My Mr. Mermaid

Untitled Part 33

Chapter 33 by ryuxenji

Tang Yi-Bai did not make a move to head back to the swimming team even when it came time for lunch. Yun Duo was very surprised by this. To that, Tang Yi-Bai said, "Just came back from the highlands, so we have a day off."

Yun Duo was now once again able to be in the same place as Tang Yi-Bai and remain calm. Just as Chen Si-Qi said, she had been the one who benefited, so what was there to be worked up about? Hehehe.

In the afternoon, Yun Duo made egg fried rice, celery stir-fried with enoki mushrooms, and lettuce with oyster sauce. Tang Yi-Bai only helped by cracking four eggs, but he polished off three-quarters of the food. He himself felt rather sheepish about it, and so he went out and bought back a large watermelon. Yun Duo was a terminal patient of fresh aesthetic syndrome — she carved the watermelon up into small round balls and put them into a transparent colourless glass, making them look especially vibrant and beautiful. Tang Yi-Bai was a quick learner and was soon able to help her with the carving. After that, every one he carved, she ate, till her belly was good and round.

Once she had enough of the watermelon, Tang Yi-Bai moved to sit cross-legged on the sofa with the rest of the watermelon on his lap, where he then proceeded to dig into it and eat slowly and leisurely.

Yun Duo sat by and observed him.

She felt that he was very different today.

In the past, when she saw him, whether he was being kind or domineering, it was always as an athlete. Like a rich watercolour painting, even though the colours were bright and intense, the lines were still crude and rough, only showing one side. But today, completely distanced from his identity as an athlete, he seemed even more real and present. Like a camera lens straying slightly off-focus, capturing a heretofore unseen angle.

This him ... was probably the most real version of himself, right? The base truth of himself as an ordinary young man.

Tang Yi-Bai was happily eating his watermelon when Yun Duo suddenly said, "Let me take a picture of you?"

He knew this was an occupational disease of hers — she always wanted to take pictures when she saw people, and so he nodded, huffing a soft nasal sound in agreement.

Yun Duo took out her camera and chose an angle, snapping several shots in quick succession.

The angle she chose was very special, and she applied a monochrome filter onto the picture. The afternoon sun shone through the gauze curtains, creating a boundary of blurry splotches of light on the floor. The reflected light hit the lens, forming a surreal halo. Tang Yi-Bai was seated on the sofa, his side facing the balcony. His figure was bathed in light and shadow, the outline of his features clearly etched, like an ancient sculpture. Due to the backlight, his face could not be seen clearly, but the lines of his profile stood out even more, appearing even more handsome.

His T-shirt and Bermuda shorts were loose and comfortable, and his figure looked slightly thin in them. His bared arms were bent loosely, and a stainless steel spoon was held between his slender fingers. The light passed by quietly, shining on the fair skin on his arms, making it gleam as white as clean jade.

Yun Duo showed him the final edited picture and waited for his layman praise. However, Tang Yi-Bai took a look and then said, "So awkward."

"This is art," defended Yun Duo.

He tugged lightly on his T-shirt and gave a constructive suggestion. "Shall I take off my clothes for you to take another shot?"

Yun Duo's mind instantly jumped to an image inappropriate for children, and her face flushed bright red.