A Whimsical Complaint and a Dream of Loss

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore……”

Su Xiaoxiao clutched her stomach, closed her eyes, and felt dizzy. She was weak and uncomfortable all over. Normally, Xiyue would be furious at such insubordinate words, but Su Xiaoxiao was too hurt to care about the consequences. She might just get a beating or a punishment, or worse, lose her life.

Su Xiaoxiao curled up under the covers, her hand tightening slightly on her stomach. She resolutely thought, ‘At worst, it’s just death. It’s just a pity for the unborn little fish.’

To Xiyue, Su Xiaoxiao’s words, ‘I don’t want to talk to you anymore,’ sounded like a whimsical complaint. It strangely made Xiyue’s heart race with a peculiar feeling. She stood stiffly by Su Xiaoxiao’s bed for a moment before leaving without a word.

If Su Xiaoxiao had seen Xiyue’s face before she left, she would have noticed the usually cold and cruel beauty’s cheeks slightly flushed and her eyes filled with confusion, making her look like a sweet neighborhood girl. It was as if Xiyue’s true nature was finally showing.

Xiyue left, and Su Xiaoxiao heard her go. She remained hidden under the covers and soon fell into a deep sleep.

She had a dream that started warm and turned terrifying. In her dream, she was back in the South Sea, her belly round with a little fish kicking inside her. Su Xiaoxiao smiled, placing her hand on her stomach, basking in the sunlight and gentle breeze. Her clan members were nearby, and they chatted excitedly about the upcoming birth.

Suddenly, the sunny sky darkened, and the once-calm sea became turbulent. As if a tsunami was approaching, Su Xiaoxiao stood unsteadily. Her clan members called out to her from behind, ‘Small One—’

‘Come back, Small One—’

Su Xiaoxiao watched as her clan members grew farther away. She called out desperately, ‘Wait for me!!! Wait for me!!!’

A wave crashed over her, and Su Xiaoxiao, heavy with child, nearly fell. Even in her dream, she was terrified, trying to reach her clan, but the distance between them only grew.

She cried out in her dream, ‘Chief! Elders! Wait, wait for me……’

‘Su Xiaoxiao.’

Someone called her name from behind. As the voice echoed, vines suddenly shot up from the ground, entwining her legs tightly. ‘You can’t escape, no matter how far you run, I’ll drag you back.’

The voice was like an icy ghost emerging from a frozen cavern. Su Xiaoxiao turned to see Xiyue standing behind her, the other end of the vine in her hand, binding them together.

Xiyue stood there, mockingly saying, ‘If you run, I’ll destroy your merfolk clan……’

In her dream, Su Xiaoxiao struggled frantically, but the vine didn’t budge. ‘No, don’t!!!’

She woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, her face pale. She sat up, holding her uncomfortable stomach, and it took a long time for her to recover.

When Gu Yan brought the medicine, she found Su Xiaoxiao sitting on the bed, lost in thought.

Gu Yan called out softly, ‘Su Xiaoxiao, it’s time for your medicine.’

Su Xiaoxiao reacted to Gu Yan’s voice and gradually came to her senses. She then walked to the table to take her medicine. Probably because of the little fish in her belly, Su Xiaoxiao no longer resisted taking her medicine.

Gu Yan waited until Su Xiaoxiao finished her medicine before speaking, ‘Although you need to rest, staying in bed all day isn’t good. Get up and take a walk outside.’

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, showing no interest, her mood still low from the dream.

With Xiyue absent, Gu Yan spoke more freely. She changed her approach, asking Su Xiaoxiao, ‘Do you know you’re pregnant?’

At the mention of the child, the unborn merfolk instantly became alert. Su Xiaoxiao nodded slightly, her hands protectively over her stomach, looking seriously at Gu Yan.

‘You don’t need to be tense,’ Gu Yan said, trying to sound reassuring. ‘I just want to know if you really want this child?’

Su Xiaoxiao replied firmly, ‘I do.’

She thought there might be something wrong with her body or the little fish and added seriously, ‘I really want it.’

Gu Yan felt a mix of exasperation and pity. Xiyue’s stance was clear; she didn’t want the child. Gu Yan was testing Su Xiaoxiao’s resolve, hoping to avoid a conflict when the time came.

But as the saying goes, merfolk naturally love their young. They are favored by fate, needing no trials, and live in a peaceful place free from strife and competition. This has made the merfolk carefree and gentle, with beautiful women and handsome men. There’s no record of merfolk mistreating their young, only stories of those who lost their children falling into deep sadness and choosing to end their lives.

Gu Yan knew Xiyue well. Once she made up her mind, no one could change it. The child in Su Xiaoxiao’s womb, despite being half-merfolk, had no say in the matter. If Xiyue said no, then it was final. She wouldn’t consult Su Xiaoxiao but would act decisively once Su Xiaoxiao’s health improved, ending the pregnancy.

