Do you believe in mer people COMPLETE

Chapter 11: I don't want to leave you

"I can't remember if we've talked about this before but I just want to ask. Do you have a family down there?", Yibo still couldn't remember some things. Sometimes, his memories were so vague that if he tried too hard to recall, he couldn't tell his real memories apart from his imaginations.

"Of course I do, I didn't materialize out of thin air". Yibo chuckled at his answer. The more he spent time with Zhan, the more he knew Zhan could be mischievous. Both of them lay facing each other while Yibo played with Xiao Zhan's hair.

"Ha, I know you didn't. Do you have siblings? Do you live with your parents or you live alone?".

"I grew up with my uncle. My parents died when I was younger and I have no memories of them. I suspect it has something to do with why my uncle hates humans. I don't know if you remember but it is forbidden for us to interact with humans. I have no siblings but I have two cousins whom I live with".

"Oh that's nice. Do you ever plan on leaving? Staying on your own or maybe starting your own family?"

"I plan to leave. I've come of age and I can move away if I want but...", he placed his hand on Yibo's arm, "...you're still here. I don't want to leave you".

This response made Yibo smile. He was enough reason to make Zhan stay behind.

"What if we move somewhere else together? I can get a place close to the sea, build a fence around it. I can even channel some water to our doorstep if you want".

Yibo was sincere but Xiao Zhan took it as a joke. "Ha-ha, funny. You can't live too close to the sea". Xiao Zhan paused for a while then continued. "Besides, I have no problem staying out of water for a long time. I believe I can live just fine on land".

"Really? Can all merpeople stay both in and out of water?"

"No, as a matter of fact, merpeople are weak out of water. We can't survive for long just like humans can't stay long in water but I think I'm different. When you were away, I didn't step my foot into the water for one whole month and I was fine. I know this is abnormal, I didn't bother to tell my uncle about it. It's my little secret".

Yibo was surprised to hear that Zhan could stay on land. It made everything a lot easier.

"Xiao Zhan, I'd be going away for some time", as he said this, the hand Xiao Zhan placed on Yibo that had been moving up and down, paused.

Zhan hated being separated from Yibo although it was not the same this time around. Still, that didn't stop him from hating it.

"Going away?"

"Yes but only for a short time. I have been looking for a job and I got invited for an interview in another city in 2weeks. I would be gone for a few days, I'm not too sure how long I'd be gone but I'd come back".

"Hmm. You have your parents to take care of so you need a job to support them. That's fine. You've explained it earlier".

"Would you like to come with me?"

"Nah. I have something to do back home. I'd make use of the time you're away to sort out my business".

"Oh. What is that? Can I help?"

"If you don't mind meeting my uncle, he is a lot older than me and he is bigger than your boat. He has lived long enough that his human like features are no longer visible. He is completely covered in black scales. He has the ability to cause natural disasters and he can erase your memory just by looking into your eyes. No human has ever made eye contact with him and lived to tell the tale", Xiao Zhan turned his face away from Yibo, concealing a sly smile as he spoke. "Oh, I forgot to add, he hates humans. Do you still want to meet him?"

"..". Yibo tried to picture the description Zhan gave, he was more of a monster than a merman. He wondered if Xiao Zhan was going to evolve to be just like him in the future. The thought of that made the hair on his body stand.

Sensing his tension, Xiao Zhan burst out laughing. "Ha-ha, I was joking. He is not as scary but he is someone you should be weary of. Don't worry, I just want to have a talk with him."

"Okay", Yibo didn't have a choice. It's not as if he could follow him to go see his uncle.

"Yibo... do you have kids?". Xiao Zhan had been meaning to ask this question for some time.

"No, I don't have any kids". Yibo knew he was asking because he was previously married. He still didn't know how to bring up his marriage, he didn't want anything to make Zhan feel uncomfortable.

"Oh, do you plan to have kids?"

"I haven't thought of it yet. Why? Do you want to have kids?"

"Of course, I want to have a couple of kids before I leave home".

Yibo's eyes and mouth flew open at the same time. "Xiao Zhan, we are together now, you cannot casually sleep with other people. You can only sleep with me".

"Who said anything about sleeping with other people? Is sex necessary for you guys to have kids?"

"Ermm, kinda. How do you guys have kids?"

"The females lay the eggs and the males pick some to fertilize. We incubate them till the babies are hatched".

Yibo had a lot of questions but he decided to take things slowly. He couldn't believe his...boyfriend was hatched from an egg.

"Oh..."

"So...you need to have sex to make babies? How primitive", Zhan was making fun of Yibo.

Yibo raised an eyebrow as he spoke. "Primitive? It's a normal biological process! Besides we have advanced technology where one can have babies without sleeping with another".

"You need advanced tech for that? Our normal process is your advanced technology. Yibo, are you sure you won't abandon everything and come live with me down there?"

Yibo knew he could not win in an argument against this cheeky Xiao Zhan. Zhan not only turned out to be playful, he also had a certain charm that could make Yibo agree to do anything he asked. Take now for example, he almost agreed to go live with Xiao Zhan. In order to avoid digging a pit for himself, Yibo turned Zhan over for another round of love making.