Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Treasure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Jiu informs Chi Li that Si Jinyan’s condition has become critical. His vulnerable pheromones have accumulated to dangerous levels, and he may soon lose control completely and act violently.
• Despite the risks, Chi Li agrees to help. Lu Jiu extracts some of Chi Li’s pheromones and releases them into Si Jinyan’s glass containment chamber as a test.
• Si Jinyan immediately reacts to Chi Li’s scent, calming briefly and searching for its source. When the pheromone supply stops, however, his agitation becomes even more intense.
• Lu Jiu sedates Si Jinyan and tightens his restraints before allowing Chi Li to enter the chamber. Chi Li wears a bracelet that can summon help if necessary.
• Si Jinyan, still in a beastlike state with golden eyes, scales, and a fish tail, is strongly drawn to Chi Li. He calls him “Treasure” in Mermaid language and wraps his tail around him possessively.
• Si Jinyan becomes increasingly territorial when he notices the people observing them from outside. He shields Chi Li from view and warns the onlookers through his aggressive behavior.
• Chi Li struggles to breathe as Si Jinyan’s tail tightens around his neck, but he tries to calm him by releasing soothing pheromones and telling him, “Yours.”
• Si Jinyan responds by releasing powerful heat-inducing pheromones, intensifying Chi Li’s physical and emotional reaction. Chi Li’s body begins reacting as though he were an Omega because of Si Jinyan’s pheromones and their mark.
• Si Jinyan accidentally cuts Chi Li’s calf with his fin, but immediately stops, licks the wound, and calls him a “fragile treasure.” He then turns his back toward the glass and completely shields Chi Li from the cameras.
• Chi Li nearly loses consciousness in the overwhelming heat and pheromone exchange. Although Si Jinyan behaves with familiarity and apparent affection, his golden eyes and transformed body prove that he has not actually recovered his human reason.
• When Chi Li becomes aware of the surveillance camera, Si Jinyan notices and blocks the camera’s view. Moments later, the surveillance screen suddenly distorts and goes black, implying that Si Jinyan has interfered with or destroyed the monitoring system.

Character Development

• Chi Li: Shows considerable courage and willingness to endanger himself for Si Jinyan. Although frightened and physically overwhelmed, he remains attentive to Si Jinyan’s emotions and attempts to calm him rather than immediately retreating.
• Si Jinyan: Becomes increasingly beastlike and driven by instinct, yet retains surprising awareness and selectivity. He recognizes Chi Li, seeks his pheromones, protects him from observers, responds to his discomfort, and instinctively treats him as something precious.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as a cautious protector of Chi Li. He prepares safeguards, uses sedation and restraints, and closely monitors the experiment, but is shocked by the depth of Si Jinyan’s attachment and his ability to shield Chi Li even while out of control.

Significant Themes

• Instinct versus reason: Si Jinyan has lost conscious control, but his instincts still preserve his attachment to Chi Li and prevent him from deliberately harming him.
• Possession and protection: Si Jinyan’s territorial behavior is dangerous but also functions as protection, especially when he hides Chi Li from the observers.
• Trust and sacrifice: Chi Li knowingly enters a hazardous situation, trusting his bond with Si Jinyan and prioritizing his recovery over his own safety.
• The meaning of “treasure”: Si Jinyan’s repeated designation of Chi Li as “Treasure” emphasizes both his possessive desire and his perception of Chi Li as precious and fragile.
• Physical and emotional bonds: Their mark and pheromone compatibility create an intense connection that affects both characters physically, even when Si Jinyan’s conscious mind is unreachable.

Character Interactions

• Lu Jiu and Chi Li cooperate cautiously, balancing the need to reach Si Jinyan with the danger he poses.
• Chi Li uses his pheromones, words, and emotional awareness to soothe Si Jinyan, while Si Jinyan responds through touch, territorial displays, and protective gestures.
• Si Jinyan’s interaction with Chi Li reveals tenderness beneath his violent transformation: he stops when Chi Li is injured, tends the wound, and hides him from surveillance.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Si Jinyan appears to disable the surveillance system, leaving Lu Jiu unable to see what is happening inside the chamber.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Si Jinyan continues an intense, physically intimate encounter with Chi Li while in his vulnerable period. Although Chi Li repeatedly suppresses the instinct to escape, he accepts the situation because he had anticipated its consequences when making his earlier decision. Si Jinyan’s fishtail coils tightly around him, and his pheromones and physical presence overwhelm Chi Li. During the encounter, the surveillance cameras stop working, which Si Jinyan calmly points out; Chi Li suspects that Si Jinyan may have deliberately disabled them. Before long, Chi Li loses track of time and consciousness. When he wakes, the two have moved to the cabin’s only pool, where Si Jinyan is still wrapped around him. Chi Li then experiences sudden pain in his lower abdomen.

Character developments

Chi Li struggles with the contradiction between his identity as an Alpha and his involuntary response to Si Jinyan’s dominance. He feels discomfort at being treated in a manner associated with an Omega, yet he cannot deny the pleasure, attraction, and complicated sense of conquest involved. Si Jinyan, despite his immense power and normally uncontrollable nature, adopts a submissive posture toward Chi Li while simultaneously exerting intense possessiveness over him. The flashback reveals that, during his earlier period of pain and madness, Si Jinyan recognized Chi Li’s scent and associated it with something precious and deeply familiar. He names Chi Li “Treasure,” viewing him as something that belongs exclusively to him.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes possessiveness, instinct, vulnerability, and the conflict between desire and personal identity. It explores the reversal of power between two strong characters: Si Jinyan appears physically dominant, but his submissive gestures suggest emotional dependence on Chi Li. The imagery of scent, bloodline, and the remembered embryo highlights a bond that feels primal, almost familial or destined. The broken surveillance cameras also reinforce themes of secrecy, privacy, and the loss of outside control.

Character interactions

Si Jinyan repeatedly soothes and claims Chi Li through physical closeness, nuzzling, kissing, and enclosing him with his tail. Chi Li watches Si Jinyan closely, trying to determine whether he has regained his sanity, while also reacting to the intense emotional and physical pull between them. Their interaction remains a struggle between Chi Li’s resistance and Si Jinyan’s possessive need, with neither character fully able to separate instinct from genuine attachment.

Chapter Summary: “Pearls”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li endures an intense, painful encounter with Si Jinyan, whose instincts and desire overwhelm his self-control. When Chi Li repeatedly tells him to stop and let him go, Si Jinyan restrains him more tightly despite ceasing his movements.
• Realizing the situation is becoming dangerous, Chi Li activates the emergency connector on his wrist. Lu Jiu immediately orders a sedative and rushes to remove Chi Li from the chamber.
• The sedative limits Si Jinyan’s movement but does not fully incapacitate him. As Chi Li is taken away, Si Jinyan releases a powerful wave of Enigma pheromones and begins violently attacking the glass chamber.
• Lu Jiu examines Chi Li and reveals that the mysterious entity developing inside him has likely reached maturity. If removed now, it may survive with fewer long-term consequences than previously expected.
• Chi Li suddenly feels not only pain but panic coming from within his body, suggesting that the entity has developed emotions or a consciousness influenced by Si Jinyan.
• A researcher reports that Si Jinyan has escaped his restraints. The specially designed chains he had prepared to contain himself have snapped, and the glass chamber is beginning to collapse.
• The staff considers activating the “Destruction Protocol,” but Lu Jiu insists that the situation has not yet reached that point. He confirms that the protocol was part of Si Jinyan’s own plan, not merely the institute’s.
• Si Jinyan finally breaks out of the chamber in a monstrous, enraged form. Chi Li approaches him despite the danger, while the guards prepare their weapons and Lu Jiu privately orders the destruction procedure to be made ready.
• Although Si Jinyan appears terrifying and his eyes have turned red, Chi Li senses no clear killing intent. Instead, Si Jinyan unexpectedly begins to cry, and his tears transform into large pearls, leaving everyone shocked.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Shows both physical vulnerability and emotional resolve. Despite fearing Si Jinyan’s uncontrolled state, he chooses to approach him rather than allow the guards to attack. He also recognizes that the entity inside him may be connected to Si Jinyan and possibly possess its own feelings.
• Si Jinyan: Loses control and reveals the full danger of his power, destroying restraints designed specifically to contain him. However, his tears suggest that beneath his rage and monstrous appearance, he remains emotionally affected by Chi Li and may be suffering rather than simply attacking.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as Chi Li’s protector and the institute’s highest authority during the crisis. He remains cautious about using the Destruction Protocol, indicating that he understands both Si Jinyan’s intentions and the potential consequences of killing or forcibly stopping him.
• The developing entity: Appears to have matured and possibly developed consciousness. Its sudden panic and immediate response when Chi Li thinks of dealing with it suggest a strong emotional or psychic link to Si Jinyan.

