The little dude's eyes widened in shock Σ(°ロ°). The other children who were helping also gaped slightly, staring blankly at Shen Ting.
Yan Yi burst out laughing. This really was so like Shen Ting.
"Y-you're not playing fair!" the little dude shouted angrily.
"You're not a mermaid!"
"Right, you're not!"
"You're not!"
The children around them chimed in, chattering away.
"Ah, that's where you're wrong. Ask him whether I'm beautiful." Shen Ting shot Yan Yi an electrifying wink.
Yan Yi played along, looking as though he had been electrocuted as he nodded furiously. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. You're the most unique mermaid in my heart."
"Hehe, my tail can even move. Can you move yours up and down?" Shen Ting sat upright and lifted his feet.
"You're twisting the facts!" Looking at his legs tightly encased in sand, the little dude grew so anxious that he used one of the few idioms he knew.
"Hehe, I can even roll over, and I can crawl forward." Shen Ting lay flat on the beach, supporting himself with his arms as he moved forward.
At this sight, the little dude finally cracked. His cute little face slowly scrunched up, gradually showing signs of a meltdown. Tears gathered in his eyes, ready to fall, and his mouth opened slightly, as though his vocal cords were already prepared.
Seeing this, Shen Ting inwardly thought, Oh no. These kids' parents had to be somewhere nearby. What if they ganged up and beat him?
Shen Ting sprang to his feet with a kip-up, then slid onto his knees in front of the little dude. "You win. I give up."
The little dude froze again, his mouth wide open, unsure whether he should cry or not. *Why did he suddenly give up? I hadn't even gotten started yet. This