Chapter 114: Spoiled by Favor

During this special period, merfolk developed a strong sense of territoriality. After sensing the intimidation from their own clan’s leader, the butler promptly packed up her things and threw herself out the door.

It had been no easy feat—her dear mother and grandmother up in the heavens. Their clan leader had finally found a companion, so those two elders could rest easy in the afterlife without worrying anymore.

The butler’s family had served three generations caring for Zuo Yuanxi. Before those two elders passed away from old age, their greatest concern had been Zuo Yuanxi’s romantic life. They feared the clan leader would remain trapped in the shadow of her late wife forever.

Luckily, centuries later, a little Pallas’s cat Demon had appeared and captured the clan leader’s heart at first sight. The little one was truly formidable. Now the butler could report good news to her elders’ memorial tablets.

In the distance, an ordinary silver-white sedan pulled up slowly. The scent of clan members emanated from inside the car. The butler immediately stepped forward to block it. They were probably young ones coming to see the clan leader about something, but at a time like this, she could only ask them to wait a couple of days.

When they saw the butler approaching, the two merfolk in the car rolled down their windows right away. The one in the passenger seat gazed at the butler with teary eyes. Several red welts marred her face—clearly scratches from cat claws.

Although the cat’s claws couldn’t truly pierce her defenses, she was utterly miserable from being treated like food and scratched and bitten every day.

The merfolk in the driver’s seat had clear scratches on the back of her pale hand as well. A cat carrier sat on the rear seat, and inside, a burly, striped tough guy eyed the two tasty morsels with greedy intent.

These were the two merfolk who had originally delivered Nian Zhi’an. Later, they had assumed the clan leader would disdain that ugly cat, so they had planned to take her away and adopt her themselves. Instead, they ended up with a ferocious tortoiseshell cat.

Naturally, they had to take good care of the cat the clan leader had given them. But this cat was genuinely vicious. The moment it saw them, it acted as if they were dried fish treats. There was good reason why the merfolk clan had always clashed with felines.

Having no other choice with this cat, the two young merfolk respectfully prepared to return the little ancestor.

After hearing the full story, the butler helplessly accepted the cat carrier. A cat bold enough to fight a Pallas’s cat Demon had to have some spirit and skill. Just look at those rippling muscles—it was clearly a brawler.

“No worries. Leave this little one to me. You’ve had a tough time these past few days,” the butler reassured the two young ones and gave them some healing ointment for their wounds.

The pair were flattered and waved their hands repeatedly, insisting they didn’t need it. But they couldn’t resist as the butler stuffed it into their hands.

Once she had chatted enough to get familiar with the two, the butler learned exactly how the Pear Flower Cat had bullied them. It hadn’t been that fierce when she had raised it herself. She had no idea why it turned into such a little tyrant after leaving.

The two young ones left after a short while. Before departing, they asked after the little ugly cat they had originally delivered and earnestly stressed to the butler that if the clan leader ever tired of raising it, she must contact them immediately.

The butler smiled and said that “cat” was doing very well—better than ever.

Next time they met, they would have to address it as the clan leader’s wife. How could it not be well?

After seeing off the two young ones, the butler glanced around to ensure no one was nearby. She sat directly on the steps at the main gate, opened the cat carrier, and the tortoiseshell cat inside sauntered out with a sway of its hips, then squatted beside her.

“You, you had such a good home, but look how you bullied them. Now you’ve been sent back, haven’t you?” The butler tapped the cat’s head. “From now on, you’ll have to stick with me. If you bully Miss Zhi’an again and the clan leader throws you out, you’ll end up as a stray. Got it?”

The tortoiseshell cat raised its paw, pinned down the butler’s hand, and let out a “meow.”

The butler looked at the little creature. Although she had just nagged on and on, she didn’t really expect this kitten to understand. After all, it was just an ordinary animal without spiritual intelligence. Still, the little one was sometimes clever to a fault. She always felt like this tortoiseshell cat could turn into a spirit at any moment.

She pulled a strip of dried fish from her pocket and handed it to the cat, then stroked its head. “For the next few days, you’ll just have to squat here with me.”

She needed to prevent anyone from stumbling in by mistake and losing their life.

