TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 16

“I’ve been raising these fish since I differentiated at thirteen,” Chi Yanxing said as he pushed open the door and then turned back to stand behind Yu Su. “Over the years, I’ve swapped out quite a few batches.”

Yu Su, who had mostly recovered his mood, tilted his chin up and waved an imaginary flag of victory. “What’s so interesting about these wild little fish? They’re not as good-looking as me.”

Humans didn’t have the same natural emotional self-regulation as mermaids. The alpha, still half-stuck in remorse, awkwardly tried to comfort his omega. “You’re the most beautiful.”

Only then did Yu Su nod. “If you’d said something like that earlier, I wouldn’t have had to search all over just to see your face.”

Chi Yanxing, already used to the occasional startling remarks from the other, could only feel a strange sense of security welling up inside after being roasted countless times.

This was the real Yu Su. This omega should always be this proud and unwilling to take a loss.

It was Yu Su’s first time in Chi Yanxing’s room. He looked around and commented, “Do all the cool and aloof handsome guys like this kind of interior design?”

Gray walls, a stark white bed, and no other vibrant colors—it looked as if adding even a bit of color would disqualify one from being a domineering CEO.

“Twenty-year-old aesthetics,” Chi Yanxing replied.

“And now? If you could redo it now, what would you go for?” Yu Su asked curiously.

“At the very least, I’d repaint the walls white.”

Yu Su: “…”

What a waste of such a big room.

“If you ask me, the walls should have starfish on them, the desk should have white coral, and as for the walls, they’d look best painted blue.” The little mermaid gestured grandly. “This bed is barely acceptable, but it’s still too plain. It should have a gorgeous gold duvet cover to look nice.”

Chi Yanxing silently listened to Yu Su’s words and didn’t comment on the slightly odd color scheme.

After surveying the room, Yu Su belatedly realized that this was someone else’s room and that he had come here to look at fish.

“Uh…well, anyway, it’s up to what you like. This is your territory, after all.”

Unexpectedly, Chi Yanxing said, “It’s fine. Your ideas are quite imaginative.”

Yu Su was surprised. “You’re actually still complimenting me?”

Calling him beautiful and saying his ideas were imaginative?

The alpha, who had caused him distress, moved his lips and said stiffly, “I’m trying to cheer you up.”

Taking care of the other’s feelings, asking what they needed, and even personally bringing him to his room to see the fish—this was the extent of Chi Yanxing’s current ability to comfort someone.

“You’re cheering me up? Uh…alright, alright, I forgive you. It’s not a big deal anyway. I wasn’t careful enough with those smart tools. Besides, it’s normal for two men to have some disagreements.”

What mattered most now was that he’d finally get to see these little wild fish he had been thinking about for days!

Chi Yanxing couldn’t shake off a vague sense of unease. Could an omega as emotionally sensitive as Yu Su really recover this quickly?

Suppressing the doubts rising in his mind, he pulled open the balcony door with a flourish.

“You’ve done a good job of self-soothing,” Chi Yanxing said in his usual calm tone, echoing words familiar to Yu Su. “But I won’t shirk the responsibility I owe. You didn’t get to see the fish last time, so this time I’m personally showing you to ease your mood.”

Yu Su crossed his arms and nodded. “I’m glad to see you taking the initiative.”

But easing his mood wasn’t necessary. If anything, it was the fish that needed to be soothed after encountering him.

Chi Yanxing didn’t reply. Yu Su couldn’t wait and wheeled himself out onto the balcony. “Hurry up, Chi Yanxing, and give me a proper introduction to these little things!”

“Alright,” Chi Yanxing replied, as calm and composed as ever.

–

“You just said you differentiated at thirteen?” Yu Su asked, watching Chi Yanxing take fish food from a small fridge.

“Mm.”

“That’s impressive—having such a distinctive pheromone at such a young age. I’m telling you, if you often went to the seaside, you wouldn’t even need a net to scoop up a handful of fish from the sea.” Yu Su made a show of offering an expert evaluation.

Chi Yanxing asked back, “Can you catch any fish?”

Yu Su replied, “Not necessarily. Some fish you’ll never be able to catch.”

“Why not?”

“Because as soon as they see humans, they’ll swim away. No matter how good you smell, fish have their own sense of reason.”

Handsome men might be valuable, but freedom was priceless.

Yu Su didn’t want to linger on the topic because, as it stood, he was the special exception—forced to give up his freedom for a handsome man.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let me see what kind of fish you’ve been keeping—” Yu Su wheeled himself over to the fish tank. His eyes widened. “Wow, no way. I thought you’d have something like koi fish. Why are they all marine fish?”

Chi Yanxing sprinkled a small handful of fish food into the tank. “Is that strange?”

“Of course! Don’t you big business types care the most about metaphysical feng shui? Koi have such great symbolic meaning, yet you’re raising a bunch of random little fish instead.”

