all he could say was "no."

But he felt that his mermaid, although innocent, was somehow... very skilled compared to those naive mermaids.

"Have you been with other mermaids before?" Jiang Tang hesitated. He knew he shouldn't ask about the mermaid's past. They came from the deep sea to the land and should be well taken care of, not entangled in their past.

"No, I'm very pure," Lin Su affirmed. Although his body was that of an adult merman, he was still completely innocent. "And I only like Mr. Jiang, don't you believe me?"

"I believe you," Jiang Tang instinctively replied.

"Well, that's good." Lin Su hugged his shoulders and whispered in his ear, "As for why my kissing technique is good, it's because I'm good at learning."

"Did someone show you something you shouldn't have seen?" Jiang Tang frowned slightly. 

Although mermaids have a breeding course, it definitely wouldn't involve such technical issues. The mermaid academy wouldn't make such mistakes, but aside from the breeding facility, Lin Su had spent the most time in his research lab.

"There’s nothing wrong with watching it. It’s obvious, Mr. Jiang enjoys it very much," Lin Su said.

Jiang Tang was speechless. Clearly, he was someone who could stand up to the emperor, but when facing Lin Su, he often found himself unable to retort.

"Or perhaps Mr. Jiang doesn't like kissing me?" Lin Su asked again.

Jiang Tang sighed suddenly. "I do."

He did.

But mermaids were ignorant, unable to distinguish right from wrong. Those who taught mermaids these kinds of things should not have done so.

It seemed like the breeding facility and the research lab needed to be thoroughly investigated.

"But you can't do this with anyone else," Jiang Tang cautioned. "You can't kiss others casually."

"I know that, I only want to kiss Mr. Jiang," Lin Su said with a smile.

Jiang Tang really wanted to marry this mermaid and bring him home. But before doing so, he needed to make sure he was fully prepared to take care of this mermaid.

Jiang Tang's house was very spacious, with comprehensive security equipment. Even though he was a human, he was almost as precious as a mermaid, and his value didn't come from his appearance, but from his personal knowledge and abilities.

But the house was also quite empty. Even though he had added some flowers and a painting, it still felt almost desolate.

However, this was also because the large swimming pool in the backyard had not been completed yet, and Lin Su's desired items were still in the shopping cart, either being added or removed. The overall style had not been fully determined yet.

It's not that Jiang Tang didn't want to decorate, but he couldn't figure out Lin Su's preferences. 

After all, in his understanding, mermaids should like various colorful fish painted on blue walls. But Lin Su clearly showed no interest in that kind of wall. The only thing he brought back was a little yellow duck given to him by Cheng Qi. So Jiang Tang just left everything to Lin Su, as long as he liked it.

Back home, Jiang Tang placed the lunchbox on the table and brought out the utensils. When he opened it, he was mentally prepared to see pink chicken feet, but he paused when he saw the heart-shaped fried egg on top.

When expectations were not high, but what you saw exceeded expectations by far, Jiang Tang felt his heart fill up even in this empty home.

His parents had passed away early, but they had been very loving when they were together. He longed to have a mermaid to form a family, but the busyness of work and his temperament made him be avoided by mermaids. 

Every time he saw those mermaids who could burst into tears at any moment when he spoke, he felt helpless, but not moved, so he could only choose to stay away.

No mermaid could make him feel the urge to pursue, they were too fragile. Only Lin Su, only Lin Su made him feel a sense of "it's him."

It’s not just because he was a mermaid, it just had to be him.

Jiang Tang didn't touch the heart-shaped egg. Carefully, he picked out the vegetables next to the heart and put them into his mouth. The lunchbox could preserve the deliciousness of the food when it was just made, and Lin Su's cooking was truly delicious, astonishing him.

"Is it delicious?" Lin Su asked with a smile.

Jiang Tang nodded. "It's delicious."

"Do you want to eat it again after finishing?" Lin Su asked again.

Jiang Tang loved his work and often got immersed in it. Many times, to save time, he would just consume nutrient solution. While it could indeed fulfill all the body's needs, life would be lacking without the taste of delicious food tickling the taste buds.

