Chapter 66

Everyone in the Xu Family has noticed that Xu Heran has been a bit absent-minded lately. She would stop while walking, do strange things while doing other tasks, and occasionally lower her head to make odd sounds with her phone. But when someone asked her, she would put on a calm expression as if nothing had happened, tucking her phone into her pocket and looking at people with composure.

“…Don’t think I can’t see your emotions just because I’m the one who gave birth to you!” Xu Menglan sat beside Xu Heran, rubbing her head and pretending to make her fingers fly, “Some Pearl’s head is bubbling with ‘fufufufu’.”

Mrs. Diana smiled, “Even the pink ones.”

Laughter erupted around the table.

“Hmph.” Xu Heran sat up straight, “I advise you all to treat me better. I’ll be returning to China soon. When the time comes, you won’t be able to persuade me to stay with you even if you want to!”

Little Pearl shook her head, “Abusing the pearl, sigh.”

Diana and Grandpa exchanged a glance, both bursting into laughter.

“Our auspicious granddaughter has been playing with a certain little girl at the kindergarten every day. Why do I feel like the four-year-old kids are more mature than Pei Er?” Diana smiled and asked.

“Hey! I’ll show you immediately!” Xu Heran threatened.

“Oh, sorry.” Diana signaled to Grandpa, “I think our table could use an extra chair, don’t you think, dear?”

Grandpa spoke very seriously, “That might have to wait until the new year after next. By then, our Little Pearl won’t have to leave her dear grandmother and grandfather for some event, right?”

“Not an event, it’s an awards ceremony!” Xu Heran grumbled, “Why do we need to add a chair here? Maybe that person doesn’t want to come!”

Xu Jiamu was the first to chime in, “Oh?”

Xu Junran, “Heh.”

Xu Menglan, “Oh my.”

The eldest among them exchanged a glance, “Well, well.”

Several of them exchanged knowing smiles.

Xu Heran huffed in annoyance, only to hear her grandmother say with a laugh, “It’s alright, my dear. We can fly to China. I just don’t know if your friend would be willing to add a few more chairs for us?”

“I’d like a softer cushion, thank you,” Grandpa said.

“Oh my, that’s something distant!” Xu Heran blushed and thought it might be better to admit things had come to this point! She muttered to herself, “Besides, she’s so good-looking, and I might not even be able to win her over!”

Xu Heran thought about the kiss in her phone again, and her expression turned light and dreamy, “Although she’s a bit special to me, I feel like she just sees me as a younger sister.”

Around the dining table, the Xu Family members perked up, their eyes gleaming with excitement—like when their own pig started nudging the cabbage and admitted to its excitement about nudging the cabbage. Even Xu Junran seemed a bit excited.

“You’re not of legal age yet. Won’t others think you’re young and unreliable? But it doesn’t matter, right?” Xu Junran, who had never been in love or had feelings for anyone, began to analyze for Xu Heran. “University students aren’t that old in terms of age, but their emotions come quickly and passionately. They walk a few rounds on the track, come back holding hands—strangely and oddly making people scratch their heads, hmm?”

Xu Junran looked at his mother, who was covering his mouth, then lowered his head to look at the chopsticks resting on his plate.

“Shut up, both of you!” Xu Menglan threatened her younger son in a low voice, “Eat your food!”

“Ignore your brother. Your sister’s partner is her job, and your brother’s partner is textbooks. They know nothing about love! Our family’s only hope rests on you, my precious!” Xu Menglan said enthusiastically to Xu Heran, “Don’t learn from those two. You must seize the opportunity while you’re young and have a proper love affair!”

“Mom, your eyes are twinkling,” Xu Heran’s mouth twitched, “just like the expression you had when you used to tell my brother that he grew on trees.”

Xu Junran furrowed his brow, his face showing an expression of “Is that so?”

Xu Menglan stared at her with wide eyes, “It’s been so many years, how do you still remember that?”

“Because you lied to children!” Xu Heran sneered.

“Ahem.” Xu Menglan waved her hand, “Anyway, love, you can fall in love at first sight or develop feelings over time. As long as you like them.”

Grandpa Xu laughed and asked, “Do you need Grandpa to teach you a few tricks? Back in the day, I won your grandma’s heart among a thousand horses and ten thousand soldiers, you know~”

Mrs. Diana smiled sweetly.

