The Old Man and the Mermaid

When the mermaid returned to Twilight Island, it was almost dusk—this is also the origin of the name Twilight Island.When the sun sets, the entire island will be shrouded in a thin layer of golden veil, and the dazzling sunlight will cover the entire sea surface as far as the eye can see, pulling and spreading the last rays of light to the island.

It was midsummer these days, and the temperature of the sea water no longer seemed so cold, and it even took away a stronger burning sensation when hitting the beach.

The mermaid doesn't like this kind of warm sea water very much. Too high temperature will burn his skin and make the water in his body evaporate quickly.However, perhaps because he drank some wine before, his body temperature was still a little too high. When he was shrouded in the setting sun, the sultry elements floating in the air seemed to have decreased a little.

He took the two scales torn from the giant sea creature before, turned ashore, and sat down in the shadow of a rock facing away from the sun.The constantly churning waves shuttled from both sides of the rock, so that his tail could always be soaked in the warm and cool sea water, so that he would not be dehydrated like last time.

What's more, he was conscious this time, so how could he make such a stupid mistake like before.

In fact, the reason why he passed out due to exhaustion last time was also related to those giant beasts lurking in the depths of the ocean.

Mermaids are reluctant to recall these.

Alcohol intoxicates his mind but does not impair his judgment of his surroundings.He was sure that no one was walking around now—maybe it was related to the gathering that Aigre had talked to the fat boss in the morning. At least so far, the mermaid hadn't found any signs of human activities within his range of perception.

He slowly closed his eyes, enjoying the quiet evening that was rarely spent on the shore.

The area of ​​Dusk Island is small, so the number of people in this island town is naturally small. Most people know each other well, and no matter what difficulties or joys there are, they can spread throughout the entire island in a relatively short period of time.

There are, of course, some innocuous jokes—such as Aigre's red underwear.

Aigre has installed a computer at home.The laptop does not have a mainframe that is so big that there is no place to put it like the previous one. It is small and light, and its performance is also good.Although Egreel seldom studies these electronic products, he has also learned about computer accessories in detail in an elective course in the university. After listening to the boss's narration, he thinks it is quite reasonable and he will not be deceived.

However, the town of Twilight Island is only this big in total. It is impossible to keep secrets about who does what kind of work and where they live. In fact, there will not be any unscrupulous businessmen—unless these business guys have made up their minds. Step into the island again.

Aigre searched again about the breeding methods of pearl oysters, but in the end, he still couldn't get any useful information.So he spent the next short period of free time on the simple interface of Minesweeper. He hadn't touched this small game for a few months, and he felt that his hand feeling seemed a little not so smooth.

At the same time, he also re-downloaded the social software that he had used in college before, and just after he went online, he received messages from several friends.

Most of them are messages from some time ago.When Aigre left the academy, he was quite hasty. He only notified a few of his closest friends and professors who had taken care of him. However, many people were still concerned about the whereabouts of this talented man in the department.

Some people were also inviting him to a class reunion shortly after graduation. Unfortunately, it was a long time before the reunion day when Aigle received this message, so he could only simply leave a message to explain and apologize .

Not surprisingly, he received messages from several girls.Aigre knew what these girls were thinking, but he really didn't have time to pay attention to them when he was in the academy, and at the same time, he really didn't feel any throbbing about the overtures of these beautiful girls.He has always been used to following his inner thoughts, and since he is sure that he does not have that feeling, there is no need to delay those girls who are in their best years.

Only one latest message was sent after seeing him online.Aigre clicked on it and found that Royce, one of his roommates in college, was looking for him.

[Finally waiting for you to go online, old man. 】The message from Royce reads like this.

Aigre pondered for a few seconds before replying: [Long time no see, what can I do for you? 】

【You forgot something. ] Royce replied quite quickly. 【do you remember?You were in a hurry, so I borrowed a notebook from you, but you forgot to take it back.I forgot to remind you when you left, and I don't know your phone number.I just found a suitable job recently, but I have to wait another two weeks before I can officially go to work, so I just have time to visit your place and take it with you? 】

When he said this, Eigre remembered the matter of the notebook.After thinking about it, he really wanted to get that notebook back - that thick little notebook not only recorded his study notes in class.