Significant Themes

• Loss of control versus self-restraint: Si Jinyan’s destruction of the chamber contrasts with the chains he voluntarily created to contain himself, emphasizing his fear of becoming dangerous.
• Fear and compassion: Although everyone sees Si Jinyan as a threat, Chi Li distinguishes between violence and suffering, choosing to approach him because he senses no intent to kill.
• The ethics of experimentation and removal: Lu Jiu’s discussion of forcibly removing the mature entity raises questions about whether it is a medical abnormality, a living being, or something deserving protection.
• Hidden emotions beneath monstrosity: Si Jinyan’s terrifying transformation is undercut by his tears, revealing grief, vulnerability, and a continuing emotional bond with Chi Li.
• Communication beyond words: Chi Li’s thoughts appear to affect the entity inside him, while Si Jinyan’s tears communicate emotions that his enraged appearance conceals.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li repeatedly commands Si Jinyan to stop, but Si Jinyan responds instinctively by holding him tighter.
• Lu Jiu intervenes medically and strategically, sedating Si Jinyan and removing Chi Li from danger while withholding troubling examination results until Chi Li demands the truth.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu disagree implicitly over how to handle the developing entity and the broader crisis: Lu Jiu focuses on safety and procedure, while Chi Li is increasingly emotionally involved.
• Lu Jiu and the researchers debate whether to activate Si Jinyan’s Destruction Protocol, with Lu Jiu attempting to prevent panic.
• Chi Li directly confronts Si Jinyan after his escape, ordering the guards not to act and addressing him by name.
• The chapter ends with Si Jinyan crying pearls before Chi Li, Lu Jiu, and the researchers, transforming the confrontation from an apparent attack into an unexpected emotional revelation.

Chapter Summary: “Until He Fully Recovered”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan emerges from the glass chamber emotionally overwhelmed, crying so intensely that his tears condense into pearls.
• When Chi Li approaches him, Si Jinyan embraces him tightly and releases uncontrolled pheromones. Through their post-marking bond, Chi Li experiences Si Jinyan’s panic, grief, anger, guilt, and fear.
• Si Jinyan communicates through a strange, almost telepathic voice that only Chi Li can hear. He repeatedly accuses himself of failing Chi Li, believing that Chi Li had been taken away, injured, and abandoned because of him.
• Chi Li realizes that Si Jinyan’s unstable state comes from witnessing Chi Li being removed while he was incapacitated by anesthesia. He stops resisting, comforts Si Jinyan, and assures him that he did not leave.
• Si Jinyan suddenly kisses Chi Li in front of the surrounding staff. Embarrassed and angry, Chi Li pulls away and scolds him. Lu Jiu quickly dismisses the onlookers.
• After leaving the laboratory, Si Jinyan remains physically attached to Chi Li, wrapping his tail around him and refusing to let go. He even follows Chi Li while he uses the restroom.
• Chi Li consults Lu Jiu, who concludes that the treatment has helped but Si Jinyan has not fully recovered. Si Jinyan feels safest and most comfortable with Chi Li, which explains his extreme clinginess.
• Chi Li decides to take Si Jinyan back and continue the treatment until he completely recovers.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: His usually controlled emotions collapse after the crisis. He displays intense dependency, fear of abandonment, guilt, and vulnerability. His crying, telepathic emotional expressions, possessive behavior, and impulsive kiss reveal how deeply he fears losing Chi Li.
• Chi Li: He gains a clearer understanding of Si Jinyan’s inner suffering through their pheromone bond. Although initially startled and irritated by Si Jinyan’s clinginess and public affection, he becomes sympathetic and actively comforts him.
• Lu Jiu: He acts as an observer and practical mediator. He recognizes that Si Jinyan’s condition is improving rather than worsening and gives Chi Li an explanation for his behavior.

Significant Themes

• Emotional intimacy and communication: The marking allows Chi Li and Si Jinyan to sense one another’s emotions, creating a deeper connection but also exposing feelings that Si Jinyan cannot verbalize normally.
• Fear of abandonment: Si Jinyan’s reaction reflects the terror of losing Chi Li and the trauma of seeing him taken away while unable to intervene.
• Healing through trust and presence: Chi Li’s reassurance and physical comfort help stabilize Si Jinyan, showing that emotional safety is central to his recovery.
• Vulnerability beneath strength: Despite Si Jinyan’s powerful appearance, he is reduced to tears and desperate attachment when he believes Chi Li is in danger.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li reaches out to Si Jinyan, leading to an intense embrace and the revelation of Si Jinyan’s unfiltered emotions.
• Si Jinyan expresses his guilt and fear directly to Chi Li through pheromones and their unusual mental communication.
• Chi Li comforts him by patting his back and promising that he has not left.
• Si Jinyan kisses Chi Li impulsively, prompting Chi Li’s embarrassed anger and Lu Jiu’s intervention.
• Lu Jiu explains that Si Jinyan’s attachment is a sign that Chi Li makes him feel secure, while Si Jinyan continually clings to Chi Li’s body and refuses to release him.
• The chapter ends with Chi Li accepting responsibility for helping Si Jinyan recover fully, despite his exasperation at the latter’s overprotective dependence.

Chapter Summary: “Heartbeat”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the glass containment chamber is destroyed and Si Jinyan’s restraints break, no one can safely approach him except Chi Li. Lu Jiu therefore asks Chi Li to supervise him, since Si Jinyan is most stable near him.
• Si Jinyan follows Chi Li constantly, remaining within three steps and wrapping his fish tail around Chi Li’s ankle.
• In private, Chi Li attempts to use pheromones and physical intimacy to help Si Jinyan recover. Although Si Jinyan eagerly kisses and touches him, he refuses to go further, even when Chi Li takes the initiative.
• Chi Li wonders whether Si Jinyan is afraid, still mentally unstable, or secretly pretending to be helpless. He notices that Si Jinyan’s eyes are beginning to return to normal, suggesting partial recovery.
• Si Jinyan moves away from further intimacy and instead rests his head on Chi Li’s stomach to listen to his heartbeat. He explains that Chi Li “can’t” get hurt because of “you two,” apparently referring to the two lives or presences connected to Chi Li.
• Chi Li retreats to the living room and reflects on Si Jinyan, Jin, and his own conflicted feelings. He wants Si Jinyan to recover and believes Jin remains extremely important to him, but he does not view Jin as a lover. He is unsure what place Si Jinyan now occupies in his heart.
• Chi Li contacts Lu Jiu and asks him to arrange a procedure as soon as possible. Lu Jiu warns him that the “mermaid” inside Chi Li may already have entered its maturation period. If so, removing it early might no longer endanger its life, though Lu Jiu cannot guarantee this.
• The chapter ends with Chi Li clenching his fist, clearly shaken by the possibility that the procedure may now be feasible—and by what removing it could mean.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Though still physically altered and emotionally dependent, he shows signs of recovery and restraint. His refusal to proceed with intimacy suggests fear or concern for Chi Li rather than simple instability. His fixation on Chi Li’s heartbeat reveals deep attachment and protectiveness.
• Chi Li: He remains practical and focused on restoring Si Jinyan, but his emotional conflict becomes more apparent. He is drawn to Si Jinyan, reacts strongly to his vulnerability, and is increasingly unable to separate concern, desire, responsibility, and affection.
• Lu Jiu: He continues acting as the medical and scientific authority. His new information about the mermaid’s maturation changes the stakes of Chi Li’s decision and offers a possible way forward.

