NHWSG chapter 64

Sheng Zhao didn’t notice Xing Yingzhu’s subtle movements. After flying around in the air for a while, he was exhausted. So, he simply lay down on the shore, squinting his eyes like Xing Yingzhu usually did and let out a soft sigh.

“You know, do I look like a mermaid like this?” Sheng Zhao’s imagination ran wild as he said excitedly, “Do you get that feeling?”

“A merman, strictly speaking,” corrected Xing Yingzhu.

“…You have no sense of humor at all,” Sheng Zhao said.

Xing Yingzhu smiled but didn’t argue with him about it. He seemed somewhat distracted, swaying from side to side next to Sheng Zhao, his gaze sweeping over Sheng Zhao’s smooth back several times.

Sheng Zhao hadn’t heard his response for a long time and felt a bit surprised. Subconsciously, he reached out and touched Xing Yingzhu’s scales, casually asking, “What are you thinking about?”

“How much do you like me?” Xing Yingzhu suddenly asked.

Sheng Zhao didn’t expect his first words to be about this and couldn’t help but find it amusing. He thought to himself that Xing Yingzhu’s age and maturity were inversely proportional, and his focus always revolved around this particular aspect.

He thought Xing Yingzhu was just being coquettish again, wanting to hear some flattering words to satisfy his vanity, so he spoke without hesitation, “I really like you a lot, in a way that is unparalleled.”

Xing Yingzhu gently tightened the tail wrapped around Sheng Zhao’s ankle and asked softly, “Really?”

He seemed to chuckle lightly. He leaned in against Sheng Zhao’s back, affectionately resting his head on his shoulder.

“So, are you willing to do anything I ask?” Xing Yingzhu inquired.

“I don’t see why not,” Sheng Zhao replied, tilting his head curiously at him. “Every time you ask, I’ve always gone along with you, whether it’s going out or staying in. I can handle both. Where else could you find such a considerate boyfriend?”

Satisfied with the answer, Xing Yingzhu affectionately rubbed his cheek against Sheng Zhao’s… As for the term “boyfriend,” Xing Yingzhu chose to ignore it selectively.

Confident in his ability to charm Xing Yingzhu, Sheng Zhao smiled proudly, about to seize the opportunity to say a few more words. But then he heard a rush of water behind him.

It sounded like Xing Yingzhu was splashing around in the water. Confused, Sheng Zhao was about to turn around when he was suddenly pushed down onto the shore by Xing Yingzhu.

Xing Yingzhu’s ice-cold, smooth tail wound around Sheng Zhao’s thigh. The scales grazed Sheng Zhao’s skin through the thin fabric, sending shivers down his spine.

If Sheng Zhao could turn around at this moment, he would notice that the red hue in Xing Yingzhu’s eyes had deepened, almost as if they were dripping blood.

However, even without seeing this, Sheng Zhao’s subconscious mind began to sense that something was amiss. Some survival instinct reasserted itself in his brain, cutting through the allure of beauty and making him realize that something was wrong.

“Boss—” Sheng Zhao began, but Xing Yingzhu had already approached from behind. His sharp fangs sliced effortlessly through Sheng Zhao’s clothes, causing them to fall away in a rush of water, revealing his fair skin.

As a self-proclaimed otaku, Sheng Zhao had an average physique, neither overly muscular nor weak. His skin was paler than most, and now, covered in water marks, he looked like a porcelain doll just pulled out of the water. Xing Yingzhu squinted his eyes, seeming quite satisfied.

At this point, Sheng Zhao could no longer convince himself that Xing Yingzhu tearing his clothes was just playful teasing. Goosebumps rose on his back, and his legs, entangled by Xing Yingzhu’s tail, instinctively struggled, only to find Xing Yingzhu tightening his grip.

“Y-Yingzhu…” Sheng Zhao chuckled awkwardly. “In this wilderness, you wouldn’t happen to be… uh!”

The cold snake tongue licked along the curve of his shoulder blade, all the way up to his ear, giving it a gentle flick. Just that one touch made Sheng Zhao’s waist and back go weak, and the sensation left by Xing Yingzhu’s tongue made him itch all over, making him scratch frantically.

“Y-Yingzhu… please, stop…” Sheng Zhao struggled to cling to the edge of the pool, twisting his waist in an attempt to evade. His voice was soft and pleading, “You can’t just… do this all of a sudden…”

But Xing Yingzhu paid no heed to his words. The serpent was excited, its body writhing against Sheng Zhao’s legs. Its sharp fangs danced in front of Sheng Zhao’s eyes, seemingly eager to sink into flesh.

