TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 10

“Ah, this is nice,” Yu Su said, raising an arm to play with the water. “As expected, it’s better to soak in water.”

He had activated the tub’s fill function but forgotten to turn it off, so the overflowing water dripped onto the floor without him noticing.

“It seems I’ll need to do this regularly to maintain my human form. Just drinking water isn’t enough… and it might even cause mild omega heat.”

He thought back to Chi Yanxing’s dark gaze in the dim car. If this happened too often, even his thick skin wouldn’t save him.

As water trickled down, Yu Su remembered his tail. Back in the sea, he’d care for his scales at least once every two days. Before escorting those sea turtles, he had just stocked up on a pile of seaweed masks for his tail.

“I must be the unluckiest mermaid of the year—stranded onshore, caught by humans, lost my tail, and stuck with these mostly useless legs.”

Used to the freedom of the ocean, Yu Su could only zip around in his wheelchair, trying to reclaim the feeling of gliding through the water.

“But humans really know how to live. Their wheelchairs are comfy, and so are their bathtubs.”

Leaning his head back on the tub’s edge, Yu Su closed his eyes, letting the warm water remind him of the familiar temperate waters of the ocean. He prepared to relax fully.

–

In the master bedroom, Chi Yanxing’s computer hummed, displaying project progress reports delivered by his assistant. Sorting through the files was tedious work, and by the time he finished, the night outside was utterly still.

Chi Yanxing set the files down and stepped onto the balcony. The master bedroom’s balcony was expansive and half-open, with part of it dedicated to a small, private aquarium.

The moonlight reflected off the water, casting ripples on Chi Yanxing’s face.

Unknown to most, this high-powered alpha, heir to a vast corporate empire, secretly kept fish as a hobby. And not just any fish—he maintained a whole pool of them.

Chi Yanxing stood silently for a moment before retrieving a small plate of fish food from a nearby mini fridge. He began feeding the fish with practiced ease.

These little creatures hadn’t seen him for almost a week; they’d likely already forgotten what their owner looked like.

After all, fish were notoriously forgetful. What could they retain in a few seconds? They couldn’t even remember themselves.

Chi Yanxing watched the lively feeding frenzy in the pool, the contrast among the fish making the scene all the more vivid.

Being a member of the elite, his fish lived in luxury—water brought directly from the coast, changed weekly, and decorative stones and shells polished to perfection.

Raising these sea fish was originally a way to calm his mind. And now, he’d brought back something from the sea that calmed him even more.

“Other than not being a fish, he’s pretty much like you guys,” Chi Yanxing muttered. “Except he’s better looking.”

One well-fed fish spat out a splash of water as if protesting its owner’s comment.

“Is this sustainable?” the alpha asked at night.

The fish offered no answers. Satiated and indifferent, they drifted to the pool’s bottom to sleep in small groups.

Chi Yanxing shook off the water droplets on his hand, feeling ridiculous for talking to a bunch of fish. He set the food down and turned to leave, but the light spilling out from the adjacent room caught his eye.

It was the room he’d prepared for Yu Su, complete with a small, bright balcony.

Chi Yanxing frowned and glanced at his watch. Yu Su had been in the bathroom for almost an hour.

Grabbing a towel from his bathroom, he quickly made his way to the omega’s room.

–

The bathroom was shrouded in mist, the shower still running faithfully. But the chair’s occupant had yet to return.

The silhouette of Yu Su, previously visible above the edge of the bathtub, had completely disappeared from view.

The small bathroom, dominated by the continuous and monotonous sound of running water, seemed even more silent. Suddenly, a slender arm broke through the still water, lazily gripping the edge of the bathtub. Unlike a human hand, its sharp, claw-like nails gleamed threateningly, as if a slight exertion of force could slice through the throat of prey.

They were the claws of a mermaid.

Using the edge of the tub for leverage, Yu Su turned underwater, releasing a few bubbles before drifting back to sleep. The environment was far too comfortable, so tranquil that it instinctively lulled him into a deep sense of relaxation.

However, the bathroom’s partitions couldn’t withstand the excessive water overflow. Gradually, a small stream trickled out through the gap beneath the door, pooling onto the non-slip mat outside.

Outside, Chi Yanxing knocked twice on the door. “Yu Su, Yu Su—”

The sound of knocking barely registered over the rushing water, failing to wake the slumbering mermaid.

Chi Yanxing frowned, wondering if he was overthinking. Maybe this omega just had a penchant for cleanliness and was taking a long bath. He stood outside the door, silent for a moment, before glancing at the time again.

But even the cleanest omega wouldn’t bathe for this long. Moreover, Yu Su wasn’t in the best physical condition—if he slipped inside and couldn’t reach the call button…

The thought deepened Chi Yanxing’s frown. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, he placed his hand on the door handle. The fingerprint scanners in the villa granted him access to every room. With a soft click, the door unlocked, and Chi Yanxing stepped in.

