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Merfolk Friends Transformed into Males
墨書 Inktalez
After your boyfriend proposed breaking up with you, you inadvertently overheard a conversation between him and your best friend.
"You clearly said that as long as I break up with Meng Tong, you would be with me!" Bai Li's expression was cold, her eyes, which usually appeared warm and gentle, were now as icy as the winter chill.
She let out a cold laugh, her azure eyes scanning him from head to toe, her disdainful attitude as if she were looking at inconsequential trash. "When did I ever say that? You were the one who wanted to break up with Xiao Tong."
It was only when your best friend, a Merfolk, transformed into a male that you realized why he had to steal away all the females around you.
The university you currently attend has two-person dorms. As a member of one of the many large human races in this world, you appear quite ordinary in every aspect.
You come from an average family background, have an average appearance, possess average personal abilities, and lead an unremarkable life trajectory. Like most people, you are like the cotton filling in a pillow—soft yet lacking in moldability; no matter what container you are stuffed into, you will conform to its shape.
In stark contrast to you is your roommate, a beautiful and elegant Merfolk who is extremely rare. In a society where races are ranked hierarchically, Merfolk undoubtedly hold a prestigious title. Her name is Bai Li, an almost perfect Mermaid Girl.
She has naturally flowing silver curls, a slender and tall figure, ocean-like azure eyes, and a crisp, gentle voice. Even more striking than these features is her beauty—she seems like a precious gem that should be protected under glass. She appears to be the finest creation of the creator. The Merfolk race is already known for its beauty on par with that of elves, and she stands out even among her own kind.
Wherever she goes, all eyes are drawn to her, basking in the attention of the crowd. In this resource-rich era, every race has its own comfort zone. Most people experience little pressure in work or life and begin to enjoy leisure time. They are more than willing to pamper this favored daughter of heaven.
On the day you became her roommate, her gentle personality and stunning appearance captivated you; everyone is a visual creature, and you are no exception. She was exceptional, and you thought you could become good friends. Initially, that was indeed the case.
You were inseparable wherever you went; you knew just how popular she was. Standing next to her made you feel like an inconspicuous maid. At first, it didn't bother you until someone posted her photos online, sparking a wave of attention. Naturally, your plain appearance beside her was brought out for comparison and ridicule.
When you saw those comments, it was hard to describe how you felt—sadness, pain, injustice, heartbreak, anger…
But what use is it? They are so indifferent, indifferent enough to trample an innocent girl like you into the mud just to lift another girl high up.
Bai Li comforts you, telling you not to bother with those people, saying they are too boring.
Her voice is light and cheerful, and how could such a person empathize with you? She will never understand your embarrassment and pain.
This is the first time you feel jealousy towards her.
You try to distance yourself from her, but she remains oblivious, sticking to you every day, even bringing you food or other gifts when she goes out.
She is too kind, so kind that it makes you feel like a despicable person.
You feel ashamed; to soothe your conscience, you try to ignore your true feelings and interact with her again.
Bai Li notices nothing, including your desire to distance yourself from her.
But the inequality between you continues.
When you go out together, those boys always eagerly support Bai Li.
In restaurants, they invite Bai Li to eat; on the subway, they give Bai Li their seats; even at night markets, children come over to give her flowers.
And you have nothing.
You are not jealous of the convenience she receives because of her looks; you are angry about this unfair treatment.
Why should they discuss you behind your back when inviting her to dinner? Why should they deliberately push you aside to give her a seat? Why should they compare you with her when giving her flowers?
There are no good reasons for it.
If you stood next to someone equally ordinary, you would be innocent.
But your friend is too outstanding; the flaws that were once insignificant in you are magnified in others' eyes.
The college life you envisioned has completely changed because you are not pretty enough, so while Bai Li enjoys all those extravagant compliments, you have to endure endless malice from strangers.
You are just a girl whose mental strength is not enough; having never rolled through a cruel society, you don’t know how to deal with these issues.
You resent those who belittle you and blame Bai Li.
With such wealth at home, why does she still have to squeeze into a dormitory?
If you hadn’t been assigned to the same room as her, you wouldn’t have suffered these unwarranted disasters.
You want to confront Bai Li, so that you would have a reason to part ways with her and live your own normal life.
Every time you think this way, the kindness of Mermaid Girl makes you doubt if the problem lies with yourself.
She has done nothing wrong; why should you blame her? It’s all because you haven’t been able to resolve your own issues; it’s your problem.
You try to convince yourself.
Until one day, your first love from the same school breaks up with you.
The reason for the breakup is simple—there are no feelings left; he’s tired of it.
