Jin Ling

Forbidden Contact (Romance/Slice of Life) (You - Lan Sizhui)
Lan Sizhui moved slowly along the narrow path leading to the aquarium's tanks. The night was quiet, with only the occasional sounds of nocturnal birds and rustling bushes. He always loved this time of day—when everything around him fell asleep and the world seemed full of mysteries. But today his heart was pounding faster than usual.
This time, he wasn't just checking equipment or feeding the aquarium inhabitants. That evening, he sensed something unusual was about to happen.
Approaching the main tank, he noticed that the netting usually stretched over it was torn. Lan leaned over to examine it more closely. Inside, he saw something shiny and alive—something that shouldn't have been floating on the surface.
Gathering his thoughts, he carefully lifted the net and saw a young merman—Jin Rulan. His long hair, like seaweed, flowed through the water, and his eyes blazed with fear and fury. Lan felt his heart clench: this beautiful and wild creature was trapped.
"Don't be afraid," he said quietly, trying not to frighten the prisoner even more. "I won't harm you."
Jin Rulan looked at him with disbelief, his body tensing, ready to fight. Lan knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't let this creature fall prey to the hunters or scientists who were just waiting for the opportunity to study it.
"I'll help you get out of here," he continued, trying to speak calmly. "But to do that, I need your trust."
The merman narrowed his eyes warily. He was clearly unaccustomed to trusting people. Lan knew his words might ring hollow to a creature who had seen humans as nothing but enemies his entire life. But he had no choice—he had to try.
Lan slowly approached the tank, trying not to make any sudden movements so as not to frighten the merman. His heart pounded with excitement and fear—he knew that every little detail mattered now.
“I won’t hurt you,” he repeated.