Things Were Looking Up

To make his apology more sincere, Rafayel had broken through the boundary of "not knowing each other well yet."

They stayed in their embrace until they had finished choosing their special nicknames.

Rafayel listened carefully to Xiao Yan's breathing by his ear, from its slight irregularity until it gradually grew steady and calm again.

Only then did he pull Xiao Yan's arms away, his ears burning.

Then he turned around and sat bolt upright, blushing furiously, letting Xiao Yan see only his profile, so pink it looked ready to drip.

Speaking of drama queens.

Xavier had displayed some of those qualities today.

But Rafayel was actually a super-duper adorable little drama queen too.

The sight of Rafayel blushing left Xiao Yan a little embarrassed as well, but she forced herself to calm down and think it over carefully.

Although on the surface he was a good little fish who combined a sharp tongue with a pampered, cutesy side, deep down he was actually someone with a wealth of experience who would use any means necessary when required.

He only showed that cutesy side to people he was willing to show weakness in front of.

In other words, there was no way a few words from Xavier would make him afraid of Xiao Yan physically punishing him.

Being afraid of kneeling as punishment or being whipped were merely excuses Rafayel had found to give both himself and Xiao Yan a way out.

Even if they still did not know each other well enough.

Rafayel had still chosen to go with the flow and take on the responsibilities of the family alongside the other men.

That included caring for and protecting Xiao Yan, their wife and head of the household.

Caring for her needs and protecting her feelings.

Perhaps it was only sympathy for Xiao Yan, brought on by some techniques Xavier had used once all five men gathered together, creating a phenomenon of "person-to-person transmission."

In any case, Rafayel would not develop feelings for her so quickly.

Everything he did might have been a compromise made out of consideration for his role as a husband, because he did not want to damage their marriage or family relationships.

Xiao Yan understood that, so for now she would not do anything to Rafayel that crossed the line.

Of course, she would not say anything too forward either.

Rafayel took quite a while to calm down before the redness faded from his face.

He glanced suspiciously at Xiao Yan. "Why aren't you saying anything? What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Xiao Yan smiled calmly and found a topic. "When you saw Sylus this time, did he stop pestering you for a commission?"

"Well, Xavier was there, wasn't he? He asked Sylus if he was trying to launder money, and Sylus stopped pestering me," Rafayel said. "The police do have some deterrent power."

Xiao Yan could not hold back a chuckle. "That really does work pretty well on Sylus."

She smiled?

Rafayel stared at Xiao Yan's smiling face and frowned. "Hey, it's just the two of us here. Why are you making that face while thinking about someone else?"

"Huh?" Xiao Yan was bewildered.

"Do you know how to respect people?" Rafayel's fighting spirit surged. "Did you think Sylus was amusing just now, or Xavier? Whoever it was, they're more amusing than me, is that it?"

Wait, was he jealous?

But considering their relationship had yet to even begin, wasn't it too early for jealousy?

Xiao Yan blinked several times in confusion. "What's bothering you?"

"It just bothers me!" Rafayel turned and leaned toward Xiao Yan unhappily. "I admit Xavier did a better job than me before, so it makes sense that you like him more. But what makes Sylus so special? I don't come home, but does he come back to keep you company all the time? And with that personality of his, what exactly is so amusing about him? He can even make you laugh without being here!"

"..." For a moment, Xiao Yan genuinely could not tell.

She did not know whether Rafayel was truly competing for her affection or deliberately acting jealous to express his "care" for her and save her dignity.

"And to think I even dreamed about you a few days ago." Rafayel's lips puckered again, looking terribly aggrieved. "Turns out I was just flattering myself."

Xiao Yan was startled. "You dreamed about me?"

Could some memories from the game be starting to awaken?

Excited, she pressed him. "What did you dream about me?!"

"I dreamed..." Rafayel hesitated, seeming conflicted and a little shy. "I dreamed that I turned into a real merman. Lots of scales grew on me, and my legs became a long fish tail. My skin hurt all over, so badly. I kept getting hot and then cold, and soaking in the bathtub was the only way to feel a little better. Then you... you came over, and you..."

