LABMY CH99.1

An endless expanse of pristine white ice stretched as far as the eye could see. Only near the shore had the ice cracked, revealing the deep blue sea beneath. But the most captivating sight wasn’t the newly exposed seawater—it was the mermaid floating in the water, gently swaying his silver-blue tail.

He wore a thin human dress shirt, soaked through, barely covering the delicate contours of his body. From his slender waist downward, smooth and beautiful silver-blue scales extended into a mesmerizing tail. His gaze was timid, like an innocent mermaid unfamiliar with the world, yet he was born with a pair of striking blue eyes—slightly upturned at the corners, both alluring and pure.

He smiled at the human, his eyes rippling like waves, mesmerizing and seductive. The human watching him was utterly entranced, stepping forward and clasping his hand.

Shen Nian called out to him, his voice carrying a damp, misty softness. “Bai Lingchen.”

He wanted to know this man’s true name, so he uttered the long-unspoken alias, testing him.

As soon as the three words fell, he saw the man before him frown. Shen Nian’s heart leaped with excitement—was he finally unwilling to be mistaken for someone else?

Would he be honest now? Tell him his real name?

After all, he had even revealed that he was a pollutant. A fake identity shouldn’t be a secret he couldn’t share.

Jian Yuanbai’s brows furrowed deeply. Under Shen Nian’s expectant gaze, he said seriously, “Call me Yafu.”

This was a perfect creation, tainted by his own hands, marked with his essence from head to toe, so breathtaking that it momentarily took his breath away.

So, he didn’t want to hear another man’s name from Shen Nian’s lips.

The smile on Shen Nian’s face collapsed in an instant. His tail smacked the water in frustration, splashing waves. Damn it—did this man really just want to raise him like a child?

His emotions were so obvious that Jian Yuanbai couldn’t ignore them even if he tried. “What’s wrong?”

Shen Nian, sulking, asked, “You don’t even have a wife, so why do you keep making me call you ‘Xiao Ba’ and ‘Yafu’ and all that?”

Jian Yuanbai replied matter-of-factly, “I am your Xiao Ba. I am your Yafu.”

He sounded a little guilty when he said “Xiao Ba,” but when he said “Yafu,” he was utterly confident.

As he spoke, his hand trailed gently over Shen Nian’s silver-blue fish tail, the icy smooth texture giving him an indescribable feeling. He murmured, “Every inch of you carries my presence.”

Shen Nian slapped his tail against the water forcefully, sending up splashes. His face turned red with both anger and embarrassment. Did this man even realize what he was saying?

Jian Yuanbai glanced at the sky and suggested, “Try changing your tail into legs. It’s getting late—we should go back.”

Shen Nian could do it, but he didn’t want to. Pouting, he huffed, “I can’t. I can’t do it.”

“You carry me back.”

Then, he stretched out his arms toward Jian Yuanbai. Once he was picked up, he deliberately shifted his weight heavily, puffing his cheeks in silent protest: I’ll crush you.

As a human, he hadn’t been particularly heavy, but as a mermaid, his tail was quite weighty. Yet Jian Yuanbai carried him with ease, his arms strong and steady, muscles taut beneath his sleeves.

A thousand thoughts flashed through Shen Nian’s mind. He had to make this man understand—he wasn’t a child anymore. He had to.

Jian Yuanbai carried him behind the house, hesitating between entering through the front door or climbing through the window. If they used the front door, they would surely wake Yang Jin Hang and the others. But climbing the window would be tricky—his hands were occupied holding Shen Nian.

The mermaid in his arms shifted and spoke softly, “Put me down.”

“I’ll try again to change my tail back into legs.”

Jian Yuanbai looked at his beautiful silver-blue tail, then at the dusty ground beneath them. “Try here first.”

The next second, he felt an odd sense of regret. Two smooth, bare legs now dangled over his arm, the damp dress shirt barely covering anything beneath.

Shen Nian stood on the ground, his pale feet immediately picking up specks of dust. Jian Yuanbai frowned, unsure whether he should carry him.