Significant Themes

• Recovery versus deception: Chi Li cannot determine whether Si Jinyan is genuinely recovering or deliberately pretending to be innocent and unstable.
• Entanglement and divided loyalties: Chi Li’s relationship with Si Jinyan has become inseparable from his connection to Jin and the mysterious being inside him.
• Protection and sacrifice: Si Jinyan refuses to hurt Chi Li, while Chi Li prepares to undergo a dangerous procedure that may affect the life connected to him.
• Heartbeat as intimacy and proof of life: Si Jinyan listening to Chi Li’s heartbeat symbolizes both emotional dependence and concern for the lives bound together within Chi Li.
• Uncertainty and irreversible choices: The possible maturation of the mermaid forces Chi Li toward a decision whose consequences may no longer be avoidable.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li physically and emotionally attempts to calm and care for Si Jinyan through pheromones and closeness.
• Si Jinyan responds with affection but establishes a boundary, choosing to hold Chi Li’s ankle and listen to his heartbeat instead of continuing intimacy.
• Chi Li questions Si Jinyan’s mental state and motives, while Si Jinyan communicates indirectly through actions and brief statements.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu discuss the timing and risks of removing the mermaid, with Lu Jiu warning that the procedure may now be possible but remains uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “Good Boy”

Plot and events

Lu Jiu continues analyzing Chi Li’s pheromones and testing how they fuse with pheromones collected from Si Jinyan during his earlier period of instability. Chi Li calls him, and Lu Jiu finally says what he had previously been unable to express. Chi Li does not give a definite answer, but his promise to “think about it” offers Lu Jiu some relief.
Meanwhile, burdened by recent events and unable to settle his thoughts, Chi Li discovers Si Jinyan’s private wine collection. The sight of it triggers rare, fragmentary memories of their childhood, when Chi Li used to bring alcohol and secretly drink with Jinyan. He drinks an entire bottle, becoming exhausted and drowsy rather than fully unconscious.
Unaware of Chi Li’s condition, Si Jinyan transforms the bedroom into a nest-like space. He moves the bed into a protected corner, gathers soft bedding, and incorporates Chi Li’s clothes, cherishing their familiar scent. He rejects his own rough combat uniform and arranges the softer, scent-marked clothes into a comfortable space large enough for both of them.
Chi Li eventually wakes from an uneasy sleep to find Si Jinyan staring closely at him. After recognizing him, Chi Li allows himself to be carried to the bedroom. Si Jinyan kisses his forehead, reassures him that he is present, and gently holds and rocks him while telling him to “be good.”

Character development

• Chi Li remains emotionally troubled by his recovered memories, his encounter with Bai Qi, and the sense that something significant is approaching. Alcohol briefly lowers his defenses and allows buried childhood memories of Si Jinyan to surface. Though initially startled and mildly reproachful when Si Jinyan approaches him, he does not resist being cared for.
• Si Jinyan displays increasingly instinctive, possessive, and affectionate behavior. He treats Chi Li as a precious “treasure,” surrounds himself with Chi Li’s scent, and creates a protective nest specifically for him. His childlike tenderness contrasts with his combat-oriented life and suggests how deeply dependent and emotionally attached he has become.
• Lu Jiu reveals vulnerability by finally expressing his previously suppressed feelings or concerns to Chi Li. Chi Li’s willingness to consider his words gives Lu Jiu renewed hope.

Character interactions

Chi Li and Lu Jiu have an emotionally significant phone conversation, ending without resolution but with Chi Li agreeing to consider Lu Jiu’s request or confession. Chi Li’s memories also emphasize his longstanding bond with Si Jinyan. In the present, Si Jinyan’s physical affection—kissing Chi Li, carrying him, and soothing him—meets Chi Li’s guardedness with unusual gentleness, creating an intimate contrast between Chi Li’s instinctive caution and his growing acceptance of Jinyan’s care.

Significant themes

The chapter explores memory and emotional recovery, as Chi Li’s association with alcohol unexpectedly unlocks memories lost for more than a decade. It also emphasizes scent and pheromones as symbols of attachment, safety, and recognition, linking Lu Jiu’s scientific work with Si Jinyan’s instinctive behavior. Finally, the chapter develops themes of protection, intimacy, vulnerability, and the tension between military hardness and childlike tenderness, especially through Si Jinyan’s construction of a nest and his desire to keep Chi Li close.

Chapter Summary: “Nesting (Second Update)”

Key plot points and events

Si Jinyan creates a large nest on the bedroom bed using clothes, soft cushions, and his hardened tail mucus. Chi Li is confused by the structure and its intense pheromones, so he calls Lu Jiu for an explanation. Lu Jiu identifies it as rare mermaid nesting behavior, an instinctive response connected to protecting and comforting a mate and their unborn offspring. Si Jinyan had secretly stockpiled soft materials at the base and villa after learning about Chi Li and the egg, driven by anxiety and a powerful need to create a safe space for the three of them. When Chi Li initially refuses to sleep in the nest, Si Jinyan begins crying pearls. Moved by his distress, Chi Li changes his mind and enters the nest. Si Jinyan curls protectively around him, and Chi Li quickly becomes drowsy and falls asleep.

Character developments

Si Jinyan’s nesting reveals the depth of his attachment to Chi Li and his instinctive desire to protect both Chi Li and their child. Although he appears powerful and territorial, he is also insecure, nervous, and emotionally vulnerable, fearing that his first nest is inadequate and that Chi Li will reject it. Chi Li initially reacts with skepticism and concern, but gradually recognizes the emotional meaning behind Si Jinyan’s actions. His willingness to sleep in the nest demonstrates growing tenderness and acceptance of Si Jinyan’s instincts.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes protective love, emotional vulnerability, and the instinctive bonds surrounding mates and offspring. Nest-building functions as both a biological response and a form of courtship, showing love through practical care rather than words. The contrast between Si Jinyan’s intimidating territorial instincts and his tearful need for reassurance highlights the tenderness beneath his strength. The nest also symbolizes the formation of a shared family and a private, safe home.

Character interactions

Chi Li examines the nest and Si Jinyan’s tail material while Si Jinyan anxiously seeks his approval. Lu Jiu provides the explanation and lightly teases Si Jinyan, though Si Jinyan’s threatening stare makes him leave quickly. Afterward, Chi Li rejects the nest at first, causing Si Jinyan to cry pearls and continue nervously arranging it. Chi Li ultimately comforts him by agreeing to sleep inside. Surrounded by Si Jinyan’s pheromones and held protectively in his coils, Chi Li admits that the nest is “all right,” which Si Jinyan understands as acceptance before wishing him good night.

Chapter Summary: “Obedient” (First Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li falls asleep in the nest Si Jinyan built for him. Si Jinyan’s warmth, tail, nest, and pheromones calm Chi Li, allowing him to rest deeply.
• While Chi Li sleeps, Si Jinyan is overwhelmed by affection and repeatedly kisses and holds him, unwilling to let him go.
• Chi Li wakes feeling completely refreshed, confirming the nest’s restorative effect. He finds himself tightly wrapped in Si Jinyan’s arms and tail.
• The following morning, Si Jinyan’s pheromones show signs of renewed instability. Chi Li responds by releasing soothing pheromones to help him.
• Chi Li deliberately teases Si Jinyan, challenging his earlier refusal to proceed with their intimacy. Si Jinyan eventually admits that he wants him and refuses to let Chi Li leave.
• They spend several hours together in an intense intimate encounter. Si Jinyan remains restrained in one important respect, continuing to protect Chi Li despite his own loss of control.
• Afterward, Chi Li notices red marks on his skin and realizes Si Jinyan has gathered several of his clothes—some carrying his scent—to place in the nest.
• Si Jinyan’s condition has not worsened, but the scales associated with his instability have not faded either. Chi Li worries that Si Jinyan’s continued restraint may be slowing his recovery.
• Chi Li leaves to visit Lu Jiu, firmly ordering Si Jinyan not to follow him. Si Jinyan reluctantly obeys, though he clearly struggles with the separation.

