“That just means I’ve raised you well.”

Adopting the mindset of “let’s get this over with,” Bai Ling hurriedly stuffed a copy of the [Throne Succession Act] into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and headed upstairs.

To be honest, he felt a bit unsure.

This feeling was a bit subtle; he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t made similar jokes before, he’d said far more excessive and shameful things to the man’s face.

But those were all direct, face-to-face encounters. He could observe the merman’s reaction instantly, which naturally eliminated the anxiety of waiting.

Sending information over the network was different.

Bai Ling opened his terminal again and lit up the screen. The message bar was completely empty.

The merman still hadn’t replied.

Maybe he was sleeping? Working? Hadn’t heard it?

Bai Ling gripped his terminal and crouched at the palace entrance for a while, feeling tempted to retreat.

He’d never been good at guessing people’s thoughts through a screen; if he were, he wouldn’t have spent twenty years as a restrained online friend with Mr. D, only to let this old fish snatch up his guardianship papers after his regression.

He preferred receiving clear instructions.

Yu Chen was very good at making him feel comfortable in that regard. Yes was Yes, No was No. If the man refused, he would provide a proper explanation immediately without stringing him along.

Thus, Bai Ling’s agreement to let Yu Chen be his guardian wasn’t due to the man’s gentle exterior, but rather—

Because they can communicate.

At this thought, something softened in the depths of Bai Ling’s heart. He slid his thumb across the terminal to unlock it, preparing to nudge the old fish once more.

“What are you pondering here?” the door slid open soundlessly, and a mellow, low-magnetic voice asked.

Bai Ling, still scrolling through the list, answered instinctively, “Nothing, I’ve already finished comforting myself.”

“Why are you sad?”

“Because a certain old bad fish didn’t—” Bai Ling cut himself off halfway, nearly biting his tongue. He turned around to see that the bad fish in question was standing right behind him with a smile on his face.

Yu Chen slowly mulled over those words, sounding thoughtful. “‘Old bad fish.’ Hmm, is that your new nickname for me?”

Bai Ling charged at him like an angry bird and slammed into his chest. “Why didn’t you reply to my message?”

Yu Chen was knocked back half a step with his right foot. He leaned down and pulled the little bird into a tight embrace, using enough strength as if trying to press him into his heart, and whispered a gentle threat into his ear:

“Don’t move.”

“What’s wrong?” Bai Ling froze, immediately tilting his eyes up to check his complexion. “Did I hit your ribs?”

“Not quite. Think of it more as… cartilage.”

Bai Ling’s face turned beet red instantly. He wanted to punch him a couple of times, but couldn’t bring himself to do it. He settled for wrapping his arms around the older man’s waist, his fingers catching a handful of that thick, forest-like hair and giving it a sharp, resentful tug.

“Hiss…”

The merman’s scalp was pulled, and Bai Ling immediately let go, switching to a gentle stroking of the hair.

With that touch, his hands were covered in water.

Connecting this to the man’s current state of full-body tension, Bai Ling paused, and then it clicked.

“You didn’t go take a cold shower to put out the fire just because you heard that voice message, did you…?”

The merman answered nonchalantly, “No. I swam twenty laps back and forth in the channel.”

“In the channel water at -11ºC?”

“It’s more effective than a shower.”

Bai Ling couldn’t help but have strange images pop into his head. He started to wonder if the composition of the channel water had become… improper. Didn’t creatures like fish usually spawn against underwater rock walls?

Holy crap!

He had swam in there so many times before and even accidentally choked on it—

No wonder his second differentiation came over a month earlier than expected; it was because this guy was spreading pheromones after intense exercise in there!

“Next time, I’ll just climb the wall to get out,” Bai Ling said cautiously.

Yu Chen quickly realized what he was worried about and laughed, “Don’t want to use the water I’ve swam in? That waterway just has some moss growing in it; I change the water every three days.”

