The Tycoon's Enchanted Mermaid

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Stars Falling into the Ocean

Qin Yu was not home, so Ah Da enjoyed much more freedom; she could do whatever she wanted in the enormous villa, going wherever she wished.

After wandering around the villa in her fluffy slippers, Ah Da quickly grew unsatisfied and turned her attention outside.

The villa occupied a vast area, not only the house itself but also lawns, woods, springs, gardens, pavilions, and the distant rivers. Everything was immaculately maintained, making the place feel even more expansive and beautiful when there.

There were many servants, each busy with their appointed tasks.

Ah Da wandered around with her mouth agape in awe; Qin Yu’s house was even bigger and prettier than she had imagined.

It was more luxurious than the old man’s house where she had stayed before, so Qin Yu must be richer than the old man.

...

But having money didn’t mean one wasn’t stingy; even eating a few candies required an interrogation, Ah Da complained.

Ah Da spent the whole day with Uncle Wen, tasting new pastries from the kitchen, having afternoon tea by the waterside pavilion, eating fruits, and pruning the old buds and withered leaves from the plants.

Pruning was an activity Ah Da insisted on trying. Initially, Uncle Wen didn’t let her touch the scissors, afraid she would hurt herself and that it wouldn’t be easy to explain to Qin Yu.

But Ah Da was so eager to try it that after much persuasion, Uncle Wen finally agreed to let her join the maids in the task. The early spring temperature wasn’t too cold, and the sun was still hanging in the sky. At first, she didn’t feel much, but as time passed, Ah Da’s head started to spin, and her hands could barely hold the scissors.

When Ah Da entered the house gasping for breath, it seemed Uncle Wen had anticipated it. He poured her a cup of warm tea and handed it to her, “Miss, you shouldn’t drink cold water after sweating, a hot tea is just right to quench your thirst.”

Uncle Wen was calm and meticulous, with deep lines etched by the years on his face, yet his eyes were bright, and his whole demeanor was vibrant. He was cultured and polite; every word and action made people feel more cordial.

In just half a day, Ah Da had taken a real liking to this butler grandfather, accepting the tea with both hands and obediently saying, “Thank you, Uncle Wen. Please have a seat.”

Uncle Wen smiled, shook his head, and politely refused, “That would go against the rules.”

Rules, there was that word again. In half a day, Ah Da had heard him say it no less than ten times; she was unsure if it was because the Qin Family’s rules were too strict or because Qin Yu was too terrifying.

While pruning the plants, Ah Da tried to subtly find out more about Qin Yu, but the maid turned pale at the mention of his name, trembling and daring not to speak a word. She was kindly warned not to call Qin Yu by his name.

Not allowed to call Qin Yu? But she had already done so many times…

Ah Da sighed, unsure of what Qin Yu did to have everyone so fearful. Forget it, she just wouldn’t think about these things while she banished the mess of guesses from her mind.

Holding a warm white porcelain teacup in her hands, she tasted the tea; first came a slight bitterness on the tip of her tongue, followed by sweetness and a lingering aftertaste. The tea was actually sweet?!

Ah Da’s eyes lit up instantly, and she drank down the tea in one gulp, still longing for more.

Noticing the surprise in the young girl’s eyes, Uncle Wen smiled knowingly. Recently, the young master had called, saying that Miss Ade would like sweet tea, so he had prepared some.

And sure enough.

Uncle Wen’s hands were folded across his belly, internally surprised by how attentive Qin Yu was to Ah Da; he even took time out from work to care for her. Was it really just because Miss Ade was the child of a friend? If so, the young master surely had an impressive friend!

After finishing her tea, Ah Da went to watch TV. The villa had a dedicated large screen for viewing, and Uncle Wen pointed at the titles filling the screen for Ah Da to choose. She glanced over and saw they were all children’s cartoons. She was momentarily silent, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Seeing Ah Da not responding, Uncle Wen spoke again.

“Miss Ade doesn’t like these? No worries, there are plenty more to choose from. Take your time,”

The remote scrawled through screens of over a thousand children’s animations, not just from our country but from others as well.

Miss Ade cleared her throat, “Uncle Wen, I’d like to watch a live-action TV drama, if that’s alright?”

The young girl’s delicate features were framed by her milky white skin, and her large, round eyes, both naive and clear when they looked up at someone, were especially spirited, making one feel instinctively compassionate.

Uncle Wen’s tone was as gentle as it gets, “Of course you can, Miss Ade. You can watch whatever you want.”

Let alone dramas— she could even watch movies that had just finished filming but hadn’t been released.

Miss Ade, however, disliked the constant presence of others, despite Uncle Wen being so gentle and considerate. His overly cautious approach made her uncomfortable, or maybe she was just not used to it.

Not used to interacting with others.

Eventually, Miss Ade asked Uncle Wen to teach her how to use the remote and then sent him on his way.

As she looked at the full screen of dramas and couldn’t decide which one would be good, she could only choose based on the attractiveness of the actors on the covers, watching whichever had the most appealing leads.

She enjoyed an idol drama named “Stars Falling into the Ocean” so much that even when the maid came to bring in fruits and snacks, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

…

Kyoto University.

Kyoto University is the top-ranked academic institution in our country, with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Setting aside its extremely high academic standards and astonishing national research projects, the university’s internal environment and facilities are also undeniably top-notch. @@novelbin@@

Three girls, dressed to the nines, linked arms, chatting and laughing as they walked into the female dormitory’s fourth building.

The girl in a white haute couture dress flopped onto her bed as soon as she entered, kicking off her high heels carelessly; they clattered in the hallway.

“I’m dead tired. Being a host really takes it out on your feet and mouth the most, feeling all sore and numb.”

Another girl in a red dress didn’t waste any time, sitting down to remove her makeup. She said, “As tired as it is, Minmin, you got public praise from the school leaders today. Maybe in a few days, your photo and name will appear on the school exhibition.”

Another girl in a yellow dress chimed in excitedly, “Yeah, Minmin, you were amazing tonight! You totally crushed that little bitch Xu Qing. I bet the title of the campus belle on the school forum will change hands tonight. I wonder if Xu Qing will die of anger, hahaha.”

Wen Min sat up, stroking her dress with satisfaction and pride, “There’s a clear distinction between the expensive and the truly luxurious. It might not show in ordinary times, but under the spotlight on stage, it’s instantly clear who is the swan and who is the ugly duckling.”

The girl in the yellow dress, Xu Xinyi, rushed over to Wen Min with her phone, grinning and fawning, “Minmin, that dress of yours is to die for. Look at the photos I took from below the stage, you dazzled the whole audience, I’m not exaggerating a bit.”

Wen Min glanced at the photos she took, tapped her decorated nails on the screen contentedly, “Not bad, send them to me, I’ll post on my circle of friends later.”

“Okay, sending them to you now,” Xu Xinyi happily transferred the photos to Wen Min’s WeChat. After forwarding them, her eyes inadvertently fell on the dress Wen Min was wearing, her envy barely concealed. Curiously, she asked, “Minmin, that ClEiR summer limited edition dress of yours, I looked it up online and everyone said it’s worth over six figures. Geez, your family must be really rich.”

Wen Min, holding a compact mirror and arching her graceful neck, said proudly, “It’s alright. It’s mainly about who you know. If it weren’t for my grandfather, I doubt I could have gotten my hands on this dress.”