Picked Up an Amnesiac Little Mermaid - Chapter 8

“I’m being affectionate with you.”

All day long, Gu Yunyue’s mind was haunted by those words.

No one had ever said to Gu Yunyue before, “I’m being affectionate with you.”

Like fireworks exploding in her brain, the scattered sparks burned against her originally tender heart.

Leaving it utterly bloodied.

She quietly gazed out the car window, placing the exquisitely packaged pastry box on Yu Huai’s lap. The entire car ride was silent.

Not a single word was exchanged between them until they arrived home.

Yu Huai maneuvered her wheelchair to stop by the small table, holding the delicate pastries in her hands, reluctant to take a bite. “Miss Gu, won’t you try some?”

Gu Yunyue lightly pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the lotus-shaped pastry pinched between Yu Huai’s fingers.

“It looks delicious.”

As she spoke, Gu Yunyue’s smooth black hair slipped from behind her ear, like a light-blocking curtain falling before Yu Huai’s eyes, creating a secretive yet thrillingly intimate space.

The gold-rimmed glasses on Gu Yunyue’s nose bridge appeared luxurious and refined under the light, the dangling gold chain just brushing against Yu Huai’s nose.

Yu Huai swallowed nervously. “Here.”

She pushed the entire box of pastries toward Gu Yunyue.

Gu Yunyue’s fingers gently grazed the girl’s delicate chin, eliciting a soft whimper from the latter. Yu Huai’s innocent eyes looked at her curiously, her light blue irises reflecting Gu Yunyue’s image.

Gu Yunyue said, “I want to eat the one in your hand.”

Yu Huai brought the lotus pastry to Gu Yunyue’s lips, the pale pink confection touching the bright red lipstick.

Gu Yunyue curved her lips slightly. “I don’t like this one.”

Yu Huai was puzzled. “But Miss Gu just said…” you wanted this one in my hand?

Before Yu Huai could finish, “Mmm—”

A subtle sweetness and custard aroma spread between their lips.

Gu Yunyue picked up the lotus pastry, letting Yu Huai take a bite before putting it in her own mouth.

Gu Yunyue used her thumb to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of Yu Huai’s mouth. “This is what I wanted to eat.”

The little fish’s entire face turned red from the teasing, hot enough to be a braised fish.

Yu Huai stared disbelievingly at this woman who could say such shameless things with a straight face, her fingers tightly clutching her skirt on the wheelchair.

This was too much. This person was truly too much.

No one had ever teased a fish like this before.

Having successfully flirted, Gu Yunyue made her escape. “I’m going to work to support our family. Uncle Li will serve dinner—it’s already prepared, your favorite seafood.”

The sound of Gu Yunyue’s high heels clicking against the wooden stairs echoed through the house. From Yu Huai’s perspective, she could only see the beautiful ankle lines and those ostentatious, red-soled high heels.

Yu Huai’s heart itched. “This human’s legs… are quite nice.”

When Yu Huai saw Gu Yunyue again, it was already afternoon.

Gu Yunyue had changed out of her formal attire into silk loungewear. A slender arm emerged from the sleeve, the cuff adorned with handmade lace that made the limb appear even more beautiful and fragrant.

The gold-rimmed glasses on her nose bridge added a touch of refinement and sharpness to her lazy elegance.

Gu Yunyue said, “Yu Huai, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

Crossing her legs, Gu Yunyue relaxed into the sofa, holding a stack of documents.

Yu Huai looked curiously at the papers. “What’s this?”

The moment Yu Huai saw the word “contract,” she jumped. “Are you selling me off?!”

In the limited understanding of the mermaid, a “contract” was specifically used to sell fish—selling them to wealthy families to become secret little lovers.

Yu Huai’s almond-shaped eyes welled up instantly, struggling to hold back tears to prevent pearls from falling in front of humans.

What did this human want? To sell her for money?

Gu Yunyue said, “I want to sign an agreement with you, lasting two years. Stay by my side, and I’ll give you a card with unlimited spending for daily expenses, plus 200,000 each month.”

Gu Yunyue tapped her finger lightly on the terms. “Three rules: you cannot bring anyone into this house.”

“You cannot sing for anyone.”

“You cannot sleep with anyone.”

Yu Huai nodded blankly. “Will you sell me to someone else after two years?”

Gu Yunyue sighed. “Human trafficking is illegal. You have absolute freedom.”

“You can choose to renew the contract with me or leave. If you leave, I’ll give you a sum of money.”

Yu Huai nodded again, still dazed. “Oh… I’ll sign.”

She had already planned to stay by this human’s side anyway.

Gu Yunyue: “You must provide necessary comfort when I have headaches or feel unwell. In return, I’ll offer you material luxuries.”

Gu Yunyue slid the black-and-white contract toward Yu Huai.

“Read it carefully,” Gu Yunyue said, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. “I doubt you can afford the consequences of breaking it.”

Like a domineering CEO from a novel, Gu Yunyue tossed a card in front of Yu Huai. “Your monthly allowance will be deposited here.”

Yu Huai signed the agreement without hesitation.

Though the contract had its restrictions, most of the terms favored Yu Huai—whether materially or for her future.

Tilting her head slightly, Yu Huai voiced her thoughts:

“Miss Gu, will you always treat me well?”

Since ancient times, there had been a saying: a life-saving grace should be repaid with one’s body.

In a way, wasn’t this contract a form of that repayment?

Gu Yunyue stayed silent. Theirs was purely a financial relationship—not even a physical one.

Reason told her that talking about feelings would be inappropriate.

