The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 112

Chapter 112: I Love Slacking Off (End)

The leader’s frequent trips to the surface finally caught the attention of her tribe. They gathered on the island for a meeting.

The focus of the meeting was the leader, surrounded by her tribe members.

Under their concerned, or rather, gossipy questioning, Callista finally revealed the reason for her daily trips ashore.

The answer shocked them.

“We thought you were going ashore to play, wasn’t that the case?”

Callista replied, “No, my mate is on land, I go ashore every day to see her.”

A brief silence fell over the group.

“But Leader, you haven’t reached mating season yet.”

Callista looked surprised: “Do you have to wait for mating season to choose a mate?”

The Mermaids were stunned, then realized: She has a point.

“Do you like her very much, Leader?”

Callista said matter-of-factly, “Of course I do, I would even like her if she made grilled fish flavored nutrient solution.”

Everyone knew the leader hated fish. Liking someone even if they made grilled fish flavored nutrient solution meant she truly loved them.

The Mermaids looked at Callista with concern, as if she were hopelessly love-struck.

One of them recalled the person they had seen on the shore, standing tall and elegant.

Even by Mermaid standards, she was beautiful, no wonder the leader liked her.

So they said, “She is indeed very beautiful, but Leader, humans can’t live in the ocean.”

They couldn’t bring themselves to mention the leader’s parents, only hinting at it indirectly.

These straightforward Mermaids were racking their brains to dissuade their leader.

Callista had already considered this: “She doesn’t have to live in the ocean, she can stay on the shore, and I’ll visit her every day.”

“She came from a faraway place and settled on Deep Sea Star, I can’t let her down.”

The Mermaids were surprised: “Ah?”

Mermaids were a devoted species, so they understood.

“If that’s the case, then you indeed can’t betray her feelings.”

One Mermaid asked, “But what about when mating season arrives?”

Another Mermaid asked the crucial question: “When is your mating season, Leader?”

That was a good question.

Callista blinked, then said, “I forgot.”

Having grown up without parents, unsure of her own age, using the day the red-haired Mermaid mother found her as her birthday, Callista didn’t know when her mating season would arrive.

Hearing this answer, the Mermaids: “…”

That night, Callista was awakened by the heat, an unusual heat.

The room temperature was always kept at a comfortable level, she shouldn’t be feeling hot or cold.

Initially, she thought it was the changing seasons, that summer had arrived, and she was simply more thirsty.

She removed the blanket, careful not to disturb the person beside her, and went to the bathroom.

There was a swimming pool in the backyard, always filled with seawater, but Callista couldn’t wait.

Turning on the faucet, she sat in the bathtub fully clothed.

Her thin pajamas were quickly soaked, clinging to her skin.

Callista leaned against the bathtub, splashing water on her face, neck, and body.

But it didn’t help, the cool water didn’t lower her body temperature, just a superficial relief.

She felt like a pile of dry kindling burning inside, the flames growing stronger with time.

She released her grip on the edge of the bathtub, sinking to the bottom, submerged in the water, a mixture of relief and discomfort.

After a while, Callista realized it was futile. She was still hot, very hot.

The endless heat emanated from her soul, something water couldn’t extinguish.

She sat up, water splashing onto the floor, and Callista’s heart tightened, worried about waking Tao Ning.

The bathroom door opened, and Tao Ning stood there.

Callista, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering, met her gaze. Tao Ning paused, then walked in.

Tao Ning asked, “What’s… wrong?”

She had woken up when Callista left the room and, after waiting for a while, came looking for her.

But she hadn’t expected this scene.

A wave of helpless sorrow washed over Callista, and she reached out towards Tao Ning, water droplets dripping from her fingertips, crystal clear.

“I’m so hot,” she said.

Tao Ning took her hand, feeling a burning sensation, but she didn’t let go, instead tightening her grip.

But Callista wasn’t satisfied with just that. She grabbed Tao Ning’s other hand, pressing her palm against her face, finding some relief.

But a few seconds later, a more intense wave of heat washed over her, completely overwhelming her.

Callista didn’t realize her eyes were slightly red, like a predator fixated on its prey.

Anyone else would have been scared away.

Tao Ning, also unfamiliar with this situation, said, “I’ll go find a doctor, your temperature is too high.”

