The mermaid lay by the edge of the bathtub, looking up at her. Ruan Li took the Suppression Ring from his hand and placed it around his neck. With a click, the black metal Suppression Ring was securely fastened. A hint of joy appeared in the mermaid’s eyes, even as he instinctively reached to tug at the ring on his neck with his claws. Ruan Li quickly held his webbed fingers, "Don’t move, you might accidentally scratch your neck with your nails." The mermaid lowered his head, taking advantage of the moment, and pressed her palm against his cheek, his eyes gazing deeply into hers. His icy blue eyes were locked on Ruan Li’s lips, his intent clear. "No, you don’t want to." A look of confusion and disappointment flashed in the mermaid’s eyes. Ruan Li gently touched his face, speaking softly, "Be good, I’ll have Zhe Ye take you to the pool later." The words came out with speed and precision. "So what do you want to do?" He gestured to his lips, then to himself. Ruan Li cupped his face with her hands, coaxing him like a baby: "I’ll give you a kiss, and you have to be good, alright?" Ruan Li planted a big kiss on his cheek. The mermaid shook his head vehemently, looking at her with an accusatory gaze, then urgently gestured again. "Nope, we agreed—one kiss and you have to listen to me." The mermaid’s eyes widened in disbelief at such a rogue act. But at that moment he couldn’t speak, and he had to suffer in silence. Anxiously, he mumbled something unintelligible to Ruan Li, which she blindly guessed was in the mermaid species’ language, and she pretended not to hear. The mermaid in front of her gradually calmed down, though his face still showed traces of grievance. "Alright, now close your eyes, and no peeking. If I catch you peeking, I’ll never let you kiss me again." The mermaid unwillingly closed his eyes, and Ruan Li deliberately moved closer for a better look. Such delicate skin... well, fish are often in water, so their skin must be nice. His blue lashes were special, and when closed, they imparted a transcendent beauty. Hmm... eyes are shut tight. Amidst the misty heat, the sound of splashing water, and water droplets occasionally splattering onto Xi Han’s body. The droplets seemed to carry a subtle fragrance, slowly seeping through the scales. A faint blush gradually appeared on his cold white cheeks. After Ruan Li put on her nightgown, she approached him again, so close that if he opened his eyes, his lashes could touch Ruan Li. She watched for a few seconds, confirmed he was still truly closing his eyes, and then stood up. "Alright, you can open your eyes now." The mermaid opened his eyes obediently, with an innocence that was almost unbelievable, and his bewildered look softened Ruan Li’s heart as she planted a big fragrant kiss on his lips. His icy blue pupils slightly contracted, seemingly not expecting the sudden surprise. Not only did the soft touch on his lips linger in his memory, but the subtle fragrance in the air was vividly imprinted. "From now on, be good and there will be rewards." Ruan Li gently stroked his seaweed-like smooth long hair. The mermaid quickly nodded. Ruan Li left the bathroom, only to find a light trail of water on the bedroom floor, which must have been left by Xi Han walking over. He actually climbed in through the window. She accidentally caught a glimpse of a shiny reflection flashing by, and upon closer inspection, found a faint blue fish scale on the floor. It seemed to have fallen off Xi Han’s body. Xi Han followed behind Ruan Li, his tail upright, leaning against the door frame, his aquamarine eyes solely focused on her. Ruan Li reluctantly tore her gaze away and noticed a few slight imperfections on Xi Han’s beautiful tail, likely caused by brushing against something while walking over. Ruan Li picked up the fish scale, holding it in her palm. The black metal Suppression Ring on Xi Han’s neck was particularly prominent, forming a stark contrast against his pale white skin, captivating her attention. Okay, she admitted she softened. She pretty much guessed why Xi Han climbed up in the middle of the night... oh well. Discover more novels at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net "Xi Han, why don’t you soak in my bathtub tonight, and tomorrow I’ll have someone move you out?" The mermaid’s previously downcast gaze lit up instantly like a light bulb at night upon hearing her words. Ruan Li attempted to lift Xi Han, exerting all her strength, but the mermaid didn’t budge, even giving her a puzzled look. The mermaid suddenly understood, resting his upper body against her, head nestled in her neck, the fins pressing against Ruan Li slightly painfully. Thankfully, he didn’t put his full weight on Ruan Li, otherwise both human and fish would likely end up sprawled awkwardly on the floor. Ruan Li supported the mermaid, trying to avoid having him step across the gaps in the floorboards, at least reducing some wear on his scales. After much effort, she managed to get him into the bathtub, and Ruan Li found herself sweating a little; she wiped the thin layer of sweat off her forehead, "I’ll run some water for you, cold water should be alright, right?" The water flowed into the bathtub with a gentle rush, the mermaid leaned against the tub edge, his wide, powerful tail barely hung over the side, its delicate-looking fins fluttering like sheer veils. The radiant blue cast a tranquil blue aura over the entire surface of the water in the tub. Only after the bathtub was nearly filled, and Ruan Li made sure Xi Han was comfortable, did she prepare to leave. The urgent call stopped Ruan Li in her tracks; she’d nearly mastered the art of calming the mermaid. "Xi Han, be good, stay quietly in the bathtub by yourself, alright? I’m really sleepy, okay? You’ll sleep in the water, I’ll sleep on the bed, and we’ll sleep together, okay?" Ruan Li softly coaxed him, and though there was still some anxiety in the mermaid’s eyes, he was clearly much calmer than before, when he had been flustered and panicked. Seeing he was mostly appeased, she yawned and closed the door as she left. The mermaid’s shout, audible even through the door, conveyed his anxiety. Ruan Li suspected he might have separation anxiety and opened the door to see Xi Han staring eagerly at her. "How about this, I won’t shut the door. You can see me, but you have to stay quiet, okay?" The mermaid flicked his tail, showing some slight dissatisfaction with the condition, but nodded nevertheless. Ruan Li hugged her pillow and ran to the foot of the bed to sleep, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she could feel the mermaid’s intense gaze. Oh well, she thought, what’s the point of arguing with a fish? So Ruan Li turned over, with the back of her head facing the bathroom door, closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep. But she couldn’t tell if it was because she was past the point of sleep, even counting sheep and dumplings in her mind didn’t help her fall asleep.