Those who could hear his thoughts were also surprised. Xia Dongyuan, who looked so handsome and charming, had done such a thing behind the scenes. Just hearing about it was incredibly shocking.
They stole glances at Xia Dongyuan and saw him blushing and so embarrassed he almost curled up. They instantly realized that what Shang Shujue had said was true, and they couldn't help but peek.
This kid... I really didn't expect him to be like this...
[Hahahaha... cough cough, I need to hold it in, I can't laugh, I can't laugh... hahaha...]
But why did he collect the bathwater after the performance, let it mold, and then pour it down the drain, pretending it was like a mermaid's shed scales?
Hahaha... I can't hold it in anymore, I really want to laugh, hahaha... This kid is just too funny... Little pervert, hahaha... He's so hilarious...
That's one thing, but why does he always act so regretful and pained every time he falls?!
Shang Shujue tilted her head, silently releasing the barely suppressed laughter, then glanced at Shang Shuchen before standing up from her seat. "Second brother, I'm going to the restroom."
"Ah? Oh, go ahead, it's just a little inside, you'll see it if you walk in."
Shang Shuchen was trying to suppress a laugh when he suddenly heard Shang Shujue's voice, and he almost lost control of his expression.
Fortunately, he realized what was happening and managed to say it calmly. Then he saw Shang Shujue nod seriously, turn around, and leave.
The crowd couldn't hold back any longer, and they all burst out laughing.
Xia Dongyuan covered his face, "You're not allowed to laugh..."
Hahahaha...
No wonder this kid likes acting! He's a real drama queen! Oh my god! I can't take it anymore... hahaha...
I need to find an opportunity... hahaha...
He got his second brother to get him a role in a mermaid movie? He's got such talent, it's just too funny... hahaha...
This handsome young man with rosy lips, white teeth, and delicate features—you'd never guess he'd be doing something like this behind the scenes!
Shang Shujue didn't hear the laughter behind him. After entering the restroom and locking the door, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. Even through two walls, part of the laughter could be heard.
When Xia Dongyuan and the others heard this, they paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. Xia Dongyuan himself wanted to disappear into the ground even more. He covered his face, his ears were bright red, and he was too ashamed to show his face.
" Xia Dongyuan, I never expected you to be this kind of guy! I was wondering why you were so immersed in your acting; it was so abstract, hahaha..."
"Stop laughing..."
"Hahaha..."
"..."
Wen Shaojie didn't care about Xia Dongyuan's life or death at all, and went straight for his face to unleash his ultimate move. After unleashing it, he laughed so heartily that his stomach probably hurt from laughing.
Xia Dongyuan turned around and glared at him several times, but it was to no avail. After being glared at, the other person laughed even more happily, as did the others.
Not only that, but laughter seemed to be coming from outside the lounge, and someone vaguely gave him a nickname— Brother Mermaid.
Xia Dongyuan: "..." Waaah, let me die! I'll never be able to face anyone again! Ah--
"I think my brother's opinion is very reasonable. How about I ask the screenwriter to give you a mysterious mermaid or merman identity?"
Seeing Xia Dongyuan's suicidal expression, Shang Shuchen actually began to consider the possibility of giving him a special identity, and he even spoke about it in a very logical way, completely disregarding Xia Dongyuan's life or death.
"Anyway, our drama is just a trial run for a fantasy romance drama with a low budget, so it's normal to have some mermaids and merfolk."
Xia Dongyuan, heartbroken. "..."
Shang Shunan glanced at Xia Dongyuan, who was practically steaming him alive, then at his eager second brother and the four people next to him who were about to burst out laughing, and calmly sipped his tea.
ε=(´ο`*))) Sigh, you're still too young. What's so funny about that? Everyone has their own little quirks. Even if he doesn't understand, he'll respect them.
[Huh? What did you say? Xia Dongyuan really has mermaid-like genes? No, no, no, where did this come from? Isn't our world supposed to be urban? How come there's a fantasy element? This isn't right! This is really wrong!!!]
"Puff--"
Shang Shujue's words silenced everyone who was laughing. Shang Shunan spat out the tea in his mouth. They stared at Xia Dongyuan in disbelief, dumbfounded.
Xia Dongyuan himself was stunned. What? What the heck? How come I'm not human anymore?!
Everyone: Holy crap! Mermaids really exist in this world?! Don't scare me! I'm scared! ᓫ(°⌑°)ǃ
[I know this isn't the real world, it's a fictional world created by haters, but this is just too illogical! How could Xia Dongyuan be a mermaid? Has the world gone mad? Or have you gone mad? Or have I gone mad?!]
Shang Shujue was also surprised to receive this news from Nuomi. He was momentarily stunned and it took him a while to realize what had happened. It was just too dramatic.
Shang Shujue's thoughts lingered for about two minutes. During those two minutes, Xia Dongyuan was terrified. He curled up into a ball, fearing that he would be tied up and sent to the laboratory, where scientists would dissect him alive.
[Oh~ Everyone has this kind of gene, it's just recessive. But because Xia Dongyuan's family genes are quite strong, it's manifested as dominant. She's a human, not a mermaid! I almost thought I'd stumbled into a science fiction movie...]
Nuomi! Please express yourself more clearly next time! You scared me so much my heart was pounding, I almost took him on as my apprentice!
That's fine, otherwise he'd definitely be coveted and then die, the kind of death I couldn't save even with divine power!
Shang Shujue's inner thoughts resurfaced, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief after hearing them, unsure whether they were relieved for Xia Dongyuan or for themselves.
Xia Dongyuan, however, focused on taking on apprentices. Damn it, he missed a golden opportunity! Becoming Brother Jue's apprentice would definitely make him the happiest apprentice in the world. Sigh... what a pity.
" Xia Dongyuan, why do you look a little regretful? Do you really want to be a mermaid?"
Seeing Xia Dongyuan's mournful sigh, Wen Shaojie couldn't help but move closer to him, joking with him in a playful manner, thinking that he was terrified.
"Ahem... No, I didn't mean it. I'm just a little regretful. If Brother Jue really took me as his apprentice, what a happy little boy I would be! ~ε=(´ο`*))) Sigh, it's such a pity. I wish I were a mermaid..."
Wen Shaojie: "... Hehe! Xia Dongyuan, you deserve a good position, but not the best! ꐦ≖ ≖"
Xia Dongyuan: "Why? You think you deserve the best?! Wen Shaojie, you're just jealous of me!"
Wen Shaojie and Xia Dongyuan, two elementary school kids, started arguing. Zhao Yuanli and the other two went over to try and break it up, but they all got yelled at, so the three of them just left it at that.
After recovering, Shang Shunan rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on, and thought she couldn't see a future.
Shang Shuchen has already contacted the screenwriter to arrange a storyline for Xia Dongyuan to play the role of a mermaid.
He had a premonition that his self-created fantasy drama, " The Rosy Clouds, Moon, and Years of Light," would become a huge hit and make him a fortune! He planned to buy his younger brother lots of things he liked!