Cruise Toward the Pacific

Lin Qi worked quickly.

He collected reports, satellite data, international statements, ocean-current models, and proof that Nerushima had begun discharging contaminated water before the announced date.

He left me at home to watch Lin Xuan.

I gathered my own evidence too.

“Is your brother a prince?” I asked.

Lin Xuan looked at me like I was stupid.

“Do you know socialism? Communism? Equality? Where would a prince come from?”

I ignored his expression.

“Then does he have a fiancée for political marriage?”

Lin Xuan rolled his eyes.

“The Qing dynasty is dead. Arranged marriages are out.”

I relaxed.

Lin Xuan’s eyes narrowed.

“You like my brother?”

Absolutely not.

If a mermaid falls in love with a human, she turns into foam.

I shook my head so fast he rolled his eyes again.

“Ariel, do you really think you’re a mermaid princess? That’s a fairy tale for children.”

He looked so serious that I almost believed him.

I was about to tell him my identity when Lin Qi rushed in and grabbed my wrist.

“I have the evidence. Let’s go.”

I grabbed his hand back and ran faster than him.

After two steps, he stumbled and fell flat.

He climbed up with effort and pointed at the iron shell outside.

“Car.”

Oh.

At the beach, I discovered it was still daylight.

My people would not surface yet.

I sat in the sand and sighed, staring at the ocean.

Lin Qi bought two cups of fresh juice from a shop.

Both for me.

“No rush,” he said. “Based on your description, they won’t act recklessly immediately.”

I nodded.

Then looked at him.

“Nerushima’s actions don’t represent all humans, right?”

“Right. In this matter, sea creatures and most humans are on the same side.”

“You also want to exterminate all humans?”

“…No.”

Night fell.

My people did not come.

Dawn came.

Still nothing.

I soaked in the bathtub for an entire day.

My tail did not return.

I could not change back.

Pearls clattered onto the bathroom floor.

I had no energy to care.

Then Lin Qi pulled open the bathroom door.

“Come with me. The fastest ship leaves tonight. We can cross the Pacific and search for your clan.”

He turned his back.

“Change quickly.”

I immediately took off my wet clothes and grabbed his hand.

“You need to put on other clothes.”

“But I don’t have any.”

I blinked.

He wrapped me tightly in a bathrobe.

Then called stylists and clothing stores.

Soon, a group of people rushed in.

Clothes.

Shoes.

Makeup.

Wig.

Lin Xuan circled me, stunned.

“Wow. Ariel, you really look like a princess.”

“She is a princess,” Lin Qi said, smiling.

I nodded in agreement.

Lin Xuan gave us a mysterious look.

“This flirting method belongs to the last century.”

His mutter earned him a punch from his brother.

I tried walking in high heels.

Painful.

Was this the ancient legend of the little mermaid feeling knives beneath every step?

After two difficult steps, Lin Qi lifted me into his arms.

“This is faster,” he said.

His ears were red.

I leaned closer to inspect them, but he scolded me.

So I obediently stayed in his arms.

We boarded the cruise smoothly.

Lin Qi introduced me to his parents, who were also on the ship.

His mother frowned at first.

“Qi, is this the girl Shanshan said you brought to the company?”

Lin Qi openly took my hand.

“Her name is Ariel. She is part of a royal family across the Pacific. She once saved Lin Xuan by the sea.”

Technically, only my name was true.

But I looked at the ceiling guiltily.

Hearing I had saved Lin Xuan, his parents became much warmer.

After a few concerned questions, they let us go.

That night, the cruise was bright as day.

Wine.

Music.

Guests.

Lin Qi went to socialize with his parents.

Lin Xuan went to get me cake.

I sat on the deck, comfortable and proud.

Then high heels sounded behind me.

Gao Shan.

“Ariel,” she said, “I told you not to compete with me.”

She lunged.

I dodged, but my heels slipped.

She shoved me.

I grabbed her arm.

Together, we fell from the cruise into the sea.

Splash.

I surfaced quickly.

But Gao Shan was gone.

I hesitated one second.

Then dove.

The sea was quiet.

But I no longer had gills.

After choking on seawater, I finally dragged the unconscious woman up.

The cruise lowered a ladder.

I swam with her toward it.

The moment I touched the ladder, dizziness swallowed me.