Character Development

• Chi Li: Becomes more comfortable relying on Si Jinyan and the nest, accepting its safety and restorative qualities. He also grows more confident and playful in teasing Si Jinyan, deliberately testing the limits of Si Jinyan’s self-control. At the same time, he remains practical and attentive to Si Jinyan’s condition, recognizing the need for treatment and recovery.
• Si Jinyan: Shows intense attachment and possessiveness toward Chi Li. He is affectionate to the point of obsession, collecting Chi Li’s clothes and surrounding himself with his scent. Although his condition continues to affect his behavior, he tries to remain restrained and protective. His willingness to obey Chi Li’s command not to follow demonstrates both dependence on Chi Li and his growing trust in him.

Significant Themes

• Safety and healing: The nest provides Chi Li with physical and emotional rest, while Chi Li’s pheromones help stabilize Si Jinyan.
• Obedience and control: The chapter reverses their usual power balance. Si Jinyan is physically dominant and intensely possessive, but Chi Li controls the situation through commands, teasing, and the threat of withdrawing his attention.
• Intimacy and vulnerability: Both characters reveal strong desire and dependence, with Si Jinyan’s guarded behavior exposing how deeply he cares for Chi Li.
• Possession and scent: Si Jinyan’s nest and collection of Chi Li’s clothes symbolize his need to keep Chi Li close, even when Chi Li is absent.
• Restraint versus instinct: Si Jinyan’s instincts and desire repeatedly threaten to overwhelm him, but he continues trying to protect Chi Li and follow Chi Li’s boundaries.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan comforts Chi Li to sleep through his tail, pheromones, kisses, and soothing words.
• Chi Li responds to Si Jinyan’s unstable pheromones by calming him with his own.
• Chi Li provokes Si Jinyan by teasing him and demanding that he openly state what he wants, prompting Si Jinyan to finally confess his desire.
• After their intimate encounter, Chi Li questions Si Jinyan’s fixation on his scent and belongings, while Si Jinyan openly admits that he cares.
• Chi Li asserts authority by ordering Si Jinyan to stay behind when he visits Lu Jiu. Si Jinyan nearly follows but ultimately remains, emphasizing how strongly he depends on Chi Li’s approval.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li visits Lu Jiu and confirms his decision to allow the child/fetus to survive, though its future will depend on its own condition. Lu Jiu accepts this as the best current outcome for both it and Si Jinyan.
• Chi Li reflects on his recovered memories of Jin/Si Jinyan’s childhood. He realizes that Si Jinyan’s feelings for him had likely become romantic much earlier than he understood, and he continues to feel guilty about the suffering Si Jinyan endured.
• Lu Jiu schedules the procedure for three days later. Because Si Jinyan may resist or lose control, they plan to anesthetize him, with Chi Li taking responsibility for keeping him calm.
• Si Jinyan secretly listens outside Lu Jiu’s office but is discovered. He follows Chi Li back, repeatedly calling him “wife,” having learned the term from overhearing a researcher.
• Chi Li punishes Si Jinyan for disobeying him by refusing physical contact and making him sit outside the bedroom. Si Jinyan cries pearls and eventually apologizes.
• Chi Li softens, promising to stop ignoring him and allowing him to sleep in the nest with him that night. He checks Si Jinyan’s condition and uses soothing pheromones.
• Three days later, Chi Li personally injects Si Jinyan with anesthetic and tells him it is necessary for his recovery. Si Jinyan reluctantly lets go of him after Chi Li promises to return.
• After Chi Li leaves and locks the door, Si Jinyan opens his eyes. The anesthetic has not fully incapacitated him, suggesting he may have understood or anticipated the plan.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Becomes more accepting of Si Jinyan’s feelings and of the child’s survival, while still struggling with guilt over their past. He maintains a stern exterior but repeatedly shows tenderness and concern, especially when Si Jinyan cries. His decision to personally administer the anesthetic demonstrates both trust and emotional conflict.
• Si Jinyan: Remains clingy, emotionally dependent, and childlike in his behavior, but also reveals his intelligence and awareness by secretly listening and apparently resisting the anesthetic. His use of “wife” shows how eagerly he interprets his relationship with Chi Li as a marriage.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as the practical planner and observer. He supports Chi Li’s decision and recognizes that Chi Li’s presence is essential to controlling Si Jinyan.

Significant Themes

• Love, guilt, and responsibility: Chi Li’s decision is shaped not only by present circumstances but also by guilt over Si Jinyan’s past suffering and his own failure to recognize Si Jinyan’s feelings earlier.
• Protection versus control: Chi Li believes the procedure is necessary for recovery, yet it requires deceiving and restraining Si Jinyan. The chapter questions whether protecting someone justifies making decisions without their consent.
• Childlike dependence and emotional vulnerability: Si Jinyan’s tears, pearls, pleading, and need for physical contact contrast with the seriousness of the medical plan.
• Trust and deception: Chi Li asks Si Jinyan to trust him while concealing the full plan. The ending suggests that Si Jinyan may not be as unaware or helpless as Chi Li assumes.
• Possessive intimacy: Si Jinyan’s repeated use of “wife” reflects his desire to define and secure his bond with Chi Li.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Lu Jiu discuss the survival plan and coordinate how to manage Si Jinyan during the procedure.
• Si Jinyan deliberately eavesdrops, then uses affection and physical closeness to reattach himself to Chi Li.
• Chi Li disciplines Si Jinyan for disobedience, while Si Jinyan responds with pleading, tears, and repeated apologies.
• Their conflict ends in reconciliation when Chi Li allows Si Jinyan back into the nest and comforts him.
• The final interaction between them is emotionally charged: Chi Li reassures Si Jinyan before anesthetizing him, unaware that Si Jinyan remains conscious after he leaves.

Summary of “Be Good (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li brings the sedated Si Jinyan to Lu Jiu’s facility so Lu Jiu can perform a secret medical procedure involving Chi Li and the “little thing”—a developing life carrying half of Si Jinyan’s genes.
• Lu Jiu prepares an advanced medical machine and limits the procedure’s staff to himself and one trusted assistant, both to protect Chi Li’s privacy and to prevent the Emperor’s faction from learning about the potential offspring.
• Chi Li enters the machine and begins the procedure. At first, he remains calm, trusting Lu Jiu’s expertise.
• As the operation starts, Chi Li experiences an unfamiliar surge of panic and realizes it is not his own emotion. Through their connection, he senses that the developing life is frightened.
• The anesthetic gradually takes effect, but before Chi Li loses consciousness, he hears the assistant becoming alarmed.
• Si Jinyan has awakened prematurely and made his way to the operating room. He scratches at the metal door, his transformed body and pheromones signaling that he is close to losing control.
• Lu Jiu orders the procedure temporarily stopped after learning Si Jinyan is outside. However, Lu Jiu notices that Si Jinyan has not broken through the door despite being capable of doing so; instead, he restrains himself and murmurs anxiously.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Demonstrates trust in Lu Jiu and determination to protect the developing life. Though experienced with severe injuries and operations, he becomes unsettled by emotions transmitted from the fetus, revealing the depth of his connection to it and to Si Jinyan.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as a careful and compassionate physician. He reassures Chi Li, takes strict precautions to maintain secrecy, and recognizes the danger posed by Si Jinyan’s arrival. His observations also show his growing understanding of Si Jinyan’s unstable condition.
• Si Jinyan: Despite being sedated and ordered to stay behind, he wakes and instinctively seeks Chi Li. His desperation and protective instincts intensify, but he displays an unusual degree of restraint by not immediately forcing his way into the operating room.
• Lu Jiu’s assistant: Serves as the first person to openly react to the crisis, becoming anxious when Si Jinyan appears and prompting Lu Jiu to reassess the operation.

Significant Themes

• Protection and secrecy: The procedure must remain hidden because the Emperor’s faction could exploit the developing life and Si Jinyan’s unusual genetic identity, potentially causing political violence.
• Emotional and biological connection: Chi Li can sense the fetus’s fear, while Si Jinyan instinctively detects that Chi Li and the developing life are in danger.
• Loss of control versus restraint: Si Jinyan’s transformed state is dangerous, yet his refusal to break through the door suggests that his attachment to Chi Li may be helping him maintain control.
• Trust and responsibility: Chi Li entrusts Lu Jiu with a highly consequential procedure, while Lu Jiu accepts responsibility for protecting both Chi Li and the secret.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Lu Jiu share a quiet, trusting exchange before the operation; Lu Jiu reassures him, and Chi Li thanks him for helping.
• Lu Jiu and his assistant work together to conduct the procedure discreetly.
• Although Chi Li and Si Jinyan do not speak directly, their emotional connection remains central: Chi Li feels Si Jinyan’s panic and the fetus’s distress, while Si Jinyan senses that Chi Li and their developing child need help.
• Si Jinyan’s arrival forces Lu Jiu to suspend the operation, creating an immediate conflict between medical necessity, secrecy, and Si Jinyan’s unstable protective instincts.

