Picked Up an Amnesiac Little Mermaid - Chapter 1

In the deathly silence of the deep sea.

Where not a single ray of light pierced through the pitch-black darkness of the damp, gloomy cave, a sleek blue-purple fishtail suddenly flashed into view.

Pale blue hair, like seaweed, cascaded over shoulders as fair as mutton-fat jade. She opened her eyes, her tail curling tightly in pain.

It was a mermaid, as beautiful as a creature from myth.

Her tail, covered in delicate, flawless sapphire-like scales, shimmered under the water-resistant mermaid silk draped over her, accentuating her slender, enchanting figure.

A massive wound marred the middle of her tail—scales shattered, flesh torn, covered in unsightly scabs. Yu Huai gasped sharply from the pain.

“It hurts… so much…”

Tears welled up in her peach-blossom eyes, and as she blinked, one droplet transformed into a pearl, clattering onto the hard cave floor.

But it wasn’t just her tail—the burning hunger in her stomach forced Yu Huai to turn her gaze beyond the cave.

A school of jellyfish drifted past, each glowing faintly, some as large as half a human. The mermaid’s delicate, pale fingers lightly tapped one, and the jellyfish pulsed shyly, spinning in place.

A few huddled together, while one bold one peeked out, hoping for another touch from the beautiful mermaid.

Gurgle, gurgle.

The gnawing hunger in Yu Huai’s stomach made her face tense with restraint.

Since her tail was injured, she had fallen unconscious, trapped in this cave—how long had it been? Days? Years?

Hearing the mermaid’s hungry sounds, the jellyfish scattered in a panic, leaving trails of water behind.

Yu Huai: “…” Not even enough to fill the gaps between her teeth.

Pain and hunger drove this breathtaking yet wounded mermaid out of the cave in search of a plump, satisfying meal.

Every flick of her long tail sent stabbing agony through her. As Yu Huai swam through unfamiliar waters, the unhealed wound released a trail of bl00d, luring lurking sharks.

Where sharks roamed, what other fish dared to stay?

Tears turned to pearls as she swam upward, one hand pressed against her aching stomach, the other’s nails sharpening into claws.

In the darkness—

Swish! A shark lunged from the side, its jagged white teeth and cold gaze terrifying.

Yu Huai clenched her jaw, her tail thrashing faster—!

She was a fish from the interstellar age, where mermaids were revered, fought over, earned through military merit. In the nurturing waters of the Mermaid Center, she had lived in comfort—until she woke up in this strange world.

The shark closed in, its relentless pursuit forcing Yu Huai’s ice-blue tail to whip desperately.

But pain and stiffness made her falter—the shark’s teeth tore off a piece of her fin.

Yu Huai whimpered, “Ah…”

Her delicate face flushed with pain as she wiped away tears that only fell faster. Then she saw it—a yacht on the surface.

Her heart leapt. In the interstellar age, no one would harm a mermaid. Surely, this unfamiliar world would be the same.

The mermaid fled in panic from the pursuing shark. As the predator drew closer, Yu Huai steeled her heart and suddenly turned, slashing her sharp claws across the shark’s head with all her might.

“I’d have eaten you whole if I weren’t injured!” the mermaid spat fiercely.

The shark recoiled in pain, its movements slowing just enough for Yu Huai to seize the opportunity and burst through the water’s surface.

The sky was clear and cloudless, the cool sea breeze caressing Yu Huai’s cheeks, making her pale blue hair shimmer as if each strand emitted light. Her gentle eyes sparkled like crystal-clear water, and her scales outshone the most precious gems in the world combined.

Spotting the white yacht ahead, Yu Huai waved excitedly, “Over here!”

On the lavishly decorated yacht, elegantly dressed guests mingled. Among them stood a striking woman in an ivory-white, loose-fitting suit, her wavy long hair cascading over her shoulders. A small golden earring glinted on her earlobe.

She carried the sweet fragrance of peonies, her gaze lazily sweeping over the party guests.

Yu Huai waved her arms vigorously, “I’m here!” Not just her hands, but her tail too rose above the water.