[Then I will trouble you, thank you, brother. 】

Royce was not only his roommate, but also one of his best friends over the years.Although they didn’t talk about everything, at least they were able to confess to each other. There were almost no secrets between them, and at the same time, there were not too many conflicts—except for one time when the girl Royce pursued told him honestly: What I was thinking about was actually Aigle, and being friends with him was just to have a conversation with Aige.

The young man was so angry that he decisively abandoned his reason, rushed back to the dormitory, and punched his friend who was so good-tempered that he couldn't believe it.

Aigre was inexplicably beaten by him, and he flattened back with almost no hesitation.

It was the most hearty and free-spirited fight that Egrele had fought in his several years of college career-because he knew that his brother would not really deliver goods to him.

The result, of course, was that Eigre defeated Royce with an overwhelming power gap.

Royce, with a bruised nose and swollen face, hummed and explained to Eigre the reason for beating him up, and after the reconciliation, he readily invited Egrele to a high-end restaurant with high prices, and let him enjoy a sumptuous meal. Lunch.

Aigre had never lost to anyone in a fight, so he was shocked by the power of that mermaid.

He is very clear that the state shown by the mermaid is definitely not the most powerful appearance of that kind of creature.The mermaid can't completely suppress him, it's just because it's limited by the environment to a great extent.

This knowledge made Eigre feel a little unhappy, but he had to admit that the mermaid could indeed pose a considerable threat to him.

It feels like a most sophisticated computer expert swearing to his employer how powerful he will be, strong enough to break through the central system of any electronic device in the world.Then the employer who paid him the coins told him with a smile that he didn't have a working computer.

Computer expert: "..."

Aigre just thought of this metaphor suddenly, but if he really wanted to describe the whole scene in full, the computer expert would probably turn the tables on the spot.

Although this metaphor is not accurate, Eigre feels that compared with the previous fights between him and the mermaid, this statement is obviously quite appropriate.Even if he could defeat the mermaid, it would feel like he had restrained the limbs of that beautiful creature beforehand.

...limbs?

Aigle beat his IQ in the depths of his heart expressionlessly.

However, the attack power of that fish tail seems not to be underestimated, which can be seen from the degree of damage of Aigre's Mu Zhuozi, which has been thrown to the scrap factory.

This reminded him of the goldfish he kept in the fish tank a long time ago.Although it usually looks gentle and weak, if it is suddenly frightened, it can jump out of the water directly up to a height of several tens of centimeters.

This is another not-so-accurate metaphor, and the reason just comes from Aigre's pure admiration for the tails of various fishes.

And at this time, Eigre had a new idea—for example, is a creature like a mermaid a mammal?

...If it is a mammal, then there must be corresponding organs.

Aigre touched his chin, and finally decided to abandon this unhealthy idea that had already flown into outer space.

Little did the merman know that the young man named Eigre was questioning his masculinity.

He was leaning on the rock to rest just fine, but after a short period of time, he was attracted by a loud noise in the distance.

Under the influence of this noisy sound, he had to open his eyes to look around, and then looked in the direction where the sound came from.

He saw many small but brilliant sparks blooming faintly on the high ground in the center of the town in the distance.The position he was in was not too low, but the sea water had already submerged to his chest, and there was a high slope in front of him where the lighthouse was, so he could only see a small part of the fire bursting out of the darkness.

But it is estimated that it will not rise higher tonight.

That should be regarded as a kind of gunpowder.The mermaid thought.People call it fireworks.

The mermaid didn't know exactly what time it was, but it was estimated that it was still early than the time agreed between him and Aigre.The young man didn't seem to have much emotion, and even when he was fighting with him, his expression could be said to be calm.Therefore, he guessed that this young man was probably a calm and indifferent person in his daily life, and he would not feel so excited about this kind of gathering.

In fact, the mermaid's guess was completely correct, and Aigre did not change his mood, which had never experienced much ups and downs, because of this cheerful party.

In the words of other residents in the town - he is almost the same as his grandfather who can only maintain a gentle smile for many years.

"Get up and move around, little Payer! You should be full of energy at your age, why are you acting like a little old man?" The fat boss of the grocery store sat down next to Aigre with a bottle of low-alcohol wine. , looking at the people who were laughing wantonly in the square, he persuaded Aigre with some dissatisfaction, "When I was your age, I would often play tricks on other adults at parties."

"I'm not young anymore, Mr. Witt." Egrele replied gently, "And I still have a lighthouse to look after at night, so I can't get too drunk."

