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The eldest daughter of Jingchuan's wealthiest merchant family, Hang Jichu, went to sea to do business for the first time. She returned with a huge fortune, and an unusual creature in tow.
The creature had a human body and a fish tail, snow-white skin and blue eyes, and the handsome appearance of a young man. At midnight, he would sing a captivating song. An elder in town said, "Miss Hang must have caught a mermaid. They say merfolk are skilled weavers, able to make gauze that stays dry underwater."
Hang Jichu, who had been rather indifferent until then, immediately perked up. Wasn't this a new business opportunity?
So she settled the little mermaid in a specially made weaving room. He trembled with fear, and after she had threatened and coaxed him several times, he helplessly began to shed tiny pearls.
...Maybe mermaid gauze wasn't all that important after all!
Hang Jichu began investigating how to make the little mermaid cry.
For the sake of sustainable development, bullying him was absolutely out of the question. A high-quality merchant's proper approach was to prepare little surprises every day and earn the little mermaid's moved, pearly tears.
Surrounded by all those gifts, the little mermaid also realized that Hang Jichu especially liked his tears. So he cried harder and harder, and without saying it aloud, the two of them arrived at a curious partnership.
But just as Hang Jichu was getting ready to expand her business and open a jewelry shop, the little mermaid suddenly stopped crying.
He wore a smiling expression, his lips curved into an increasingly sweet smile. He only sobbed when Hang Jichu ignored him.
Hang Jichu: So should I comfort him or leave him alone?
The little mermaid's moods were ever-changing, and for the sake of those little pearls, Hang Jichu had to keep him at arm's length. Until one day, she overheard the little mermaid talking to himself:
"QAQ You clearly said it was my turn to come out today. Chengli, you broke your promise."
"But today I want to eat honey-glazed ham with Big Sis. She promised me yesterday."
"QAQ No, I want to eat honey-glazed ham with Big Sis too."
"Aw, it's just for today. You can have both tomorrow and the day after."
"QAQ I don't believe you! You always bully me! When we got captured, you said it would be your turn the next day, but you made me face those scary bad guys for days, until Big Sis started treating me well before you came out!"
"Chengliu, it's no fun keeping score like that. Aren't we the same person?"
"QAQ That's true."
"So what's wrong with letting me eat this serving of honey-glazed ham?"
Hang Jichu: ...Nothing, but can someone explain what's going on here?!
*Shrewd merchant heiress x mermaid with a split personality
*The little mermaid's two personalities are a naive, sweet crybaby and a scheming little green tea. He won't always have a fish tail.
*One-on-one romance, happy ending
Theme: Protect animals