Look over here, human! The most beautiful mermaid from the breeding center is calling for your help!

…

“President Gu, did you hear someone speaking from the sea just now?” A woman in wine-red evening gown asked curiously, glancing around.

Gu Yunyue frowned slightly, “Did you?”

The woman scanned their surroundings, “Perhaps I imagined it?”

Pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation, Gu Yunyue declared, “This party is over. Turn the yacht around.”

The woman looked surprised, “But President Gu—”

“Understood.”

Industry rumors said Gu Yunyue detested contact with seawater. That she’d attended this yacht party at all was already an extraordinary concession to business partners.

No one noticed how Gu Yunyue’s hands trembled slightly as they gripped the railing, her knuckles whitening from the strain. The carefully maintained facade of calm was reaching its limits.

The azure sea stretched before her like a monstrous beast ready to devour. The salty, fishy scent of seawater assaulted her nostrils in waves, making breathing difficult.

Gu Yunyue’s gloomy eyes fixed on a pure white seagull as she massaged the back of her head, trying to alleviate the needle-like pain.

Yes, she had thalassophobia.

Just looking at the water made her head feel like it was being split by an ice pick. Steeling herself, Gu Yunyue turned to retreat below deck.

Suddenly—

The sea transformed. Waves over a meter high surged without warning as dark clouds swallowed the previously clear sky.

Not a single ray of sunlight pierced through the gloom.

A bone-chilling wind howled, rocking the yacht violently. Gu Yunyue’s face paled as she clung to the railing, her hair whipping wildly about. Fear lurked behind the sharp willow-leaf shape of her eyes.

The towering waves now dwarfed the yacht itself.

The panicked shouts of business partners and shattering glasses became insignificant against the roaring gale.

“This can’t be! The forecast showed calm seas!”

“Send out a distress signal immediately!”

“President Gu! Are you alright?”

Gu Yunyue’s lips had gone white. As she opened her mouth to respond, a massive wave crashed over them, submerging the staircase where she stood.

Her pupils contracted violently. Though she desperately grasped for the ship’s edge, the storm’s fury tore her grip away.

Seawater flooded her ears and nose as her body slowly sank beneath the waves. Just as Gu Yunyue began to struggle, a slender arm wrapped around her waist. At the edge of her fading vision, she glimpsed a breathtaking ice-blue hue.

Yu Huai frantically pulled the unconscious Gu Yunyue to the surface. “You… I was counting on you to save me!”

Retracting her sharp claws, Yu Huai patted Gu Yunyue’s cheek while her tail maintained balance in the water. The woman in her arms had water-beaded skin that looked almost translucent, her pale face carrying a fragile beauty as her fingers clutched desperately at Yu Huai’s mermaid silk.

They weren’t far from shore when an unexpected storm had struck. Now Yu Huai swam furiously, towing Gu Yunyue while being pursued by a persistent shark.

Never had she swum so fast. Between strokes, she kept tapping Gu Yunyue’s face. “We merfolk have always been charitable—we can’t bear to see drowning humans. Hang in there!”

The unconscious CEO frowned slightly, her grip on the mermaid’s silk like a drowning woman clutching her last lifeline. If this was indeed a lifeline, then it had to be the most beautiful one in the world.

Fins cutting through the water’s surface, the scene would have astonished Gu Yunyue had she been awake—a mermaid carrying a human while being chased by a shark with its head gashed open.

Gu Yunyue with thalassophobia—honestly, she’d die of fright.

With a powerful flick of her long tail, Yu Huai flung the woman onto the beach. The storm had shifted the sea’s mood, delaying rescue boats that eventually evacuated everyone from the cruise ship—fortunately before it sank.

Yu Huai’s metallic ice-blue tail was now coated in sand, its midsection bleeding. The distant shark, realizing its prey was lost, slapped the water angrily before retreating. Even its departing silhouette radiated frustration.

Pale blue hair clung to Yu Huai’s shoulders, mingling with Gu Yunyue’s dark locks. “It hurts… so much…” she whimpered, tears falling uncontrollably and transforming into tiny pearls embedded in the sand.