Chapter Summary: “Crying (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside the medical machine, Chi Li becomes concerned when Lu Jiu’s activity stops. At that moment, he again hears Si Jinyan’s voice directly in his mind.
• Si Jinyan is distressed and begs Chi Li to let him help, repeatedly referring to the baby’s fear and crying. Chi Li cannot respond mentally, but realizes that Si Jinyan has come to him.
• The voice and emotions Chi Li senses are actually connected to Eggy, whose consciousness has recently developed inside the eggshell. Because Chi Li believes the sensations are merely a merfolk ability, he misunderstands their source.
• Eggy is terrified because Chi Li previously threatened to get rid of him. Since then, he has stayed dormant and silent, believing obedience is the only way to avoid angering his other father.
• Eggy awakens when Chi Li is placed in the machine and senses danger. Unable to communicate properly, he repeatedly murmurs “Father” while crying. His fear reaches Si Jinyan, who understands that Eggy is in danger and tries to comfort him.
• Si Jinyan loses control outside the operating room, clawing deeply into the metal door. His scales re-emerge, and the researchers avoid approaching him because of his previous violent outburst.
• Lu Jiu explains that the treatment was interrupted almost immediately when Chi Li’s wound was cut open; he has stitched and bandaged it but does not intend to continue the procedure.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu decide to check on Si Jinyan and prevent him from becoming uncontrollable.
• When the door opens, Si Jinyan sees Chi Li, begins crying uncontrollably, and approaches him—but stops short, afraid to come closer.
• Chi Li softens despite his conflicted feelings and tells Si Jinyan to come closer, teasing him about sneaking out. Si Jinyan’s powerful pheromones then flood the room.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Remains emotionally conflicted toward Si Jinyan and Eggy. Though he is still irritated and uncertain, his decision to comfort Si Jinyan shows a reluctant softening. He also begins recognizing that something serious is happening, even though he misinterprets Eggy’s emotions.
• Si Jinyan: Displays intense fear, attachment, and helplessness. His panic over Chi Li and Eggy causes him to regain his scales and nearly lose control, but seeing Chi Li immediately transforms his fury into grief and tears.
• Eggy: Develops more clearly as a vulnerable, newly conscious child. He fears rejection because of Chi Li’s earlier threat and lacks the language or strength to defend himself. His repeated cries of “Father” reveal his dependence on Si Jinyan and his desperate need for reassurance.
• Lu Jiu: Acts as the practical medical authority, monitoring Chi Li’s condition and explaining the interrupted treatment. He remains wary of Si Jinyan’s instability.

Significant Themes

• Fear of rejection and abandonment: Eggy’s terror centers on the belief that Chi Li no longer wants him, while Si Jinyan likewise fears losing Chi Li.
• Miscommunication: Chi Li hears the consequences of Eggy’s emotions but does not understand their source, while Eggy cannot communicate clearly and Si Jinyan cannot directly reach Chi Li in return.
• Parental attachment: Eggy instinctively turns to Si Jinyan for protection, and Si Jinyan immediately responds to his distress. The chapter emphasizes the emerging bond among the three characters.
• Emotional repression versus vulnerability: Chi Li suppresses Eggy’s emotions and struggles to acknowledge his own feelings, while Si Jinyan openly expresses fear and grief through his crying.
• Trust and cautious reconciliation: Si Jinyan approaches Chi Li but hesitates, while Chi Li’s invitation to come closer marks a small step toward renewed trust.

Important Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan: Their reunion shifts from tension and fear to emotional vulnerability. Si Jinyan cries before Chi Li, and Chi Li responds with reluctant kindness rather than anger.
• Chi Li and Eggy: Their relationship remains strained because Chi Li does not recognize Eggy’s consciousness and has previously threatened him. Eggy’s fear is shaped by Chi Li’s rejection.
• Si Jinyan and Eggy: Si Jinyan senses Eggy’s distress, accepts him, and tries to soothe him, reinforcing his role as Eggy’s protector.
• Chi Li and Lu Jiu: They cooperate pragmatically after the medical procedure is interrupted, prioritizing Si Jinyan’s emotional stability and safety.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: After Lu Jiu leaves to give them privacy, Chi Li confronts the injured Si Jinyan about causing his latest wounds. Si Jinyan repeatedly apologizes and insists that he can help Chi Li instead of allowing him to undergo treatment with the machine that frightened Little Treasure. He leads Chi Li to a hidden room behind the bathroom, containing a large heated pool and a surveillance display. The screen begins playing edited recordings from the Marshal’s Residence, focusing almost entirely on intimate moments involving Chi Li. Furious and embarrassed, Chi Li orders Si Jinyan to turn it off and later demands that the recording be deleted. Si Jinyan complies, but the atmosphere remains emotionally and physically charged as he again offers to help Chi Li.
• Character development: Chi Li is visibly exhausted and angered by Si Jinyan’s actions, yet he lacks the energy to fully express or act on his resentment. He remains wary of Si Jinyan’s intentions, especially after discovering the hidden recordings, but still follows him and listens to his explanation. Si Jinyan appears deeply remorseful and emotionally dependent, using repeated apologies and physical closeness to seek forgiveness. His possessive fixation on Chi Li is revealed through the secret surveillance archive, while his immediate obedience when Chi Li commands him to stop suggests that Chi Li retains influence over him. Si Jinyan’s emotional and physical instability is also evident in his altered pheromones and the sudden appearance of scales on his face.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes guilt, dependence, possessiveness, and the difficult boundary between care and control. Si Jinyan genuinely wants to protect and assist Chi Li, but his methods—secret recordings, invasive closeness, and disregarding personal boundaries—make his affection disturbing rather than reassuring. Chi Li’s exhaustion and vulnerability contrast with his attempts to maintain authority. The hidden pool and surveillance room symbolize Si Jinyan’s private fixation and the extent to which he has built his world around Chi Li.
• Character interactions: Lu Jiu quietly supports Chi Li by dismissing the others and signaling that he can be contacted if necessary. Chi Li and Si Jinyan then engage in a tense exchange: Chi Li blames Si Jinyan for his injuries, while Si Jinyan repeatedly apologizes and clings to him. Si Jinyan tries to persuade Chi Li that he can help him safely, leading him to the hidden pool. Their interaction turns confrontational when Chi Li discovers the recording, but Si Jinyan immediately turns it off at Chi Li’s command. The chapter ends with Si Jinyan once again pressing for physical intimacy while Chi Li remains affected, suspicious, and conflicted.

