When A Deadbeat Meets A Merman Villain

When I learned that the villain was a merman who dropped pearls whenever he cried, I took out the discarded pregnancy test stick from the trash can and headed toward the rooftop. "Well, how many babies do you merfolk have in one pregnancy? Do they eat fish food or baby formula?" Theo Atwater, who was attempting suicide, slipped and almost fell from the 18th floor. I shook my head with a sigh. "Forget it. I'll just throw the baby into the sea after giving birth." Later, when the baby was born, Theo was too scared to sleep, fearing that I would release the baby into the sea. When the female lead, Melody Carlisle, and the male lead, Reagan York, were arguing and came to see us, he was looking at our baby’s swimming results and roaring, "You're one of us merfolk. How could you be afraid of water?" Chapter 1 I knew Theo Atwater was the villain of this world, and I was the wife his grandfather arranged for him before he died. The original mission I was supposed to fulfill upon transmigrating here was to save him, but I slacked. Not only did I fail to save him, but I also squandered his money and occupied his bed. The system was completely at a loss when it saw that the corruption level remained motionless. The last time it appeared, it had coldly said, "I'll come to pick you up when the villain dies." I waited for more than half a year. Today was a good day, suitable for a burial. When Theo got his heart broken by the female lead, Melody Carlisle, and climbed up to the rooftop alone, I had already fully donned the jewelry in the safe, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the system. However, when the system appeared, it remarked, "Elle, why are you wearing the villain's tears on your body?" "What?" I lowered my head in astonishment and looked at the priceless pearl necklace around my neck. "Theo's a merman, and these pearls are his tears," the system said quietly. A merman? Merfolk in this story shed pearls? My worldview instantly crumbled. He was not a villain but a cash cow! This string of pearls was originally hidden in a secret compartment in the study. I thought it was a birthday gift for Melody. However, the gift remained ungiven, even after her birthday party ended. Thus, I stole it on a dark and stormy night. I remembered when Theo found me wearing it. He asked me with a complicated look, "You like this?" I rolled my eyes on the spot. "Of course! Who would turn down money?" I had it appraised, and it was worth 120 million dollars! Now that I thought about it, his expression at the time meant he was enlightened by the fact that I liked his tears. "System! I think he can still be saved!" I ripped off the pearl necklace, took out the pregnancy test from the trash can, and rushed to the rooftop. Theo had already climbed over the railing, half his body dangling 18 floors high. Out of breath, I held up the pregnancy test. "Wait! Well... how many babies do you merfolk have in one pregnancy? Do they eat fish food or baby formula?" He slipped and nearly fell from the 18th floor. He clung tightly to the railing, half his body dangling over the edge. "What... did you say?" "You don't want to take responsibility?" I was somewhat disappointed, thinking that I had made things worse by telling him. "Forget it. I'll just throw the baby back into the sea after they're born..." It had happened after he got drugged. He might not even remember it. Before I finished speaking, a dark figure had already flipped back over the railing and pinned me firmly against the wall. "How dare you?" His eyes blazed with fury. Meanwhile, I secretly curled my lips into a smile and let out a sigh of relief. I had secured my cash cow. After returning from the rooftop, Theo seemed completely out of sorts. Chapter 2 Theo settled me in the bedroom before turning around to enter the study. He locked the door from the inside. I pressed against the door and heard a rapid conversation from behind it. "Calcium supplementation during pregnancy... Seaweed... Wait a minute, doctor. You said humans need to soak in seawater every day if they're carrying merbabies?" His voice suddenly rose. "But she's pregnant!" I held back my laughter so much that my stomach hurt. Who would have thought that a vicious and cruel villain would be clutching a phone and consulting a doctor on obstetric knowledge? Even his voice was trembling. When the study door suddenly opened, I almost fell into his arms. Theo quickly held my waist, and the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric was burning hot. He looked down at me, his gaze falling on my flat lower abdomen. His Adam's apple rolled. "You—" I interrupted him boldly, "I'm hungry. I want you to make seafood stew for me." The clinking sounds of pots, pans, and bowls quickly came from the kitchen. The butler hesitated at the door. "Mr. Atwater almost burned the kitchen down the last time he cooked." I replied, "Oh… It’s alright. He’s rich." If it burned down, we could just move somewhere else. The butler was speechless. An hour later, Theo brought out the finished product with a soot-covered face. The food looked... okay. It should not be poisonous. When I was scooping up