Lansi never expected that one day, he would burn his tongue because of a grilled fish.
That night, Wen Yu and the others didn't embarrass him. When Lansi appeared, they didn't try to stop him. Instead, Wen Yu simply stepped aside, letting Lansi return to the sea freely.
He didn't even get to eat the grilled fish.
Back in the water, Lansi sighed with relief. But soon, he realized something was wrong. The wound on his tongue felt more serious than he had thought. Even a small sip of water left a bitter, metallic taste in his mouth.
He had assumed it was nothing. Mermaids healed quickly, after all. A little burn shouldn't have mattered.
But reality proved otherwise.
By the next morning, the burn had worsened into an ulcer.
Lansi floated in the shallows, lips tightly closed, unwilling to speak. Every time he tried to blow bubbles, the pain surged through the tip of his tongue.
An ulcer?
Mermaids could get ulcers?
Lansi frowned. Maybe it was because he hadn't eaten much seaweed lately. Was it a vitamin deficiency?
Apparently, mermaids needed a balanced diet too, not just humans.
Damn ulcer.
Since escaping into the sea the previous night, Lansi hadn't eaten a thing. Every breath reminded him of the burn. The sting, the soreness—it was relentless.
He swam aimlessly along the island's edge, lost in thought. He was strong, sure. Mermaids were known for their resilience and healing. But these little things—a bent nail, a mouth sore—could still leave him miserable.
Was anything in this world truly perfect?
Lansi pondered the meaning of his existence. How should he interact with these humans? He could sense their goodwill, but he wasn't one of them anymore. Did he need to open up? Show weakness? Ask them for answers?
His mind grew more tangled with each passing hour.
On the island, Wen Yu and the others had been busy with survival. During the day, they built a shelter. Wen Yu and Carl scouted and hunted, while Rose stayed behind, fiddling with some instruments beside a rock.
Each had their role. They moved with purpose, keeping themselves occupied while waiting for rescue.
Lansi watched them from the shadows, hidden behind the reef. He didn't approach. Not yet.
That night, Wen Yu grilled fish again. The other two were clearly exhausted. After dinner, they quickly fell asleep.
Wen Yu, however, remained awake.
He took one of the grilled fish, walked away from the fire, and headed toward the far side of the island.
Lansi followed him curiously, tail swishing silently behind.
Wen Yu stopped at a quiet clearing. He placed the fish carefully on a leaf and said softly to the sea,
"I know you're out there. This is grilled fish. Let it cool first. You can come eat it when you're ready."
Lansi blinked from behind a rock, confused.
"I know you're afraid I'll hurt you," Wen Yu continued, as if talking to himself—or to Lansi directly.
"I swear on my life. I won't."
His voice dropped lower.
"I should be with you. I'm not human either."
Under the moonlight, Wen Yu's features softened. In Lansi's eyes, for a brief moment, Wen Yu looked almost like the black-tailed mermaid—Winsor.
The resemblance made Lansi's heart ache. Before he realized it, he was swimming out from behind the rocks, approaching Wen Yu.
Lansi paused, annoyed at himself.
Maybe Wen Yu's lonely aura had struck a chord. Maybe he just empathized with him.
He scowled and decided to blame the moment on instinct.
"Little fish?"
Wen Yu looked up and brightened instantly when he saw Lansi.
"You came to see me?"
After how Lansi had reacted the night before, Wen Yu hadn't expected him to return. He had left the fish out tonight with little hope, just to try.
But Lansi had come.
Wen Yu's gaze softened.
Lansi didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head and circled around Wen Yu once, scrutinizing him.
He was trying to understand why he felt drawn to this man.
But even after a full circle, all he found was a faint sense of familiarity. Wen Yu couldn't compare to Winsor. That much was clear.
Was he just missing Winsor so badly that he was imagining things?
Lansi frowned, then extended a webbed claw and began to write on the beach.
Winsor
He added a question mark.
Wen Yu's eyes widened when he saw the name. He quickly grabbed Lansi's claw and whispered urgently,
"Don't write things like this where others can see, alright?"
Lansi nodded. He understood.
Then he scribbled more words.
My name is Wen Yu.
Wen Yu sighed. He knelt down and wiped away the last character of "Winsor", replacing it with the character for "Yu."
Of course Lansi already knew his name. That wasn't the point.
He wanted to know if Wen Yu and Winsor were connected.