The sight of an empty bed greeted him immediately. The water in the bathroom continued to gush audibly.

“Yu Su, are you in there?” Chi Yanxing rapped on the frosted glass door of the bathroom.

The force of his knock, heavy and impatient, finally reached Yu Su’s ears. Stirred from his aquatic slumber, he yawned underwater, lazily opening his eyes.

Who’s outside? Could it be Ning calling him out to play?

Blowing out a few bubbles, Yu Su glanced around. Instead of the familiar white seashell bed, he was met with the smooth white contours of a large bathtub.

“!!”

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

Yu Su’s mind snapped back into focus. He had accidentally come ashore—and now he was in a human’s home, not his familiar ocean!

The mermaid sat up with a splash, his movements revealing a tall figure standing just beyond the frosted glass.

Panic surged through him. Propping himself on his arms, Yu Su attempted to climb out of the tub, but before he could muster the strength, a magnificent fishtail broke through the water’s surface with a flick.

“!!!”

It was his tail! His tail had come back!

Just as joy began to well up, Chi Yanxing’s voice interrupted, more forceful and impatient this time. “Yu Su!”

Startled, Yu Su’s elation turned into dread. He was in his mermaid form—just a door away from a human who could enter at any moment!

Yu Su’s little heart raced. Before Chi Yanxing could turn the door handle, he hastily shouted, “I’m here! I’m here! I’m inside—”

The handle stilled. Outside, the man went quiet for a few seconds before speaking coldly, “It’s been over an hour. Are you making fish soup in there?”

Yu Su: “…”

As always, Chi Yanxing’s sharp tongue left him speechless.

Unable to see the man’s unforgiving expression, Yu Su could only shout back, “I’m just taking a bath! Wait a bit longer!”

Chi Yanxing hung a towel on the door handle. “Five minutes.”

Yu Su, still marveling at the smoothness of his scales, absently responded, “Huh?”

“I’ll wait five minutes outside. If you’re not out by then, I’ll come in and help you bathe myself.” Chi Yanxing’s voice was biting, each word enunciated with restrained frustration. Yu Su could tell he was genuinely angry.

Frantic, Yu Su glanced at his restored tail and, with a resolute gulp, scrambled out of the tub.

“Okay, okay! Don’t come in—I’m putting on clothes!”

Chi Yanxing didn’t reply, but his shadow loomed outside, clearly counting down the seconds.

Hurriedly, Yu Su drained the bathtub, turned off the faucet, and grabbed a large towel prepared earlier. He dried his tail quickly, feeling a familiar tingling sensation as the water was absorbed. To his relief and regret, his tail transformed back into human legs.

Bathwater = tail. No bathwater = legs.

This must be the condition and trigger for his transformation.

Yu Su took a deep breath and awkwardly pulled on a pair of shorts.

“At least it’s still here…” he muttered, patting his human legs. “What’s a mermaid without a tail, anyway?”

“One minute,” Chi Yanxing’s voice rang through the door, slightly distorted but undeniably stern.

Struggling, Yu Su pulled on a cotton pajama top. The outfit had been tailored for his convenience and didn’t include pants, the long top covering him completely.

“I’m ready, Chi Yanxing. You can come in now.” Yu Su glanced around the bathroom, ensuring everything was in place, though the excess water on the floor was hard to miss.

Seconds later, the bathroom door opened, revealing Chi Yanxing’s tall figure. His sharp features were etched with displeasure, his piercing gaze making Yu Su instinctively shrink back.

“Chi Yanxing—” Yu Su stretched out his words in a bid to placate him.

“You’re done?”

“…Yes.”

“Is everything satisfactory?”

“…Huh?” The sudden question caught Yu Su off guard. “Oh, yeah, it’s comfortable. Very convenient.”

Chi Yanxing hummed in acknowledgment and leaned down slightly, scooping Yu Su into his arms.

“From now on, limit your bath time to under an hour. I’ll adjust the bathroom’s alarm system accordingly.”

Yu Su huddled his shoulders. “What’s the big deal? I just wanted to take a longer bath…”

And to spend more time admiring his tail.

Chi Yanxing didn’t respond and simply placed Yu Su on the bed.

“No more.” He had no intention of letting such an incident repeat itself.

Yu Su pouted. “So fierce.”

Chi Yanxing turned on the bedside lamp without saying another word.

As he turned away, he felt a tug at the hem of his clothes. Behind him came the soft, sugar-sweet voice of the omega.

“Don’t be mad, okay? I won’t make you worry next time,” Yu Su whispered. “Turn around and look at me.”

Chi Yanxing felt like the injection from earlier had been a complete waste. He took a deep breath and turned his head slightly. The bedside lamp’s glow outlined his sharp and defined features.

Yu Su clumsily and cautiously took up the task of appeasing him. “Alright, just look at me and you won’t be angry anymore.”

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