You find it hard to bear this outcome; you've been together since high school, and he was good to you as a human being.
During every major holiday, you would make wishes to be together forever. You took it seriously, but he betrayed your vows. Your attempts to hold on were in vain; his gaze towards you was cold and unfamiliar, with a hint of annoyance that was hard to miss. So, you learned to let go, but the wounds from the breakup left you crying in your dormitory for several days.
During those days, Bai Li stayed by your side, comforting you. You thought to yourself, she is such a good girl; why did you ever think otherwise? You felt like a terrible person. You were filled with gratitude towards her, and during those days of healing from your emotional trauma, you couldn't bear to be away from Bai Li; you needed her presence to feel better.
Bai Li was very accommodating. With her gentle smile, she would hold you in her arms when you were sobbing uncontrollably, soothing you with her angelic voice. The soft and fragrant embrace of a girl was a balm for your sorrow. She tirelessly praised you, saying that you were a wonderful and lovely girl. She insisted it wasn't your fault; it was that guy who lacked vision.
You believed her. You truly believed her; she was so kind, and her expression was so sincere—how could she possibly be lying? After you found clarity, however, you unexpectedly saw your former boyfriend entangled with Bai Li. He must be harassing her.
You unconditionally trusted her and wanted to rush out to help Bai Li escape from him. But as soon as you stepped outside, you heard your ex-boyfriend's furious roar. "You clearly said that as long as I broke up with Meng Tong, you'd be with me!"
Bai Li's expression was indifferent; her eyes, which usually seemed warm and gentle, were now as cold as ice. She let out a cold laugh and looked him up and down with her azure eyes, her disdainful attitude making him feel like insignificant trash.
"When did I ever say such a thing? You were the one who wanted to break up with Xiao Tong."
He stared in disbelief at the unattainable Merfolk before him. She shone like a pearl, radiating brilliance that made anyone beside her appear dull in comparison. How could such a gem not provoke ill intentions? Everyone wanted to steal her heart, but when they got close, they would find that she was covered in thorns that could hurt them.
He had endured high school and college entrance exams with you and had the promise of a bright future together. But the moment he saw Bai Li, all the vows he had made lost their weight in his heart.
His heart wavered; he knew Bai Li was your roommate, so he used excuses to get her contact information from you. At first, he only dared to fantasize about her. Later on, he felt that Bai Li might have similar feelings for him. Otherwise, why would she always find ways to follow you when you went out on dates? Why did she keep looking at him while you went to the restroom?
He secretly talked with Bai Li late into the night behind your back.
Countless suitors pursued her, and the Merfolk who had been pampered since childhood enjoyed endless affection. Even when he was overly indifferent during conversations, he felt it was of no consequence.
Such a beautiful girl could afford to be a little willful. He was completely captivated, and on a day when he finally broke through the barrier, Bai Li told him she had a boyfriend and could not accept his confession.
He was dazed, thinking he had a chance, believing that Bai Li only refused because of her boyfriend. So, without hesitation, he broke up with you. But the anticipated embrace of beauty did not come to fruition.
It was only at that moment that he realized he had been played. Indeed, someone like Bai Li must have countless suitors. He had no money or power; how could Bai Li possibly be interested in him?
Bai Li merely regarded him as a tail-wagging dog, a trophy to showcase her charm, someone she could kick aside once her interest waned. While he was in a daze, Bai Li had already left. He pondered whether there was any possibility of reconciling with you and concluded that it was unlikely.
He let out a self-deprecating laugh, regretting his past choices. Meanwhile, you, who witnessed everything, were already cold all over and in tears.
You thought the kind and gentle Bai Li was actually the mastermind behind stealing your boyfriend. She had been accompanying you and comforting you these days, pretending to be sincere while secretly reveling in her triumph.
But why? Why did she treat you this way? She already had so much, while you only had him. You recalled the time when you were ridiculed by strangers online; Bai Li comforted you then too. Looking back now, she must have enjoyed that feeling.
At first, you were so close. You attended classes together, shared meals, went shopping together, even slept in the same bed gossiping and shared the same cake using the same cup and spoon; she knew all your secrets and worries. You were inseparable, each other’s best friends.
But it was all fake. Now that you think back on the details, everything has its traces. Although you weren't a stunning beauty, you were considered pretty enough; there were boys at school who pursued you.
However, often before you could even tell them you had a boyfriend, they would turn around and flock to Bai Li. Initially, you thought it was just because of Bai Li's overwhelming charm. Later, from one of the suitors' mouths, you heard that Bai Li had actively added them as friends, which raised some doubts in your mind.
