Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Misdiagnosis”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chi Li falls asleep, Si Jinyan secretly replaces his usual meal plan with a pregnancy-focused diet, instructing the butler not to tell him.
• Si Jinyan persuades Chi Li to undergo a follow-up examination, claiming it is required after an Aberrant Form attack. Chi Li agrees because he wants to verify whether the earlier pregnancy diagnosis was accurate.
• During their journey to Lu Jiu’s base, Si Jinyan reveals that multiple secret laboratories once conducted Aberrant Form experiments. Both soldiers and civilians were forcibly transformed, and some Aberrant Forms remain at large.
• Chi Li learns that Si Jinyan has moved to the remote coast partly to eliminate these dangerous creatures and prevent public panic.
• Chi Li questions Si Jinyan’s loyalty to an oppressive Emperor. Si Jinyan explains that he cannot ignore the suffering of the Empire’s people and that his devotion was influenced by the former Emperor, whom he describes as fair, benevolent, and wise.
• When Chi Li mentions Bai Qi, Si Jinyan warns him to keep his distance, admitting that Bai Qi is impossible even for him to understand and may therefore be especially dangerous.
• At the hidden base, Lu Jiu conducts a complete examination. The results show no infection, complications, or other abnormalities.
• Chi Li privately interprets the results as proof that the earlier pregnancy report was erroneous. Relieved, he concludes that he is not carrying Si Jinyan’s child.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes increasingly suspicious of the pregnancy diagnosis and remains determined to terminate the supposed pregnancy if it is real. The normal examination temporarily reassures him and reinforces his belief that the earlier report was a mistake. He also develops greater respect and sympathy for Si Jinyan after learning about his sacrifices and sense of duty.
• Si Jinyan: Secretly behaves as though Chi Li is pregnant, changing his diet and monitoring his reactions. His concern makes him more protective, while his loyalty to the Empire’s people reveals a deeply ingrained moral commitment. He also shows distrust toward Bai Qi, suggesting a more cautious and perceptive side.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as the medical examiner and gives Chi Li and Si Jinyan a seemingly normal report, unaware—or at least not openly acknowledging—Chi Li’s pregnancy-related concern.

Significant Themes

• Misdiagnosis and denial: The chapter centers on conflicting medical evidence and Chi Li’s desperate hope that the original pregnancy diagnosis was false.
• Secrecy and concealed intentions: Si Jinyan hides the dietary changes and possibly his suspicions, while Chi Li conceals his fear and determination to reject the pregnancy.
• Duty versus personal freedom: Si Jinyan sacrifices personal autonomy and safety to protect the Empire’s population, contrasting with Chi Li’s desire to control his own body and future.
• The morality of scientific experimentation: The revelation that ordinary civilians were subjected to Aberrant Form experiments emphasizes the cruelty and dehumanization underlying the Empire’s weapons programs.
• Trust and uncertainty: Chi Li’s growing understanding of Si Jinyan is balanced by warnings about Bai Qi, whose motives remain opaque.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan and Chi Li’s conversation during the flight deepens their emotional understanding: Chi Li questions Si Jinyan’s loyalty, while Si Jinyan explains his responsibility toward the people.
• Si Jinyan’s warning about Bai Qi creates tension and suggests that he is protective of Chi Li, even though he does not fully explain his concerns.
• During the examination, Chi Li is anxious that the pregnancy will be discovered, while Si Jinyan believes the visit is merely a routine follow-up. Si Jinyan’s reassurance that he was not examining Chi Li’s mark briefly eases the tension.
• The chapter ends with dramatic irony: Si Jinyan secretly believes Chi Li may be pregnant, while Chi Li leaves convinced that the diagnosis was simply a mistake.

Chapter Summary: “An Egg”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan takes Chi Li for a thorough physical examination and later discusses the results with Lu Jiu at the base.
• The examination shows that Chi Li and the developing child are physically healthy, but the fetus has not formed like a normal human baby. Instead, it appears to be oval or egg-shaped.
• Lu Jiu explains that Si Jinyan’s unusual genes may cause the child to retain mermaid traits or develop differently from an ordinary human. Although he cannot guarantee the outcome, he finds no immediate danger.
• Lu Jiu advises Si Jinyan to bring Chi Li back for another examination and warns him that Chi Li will eventually discover the truth. Si Jinyan is troubled because he wants to keep the child, while he believes Chi Li would oppose doing so.
• After returning home, Chi Li becomes more relaxed because he no longer feels pressured to leave immediately. He notices that Si Jinyan respects his refusals and no longer forces physical contact, though Si Jinyan frequently asks to smell his pheromones.
• Si Jinyan’s mermaid condition continues worsening. He increasingly remains in a human form with a fish tail because suppressing it consumes energy and risks causing him to lose control.
• Si Jinyan’s pheromones begin helping ease Chi Li’s occasional nausea and discomfort, though Chi Li does not recognize the significance of the symptom.
• That evening, Si Jinyan becomes strongly affected by Chi Li’s pheromones and uses his fish tail to touch and stimulate him. Chi Li initially resists but gradually gives in, partly because he is increasingly sensitive to Si Jinyan’s pheromones.
• Afterward, Chi Li becomes embarrassed when Si Jinyan playfully tastes the pheromone scent left on his tail.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Becomes more anxious and protective after learning that the child may be an egg-like mermaid-human hybrid. He is torn between respecting Chi Li’s wishes and secretly wanting to preserve the pregnancy. His physical condition is deteriorating, but he continues trying to care for Chi Li through his pheromones.
• Chi Li: Grows more comfortable around Si Jinyan because of his improved respect for boundaries. Although he remains unaware of the pregnancy and the child’s unusual development, his body is beginning to react more strongly to Si Jinyan’s pheromones.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as the medical and scientific authority. He gives Si Jinyan a cautious but hopeful assessment and reminds him that delaying the truth may eventually leave fewer choices.

Significant Themes

• Uncertainty and hybridity: The unborn child’s egg-like form reflects the uncertain biological consequences of combining human and mermaid genes.
• Secrecy and moral choice: Si Jinyan’s decision to hide the pregnancy places his desire to keep the child against Chi Li’s right to know and choose.
• Trust and boundaries: Si Jinyan’s restraint helps Chi Li feel safer, even as he continues manipulating circumstances through pheromones and concealed information.
• Physical instinct versus conscious control: Both men’s bodies increasingly respond to pheromones and biological urges, complicating their attempts to maintain emotional and personal control.
• Care mixed with possessiveness: Si Jinyan’s pheromones relieve Chi Li’s discomfort, but his intense attachment and secret plans reveal a possessive side.

Character Interactions

• Lu Jiu confronts Si Jinyan with the likely truth about the child and warns him to involve Chi Li before it is too late.
• At home, Si Jinyan shows affection by wrapping his fish tail around Chi Li’s ankle and using his pheromones to soothe him. Chi Li protests but gradually permits the contact.
• Their intimate encounter demonstrates Chi Li’s growing susceptibility to Si Jinyan, while Si Jinyan remains attentive to his limits and stops when Chi Li says enough.
• The scene ends on a playful but embarrassing note when Si Jinyan teases Chi Li by calling his pheromone scent “tasty.”

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Chi Li falls asleep beside Si Jinyan, who has recently begun releasing pheromones and gently touching Chi Li’s stomach with his fish tail. Although Chi Li once resisted these actions, he has gradually become accustomed to them and no longer wakes in alarm.
• Si Jinyan carefully soothes both Chi Li and the unborn “little one,” communicating with it through soft, inaudible murmurs and responding to its faint movements.
• After ensuring they are both calm, Si Jinyan leaves for a separate room and attempts to control a violent physical reaction. Under a cold shower, he struggles against intense pain, rage, and restless pheromones, suggesting that he is suffering from a serious condition or undergoing a dangerous transformation.
• Nearly half a month passes. Chi Li has secretly mapped out the villa’s approximate location by observing Si Jinyan’s movements to the base and on outside trips. He plans to transmit the information to Qi Yan or the mercenary corps, though escaping is difficult because Si Jinyan is constantly with him.
• While examining himself in the mirror after showering, Chi Li realizes that something is wrong with his body. The chapter ends before the nature of the problem is revealed.