"Oh...you are just too serious, you don't have the fun that young people should have at all!" The fat boss shook his head and sighed, then stretched his hand around his fat waist, from the pocket behind his butt Take out a note, "Here, this is the contact information of the person in charge of publishing that I told you before, keep it by yourself. I can only provide you with some ways to contact them. It still depends on your own ability. I am looking forward to what you, a little guy, will do."

"I hope I won't disappoint your expectations." Aigre thanked him with a smile, and took the note, "It's still early, go and have a drink with others, I can stay a little longer. "

"...It's really hard work for you." The fat boss muttered a few words, and finally sighed, "Old Mr. Payer is indeed a kind old man who is serious and responsible, and always treats all his friends and partners well. As long as you talk to him, There's no one who doesn't like him."

Aigre nodded slightly, and remained silent without answering.

"Everyone is born, old, sick, and dying. I know you won't be unable to get out. Take heart and continue living happily!" The fat boss took a sip of his wine, patted Aigle on the shoulder a few times, got up and left This bench at the edge of the square.

After the fat boss left, Aigre poured all the small glass of wine in his hand into his mouth.

Old Payel--what a kind and gentle old man his grandfather was, he knew better than anyone.He has been with Eigre for more than twenty years, and now even if he left this world in the most peaceful manner, how could Aigre not feel sad at all.

Aigre sat quietly on the bench for a while, waiting for the burning sensation caused by the alcohol to gradually subside, then left the bench, explained to a security guard closest to him, and slowly walked out of the square.

He also remembered that a special guest had invited him to meet at night.

When Aigre stepped into the gradually rising sea water at the coast, what the mermaid saw was his obviously unhappy look.

The mermaid was slightly surprised.

In his impression, human gatherings have always been full of laughter and laughter. Whether it is a serious and elegant business meeting, or a private party full of young people like the kind held in small towns today, it should not be a reason for participation. People who go in should bring such emotions.

Thinking this way, the mermaid moved its tail soaked in the sea water, sat up its upper body a little bit, and watched the figure of Aigre who was gradually approaching.

Aigre held those pearl oysters in his hand——before he left the party, he asked the mayor of several merchants who depended on marine products to make money, and the answers they gave were all the same.This kind of pearl oyster that grows in the natural ocean is indeed not suitable for domestication, and it may die directly one day.

These businessmen also inquired a few words about the reason why Aigre asked them this question.Of course Aigre knew that they wanted to ask about the origin and location of those pearl oysters, so after a few words, he evaded it perfunctorily, and quickly left the small circle where the businessmen were standing together.

So Aigre decided to return these pearl oysters to the sea, express his thanks to the mermaid again, and tell him that he accepted the other corals.

He approached slowly, letting the sea water gradually hide from his knees, and then sat down cautiously at a distance from the mermaid, looked at this visitor who seemed calmer than him, and tried to greet: "Good evening, Mermaid... sir?"

The mermaid bowed slightly to him as before.

This is the only response he can make - it's not that he can't speak, it's just that the mermaid's vocal system is inherently different from that of humans, and his language is also far from that of humans, even the pronunciation is completely different.

He could understand what Aigre said, but there was no need to reply in his own language, that would only seem quite unnecessary.

After greeting each other, the mermaid turned to the pearl oyster in Aigre's hand, and asked him what he was doing with these gadgets.

"This..." Aigre raised his arm, spread the hand holding the pearl shell, and explained, "I can understand the reason why you gave me these things, and I am happy to accept this kind of formal reward, so those beautiful I’m not polite to accept the corals. But I checked a lot of information, and I also asked experts who specialize in raising these little things, but I couldn’t find any good way to feed them, so please send them back to the sea Well, it’s really useless to put it here.”

The mermaid raised her eyebrows, unexpectedly raised the surprisingly long fish tail, and swept away the few pearl oysters.

Then he silently tossed the poor shells and broke them open.

Aigre: "..."

...Brother, they can be regarded as half of your neighbors in the sea anyway, let's change to a milder execution method, don't want to be so cruel.Aigre felt his facial muscles twitch slightly, and he patted his forehead with a complicated expression.

The mermaid took out the few pearls buried in the flesh in the shell, and threw them directly at Aigre.

Aigre was stunned for a moment, but he still stretched out his hand very quickly, managed to distinguish the positions of the pearls in the night, and grabbed a few of them.

The other one or two unfortunately fell into the water, and the mermaid rolled it up with its tail and sent it back to Aigre.