When A Deadbeat Meets A Merman Villain

This costly seafood restaurant was Melody's favorite.

"Very well." I gritted my teeth and commanded the system, "Exchange the 'False Abortion Pill’ for me immediately!"

The system was so scared that its code was all messed up. "Elle, stay calm! Merbabies are resilient. This tool requires 5,000 points..."

"Do I look like I care about points?"

The reason why I was lazy in this world was that the points I earned from the tasks I did in other worlds before were enough for me to retire on.

...

When Theo gently pushed open the bedroom door, he saw me curled up on the bed, pale-faced and clutching my stomach. "Elle?" The food container in his hand clattered to the floor, scattering baked salmon everywhere.

I weakly looked up and saw a slap mark on his left cheek.

Theo's hands trembled as he picked me up, and he immediately drove me to the hospital.

I deliberately lay on the hospital bed with my back to Theo, listening to his rapid breathing as he spoke with the doctor.

"There are mild signs of miscarriage. She needs absolute bed rest. It's crucial to keep her emotions stable," the doctor advised sternly.

Theo's voice was hoarse. "She… and the baby..."

"She's alright for now, but further stress could make things worse."

"Mr. Atwater... Mrs. Atwater's human body isn't suited for carrying a merman's offspring. The first three months are especially critical. If this goes on, I'm afraid the offspring..."

The hospital ward door closed. Then, there was a dull thud that sounded like knees slamming heavily onto the floor.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..." His voice trembled as he whispered against the back of my neck.

I quietly pricked up my ears, waiting for him to continue.

"I shouldn't have left you home alone..." His fingers cautiously touched my shoulder.

I immediately turned around, nearly bumping into his nose. "I'm furious! Get out!"

The system had just told me that Melody's father owed two million dollars due to gambling. She did not want to borrow money from Reagan. Instead, she thought of having Theo rescue him without spending a penny.

Upon arriving at the scene, she discovered that her father's kidnapper was Theo's former henchman, who had been expelled from the Eternal Night Gang for misconduct.

Melody did not believe Theo and thought he had deliberately sent someone to do it, so she slapped him.

Theo opened his mouth helplessly but said nothing. He just suddenly hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

"Let go! You're pressing on my belly!" I punched his back.

He immediately jumped back as if he had been electrocuted and looked helplessly at my belly, his eyes filled with lingering fear. "Elle... don't be mad... I brought you salmon."

I was confused. Had it not been for Melody?

"You said you wanted baked salmon the night before the last. I wrote it down in my notes," he explained quietly.

I remained quiet.

"So..." Theo suddenly knelt beside the bed, carefully taking my hand. "Can you forgive me?"

Looking at his red-rimmed eyes, a sudden idea struck me. "I'll forgive you if you cry one purple pearl."

Theo said nothing.

Three minutes later, I sat on the bed, smugly counting the purple pearls before me. I heard the system's notification.

"Villain's corruption level has dropped to 70%."

I stayed in the hospital for three days and finally discovered a shocking secret. The doctor who did my ultrasound examination turned out to be a clownfish merman from the bottom of the sea!

I secretly observed him for a long time. When he bent down to record the data, I asked in a low voice, "Can you cry out pearls?"

The doctor's hand trembled. His pen nearly dropped to the ground as he awkwardly pushed his glasses. "Mrs. Atwater, not all merfolk can produce pearls..."

I sighed in disappointment and turned my head to look at Theo, who was sitting beside me, peeling apples. I asked quietly, “So, you're a rare variety?"

The fruit knife in Theo's hand paused as he expressionlessly handed me an apple." Eat."

I pursed my lips. As expected, merfolk who could cry pearls were all treasures.

Meanwhile, Melody had called no less than ten times. The first time the phone rang, Theo was peeling grapes for me. The screen lit up, and he glanced at it, his fingers slightly stiffening.

I narrowed my eyes. "Answer it."

Theo silently tapped decline.

I said, "Cry me a pearl."

Theo said nothing.

Five minutes later, I received a pale purple pearl, to much of my satisfaction.

When Melody's second call came, Theo was massaging my calves. The phone's vibration made him pause.

I lazily looked up. "Answer it."

Theo declined with a poker face.

I said, "Cry."

Theo took a deep breath, his eyes turning slightly red.

With a thud, a pearl fell to the floor.

By the third and fourth time, Theo had developed a conditioned reflex. Whenever his phone rang, his eyes would start to redden, and tears would well up even before I could speak.