Character developments

• Chi Li: Becomes less fearful and more tolerant of Si Jinyan’s presence and physical contact, especially when it concerns protecting the unborn child. Despite this growing familiarity, he remains determined to escape and secretly gathers information for the mercenary corps.
• Si Jinyan: Shows a tender, protective side toward Chi Li and the unborn child, using pheromones and his tail to comfort them. At the same time, his private struggle reveals severe internal pain and emotional instability beneath his controlled exterior.
• The unborn child: Displays awareness and responsiveness, lightly nudging Si Jinyan’s tail during their quiet interaction.

Significant themes

• Protectiveness and attachment: Si Jinyan’s care for Chi Li and the child contrasts with Chi Li’s continuing captivity and mistrust.
• Trust and habituation: Chi Li’s subconscious acceptance of Si Jinyan’s touch shows how repeated care can gradually lessen fear, even without fully resolving the power imbalance between them.
• Hidden suffering: Si Jinyan conceals intense pain and rage, suggesting that his calm behavior requires constant suppression.
• Freedom versus confinement: Chi Li’s secret effort to locate the villa emphasizes his desire for escape, while the villa’s interference equipment and Si Jinyan’s constant supervision reinforce his imprisonment.
• Uncertainty and impending danger: Both Si Jinyan’s physical condition and Chi Li’s newly noticed bodily changes create suspense about what will happen next.

Character interactions

• Si Jinyan gently approaches Chi Li while he sleeps, soothing his stomach and communicating with the unborn child.
• Chi Li, though initially uneasy, unconsciously moves closer to Si Jinyan and eventually allows the contact without waking.
• The unborn child responds to Si Jinyan’s tail, creating an intimate, private bond between them.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan remain physically close but emotionally divided: Si Jinyan expresses care through protection, while Chi Li continues secretly planning his escape.

Chapter Summary: “Killing Intent (Second Update)”

Plot and events

Chi Li notices that he has gained weight and resolves to resume intense exercise so he will be physically prepared if he ever escapes. While washing and looking in the mirror, he sees an unexplained movement in his lower abdomen. The movement is caused by Eggy, the developing merfolk child inside him, who has begun to gain consciousness. Eggy has been secretly influenced and protected by Si Jinyan, who normally keeps the child hidden with a bewitching power. With Si Jinyan away dealing with a mutant, Eggy breaks through the concealment and deliberately moves to make Chi Li notice its existence.

Character developments

Chi Li remains focused on survival and escape, treating his physical decline as a potential weakness. His repeated observation of his abdomen confirms that he is becoming aware of Eggy, though he does not yet understand what is happening. Eggy is shown developing emotions, attachment, and awareness. Eggy trusts and likes Chi Li but has been frightened by Si Jinyan into believing that Chi Li dislikes or may reject the child.

Character interactions

Although Si Jinyan is absent, his influence dominates the scene: he has secretly spoken to Eggy, released pheromones, and concealed Eggy from Chi Li. Eggy attempts to communicate by gently nudging Chi Li’s stomach. When Chi Li notices the movement, Eggy becomes terrified and freezes, sensing an overwhelming killing intent from Chi Li.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes secrecy, fear, and the consequences of manipulation. Eggy’s innocent desire for recognition conflicts with Si Jinyan’s controlling warnings and Chi Li’s instinctive hostility. The final revelation—that Chi Li’s reaction is marked by intense killing intent—creates tension over whether he will reject or threaten the child once its existence becomes fully known.

Chapter Summary: “Confirmation”

Key plot points and events

• Chi Li notices a brief, abnormal change in his reflection that reminds him of physiological changes associated with omegas. Although the anomaly disappears, it triggers a chain of troubling deductions.
• He dismisses the possibility because Lu Jiu had already examined him, and he assumes Si Jinyan would know if anything were wrong. However, he begins wondering how Si Jinyan would react if the suspected condition were real.
• Si Jinyan enters, embraces Chi Li, and behaves affectionately as usual. Chi Li, unsettled by his thoughts and irritated by Si Jinyan’s casual touching, pushes him away.
• Si Jinyan tries to discuss an Aberrant Form he fought that day, but Chi Li is too distracted and gives him an unusually cold response. Sensing Chi Li’s mood, Si Jinyan showers before bed because he still carries the creature’s unpleasant smell.
• Alone, Chi Li continues considering possible explanations for the strange physical sign. He rules out Aberrant Form infection because Lu Jiu would have detected it.
• That night, Si Jinyan seeks Chi Li’s pheromones for comfort after being affected by the Aberrant Form. His fish tail wraps around Chi Li’s ankle, then withdraws timidly when Chi Li remains silent.
• Suddenly, Chi Li takes control, straddles Si Jinyan, and bites his lips. The chapter ends with Chi Li releasing his pheromones unexpectedly, leaving Si Jinyan shocked.

Character developments

• Chi Li: Becomes increasingly anxious and suspicious about a possible physiological change. His normally controlled, distant behavior gives way to a sudden, decisive act, suggesting that his confusion and emotions are becoming impossible to suppress.
• Si Jinyan: Remains affectionate, physically attentive, and emotionally dependent on Chi Li’s pheromones. Although he notices Chi Li’s unusual coldness, he does not press him and instead responds with patience and restraint.

Significant themes

• Uncertainty and realization: Small physical evidence forces Chi Li to reconsider what he believes about himself.
• Control versus vulnerability: Chi Li attempts to maintain emotional and physical distance, but ultimately initiates an intimate encounter on his own terms.
• Dependence and comfort: Si Jinyan relies on Chi Li’s pheromones to recover from the psychological and physical effects of confronting Aberrant Forms.
• Unspoken communication: Much of the tension comes from gestures, touch, pheromones, and silence rather than direct conversation.

Character interactions

• Si Jinyan repeatedly seeks closeness through embraces, kisses, touch, and his tail.
• Chi Li rejects these advances at first, responding coldly and withdrawing from conversation.
• Despite this distance, Chi Li ultimately reverses the dynamic by initiating an intense kiss and asserting physical dominance, catching Si Jinyan completely off guard.

Chapter Summary: “Questioning”

Plot and events

Chi Li suddenly initiates an intense kiss with Si Jinyan, claiming that he may have entered his rut. His unusual aggressiveness briefly causes Si Jinyan to lose control, but Si Jinyan soon realizes that Chi Li’s behavior is deliberate. Their positions reverse, and although Chi Li clearly encourages further intimacy, Si Jinyan restrains himself and refuses to proceed. As Chi Li’s apparent fever gradually fades, it becomes clear that he is testing Si Jinyan to discover what he is hiding. Si Jinyan eventually claims that contact with an Aberrant Form caused him to fear losing control and harming Chi Li, but Chi Li recognizes the explanation as implausible. The chapter ends with Chi Li confronting him directly and gripping his chin.

Character developments

• Chi Li shifts from apparent vulnerability and desire to calculated suspicion. He uses intimacy as a test, observes Si Jinyan’s restraint, and becomes increasingly certain that Si Jinyan is concealing something. His emotional warmth cools into distrust.
• Si Jinyan is initially overwhelmed by Chi Li’s initiative but quickly regains control. Although he understands that Chi Li is manipulating the situation to obtain answers, he still indulges in the closeness and delays revealing the truth. His protectiveness and reluctance to hurt Chi Li conflict with his desire to remain emotionally close to him.