Long, bony fingers pinched Bai Ling’s chin, squishing the little bit of flesh on his cheeks into a pout. A hint of helplessness appeared in the merman’s eyes:

“—It won’t make you pregnant, darling.”

The low bass brushed against his ear, igniting a fire.

Bai Ling’s heart began to drum like a sledgehammer; his hands and feet felt scorched and sweaty, and he didn’t know where to look.

What a move, retreating to advance! The old male fish is committing a foul with malicious intent!

---

Using the free time before dinner to conduct routine maintenance had gradually become part of Bai Ling’s daily life.

He really enjoyes the work.

Much like people who become addicted to online videos of carpet cleaning, hoof trimming, or cleaning filthy kitchens, Bai Ling was addicted to wiping grease-stained scrap metal until it shone.

This feeling of watching discarded items “find a new life” in his hands always satisfies some of his regrets.

If cleaning and restoring old objects was a way of turning back time, then perhaps his regression was also caused by a whim of the God of Fate to perform a repair?

Bai Ling was lost in thought about the similarities between the two, failing to notice the rustling of tracks on the lawn.

A small robot came over to hand him a light bulb.

This was the sixth night light they were replacing in the greenhouse.

Originally, Yu Chen said he wanted to set up dinner in the garden and had already laid out the table. Luckily, Bai Ling took advantage of the sunset to check the light wiring. It was a good thing he did—the moment he pressed the switch, there was a loud crackle, and the scent of burnt rubber instantly filled the air.

Bai Ling glanced at the dripping water pipe on the ground and asked coldly:

“Who did the electrical work for this greenhouse? The water seeped in and corroded the wires.”

Facing the interrogation, the old fish was uncharacteristically silent. Instead, he arrogantly tilted his head toward the ceiling.

Seeing his stubbornness, Bai Ling let out a soft huff, feeling a bit of satisfaction in his chest. “So there are things you can’t do well either.”

Yu Chen casually turned the ring on his thumb. “If this were fifty years ago, I might have argued with you. Now, I must admit, there are many things I do poorly.”

Bai Ling nodded. “Having self-awareness shows that you’ve grown.”

Yu Chen couldn’t help but chuckle at his choice of words.

Growth. It had been a long time since he’d heard himself described that way. He had thought he was already old to the very marrow of his bones.

The vitality radiating from the young man is truly intoxicating.

Bai Ling stepped on the rubber water hose, grinding it absentmindedly as he asked casually, “The moisture in this greenhouse is so heavy, you aren’t raising fish in here, are you?”

Yu Chen answered earnestly, “There are some, but they don’t bite the hook very often.”

Bai Ling froze for a second before his reaction caught up. He pressed his lips into a flat, expressionless line.

Damn him… sooner or later, I’ll cast a line, hook you, and tie you up!

Bai Ling climbed back onto the cast-iron frame. Holding onto a nearby branch with one hand, he stretched his other arm high, standing on his tiptoes to reach the light socket.

The iron frame wasn’t much thicker than a rebar; Bai Ling was light and possessed excellent balance, so even though it wobbled under him, it remained within his control.

With one twist of the screw after another, the bulb’s interface clicked into the metal plate. This old-fashioned socket from the last century glowed once more, illuminating a small patch of misty greenery in the dark garden.

Bai Ling glanced down through the scattered light. The merman was still standing there, having not moved an inch.

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

“You want me to leave?” The merman tilted his head slightly, his golden hair shimmering brilliantly under the light as if viewed through a filter.

Bai Ling could never find it in himself to speak harshly to him, so he grumpily said, “I’m afraid you’ll get bored waiting here.”

In short: What’s so interesting about changing a light bulb? Go play somewhere else.

“But I am enjoying life.” The corners of the merman’s eyes crinkled with a smile. The light condensed into a small, flame-like spark in his blind eyes, possessing an irresistible charm.

It was as if he were gazing directly at him.

Bai Ling stared blankly for a moment, falling silent. After mulling over the tone, he realized that these words were far more sincere than the man’s usual playful banter.