“My dear, have you ever considered that, setting everything aside, you are the man who best fits my ideal?” Diana finished, lifting her hand to cradle Xu Heran’s chin, “My darling Pei’er, we’ve endowed you with the best. Be confident, don’t be afraid. Who can resist a beautiful and flawless Little Pearl?”

Xu Heran blinked, her blue-purple eyes shining brightly.

“If you like her, be brave and pursue her. Look at your mother, she’s never regretted it.”

Mrs. Xu Menglan raised an eyebrow.

“Even though love might fail, marriage has given me the most wonderful gift in the world. I think you’ll find some rewards on a journey, no matter how long or short it is.”

Encouraged by her family, Xu Heran suddenly felt an infinite passion and strength well up in her heart. She wanted to fly back to China immediately, to confess her feelings to Xin Nuo right away.

“Of course, before eighteen, you shouldn’t do things you shouldn’t do,” Xu Menglan coughed lightly.

Xu Heran’s face turned bright red.

“I heard from Sister Cui that idols should avoid love affairs to maintain their image,” Xu Jiamu suddenly chimed in.

Xu Junran said, “Isn’t Xu Heran only going to be an idol for two years? She’ll be eighteen by then. But the group will disband at that time. Will you still have time to be together?”

“That’s quite contradictory,” he held his chopsticks and said, “I heard from senior students that after graduating from university, the probability of breaking up is ninety percent. So, about your group… um…”

Xu Junran calmly lowered his head and tapped the food Xu Jiamu had set down.

Xu Menglan glared warningly at Xu Junran until he used his expression to convey that he wouldn’t speak again tonight, then slowly withdrew her hand.

“Don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense. Many people still go from school uniforms to wedding dresses,” Xu Menglan said.

Xu Jiamu nodded, “Yeah, like the Land Corporation’s Lu Manxin and her wife Tang Niannian.”

Xu Heran’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah… Oh dear, you’re all talking so far ahead, talking about weddings, marriage… I haven’t even thought about it!” Xu Heran blushed, stood up, and served soup to everyone, “Come on, let’s eat, hehe, hehehe!”

Everyone: …Who mentioned a wedding?

But seeing Xu Heran’s sparkling eyes, filled with happiness and fondness, the Xu Family couldn’t hide their smiles.

After spending less than ten days at home, Xu Heran packed her bags and took a private jet back to China. SGS had a special New Year edition advertisement to shoot for their collaborating brand, and Sister Cui had also arranged a new endorsement for them, including an advertisement for a certain series of perfumes under the Universal Group.

Even though it was a brand under the Universal Group, finding a spokesperson still required considering popularity and influence. Being overly promoted was embarrassing and would lead to ridicule, especially when facing the global market that the various brands under the Universal Group targeted.

As the spokesperson for Keruite’s newly launched perfume in China and surrounding countries, SGS represented eight people, eight scents, and eight styles, each for a specific perfume.

When Xu Heran arrived at the shooting location, the others were already there. With a single glance, Xu Heran spotted Xin Nuo in a beach skirt among the crowd.

“Hey!” Xu Heran hopped out of the car and waved to everyone.

“Xu Pearl!” Jiang Qiong shouted loudly, “Come here quickly.”

Each perfume had a different shooting location. They had flown to the southern coast, where Haya was set to shoot posters by the rolling waves and rocky shore.

“Xu Heran, you’re going to be a mermaid,” Jiang Qiong said excitedly.

Though they hadn’t seen each other for many days, it felt as if they had never been apart.

Xu Heran nodded repeatedly, opened her arms, and embraced Xin Nuo tightly.

“Quick, say you missed me!”

Xu Heran lowered her head, her chin resting on Xin Nuo’s neck.

Xin Nuo had been watching as her car drove down the road towards the beach. Her gaze had been fixed on the car carrying Little Pearl, and she had kept watching until the girl’s joyful face hopped out of the car and ran straight toward her.

Her eyes had never left her, Xin Nuo realized, and she found herself doing the same.

The unspoken understanding between them, just like the unspoken mention of that light, fleeting kiss that Xu Heran had hidden away in her recordings, carried an undertone of ambiguity.

Just like now, as Xin Nuo felt the warmth of Xu Heran’s breath against her cheek, she experienced an unexpected sensation of being burned, making her momentarily want to escape while simultaneously reluctant to do so.