“Meow.” The tortoiseshell cat meowed once, as if agreeing.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Don’t wander off.” The butler glanced toward the Seaview Villa, silently praying in her heart that the tonics she had been delivering these past days would work. She hoped Miss Zhi’an’s delicate frame wouldn’t break under the clan leader’s hands. It hadn’t been easy for the clan leader to find a suitable partner—don’t let her scare the poor thing away.

~~~

The thing the butler worried about didn’t happen. After all, a demon’s stamina and endurance far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Even so, when Nian Zhi’an woke up, she still felt sore all over and unable to move from the excessive indulgence.

Outside, the sky was still pitch black. She had no idea how long they had been fooling around.

Recalling everything that had happened, Nian Zhi’an blushed furiously. Even after two lifetimes as wives, this was the first time they had gone so overboard.

She had underestimated Zuo Yuanxi—and even more so, the ferocity of a merfolk who had been alone for a millennium suddenly indulging her desires.

At the beginning, her wife had little experience, so she could occasionally take the lead. But afterward… The merfolk, with her extraordinary learning ability, repaid her “tutelage” by turning one problem into ten variations.

It had been thrilling, but she decided not to do it again. It was too draining!

Nian Zhi’an wanted to cover her face, but when she discovered her arms were too sore to lift, she simply buried herself in her wife’s embrace.

So soft… She loved it…

“Already throwing yourself into my arms the moment you wake up?” Nian Zhi’an had assumed the certain merfolk was still asleep, but Zuo Yuanxi had actually woken up earlier. She had simply stayed quiet to see what silly, amusing little moves the other woman would make upon waking.

“Pa.” The dim nightlight illuminated one corner of the room.

Nian Zhi’an shuddered and blurted out instinctively, “No more, no more—I really can’t!”

Her voice came out hoarse the moment she spoke, and her throat still hurt. She didn’t need to guess—it was from overuse these past few days.

Zuo Yuanxi burst out laughing. “Relax, I’m not some beast.”

At those words, Nian Zhi’an immediately pouted and huffed. “You’re worse than a beast! Look at my neck—you gnawed it to bits. Anyone who doesn’t know better would think my partner was a dog demon!”

Nian Zhi’an pulled back the covers a bit to reveal her neck, which was covered in pitiful, miserable marks.

“You, I told you we couldn’t heal during these days, but you kept throwing yourself at me. Now you’re suffering for it, aren’t you?” Zuo Yuanxi felt a twinge of heartache at seeing Nian Zhi’an bitten up by her uncontrolled self, so she fetched the best ointment for external wounds and applied it.

“I-I didn’t know! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? It’s not like it’s some unspeakable secret—why hide it? I’m seriously suspecting you dug a pit for me!” Nian Zhi’an grumbled, her guilty gaze darting everywhere.

“If I’d told you, you wouldn’t have done it?” Zuo Yuanxi gazed at her with a half-smile. This question struck right at Nian Zhi’an’s heart, making her miss that Zuo Yuanxi hadn’t denied setting a trap. No, it wasn’t exactly a trap—just going with the flow.

No, she would have been even more excited! Nian Zhi’an knew her own nature all too well. Without her own encouragement, her wife might not have gotten so worked up. She coughed awkwardly twice, ready to dodge the issue.

“Um, anyway… Does this affect your body’s recovery? How’s it going?”

Zuo Yuanxi had already checked her condition upon waking. As Nian Zhi’an had expected, the recovery was excellent.

After receiving the affirmative answer, Nian Zhi’an let out a huge sigh of relief. Without that hidden threat looming, even if her wife didn’t achieve immortality in her later years, her path would be smooth sailing.

Zuo Yuanxi stopped teasing her. She slipped on a robe, fiddled around in the kitchen for a bit, and returned with a bowl of “water.”

She helped the person lying weakly in bed—who could barely muster the strength to sit up—into position. Nian Zhi’an clearly heard her own waist go “crack,” her body protesting loudly.

Nian Zhi’an shot Zuo Yuanxi a fierce glare, but at that moment, she was as soft as cooked rice cake. Her attempt at intimidation not only lacked any menace but looked like coquetry.

“Be good. Your throat must hurt terribly being this hoarse. Drink this, and it’ll feel better.” Zuo Yuanxi coaxed her.

Nian Zhi’an was parched anyway. She hugged the bowl and gulped it down. The “water” was cool and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness like added sugar. Her throat stopped hurting right away.

After she finished, Zuo Yuanxi helped her lie back down and tucked her in.

“Rest a bit more?” Zuo Yuanxi asked softly.

Nian Zhi’an nodded. Her little body needed at least another day to recover. Luckily, she was a demon now—if she were human, Zuo Yuanxi would have wrecked her completely!

She grabbed Zuo Yuanxi’s hand, a hint of presumptuousness from being spoiled in her tone. “Will you stay with me?”

“I want to hear you sing me a lullaby!”

How could Zuo Yuanxi possibly refuse?

“Alright, I’ll put the bowl back first.”

When Zuo Yuanxi returned, she took off her outer robe and lay back down on the bed. Lying on her side, she held Nian Zhi’an close and softly hummed an ancient lullaby from her clan.

The merfolk’s singing voice was ethereal and winding, its melody mysterious and far-reaching, as though it drew the listener into the depths of the sea, leaving them to sink powerlessly downward.

Nian Zhi’an had only wanted to tease Zuo Yuanxi a little; she had no intention of falling asleep. Yet as she listened, she couldn’t resist the power of Zuo Yuanxi’s song and drifted off directly.

“Zhi’an…” Zuo Yuanxi kissed the forehead of the soundly sleeping woman in her arms, her voice laced with bitterness.

She had gained many memories that had never belonged to her. In those memories, she had glimpsed secrets she was never meant to know—and the secrets were tied to… her wife. Doubts swirled in her heart, but her intuition warned her that this was no matter to speak of aloud.

“You must be safe and sound,” she whispered, hugging the woman in her arms even tighter.