Sheng Zhao felt helpless. He realized that Xing Yingzhu tearing his clothes wasn’t just a playful act; he was being serious.

“If only I had waited until we got back home to answer him!” Sheng Zhao lamented silently.

What Sheng Zhao couldn’t accept the most was that, despite Xing Yingzhu’s advances, he was still a normal adult male with functioning parts. He couldn’t deny the sensations caused by Xing Yingzhu’s touch, despite the situation.

But—

“This is someone else’s territory!” Sheng Zhao pleaded desperately, like a loyal minister struggling on his deathbed in the royal court, his tone filled with anguish. “I’m at least a human being. You can’t just… uh!”

Xing Yingzhu interrupted him, uninterested in his words.

A scale grazed Sheng Zhao’s thigh, causing him to gasp and almost unable to speak.

In desperation, Sheng Zhao grabbed the great serpent’s neck and forcefully pulled him closer, begging, “We’re here on official business… Let’s wait until we get home… Please?”

Xing Yingzhu, clearly unsatisfied, licked Sheng Zhao’s chin. Unsure of his intentions and feeling that kissing the original body was too awkward, Sheng Zhao smiled ingratiatingly, tilted his head, and kissed Xing Yingzhu’s face.

“You see, it would be much better if we did this at home on our own territory,” Sheng Zhao said, throwing out all sorts of nonsense, “Otherwise, there might be other monsters in the mountains, and if they catch us, you’ll lose out.”

In a sense, this statement struck a chord with Xing Yingzhu’s vulnerability. He saw Sheng Zhao as his possession and never allowed others to covet him, let alone watch.

But now that he was in the mood, he didn’t want to stop, no matter what Sheng Zhao said.

“I like the water here,” Xing Yingzhu said discontentedly.

“We have a big bathtub at home too!” Sheng Zhao panicked, saying anything that came to mind. “If you don’t like the water at home, there’s a new hot spring club in the suburbs, with private pools, standalone outdoor booths, and even a small forest nearby.”

Xing Yingzhu’s tail tip stirred in the water without a sound.

Seeing this, Sheng Zhao felt hopeful and quickly seized the opportunity. “Consider it a vacation, we can stay there for two days!”

Xing Yingzhu reluctantly compromised a bit and added a condition, “Then when the time comes, I want to do it my way.”

Sheng Zhao: “…”

Between the current death and the future death being even worse, Sheng Zhao reluctantly chose the latter.

He gritted his teeth and said, “Fine.”

After Xing Yingzhuo finished his “loan sharking,” his mood improved slightly, and he affectionately licked Sheng Zhao again.

“I want to collect some interest,” Xing Yingzhu said.

Hearing this, Sheng Zhao became nervous, afraid that Xing Yingzhuo might have some tricks up his sleeve and would detain him on some pretext.

“What…?” Sheng Zhao asked tremblingly.

Xing Yingzhu said. “After we go back, I’ll convert your job to a permanent one.”

“Uh?” Sheng Zhao was surprised, “Permanent?”

“Before you, all the administrators’ positions had time limits,” Xing Yingzhu said matter-of-factly while still refusing to let go of Sheng Zhao, maintaining his posture. “Some lasted a year, some three to five years.”

“What about the permanent position?” Sheng Zhao asked.

Xing Yingzhu tilted his head and looked at him, his tone seemingly smiling but not, “For a lifetime.”

Sheng Zhao’s heart skipped a beat.

The three words “for a lifetime” spoken by Xing Yingzhu seemed to have a strange charm when they came out of his mouth, as if time had been twisted into a visible long line, extending into an unseen “future.”

Just a few years weren’t enough, Xing Yingzhu thought. At least, he wanted to keep Sheng Zhao for a lifetime.

“Not willing?” Xing Yingzhu asked.

“Not… not unwilling—I’m willing,” Sheng Zhao repeated, “I’m willing.”

Xing Yingzhu nodded, licking the droplets of water that fell from his hair like a reward, and said, “Very obedient.”

His voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of a smile. Sheng Zhao was ignited instantly, nodding vigorously, almost eager to sell himself to the other party.

“But…” Sheng Zhao hesitated for a moment and asked, “Have none of the previous people lasted long?”

“No,” Xing Yingzhu said in a casual and natural tone. “I just didn’t like them.”