But before he could decide, Shen Nian took a step forward. The moment his foot touched the ground, his legs gave out. Jian Yuanbai rushed to support him, watching as Shen Nian’s eyes widened in shock.

“I can’t walk!”

Jian Yuanbai had never encountered such a situation before. He helped him take a couple of steps, only to see Shen Nian stumbling unsteadily, walking like a toddler learning to take his first steps.

Shen Nian stared blankly at his own feet, then turned to look at Jian Yuanbai with an innocent expression. “What do I do?”

Jian Yuanbai crouched down in front of him. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”

As soon as Shen Nian climbed onto his back, Jian Yuanbai instinctively adjusted his grip, lifting him slightly. His hands pressed against soft, smooth skin. For a brief moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

The person on his back flushed red like a ripe tomato. His eyes shimmered with moisture as he whispered, voice barely louder than a mosquito’s, “Go… let’s go.”

Jian Yuanbai felt a bit unnatural as well, his tongue pressing against his upper palate. “Mm. Let’s go.”

When they returned to the room, Jian Yuanbai placed Shen Nian on the bed before getting up to close the window. When he turned back around, he saw Shen Nian—wearing only a damp dress shirt—staggering as he tried to walk.

One step, two steps… by the third step, his foot twisted, and he nearly fell.

Jian Yuanbai instantly appeared in front of him, catching him just before he hit the floor.

Shen Nian slumped in his arms in defeat. “I want to wash up.”

His feet were filthy from the ground, and after soaking in seawater, his body felt strange. But after just two steps, he was already on the verge of collapsing. “I’m really bad at being human… This feels so weird.”

Jian Yuanbai chuckled. “What do you mean, ‘bad at being human’? You’re just not used to it yet.”

He carried Shen Nian into the bathroom. The extreme temperatures outside meant that the shower couldn’t provide running water, so Jian Yuanbai had to fill the bathtub manually.

Luckily, Shen Nian was now a pollutant and didn’t feel cold, so he didn’t need to heat the water before bathing.

To avoid dirtying the bathtub water, Shen Nian grabbed a separate basin and had Jian Yuanbai fill it up. Then, he bent down and began scrubbing the dust off his feet.

Bending forward caused the slightly dried but still loose dress shirt to slip down. From where he stood, Jian Yuanbai could easily see Shen Nian’s beautifully defined collarbones and…

He averted his gaze immediately, turning to leave. But before he could step out of the bathroom, a dull thud echoed behind him.

Jian Yuanbai quickly turned around, only to see Shen Nian, having lost his footing while stepping into the bathtub, slipping and falling forward. His upper body plunged into the water, his back facing Jian Yuanbai. Even without deliberately looking, Jian Yuanbai had a clear view of what was in front of him.

The small triangle of fabric wasn’t enough to completely conceal him, and a bit of something peeked out. Jian Yuanbai’s throat tightened, and an inexplicable thought popped into his head—Even there… it’s pink?

Damn.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to keep his gaze steady as he helped Shen Nian into the bathtub. His voice was low and serious. “Call me when you’re done. Don’t try to get up and walk around on your own like an idiot.”

Shen Nian pouted slightly, looking a little aggrieved. “Oh.”

Jian Yuanbai didn’t dare linger any longer. He turned and left the bathroom, sinking into the single-seater sofa. Crossing his long legs, he subtly covered a certain reaction. His brows furrowed, his expression deep, as if pondering something profound.

In reality, Jian Yuanbai was zoning out, his mind replaying the scene he had just witnessed.

He swore that, in his heart, he had always seen Shen Nian as half a child. He had taken on the task of helping him, and between that and his self-appointed “Xiao Ba” role, it was perfectly reasonable—undeniable, even.

But now… Before he could even process the sudden shift in his own preferences, he was already questioning his own self-restraint.

This shouldn’t be happening… right?

Jian Yuanbai shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. He might not have a wife, but he had come here solely to help Shen Nian become a Long Aotian—not because he had… ideas about him.

