Feasibility of Mermaids Infiltrating Qilin

After the lively firecrackers ended, the courtyard was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder, and the ground was covered with red paper scraps, like a joyous snowfall.

Su Xingze summoned a gust of wind, dispersing the gunpowder-filled courtyard, and announced that it was time for the New Year's Eve dinner.

On the bright red lacquered octagonal table, ten main dishes were laid out: chicken, duck, fish and meat dishes that are essential for New Year's Eve dinner, as well as boiled shrimp that Zhang Shenglin was seeing for the first time, stewed beef that is not easy to eat now, and sweet and sour pork that is common in Northeast China.

Each dish was very generous in portion, more than the two of them could possibly finish, no matter how hard they tried. But the point of New Year's Eve dinner is to have abundance year after year, so it's fine if they can't finish it.

Zhang Shenglin was forced to sit down on a stool. In front of him was a table full of dishes that the little mermaid had prepared at some unknown time. A huge bubble covered the entire table of food, ensuring that the two of them could always enjoy the freshest New Year's Eve dinner, no matter when.

Su Xingze poured the child a full cup of spirit milk, raised his own cup, and clinked glasses with him with a smile: "In the new year, may our little Qilin be happy and healthy, and never get hurt again."

Zhang Shenglin was somewhat at a loss. He awkwardly clinked glasses with the little mermaid, opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

No one had taught him these things, but he knew he should respond to the little mermaid's blessing.

"Xingze...may you be safe and happy!"

Faced with the child's overly stiff blessing, Su Xingze smiled, feeling very pleased.

He knew the child wasn't just making empty promises; he could hear the child's genuine sincerity, and that was enough.

After being separated from his fathers, he finally had someone to spend the New Year with again.

Su Xingze quietly looked at the child opposite him, whose expression was gentle and who rarely showed a bit of happiness. His bright green eyes softened instantly, and shimmering light appeared in his eyes.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, both of them were stuffed, but even so, they didn't finish even half of the dishes on the Eight Immortals Table.

It was already late at night, and according to custom they still needed to stay up all night to welcome the New Year. Su Xingze had already arranged everything.

Su Xingze took out the double rocking chair he had bought in advance from the mall and placed it under the eaves. He pulled Zhang Shenglin and pressed him down on the rocking chair, telling him to lie still and not move. He then ran to the center of the courtyard.

Of the pile of cardboard boxes, only the largest one remained. It was an extra-large fireworks gift box that he had specially purchased from the mall. It was said to contain 9999 fireworks and had the effect of warding off evil spirits and bringing good luck. It sold for 10,000 points in the mall, which was enough for him to buy even the lowest standard 'shell'.

But it's Chinese New Year, as long as we're happy, it doesn't matter if it's a little expensive.

Su Xingze opened the packaging, found the fuse of the fireworks, quickly lit the fuse, and then jumped onto the rocking chair in a few steps, snuggling up to the child. The two of them huddled together on the chair, like two little animals huddling together for warmth.

He took out a small blanket and covered the two of them with it. Su Xingze nudged the child beside him with his shoulder, urging him to look up at the sky.

"Open your eyes wide and don't blink! What's coming next is a fireworks display that will amaze you for the whole year."

Zhang Shenglin turned his head to look at the little mermaid who was pressed against him. The little mermaid was intently looking at the sky. The fuse had burned out, and after a muffled 'whoosh' followed by a thunderous roar, a huge, colorful firework burst open in the night sky.

The sky seemed to be showering stars, and the dazzling fireworks illuminated the face of the little mermaid beside me.

Zhang Shenglin stared blankly at the little mermaid, his heart suddenly stopping. His calm and aloof dark eyes widened abruptly. Through the little mermaid's clear, spring-like eyes, he saw brilliant fireworks blooming in his own eyes. It was as if the little mermaid's eyes held a magnificent and vast galaxy. That was the first time he had ever felt 'beauty'.

Fireworks exploded in the sky, each one different, but the only thing they had in common was their breathtaking brilliance.

The fireworks on New Year's Eve lasted a long time. The two snuggled together, quietly appreciating this dazzling spectacle that belonged only to them.

Perhaps they were too captivated by the beauty of the fireworks, because they fell asleep without realizing it.

Zhang Shenglin's long-standing habit of waking up at 5 a.m. sharp is a habit he has developed over time.

They fell asleep on the deck chairs last night, and thankfully the blankets covering them were very warm, so neither of them caught a cold.

The little merman's head rested against his shoulder, and her soft hair tickled him. The little merman held his arm tightly with both hands and wouldn't let go, with one leg on his waist and almost half of her body pressed against him.

Zhang Shenglin was already used to the little mermaid's sleeping posture, but the little mermaid had always shrunk to its original form before, and this was the first time it had slept in human form like this.

There was another body temperature different from his own beside him, and shallow breaths sprayed on his earlobe, causing Zhang Shenglin's ears to blush slightly.

It feels a little awkward, but I don't dislike it.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, the beginning of a new year. For Zhang Shenglin, this day is no different from any other day in the past.

However, the appearance of the little mermaid brought some changes to his otherwise uneventful life.

According to his usual habits, he should have already gotten up and gone to the training ground for morning practice by now, but now, seeing the little merman sleeping soundly against him, Zhang Shenglin adjusted his posture to make him more comfortable, and then silently closed his eyes.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, Zhang Shenglin opened his eyes, his dark eyes, which appeared exceptionally clear in the morning light, filled with tranquility.

The time was almost up, so Zhang Shenglin gently moved the little mermaid off him.

They were so close and intimate that even though he was careful, Su Xingze was still awakened by it.

He yawned lazily, glanced at the child, and knowing he was going to the training ground, he lowered his eyes listlessly and pointed to the two of them in their bedroom.

"New Year's gifts must not be soiled."

He looked like he hadn't rested well, and after saying that, he shrank back into the thick blanket, only revealing half of his slightly unhappy face.

Zhang Shenglin hadn't expected there to be a New Year's gift. He rarely felt curious, but now he was suddenly curious about what the little mermaid's New Year's gift would be.

He returned to the bedroom and immediately saw a set of clothes neatly folded on the bed. Zhang Shenglin unfolded it and looked at it; it was a red long robe with dark patterns.

—These are his new clothes.

He should wear new clothes on New Year's Day, but he never had the means before, so he never paid attention to the custom of wearing new clothes on New Year's Day.

Everything on New Year's Eve injected vitality into his stagnant heart, and the bright and festive new clothes in front of him added a bright luster to his indifferent eyes.

Zhang Shenglin tightened his grip on the new clothes slightly, but he quickly realized what he was doing and immediately let go, smoothing out the wrinkles on the clothes.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that he had gone too far.

...He did not prepare a gift for the little mermaid.

Upon realizing this, Zhang Shenglin became bewildered.

Looking through the window at the little mermaid who was still fast asleep, Zhang Shenglin suddenly changed his mind.

As long as the training is completed before the end of the day, the teacher hasn't specified a time for us to go to the training ground.

Zhang Shenglin changed into the new clothes given to him by the little mermaid and entered the dark room he hadn't been to since his adoptive father's death.