The words “I miss you” suddenly became difficult to say.

However, Xu Heran suddenly smiled, her laughter low. She held Xin Nuo’s hand tighter and whispered in her ear, “Hmm, I heard that.”

“I miss you too.”

“Captain, aren’t you going to do something about this?” Jiang Qiong pointed at the two people stuck together and said, “Xu Pearl only has eyes for Xin Nuo! She ignores her teammates and only pays attention to Xin Nuo. It’s outrageous!”

Jian Yueyin furrowed her brows, “That can’t be true!”

“Punish her with a water dunk!”

Everyone’s eyes brightened, and they immediately bent down to pick up the buckets by their feet.

It was then that Xu Heran realized they were all soaking wet.

“Playing a water fight on a warm beach in December is truly delightful,” Jiang Qiong said. “Xu Pearl, you’ll be going in the water later. We’ll warm you up!”

Suddenly, Xin Nuo reached out and grabbed Xu Heran’s fingers.

“Come on!”

Cui Qi came down from the RV carrying a bag, intending to call Xu Heran for makeup. However, she heard the girls’ voices rising and falling with excitement on the beach. Several of them were standing by the shore, their feet in the waves, enthusiastically engaged in a water fight.

“… Xu Heran!” Cui Qi called out loudly. “Didn’t I tell you to come and do your makeup!”

She rushed over, and when she saw Jian Yueyin sitting on a beach chair, smiling as she watched the sea, Cui Qi said, “Well, it seems like you’re having fun.”

Cui Qi: “… Why is it just you, Nuo Nuo? Hm, Fenghua isn’t here either?”

“Only Hayaya and Ranran are the water element. Of course, we’re playing,” Jian Yueyin said, “But I want to wait until they’re tired before going in.”

A girl rubbed her chin, “We can’t confront her head-on when Xu Heran still has strength.”

Cui Qi: “…”

They’re right, you’re really intimidating.

“But Xu Heran has to go in the water. Xu Heran, come over here!” Cui Qi shouted.

In the sea, Xu Heran stood in front of Xin Nuo as a barrier, soaking everyone else, while Xin Nuo assisted her by throwing water balloons. Several individuals who were each fighting their own battles began to form alliances. Xu Heran and Xin Nuo faced off against four opponents, all of them ending up thoroughly drenched.

In the end, it was an assistant who ran down and pulled Xu Heran out amidst the barrage of water bombs.

The girls were ushered onto the RV, changing clothes, drying their hair, and putting on makeup.

“You’re all causing so much trouble!” Cui Qi slapped the table and addressed the row of girls lying neatly on beach chairs in their bathrobes. “I gave you a few days off, and each one of you has gone crazy playing around!”

“I’ll have to double your workload to get you back on track!”

Laurel said, “Cut to the chase, Sister Cui, it’s ‘back to being active’.”

Cui Qi: “… Back to being active.”

Laurel clicked her tongue, shook her head, and turned to look at the others.

See?

Everyone shook their heads along.

“Get your act together! If you don’t work properly, how will you earn money to buy houses?” Cui Qi slapped her notebook, making a resounding sound. “Work is not tiring. You’ll be going to Province N to participate in a local TV station’s year-end concert. It’s prerecorded. Then you’ll head to Province G to participate in a music program. Afterward, you’ll head to… What’s with your expressions?”

“No problem, it’s great.” Jiang Qiong sat up straight and raised her hand. “I love working. Work makes me happy!”

Everyone raised their hands together. “Long live Sister Cui!”

“Thank you, Sister Cui, for helping us make money!”

Sister Cui smiled and said, “I’ve arranged single music recordings for you all. No need to be nervous, and since it’s almost the New Year, all the major TV stations are preparing holiday programs. It’s a great opportunity to show your faces.”

Everyone obediently nodded without any complaints. After all, being together is what makes the New Year.

They chatted away, holding their phones and playing games. Laurel, Jiang Qiong, and Jian Yueyin played together while Xin Nuo cheered them on. She’s not really into electronic games and only knows how to play Landlord.

The remaining three weren’t doing too well, wandering around in the valley. When they were killed, only Lin Weining sounded surprised.

“How did I die?”

“Someone attacked me! Oh no, I died again!”