He needed to stay clear-headed. Play his role properly. Be a qualified Yafu.

Inside the bathroom, Shen Nian stood up naturally, stepped out of the tub, and grabbed a bottle of body wash from the cabinet. His movements were smooth and effortless, showing no hesitation at all.

Half an hour later, a hesitant voice called out from the bathroom. It was filled with uncertainty.

“…Yafu?”

Jian Yuanbai instinctively pushed open the door—only to be met with the sight of a silver-blue fish tail and a completely bare-chested Shen Nian.

Shen Nian shifted awkwardly, his face flushed. “I forgot to bring clothes in… so I had no choice but to bring my tail back out.”

Jian Yuanbai’s voice came out low and rough. “…Mm.”

His gaze swept over Shen Nian’s exposed chest before quickly shifting away. So pink. Why is everything pink? His smooth, round shoulders, the tips of his fingers, and even what he had glimpsed earlier…

Without a word, Jian Yuanbai lifted Shen Nian into his arms. But instead of placing him on the bed, he sat him down on a chair first, grabbing a towel to dry him off.

Jian Yuanbai forgot that he could make water evaporate in an instant. Shen Nian, obediently sitting still, seemed to have forgotten too.

The towel moved over his skin, carrying the warmth of Jian Yuanbai’s hands. His silver-blue tail swayed slightly—whether out of nervousness or shyness, even he wasn’t sure.

Cold scales absorbed the lingering heat, gradually warming up. Shen Nian bit his lip, his long eyelashes trembling lightly. He sat there quietly, letting Jian Yuanbai dry him. The night was silent, the wind was still. Only the sound of their heartbeats echoed in the quiet room.

After being dried off, Shen Nian lay down on the bed. His fish tail transformed back into a pair of legs, and the two of them lay side by side.

Shen Nian’s voice broke the silence. “Should we tell them I’ve awakened an ability?”

“I mean… just pretend that I did.”

Jian Yuanbai considered it for a moment. “What kind of ability could you use?”

The question left Shen Nian momentarily stunned. He thought about it, then pouted in frustration. “I don’t think… I can do anything.”

“Am I really that dumb?”

Jian Yuanbai was also taken aback. “Then how did you deal with that pollutant underwater?”

Shen Nian recalled the sensation from that moment, his tone uncertain. “…Willpower?”

Then, as if something clicked in his mind, he added, “My legs aren’t working right now, either. That’d be an easy way to expose myself.”

Jian Yuanbai nodded. “Then let’s keep quiet about it. Normal people are afraid of the cold, so this way, I have a legitimate reason to carry you.”

He said it so matter-of-factly that Shen Nian’s lips curled slightly in amusement. He obediently agreed, “Okay.”

Now that he was a pollutant, Shen Nian wasn’t affected by the cold anymore, and his strength had increased significantly. But he still needed a reason—an excuse—to stay close to Jian Yuanbai.

Anyway, this person doesn’t actually know whether he can walk or not.

The two of them drifted off to sleep. In his dreams, the beautiful mermaid cried and called out, Yafu.

As the early morning light filtered through the window, the boy nestled in the arms of a tall man slowly opened his eyes. His blue pupils were dewy, still carrying the remnants of an uncalmed tide. He blinked, glancing at the still-sleeping man beside him. His pretty eyes flickered—he had a mischievous idea.

His slender legs pressed together slightly. With his eyes shut, his full lips parted just a little, letting out soft, dreamlike breaths. His waist and abdomen shifted slightly—his movements were light, but still enough to wake the tall man beside him.

Jian Yuanbai’s entire body stiffened, his throat bobbing. His hand was trapped, unable to move. The person in his arms was still asleep, his beautiful face flushed, long and thick lashes casting a faint shadow under his eyes. The almost inaudible sounds he made sounded like… crying.

His hand was damp. Even through the fabric, he could feel the wetness seeping through. Jian Yuanbai struggled to pull his hand away, only to hear a sharp, whimpering sound—followed by a single name.

“Bai Lingchen.”

