Jiang Mian guided Lapers into the pool while he went to prepare the necessary utensils for washing.
"What are you going to do?" Rapos asked curiously.
He could wash off all the tiny fish scales by shaking his hair and swimming underwater, but Jiang Mian wanted to clean his body for him—this was a treatment that only mermaids were entitled to after establishing a relationship. How could he refuse such a big offer? So he floated on the water obediently, waiting for Jiang Mian's action.
Jiang Mian brought his sea salt soap, as well as the comb, shampoo and conditioner he used.
"I guess you don't need to wash your hair under the sea?" He used his fingers to sort out Lapers' long hair, first brushing off some tiny broken scales and the mucus secreted from the fish skin and scales.
Then, Jiang Mian wet the comb and carefully combed out the tangled strands of Lapers' hair, pretending not to notice the way they were winding on their own.
"The sea is full of seawater," Rapos said puzzledly, "Why do we need to wash?"
Jiang Mian smiled. Lapers's black hair was thick, thick, and thick. Each strand was like a soft copper wire, shining with a bright lacquer color and possessing amazing strength. He combed one strand, and the other one quietly climbed up his legs and wrapped around his ankles.
"Ahem, Lapers?" Jiang Mian cleared his throat. "Why, are your hair alive?"
Lapers's happily swaying tail froze, and he stammered, "Um, um... No!"
Jiang Mian suppressed his laughter and ignored the restless hair. He put down the comb, scooped up some water, and wet the top of Lapers's head - although it was unnecessary, he found that he really liked watching the water droplets rolling through the long black hair, rolling down the mermaid's neck, rolling on his strong and sturdy back muscles, and then melting into the pool.
As he washed himself, he whispered, "So, will I eventually become a mermaid, with a fish tail and fins like you?"
The hair that was wrapped around the ankles all retreated, and the male mermaid gently held the young man's slender ankle underwater and gently stroked it, causing Jiang Mian to breathe in panic.
No, not anymore, Pearl, Lapers' eyes dimmed, your mermaid blood has been degenerated for too long, and you have been used to being a human for too long. If I could find you ten, eight, or even five years earlier, I would definitely let you return to the form of a mermaid, but now...
His tone became as low and slow as flowing water: "You will have fins. But your tail and your legs can't withstand such a big change."
Jiang Mian asked hurriedly: "Then can I still breathe in the water like you?"
He couldn't help but touch both sides of his neck. These days, the skin there, like the skin on his ankles, was often itchy and hot, which made him think more.
"Of course." Lapers rested his head on his knees and purred, "I will make sure you eat well and have enough food. Your body will get enough nutrition. By then, your mermaid organs will gradually develop and mature. Then I will take you home."
Jiang Mian sniffed and whispered, "Okay."
He picked up the shampoo and squeezed it in his hand. In fact, mermaids have an extremely keen sense of smell. They have their own olfactory sacs to distinguish odors, so they should stay away from products with artificial fragrances. But Lapers sniffed the fragrance and immediately identified it with satisfaction. This was the lingering smell in Jiang Mian's hair.