Her tail burned with pain while hunger cramped her stomach. A coconut crab tumbled from a tree, scrambling to escape—only to be snatched up by the quick-handed mermaid.

Food had arrived just in time. The crab disappeared instantly, crushed between rows of sharp teeth and swallowed whole shell and all. Had Gu Yunyue awakened then, she’d have seen the beautiful woman’s terrifyingly dense array of fangs.

Yu Huai sighed mournfully. “Merfolk aren’t meant for land… can’t return to sea with a bleeding tail…”

As the clouds parted, scorching sunlight returned. Yu Huai, drying out rapidly, slumped against Gu Yunyue. “Wake up already… or I’ll turn into fish jerky…”

……

A fiery pain lanced through Gu Yunyue’s throat and airways as she coughed violently. The throbbing at the back of her skull made her vision darken momentarily.

Soaked clothes clung to her body while fresh, salty air flooded her lungs. Blinking awake, she found herself covered by large palm fronds in the shade of a private beach—her own private beach, coincidentally.

She forced herself to stand up, her high-end suit now crumpled beyond recognition. The phone in her pocket had basic waterproofing and still worked when she turned it on.

Gu Yunyue winced in pain, muttering to herself, “Did I just fall into the water?”

Her phone buzzed incessantly.
“President Gu, the search team hasn’t found you. What’s your current status?”
“According to your phone’s location, you’ve already made it ashore?”
“This suggests you were washed up by the tide. Thank heavens. Please respond as soon as you see this message.”
“President Gu, the search team has located your phone’s position on your private beach. We’re sending someone over now.”

Her high heels had long been swept away by the waves. Barefoot, she stood on the soft golden sand.
“I was washed ashore on my own beach. I’m fine.”

The moment she sent the message, the other side breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s a relief! President Gu, fortune favors the blessed! We’ll arrange for a private doctor to examine you immediately.”

Gu Yunyue tucked her nearly dead phone back into her pocket. In the distance, she spotted another figure lying on the sand.

She frowned slightly. “Someone else washed ashore with me?”

How could it be such a coincidence? One moment, she was caught in a sudden storm and plunged into the sea—the next, she was drifting onto the shore.

Her gaze lowered as a fleeting memory flashed through her mind—a glimpse of icy blue metallic scales—but nothing more.

Suppressing her deep-seated fear of the ocean, she murmured, “I’m not someone with good luck.”

She walked toward the shoreline, where a petite young woman lay half-buried in the sand. Her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she was draped in a sheer, unidentifiable fabric. Her legs were tender and fair, her feet as pristine as a newborn’s—untouched by the ground—with faint pink hues at the joints.

The girl’s lashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes, whispering, “Tail…?” Why didn’t her tail hurt anymore?

Gu Yunyue crouched down and gently patted the stranger’s shoulder. “Who are you?”

The girl lifted her head, allowing Gu Yunyue to finally take in her appearance.

As the head of an entertainment company, Gu Yunyue had seen countless beauties—yet none could compare to the girl before her. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with a perpetual watery glow, and her pale blue hair didn’t seem out of place at all. Instead, it accentuated her almost translucent skin, making it appear even more radiant. Her small lips were a deep red, with a slightly raised cupid’s bow—perfect for kissing.

Yu Huai hadn’t forgotten Gu Yunyue—nor the massive shark that had chased them in the water. She immediately clutched at Gu Yunyue’s sleeve.

“I’m so hungry. Will you take me home?”

In the interstellar era, mermaids were the most precious species. Yu Huai smiled sweetly. “I can take care of you.”

A fragile girl who couldn’t even explain her identity, dressed in a sheer gown, looked more like a caged canary than the bird itself.

And she wanted to take care of her?

What a joke.

Her tone didn’t sound like someone desperate for rescue after being washed ashore, and her attire was hardly appropriate for any formal event.

Gu Yunyue was certain she had never seen Yu Huai before.

A shadow flickered in her eyes. Another little gift from a business partner?

Her finger lightly traced the girl’s flawless cheek. They really went all out to find such a rare beauty.

A faint smirk curled her lips. “Sure. I’ll take you home.”