Chapter Summary: “End (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In a steaming pool, Chi Li confronts Si Jinyan about his unstable mermaid-like transformation and asks how he intends to help.
• Si Jinyan explains that he can sense a small, frightened presence connected to Chi Li. It can barely speak and repeatedly calls out “father,” suggesting it may be a developing consciousness or entity.
• The presence is afraid of hurting Chi Li, and Si Jinyan’s intense reaction in the operating room was caused by hearing its distress.
• Chi Li realizes, despite his denial, that the entity is docile and may possess some degree of awareness.
• Si Jinyan tries to help Chi Li remove or expel the entity through pheromones, physical contact, and an enchanting mermaid song. Chi Li resists, but Si Jinyan’s influence gradually overwhelms his consciousness.
• The process becomes physically and emotionally intense. Si Jinyan briefly interferes with Chi Li’s attempt, causing Chi Li distress and tears, then apologizes and allows him to continue independently.
• Afterward, Chi Li wakes in Si Jinyan’s nest. He is alarmed to discover that the entity is no longer present. Si Jinyan assures him that it has disappeared and will not trouble him again.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: His firm rejection of the entity begins to weaken. Hearing that it is frightened and harmless forces him to acknowledge that it may be conscious and emotionally dependent on him. However, he remains frightened, confused, and determined to maintain control over his body and choices.
• Si Jinyan: His protective instincts become more pronounced. He is unusually perceptive about both Chi Li and the entity, claiming to hear its thoughts and emotions. He attempts to comfort and help Chi Li, but his actions also become controlling, revealing tension between care, desire, and respect for Chi Li’s boundaries.
• The entity: It appears to have a rudimentary consciousness, feels pain and fear, and knows only the word “father.” Its connection to Chi Li remains unclear, but it seems emotionally attached to both Chi Li and Si Jinyan.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown: Chi Li is forced to confront a presence he has deliberately avoided acknowledging.
• Identity and bodily autonomy: The chapter emphasizes Chi Li’s struggle to control what is happening within or around his body, especially as Si Jinyan’s pheromones and abilities affect him.
• Protection versus control: Si Jinyan sincerely wants to protect Chi Li and the entity, but his methods blur the line between assistance and coercion.
• Emerging parenthood and attachment: The entity’s repeated cry of “father” introduces implications of familial responsibility and emotional bonds that neither character is ready to confront.
• Communication beyond language: Si Jinyan’s ability to sense the entity and use mermaid song suggests a deeper, instinctive form of communication than ordinary speech.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li repeatedly demands explanations, while Si Jinyan tries to distract him with intimacy and physical comfort.
• Si Jinyan reveals the entity’s fear and pleading, prompting Chi Li’s involuntary acknowledgment that it is not malicious.
• Their interaction becomes increasingly intimate and emotionally charged, with Si Jinyan guiding Chi Li through the removal process.
• When Si Jinyan’s interference causes Chi Li distress, Chi Li openly rejects his help. Si Jinyan withdraws, apologizes, and reassures him.
• In the aftermath, Si Jinyan holds Chi Li protectively and tells him the entity has vanished, leaving Chi Li uncertain about what has truly happened.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Chi Li confirms that the mysterious oval “thing” detected inside him has disappeared. Si Jinyan reassures him that it will not return and promises that a medical examination will verify it. During their conversation, Chi Li notices that Si Jinyan’s eyes, scales, and overall condition have partially returned to normal. Si Jinyan explains that he had been drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness, occasionally regaining awareness before losing it again. His recovery accelerated after his intimate contact with Chi Li, which gradually extended the periods he could remain conscious.
Chi Li’s examination is conducted under his direct supervision to prevent Si Jinyan or Lu Jiu from altering the results. The final report confirms that Chi Li’s blood, pheromone levels, and other readings are stable, and that the oval shadow has completely vanished. Afterward, Si Jinyan publicly kisses Chi Li’s forehead and tells him to rest. Once Chi Li leaves, Si Jinyan and Lu Jiu enter a highly secured laboratory, where a silver egg is stored inside a temperature-controlled device, strongly implying that it is connected to the vanished phenomenon.

Character developments

• Chi Li becomes calmer after receiving confirmation that the threat inside him is gone, though he remains suspicious of Si Jinyan’s evasiveness. He notices Si Jinyan’s recovery and confronts him about whether he had been pretending to be incapacitated. Despite recognizing that Si Jinyan is hiding something, Chi Li chooses not to press him further, showing emotional restraint and reluctance to confront his own complicated feelings.
• Si Jinyan has regained much of his consciousness and physical control but is not yet fully recovered. He admits that his awareness had returned gradually and that Chi Li’s presence helped trigger and stabilize his recovery. He remains protective and affectionate toward Chi Li, while carefully concealing the fate of the mysterious object.
• Lu Jiu is surprised by the disappearance of the abnormality and acknowledges that the result is scientifically unexpected, especially since Si Jinyan appears to have resolved what his research could not.

Significant themes

• Trust and secrecy: Chi Li senses that Si Jinyan is withholding the truth, particularly about the object and his periods of consciousness, yet chooses not to force an answer.
• Recovery through emotional and physical connection: Si Jinyan’s restoration is closely tied to his bond with Chi Li, suggesting that intimacy and mutual dependence have healing power.
• Uncertainty beneath apparent resolution: Although Chi Li’s tests are normal and the internal shadow is gone, the discovery of the silver egg shows that the danger or mystery has not truly ended.
• Emotional avoidance: Both characters avoid directly acknowledging the deeper feelings and implications of what they have endured together.

Character interactions

Chi Li questions Si Jinyan repeatedly about his recovery and possible deception, while Si Jinyan tries to reassure him without revealing the full truth. Their exchange mixes suspicion, teasing, vulnerability, and affection. Si Jinyan’s public forehead kiss embarrasses Chi Li and shocks the onlookers, emphasizing their increasingly intimate relationship. After Chi Li leaves, Si Jinyan joins Lu Jiu to investigate the secured silver egg, suggesting a continuation of the central mystery.

Chapter Summary: “Acting Spoiled”

• Eggy’s condition and attachment: Si Jinyan visits the laboratory, where the premature Mermaid egg—Eggy—is being kept in an incubator. Holding it for the first time, he senses its heartbeat and breathing and believes it may be calling him “Father.” Lu Jiu explains that Eggy needs additional pheromones, possibly from Chi Li, to support its development. Eggy responds strongly to Si Jinyan, rolling eagerly toward him while ignoring Lu Jiu, and settles contentedly against Si Jinyan’s hand.
• A tender parent-child moment: Eggy makes childish sounds that only Si Jinyan can understand. When the egg suddenly becomes still, Si Jinyan panics until he realizes Eggy has fallen asleep. He notices that Eggy is softly “snoring,” a detail Lu Jiu cannot hear, leaving Si Jinyan quietly proud of their special connection. Despite the affection and humor, Si Jinyan remains concerned because Eggy’s presence is weak. Lu Jiu reassures him that Eggy’s early birth is likely responsible, but its strong vitality suggests it will recover and grow normally.
• Si Jinyan’s unexplained knowledge: During a routine examination, Lu Jiu questions how Si Jinyan knew to use pheromones to help Chi Li despite having forgotten much of his past. Lu Jiu jokingly suspects that Si Jinyan had been pretending to be amnesiac. Si Jinyan denies this, explaining cryptically that Eggy told him what to do because it did not want Chi Li to suffer. This suggests a mysterious connection or communication between Si Jinyan and the unborn child.
• Si Jinyan and Chi Li’s relationship: When Si Jinyan returns home, he affectionately kisses Chi Li’s forehead before showering. Later, Chi Li asks whether there is another room, apparently intending to address their sleeping arrangements. Si Jinyan acts weak and needy, claiming he has not fully recovered while wrapping himself around Chi Li and calling his name. Chi Li recognizes that Si Jinyan is deliberately acting spoiled to keep sharing the bedroom, but eventually agrees to have a new bed moved in rather than immediately separating their rooms. Si Jinyan is pleased that his strategy works.
• Character development and interactions: Si Jinyan displays growing parental tenderness toward Eggy, combining protectiveness, worry, and pride. His playful dependence on Chi Li contrasts with his composed behavior in the laboratory and reveals his desire for closeness. Chi Li remains reserved but increasingly responsive to Si Jinyan’s affection, while Lu Jiu acts as both medical caretaker and amused observer of their developing family dynamic.
• Major themes: The chapter emphasizes parental bonding, the importance of pheromones and emotional connection, vulnerability after trauma or memory loss, and the use of playful manipulation to seek intimacy. It also highlights the emerging family unit formed by Si Jinyan, Chi Li, and Eggy, while hinting at the supernatural or unexplained bond between Si Jinyan and the egg.