Character interactions

The chapter centers on a charged exchange in which Chi Li takes control, provoking Si Jinyan through kisses and contact with his fish tail. Si Jinyan briefly dominates the encounter but deliberately stops short of completing it. Their physical closeness becomes a form of interrogation: Chi Li tests Si Jinyan through seduction, while Si Jinyan attempts to soothe and distract him without answering honestly. The final confrontation strips away the pretense between them.

Significant themes

• Trust and deception: Physical intimacy cannot conceal Si Jinyan’s secret, and Chi Li’s awareness turns affection into investigation.
• Control versus vulnerability: Both characters struggle between instinctive desire and conscious restraint.
• Intimacy as communication: Their pheromonal bond and physical actions express emotions and suspicions that neither openly states.
• Protectiveness and secrecy: Si Jinyan’s evasiveness appears motivated by fear of harming Chi Li, but his refusal to explain himself further damages Chi Li’s trust.

Chapter Summary: “Concealing It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan restrains Chi Li with his fish tail and continues an intimate encounter despite Chi Li’s attempts to stop him.
• Chi Li, angry and suspicious, accuses Si Jinyan of hiding something from him and demands the truth.
• After Si Jinyan finally releases him, Chi Li confronts him directly, asking what has happened to his body.
• Chi Li reveals that he believes Si Jinyan’s “knotting” has altered him biologically—making him function like an omega—and that he is pregnant.
• Si Jinyan reacts with apparent shock and disbelief, insisting that Chi Li is an Alpha and that such a thing should be impossible.
• Si Jinyan suggests they undergo a medical examination, proposing that Chi Li may be mistaken or suffering from another condition.
• He then reframes Chi Li’s confrontation as possibly a test designed to see whether Si Jinyan would touch him.
• Si Jinyan explains his recent instability after fighting an Aberrant Form, claiming he has been restraining himself to avoid hurting Chi Li.
• Although he appears concerned about Chi Li’s health, Si Jinyan repeatedly looks toward Chi Li’s stomach and seems both delighted and uncertain.
• Chi Li remains unconvinced, believing Si Jinyan is concealing important information and may be manipulating the situation.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes increasingly distrustful and assertive. Despite his physical vulnerability, he refuses to accept Si Jinyan’s explanations at face value and openly challenges him about the changes to his body. His anger is mixed with uncertainty because Si Jinyan’s natural reaction makes him question whether his own conclusions are correct.
• Si Jinyan: Displays a mixture of possessiveness, desire, concern, and evasiveness. He initially ignores Chi Li’s resistance, but once confronted, he adopts a cooperative and reassuring attitude. His apparent surprise about the pregnancy may be genuine, but his repeated attempts to redirect the conversation leave Chi Li suspicious.
• Their relationship: The encounter reveals a serious imbalance of trust. Si Jinyan claims he is protecting Chi Li, while Chi Li interprets his secrecy and control as deception.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and mistrust: Chi Li senses that Si Jinyan is hiding the truth, while Si Jinyan offers explanations that may or may not be complete.
• Loss of bodily autonomy: Chi Li is distressed by the unexplained changes to his body and by Si Jinyan’s willingness to continue physically restraining him despite his protests.
• Manipulation and uncertainty: The chapter repeatedly blurs the line between genuine concern and deliberate concealment.
• Power and vulnerability: Si Jinyan holds physical and informational power, while Chi Li struggles to regain control and understand what has happened to him.
• Possible pregnancy and transformation: Chi Li’s suspected pregnancy introduces a major turning point, challenging established assumptions about his Alpha identity and the rules of their world.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li repeatedly orders Si Jinyan to stop and let him go, while Si Jinyan initially continues, emphasizing the physical and emotional tension between them.
• Chi Li confronts Si Jinyan about his secrecy and demands a direct answer regarding his body.
• Si Jinyan attempts to calm him through reassurance, denial, and promises of a medical examination, but his explanations fail to restore Chi Li’s trust.
• Both characters end the chapter withholding their full thoughts: Si Jinyan presents himself as concerned and honest, while Chi Li remains convinced that there is more to the situation than Si Jinyan admits.

Chapter Summary: “Anomaly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The relationship between Si Jinyan and Chi Li deteriorates after Si Jinyan continues withholding the truth about Chi Li’s condition. Chi Li becomes cold and deliberately ignores him.
• Chi Li again asks when Si Jinyan will let him leave, but Si Jinyan cannot answer, intensifying the tension between them.
• Si Jinyan visits the base and discusses the situation with Lu Jiu. They acknowledge that Chi Li will eventually discover the truth because the changes in his body are becoming increasingly obvious.
• Si Jinyan admits that he wants to preserve the developing life inside Chi Li, despite not knowing whether Chi Li will agree to it.
• He reveals that the entity communicates with him through understandable sound waves, calls him “Father,” and has learned Chi Li’s name. This suggests that it is intelligent, conscious, and possibly connected to Si Jinyan in ways that challenge his understanding of his own origins.
• Si Jinyan confesses how deeply attached he has become to the unborn child. He senses its thoughts and desire to live, and believes Chi Li would have loved it if their circumstances had been different.
• Meanwhile, Chi Li experiences a persistent itch and unusual sensation near his neck and jaw. While asleep, he touches a semi-hard layer beneath his skin and suddenly realizes that something abnormal is developing in his body.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Becomes increasingly emotionally conflicted. Although he initially viewed the anomaly more objectively, his communication with it has awakened paternal feelings and a strong determination to protect it. He is torn between preserving the child and respecting Chi Li’s wishes.
• Chi Li: Grows more suspicious, resentful, and emotionally distant because Si Jinyan refuses to release him or explain what is happening. His physical symptoms finally provide him with concrete evidence that something is wrong.
• Lu Jiu: Serves as a rational confidant and observer. He is initially shocked by the child’s ability to communicate, then begins to understand the emotional weight of Si Jinyan’s attachment.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and betrayal: Si Jinyan’s concealment creates distrust and drives the couple further apart.
• Parenthood and attachment: The anomaly’s use of “Father” transforms it from an abstract biological development into a conscious child in Si Jinyan’s eyes.
• Life versus autonomy: The chapter raises the question of whether Si Jinyan’s desire to protect the child can override Chi Li’s right to decide what happens to his own body.
• Identity and humanity: The anomaly’s intelligence and language cause Si Jinyan to question whether he is truly only a human-made experimental subject.
• Miscommunication: Si Jinyan and Chi Li are both emotionally affected by the situation, but Si Jinyan’s silence prevents them from understanding each other.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li repeatedly pressures Si Jinyan for freedom, while Si Jinyan avoids answering, leaving their relationship tense and distant.
• Si Jinyan confides in Lu Jiu about the anomaly’s communication and his paternal feelings. Lu Jiu listens with growing astonishment and sympathy.
• The anomaly interacts emotionally with Si Jinyan, calling him “Father” and expressing a desire to live, while also showing affection toward Chi Li despite Chi Li’s hostility toward it.
• The chapter ends as Chi Li physically discovers the abnormal growth, setting up a direct confrontation with the truth.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Before dawn, Chi Li discovers an abnormal patch of hardened skin on his neck. In the bathroom mirror, he realizes that two translucent, scale-like patches have grown there—an unmistakable trait of Mermaids.
• Si Jinyan is shocked by the discovery but tries to calm Chi Li, claiming it is not an Aberrant Form infection and suggesting that Chi Li may have been affected by him.
• Chi Li becomes suspicious and angrily demands to know what Si Jinyan is hiding. Lu Jiu is called in and confirms that the marks are indeed scales.
• Chi Li undergoes a full examination at the base. While he waits, Si Jinyan and Lu Jiu privately study the results and determine that the changes are connected to “Eggy,” the developing organism or child inside Chi Li.
• The examination reveals that Eggy has developed much more quickly than expected and may be born soon.
• When Si Jinyan returns, Chi Li confronts him, realizing that he and Lu Jiu have concealed the truth. In anger and fear, Chi Li declares that he will kill Eggy himself.