a spoonful of stew, he suddenly grabbed my hand. "Wait." Theo carefully picked out all the shell fragments and tested the temperature before handing the spoon back. I deliberately frowned. "Too bland." His hand, reaching for the salt shaker, stopped in mid-air before he turned around to turn on his tablet. He diligently searched for the daily recommended sodium intake for pregnant women. I was speechless. Thus, I began my life comparable to that of a queen. In the mornings, Theo personally squeezed orange juice for me. During showers, he treated me with the utmost care, like I was a fragile object. Even when I woke him up in the middle of the night due to my leg cramps, he would gently give me massages. One morning, I woke up groggily to find him measuring my waist with a tape measure, his expression as serious as if he were defusing a bomb. "What can you tell from just one month?" I teased him. Theo's ears turned red, but he insisted on recording the data in his phone's memo app, titled "Merbabies Observation Diary”. The most absurd thing was last week, when a business partner came to the company to see him. When the security guard called for permission, Theo was kneeling, tying my shoelaces. Meanwhile, I sat in the rocking chair, eating fruit while playing a game on my phone. He said coldly into the microphone, "Don't bother me with such a thing anymore. My wife is taking a nap." He then casually placed a blanket over my legs. "You lied!" I raised an eyebrow at him. At this moment, I was lying in the rocking chair on the terrace, watching Theo build a swing set in the garden. The sunlight turned his hair amber, making the scene feel somewhat warm. Suddenly, a system notification popped up. [Warning! Villain's corruption level has dropped to 90%.] The system's voice was tinged with doubt. "Elle, are you sure this will save him?" I smiled and touched the pearl necklace around my neck. "At least he doesn't want to die anymore, right?" After Theo was done with the swing, I swung my legs. "Honey, my legs are cramping." He wiped his hands clean, knelt on one knee, and massaged them for me. The system said, "Amazing!" "Honey, I want a pink pearl." I saw a pink pearl at an auction a while ago, and it was so beautiful. Unfortunately, the male lead, Reagan York, bought it to please Melody Carlisle. "Cry one for me." I casually picked up a plate used for grapes and placed it under his chin. Chapter 3 Theo paused momentarily before raising his head, his deep eyes filled with disbelief. "The color of the pearl depends on the merfolk's mood." I touched my belly and said slowly, "I don't care. If you don't cry, I'll release your baby into the sea." His expression changed abruptly. Three minutes later, I stared in astonishment at the notorious villain who was feared outside. His eyes were red as pearls dropped with a pattering sound. The pale pink pearls rolled around on the plate, sounding particularly pleasant. The system suddenly made a ding. [The villain's corruption level has dropped to 85%.] I happily picked up a pearl. This task was simple. If this continued, I was afraid I would make Theo a sweet and naive merman who only cried pearls. However, just when I thought I was sure to succeed, Melody came. She was dressed in a plain white dress and stood at the villa entrance with red eyes, looking pitiful. "Theo, please save my father... He's been caught. Only you can find him..." Her voice choked up. I stood in the doorway, sneering, "Get Reagan to help." Melody bit her lip, and tears came streaming down her face even faster. "He doesn't have those kinds of connections..." I paused before realizing it. The male lead was always an optimistic, righteous, and domineering CEO, while the villain was sinister and ruthless. Thus, the first person Melody thought of was always Theo, with his bloodstained hands, when she needed someone to do her dirty bidding. I glanced back at Theo standing at the corner of the stairs. He stood there quietly, his eyes unfathomable, while he held the slippers I had just kicked off. A sudden surge of anger welled up inside me. "You're not allowed to go!" Melody bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "Since Elle won't allow it, forget it..." She looked pitiful as she turned to leave. Just as she was about to step out the door, Theo suddenly said, "Wait." I watched as he knelt, gently put my slippers back on, and even adjusted their position. Then, this bastard actually got up and followed Melody! "Theo!" I grabbed a slipper and smashed it on the back of his head. "Don't come back if you go!" The slipper hit my target, making a crisp smack. He paused and did not turn around. He just rubbed the spot where he had been hit and continued walking. I was so angry that I almost threw the other slipper at him as well. ... At 3:00 am, I checked my phone for the 28th time. The screen was still completely black. Suddenly, the system notification popped up with a beep. [Warning! Villain's corruption level has increased by 12%. Current value: 97%.] I sat upright, nearly straining my back. "What? I've been carrying his baby like a hen, working myself to the bone. I only managed to reduce his corruption level