Enjoying life. Enjoying the time you spend with me… is that it?

Or did he just find him novel and was watching the repair process to stave off loneliness? Either way, both options felt quite pitiable.

“Please come closer. I’m coming down and need to borrow your shoulder,” Bai Ling suddenly said after some deliberation.

The tall, graceful merman stepped forward two paces, his feet sinking into the grass.

He controlled his breathing, sensing that small bundle of heat drawing closer and closer. Suddenly, a weight landed on his shoulder— a bare human foot gently pressed down. The force was light, as if Bai Ling were afraid he might break the man if he used too much pressure.

Yu Chen knew that if he just turned his head slightly, he could kiss the bird’s malleolus.

“Almost there. I’ll just climb down the frame,” Bai Ling said, reminding him out of fear that the man couldn’t support his weight.

However, the moment the words left his mouth, a pair of large, bony hands forcefully gripped his waist and hoisted him up entirely.

“Ah… put me down, I’m heavy!” Caught off guard, Bai Ling let out a gasping shout.

“Heavy?” Yu Chen’s brow furrowed deeply.

Bai Ling helplessly gave up his struggle. He rested his temple against the man’s shoulder and smoothed out the fabric he had just wrinkled with his foot. “We have to weigh ourselves every day after class. I secretly gained two pounds, and the Etiquette Officer has been grumbling at me for days.”

“Let him grumble,” Yu Chen coldly said, tightening his hold and carrying him sideways.

Bai Ling emphasized, “Even without the prosthetic, I’m heavier than other birds.”

Yu Chen lowered his forest-green pupils, his voice carrying a touch of pride: “That just means I’ve raised you well.”

Bai Ling couldn’t out-talk him, so he simply pressed his warm cheek against the man’s neck.

This old man always found a way to be right.

But it’s true. If he hadn’t “stolen” so much milk to drink as a child, he wouldn’t have grown this tall. Piloting a mech had height requirements; if your legs were too short, you couldn’t reach the pedals. His height was exceptional among omegas, comparable to the tall wading birds like swans and cranes. Indeed…

“Fine, fine. You raised me well.” Let’s praise him a bit and let him be happy for two hours.

Like holding a puppy in his arms, Yu Chen lightly cradled Bai Ling’s back and lowered his head.

His little bird leaned in, nuzzling the bridge of his high nose, then stole a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth before slyly dodging away.

The kiss made Yu Chen’s knuckles tighten. He instinctively gripped Bai Ling’s slender waist and raised an eyebrow. “A sneak attack? Hmm?”

Bai Ling mimicked the merman’s previous arrogant tone. “What? I’m just having an appetizer before dinner.”

After saying so, he deliberately smacked his lips. “Mmm… not bad. A very clean taste.”

He anticipated the merman coming in for a kiss, so he intentionally hooked his arms around the man’s neck and brushed his cheek past the merman’s.

Bullying an old blind man so you can’t get a taste.

The merman, however, turned mischievous. He tossed Bai Ling slightly into the air, making him leave his palms for a fraction of a second.

Bai Ling felt a momentary weightlessness; in that instant of gravitational pull, his heart constricted and his adrenaline spiked.

But it only lasted for 0.01 seconds, because the next moment, the merman steadily caught him, shifting his posture from a bridal carry to a face-to-face leg-wrap hold.

To maintain his balance, Bai Ling had to wrap his legs around the man’s waist.

Bai Ling tightened his grip with his prosthetic, glaring at the triumph on the merman’s lips, and accused him: “…Abusing your power!”

The merman spread his palm and pressed it against the center of Bai Ling’s back, easily pulling him flush against his lips. His thin lips parted, and he spoke in a long, drawn-out tone:

“Now let’s see where else you can hide.”

Bai Ling had no choice but to lean in and kiss him, letting this old bastard have his way. He allowed himself to be held like a soft bird-ball, kissed until he was hot and languid.