Jiang Tang hesitated for a moment. Regardless of the taste of the lunchbox, it was Lin Su's gift. That alone was enough to satisfy him. Plus, the deliciousness in it would make him feel pleasantly surprised.

It felt good, but Jiang Tang still didn't want to burden him. "It's just a matter of satisfying appetite, it's better not to bother."

"But I like cooking for you, seeing you satisfied makes me happy," Lin Su smiled. "Don't you like it?"

Jiang Tang replied earnestly, "I do. Then... thank you, but please don't strain yourself. If you want to cook, go ahead, just be careful not to hurt yourself."

Lin Su nodded, and Jiang Tang finally ate the heart-shaped egg, then got up to tidy up the lunchbox and brought it to the kitchen, but he didn't come out for a long time.

Lin Su had already decided on all the things he needed to buy. When he looked up, he realized Jiang Tang hadn't come out of the kitchen for half an hour after washing the lunchbox. His expression changed slightly, and he walked to the kitchen door, only to find Dr. Jiang, who was capable of everything in the lab, was opening one cabinet after another, completely ignoring the built-in dishwasher.

It wasn't a matter of not knowing how to use it, but simply not being able to find it.

Lin Su walked in quietly from behind him and pressed the dishwasher switch. The beep made Jiang Tang, who was squatting in front of the cabinet, turn around.

He stood up, startled, and tried to explain calmly, "Actually, I was looking for something."

The fact that he couldn't find the dishwasher in his own house was definitely one of the least capable things when it came to taking care of a mermaid.

"Okay, then you can keep looking," Lin Su said understandingly, then turned to leave the kitchen. 

Just as Jiang Tang let out a sigh of relief, Lin Su added, "If you don't know how to use anything, just look it up on the StarNet."

Jiang Tang: "..."

Lin Su found out!

In the end, Jiang Tang found the instructions for using the dishwasher on the StarNet. When the lunchbox came out clean and tidy, he could still feel the joy he felt when he first saw it.

Jiang Tang touched the lunchbox and reopened the StarNet.

Although a mermaid would live in the same house as their protector after being taken in, they couldn't share a room. This was one of the initial rules for deep-sea mermaids when they first came ashore. 

In today's society, except for Lin Su and Cheng Qi, other mermaids were not allowed to stay overnight in someone else's house without being married, even if they were friends, they had to get permission from their family.

Offending a mermaid and causing them to give birth before setting a marriage contract was a serious crime.

When Jiang Tang came out, Lin Su had already gone into the room. He breathed a sigh of relief and then turned to enter his own room.

Breakfast was prepared by the robot nanny. Jiang Tang didn't have the habit of eating, but mermaids needed to have good habits of rest and diet, so Jiang Tang accompanied him to eat.

After the meal, when he brought out the lunchbox, Lin Su glanced at it. "Is this the lunchbox I used yesterday?"

Jiang Tang subconsciously straightened his back and said, "Yes, is there a problem?"

"No," Lin Su could almost confirm that this wasn't the one from yesterday.

As for where yesterday's lunchbox went? Probably to the same insurance company as his worn-out clothes, the broken shell bed, and the occasional strands of hair that fell by his pillow.

Oh well, let's keep this as a memento for his first time eating food made by a mermaid. It was quite a feat to find an almost identical lunchbox to return.

After Lin Su's paintings became popular, his cooking soon followed suit. It was so popular that if he decided to become a celebrity, he would instantly have fans across the entire empire.

"I heard that Prince Lin Su can make many dishes in just one hour, and they're all especially delicious."

Of course, such statements needed accompanying images.

"How excellent His Highness Lin Su is!"

"He should be engraved in the monument of history."

"My dream mermaid."

"Dream mermaid+1"

"+2"

"... "

The comments kept coming, demonstrating Lin Su's popularity.

"This is simply the national dream mermaid," Cheng Qi summed up.

"If I told them I'm infertile, half of them would unsubscribe tomorrow," Lin Su didn't seem to care much about the comments on the StarNet regarding himself.

Cheng Qi smiled, not really envious. After all, if he were to do something like that, the vinegar jar at home would definitely be overturned. 