Character developments

• Chi Li shifts from confusion to suspicion, anger, and defiance. His physical transformation confirms that his connection to Si Jinyan and Eggy is changing his body, intensifying his fear of losing control over himself.
• Si Jinyan remains protective and emotionally attached to Chi Li, but his evasiveness deepens Chi Li’s mistrust. His shock at the scales also reveals that Eggy’s development is more alarming and unpredictable than he expected.
• Lu Jiu acts as the medical authority and confirms that the scales are likely a later-stage change caused by Eggy. He shares Si Jinyan’s concern that the pregnancy or development is progressing abnormally fast.

Significant themes

• Transformation and loss of humanity: Chi Li’s scales symbolize his body becoming linked to the Mermaid world and raise fears about how far the changes will spread.
• Secrecy and mistrust: Si Jinyan and Lu Jiu withhold crucial information, causing Chi Li to feel manipulated and betrayed.
• Fear of the unknown: The characters cannot predict Eggy’s development or the consequences of its birth.
• Control and bodily autonomy: Chi Li’s threat to kill Eggy reflects his desperate attempt to reclaim control over his body and future.
• Protective love versus dangerous concealment: Si Jinyan tries to protect Chi Li through reassurance and secrecy, but this behavior instead worsens the conflict between them.

Character interactions

• Si Jinyan follows Chi Li to the bathroom and physically comforts him, showing his constant attentiveness and protectiveness.
• Chi Li confronts Si Jinyan repeatedly, first asking what caused the scales and later accusing him of hiding the truth.
• Lu Jiu examines Chi Li and privately confirms the alarming diagnosis with Si Jinyan.
• The chapter ends with a direct emotional confrontation: Chi Li, feeling deceived and threatened by Eggy’s imminent birth, vows to destroy it.

Chapter Summary: “Don’t Keep It”

Plot points and events

Chi Li realizes that Si Jinyan and Lu Jiu have been hiding the truth about his medical condition. The scales appearing on his neck, their suspicious behavior, and the passage of nearly four months lead him to conclude that Si Jinyan falsified the hospital report and concealed the existence of a child or pregnancy from him. When Si Jinyan returns to the office, Chi Li declares that he will not keep it and intends to return home to deal with the situation himself. Si Jinyan tries to stop him, insisting that the truth is more complicated, but refuses to let him leave. Their confrontation escalates when Chi Li punches him. Feeling trapped, Chi Li grabs a knife and threatens to harm himself. Si Jinyan immediately panics, kneels, and begs Chi Li to stop, surrendering his insistence on keeping the child.

Character developments

Chi Li shifts from suspicion to certainty and fury. He feels deeply betrayed by Si Jinyan’s deception and is humiliated that, as an Alpha, he was manipulated in such a personal matter. His determination to regain control becomes extreme, culminating in his willingness to threaten his own life. Si Jinyan’s confident attempts to control the situation collapse. Though he initially tries to conceal the truth and restrain Chi Li, he reveals how desperately he values both Chi Li and the child when faced with Chi Li’s self-harm. He recognizes that his plan has damaged Chi Li’s trust and may break his resilience.

Significant themes

The chapter focuses on betrayal, bodily autonomy, coercion, and the consequences of secrecy. Si Jinyan’s desire to keep both Chi Li and the child conflicts with Chi Li’s right to make decisions about his own body and future. It also explores the destructive nature of control disguised as protection, as well as the desperation produced when trust is replaced by manipulation.

Character interactions

Chi Li confronts Si Jinyan directly and rejects his explanations. Si Jinyan attempts to soothe and persuade him but ultimately blocks his escape, intensifying the conflict. Chi Li responds physically by striking him and then uses the knife to force Si Jinyan to acknowledge his wishes. Si Jinyan’s reaction—remaining still, kneeling, and begging him to abandon the child—reveals the depth of his fear and emotional dependence on Chi Li.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li confronts Si Jinyan while holding a knife to his own abdomen, threatening to kill the unborn creature inside him if Si Jinyan refuses to let him go.
• Si Jinyan panics and agrees to cooperate, promising to help remove the creature and never lie to Chi Li again. Chi Li lowers the knife, having successfully forced Si Jinyan into a compromise.
• Si Jinyan destroys the bloodied knife and insists that Chi Li’s wound be treated. Chi Li then tells Lu Jiu to “get rid of it,” referring to the creature inside him.
• Lu Jiu examines Chi Li and finally gives him the test reports that had been hidden from him. The images reveal that the creature is actually a small silver-white egg with patterned shell markings.
• Lu Jiu explains that the egg is influenced by Mermaid genes, making its removal more dangerous than an ordinary medical procedure. He plans to find a way to remove it as soon as possible, once Chi Li’s wound heals.
• Chi Li returns to the bedroom while Si Jinyan withdraws emotionally, spending the evening alone in the study.
• That night, Si Jinyan secretly speaks to the unborn egg in Mermaid Language. The egg responds for the first time, saying, “Father, don’t cry.”
• Overcome with emotion, Si Jinyan cries. The egg senses Chi Li’s rejection but also seems to perceive a future in which Chi Li loves and cherishes it.

Character Developments

• Chi Li remains determined to remove the egg and regain control over his life. Although he does not truly intend to die, he uses the threat convincingly as leverage against Si Jinyan. His outward calm hides fear, uncertainty, and physical vulnerability.
• Si Jinyan shifts from controlling Chi Li to reluctantly submitting to his wishes. His promise not to lie again and his agreement to remove the egg show guilt and emotional helplessness. His private grief reveals that he has already formed a deep attachment to the unborn child.
• Lu Jiu acts as the medical intermediary and understands the danger of the egg better than either of them. Though he appears obedient, his hesitation suggests discomfort with the decision to destroy or remove it.
• Eggy develops from a silent, unborn creature into a sentient being capable of understanding emotion and speaking briefly. Its first words demonstrate affection for Si Jinyan and hint at a hopeful future relationship with Chi Li.

Significant Themes

• Control and coercion: Chi Li uses self-harm as a last resort to resist Si Jinyan’s control, while Si Jinyan is forced to acknowledge Chi Li’s autonomy.
• Truth and betrayal: Chi Li’s repeated demand that Si Jinyan stop lying reflects the damage caused by secrecy and manipulation.
• Parental attachment: Si Jinyan’s bond with Eggy contrasts sharply with Chi Li’s rejection, creating emotional conflict over whether the egg should survive.
• Fear versus compassion: Chi Li sees Eggy as a threat to his body and life, while Si Jinyan and Eggy share tenderness and emotional connection.
• Fate and possible redemption: Eggy’s vision of Chi Li loving them suggests that current hatred may not define their eventual relationship.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s confrontation establishes a fragile agreement: Si Jinyan will help remove the egg and will no longer deceive Chi Li.
• Lu Jiu supports the medical process but remains visibly affected by the emotional consequences of the decision.
• Si Jinyan’s nighttime conversation with Eggy is intimate and mournful, culminating in Eggy’s plea for him not to cry and revealing the child’s awareness of both parents’ feelings.