Outside, the butler wiped the table, casting a wistful glance toward the parlor.

Faint voices of Gu Yunyue and Yu Huai reached his ears.

“Finally, this house will liven up.”

Surely, the spirits of the madam and the old master could rest in peace now.

Just as the butler finished his thought, a sudden outburst rang in his ears:

“Miss Gu should also agree to three rules with me.”

“Miss Gu must sleep with me every night. No eyeing others while keeping me.”

Yu Huai’s crisp voice echoed through the vast mansion.

The butler froze mid-step, staring at Yu Huai in horror.

Gu Yunyue looked conflicted. “…I’m chaste.”

Yu Huai said, “No. Add this clause to the agreement.”

Gu Yunyue said, “…”

“Fine.”

Yu Huai continued, “If you fail to satisfy me in bed for an extended period, you must compensate me in other ways.”

For example, she wanted to bury her face in Gu Yunyue’s chest while sleeping, loved hugging her cool body, and couldn’t be pushed away.

If her tail appeared, it needed regular massages.

Gu Yunyue’s head began to throb. What the hell was their relationship?

They hadn’t even slept together, yet now she had to satisfy her in bed?

The butler’s pupils trembled. “…”

Yu Huai said, “Treating me poorly is illegal.”

The interstellar laws had clear protections for mermaids.

Gu Yunyue: “?”

What kind of law is this?

Gu Yunyue gritted her teeth and squeezed out a single word: “Fine.”

With bold and flowing strokes, she added a line to the agreement: “Must fulfill all of Yu Huai’s needs in bed.”

Yu Huai whispered softly, “I won’t make you sleep with me for nothing. I’ll pay you.”

She generously took out the most beautiful pearl from her pocket and placed it before Gu Yunyue, “This can fetch a high price in your society. Go sell it for money.”

Gu Yunyue stared at the plump, nearly finger-joint-sized pearl before her.

Two words flashed brightly in her mind, “Payment.”

The agreement was made in duplicate. Yu Huai tucked her copy into her bosom and nuzzled her human affectionately with her cheek.

“Starting today, am I the other master of this mansion?”

Gu Yunyue clutched the agreement, thinking to herself, You’re not the other master—you’re my ancestor.

What on earth had she picked up from the seaside?

…

Gu Yunyue said to the butler, “Uncle Li, please show Miss Yu around the house. If there’s anything she’s dissatisfied with, it can be changed.”

The butler maintained an elegant and proper smile. “Of course. I’ll take the young lady on a tour right away.”

Yu Huai, seated in her wheelchair, tugged at Gu Yunyue’s pinky finger.

Gu Yunyue halted her steps and turned back, puzzled, to look at the beautiful girl behind her.

“Hmm?”

Yu Huai adored the cool, refreshing scent of Gu Yunyue. She pressed her cheek against the woman’s cold hand and rubbed it several times. “Miss Gu, go ahead with your work. I’ll join you in the study tonight.”

Gu Yunyue’s composed and aloof demeanor was on the verge of cracking. Irritation bubbled inside her. How was this girl raised? How is she so good at seducing people?

Gu Yunyue said, “Uncle Li, please fetch the cat’s eye necklace from my safe for Miss Yu Huai to play with.”

The butler smiled faintly and replied, “Understood.”

As he pushed Yu Huai’s wheelchair, the butler mused, “I’ve watched Miss Gu grow up since she was little, but I’ve never seen her care for anyone the way she does for you, miss.”

With a kindly expression, he introduced the mansion’s various facilities.

“There’s an infinity pool on the third floor, but Miss Gu dislikes water, so it’s always been left dry. The courtyard on the first floor has a pond, but it’s also empty—quite unsightly, I’m afraid. My apologies, miss.”

Yu Huai gazed at the pool lined with light blue tiles, not a single drop of water inside.

After all, Yu Huai was a mermaid. She loved being in water. “Can it be filled up again?”

The butler looked troubled. “Miss Gu doesn’t allow it.”

How can you keep a mermaid without a pool at home?

These past few days since her tail disappeared, Yu Huai had been feeling parched. Only by clinging to the cool Miss Gu at night could she alleviate the burning heat in her body.

If Yu Huai still had her tail, her scales would be bristling. “Didn’t Miss Gu say anything I want can be changed?”

Her eyes brimmed with accusation, silent but full of grievance.

The butler apologized. “Last year, Miss Gu accidentally fell into the pool, and her illness relapsed. After that, she ordered all the water drained.”

Yu Huai insisted, “No. The water must be refilled.”

She could sing to heal humans, but a mermaid couldn’t live without water.

Yu Huai glanced at the empty, elongated fish tank. “Why is there a fish tank if you don’t keep fish?”

The butler answered frankly, “Miss Gu dislikes aquatic creatures.”

Yu Huai exclaimed, “—!”

The tailless little mermaid was both aggrieved and furious. “Tell Miss Gu that if the pool isn’t filled with water, I’ll… I’ll run away from home!”

The butler was horrified, “Where are you planning to go?”

Yu Huai pondered for a long while before answering, “Any river will do. I’ll just jump in.”

Better bring some salt to pretend its seawater…

…

In the study, Gu Yunyue felt a twitch at her temple, unable to believe what she was hearing. “You’re saying Yu Huai claimed she can’t go on with me and wants to drown herself in a river?”

The butler expressed deep sorrow, “Miss Yu Huai insisted it must be a swimming pool.”

Gu Yunyue wondered if her headache was causing hallucinations. “What does she need a swimming pool for when she moves around in a wheelchair?”

“Fine, let’s indulge the little ancestor.”