Son of the Sea - Chapter 1

The comments contained far too much information.

Before I could make sense of any of it.

I heard the nanny returning with Lan Tang from school.

The five-year-old came in with his schoolbag on his back.

Seeing me all dressed to go out, he asked with practiced politeness, “Are you going out, Mom?”

I was still analyzing whether the comments could be real and did not answer in time.

Lan Tang lowered his eyes. “Then be careful, Mom. Come home early.”

I came back to myself and reached to pat his little head.

As expected, he stepped back and dodged me.

【Does Lan Tang hate his mom that much? He won’t even let her pat his head?】

【No, he doesn’t hate her! It’s actually because he loves her! Merfolk show certain traits when their emotions run high. Lan Tang is still little, so he’s afraid he’ll lose control and expose himself.】

【Wait! I think I’ve spotted the problem. Does the villain’s mom also think the little villain hates her, and that’s why she’s always so distant?】

【Sob, this really is one of those “everyone had their reasons” tragedies. The whole family is doomed.】

【Oh, please. The villain’s parents only married for business. Shen Qiuwu probably never liked Lan Tang in the first place. Even if she hadn’t died in that car accident, the villain’s childhood might not have been happy.】

I looked at Lan Tang, whose face had fallen slightly.

It was not that I disliked him.

He was my own child, after all.

Apart from not clinging to his mother or acting spoiled like other children.

He was intelligent, courteous, thoughtful, and considerate.

I had always assumed his aversion to kisses and cuddles was simply one of his little quirks.

Only after seeing the comments did I realize there was another reason.

It took me three seconds to accept that my husband and son might be merfolk.

Then I said, “I’m not going out today. How about I stay home with you?”

Surprise seemed to flicker through Lan Tang’s eyes.

Yet he pressed his lips together and answered sensibly, “Your work is more important, Mom. I’ll be fine at home with Nanny.”

I shook my head.

“You are the most important thing in my life.”

The ending foretold by the comments was frankly terrifying.

As parents, we could accept an ordinary child.

But we could never want him to become a murderer who destroyed the world.

After dinner, I wanted to play a parent-child game with Lan Tang for a while.

But I was also afraid of stirring up his emotions.

So I found a popular animated movie instead.

“How about I watch a movie with you?”

Lan Tang’s excitement showed plainly on his face.

He nodded hard.

Then he pattered back to his room and returned carrying a fish tank.

“Momo is my good friend. Can I invite him to watch with us?”

Momo was a clownfish Lan Jin and Lan Tang had rescued on a trip to the beach.

Lan Tang said the fish had been stranded on the sand and could not find its way home.

It was so small and pitiful.

Momo did not want to return to the sea alone either.

It hoped Lan Tang would take it home.

At the time, I had thought it was merely a fanciful story born of Lan Tang’s childish imagination.

“Of course.”

“Should we prepare some snacks for your friend?”

Lan Tang lowered his head and murmured a few words to the tank.

The clownfish flicked its tail.

He looked up with a beaming smile. “Thank you, Mom. Momo says he’s already full.”

He set the tank on the coffee table.

He sat one fist’s width away from me.

Momo watched the animation from beside the glass, blowing bubbles as he did.

Before long, I noticed Lan Tang kept sneaking glances at me.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like the movie?”

Lan Tang shook his head and said softly, “I just can’t quite believe you’re really watching it with me. You’re not taking calls or working on your laptop. You’re really here with me.”

My heart clenched.

I was devoted to my career, and Lan Jin handled most things concerning Lan Tang.

Lan Tang was so sensible and never made a fuss.

I had never thought there was anything wrong with that.

Only now, hearing him say it aloud, did I understand.

Just because he did not ask did not mean he did not need me.

Guilt welled inside me, and I instinctively reached to hug him.

My hand stopped halfway. We both went rigid.

Lan Tang turned his face away in disappointment.

I hurried to say, “I was wrong before. From now on, I’ll spend more time with you.”

At once, Lan Tang lifted his face and smiled like a little sunflower.