Chapter Summary: “Clingy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li uses the base’s Neural Computer to contact the Emperor and the mercenary corps after being unable to communicate with them for some time. He reassures them that he is safe but deliberately withholds both his recovered childhood memories and his knowledge of Si Jinyan’s true identity.
• Chi Li senses that the Emperor may already suspect Si Jinyan’s identity, making him cautious about what information he reveals.
• Si Jinyan spends his time rebuilding the soft, pheromone-filled “nest” where he and Chi Li sleep. He is visibly possessive and unusually clingy, wrapping his fish tail completely around Chi Li like a tied-up gift.
• Si Jinyan asks whether Chi Li plans to return to the outside world. Though he knows Chi Li will eventually leave, he struggles with the desire to keep Chi Li beside him permanently.
• Chi Li reassures Si Jinyan that he has no immediate plans to return. Having learned Si Jinyan’s identity and recognizing his fragile condition, Chi Li wants to remain and help stabilize him.
• Si Jinyan invites Chi Li to a confidential meeting about the Aberrant Forms. Geng Ji, who has been gathering intelligence, is expected to arrive with important information. Chi Li eagerly accepts, recognizing the meeting as a valuable opportunity to obtain firsthand intelligence.
• The chapter ends with Si Jinyan becoming emotionally and physically needy. He asks Chi Li to “help” him, claiming that he hurts, and Chi Li responds with reassurance and intimacy.

Character Development

• Chi Li: Becomes more cautious and strategically guarded, especially regarding the Emperor. His priorities have shifted from simply returning to his former life to understanding and supporting Si Jinyan. He also takes a more active interest in the Aberrant Form crisis.
• Si Jinyan: Displays intense attachment, possessiveness, and emotional dependence on Chi Li. The nest and his constant physical contact reveal how deeply he associates Chi Li with safety and belonging. Although he fears abandonment, he is able to relax when Chi Li reassures him and offers soothing pheromones.

Significant Themes

• Possessiveness and dependence: Si Jinyan’s nest, pheromones, and coiled tail symbolize his instinct to claim and keep Chi Li close.
• Trust and secrecy: Chi Li trusts Si Jinyan but remains guarded with the Emperor, choosing carefully what truths to reveal.
• Emotional healing: Chi Li’s presence and pheromones help calm Si Jinyan’s anxiety, while Si Jinyan’s willingness to include Chi Li in a confidential meeting suggests growing trust.
• Duty versus personal attachment: Chi Li balances his responsibilities toward the wider conflict with his desire to remain beside Si Jinyan.

Character Interactions

• Chi Li cautiously communicates with the Emperor while protecting Si Jinyan’s secrets.
• In the nest, Si Jinyan clings to Chi Li physically and asks whether he intends to leave, revealing his fear of separation.
• Chi Li comforts him through verbal reassurance and soothing pheromones.
• Si Jinyan invites Chi Li into an important strategic discussion, strengthening their partnership.
• Their conversation shifts into intimate physical affection, with Chi Li responding to Si Jinyan’s vulnerability and need for comfort.

Chapter Summary: Clingy Big Fish

Key Plot Points and Events

• After an intense encounter, Si Jinyan carries Chi Li from their nest into a hidden room containing a pool. Chi Li is briefly alarmed because the pool reminds him of a previous overwhelming experience, but Si Jinyan brings him there so he can move freely in the water and recover more comfortably.
• Chi Li eventually loses consciousness and falls asleep. The next morning, Si Jinyan appears stern and authoritative while dressed for work, but immediately becomes affectionate and clingy when he realizes Chi Li is awake.
• Chi Li discovers that his body is sore and weak from the previous night. Si Jinyan apologizes for being too rough and reveals that his saliva has healing properties in mermaid form, though his explanation embarrasses Chi Li.
• At the conference, Geng Ji greets Chi Li by calling him “Marshal’s wife,” teasing him in front of the others. Chi Li responds with restrained hostility, while Si Jinyan subtly interrupts when Geng Ji holds Chi Li’s hand too long.
• Geng Ji presents disturbing evidence from an Imperial laboratory. The footage shows a grotesque, mutated creature and supports the discovery that Emperor Yao Di is secretly conducting human-modification experiments.
• Several experimental subjects, referred to as Aberrant Forms, have escaped. Reports of monsters, vampires, and water creatures across different regions may be connected to these escaped subjects. The Empire’s laboratories are scattered across multiple locations, and the experiments are still continuing.

Character Developments

• Chi Li: Remains wary and embarrassed by Si Jinyan’s possessive intimacy, but instinctively clings to him and shows concern for his condition. He is also becoming more integrated into Si Jinyan’s military and personal world, attending the conference as his companion.
• Si Jinyan: Displays two contrasting sides: a wild, uncontrolled nature during intimacy and a commanding, disciplined presence in public. Despite his authority, he is highly affectionate and dependent on Chi Li, openly caring for him and worrying about his recovery.
• Geng Ji: Continues his playful, provocative behavior, teasing Chi Li publicly while also delivering serious and dangerous information about the Empire’s experiments.
• Emperor Yao Di: Is further established as an antagonist secretly responsible for unethical human experimentation and the creation of dangerous altered beings.

Significant Themes

• Intimacy versus vulnerability: Chi Li’s physical and emotional vulnerability contrasts with Si Jinyan’s overpowering affection and possessiveness.
• Dual identities: Si Jinyan shifts between a disciplined marshal and an instinct-driven “big fish,” emphasizing the tension between civilization and animal nature.
• Trust and dependence: Chi Li relies on Si Jinyan despite fear and embarrassment, while Si Jinyan’s clinginess reveals how emotionally dependent he has become on Chi Li.
• Scientific abuse and moral corruption: The Empire’s experiments raise concerns about the exploitation of human beings and the consequences of unchecked power.
• Monsters and otherness: The escaped Aberrant Forms blur the boundary between humans and creatures, connecting the chapter’s personal themes of transformation with its larger political conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan repeatedly comforts, kisses, and reassures Chi Li, while Chi Li responds with embarrassment, resistance, and reluctant closeness.
• Chi Li and Si Jinyan share a domestic, affectionate exchange the morning after their encounter, with Si Jinyan apologizing and Chi Li trying to stop him from discussing the details.
• Geng Ji teases Chi Li by calling him “Marshal’s wife.” Chi Li retaliates through an overly firm handshake, while Si Jinyan becomes subtly jealous and ends the interaction.
• During the conference, Geng Ji shifts from joking informality to grave professionalism as he reveals evidence of the Empire’s secret laboratories and escaped experimental subjects.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Geng Ji presents conclusive evidence that the emperor, Yao Di, has been using blood originally taken from Si Jinyan—the “Progenitor” sample—to create artificial Aberrant Forms. The blood has been repeatedly diluted in an attempt to find a concentration compatible with human bodies.
• The experiments are being conducted on a massive scale using living people, confirming that Yao Di is trying to create another being like Si Jinyan.
• After the meeting, Geng Ji, Si Jinyan, and Chi Li discuss how to respond. Geng Ji suggests finding and killing Yao Di, but Si Jinyan advises against acting rashly, reasoning that Yao Di will not move openly while the base possesses evidence of his crimes.
• Si Jinyan warns that the conflict will likely become prolonged and urges Chi Li to prepare Luolan. Chi Li informs Luolan’s emperor about the Aberrant Forms and warns his mercenary brothers to be cautious.
• Si Jinyan becomes increasingly absent, secretly spending time caring for Eggy. One night, Eggy leaves his arms and ends up beside Chi Li.
• Chi Li discovers that Eggy has developed consciousness. He tests the egg by tossing it into the air and notices that it deliberately rolls back to the center of his palm.
• Eggy is frightened of Chi Li but also likes him, and it tries to please him by imitating the way it plays with Si Jinyan.
• The chapter ends with Si Jinyan waking to find Chi Li holding Eggy, realizing that the egg has been sleeping beside Chi Li instead of him.

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan: Remains calm and strategic despite learning that Yao Di is attempting to recreate him. He takes responsibility for the wider political danger and begins preparing for a long conflict. His care for Eggy also reveals a gentle, protective side.
• Chi Li: Is shaken by the confirmation that the emperor wants to create another Si Jinyan, but responds practically by warning Luolan and his allies. His interaction with Eggy shows his cautious curiosity and growing involvement in Si Jinyan’s unusual family-like bond.
• Geng Ji: Becomes more openly furious at Yao Di’s atrocities and wants to eliminate him, but recognizes the danger of attacking while the emperor remains politically powerful.
• Eggy: Evolves from an apparently ordinary egg into a conscious, emotionally responsive being. It is timid around Chi Li, seeks warmth and comfort, and actively tries to communicate and gain his approval.