He decided not to bring up that topic anymore. "Actually, I want to go to the Mecha Academy. My physical condition hasn't reached its peak yet, and there's still room for improvement. I can fully handle the physical exertion of piloting a mecha. Nowadays, which guy doesn't have a dream of piloting a mecha? It's rare to come across an opportunity like this, but Ye Jingfan won't let me go. Lin Su, are you interested in going together to take a look?"

Cheng Qi, despite his young age when he crossed over, wasn't like the mermaids here who obediently stayed at home playing the piano and doing embroidery. He preferred the freedom of the open air.

This stemmed from his experience in the original timeline, where he secretly started up a mecha. However, due to the mismatch between the type of mecha and his mental strength, it caused some collisions, nearly disqualifying Ye Jingfan from marrying a mermaid.

But these were collisions and challenges in a different world with different ideologies and rules. 

Also, due to Cheng Qi's personality, he was able to independently pilot a mecha to search for Ye Jingfan when he was unexpectedly stranded on a remote planet, rather than just waiting at home.

Growing up always involves some collisions and challenges. For the sake of his brother's face, Lin Su smiled and said, "Do you understand the issues of mecha compatibility? Do you know the differences between ZHT and XHT models? Do you know their maximum mental endurance limits? Do you know what preparations should be made before entering?"

If the Mecha Academy only taught how to fight, why would there be a five-year curriculum?

Theoretical knowledge and operational procedures must be learned step by step, starting from the simplest. It's not like you can just transform into an armored warrior and start wreaking havoc.

Unfortunately, this world would never teach mermaids about mecha knowledge.

Cheng Qi's mouth formed an 'O', looking at Lin Su with admiration. "Brother, you know all that?"

Lin Su chuckled. "What do you think?"

Cheng Qi looked a bit disheartened. "I understand what you mean. Going in without knowing anything is like a doctor doing an operation without any proper training. It's going to cause problems. But what should I do? That jerk Ye Jingfan doesn't understand what I'm thinking!"

"If you can't get through to him by using a hard tactic, try using a soft tactic," Lin Su said casually. "The Marshal has seen plenty of people who challenge him, but he probably hasn't dealt with someone who's as persistent as you."

"Please～" Cheng Qi suddenly softened his tone, then patted his chest and said, "Like this? No, no, this undermines my dignity as a man!"

"Which is more important, your dignity or piloting a mecha?" Lin Su asked.

Cheng Qi fell silent for a moment, then had an epiphany. "I understand what you mean, good buddy. Bros before mechs. I'll come teach you once I've got comprehensive knowledge about mechas."

With a determined air, he left, giving off the vibe of a hero going off to battle, never to return.

Lin Su waved goodbye to him, wishing him success.

It’s not that Ye Jingfan didn’t love Cheng Qi; it's just that mermaids were precious, and he had been educated to protect them from harm since childhood. Naturally, he wouldn't want Cheng Qi to engage in such dangerous activities.

As for Lin Su, there was no need for such complications when he wanted to learn about that aspect.

The overall decoration of the house was complete, still maintaining a simple, warm white style. 

However, the extremely comfortable sofa, colorful throw pillows, and newly built flower room added many fresh colors to the home. The backyard pool was spacious, surrounded by a circle of white roses. Simple flower beds surrounded the pool, with mermaids occasionally diving in and out, as if they were being raised here as part of the sea.

Jiang Tang watched as Lin Su deliberately raised splashes of water into the air as he submerged into the distance. Before he could search for his whereabouts again, his attention was drawn by a tug on his pants cuff.

The beautiful mermaid in the azure waters gestured with his hand, and Jiang Tang squatted down. "What is it?"

"Can I learn about mechas?" Lin Su lowered his voice. "Just studying those boring materials at the academy every day is driving me crazy."

Jiang Tang naturally felt sorry for him, but after being tricked multiple times, he had become adept at seeing through tricks. "Just learning?"

Would there come a day when Lin Su would have to pilot a mecha?

"Why would you ask such a question?" Lin Su asked innocently.