I laughed so hard that I slapped the bed. "Theo, do you have tear incontinence?"

Theo's expression darkened. He silenced his phone and answered through gritted teeth, "Elle, don't go too far."

I blinked innocently. "What did I do? I didn't say anything."

He was so mad that he turned around and went to the balcony for some fresh air. After less than two minutes, he silently returned, placed a pearl in my palm, and whispered, "Stop being mad."

I was puzzled.

The system was frantically trying to suppress its laughter in my mind.

"Elle, you've turned the villain into an automatic pearl-producing machine!"

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, I carried a sack full of pearls, happily preparing to go home and string them into a pearl curtain.

Theo carried the luggage in one hand and supported me with the other, afraid I would stumble or fall.

Just as we reached the hospital entrance, Melody suddenly rushed out from the side. Her eyes were red and swollen as she blocked our way.

"Theo! I have something to say to you!"

Theo's eyes reddened almost reflexively, tears instantly welling up.

Melody was confused.

I was suppressing my laughter until my stomach hurt. I quickly took Theo's arm and asked with feigned gentleness, "Ms. Carlisle, what's wrong?"

Melody opened her mouth, seemingly not expecting Theo's reaction. After a long pause, she finally said with difficulty, "I'm sorry... About that situation with my father… I misunderstood you—”

Theo interrupted frigidly, “It’s alright."

With that said, he pulled me quickly toward the car, afraid that the pearls would fall out again if we stayed any longer.

I turned and waved to Melody, remarking with a grin, "Ms. Carlisle, just ask Reagan if you need anything. Theo's busy."

He was busy crying me pearls!

Once in the car, Theo fastened my seatbelt with a grim expression.

I poked his cheek. "What's wrong? Unhappy?"

He was silent for a moment before suddenly whispering, "Elle, do you only like my pearls?"

I froze for a moment before bursting out into laughter. "Yeah, what else?"

Theo's eyes dimmed instantly.

I leaned close to him and whispered in his ear," But... I prefer the way you cry to pearls."

Theo was speechless.

The next second, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me hard.

The system said, “The villain's corruption level has dropped to 55%! Elle, victory is in sight!”

His kiss made me dizzy. Suddenly, I remembered something and pressed against his chest, slightly pulling away. "What about you? Do you only like the fact I’m carrying your offspring?"

Theo's ears turned red instantly, and he was scared to make eye contact with me. "Merfolk stay absolutely loyal to their partners."

I narrowed my eyes, "Oh? Then back on the rooftop—"

"I was zoning out." He quickly cut off the conversation. His long eyelashes drooped, casting a shadow under his eyes. "I was thinking whether you only wanted me for my money, which was why you agreed to marry me.”

...

I had never seen Theo's tail.

Ever since I learned he was a merman, I had been wanting to see his legendary, priceless blue fishtail. However, every time I brought it up, Theo's ears would turn red, and he would quickly change the subject.

I leaned against his back, my fingers twirling the ends of his hair. "Theo... let me see your fishtail."

He stiffened before flipping through the document with feigned calmness. "There's nothing to see."

I whispered in his ear, deliberately lowering my voice. "How is it nothing? I heard merfolk's fishtails are smooth and shiny like jewels..."

The pen he was holding snapped in two.

I was rendered speechless.

The system was laughing hysterically in my mind.

"Elle, you made him react violently!"

I pouted. If the easy way failed, I would try the hard way!

Therefore, I sneaked into the bathroom while Theo was showering that night. The bathroom was filled with steam, and the water in the tub rippled gently.

I tiptoed closer and abruptly pulled back the shower curtain. A shimmering blue fish tail swayed gently in the water.

I held my breath instantly. His fishtail was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Its scales were as translucent as deep-sea gems, and its tail fin was as thin as a cicada's wing. It shimmered with a silver glow in the ripples, as if an entire galaxy had been crushed and scattered upon it.

Theo whirled around and froze as soon as he saw me.

"Elle?" His voice trembled slightly.

I stared at him blankly, momentarily speechless.

Theo's eyes gradually filled with panic as his fishtail instinctively retreated into the water. His voice was barely audible. "Did I scare you?"

I snapped out of my daze, shaking my head frantically. "No! It's beautiful!"

He paused, his ears turning crimson. "Really?"

"Of course!" I crouched by the bathtub, my eyes glimmering. "This tail seems priceless! If we auction it off..."

Theo was speechless.