Significant Themes

• Scientific abuse and the violation of life: Yao Di’s experiments treat living people as disposable material in his attempt to manufacture another Si Jinyan.
• Identity and replication: The effort to recreate Si Jinyan raises questions about whether his unique nature can truly be reproduced.
• Political tension and restrained resistance: The characters must balance the need to stop Yao Di against the consequences of openly challenging the emperor.
• Found family and emotional bonds: Eggy’s growing consciousness strengthens the domestic and affectionate connection among Si Jinyan, Chi Li, and Eggy.
• Trust and protection: Si Jinyan and Chi Li quietly protect each other, their countries, and the vulnerable beings caught in the conflict.

Character Interactions

• Geng Ji confronts Si Jinyan and Chi Li with the truth about Yao Di’s experiments, while Si Jinyan tries to keep the situation under control.
• Si Jinyan reassures Chi Li that Yao Di’s ambitions do not represent his own wishes and reminds him that Luolan must be protected.
• Chi Li warns Luolan and his mercenary comrades, extending the conflict beyond the base.
• Eggy’s first real interaction with Chi Li is playful but nervous: it repeatedly rolls back into his palm, hoping for the praise it receives from Si Jinyan.
• The ending sets up a potentially humorous and emotionally revealing moment between Si Jinyan and Chi Li over Eggy’s sudden preference for Chi Li’s warmth.

Chapter Summary: “The Fall”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Si Jinyan secretly brings Eggy, the egg, into bed so it can remain near Chi Li and absorb his pheromones. He intends to return it to the incubator before dawn.
• While Si Jinyan sleeps, his fishtail loosens around the egg and instinctively curls around Chi Li instead. Eggy then wanders away on its own and ends up in Chi Li’s hands.
• Chi Li repeatedly tosses the egg into the air, leaving Si Jinyan increasingly terrified. When the egg finally slips and falls, Si Jinyan’s tail catches it instantly and pulls it protectively away from Chi Li.
• Chi Li turns cold and asks Si Jinyan not to come closer and to leave the room. His reaction deeply frightens Si Jinyan, who remembers Chi Li previously threatening himself with a blade.
• Si Jinyan pleads with Chi Li not to ignore him, offering to send Eggy away if Chi Li does not want it around. His distress causes his tears to crystallize into pearls across the bed.
• Chi Li explains that he never intended to drop or harm Eggy. His apparent hostility came from confusion and the sudden emotional impression that Eggy had called him “Father.”

Character Developments

• Si Jinyan is intensely protective of Eggy and emotionally dependent on Chi Li’s acceptance. His panic reveals how deeply he fears rejection and how strongly Chi Li’s silence affects him. He becomes vulnerable enough to apologize and beg Chi Li not to withdraw from him.
• Chi Li remains guarded and emotionally conflicted. Though he appears indifferent and threatening while holding Eggy, he does not actually intend to hurt it. The egg triggers memories and an unexpected paternal response, complicating his feelings toward both Eggy and Si Jinyan.
• Eggy becomes more active and expressive, sleepwalking and possibly communicating through a faint voice. Its apparent attempt to call Chi Li “Father” has a powerful effect on him.

Significant Themes

• Fear of rejection and abandonment: Si Jinyan interprets Chi Li’s silence and distance as signs that their fragile progress has collapsed.
• Protection and parental attachment: Si Jinyan’s instinctive rescue of Eggy contrasts with Chi Li’s confused but emerging emotional connection to it.
• Miscommunication: Chi Li’s silence and cold demeanor cause Si Jinyan to panic, even though Chi Li never intended to harm Eggy.
• Emotional vulnerability: Si Jinyan’s tears, pearls, and desperate apologies expose feelings he usually conceals.
• The past resurfacing: Chi Li’s reaction is shaped by memories of earlier pain, including Si Jinyan’s previous actions and the traumatic image of Chi Li holding a blade against himself.

Character Interactions

• Si Jinyan silently watches Chi Li handle Eggy, terrified but unwilling to interrupt.
• His fishtail catches Eggy before it hits the floor, physically demonstrating his protectiveness.
• When Si Jinyan attempts to touch Chi Li, Chi Li rejects the contact and orders him to leave, creating a tense emotional separation.
• Si Jinyan responds with pleading, apologies, and promises to remove Eggy, while Chi Li gradually recognizes his distress.
• The chapter ends with Chi Li reassuring him that he did not deliberately drop Eggy, opening the possibility of reconciliation and a clearer conversation.

Chapter Summary: “Little Pearl”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chi Li repeatedly orders Si Jinyan to leave the bedroom and take the egg with him, insisting that he does not accept it.
• Si Jinyan initially cries pearls, but Chi Li’s words are enough to make him believe—perhaps optimistically—that Chi Li has accepted the egg.
• Si Jinyan grabs Chi Li’s ankle, kisses and lightly bites his foot, and openly confesses, “I really like you.” Chi Li is shocked and uncomfortable, struggling to resist Si Jinyan’s strength and intense gaze.
• Chi Li threatens to smash the egg, frightening the newly awakened Eggy. Si Jinyan immediately becomes protective, hides the egg within his tail, gathers his scattered tears, and leaves the room.
• Before leaving, Si Jinyan encourages Chi Li to sleep in the “nest,” which he believes helps Chi Li rest better. Chi Li initially remains in the bedroom, troubled by thoughts of the egg, Si Jinyan, and a pearl he keeps examining.
• Despite rejecting the nest directly, Chi Li eventually falls asleep there. Si Jinyan later finds him and points out that he slept soundly.
• Wanting reassurance and praise, Si Jinyan prompts Chi Li to acknowledge the nest’s comfort. Chi Li finally gives him what he wants, admitting that the nest was comfortable and that he slept well.

2. Character Developments

• Chi Li: Continues to present himself as cold, rejecting, and emotionally guarded, but his actions reveal growing attachment. He keeps one of Si Jinyan’s pearls, thinks repeatedly about the egg and Si Jinyan, and unconsciously chooses to sleep in the nest. His final praise shows a small but meaningful willingness to acknowledge Si Jinyan’s care.
• Si Jinyan: Remains emotionally intense, physically affectionate, and eager for Chi Li’s approval. Although he misreads Chi Li’s words optimistically, he also demonstrates restraint and sensitivity by leaving when ordered and protecting Eggy from Chi Li’s hostility. His childlike hope for praise becomes especially apparent when he waits for Chi Li to compliment the nest.
• Eggy: Awakens during the conflict and reacts fearfully to Chi Li’s threat. The egg’s vulnerability strengthens Si Jinyan’s protective instincts and highlights the uncertain status of Chi Li’s acceptance.

3. Significant Themes

• Emotional denial versus genuine attachment: Chi Li verbally rejects Si Jinyan and the egg, yet his thoughts and behavior suggest he is becoming attached.
• The need for recognition and approval: Si Jinyan desperately seeks signs that Chi Li accepts him, the egg, and his care. Even a simple compliment about the nest matters deeply to him.
• Protection and vulnerability: Eggy’s fear contrasts with Si Jinyan’s fierce protectiveness, while Chi Li’s guarded hostility conceals his own emotional uncertainty.
• Communication through actions: Although Chi Li refuses to express affection directly, sleeping in the nest and praising it function as indirect acknowledgments of Si Jinyan’s importance.
• Instinct and intimacy: The nest, pheromones, tail-wrapping, and physical closeness reflect the instinctive bond between the characters, even as Chi Li resists defining or accepting it.

4. Character Interactions

• Chi Li and Si Jinyan clash over the egg, with Chi Li issuing cold commands and Si Jinyan responding with tears, affection, and hopeful interpretations.
• Si Jinyan’s ankle-grabbing, kiss, bite, and confession expose the intensity of his feelings, while Chi Li reacts with shock, embarrassment, and defensive aggression.
• Chi Li’s threat toward Eggy prompts Si Jinyan to withdraw and shield the egg, showing that the conflict has real emotional consequences.
• Their final interaction is gentler: Si Jinyan seeks confirmation that his nest helped Chi Li, and Chi Li, despite his usual resistance, gives him the reassurance he wants.