I'm Not A Mermaid (YuZhoufest)

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"But, Ma!"

Zhou Zhou sent daggering eyes at his mother as he sulkily sit at the family dinner. The round table shakes as he grabs so some of his favorite food that was placed in the middle. The frown he wears while picked up from the many dishes never got away. His parents had found out he snuck out of the palace, and now he was being lectured about the dangers of going back to the beach. The same beach he was found unconscious and feared he had die under the suspicion of drowning.

"There will be no buts, and you will stop this nonsense. You are our only son! This is for your own good. You will not set foot back there, even if I have to put you under strict surveillance." The angry mother showed no emotion, but there was something sinister with how calm she was talking. "Lao Gong, you say something to your son, also."

The ever rebellious Zhou Zhou huffed as he places a meat and rice inside his mouth. While chewing, he drowns his father's words as he focuses on finishing his meal. Thoughts running through his mind, going back as far as when how he snuck out of the palace when he was little.

"-ady finished your apprentice ship with Master Bai. You're mother and I am so proud of you that you were one of the eight disciples of Master Bai that passed. You are also of age, son. We wish you would start getting serious and choose one of your mother's prospect daughter. Listen to your dear mother as she and I knows what's best for you." The father stops talking and watches his son shove pieces of his food in his mouth. "Son, are yo-"

"Father, mother. I'm finished with my food. If I may be excused." He did not wait for them to say anything as he left the table. Zhou Zhou refuses to dawdle around the table, listening to his parents talk what is best to him and what to do. He had already done his filial duty as their son, now he wanted to do what he has always wanted to do. And, that is to find the one who had save him, wanting to know if the person who he saved was still alive.

After winding down the corridors and corners, he finally reached his personal chambers. With some deep breathes, he calms his racing heart from the little extraneous trudging. Pulling his door to his bedchambers, he was greeted by his oldest attendant, Sho, and new face dressed in white and black attire. Both men halts their mysterious conversation as they look who was at the door.

"Ah, Young Master Xu. It looks like you are finished eating. Have they told you about the news?"

A slow nodding to the older man, Zhou Zhou fixes his eyes more to the man next to him. "Who is this man and why is he in my room?"

The old man with his curving back look straight into Zhou Zhou's eyes and said, "As you know of my situation, I'm already a very old man. From when you were born to you succeeding into a grown man, I am very lucky to have served you as your companion. I could never be much prouder and happy to see you succeed as one of Master Bai's disciple. You are like a son I've never had. I can retire knowing you have grown into a fine young man."

Hearing this, electric waves shocks him into a statue. Zhou Zhou had forgotten all about his retirement after he had gotten back from the beach. This was one of the reason why he decided to sneak away and go to the beach after fifteen years. Right after Sho's words had left the words, he kneels in front of him. "No, Sho. Please, don't go! Don't leave me! You're all that I've got, Sho."

There's a dam forming in Zhou Zhou's eyes as he knelt to his one and only anchor in his life. The man that had been there all his life. Sho was the person who kept his life well balance until this day. Now that he's leaving, it feels as if a part of Zhou Zhou has died.

"Zhou Zhou, its okay since you will have another one who will always be there for you. You're the only descendant of the Xu family, and I've taught you everything I know. Its up to you to further go in your own path. You need to stand on your own feet, now." Old man Sho sighed, shaking his head at his former ward. "Sometimes I wish I was not so easy on you. Dry your tears, I have someone you need to meet."