Chapter 12: The Water Ball
Ao Chen: “…”
“I can see you.” Ao Chen’s voice echoed from the void.
“But I won’t look.”
Wang Ming: “…”
“It’s not a matter of… looking or not looking…” Wang Ming said, after some thought.
“It’s a… psychological issue.” Wang Ming racked his brain, digging through his limited vocabulary to find a word he didn’t fully understand, struggling to express his mental breakdown.
Ao Chen: “…”
“That is, uhm, I want to ask, are you particularly used to living in the toilet… I mean, the bathroom?” Wang Ming’s question was blunt, but he still tried his best to rephrase it at the end.
Ao Chen: “…”
“No, I don’t have any preference for where I live.” Ao Chen answered Wang Ming’s question impassively.
“That makes things easier then.” A lightbulb seemed to go off above Wang Ming’s head, as he had a sudden idea.
“There are two rooms, right? You can choose one to sleep in. That’s better than staying here, right?” Wang Ming said sincerely.
Ao Chen: “…”
Actually, it’s the same to me wherever I am, Ao Chen thought.
He originally wanted to say this directly, but seeing Wang Ming’s simple and enthusiastic expression, Ao Chen stopped halfway.
If I insist on staying in the bathroom, this gentleman will probably have to keep running to the public restroom, Ao Chen thought about something that had practically nothing to do with him, and then nodded, agreeing with Wang Ming’s suggestion.
“Then, I’ll sleep in the outer living room.” Ao Chen walked out of the bathroom, looked around, and made this decision, telling Wang Ming.
“No problem.” Wang Ming nodded with relief, then looked at the small living room and frowned.
“I should have asked the real estate agent for an extra bed when I rented the place.” Wang Ming looked at the cramped living room, which didn’t even have a bed, and wore a conflicted expression.
“Or, you can sleep in the inner room, and I’ll sleep on the floor in here.” Wang Ming suggested.
Ao Chen: “…”
“No need, it’s the same to me wherever I sleep.” Ao Chen said lightly.
“But…”
Wang Ming had only just begun this sentence when he was stunned by the sight before him.
He saw that during their conversation, Ao Chen’s body began to be enveloped by something resembling water.
In a short while, his entire person was encased in a light, bluish-green liquid that looked very serene.
Wang Ming: “…”
I want to smash something to save him, but I don’t even know where to start, Wang Ming thought despairingly, gesturing wildly at his fiancé in the watery enclosure.
“Ao Chen! Can you hear me? Do you need me to get you out? Can you breathe?” Wang Ming shouted frantically from outside the watery sphere.
Ao Chen: “…”
“I’m a dragon.” Ao Chen said calmly.
Wang Ming: “…”
I forgot he’s seafood, Wang Ming realized with a sudden enlightenment.
“So you mean… you’ll sleep here tonight?” Wang Ming asked.
“Yes.” Ao Chen nodded.
“Amazing.” Wang Ming said in awe.
“Uh, well, get some rest then.” Wang Ming stared at the beautiful, dreamlike scene, dazed for a moment, then said goodnight to his fiancé, intending to go to bed himself.
“Okay, goodnight.” Ao Chen said in a rather formal tone, closing his eyes which, in the icy blue water, looked like a starry sea.
Wang Ming nodded and returned to his own equally cramped bedroom.
Less than a minute later, Wang Ming came out again.
“Sorry, I have another question,” Wang Ming said.
“Is the water you summoned drinkable? Or can I use it for a shower?” Wang Ming asked.
Ao Chen: “…”
“It’s seawater.” Ao Chen said, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his usually calm and beautiful face, almost flustered by Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Okay, forget I said anything.”
Wang Ming seemed to be infected by the awkwardness and, following his fiancé’s lead, gave an awkward laugh before sneaking back into his bedroom.
Ao Chen closed his eyes.
The next second.
Ao Chen opened his eyes again.
His subconscious told him that the man sharing his cramped apartment might reappear from his bedroom.
Sure enough, the next second, Wang Ming popped out of his cramped bedroom.
“Don’t waste that water, okay?” Wang Ming said.
“Actually, we can use it to flush the toilet.” Wang Ming, with a keen sense of environmental consciousness, suggested to his fiancé.
Ao Chen: “…”
“It’s an illusion of seawater, not real seawater. You can try it if you don’t believe me.” Ao Chen said.
Wang Ming: “…”
Should I go into the water with him? Wang Ming wondered.
No, Wang Ming mentally declined the offer, though he hadn’t yet figured out how to phrase his refusal.
He felt that the amount of seawater around Ao Chen was too little. Although they were technically engaged, they weren’t exactly a perfect match, and getting that close to him now seemed inappropriate.
While Wang Ming remained pure and unblemished in his thoughts, Ao Chen had already pulled out a small amount of the illusory seawater and tossed it to Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
I guess I was overthinking it, Wang Ming thought, somewhat embarrassed as he caught the small water ball and squeezed it in his hand.
Sure enough, his hand remained dry, feeling like he was holding a small water balloon.
“This little thing is pretty fun,” Wang Ming said, surprised and delighted as he squeezed the water ball.
“If you like it, keep it,” Ao Chen generously offered.
“Oh, I couldn’t,” Wang Ming modestly declined.
“It’s fine, I have plenty,” Ao Chen, with the air of a domineering prince, nonchalantly shook his head.
As if to prove his word, Ao Chen, at this moment, created another identical water ball from his surrounding water and gave it to Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming looked at the two balls in his hands, thought for a moment, and then started playing with them.