Chapter 48 - Deeply In Love With You [Quick Transmigration]

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Chapter 48: The Yellow Sparrow* (1)

 

 

[T/N: "黄雀" (huángquè) literally means "yellow sparrow", but its deeper meaning draws from the well-known Chinese idiom: 螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the yellow sparrow behind."]

 

The night was thick with darkness. Outside, the storm raged on like a waterfall from the heavens. Yet inside the research base, everything was quiet. Most people had long since fallen into a deep sleep.

 

Until a soft click sounded—the bedroom door opened—and bare feet padded lightly across the wooden floor.

 

Zong Que didn't even open his eyes. He spoke coldly, "If you come out, I'll throw you out."

 

The footsteps halted. A soft, sullen hum answered him. Then the bedroom door shut quietly again.

 

...

 

After a night of wind and rain, the first faint rays of sunlight began to filter through the curtains. Zong Que opened his eyes, sat up from the sofa, and walked over to the window.

 

The morning sun shimmered on the waves, the sea breeze slipped through the now-open window, fresh and familiar—so peaceful it was as if last night's storm had been nothing but a dream. Only the sluggish fish in the bucket by the wall bore witness that a merman had, indeed, visited the night before.

 

Zong Que glanced at the fish, then opened the bedroom door. The bedding was still a little messy, but the merman who had lain there was nowhere to be seen.

 

[Host, he left during the night—when the tide began to ebb.] 1314 reported.

 

At that time, the host had been sleeping soundly.

 

[Understood.] Zong Que instinctively smoothed out the bedding. After a moment's thought, he stripped off the sheets entirely and replaced them with fresh ones. The used linens were tossed into the washing machine.

 

The machine whirred to life. The little service robot stood waiting at the side as Zong Que picked up the bucket containing the fish and left the bedroom, heading straight for the kitchen. "Cook it in half an hour."

 

In this remote and unstaffed facility, even the kitchen tasks were handled by service robots.

 

The robot waved its mechanical arms in acknowledgment. "Command received."

 

Though the lab's research budget was tight, their meals were surprisingly good. Situated near the sea, they never lacked for fresh seafood. But this morning, everyone kept casting sidelong glances at Zong Que's plate.

 

His plate held several servings of expertly prepared fish. Some pieces were nestled within their hard shells, tender and glistening, the aroma mouthwatering even from afar.

 

Most people didn't dare ask, but Luo Xin finally gave in, swallowing hard before speaking. "Doctor, what kind of fish is that?"

 

"Looks like a deep-sea species." Zong Que replied between bites.

 

It really was excellent. Some parts melted on the tongue, while others had just the right amount of chew—comparable to the finest cuts of beef, without a trace of gaminess or bloodiness.

 

The kitchen had prepared each section according to its texture. The fish looked large, but a significant portion was bone and shell—there wasn't much edible meat. Even so, its flavor was worthy of its former beauty.

 

"Where did you find it?" Luo Xin asked curiously.

 

"Picked it up on the beach this morning. Probably washed ashore by the storm last night," Zong Que said with a perfectly straight face. He finished the last bite, collected the empty shells, and stood. "I'm done. Heading back to the lab."

 

He turned and left. Luo Xin stared after his retreating figure, amazed that even his thick skin hadn't earned him a single taste.

 

…

 

Life by the sea rarely brought major upheaval. The only times people got excited were when an experiment made progress.

 

But three days after that storm, the research facility erupted in a frenzy early in the morning.

 

"A mermaid?!"

 

"What mermaid? How could a mermaid possibly show up here?"

 

"Not here—it was the southern facility. A research vessel spotted a deep-sea mermaid swimming in the ocean!"

 

"So it's not a myth. Deep-sea mermaids are real!"

 

"Was it the storm? Is that why it appeared?"

 

"What does that have to do with us? That was the southern lab. They might be going back soon—we're still stuck here."

 

"You fool. If there's one deep-sea mermaid, there must be more. If we discover one, we might get to leave too!"