“It’s okay, you’ll get the hang of it.” Seeing Xu Heran play many times before, Xin Nuo softly advised. She got poked by Song Fenghua. “Can you heal me?”

“Huh?” Xin Nuo lowered her head in surprise. “I can heal you?”

“No wonder people are dying. That’s why.”

Jiang Qiong and Laurel: “…”

Well, as long as they’re having fun, hehe, hehehehe…

They kept playing until their phones were almost out of battery. Jiang Qiong finally looked up. “Xu Heran is taking so long?”

“Yeah, even Haya is almost done shooting.” Everyone said in confusion.

They had arrived on a flight last night, and Hayaya had departed at 3 a.m. for the shoot, starting from sunrise. Haya’s hair was dyed in gradient blue, very cool, matching her proud expression, just like the ruler of this sea.

It was almost noon now, and Xu Heran had been in the RV for two hours.

Just when everyone was wondering, there was finally movement inside the RV.

“Friends!” Xu Heran called out cheerfully.

Xin Nuo turned her head and saw Xu Heran sitting in a wheelchair, being wheeled out.

The girls’ faces turned pale in an instant, and they abruptly stood up.

“I brought a mermaid tail with me, oh!” Xu Heran lifted the blanket, revealing a long mermaid tail piled up under her.

Xin Nuo touched her heart and her expression slowly returned to normal.

“Are you going to get in the water now?” She walked over to Xu Heran and asked.

“Yeah, yeah, want to join me?”

Hayaya was done shooting and came to join everyone. They boarded a small boat and transferred to a larger one. In this area of the sea, there was a beautiful coral reef, and they were going to shoot in the clear water. Xu Heran was going into the sea.

“You’re too good-looking.”

“You say that every time.” Xu Heran touched her face and was as modest as before. “Still pretty genuine.”

Jiang Qiong: “… Shut your mouth and let me admire you properly, thank you.”

Xu Heran still had silver hair, but her ears were adorned with transparent decorations that resembled sharp fish fins, shining with a layer of gloss. Her pupils needed no embellishment, and her face was covered in sparkles.

Makeup artists seemed to enjoy putting things on Pearl’s face.

Xin Nuo thought.

She raised her hand and gently touched the corner of Xu Heran’s eye. The makeup artist had applied many layers of mascara to her eyelashes, making them straight and soft. As her fingertips brushed against them, there was suddenly a sharp sensation, as if she had been cut.

Perhaps, at this moment, she was too sharply beautiful.

Like a creature not belonging to this world.

After Xu Heran emerged from the makeup room, Xin Nuo’s gaze often lingered on her. Her expression bore the same gentle smile as always, but in her heart, she kept imagining Xu Heran’s brows, eyes, face, and her slender, beautiful figure over and over again.

You’re really good-looking, Xu Heran.

It wasn’t until Xu Heran jumped into the blue ocean in several shots, returning to her natural habitat like a pearl, that Xin Nuo let out a sigh of relief.

She had never told anyone, but every time Xu Heran’s makeup was done, she couldn’t help but sigh in her heart, “Xu Heran, you’re really too good-looking.”

Fully made-up Pearl was very beautiful, and even the bare-faced Pearl was lovely. Pearl with a misty sheen after a shower, the Pearl with a slightly hoarse voice in the early morning, the Pearl who sleepily called her sister… every version was so attractive.

“They’re here.” The director whispered, watching the screen as the shots of the girls converged.

Breathtaking coral reefs lay below, the azure sea wrapping around that splendid figure.

Her fish tail spread out like water, her silver hair flowing in the ocean.

The ocean’s spirit reached out her hand, stirring the seawater. With slowly opening blue-purple eyes, she gazed at this mysterious world. Yet, the ocean gazed back at her with deep affection, for she was the treasure born of all mysteries. She was the ocean itself, the master of this realm with its myriad colors and dreams.

The beautiful mermaid raised her eyes, opened her mouth towards the camera, and released a string of bubbles. Lifting her finger, she touched the screen through the water.

Behind the camera, Xin Nuo stared at her intensely, her heart trembling. She subconsciously raised her hand and bit her fingertip.

Yes, just like this, keep smiling and looking at her, Xu Heran.

That’s what Xin Nuo thought.

The dark lashes of the girl trembled slightly, shielding her eyes from the scattered rays of light.

I like you like this the most.

Author’s Note:

Hehe

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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