Mermaids Don't Dance

To get close to Madam Bai, one had to pass through the celebration ball.

Xiaoman said that a ball was the best place for humans to conduct covert operations, because everyone was too busy pretending to be elegant. Coral understood the word "pretending," so she studied it very seriously.

She entered the hall on Lu Wenchao's arm, and her first step landed squarely on his foot.

Lu Wenchao's expression didn't change. "Lift your foot."

She lifted the other foot and stepped on him again.

"Is this also a dance move?"

"This is murder."

Coral quickly scribbled on paper: I'm sorry.

Lu Wenchao looked down at the paper, then suddenly smiled. "Follow me."

The aquarium hall had been transformed into a ballroom. Behind the massive glass exhibition tank, tropical fish shimmered like drifting confetti under the blue lights. Scroll paintings of mermaid legends hung on the walls, and the center of the dance floor was paved with transparent flooring. Beneath the floor, water circulated, as if the guests were walking atop a tamed sea.

Coral didn't like this place.

The sea was trapped beneath her feet, the fish were trapped behind glass, and even the music was lined with remnant songs beneath the surface. Every time a violin sounded, the shortened song in her throat ached softly.

Lu Wenchao felt her hand tighten and asked quietly, "Feeling unwell?"

She wrote: They're all pretending to be happy.

Lu Wenchao glanced around. "So are the people."

The music began. He led her through the crowd. Coral didn't know how to dance, but she knew how to follow a current. She treated the music like a tide. At first she stumbled awkwardly after his steps, stepping on him three times, bumping into him twice, and nearly sniffing a noblewoman's champagne mistaking it for medicine. Gradually, she found the rhythm. Her dress swept through the lights, and her eyes brightened.

Lu Wenchao said softly, "Look at me, not at your feet."

Coral looked up.

She saw the lights in his eyes, and also the tension hidden beneath them. He wasn't here to dance. Every step he took measured a distance—Madam Bai, Qin Yan, the exit, the hunters' positions. But when his hand held hers, it was still as steady as a sea wall.

Xiaoman hid behind a pillar, frantically sketching storyboards.

"Incredible. The hunter dances with the little mermaid—next scene, they have to kiss—"

Jiang Yue's voice came through the earpiece, scolding: "Kid, focus on the mission!"

"I am focusing! Madam Bai is still three dance turns away from them!"

Lu Wenchao's temple twitched. "I can hear you."

Xiaoman fell silent for two seconds, then quietly added, "Two and a half turns."

Madam Bai stood on the other side of the dance floor, laughing and chatting with honored guests. Pearl earrings dangled by her ears, the blue light flickering on and off. Whenever she turned her head, the remnant songs inside the earrings pulled at the blue lights throughout the hall.

Lu Wenchao said in a low voice, "Wait until her back is to Qin Yan."

Coral nodded.

She couldn't speak, so she focused all her attention on her fingers. Approach, turn, reach out. If she could just touch the earrings, the tidal talisman Jiang Yue had given her would temporarily seal the remnant songs.

The dance reached its climax.

Lu Wenchao spun her to Madam Bai's side. As she turned, Coral reached out. The moment her fingertips touched the earring, the pearl suddenly burned hot.

Madam Bai caught her wrist, her smile closing in.

"You dance quite well, dear."

Coral froze.

Madam Bai's hand was very cold, but beneath her glove, it felt like invisible hooks were hidden. With a light clasp, Coral couldn't move. The pearl earring pressed close to her ear, and countless remnant songs inside chuckled softly at once.

Lu Wenchao stepped forward immediately.

But Madam Bai had already removed Coral's hat first.

Silver-blue hair spilled down.

Gasps rose from the surrounding guests. Some thought it was part of the performance and applauded at once. Others raised their phones. Still others saw the faint glint of scales at Coral's ankle and their faces changed.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Madam Bai said, her gentle voice spreading through every corner of the hall via the speakers, "the fairy tale's protagonist has arrived."

Lu Wenchao shielded Coral behind him.

On the second floor, Qin Yan appeared with the hunters, silver hooks all aimed at the center of the dance floor. Behind the pillar, Xiaoman's face was deathly pale. Jiang Yue's voice came through the earpiece: "Retreat."

Lu Wenchao said quietly, "Stay close to me."

But Coral didn't flee.

For the first time in front of so many people, she stood straight.

She couldn't speak, so she raised her little notebook. On the paper was a line she had just written, the characters crooked but very clear.

I am not an exhibit.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Madam Bai's smile faded slightly.

"Dear, children in fairy tales shouldn't be so stubborn."

Coral turned another page.

Nor am I yours.

Lu Wenchao saw that line and suddenly gripped her hand tight.

Qin Yan raised his hand.

Before the silver hooks could fall, the water beneath the dance floor suddenly surged, as if awakened by Coral's silent fury. The blue lights flickered, the guests screamed, and the pearls at Madam Bai's ear blazed blindingly bright.

The fake fairy tale of the celebration had finally cracked open its first fissure.