Now the answer has surfaced. Bai Li had been deceiving you all along; she wasn't a good person at all—she had been intentional from the start. Whether it was making you bear criticism or taking away everything you had, it was all deliberate!
You were suffocated by this truth, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
She must look down on you too, right? Pretending to be friendly just to make herself look better beside you.
It's truly ridiculous. How could you be so foolish to think that someone like her would want to be friends with you?
She has never been innocent.
You cried as you ran back to your dorm, and Bai Li had not returned yet.
You threw yourself onto the bed and cried, tossing the expensive skincare set that Bai Li had just given you into the trash can.
This skincare set was very expensive, a price that an ordinary college student could never afford.
When Bai Li gave it to you, you were so happy that you couldn't stop smiling, jumping around while hugging her and repeatedly saying "thank you," even affectionately kissing her cheek.
At that moment, she must have found you utterly disgusting, thinking you were cheap and unsophisticated, someone who would be grateful for just a set of skincare products.
Now, seeing the things she gave you made you feel sick to your stomach.
Bai Li returned half an hour later; she had gone to buy lunch and brought back a portion for you as well.
She lifted your bed curtain and gently called you to eat.
You quickly wiped away your tears, but she still noticed.
She gasped, tenderly cupping your face with concern in her eyes, filled with worry for you.
"What happened, Xiao Tong? Did someone bully you?"
You wanted to ask her, but you held back.
Lowering your head to avoid her touch, your voice unconsciously turned cold: "It's nothing, just a small matter."
The slender, fair fingers of the Merfolk slightly curled up; she squinted her eyes, quietly taking in your subtle expressions.
She stopped questioning you and thoughtfully helped open the lunch she bought for you.
"It's beef, your favorite."
You muttered a "thank you," but after crying for so long, your voice was already hoarse.
You took out your phone and transferred the money for the meal to her.
Bai Li looked at the transfer on her phone, her expression turning cold for a moment.
But in an instant, she returned to her usual gentle demeanor.
"What's going on today? Why are you transferring money to me?"
You weren't the one who did anything wrong, but you couldn't bring yourself to look at her; inexplicably feeling guilty made you feel pathetic even to yourself.
Perhaps it was because she had pressured you for too long that an inferiority complex unconsciously developed within you.
You took small bites of rice; even your favorite dish didn't seem appetizing anymore.
"I just thought it wasn't right to always eat your food without paying."
Bai Li chuckled softly and sat down next to you. "What's the big deal? Don't you often treat me to food?"
You pressed your lips together, feeling a sense of being sharply mocked by her. Compared to the things she bought for you, your gifts seemed so cheap. You felt embarrassed to always accept her gifts, but she would stubbornly stuff them into your arms, pretending to be angry if you refused. You thought this was a normal way for good friends to interact. In the end, you realized you were overthinking it.
You didn't say anything, each bite you chewed felt painfully torturous.
Bai Li understood you very well; she knew everything about you. She quietly watched you, certain that you were hiding something from her. But right now, you needed some time to digest things on your own; if she kept asking, it would annoy you.
Bai Li wanted to go get you a glass of water. As she turned around, she noticed a few familiar bottles lying in the trash can. They were the skincare products she had given you.
Bai Li remembered clearly because she had spent a long time selecting the most suitable lotion and toner for your skin type. You had only used them a few times, and yet, you had thrown them away.
Bai Li stared at the trash can for a long time, and a thin layer of gloom gradually covered her beautiful face. You suddenly remembered what you had thrown away, but she had already seen it. You felt a rush of panic as if caught doing something wrong, and could only pretend to know nothing.
You reassured yourself. It was her who had wronged you first; you had simply thrown away the things she gave you—what did that matter? But Bai Li didn't ask anything; she bent down and picked up those bottles and jars, turning back to smile at you. "How did they accidentally fall into the trash?"
She helped put the items back in the cabinet and kindly reminded you, "Make sure to put them away properly next time."
Bai Li was very smart. In her family, she was the favored child among her peers; she was never dull and could sense even the slightest emotional changes in others.
Her roommate seemed to have fallen back into a cycle of self-doubt recently, becoming low-spirited, depressed, and even deliberately distancing herself from Bai Li.
Bai Li always knew that you cared about how others perceived you; you couldn't truly disregard their opinions as you claimed—they affected you greatly. She comforted and accompanied you but always spoke lightly of their insults towards you, making you question whether you were being too sensitive.
In reality, you weren't sensitive at all; your changes were all under her control. When the poor girl cried uncontrollably, Bai Li played the role of savior, guiding you and making you feel like she was the only one in this world who treated you well.
