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Wei Ying flinched, turning in the direction of the call, a wave of nauseated panic swarmed him at the sight of his bewildered siblings.
Wei Ying trembled, the urge to flee increasing and Yanli's eyes wandered over his crimson tail, complete shock on her features, "S-Shije..." Wei Ying stammered.
This is why he always avoided water... the woman thought, shaking minutely.
Jiang Cheng scoffed, "B-But merpeople are extinct!" He wailed in shock, "How are you one! Wei Wuxian what the fuck is this?!"
Wei Ying flinched again, looking down at the sand as his eyes glossed over, curling in on himself just a little.
Lan Zhan clenched his fists.
Yanli sighed, shaking herself from her shocked daze, she edged forward and kneeled in the sand beside her brother, her robes dampening just a little from the tide.
Wei Ying whimpered, trembling as her hand grazed his tail before her palm lay flat, caressing the scales, inspecting it.
Yanli smiled softly, moving her hand to his hair, "Does this mean I get to wash your hair now?" She asked, making him look up to her in shock, before relieved tears, soon pearls, fled from his eyes.
"Shije..." He laughed tearfully, sniffing as she began to stroke his hair, making it neater, braiding more pieces of hair into the shells.
But Jiang Wanyin was furious.
"Why wouldn't you tell us?!" He screamed, making Wei Ying jump, "We're your siblings but you tell the Twin Jades?!" He went on, hurt, angry, spiteful.
He began to pace as Wei Ying kept his eyes on the ground.
"All the times Yunmeng Jiang struggled with financial issues... you could've just spared some fucking tears!" He screamed, "S-So what you've just decided to keep this secret to yourself?! Did you not trust us enough?! Who else knows that you're a merfreak?!"
When Jiang Yanli heard her youngest brother's words, then heard her other brother's quiet whimpers, she saw nothing but red, "JIANG WANYIN!" She barked, shocking everyone to their cores, the men were silent.
Lan Xichen and Lan Zhan huddled closer together.
Jiang Cheng trembled as his Jiejie shouted at him, "How dare you say such vile things?!" She cried, "Merpeople are hunted! Our brother's kind is extinct you know this! If this got out can you imagine what would happen to Xianxian?! If you love him, you love him unconditionally."
Wei Ying sniffed, sobbing softly as he looked up, "I-I'm so-sorry..." He stuttered, lifting his hands cupped together, shaking madly and full of pearls, "H-Here..." He whimpered, meekly offering his expensive tears.
