Getting to know more of the Qiong's

A lone figure clad in an azure silk gown stood at the balcony of the Qiong's villa. The entire room was filled with gloomy atmosphere, it was dark with only the sounds of dripping rain resonating throughout.

It was just an awful dream.

'I guess it was just wishful thinking on my part that we, humans and mermen, can co-exist peacefully, then sooner, I'd reveal myself to their world. I had high-hopes yet in a snap, it dissolved into bubbles.'

As the cold wind stroked her body, she shivered instinctively but didn't move.

Is this how feeble a human body is?

With a little bit of coldness, one shudders their arms while in coldness.

Their people thrive more.

Her mind once more wandered to the thoughts she's forbidden to speak of.

'Love can be deadly when given to the wrong people'

This is the biggest lesson she acquired after what happened fifteen years ago and its aftermath to her Kingdom.

It's been three days since she resided at the Qiong household, basing on how much she observed, there are three leaders around here, the ones she dines in with.

The eldest one is Yan Qiong who insisted that Andromeda's new name will be Nixie, she didn't respond to it and never gave her name to anyone.

Who are they to deserve to know her name?

Lian Qiong is the next-born child, although Yan Qiong is so far the most peculiar one among the three, Lin Qiong is also strange in a way that out of nowhere she grabs Andromeda's bosom and squishes it firmly.

"You get it, don't you?" the familiar voice in her dream hunted her once more.

"Men are evil..."

Her eyes became obscured upon the memory of her bane.

"It was just a bad dream, Andromeda..." she whispered to herself, putting her two hands up towards her face and lightly patting it, "Wake up, wake up!"

Sure, it's just a nightmare, however, those voices echoed inside her head, it's a flashback of her life, a picture that already lost its colors.

Her turquoise orbs were desolate and lifeless. Her porcelain-like skin was getting a rosy charm because of the chilly air that assaulted her human body. Since she's been staying on the surface for days now, her pale complexion began to have a glistening color, it became more alive than it was back when she first arrived from underwater.

She outstretched her bare arms, and tiny rain droplets splattered on her fingers.

How she yearns to revert back time when she was a little kid, naive and full of hope for the future, now that she's an adult, her view in life changed gradually.

It became dark and dull, the rainbows she craves to witness with her own eyes, sunk into the deep ocean, where her dead family, friends, and dreams persist to be silent.

Andromeda's languid gaze was stuck on the remnants of the drops running downward like miniature rivers.

"Nixieeeee!" A high-pitched voice rang the whole balcony and room. Lian Qiong squealed in glee upon waking up and spending another delighted morning with Nixie.

As a 26-years old world-renowned fashion designer, Lian Qiong fancies anything that is glittery, stylish, extravagant, in other words, she likes big bright and beautiful things, Nixie apparently possessed all the categories.

"What is that sullen atmosphere you have? It doesn't suit you, my precious Nixie" Lian Qiong said, trying to cheer up her new model.

The clothes she requested to be delivered in their villa has been brought by their helicopter early in the morning.

All she needed now is for her model, Nixie, to wear the lingerie she had prepared.

She started eyeing Nixie the moment she laid her eyes upon her, those curves that this dazzling woman possesses, will be Lian Qiong's key to success.

She will surely wipe out Aria Execroz's fame with this photoshoot she will conduct!

Her hands find its way to Nixie's chest, slowly massaging it like she usually does.

Ah…what a stress reliever, it's like the stress ball she loves so much!

So soft…

Andromeda's eyes shifted, she was uncomfortable with what Lian Qiong is doing, it's strange when a grown woman's hand grabs her in places she doesn't want, however, she felt helpless.

There's a part of her mind that whispers…' Bear a little longer'

Fate must be playing with her when out of all the households she will run into, she was placed inside the mansion of the Qiong's where everyone stinks of secrets and peculiarity.

Her stomach was always churning downwards, protesting at the place she is in.

She hates it here.

She can't even afford to have the appetite to eat kelps when she notices the odd stares from Xiulan Qiong.

Uneasiness crept into her system whenever she thinks about it, the reason why she has been having nightmares the days she has been staying here.

She doesn't feel safe.

"Let's go grab some breakfast, I have your special kelps dear…but after that, I need your help with something" Lian Qiong gestured while her already black eyes darken more.

It was an ominous scent that covered the whole room.

---

Andromeda's gaze focused on the forest colored herb, there are ten pieces of kelps placed on the white glazed earthenware plate. It was full of blue designs synonymous with the designs in ancient China, a warrior painted with blue armor and holding a long spear.

"How was your sleep yesterday?" said Xiulan Qiong in a low hoarse voice.

It was as if he got sick over his stay in his Villa.

It was one of his attempts to talk to the beguiling lady, Yan Qiong told him that she's illiterate and dumb. But in his eyes, that only made her a suitable partner for marriage.

Finally! A woman who doesn't know the importance of social power and a person who is still unaware of the rumors spreading about him, being gay, and unable to speak to women properly.

He had always feared girls since he was young, having two older sisters that are pure evil, Xiulan Qiong did not escape from their everyday wrath.

It was only now when he aged a bit more, that they started laying low on teasing him.

"It's fine..." Andromeda replied sluggishly.

She started playing with her keeps using what they called a fork.

Sleeping in the depths of the ocean is incomparable to when sleeping in a mere mattress.

It is far more relaxing when she's inside her big shell bed and her back against the soft clam.

Xiulan Qiong, noticing that Nixie is in a languor disposition, wiped the side of his mouth with the tissue placed neatly in his lap.

"Mhm... would you like to tour around the villa after we eat?"  he offered, surprising more casual than he thought.

'She must be bored for staying inside only her room and taking a bath for the past three days' Xiulan Qiong thought.

He was busy most of the time but takes his time to visit her in her room, although he wishes he doesn't see it as bothersome.

He knows he is not that good when it comes to interacting with females unless it is based solely on the purpose of business.

With what he said, Andromeda's eyes shined brightly and her feeling of excitement can't be controlled that her legs abruptly stood up on its own.

"Really?!" she asked one more time, making sure that Xiulan is sure of letting her wander.

Her murky feeling caused by her nightmare vanished and began to be replaced with great anticipation.

This is a chance that she's waiting for!

She can learn a lot from this trip that will aid her in gaining experience and knowledge she will need if she wants her revenge to be successful.

As of now, she is similar to a baby, curious yet lacks compression and proficiency in her surrounding. But as time passes by, her growth in cognizance will surpass those of people in the top rankings.

She's a genius infant, as one would distinguish, and this suggestion from Xiulan might be the hole she was looking for.

The hole of knowledge in which she can dig something cavernous.

This is the start of her journey, as a new being, as Nixie and Andromeda in one person.

Being idle for three days recuperated her body and even without legs, she can now walk faster and even run when going downstairs.

Lian Qiong was all of a sudden called by the maids earlier. On the other hand, Yan Qiong became busy handling and assisting the preparations for the Auction that will happen in a week.

Thus, an ending with just the two of them seated at the long table.