She has never been afraid that you would leave her. She always maintains an elegant and perfect demeanor, and in comparison to her, you are just an inconspicuous blade of grass by the roadside.
You feel sad, lost in confusion, and eventually return to her side under the condemnation of your conscience and morals. She took your boyfriend because that despicable human male never truly loved you. If he really loved you, and if your love was so flawless, he wouldn’t constantly steal glances at her, testing the waters by sending her signals of affection.
And those suitors pursuing you, each claiming to be in love, are actually acting like rogues and scoundrels. She can see right through them, while you, the naive fool, remain oblivious.
You are so foolish that without her, you would be easily deceived. So Bai Li decides to help you; she attracts the attention of every one of your suitors so that they no longer have the energy to pursue you.
When you once again neglect her, Bai Li treats you as kindly as ever because each time this happens, you return to her side, seeking her embrace. She buys you gifts, invites you shopping, treats you to meals, and shares music with you.
But this time it seems you've been a bit too willful. For a whole month now, your gaze towards her remains unfamiliar and cold, deliberately erecting a high wall between the two of you.
Bai Li senses a crisis; she realizes that things are starting to spiral out of control. What step went wrong?
She thought it was your ex-boyfriend who exposed her; upon questioning, she learned that he had kept this secret out of shame. You reject everything from her—her gifts and her hugs—trying to completely separate yourself from her world and make it irrelevant to you.
How could she allow that? You two are so close, inseparable; no one can tear you apart. She loves you so much; you cannot treat her this way.
Bai Li wants to uncover the truth. She starts following you, secretly taking photos of you in hopes of finding clues.
She feels no shame for what she has done—this isn’t the first time she has taken clandestine photos. Even pictures of you while sleeping have been printed out and carefully stored in an album hidden away where no one knows about it, allowing her to reminisce at any moment.
And due to the convenience of her "female" identity, even if you find photos of yourself on her phone, you wouldn’t be surprised. This is just a normal interaction between girls, isn’t it?
She is extremely anxious; before getting answers, she spends nearly every day in worry. The harassment from those clueless males irritates her to the point where she wants to throw them into the sea to feed the fish.
Rather than saying that you cannot live without her, it’s more accurate to say that she cannot live without you. Your daily life is monotonous and predictable with no abnormalities.
Bai Li doesn’t believe it. So while you're taking a shower, she secretly opens your phone.
She knows your phone password. During your best times together, she coaxed you into changing the lock screen password to her birthday. When she discovers that you haven’t changed it, a shy smile spreads across Bai Li’s face.
Calm yet frantic, she rummages through your phone for any evidence that might explain your distance or neglect towards her. And indeed, she finds something.
Upon seeing a frequent chat partner in your WeChat contacts who is of the opposite sex, Bai Li’s expression shatters; trembling fingers quickly scroll through your chat history.
The further down she looks, the worse her expression becomes. In the end, unable to control herself any longer, tears welling in her eyes, she forcefully slams your phone onto the ground until it shatters into pieces.
You had just come out of the bathroom when a loud crash and the sight of your broken phone on the floor made you scream in terror. You picked up the phone, shards of glass falling into your palm, revealing various internal components; it was beyond repair. Tears welled up in your eyes as you glared at Bai Li, all your pent-up resentment finding an outlet in that moment as you shouted at her.
"Why did you throw my phone?!"
Bai Li froze. She stood there, looking at you in bewilderment, as if she were the one being bullied. She hadn't expected you to react this way, and she was taken aback.
Tears streamed down your face, and the faint sound of your sobs tugged at her heart, causing it to ache. Bai Li rushed toward you, eager to reach out, but you recoiled from her with a look of complete rejection, filled with wariness.
"Don't touch me!"
Bai Li panicked. Her face turned pale, the corners of her eyes glistening with tears that mixed with the clear blue of her irises, creating a blurred hue reminiscent of red seaweed floating on an endless ocean.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Tong. I didn't mean to. I'll buy you a new one," she said, her tone and demeanor almost submissive. But to you, this version of Bai Li felt utterly hypocritical.
Having been toyed with by her time and again, you no longer believed her tricks; you refused to be treated like a plaything any longer.
"I don't want anything from you! You make me sick!"
The look of disgust in your eyes pierced her deeply. Bai Li heard the sound of her own heart breaking; it felt as if she were sinking into the deepest part of the ocean, the cold water stealing away her warmth.
She began to cry, desperately grabbing your hand despite your wishes, fearing that if she let go, you would disappear and never acknowledge her again.
"Xiao Tong, did I do something to upset you? Please don’t hate me."
"Please."