Gu Yan feared that when that day came, Su Xiaoxiao might not be able to handle the shock and take her own life. Today, seeing an opportunity, Gu Yan tried to gauge Su Xiaoxiao’s feelings.

After hearing Su Xiaoxiao’s response, ‘I really want it,’ Gu Yan felt a lump in her throat. She asked, ‘Xiyue treats you so badly, why do you still want to have her child?’

Su Xiaoxiao, without hesitation, replied, ‘But…… the little fish is mine. It’s born from my womb, it’s our merfolk child.’

Gu Yan was at a loss for words, unable to correct Su Xiaoxiao’s way of thinking. Finally, she gave up and said, ‘Since you care so much about the little fish in your womb, get up and eat something. Walk in the garden; it’s good for your recovery.’

Su Xiaoxiao, who had previously shown no interest in leaving her bed, immediately got up at the mention of doing something for the little fish. Gu Yan said, ‘You need to eat well; it’s not good for the little fish if you don’t. She won’t grow big and strong.’

Remember, I’ll be back in a few days with more medicine.’

Su Xiaoxiao nodded as Gu Yan left. Su Xiaoxiao followed Gu Yan’s advice, pushing down her nausea and forcing herself to eat.

…

The weather in the demon realm was unpredictable, shifting from scorching heat to sudden cold. Fortunately, it hadn’t snowed yet. When Su Xiaoxiao stepped out, Chitang gave her a white, fluffy cloak, draping it over her shoulders.

As Su Xiaoxiao adjusted the cloak, she noticed Gu Yan and Chitang staring at her in surprise. ‘What’s wrong with you two?’

‘N-nothing, let’s go,’ Gu Yan and Chitang replied, regaining their composure.

‘Mm.’

Gu Yan and Chitang thought, ‘Xiyue (Her Majesty) truly doesn’t appreciate her blessings! Su Xiaoxiao (Madame) is indeed beautiful. What a waste for Xiyue (Her Majesty).’

Due to her pregnancy and Xiyue’s intense labor over the past half year, Su Xiaoxiao’s appearance had transformed. Her once youthful and cute features now held a more mature, gentle beauty. Her height remained the same at 5 feet 4 inches, but her bust had grown to a full C+, larger than Xiyue’s. Her waist and hips were more curved and shapely, and her legs were more toned and supple.

But that wasn’t the point; Gu Yan and Chitang weren’t sure who to envy more. As they walked in the garden, two unfamiliar demon soldiers followed them. Su Xiaoxiao had no mood for a stroll with people watching her.

Gu Yan intentionally led her towards the pond, saying, ‘Come see.’

Su Xiaoxiao, feeling down, looked towards the pond and remembered the little fish she had cared for, only to have Xiyue kill them. Her mood darkened further.

‘It’s just a stagnant pond; what’s there to see?’

Thinking of past events, Su Xiaoxiao’s expression turned somber, and she insisted on returning. Gu Yan said, ‘There are new fish in there; come see.’

Reluctant to disappoint Gu Yan, Su Xiaoxiao followed her to the pond. The fish inside weren’t particularly attractive, not that Su Xiaoxiao judged fish by their looks. But seeing the pond reminded her of the pain Xiyue had caused her. Everything had changed; the fish weren’t hers anymore.

She watched for a while, not even taking the food Chitang offered, and soon told Gu Yan she was tired, then returned to her room.

Of course, Gu Yan shared this with Xiyue. Besides dealing with the heavenly races from Shangxia and focusing on her cultivation to overcome her heart demons and prepare for the upcoming dragon ascension trial, Xiyue was extremely busy. Yet, she paused her work to hear about Su Xiaoxiao’s condition.

Xiyue frowned, disdainfully saying, ‘It’s just a pond of ugly fish; how can she hold a grudge for so long? Hmm, ungrateful.’

Xiyue called one of her subordinates, demanding, ‘Where did you get these fish? What do they look like?’

The demon subordinate, sweating profusely, stammered, ‘Your Majesty, we searched everywhere in the demon realm and could only find a few decent ones……’

Xiyue understood immediately; the fish must be ugly, and Su Xiaoxiao, the little merfolk, must be a perfectionist. She ‘tsked,’ her voice deep, ‘Even this small task you can’t handle. Get out of my sight.’

‘I’ll have to do it myself.’

Gu Yan was astonished that Xiyue would drop everything to find fish for Su Xiaoxiao. She couldn’t believe her ears, thinking she must be dreaming or that the sun had risen from the west, and Shangxia had fallen into the eighteen layers of hell.

Xiyue didn’t think her words were surprising; her face remained cold and irritated. ‘This is so bothersome.’

Later, as Su Xiaoxiao dozed on the couch, Xiyue woke her up. She waved a stick with two large turtles tied to it, spinning them in the air until they were almost dead. Su Xiaoxiao was speechless, ‘What are you…’

‘To replace your fish; don’t act up again.’