by 15%. He went out with the female lead for one night, and it increased by 12 points?" The system added quietly, "To be precise, it’s only been four hours and 38 minutes." "What? Did Melody use him as ransom for the kidnappers?" I sneered, touching my belly. Suddenly, the sound of a car engine came from outside the window. I darted to the window and saw Theo's car slowly drive into the front yard, its headlights casting two hazy streaks of light in the rain. What angered me even more was that he was carrying something in his hand when he got out of the car. The packaging had Moonlit Sea's logo printed on it. Chapter 4 This costly seafood restaurant was Melody's favorite. "Very well." I gritted my teeth and commanded the system, "Exchange the 'False Abortion Pill’ for me immediately!" The system was so scared that its code was all messed up. "Elle, stay calm! Merbabies are resilient. This tool requires 5,000 points..." "Do I look like I care about points?" The reason why I was lazy in this world was that the points I earned from the tasks I did in other worlds before were enough for me to retire on. ... When Theo gently pushed open the bedroom door, he saw me curled up on the bed, pale-faced and clutching my stomach. "Elle?" The food container in his hand clattered to the floor, scattering baked salmon everywhere. I weakly looked up and saw a slap mark on his left cheek. Theo's hands trembled as he picked me up, and he immediately drove me to the hospital. I deliberately lay on the hospital bed with my back to Theo, listening to his rapid breathing as he spoke with the doctor. "There are mild signs of miscarriage. She needs absolute bed rest. It's crucial to keep her emotions stable," the doctor advised sternly. Theo's voice was hoarse. "She… and the baby..." "She's alright for now, but further stress could make things worse." "Mr. Atwater... Mrs. Atwater's human body isn't suited for carrying a merman's offspring. The first three months are especially critical. If this goes on, I'm afraid the offspring..." The hospital ward door closed. Then, there was a dull thud that sounded like knees slamming heavily onto the floor. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..." His voice trembled as he whispered against the back of my neck. I quietly pricked up my ears, waiting for him to continue. "I shouldn't have left you home alone..." His fingers cautiously touched my shoulder. I immediately turned around, nearly bumping into his nose. "I'm furious! Get out!" The system had just told me that Melody's father owed two million dollars due to gambling. She did not want to borrow money from Reagan. Instead, she thought of having Theo rescue him without spending a penny. Upon arriving at the scene, she discovered that her father's kidnapper was Theo's former henchman, who had been expelled from the Eternal Night Gang for misconduct. Melody did not believe Theo and thought he had deliberately sent someone to do it, so she slapped him. Theo opened his mouth helplessly but said nothing. He just suddenly hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe. "Let go! You're pressing on my belly!" I punched his back. He immediately jumped back as if he had been electrocuted and looked helplessly at my belly, his eyes filled with lingering fear. "Elle... don't be mad... I brought you salmon." I was confused. Had it not been for Melody? "You said you wanted baked salmon the night before the last. I wrote it down in my notes," he explained quietly. I remained quiet. "So..." Theo suddenly knelt beside the bed, carefully taking my hand. "Can you forgive me?" Looking at his red-rimmed eyes, a sudden idea struck me. "I'll forgive you if you cry one purple pearl." Theo said nothing. Three minutes later, I sat on the bed, smugly counting the purple pearls before me. I heard the system's notification. "Villain's corruption level has dropped to 70%." Chapter 5 I stayed in the hospital for three days and finally discovered a shocking secret. The doctor who did my ultrasound examination turned out to be a clownfish merman from the bottom of the sea! I secretly observed him for a long time. When he bent down to record the data, I asked in a low voice, "Can you cry out pearls?" The doctor's hand trembled. His pen nearly dropped to the ground as he awkwardly pushed his glasses. "Mrs. Atwater, not all merfolk can produce pearls..." I sighed in disappointment and turned my head to look at Theo, who was sitting beside me, peeling apples. I asked quietly, “So, you're a rare variety?" The fruit knife in Theo's hand paused as he expressionlessly handed me an apple." Eat." I pursed my lips. As expected, merfolk who could cry pearls were all treasures. Meanwhile, Melody had called no less than ten times. The first time the phone rang, Theo was peeling grapes for me. The screen lit up, and he glanced at it, his fingers slightly stiffening. I narrowed my eyes. "Answer it." Theo silently tapped decline. I said, "Cry me a pearl." Theo said nothing. Five minutes later, I received a pale purple pearl, to much of my satisfaction. When Melody's second call came, Theo was massaging my calves. The phone's vibration made him pause. I lazily looked up. "Answer