They really were random. With just a quick glance, Yu Su spotted at least five different species, seemingly without any rhyme or reason, like they’d been caught in a big net and raised together by chance.

“When Uncle He mentioned it, I thought you’d have some rare, high-end species. Turns out they’re all so common.”

What’s more, several weren’t even tasty. Back in the sea, Yu Su barely gave these types of fish a second glance.

Standing beside Yu Su, Chi Yanxing handed him a small plate of fish food.

“What’s this for?”

“Try it. Feeding the fish can be fun,” Chi Yanxing said.

Yu Su gave a nonchalant “oh,” taking the plate. But instead of tossing the food into the water, he surreptitiously sniffed it first.

Hmm…? Why does it actually smell kind of good…?

Yu Su gulped but refrained from competing with these lowly creatures for food. Satisfied with his curiosity, he casually scattered a handful of food into the tank.

In an instant, the plump fish that had been gathered around their owner swarmed toward Yu Su.

Chi Yanxing’s eyes flickered as he lowered his gaze slightly to watch the omega, who seemed genuinely focused on feeding the fish.

“This one’s ugly… Ew, that one’s no good either. Too hideous. Chi Yanxing, what kind of bizarre collection are you raising here?” Yu Su commented as he tossed food into the tank.

“They’re selected and sent by others,” Chi Yanxing replied.

“Oh, I see,” Yu Su drawled. “I thought each one was handpicked by you, considering you keep them in your bedroom.”

Chi Yanxing explained, “I didn’t pick them. I just keep them here. Sometimes watching them can be relaxing.”

“Work stress, huh? And you’re a bit… peculiar, so I get it.” Yu Su fed the fish for a while longer, then set the plate aside and clapped his hands clean.

“Chi Yanxing? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

The sky darkened, and a breeze from the mountainside rustled through the trees, causing ripples on the water’s surface.

After Yu Su’s question, the tall, handsome alpha finally spoke in a faint voice, “I suddenly don’t feel like talking.”

Yu Su blinked. Had he said something wrong again? Maybe these little fish, meant to help Chi Yanxing relax, weren’t doing the trick anymore.

“Can’t looking at the fish make you feel better?” he asked.

Chi Yanxing didn’t reply, but his silence seemed to confirm it.

Yu Su felt an odd mix of joy and melancholy. He thought about how Chi Yanxing had refused to live with him. That meant the sickly alpha couldn’t hear his soothing songs, and now even these little fish weren’t working—

“Have you grown tired of the same old routine after all these years?” The mermaid’s concern for humans outweighed his small pang of jealousy.

“Maybe,” Chi Yanxing admitted.

Yu Su glanced at the tank of marine fish, then at the man’s face, which was gradually being swallowed by the night. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Wait here. I’ll show you a magic trick!”

Chi Yanxing turned to him, catching sight of Yu Su taking a deep breath, as though summoning all his resolve. The alpha’s previously indescribable mood shifted slightly, curiosity piqued.

“What are you going to do?”

Yu Su puffed out his chest and struck a bold pose. “This time, I’ll cheer you up.”

Chi Yanxing: “…?”

“Just watch.”

Yu Su extended his pale, jade-like fingertip and tapped it against the thick glass of the tank. Concentrating, he emitted a sound wave undetectable to humans.

The water surface rippled, and the smooth decorative stones at the bottom of the tank trembled slightly. These subtle movements escaped Chi Yanxing’s notice, but he did see the usually lazy fish suddenly leap into action, thrashing about energetically as if celebrating.

Yu Su murmured, “Alright, you little fatties…”

The pet fish swarmed toward the fingertip pressed against the glass. Yu Su began sliding his finger along the surface, and the fish followed in unison.

Chi Yanxing’s casual demeanor gave way to a faint look of astonishment.

These fish… seemed to be obeying Yu Su.

“Listen up, I like this guy quite a bit. So, let’s ‘negotiate’—” Yu Su pressed his face close to the glass, whispering to the fish while tracing a pattern with his finger. “If you form a heart to cheer him up, I won’t eat you.”

The pampered fish, typically the pride of wealthy homes, wagged their tails and eagerly complied. Before long, they arranged themselves into a wobbly, colorful heart shape.

Chi Yanxing felt a pang of emotion, followed by a wave of unease.

The flooded bathroom. The pearls in the kitchen. Yu Su’s uncanny ability to manage his emotions—and now, this seemingly supernatural display.

It seemed there were many secrets about Yu Su that Chi Yanxing had yet to uncover.

–Author’s Note:
PS: It’s not that the fish aren’t wary; it’s just that they instinctively trust Chi Yanxing’s presence. Plus, Yu Su has no idea the bathroom and pearls have already raised suspicions. He acted impulsively to cheer up the handsome guy—because really, when it comes to love, if you’re not bold and proactive, how will you ever find your soulmate?

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