"Because Ye Jingfan sent me a message yesterday, telling me to take care of the mermaids in my house. He said you're teaching his family’s mermaid tricks that give him headaches and he also told me not to tell you," Jiang Tang said calmly.

It seems that the method he taught Cheng Qi has been effective. Lin Su, feeling confident, asked, "So how did you respond to him?"

"I told him he was incompetent and doubled the price of the new drug about to launch in the military market," Jiang Tang couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of his mermaids, even if they were at fault first. "You taught Cheng Qi to do that for a reason, right?"

"Mr. Jiang, can I kiss you?" Lin Su didn't answer his question but instead posed a new one.

Regardless of who was right or wrong, the feeling of being defended felt good.

Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned, but the next moment, he embraced Lin Su's waist, lifted him out of the water, and kissed him. "Yes."

This time he had to take back control!

However, as they separated, Jiang Tang lying on the shore looked at the half-submerged fish above his head and felt that something was still not quite right. "The mermaid should be below..."

"Okay, then I'll be below," Lin Su flipped them over, now he was indeed below, but Jiang Tang found himself lying on the mermaid's chest.

No, something must be wrong.

Jiang Tang voiced his doubts, and Lin Su pondered, "Is it because I'm too tall? As a mermaid, I'm about 2.5 meters long."

Jiang Tang found that reasonable. "Ah, I see."

"Well then," Lin Su smiled, "did you agree to my request?"

The mermaid lying under him had her hair spread out, smiling as if offering a sacrifice, Jiang Tang spoke, "Yes, but you have to tell me before doing anything dangerous."

"Mr. Jiang, you're so kind. Do you want to kiss me again?" Lin Su smiled, looking like a seductive demon luring people to hell. 

Jiang Tang dared not look again, afraid of truly offending him, and stood up, saying, "There should be moderation in such things. Next time... just kiss."

He stood up hurriedly and left. Lin Su asked, "When will the next time be? How long do I have to wait?"

Why wasn't this mermaid bashful at all?

Jiang Tang almost stumbled and replied, "As soon as possible!"

This time, it truly felt like he was fleeing in disarray.

Seeing his reaction, Lin Su suddenly burst into laughter.

As for Marshal Ye Jingfan, he was truly enduring what could be described as inhumane torture. The enemy didn't attack with artillery but with sugar-coated bullets, soft and gentle, leaving you defenseless.

Cheng Qi lay on his lap, whimpering, "Marshal, Marshal, I want to learn about mechas. If you don't let me, I'll cry. I'll keep crying~"

Ye Jingfan's face remained stern, but his deputy knew that the dam in the Marshal's heart was on the verge of collapsing. Yet faced with such a relentless little mermaid, there was nothing anyone could do.

"Jingfan, don't you love me the most? Can you bear to see me cry until I faint?" Cheng Qi continued, with tears welling up in his eyes, adding a touch of charm with his gaze.

Ye Jingfan wanted to lift him up, but he was slippery like a fish and couldn't get up from his lap. 

Ye Jingfan sighed, "You've been like this for three days. Do you think I'll give in?"

"Ye Jingfan..." Cheng Qi's tears finally fell, "If you don't let me learn, what will I do if I really don't know anything and get on a mecha one day?"

Those tears fell like crystal-clear droplets, light and gentle, but they felt as heavy as boulders as they struck Ye Jingfan's heart. He had made his mermaid cry...

"With me around, you won't have the chance to get into a mecha. I'll protect you," Ye Jingfan held him close to his chest, "I promise."

Although Cheng Qi was deeply moved, he still felt scared when he remembered his previous ignorance and recklessness. 

He sobbed softly, "If it weren't for Lin Su telling me to learn the knowledge first and this discuss with you, and then trying it. I would have sneaked off to the Mecha Academy to try it out. Ye Jingfan, I'm unhappy living at the Merfolk Academy. I don't want to learn those things. I have things I like."

If Cheng Qi had casually tried to operate a mecha without proper adaptation and training, it could have resulted in irreversible consequences. He realized that he was wrong to have blamed Jiang Tang’s mermaid who had supposedly led his fellow mermaid astray.