 

"You're right!"

 

"Wow, I've never even seen a deep-sea mermaid before!"

 

"Me neither, I want to see one so bad!"

 

Zong Que stood in the corridor, watching the young researchers buzz with excitement.

 

He knew—the protagonist had come ashore.

 

According to the original timeline, Yu Hua was a human from another, more advanced technological era. If he had simply been a merman, life beneath the sea wouldn't have been a problem. But he was human too—and humans naturally gravitate toward their own kind. Living long-term in the deep sea would inevitably provoke unease and resistance.

 

So it was only natural that he would come ashore, be discovered by the research facility, reported to Planet A, and placed under protection.

 

From this point, the world's storyline would begin to unfold. Yet deep-sea mermaids were unimaginably precious to the Alliance. After being adored and protected, Yu Hua would inevitably lose some freedom in return. He would be required to choose a husband from among the suitors offered by various noble families—to bear and raise heirs.

 

According to the timeline, it would be one year before the protagonist chose his husband.

 

"Doctor, it's really true—a deep-sea mermaid," Luo Xin said. He hadn't joined the others in celebration. Instead, he looked worried. "Should we keep going with our experiments?"

 

After all, discovering a deep-sea mermaid was far more valuable than any result from their research. The lab's morale was bound to fluctuate even more than before.

 

"What do you want to do?" Zong Que asked calmly.

 

"Well, of course I'd like to see results sooner," Luo Xin admitted. "But even if we did find a deep-sea mermaid, the Alliance forbids forced capture. If they really want to come ashore, we wouldn't need to go looking for them. If they don't want to come, then even finding them is pointless. Rather than pin our hopes on that, we might as well stick to our experiments."

 

"Let's go back," Zong Que said, turning.

 

"Yes, sir." Luo Xin hurried to catch up.

 

Inside the lab, all the noise from outside was cut off.

 

By lunchtime, only three people remained in the entire research station.

 

"Doctor, it looks like everyone else went out to sea," Liu Chao said, picking at the food on his plate with a worried look. "They won't run into trouble, will they?"

 

"No idea," Zong Que replied while eating.

 

Everyone's fate was their own to choose. The Moon-Jade Sea was beautiful, yes—but beauty often concealed danger beneath the surface.

 

That sea was home not only to the Silver Moon Clan but also to the Dark Abyss Clan. The Silver Moon Clan revered silver, while the Dark Abyss Clan prized shades of deepest black.

 

The Silver Moon Clan bewitched with song and mist. The Dark Abyss Clan propagated their bloodline through crashing waves and brute force.

 

Humans could change merfolk—but merfolk could change humans too. The lords of the deep were not easily provoked. To step into peril meant being ready to gamble one's life.

 

"Should we report this to the higher-ups?" Liu Chao asked.

 

"Mm. Report it," Zong Que replied.

 

The research institute had become emptier, quieter. The two young men had worked with the others for a long time—though their ambitions differed, bonds had been formed. It left them distracted. When the third batch of materials was ruined, Zong Que told them to rest, then removed his protective gear and headed for the shore.

 

The sea was calm, as always. Usually, not long after Zong Que arrived, the merman would come riding the waves—eyes filled with endless mysteries. But this time, Zong Que sat sorting data from sunset until stars covered the sky. The merman never came.

 

A fish returning to the sea leaves no trace.

 

The other could always find him effortlessly. But for Zong Que to find the merman—that was another story.

 

Under the starlight, he checked the time. As he stepped down from the rock, he heard the waves rise and a soft voice call behind him:

 

"Hey... waiting for me?"

 

Zong Que turned. Beneath the vast canopy of stars, the breathtaking merman bathed in celestial light, as though born from it. He rested his arms on the sea-rock and gazed at him.

 

Water droplets fell gently, scattering ripples across the sea. The moment was just like their first meeting.

 

Zong Que did not approach. He stood still and asked calmly, "Something happened among the merfolk?"