Callista tugged on her hand, pulling her back, shaking her head and saying, “I’m not sick, I think it’s because…”

Because of what, Callista herself wasn’t sure.

Her mind was a mess, filled with heat and thoughts of Tao Ning.

Tao Ning: “Because of what?”

A flash of inspiration struck Callista’s muddled mind. She suddenly remembered the question the other Mermaids had asked that afternoon, a realization dawning on her: “I think it’s… mating season?”

Hearing this, Tao Ning felt both relieved and worried. She hadn’t expected a Mermaid’s mating season to be so uncomfortable.

Brushing a strand of hair from Callista’s face, Tao Ning’s light touch made Callista, now incredibly sensitive, let out a soft moan.

When Tao Ning’s hand retreated, Callista tilted her head, reluctant to let it go.

Tao Ning asked softly, “What should I do?”

She was pulled closer, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, close enough to kiss Callista with a slight tilt of her head.

Callista exhaled a hot breath, her hand reaching up to pull Tao Ning closer, whispering in her ear, “You can’t leave me these next few days, I can’t be without my mate.”

“Anything else?”

A ripping sound echoed as buttons popped off Tao Ning’s shirt, flying somewhere unknown.

Tao Ning looked down at her torn shirt, then felt a slight pain on her collarbone. She reached up and placed her hand on Callista’s platinum blonde head.

A warm, wet hand reached lower, and a soft moan echoed in the bathroom: “Bathe… with me…”

For the next few days, Tao Ning didn’t show up for work at the institute.

Her colleagues were curious. They had just heard about a breakthrough in her formula, why would she suddenly take several days off?

They had expected her to push forward, achieving a major milestone.

If this were when Tao Ning first arrived, no one would have believed she could achieve anything in this area. Improving the taste of nutrient solution was rarely considered a research topic.

At the Deep Sea Research Institute, there wasn’t much competition, and everyone got along quite well.

During lunch break, as they ate together, someone asked, “She hasn’t been here for days, could Teacher Zang be sick? Should we visit her?”

A colleague close to Tao Ning said, “Someone is indeed sick, Teacher Zang said her wife is sick, and she’s staying home to take care of her.”

Everyone understood, of course she should take care of her sick wife.

Callista, receiving dedicated care, fell asleep again, her eyes red and teary.

The afternoon sun was bright, and opening the curtains would fill the room with light, but the house’s owner didn’t appreciate this, the bedroom curtains drawn tightly, blocking out almost all light.

Tao Ning sat up, the bedside lamp emitting a soft glow.

The sleeping figure beside her stirred, revealing flushed cheeks. Tao Ning’s gaze softened as she brushed the hair from Callista’s face.

Just as her fingers touched her lips, Callista flinched, grabbing Tao Ning’s wrist: “No, not anymore.”

Tao Ning’s wrist stung from the grip. Looking closely, she realized Callista wasn’t awake, just reacting instinctively.

Picking up the pearls that had fallen onto the pillow, she got out of bed and went downstairs.

The next day, the Mermaid, having successfully passed through her mating season, turned over a new leaf, sitting up in bed and scolding Tao Ning.

Callista’s face was full of accusation: “You can’t just… put my pearls anywhere!”

Tao Ning poked a cherry tomato with a silver fork and offered it to Callista, who, tired from talking, took it and chewed contentedly.

She was indeed thirsty.

After she swallowed, Tao Ning said, “So you mean it’s okay as long as it’s your own tears?”

Callista’s face flushed crimson, like a polished ruby. She stammered for a moment, then said in a louder, more determined voice, “No, it’s not okay either!”

What is this human thinking all day?! Her thoughts were filthy!

Tao Ning leaned in apologetically and kissed her: “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”

Callista’s anger instantly dissipated, pointing at her other cheek: “What about this side?”

Tao Ning obliged, successfully appeasing the almost exploding Mermaid.

Birds of a feather flock together, and sleeping in the same bed often led to shared habits.

Spending time with the early-retired Tao Ning, Callista also became lazy.

She wanted to retire, she didn’t want to be the leader anymore.

She wanted a successor.

But from her energetic young adulthood to her prime, from one hundred to two hundred years old, no Mermaid challenged her.