Chapter Summary: “Long Time No See”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan communicates with Eggy, who tries to comfort him despite speaking only in fragmented, childlike sounds. Si Jinyan feels guilty that he cannot help Eggy and ends the exchange quickly so he will not disturb Chi Li.
• Si Jinyan continues watching over Chi Li while he sleeps, noticing that Chi Li rests more peacefully when surrounded by his pheromones.
• As part of the preparations for an upcoming procedure or mission, Chi Li regularly visits the base for examinations.
• During one examination, Chi Li asks why he is an alpha with unusual characteristics. Lu Jiu explains that Si Jinyan is an enigma, a rare existence outside the ordinary alpha, beta, and omega classifications.
• Lu Jiu describes the advantages and disadvantages of being an enigma, revealing more about Si Jinyan’s nature, including his dangerous lack of control and his identity as both a Mermaid and an enigma.
• After returning home, Chi Li repeatedly studies Si Jinyan, clearly processing what he has learned. Si Jinyan becomes increasingly self-conscious and uneasy under this attention.
• The next day, Bai Qi unexpectedly arrives and greets Chi Li with, “Long time no see.”

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: His guilt and helplessness toward Eggy deepen. Although he is normally protective and composed, learning that Chi Li now knows his true nature makes him awkward and vulnerable. He worries that Chi Li will reject him after seeing the less controlled and “stained” aspects of his identity.
• Chi Li: He becomes more curious and thoughtful about Si Jinyan after learning the truth. Rather than immediately condemning him, he quietly observes him, suggesting that he is trying to understand and come to terms with the revelation.
• Eggy: Despite limited speech, Eggy shows emotional awareness and attempts to reassure Si Jinyan, imitating his tone when saying “Good.”
• Lu Jiu: He serves as the one who explains the truth about enigmas to Chi Li, doing so with Si Jinyan’s permission.
• Bai Qi: His unexpected appearance introduces a new interpersonal development and hints at a significant shared history with Chi Li.

Significant Themes

• Vulnerability and fear of rejection: Si Jinyan fears that revealing his true self will make Chi Li unable to accept him.
• Identity and difference: The chapter expands the world’s classification system beyond alpha, beta, and omega, emphasizing how isolated Si Jinyan is as an enigma.
• Unspoken intimacy: Si Jinyan watches Chi Li sleep and provides comfort through his pheromones, while Chi Li notices and reacts to Si Jinyan’s unease without directly discussing it.
• Guilt and helplessness: Si Jinyan’s inability to help Eggy weighs heavily on him, despite Eggy’s efforts to comfort him.
• Trust and disclosure: Si Jinyan allows Chi Li to learn the truth, even though he is frightened of the consequences.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan and Eggy share a brief, emotionally tender exchange in which Eggy comforts him and Si Jinyan encourages Eggy to behave.
• Lu Jiu explains Si Jinyan’s enigma identity to Chi Li while Si Jinyan listens from a distance. Chi Li asks numerous questions, and Si Jinyan permits the discussion.
• Afterward, Chi Li repeatedly looks at Si Jinyan, creating a tense but intimate atmosphere. Si Jinyan notices his scrutiny but cannot bring himself to ask what Chi Li is thinking.
• Bai Qi’s arrival at the end of the chapter interrupts this uneasy silence and establishes a new encounter with Chi Li.

Chapter Summary: “Prophecy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Qi unexpectedly visits Si Jinyan’s residence with an attendant, specifically requesting a private conversation with Chi Li.
• Si Jinyan appears to have anticipated the visit and deliberately leaves Chi Li and Bai Qi alone.
• Bai Qi reveals that he possesses a prophetic or divinatory ability and remains in the Empire because the Emperor relies on him to predict its future.
• He describes visions involving war, scaled monsters, collapse, and the emergence of a “new god”—events that may overturn the Empire’s current peace.
• Bai Qi also explains that Chi Li’s past has not merely been forgotten but deliberately “obscured.” His memories before the age of eight are hidden from Bai Qi’s perception.
• Bai Qi offers to help remove the barrier and restore Chi Li’s memories, but Chi Li does not immediately accept, asking for time to consider the decision.
• After Bai Qi leaves, Chi Li notices that Si Jinyan’s loss of control is worsening and that the substitute inhibitor is becoming less effective.
• Chi Li realizes that Si Jinyan may eventually become an Aberrant Form, losing his reason completely. Instead of feeling satisfaction or relief at this possible fate, Chi Li feels distressed and instinctively concerned for him.
• Unable to face or explain these emotions, Chi Li hides them and leaves Si Jinyan alone.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes increasingly unsettled by the mysteries surrounding his identity and missing childhood. He remains suspicious of Bai Qi but is deeply tempted by the possibility of recovering his lost memories. His reaction to Si Jinyan’s possible downfall reveals that he has developed genuine emotional attachment and concern for him, despite his original intentions and desire to leave.
• Bai Qi: Is further established as an enigmatic prophet-like figure whose actions are guided by visions or an unexplained force. He appears sincere in wanting to help Chi Li, but his motives and the price of his abilities remain unclear.
• Si Jinyan: Shows little fear of his worsening condition, maintaining an almost fatalistic attitude toward the possibility of losing control. However, he is perceptive enough to notice Chi Li’s emotional disturbance and seems affected by it.

Significant Themes

• The burden of forbidden knowledge: Chi Li must decide whether uncovering his past is worth facing whatever painful or dangerous truth has been hidden.
• Fate versus choice: Bai Qi’s visions suggest that the future may be destined, yet he emphasizes that Chi Li can choose whether to recover his memories.
• Identity and erased history: Chi Li’s obscured childhood raises questions about who he really is, who concealed his past, and why.
• Approaching catastrophe: The prophecy of war, monsters, collapse, and a new god foreshadows major upheaval beyond the characters’ current personal conflicts.
• Emotional attachment and reluctant compassion: Chi Li’s distress over Si Jinyan’s possible transformation shows that their relationship has changed, even though Chi Li still intends to leave.
• Loss of control: Both Chi Li’s hidden past and Si Jinyan’s deteriorating condition represent forces beyond their control, creating parallel forms of uncertainty and danger.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Bai Qi: Their conversation is cautious and tense. Bai Qi speaks openly about his abilities, while Chi Li questions his motives and remains wary, though he cannot dismiss the offer to restore his memories.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: After Bai Qi’s departure, they discuss Si Jinyan’s worsening condition. Chi Li’s concern becomes apparent through his questions and emotional reaction, while Si Jinyan responds with resignation and subtly recognizes Chi Li’s distress.
• Si Jinyan and Bai Qi: Their brief interaction suggests prior communication and mutual understanding. Si Jinyan trusts Bai Qi enough to allow him private access to Chi Li, though the full extent of their relationship remains unclear.

Chapter Summary: “Dream”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Qi retreats to his assigned quarters with his attendant after meeting Chi Li. When asked whether Chi Li will follow their plan, Bai Qi cryptically says that those already caught in fate’s “vortex” have no real choice. He views himself as merely helping fate advance, suggesting he is manipulating events from behind the scenes.
• During dinner, Si Jinyan and Chi Li sit together peacefully for the first time since their recent confrontation. Si Jinyan apologizes and promises to help Chi Li with anything in the future.
• Chi Li rejects the offer, insisting that he does not need Si Jinyan’s help, though his hidden emotional reaction and restless tail suggest that he remains deeply affected by him.
• That night, Chi Li experiences a vivid, disturbing dream. He witnesses two men dying in a fire and instinctively recognizes them as his fathers, despite having no memories or records confirming how they died.
• The dream then shifts to a younger Si Jinyan, who is confined to a wheelchair and appears to be preparing a “gift” for a younger version of Chi Li.
• Si Jinyan tears a black Scale from his own heart and implants it into Chi Li’s chest, declaring that their hearts are now connected. He expresses love, concern, and hope that they will meet again.
• Chi Li wakes at dawn, shaken by the dream. Although he knows it was unreal, the emotions and memories feel as though he personally experienced them.