"I'm sorry," Ye Jingfan hugged him tightly, "It's my fault for not understanding you."

He had thought Cheng Qi was just being playful, without realizing his true needs.

Cheng Qi pouted, clinging to his neck as he burst into loud sobs, completely abandoning his image, venting all the frustration and caution he had accumulated since arriving in this world.

"What's wrong?!" Ye Jingfan was taken aback, "It's okay, it's okay. Shall I teach you myself? I'll teach you better than the instructors at the Mecha Academy."

"Mm," Cheng Qi managed to squeeze out a response through his tears before continuing to cry.

Ye Jingfan could only helplessly console him.

After that incident, Cheng Qi didn't drop out of the Merfolk Academy, but his requests for leave skyrocketed, and every time he returned, he seemed excited, until the news of Marshal Ye's successful proposal spread throughout the entire StarNet.

Report from System 06: 【Host, the progress of the protagonist's relationship has accelerated five times faster than in the original timeline.】

All the struggles of grappling with one's sexual orientation, the harassment from the male supporting male lead, the scene of him sneaking away to learn mecha and falling into a coma, the scene of Marshal Ye almost losing qualifications of owning a mermaid, and the hardships he experienced in a foreign country—all of it was skipped over, as if they had just skipped to the end and rolled credits.

They had clearly gone through many trials and tribulations before getting married and having children, but now it was all gone.

[Isn't this a good thing?] Lin Su asked.

System 06 replied: 【It's good for us, but have you ever experienced the feeling of watching a TV series only to see the ending?】

All the exciting moments had been deleted, leaving nothing to watch.

【They can still experience hardships in their marriage.】 Lin Su shrugged, 【True marriage is far more exciting than courtship. Who knows, they might even unlock new scenes and have more children than in the original timeline.】

Regardless of whether they get married or not, Cheng Qi still has various male supporting leads waiting for him. Without Jiang Tang or Emperor Qin Yue, there are still others waiting for Marshal Ye to suppress them one by one in the name of his main wife.

System 06 suddenly realized: 【That makes sense.】

The host is truly skilled.

【But why haven't you gotten married yet?】 System 06 questioned.

Lin Su simply threw System 06 into his system space. He was also puzzled as to why Jiang Tang hadn't proposed to him yet. Had his charm worn off?

In this world, humans hold the dominant position, and someone in a dominant position may not necessarily take the initiative because they love you, but not taking the initiative definitely doesn't mean they don't love you.

But comparisons and impatience are the last things you want in such matters. It's not that he can't get what he wants, but rather, he can't escape it.

Cheng Qi and personally Ye Jingfan handed Lin Su an invitation, his joy obvious, indicating their mutual affection.

Ye Jingfan bowed directly to Lin Su and apologized, "I apologize for misunderstanding you last time."

"It's okay, it's just a small matter. I forgive you." Lin Su wasn't going to dwell on such a trivial matter for so long, especially since Jiang Tang's protective measures were very effective.

With that, Jiang Tang's displeasure towards Ye Jingfan slowly dissipated.

Once inside, Cheng Qi felt it was time to have a private chat with his brother. He pulled Lin Su aside and asked, "We're getting married soon. When are you and Mr. Jiang going to get married?"

Lin Su couldn't help but feel like he had heard that phrase somewhere before. Later, he remembered it was something girlfriends or mothers might say to their daughters.

Lin Su didn't answer, just patted Cheng Qi on the shoulder and said, "Focus on learning about mechas."

Cheng Qi: "???"

There were four people, two couples, who could all engage in conversation together. However, when they delved into professional terminology, Cheng Qi felt somewhat excluded. 

Nevertheless, Lin Su's talent for learning and his innovative suggestions surprised Jiang Tang and Ye Jingfan.

However, their professional discussion didn't last long. Ye Jingfan was concerned about Cheng Qi's emotions, and Lin Su was mindful of the occasion, so the conversation shifted to topics that Cheng Qi could understand and engage with.

For example, the issue of mermaids wearing sea pearls.

Cheng Qi: "..."

Why does the conversation always seem to revolve around him wearing accessories?

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