At that point, he shot Xiao Yan an indignant glare and pressed his lips together, refusing to continue.

In the game, on the day the tides reversed, Rafayel would feel unwell all over as though he were ill, and some merman traits would appear on his human form.

Did Rafayel, a merman beastman in this world, have a similar setting to the one in the game?

Would he turn into a complete merman on that special day?!

Xiao Yan was so curious that she hurriedly asked, "What did I come over and do to you?"

"You... you actually hugged my fish tail and took a bite!" Rafayel glared fiercely at Xiao Yan in anger. "And you said something about getting the freshest sashimi!"

Xiao Yan froze at that, then burst out laughing a few seconds later. "What? How could I possibly do something like that?"

"Well, you did." Rafayel was still very annoyed. "But after I woke up with a start and thought it over carefully, I wouldn't turn into a real merman anyway, or show you a fresh, delicious fish tail. Even if you wanted sashimi, you wouldn't come bully me."

Oh~ So he couldn't turn into a merman?

Xiao Yan was a little disappointed. Did that mean she would not get to see Rafayel as the mighty Sea God?

"Why that expression?" Rafayel keenly caught the change in Xiao Yan's mood. "I just said I dreamed about you."

"Yes~ You dreamed about me." Xiao Yan spread her hands and sighed. "You dreamed that I bullied you, bit your fish tail, and wanted to turn you into sashimi to eat. So?"

"Dreams have a certain symbolic meaning, don't they? I wouldn't dream about someone else for no reason."

As Rafayel said that, his eyes kept darting between Xiao Yan's eyes.

As though he were expecting her to say something.

Xiao Yan narrowed her eyes. "Symbolic meaning? You mean you dreamed at night about what you thought about during the day, and because you missed me, you dreamed about me when you fell asleep?"

"What!" Rafayel quickly waved his hands. "Missed... I... I mean, you're too mean to me! I'm scared of you, that's why..."

"When was I mean to you?" Xiao Yan protested.

"You were! The last time I came home, you were so mean. You even abandoned me and ran back to your room to take a shower, ignoring me." Rafayel clicked his tongue in displeasure. "You have to promise you won't be that mean to me again."

Oh, he was just too much fun~

Xiao Yan cleared her throat. "Then what if I'm mean to you again?"

"Then I won't call you Miss Baby." Rafayel actually threatened her. "I'll call you Miss Bad Guy."

"Wow." Xiao Yan covered her mouth dramatically. "How scary! I'm going to become Miss Bad Guy!"

Rafayel's face flushed again in an instant. "Don't think I can't tell. You're making fun of me, aren't you? Right now, I don't know what you're afraid of, so I can't say anything that hits your weak spot. But I'm very smart. Once I observe you a few more times, I'll definitely..."

"Then if I tell you my weak spot, do you want to hear it?" Xiao Yan really could not hold back anymore.

She had to get a little closer to this fish who kept testing her so wildly.

"You're really going to tell me?" Rafayel's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer. "Then tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone else. It'll be our secret!"

Xiao Yan gave him a gentle smile and gazed into Rafayel's beautiful eyes.

She raised her right hand slightly, extended her index finger, and gently tapped the tip of Rafayel's nose.

"Hm?" Rafayel did not understand. "Changed your mind? Afraid I'll spill your secret? Should I swear an oath?"

Xiao Yan tapped his nose again. "I've already told you."

Rafayel said, "...Huh? What did you say? How are you already done? Weren't you going to tell me your weak spot... wait, no..."

He suddenly realized, his eyes widening instantly as his mouth opened in disbelief.

Then he shot to his feet, his entire face scarlet, and pointed frantically toward the door. "We... we should still have some lunch, right? I'll go cook. I want seafood, and I'm worried the chef won't make it to my taste. I'm going to cook right now!"

He took off running without even looking back.

After watching Rafayel flee, Xiao Yan could not stop herself from laughing.