Character Developments

• Bai Qi is revealed as a calculating strategist who believes fate is already controlling the people involved. His confidence suggests he expects to emerge victorious from the unfolding conflict.
• Si Jinyan shows regret and restraint. Rather than pressuring Chi Li, he apologizes and promises unconditional support, recognizing that further pursuit could deepen Chi Li’s emotional wounds.
• Chi Li continues to deny his dependence on Si Jinyan, but his physical reactions reveal unresolved attachment and vulnerability. His dream also begins uncovering hidden memories about his parents and his connection with Si Jinyan.
• Young Si Jinyan is portrayed as self-sacrificing and deeply devoted. By removing and giving Chi Li a Scale from his own heart, he demonstrates the intensity of their bond and the lengths he was willing to go to protect Chi Li.

Significant Themes

• Fate and free will: Bai Qi suggests that some people are already trapped by fate, while he merely accelerates events. This raises questions about whether the characters can truly choose their own paths.
• Memory and hidden truth: Chi Li’s dream reveals possible suppressed memories and contradicts the official story about his fathers’ deaths.
• Sacrifice and love: Si Jinyan’s removal of the Scale from his heart symbolizes an extreme act of devotion and the physical joining of his life to Chi Li’s.
• Emotional repression: Chi Li verbally rejects Si Jinyan, yet his body and dreams expose feelings he cannot consciously acknowledge.
• The past shaping the present: The dream suggests that Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s current relationship is rooted in events Chi Li has forgotten but may soon be forced to confront.

Character Interactions

• Bai Qi and his attendant discuss Chi Li’s role in the larger plan, emphasizing Bai Qi’s mysterious influence and the attendant’s unwavering faith in him.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li share a tense but restrained dinner conversation. Si Jinyan offers help and reconciliation, while Chi Li refuses, protecting the emotional boundaries he has built.
• In the dream, a younger Si Jinyan lovingly interacts with a younger Chi Li, gives him the Scale, and promises they will meet again. This intimate memory reveals a profound connection that Chi Li does not consciously remember.

Chapter Summary: “Past”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A few days after their previous meeting, Bai Qi again meets Chi Li to help recover his suppressed memories.
• Chi Li remains wary, suspecting Bai Qi has ulterior motives, but agrees because he believes Bai Qi cannot physically harm him. Bai Qi’s status as a former Merfolk priest prevents him from harming a royal descendant bearing the Scale.
• Bai Qi warns that the danger lies not in bodily harm but in the overwhelming negative emotions attached to Chi Li’s memories.
• Under Bai Qi’s guidance, Chi Li enters a trance and begins recovering memories of his childhood.
• He remembers his loving life with his omega and alpha fathers, followed by the sudden tragedy of their deaths in a fire. As a child, he watched helplessly while someone restrained him and covered his eyes.
• Before the fire, his fathers had become secretive and increasingly protective: Chi Li was kept indoors, removed from school and Starnet, and surrounded by guards.
• Chi Li also remembers visiting a mysterious child called “Jin,” later revealed to be the young Si Jinyan.
• The memories show that Si Jinyan was raised at the Luolan Direct Research Institute, largely treated as an experimental subject because of his unusual origins, intelligence, and potentially destructive nature.
• Chi Li’s fathers disagreed over how Jin should be treated. His alpha father feared Jin’s innate danger, while his omega father believed Jin deserved friendship, compassion, and a chance to integrate into society.
• Chi Li, unaware of the full situation, pitied Jin and befriended him warmly. Si Jinyan recognized Chi Li’s pity and quietly learned to exploit it by presenting himself as lonely and neglected.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes more determined to uncover the truth behind his childhood, his parents’ deaths, the Scale carved from his heart, and his connection to Si Jinyan. His recovered memories reveal both the depth of his childhood happiness and the trauma that caused him to suppress the past.
• Bai Qi: Maintains a gentle but ambiguous demeanor. He presents himself as a helper while clearly pursuing his own goals, though his supernatural restrictions prevent him from directly harming Chi Li.
• Si Jinyan/Jin: Is revealed as a highly intelligent, isolated, and potentially dangerous child. Despite appearing emotionless and withdrawn, he can observe others closely and manipulate their feelings, particularly Chi Li’s compassion.
• Chi Li’s fathers: Their contrasting attitudes toward Jin become clearer. The alpha father is cautious and fearful of Jin’s nature, while the omega father is empathetic and determined to treat him as a person rather than a threat.

Significant Themes

• Memory and trauma: Painful memories may be suppressed, but their emotional effects remain buried within a person. Recovering them requires confronting both love and tragedy.
• Truth beneath appearances: Bai Qi’s sincerity is uncertain, and Jin’s helpless image conceals his intelligence and ability to manipulate others.
• Nature versus upbringing: The adults debate whether Jin’s dangerous origins determine his character or whether compassion and socialization can help him become humane.
• Childhood innocence and vulnerability: Chi Li approaches Jin with genuine kindness, but his innocence also makes him susceptible to manipulation.
• Family and loss: Chi Li’s loving upbringing makes the later destruction of his family especially devastating and suggests that his childhood was shaped by secrets he was too young to understand.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Bai Qi: Their meeting is defined by distrust and negotiation. Chi Li accepts Bai Qi’s assistance but remains alert to his motives.
• Chi Li and his fathers: Recovered memories emphasize the warmth and love of their family, contrasting sharply with the secrecy preceding the fire.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: Their relationship begins when young Chi Li notices Jin watching him and chooses to approach him. Chi Li offers friendship out of sincere kindness and pity, while Jin gradually encourages Chi Li’s attachment by presenting himself as lonely.
• Chi Li’s fathers and each other: They repeatedly argue over whether Jin should be treated as a dangerous nonhuman entity or as a child who deserves affection and social connection.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li’s recovered memories reveal how closely he and Si Jinyan (“Jin”) bonded as children at the research institute.
• Although Jin is emotionally distant and unusually mature, Chi Li frequently visits him after school, often rejecting classmates’ invitations to spend time together.
• Jin builds Chi Li a battleship model and teaches him how to assemble models. Chi Li is deeply impressed by Jin’s intelligence, especially his knowledge of military equipment and history.
• Chi Li realizes that Jin secretly creates or obtains things he casually mentions wanting, further elevating Jin in his eyes.
• Jin undergoes frequent examinations at the institute, though he never explains them. After one examination, Chi Li wakes to find Jin unusually close, with his hands around Chi Li’s neck and waist. Chi Li later notices a red mark on his gland.
• Chi Li overhears his fathers discussing Jin possibly wanting to mark him. After researching the meaning of “marking,” Chi Li asks Jin directly. Jin avoids answering and denies wanting to mark him, claiming the mark came from Chi Li sleeping against something.
• Chi Li accepts the explanation and concludes that they cannot mark each other because they are “good friends,” unaware of the deeper emotions behind his own anxiety.
• As time passes, Jin spends more time away from his room and returns from examinations increasingly exhausted. Chi Li’s fathers warn him not to disturb Jin, but Chi Li continues secretly visiting him.
• Chi Li notices Jin’s injuries, including a bloodstained bandage and needle marks. Worried, he tries to comfort Jin by blowing on the wounds.
• Jin teases Chi Li by claiming the blowing helps, then asks him to blow on other injuries. The interaction becomes emotionally charged, causing Jin’s ears to redden and prompting him to abruptly stop Chi Li.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Remains cheerful, affectionate, and impulsive, but his attachment to Jin deepens into strong protectiveness and emotional dependence. As a child, he cannot identify his unease or attraction, interpreting their closeness as simple friendship. He is also increasingly perceptive about Jin’s suffering.
• Si Jinyan: Though outwardly calm and detached, Jin clearly cherishes Chi Li and deliberately seeks his attention and comfort. His behavior around marking, his teasing, and his reactions to Chi Li’s physical closeness suggest feelings he cannot openly express. His declining health and repeated examinations reveal his vulnerability beneath his composure.
• Chi Li’s fathers: They are protective and suspicious of Jin’s intentions, recognizing possible risks in the relationship before Chi Li can understand them himself.