Jian Yuanbai sat up abruptly. His sudden movement startled the person beside him awake. Dazed, Shen Nian blinked, only catching a glimpse of Jian Yuanbai’s retreating back as he strode toward the bathroom.

Water washed over his slightly damp hand. Jian Yuanbai clenched his jaw, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His handsome face was shadowed with gloom. Taking a deep breath, he walked back out.

Shen Nian, now clutching the blanket around himself, had flushed ears and looked awkwardly away.

Jian Yuanbai’s voice was laced with irritation—the first time he had ever spoken to Shen Nian in anger. “Don’t ever call me Bai Lingchen again.”

Shen Nian flinched as if startled, shrinking back toward the headboard. “Then what should I call you?”

“Yafu.” Jian Yuanbai sounded frustrated, as if he didn’t even want to hear Xiao Ba—a name that was still linked to Bai Lingchen. “You’re not allowed to call me Xiao Ba either.”

Something crossed his mind, and he asked, as if confirming, “What was my relationship with you before I lost my memory?”

Shen Nian looked at him in confusion, then answered sincerely, “Not much of one.”

Jian Yuanbai let out a quiet breath of relief. Without hesitation, he moved to pick up Shen Nian.

But the boy resisted, awkwardly using his hands to cover himself. His voice was barely audible. “…I want to take a bath.”

“Alright.” Jian Yuanbai didn’t ask any further. He ran the water and left.

Inside the bathroom, Shen Nian furiously pounded his fist against the edge of the tub. I don’t believe this!

Meanwhile, Jian Yuanbai stood by the window, itching for a cigarette. But he didn’t smoke, so instead, he went downstairs, rummaging through their supply bag until he found a lollipop. He bit down on it, letting it sit between his teeth.

Two or three crunches later, the candy was gone, but the restlessness in his heart remained.

Yang Jinhang, just waking up, stepped into the room and saw Jian Yuanbai crushing a lollipop with the same energy one might use to suppress something overwhelming. Carefully, he asked, “Mr. Bai… what’s wrong?”

Jian Yuanbai glanced at him, then after a moment of thought, asked, “If you used someone else’s identity to deceive another person, but now you don’t want to anymore, what should you do?”

Yang Jinhang hesitated before cautiously asking, “You mean… you don’t want to keep pretending to be Shen Nian’s Xiao Ba anymore?”

Jian Yuanbai’s gaze sharpened. “How do you know?”

Yang Jinhang tensed. “It—it’s pretty obvious… And besides, Wang Li accidentally let it slip before.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Also, Shen Nian probably figured it out a long time ago.”

Jian Yuanbai froze. “…Why do you think that?”

“Wang Li mentioned before that Shen Nian’s vision recovered. There’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed the difference between you and the previous Bai Lingchen.” Yang Jinhang explained, “That’s why Wang Li was confused about why Shen Nian never brought it up.”

Yang Jinhang had a warm, straightforward personality—his openness made it hard for people to be on guard around him. Back then, Wang Li had been trying to get information out of him and ended up slipping up himself.

Jian Yuanbai clenched his fingers, then suddenly laughed. Deliberate, huh?

As Yang Jinhang busied himself preparing breakfast, he couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Bai… so, you don’t want to be Shen Nian’s Xiao Ba anymore?”

Lowering his voice, he cautiously probed, “Are you two… um…”

Yang Jinhang’s own face turned red before he could finish his sentence. Nervously, he asked, “Do you like him?”

Just then, Qu Wenxuan walked over, knocking Yang Jinhang on the head. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

He deliberately emphasized, “Mr. Bai and Shen Nian are both men.” However, his gaze flickered, subtly watching Yang Jinhang’s reaction.

Jian Yuanbai’s earlier frustration was nowhere to be seen. His expression was serious as he said, “For now, I’m just his Yafu.”

He still remembered—Shen Nian had told him he wasn’t of age yet. This time period would be perfect for him to figure things out.

“I really do just want to be his guardian,” Jian Yuanbai murmured. “But… it seems like the kid doesn’t quite see it that way.”