Actual Fairytale – Picking up a Mermaid! (22)

Lu Shijin tried to coax him, “It’s not like Shen Shao knows about these self-abusive actions. He won’t care or feel bad, don’t you see that you’ll only make your brother feel bad by doing this?”

Jun Li’s expression was calm, seeming completely different from the shy merperson from before, “It’s my body, and my business on what I do to it. It’s unrelated to everyone else. But don’t tell this to my brother. Don’t worry, I won’t die from this.”

Lu Shijin knew that what Shen Shao did had a large impact on Jun Li, and that he also had a hand in this, so he couldn’t help but feel guilty for Jun Li’s self-harming actions.

“I know you feel bad, but it’s not your fault. You don’t have to punish yourself because of someone else’s mistake.” Lu Shijin let go of Jun Li’s hand and knelt by his side, looking at him caringly, “Shen Shao wasn’t serious about you and was only using you, can you not see that? He doesn’t deserve your love, you deserve someone better, understand?”

Jun Li slowly turned, looking at Lu Shijin darkly, “How do you know Shen Shao was using me?”

“Your brother told me.” Lu Shijin lied.

Jun Li’s gaze became colder, “But I never told him anything about Shen Shao using me.”

Lu Shijin was at a loss for words. He thought that Jun Li would’ve told Jun Yu about it because of how long they were talking for, so how could they not?

Lu Shijin felt a bit anxious, “Fine, I’ll admit it, your brother didn’t tell me, I guessed.”

Jun Li’s expression showed disbelief, narrowing his eyes and asking in a dangerous tone, “How did you guess?”

As expected of brothers, his expression looked the exact same as Jun Yu when he threatened him, they were really like two peas in the same pod!

Lu Shijin’s expression was calm and he said steadily, “Do you remember the day you found out about Shen Shao’s disease? He originally wanted me to be the one to tell you, and I figured that out, so I deliberately didn’t say anything.”

“Why not?” The innocent merperson didn’t understand.

Lu Shijin sneered, “If I told you, then it would’ve lessened his guilt, do you understand? He had long thought of having you cure him, and I told you a long time ago to be wary. Sadly, you were blinded by love and didn’t listen to me.”

Jun Li believed in Lu Shijin’s words and hung his head, his face full of remorse.

“Of course I knew that he was using me.” Jun Li said in a hoarse voice, “But if he liked me in the slightest bit, even if it was mostly to take advantage of me, I was completely willing. But how could he be too lazy to even continue lying? I hate it . . .”

Lu Shijin took advantage of this time to fan the flames. “So what do you plan to do now? Directly return to the ocean with your brother?”

Jun Li shook his head blankly, “I don’t know, I don’t want to go back, but I don’t know where I can go. I’m not willing.”

Lu Shijin asked, “You don’t want to go? Do you still love Shen Shao? Still want to be with him?”

Jun Li fell silent. His tail swished a bit and disturbed the water surface, making it seem more like his current feelings.

Lu Shijin realized that the merperson couldn’t let go of Shen Shao yet.

“Don’t you want to get revenge on Shen Shao? Make him regret everything he did?” Lu Shijin coaxed in a soft voice. As expected, Jun Li took the bait and blinked curiously, “What do you mean?”

Lu Shijin smiled, “The classic trope of a scum man trying to redeem himself. You have to seduce Shen Shao, and once he’s hopelessly in love with you, you cast him aside and let him taste what it’s like to be abandoned, what do you think?”

Jun Li was a bit hesitant and looked at Lu Shijin carefully, “Aren’t you Shen Shao’s friend? Why are you helping me?”

“Haah.” Lu Shijin shrugged, saying confidently, “I can’t accept his actions. He needs to experience some karma and recognize his mistake. It’s not like it’s going to kill him.”

Jun Li seemed a bit convinced and lowered his eyes to think, “But how can I make him love me? I was with him every single day before, but he didn’t love me, I don’t have the confidence.”

“That’s easy, I’ll handle the seduction part, as long as you’re willing to follow me.” Lu Shijin patted Jun Li’s shoulder with a smile, “But you can’t tell your brother about this, or else he’s going to stop us.”

“Can’t tell me what?”

Jun Yu’s voice rang out coldly. Lu Shijin immediately turned back at this.

“Nothing! You heard nothing!” Lu Shijin motioned at Jun Li, signaling for him not to tell.

Jun Li understood and pretended to be innocent, “That’s right, nothing. Why did you suddenly come over so quietly brother? You almost scared me.”

Jun Yu frowned coldly, “Are you two playing dumb?” He swept his gaze across the scales on the floor and his expression darkened even more, “What’s this?”

Jun Li slanted his tail away, trying to hide the empty spots, “N-nothing, I just shed some scales.”

“Great, you’ve learnt how to self harm for love.” Jun Yu obviously didn’t believe Jun Li’s weak excuse and sneered, “Do you remember who you are? How could us merpeople have someone as weak as you?!”

“Xiao Yu, Xiao Li was fooled too, he’s heartbroken, you shouldn’t scold him.” Lu Shijin acted as a peacemaker and advised, “He’s recognized his mistakes after talking with me, he definitely won’t make them next time!”

“There’s going to be a next time?” Jun Yu laughed.

Lu Shijin hurriedly waved his hand, “No, no!”

“Enough, stop pretending. I heard everything just now.” Jun Yu looked at Lu Shijin mockingly, “We have exceptional hearing, and you were speaking so loudly just now, I could hear everything from the living room.”

Lu Shijin: . . .

Jun Yu turned to Jun Li, “Have you still not given up on that human?”

Jun Li shrank his shoulders in fear, lying, “N-no, I have given up . . .”

“I’m not actually against you being with him.” Jun Yu interrupted, “I’m just against you becoming female to be with him.”

Both Lu Shijin and Jun Li didn’t understand and looked at Jun Yu, waiting for him to elaborate.

Jun Yu proudly lifted his chin, looking at them with disdain, “The ocean is ruled by survival of the fittest. To avoid being something else’s food, you have to be at the top of the food chain. Jun Li, remember this, we are the overlords of the jungle, and everyone else can only follow us. If you like something then fight for it yourself, and make it your own. You can’t passively follow someone else, okay?”

Jun Li seemed to understand, “So you mean that . . .?”

“Don’t you like that human?” Jun Yu encouraged him in a sickly sweet manner, “Then take him back with you and make him be unable to leave you, belonging only to you and being dependent on you.”

Jun Li fell into thought, and excitement gradually rose in his eyes. He nodded solemnly at Jun Yu, “Brother, I get it now!”

Jun Yu looked at his brother, who had finally learnt and smiled, “Very good.”

Lu Shijin was frightened by the conversation between the brothers. He knew what Jun Yu meant.

Jun Li couldn’t be female and live as Shen Shao’s wife on land.

Jun Li could be a male and take Shen Shao as his husband in the ocean.

This was such a double standard!

Lu Shijin felt some pity for Shen Shao. he only wanted him to regret his actions, but the brothers might force him to carry babies!

——————–