Significant Themes

• Childhood innocence versus hidden desire: Chi Li understands events literally and innocently, while Jin’s actions carry implications Chi Li cannot yet recognize.
• Memory and delayed understanding: Adult Chi Li revisits these memories and realizes that Jin’s behavior had been strange and emotionally significant all along.
• Care and emotional dependence: Chi Li instinctively tries to ease Jin’s pain, while Jin appears to rely on Chi Li’s presence as a source of comfort.
• Secrecy and vulnerability: Jin’s examinations, injuries, and possible desire to mark Chi Li remain concealed, creating tension beneath their seemingly innocent friendship.
• Unspoken affection: Their bond is communicated through gifts, shared hobbies, physical closeness, teasing, and concern rather than direct confession.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li repeatedly seeks Jin out, bringing energy and warmth into Jin’s isolated life.
• Jin responds by making models for Chi Li, teaching him, and quietly fulfilling his wishes.
• When Chi Li questions Jin about marking, Jin evades the issue rather than admitting his intentions, while Chi Li innocently establishes “friendship” as a boundary.
• Chi Li comforts Jin after his examinations by blowing on his injuries. Jin playfully prolongs the interaction, but his embarrassment eventually causes him to stop Chi Li.
• Their interactions show a contrast between Chi Li’s open affection and Jin’s restrained, suggestive, and increasingly vulnerable behavior.

Chapter Summary: Precious (Second Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li has known Jin since childhood and initially believes Jin remains at the research institute because of his injured legs. As he grows older, he realizes Jin is effectively imprisoned there, subjected to examinations and treated as something abnormal.
• Jin hints that his confinement is connected to a “terrifying secret,” but refuses to explain. He is secretly testing whether Chi Li will eventually accept his true nature.
• During a period when Chi Li is grounded and emotionally distressed, he sneaks out to visit Jin with beer. While intoxicated, Chi Li touches Jin’s ears and reassures him that he is beautiful, not a monster.
• Jin reveals his hidden fish tail. Although Chi Li is shocked, he responds with fascination rather than fear or disgust, repeatedly affirming that Jin is “pretty.”
• The two make Jin’s identity their private secret. Chi Li frequently pets and touches Jin’s tail, unaware that touching the tail tip signifies courtship and lifelong responsibility.
• Jin eventually explains the meaning of the gesture. Chi Li jokingly—or perhaps sincerely—agrees to take responsibility for Jin, though he qualifies it by saying “until you find someone,” leaving Jin both hopeful and disappointed.
• The chapter reveals that Jin possesses precognition. His visions have become rare, but his final vision showed Chi Li’s death.
• In an attempt to alter that fate, Jin gives Chi Li the precious scale located above his heart. Chi Li cuts it out, and the scale fuses with his own chest. Their hearts briefly synchronize during the transfer.
• Jin feels relieved after entrusting Chi Li with his most valuable possession, hoping it will protect him and change the future despite his doubts.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Demonstrates unwavering trust and acceptance. Though initially startled by Jin’s fish tail, he sees it as beautiful rather than monstrous. His affectionate behavior becomes increasingly intimate, even though he does not fully understand its cultural or biological significance.
• Jin/Si Jinyan: Reveals greater vulnerability and emotional dependence. He fears rejection because of his inhuman appearance but longs for Chi Li’s acceptance. His decision to reveal the tail—and later sacrifice his heart scale—shows the depth of his love and his determination to protect Chi Li.
• Jin also emerges as someone burdened by knowledge of the future. His precognition makes him aware of Chi Li’s possible death and drives his desperate attempt to change destiny.

Significant Themes

• Acceptance versus otherness: Jin has been labeled a monster, but Chi Li’s response challenges the prejudice surrounding him and affirms his humanity and beauty.
• Trust and intimacy: Jin’s tail is both a vulnerable secret and a symbol of courtship. Allowing Chi Li to touch it represents a profound emotional and physical bond.
• Sacrifice and protection: Jin gives Chi Li the scale connected to his heart, surrendering his greatest source of strength in the hope of saving him.
• Fate versus free will: Jin’s vision of Chi Li’s death creates a conflict between predetermined destiny and the possibility of changing the future.
• Secrets and revelation: The gradual unveiling of Jin’s nature strengthens the relationship while emphasizing the risks of being truly known.

Character Interactions

• Jin tests Chi Li by warning him about a terrifying secret, hoping time and affection will prepare him to accept the truth.
• Chi Li comforts Jin after his self-denunciation, touching his ears and insisting that he is beautiful.
• Their interaction around the tail becomes playful and affectionate, with Chi Li treating it like a pet while Jin struggles with the romantic and biological meaning of his actions.
• Chi Li’s promise to take responsibility briefly gives Jin hope, though the qualification that it lasts only until Jin finds someone else wounds him.
• The final exchange involving the heart scale represents their deepest connection: Jin entrusts Chi Li with his life force, and their hearts momentarily beat as one.

Chapter Summary: “Waiting”

Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li’s recovered memories reveal the violent upheaval at the research institute. Unidentified intruders invade, and Jin orders Chi Li to hide inside a concealed wall compartment.
• Chi Li helplessly watches as Jin is injected, transforms into a merman-like being, and is brutally attacked. The assailants repeatedly stab his fish tail while Jin remains silent and never looks toward Chi Li, seemingly to protect his hiding place.
• Jin’s final command—“Be good. Wait for me here”—is revealed as a farewell. Chi Li is overwhelmed by grief, rage, and guilt for being unable to protect him.
• Soon afterward, Chi Li’s fathers also suffer a disaster, and Chi Li is taken away. He develops a severe fever lasting half a month, survives, but loses the memories that had caused him unbearable pain.
• In the present, recovering these memories leaves Chi Li unconscious for four days. Bai Qi’s method of restoring his memories causes him to shed blood from his eyes and ears.
• Si Jinyan, terrified and guilt-ridden, nearly kills Bai Qi when Chi Li does not wake. He blames Bai Qi’s bargain—and his own decision to accept it—for placing Chi Li in danger.
• Bai Qi had offered to help Si Jinyan if Si Jinyan supported his bid for the throne. Si Jinyan agreed because Bai Qi exploited his greatest vulnerability: Chi Li. Although Si Jinyan commands military loyalty, he serves the land and its people rather than the current emperor, Yao Di.
• On the fourth day, Chi Li wakes, but appears vacant and deeply sorrowful. Si Jinyan comforts him, promising that if Chi Li wants to return home—or wants Si Jinyan to disappear—he will obey.

Character Development

• Chi Li: His memories expose the trauma behind his guilt, helplessness, and desire for revenge. His awakening shows that remembering the past has left him emotionally shattered and distant.
• Si Jinyan: His protectiveness becomes desperate devotion. He is consumed by fear, regret, and self-blame, recognizing that his choices endangered Chi Li. He is now willing to surrender his relationship with Chi Li if that is what Chi Li needs.
• Jin: Through his final actions, Jin is shown as a self-sacrificing protector. His silence and insistence that Chi Li hide demonstrate that he prioritized Chi Li’s survival even while being tortured.
• Bai Qi: He remains calm and politically calculating, accepting physical and emotional costs to restore Chi Li’s memories. His bargain with Si Jinyan reveals his ambition to seize the throne.
• Chi Li’s fathers: Their sorrowful, unsurprised reactions suggest they understood the broader crisis, while their inability to prevent it highlights the scale of the disaster.

Significant Themes

• Trauma and repressed memory: Chi Li’s lost memories protected him temporarily but also prevented him from confronting the truth.
• Guilt and helplessness: Both Chi Li and Si Jinyan believe they failed to protect the person they love.
• Sacrifice and protection: Jin sacrifices himself for Chi Li, while Si Jinyan is prepared to sacrifice his power, presence, and relationship for Chi Li’s survival.
• Political power versus personal love: Bai Qi uses Si Jinyan’s love for Chi Li to gain access to military power and pursue the throne.
• Waiting and farewell: Jin’s command to wait carries the meaning of an unspoken goodbye, while Si Jinyan’s vigil reflects his fear of another permanent loss.