 

"Oh? You care?" Yue swept aside a damp strand of hair from his cheek and smiled. "All the people in your little house have gone deep into the Moon-Jade Sea. Unfortunately for them, they've wandered into Dark Abyss territory."

 

"Can they be saved?" Zong Que asked as he walked closer.

 

"No. The Dark Abyss Clan doesn't take kindly to trespassers. Snatching spoils from them would spark war between the clans." Yue tilted his head up as Zong Que approached, resting his arm on Zong Que's leg. His fingers gently touched his chin.

 

"No chance of winning?" Zong Que caught the restless hand.

 

"Evenly matched. And besides, they came to hunt merfolk. I have no reason to save them." Yue's fingers lightly scratched Zong Que's palm, but the grip didn't loosen. He smiled. "You want me to save them?"

 

"I have nothing to offer that would be enough," Zong Que said quietly.

 

There are countless lives in the vast universe. But each one is hard-won—from birth to growth, it takes immense care and effort. Yet to destroy a life is frighteningly easy.

 

He did not want to witness such deaths. Though the bustling world was not one he could join, he could still appreciate its beauty from afar. But destruction—destruction was always tragic.

 

And he had no chips to bargain with. The merman before him would never agree to let his people take risks for the sake of humans.

 

"…Though I suppose it's possible," Yue murmured, resting his other hand on Zong Que's shoulder. He leaned in with a smile hovering on his lips, the distance between them melting with every breath. "You could afford it."

 

"Yue," Zong Que met his eyes without flinching, "the eyes are the windows to the soul."

 

This merman was lying—an expert at weaving false hope.

 

Yue's gaze flickered with amusement, but instead of answering, he leaned in and kissed him lightly. Before Zong Que could react, he slipped away into the sea. "You really do know me."

 

"A deep-sea merman has come ashore," Zong Que said, watching the figure glide effortlessly beneath the water. He didn't dwell on the kiss.

 

"You're no fun," Yue said as he returned, resting lazily against the seaside rocks, eyes reflecting the churning waves. "I counted the Silver Moon clan's numbers—none are missing. But I didn't expect a Dark Abyss-born merman to willingly follow humans to land. Messing with one of theirs? Not exactly child's play."

 

"The law that protects merfolk has always been enforced," Zong Que said, looking down at him. "If they didn't go willingly, no one could've taken them from the deep."

 

Yue lifted his gaze to meet his. His usually pure blue eyes glittered like scattered starlight—cold as ever. "You think it's not a Dark Abyss merman?"

 

"What if it were a Silver Moon merman?" Zong Que countered.

 

"Then of course, I'd bring him back." Yue's gaze darkened with chilling resolve. "Humans don't deserve to possess merfolk."

 

But when his eyes met Zong Que's, they softened. "Except you."

 

"And if he refuses to return with you?" Zong Que asked.

 

Yue's brows lifted slightly as he studied him. "You seem to know something." He tilted his head, voice thoughtful. "But merfolk belong to the deep sea. That is our home. Only those altered by humans would want to stay on land. That so-called deep-sea merman of yours—what if he's just a modified human posing as one? All to lure out the real merfolk?"

 

He spoke as if unraveling a puzzle, his brows drawn tight in suspicion.

 

"The merfolk are reclusive," Zong Que said. "Why did you return here months after our first encounter?"

 

After saving him, Yue had disappeared. And then, after a long time, he'd returned.

 

To see if he had survived? Unlikely.

 

For a Silver Moon merman to save a human and abandon him on the shore was already an extraordinary mercy. To return again and again to check? Nearly impossible.

 

"Because one of us fell," Yue murmured, resting against Zong Que's legs. His eyes dimmed. "His name was Zao. He died in a fight against the Dark Abyss clan. We buried him just outside the Coral Sea. He was a beautiful blue-tailed merman."

 

"I came to the shore to clear my head… to grieve. And then, I met you."

 

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