it." Theo declined with a poker face. I said, "Cry." Theo took a deep breath, his eyes turning slightly red. With a thud, a pearl fell to the floor. By the third and fourth time, Theo had developed a conditioned reflex. Whenever his phone rang, his eyes would start to redden, and tears would well up even before I could speak. I laughed so hard that I slapped the bed. "Theo, do you have tear incontinence?" Theo's expression darkened. He silenced his phone and answered through gritted teeth, "Elle, don't go too far." I blinked innocently. "What did I do? I didn't say anything." He was so mad that he turned around and went to the balcony for some fresh air. After less than two minutes, he silently returned, placed a pearl in my palm, and whispered, "Stop being mad." I was puzzled. The system was frantically trying to suppress its laughter in my mind. "Elle, you've turned the villain into an automatic pearl-producing machine!" On the day I was discharged from the hospital, I carried a sack full of pearls, happily preparing to go home and string them into a pearl curtain. Theo carried the luggage in one hand and supported me with the other, afraid I would stumble or fall. Just as we reached the hospital entrance, Melody suddenly rushed out from the side. Her eyes were red and swollen as she blocked our way. "Theo! I have something to say to you!" Theo's eyes reddened almost reflexively, tears instantly welling up. Melody was confused. I was suppressing my laughter until my stomach hurt. I quickly took Theo's arm and asked with feigned gentleness, "Ms. Carlisle, what's wrong?" Melody opened her mouth, seemingly not expecting Theo's reaction. After a long pause, she finally said with difficulty, "I'm sorry... About that situation with my father… I misunderstood you—” Theo interrupted frigidly, “It’s alright." With that said, he pulled me quickly toward the car, afraid that the pearls would fall out again if we stayed any longer. I turned and waved to Melody, remarking with a grin, "Ms. Carlisle, just ask Reagan if you need anything. Theo's busy." He was busy crying me pearls! Once in the car, Theo fastened my seatbelt with a grim expression. I poked his cheek. "What's wrong? Unhappy?" He was silent for a moment before suddenly whispering, "Elle, do you only like my pearls?" Chapter 6 I froze for a moment before bursting out into laughter. "Yeah, what else?" Theo's eyes dimmed instantly. I leaned close to him and whispered in his ear," But... I prefer the way you cry to pearls." Theo was speechless. The next second, he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me hard. The system said, “The villain's corruption level has dropped to 55%! Elle, victory is in sight!” His kiss made me dizzy. Suddenly, I remembered something and pressed against his chest, slightly pulling away. "What about you? Do you only like the fact I’m carrying your offspring?" Theo's ears turned red instantly, and he was scared to make eye contact with me. "Merfolk stay absolutely loyal to their partners." I narrowed my eyes, "Oh? Then back on the rooftop—" "I was zoning out." He quickly cut off the conversation. His long eyelashes drooped, casting a shadow under his eyes. "I was thinking whether you only wanted me for my money, which was why you agreed to marry me.” ... I had never seen Theo's tail. Ever since I learned he was a merman, I had been wanting to see his legendary, priceless blue fishtail. However, every time I brought it up, Theo's ears would turn red, and he would quickly change the subject. I leaned against his back, my fingers twirling the ends of his hair. "Theo... let me see your fishtail." He stiffened before flipping through the document with feigned calmness. "There's nothing to see." I whispered in his ear, deliberately lowering my voice. "How is it nothing? I heard merfolk's fishtails are smooth and shiny like jewels..." The pen he was holding snapped in two. I was rendered speechless. The system was laughing hysterically in my mind. "Elle, you made him react violently!" I pouted. If the easy way failed, I would try the hard way! Therefore, I sneaked into the bathroom while Theo was showering that night. The bathroom was filled with steam, and the water in the tub rippled gently. I tiptoed closer and abruptly pulled back the shower curtain. A shimmering blue fish tail swayed gently in the water. I held my breath instantly. His fishtail was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Its scales were as translucent as deep-sea gems, and its tail fin was as thin as a cicada's wing. It shimmered with a silver glow in the ripples, as if an entire galaxy had been crushed and scattered upon it. Theo whirled around and froze as soon as he saw me. "Elle?" His voice trembled slightly. I stared at him blankly, momentarily speechless. Theo's eyes gradually filled with panic as his fishtail instinctively retreated into the water. His voice was barely audible. "Did I scare you?" I snapped out of my daze, shaking my head frantically. "No! It's beautiful!" He paused, his ears turning crimson. "Really?" "Of course!" I crouched by the bathtub, my eyes glimmering. "This tail seems priceless! If we auction it off..." Theo was speechless.