Character Interactions

• Jin and Chi Li: Their final interaction is defined by Jin’s command that Chi Li hide and wait, creating a painful contrast between Jin’s protective intentions and Chi Li’s helpless witnessing.
• Si Jinyan and Bai Qi: Their alliance is strained by mutual dependence. Si Jinyan accepted Bai Qi’s help for Chi Li’s sake but now blames him for Chi Li’s suffering and threatens him.
• Si Jinyan and Lu Jiu/Bai Qi’s attendant: Lu Jiu restrains Si Jinyan, while Bai Qi’s attendant physically shields Bai Qi and is injured in the process.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li: Their reunion after Chi Li wakes is tender but tragic. Si Jinyan offers unconditional release, promising to send Chi Li home or disappear if Chi Li wishes, regardless of his own feelings.

Chapter Summary: “Unease”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After waking, Chi Li is no longer openly hostile toward Si Jinyan, but he remains withdrawn and carefully observes him. Si Jinyan keeps his distance, sensing that Chi Li needs time to process the memories from his “dream.”
• Chi Li struggles to determine whether the memories were real. He vividly recalls Jin dying, his fathers’ deaths, and Si Jinyan cutting open his chest to remove a black Scale. He also questions why no historical records mention his fathers or their supposed heroic past.
• Chi Li suspects that the Scale may preserve Jin’s final emotions and memories, explaining why images of the past returned to him.
• Bai Qi insists that he did not fabricate or alter Chi Li’s memories. He claims only to have removed the fog obscuring things already buried in Chi Li’s mind.
• Seeking confirmation about Si Jinyan’s past, Chi Li questions Lu Jiu. Lu Jiu reveals that he first met Si Jinyan at fifteen, when Si was quiet, isolated, physically impaired, and subjected to experiments because of his special identity. Si appeared emotionally numb and had difficulty controlling his fish tail and human legs.
• These details strongly resemble Chi Li’s recovered memories. Chi Li begins to suspect that Si Jinyan was taken by people from the Empire and experimented on, later losing those memories for unknown reasons.
• Si Jinyan then disappears for several days while supposedly at the base. When the butler and Lu Jiu become difficult to reach, Chi Li senses that something is wrong and goes to the base.
• The base is unusually tense and filled with hurried personnel. Lu Jiu brings Chi Li to a secured area, where Chi Li discovers Si Jinyan chained inside a large transparent laboratory in his human-and-fish-tail form.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes more introspective and conflicted. His initial fear and resentment toward Si Jinyan begin shifting toward curiosity and concern, especially after learning about Si’s traumatic childhood. He actively investigates both his own memories and Si’s past.
• Si Jinyan: Withdraws from Chi Li, apparently trying to give him space, but his disappearance and confinement suggest that he is facing a serious crisis or has become a threat to others.
• Bai Qi: Clarifies the limits of his abilities, distancing himself from responsibility for Chi Li’s memories and reinforcing the possibility that the “dream” reflects genuine suppressed experiences.
• Lu Jiu: Shares information about Si Jinyan’s painful past, showing sympathy for him and a desire to prevent further suffering. He also becomes an important source of truth for Chi Li.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan’s relationship: Their direct hostility lessens, but emotional distance and uncertainty replace it. Chi Li begins to understand Si’s suffering while still struggling with memories of Si’s actions in the past.

Significant Themes

• Memory and truth: The chapter questions whether memories experienced in dreams can be trusted, especially when they reveal hidden trauma and historical secrets.
• Trauma and repression: Both Chi Li and Si Jinyan appear shaped by painful experiences that were buried, erased, or distorted over time.
• Unease and emotional distance: Chi Li’s uncertainty and Si Jinyan’s deliberate withdrawal create a growing sense of tension and loss.
• Identity and hidden history: The absence of records about Chi Li’s fathers and the fabricated story surrounding Si Jinyan suggest that powerful forces have concealed the truth.
• Emerging empathy: As Chi Li learns about Si Jinyan’s abuse and isolation, his anger begins to coexist with sympathy and concern.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Bai Qi: Chi Li challenges Bai Qi about the authenticity of his memories; Bai Qi denies manipulating them.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu: Chi Li presses Lu Jiu for honest information about Si Jinyan’s childhood. Lu Jiu describes Si’s isolation, experiments, physical difficulties, and emotional numbness.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: Although they barely interact directly, Si’s absence deeply affects Chi Li. Chi Li’s concern ultimately drives him to the base, where he finds Si chained in a laboratory.
• Chi Li and the base staff/butler: Their inability to provide clear information heightens Chi Li’s suspicion that Si Jinyan is in danger.

Chapter Summary: “Only Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan’s “pheromone deficiency” worsens dramatically, causing silver-black scales, fins, and winglike growths to erupt across his body. He is gradually transforming into an Aberrant Form.
• He has spent twenty-seven hours restrained inside a specially constructed glass chamber. The chains absorb the destructive energy released during his episodes.
• Chi Li realizes that Si Jinyan chose to imprison himself because he feared losing control and becoming something dangerous. His final order was reportedly to destroy his own body completely rather than allow an Aberrant Form to emerge from it.
• Lu Jiu explains that the artificial agent created to replace Chi Li’s pheromones could only delay the deterioration. Once Si Jinyan came into contact with Chi Li’s pheromones again, his condition became uncontrollable.
• Lu Jiu is devastated by his inability to save Si Jinyan, despite having devoted himself to helping him. Si Jinyan had comforted him before entering the chamber, telling him not to blame himself.
• Si Jinyan briefly regains awareness and looks at Chi Li. His golden, bestial eyes still contain traces of pain and reason, suggesting he is fighting internally to retain control.
• Recognizing that his pheromones may be the only thing capable of stabilizing Si Jinyan, Chi Li offers to enter his omega form and help him.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: His transformation reveals how severe and irreversible his condition may be. Even while losing his humanity, he continues resisting the beast within and tries to protect others by locking himself away and requesting his own destruction.
• Chi Li: He moves from shock and helplessness to decisive action. Recalling Jin’s past sacrifice and recognizing the same expression in Si Jinyan, Chi Li accepts that he may be the only person who can save him.
• Lu Jiu: His usual composure breaks down under guilt, anxiety, and helplessness. His loyalty to Si Jinyan becomes explicit: he has chosen Si Jinyan’s side and refuses to abandon him, even without a viable solution.

Significant Themes

• Loss of identity and humanity: Si Jinyan’s physical transformation raises the fear that he may no longer remain “Si Jinyan” after the crisis.
• Self-sacrifice and protection: Si Jinyan confines and condemns himself to prevent harming others, echoing Jin’s earlier sacrifice to protect Chi Li.
• Love, loyalty, and responsibility: Lu Jiu’s devotion and Chi Li’s willingness to risk himself demonstrate how deeply the characters are bound to Si Jinyan.
• Hope amid helplessness: Although science has failed to provide a cure, Chi Li’s pheromones offer one final possibility.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Lu Jiu: Chi Li questions Lu Jiu about Si Jinyan’s condition and challenges the apparent decision to leave him imprisoned. Lu Jiu initially reacts coldly but explains the limits of the artificial pheromone substitute and his own guilt.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: Their eye contact becomes the emotional center of the chapter. Si Jinyan’s fleeting recognition shows that he still sees Chi Li beneath the beastification, while Chi Li recognizes the same protective suffering he once saw in Jin.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu, at the end: Chi Li proposes transforming into his omega form, asserting that his pheromones may be Si Jinyan’s only remaining chance.