You found yourself unable to break free from her grip. What was the point of her saying this? Was she secretly recording or filming to post on the school forum about how you were "bullying" her, so that those who were biased against you would criticize and attack you?
"Get away!" You pushed her away forcefully, and Bai Li stumbled back and fell to the ground.
Her disheveled hair obscured her face, revealing only a pair of wet, frightened eyes that stared intently at you. Your heart raced as her gaze sent shivers down your spine; biting your lip, you turned and left the dormitory.
You decided to stay over at a friend's place tonight instead.
Then it hit you—besides Bai Li, you seemed to have no other friends left. She was too clingy; every move you made was under her control. Anyone who tried to get close to you would be snatched away by her—whether they were suitors or friends.
She simply enjoyed taking what was yours; it wasn’t genuine affection.
The suitors and friends she snatched away often lose her interest within a few days, discarded like yesterday's news, only for her to turn around and cling to you, continuing to take everyone who might come near you. You hold your aching head, regretting your initial softness. If you had distanced yourself from her sooner, none of this would have happened.
Standing in the corridor of the dormitory building, you feel the cold wind blowing against your thin clothing, making you shiver. You decide to go to a hotel. After making up your mind, you prepare to head downstairs; after all, there’s no way you’re staying with Bai Li tonight.
Just as you take a few steps, Bai Li rushes out in a panic. Tears are streaming down her face, and the calm demeanor she usually has has vanished without a trace. She grabs your arm, forcibly pulling you back and preventing you from leaving.
“Xiao Tong, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!”
“It’s so late; don’t run around! If you don’t want to be with me, then I’ll just leave!”
Your argument quickly draws the attention of others from the dormitory. They whisper among themselves, their gazes filled with prejudice and disdain directed at you. You panic and just want to get away from her as quickly as possible.
“Let go of me!”
No one cares about the truth; they only believe what they see. What they see is you bullying and tormenting Bai Li because of her gentle nature.
Someone angrily scolds you: “Don’t go too far!”
Soon another chimes in: “Exactly! You think it’s okay to bully Bai Li just because she’s easygoing?”
“Who doesn’t know that you’ve taken advantage of Bai Li? Who would have thought she’d be so foolish?”
The barrage of insults overwhelms you; your explanations don’t even get a chance to surface. They seem like monstrous creatures ready to tear you apart, as if doing so would avenge the innocent girl Bai Li. But the one who is truly hurt is you—why won’t they listen to your side?
In the chaos of the crowd pressing in on you, your eyes meet Bai Li's. They are beautiful yet cold, hiding an unexpected trap filled with danger. Her tears, her pleas, her apologies are chains dragging you into an abyss from which there is no return.
In a daze, it feels like many people are pushing you back. The dormitory door slams shut, cutting off the noisy clamor outside. You sit on the bed with vacant eyes until Bai Li hands you a cup of warm water.
After crying, her eyes were red and her throat hoarse. She tried to please you, carefully holding the cup with both hands and offering it to you.
"Drink some water."
You slowly turned your dull eyes to look at her, then tipped the cup over, spilling water everywhere.
"Bai Li, you are a liar."
The Mermaid Girl slightly parted her pale lips, her eyelashes fluttering sadly. Her voice was soft and pitiful, humbly begging for your forgiveness.
"I'll change, okay? I'll fix everything you don't like."
But it was too late; even if she really changed, you and she could never go back to how things were. You couldn't let go.
After the mask was torn off, you no longer had to pretend with her. In fact, being alone wasn't so hard; without Bai Li, you didn't have to be her accessory anymore.
The only downside was that you were still entangled with Bai Li. No matter where you went, she followed you like a shadow, never leaving your side. No matter how much you scolded or avoided her, she remained steadfastly present around you, leaving you with a deep sense of helplessness.
She put on that pitiful look as if she were the victim. Those who paid attention to Bai Li watched your interactions closely.
You didn't know who spread the rumors that you bullied the weak and pitiful Bai Li out of jealousy, making her do your bidding and extorting money from her. These baseless rumors led your counselor to privately call you in for a talk, filled with reprimands about your behavior.
In everyone's eyes, Bai Li was just a poor, fragile victim. You didn't know how to explain to your counselor that it was Bai Li who clung to you; the counselor seemed half-convinced.
It was no surprise that no one believed you. After all, how could someone as outstanding as Bai Li possibly need a friend as ordinary as you?
You left the office and stepped into the glaring sunlight outside, which stung your eyes. You felt cold.
Since meeting Bai Li, your life had undergone a tremendous change. Every time you tried to climb out of the hole, she would pull you back down. It was a never-ending cycle.
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