There were plenty of reckless black mudfish, but no one dared to challenge her for leadership.

Callista’s formidable strength was deeply ingrained in their minds. The elders had been defeated by her, the Mermaids of her generation were her admirers, and the younger generation didn’t believe they could defeat her.

The tribe firmly believed that as long as Callista was there, their safety was guaranteed.

But Callista, now over two hundred years old, no longer wanted to be the leader, although she would still intervene when necessary.

After her three hundredth birthday, Callista’s appearance remained unchanged, as did her strength.

Perhaps it was because what you constantly think about will eventually come true, Callista finally had her first challenger.

A young, blonde Mermaid, barely past adolescence, full of youthful arrogance, challenged the leader before the entire tribe.

The blonde Mermaid declared, “If I defeat you, I’ll be the new leader. I’ll respect you and won’t kill you.”

If these words were directed at any other Mermaid, it wouldn’t have sounded arrogant. She was indeed the most talented Mermaid of her generation.

The elders said she was most like Callista back then.

But saying this to Callista seemed naive and ignorant. Facing each other, the blonde Mermaid felt a sense of inferiority.

After all, not every Mermaid had a three-meter-long tail.

Callista nodded indifferently: “Alright, I accept your challenge.”

The blonde Mermaid’s eyes lit up, excitedly swishing her tail, then lunging towards Callista, the swirling current pushing the nearby Mermaids away.

Her attack was fierce and powerful.

Callista remained motionless, the other Mermaids watching from the side, not believing their leader was scared, but wondering what she was planning.

Just as the blonde Mermaid’s claws were about to reach her, Callista finally moved, raising a hand and grabbing her wrist.

With this seemingly simple move, she effortlessly neutralized the blonde Mermaid’s attack, preventing her from moving forward or backward.

It was at this moment that the blonde Mermaid realized the vast difference in their strength.

I’m going to lose.

The leader is invincible.

Just as the blonde Mermaid’s fighting spirit faltered and she was about to concede, Callista pushed her forward.

She gently pushed her shoulder, a force not even enough to kill a small fish, then took a step back.

Callista said impassively, “I lose.”

The blonde Mermaid was stunned: “You lose?”

Callista looked a bit anxious: “Yes, you defeated me, I lose. From now on, you’re the leader.”

Raising the blonde Mermaid’s hand, Callista declared, “This is our new leader! Cheer for your new leader!”

The Mermaids, used to obeying Callista’s commands, instinctively cheered, throwing flowers from their baskets.

The blonde Mermaid, surrounded by cheers and showered with petals: “…”

Wait, we haven’t even fought yet.

How did I win?

I’m the new leader? Just like that?

Whether the new leader would be challenged by other dissatisfied tribe members was no longer Callista’s concern.

Mermaids were natural warriors, and without sufficient strength, one couldn’t hold the position of leader.

After some time, Callista finally remembered her tribe and returned to check on them. The blonde Mermaid was still the leader.

Confirming the tribe was peaceful and united, she felt relieved and swam towards the shore.

That was where she truly belonged.

Tao Ning was indeed at home, watering the flowers with a spray bottle. She didn’t leave everything to the housekeeping robot.

Years had passed, her hair growing long, then cut short, then long again, now reaching her shoulder blades.

Pulling her hair back revealed her delicate butterfly bones, a sight only Callista had seen.

But Tao Ning’s face seemed eternally unchanged, almost identical to when they first met, the only difference perhaps being her eyes.

They held a deep affection, a gentleness tempered by time.

Hearing the noise, she turned her head and smiled: “You’re back? The watermelon is cut, just waiting for you. I also bought cake, with strawberries…”

She put down the spray bottle and reached out to Callista: “Come, wash your hands and let’s eat.”

Callista brushed off the sand from her hands, placed her hand in Tao Ning’s, and entered the house.

“We’ve had strawberry cake so many times, how about a different flavor next time?”

“No, I’m not tired of it yet, we’ll get strawberry cake again next time.”

“Okay, I’ll pick one up on my way home from work. The owner said she’s retiring soon, and her daughter will be taking over…”

Three hundred years of strawberry cake wasn’t enough, just like three hundred years with the person she loved wouldn’t be enough.