Lansi stubbornly wrote the character for "Se" again next to "Yu".
Wen Yu paused, visibly uncomfortable. Then, without a word, he erased everything.
Lansi glared at him.
Wen Yu calmly picked up the grilled fish again and offered it.
"Want to eat?"
Lansi stared at the fish, but didn't reach for it. Instead, he wrote another question in the sand.
Can I trust you?
The words were carved firmly, betraying his displeasure.
"Yes," Wen Yu said softly.
He looked genuinely happy that Lansi was even asking.
Lansi bit his lip, then wrote again.
I used to be human. My name was Lansi. I don't know why I became a mermaid.
"Lansi?"
Wen Yu repeated the name, then nodded.
"If there's a way to help you, I'll look into it. But for now, this is our secret. Don't let the others know."
Lansi nodded again.
"The world's dangerous. If anyone else finds out, they might capture you, cut you open, experiment on you."
Wen Yu reached out and gently touched Lansi's head.
"It's safer to stay in the sea. At least you're free. If I can find your family, I'll make sure they're okay."
Lansi flicked his tail, touched by the promise but still conflicted.
It was comforting to know someone might help, but it also meant he might never return to his old life.
Maybe this was the price for saving someone.
Wen Yu wiped away the words on the sand once more. Then he held out the grilled fish again.
Lansi sniffed it. This time, the preparation was more delicate. The fish had cooled slightly, and its crispy skin gave off a faintly tangy aroma.
He swallowed instinctively, then hesitated. The ulcer still stung.
Without a word, he stuck out his tongue.
"Lansi?"
Wen Yu blinked, then leaned forward to take a closer look.
When he spotted the white ulcer, he finally understood.
"Oral ulcer?"
Lansi pulled his tongue back and nodded miserably.
Wen Yu burst out laughing.
Lansi smacked his arm in protest, holding back the urge to hit harder.
"Alright, alright," Wen Yu said, catching his claw midair. He set the fish down and added, "There's medicine in the emergency kit. I'll get it."
Satisfied, Lansi watched him go.
A few minutes later, Wen Yu returned with a medical pouch and a small bottle.
"This is a vitamin supplement. You should be able to take it."
Lansi narrowed his eyes.
Feed a mermaid pills?
"Not up for it?" Wen Yu smirked. He picked up a spray bottle. "Fine. Open your mouth. I'll use this instead."
Lansi opened his mouth.
The next second, Wen Yu shoved the pill into his throat and lifted his chin, forcing him to swallow.
He even stroked Lansi's throat to help it go down.
Lansi flailed.
Was this how you fed a cat?
Wen Yu remained calm.
"Now the spray," he said, uncapping the bottle.
Grudgingly, Lansi stuck out his tongue again.
The cool mist numbed the pain immediately.
He licked his lips, then eyed the grilled fish.
"Hungry?" Wen Yu grinned. "You want it that badly?"
Lansi's stomach answered with a loud growl.
Wen Yu coughed, laughing under his breath. He picked up the fish and mumbled, "Would be a shame to waste it."
He tore off a piece.
"Chew carefully. Don't let it touch the sore."
Lansi rolled his eyes, but opened his mouth and accepted the food.
It tasted amazing. The warmth, the flavor—Lansi nearly cried from relief.
Even with a sore tongue, it was worth it.
He leaned closer, his webbed claws resting on Wen Yu's knee as he reached for more.
Wen Yu blinked, then slowly adjusted his posture, letting Lansi fall into his arms.
By the time Lansi had finished eating, he was cradled against Wen Yu's chest.
As a cold-blooded creature now, Lansi found Wen Yu's warmth irresistible. It reminded him of something primal, something safe.
He could hear Wen Yu's heartbeat. Smell his scent. It calmed him like nothing else.
Maybe it was the food, or the warmth, but Lansi grew drowsy. He looked up at Wen Yu's face and whispered,
"You are obviously Winsor."
But to Wen Yu, it was only a soft series of mermaid-like chirps.
"What did you say?" he asked gently.
Lansi shook his head and buried his face in Wen Yu's neck, falling asleep without another word.
Wen Yu chuckled and held him close.
After a moment, he stood, picked up Lansi, and carried him toward the camp.
It was a risk, but also a message.
If either of the others tried to hurt Lansi, Wen Yu was ready.
And he wouldn't hesitate to kill them.