[Volume 1] Chapter 4 - Unexpected encounter

Upon closer inspection, Jiho realized, 'No, it's a mer.' Jiho looked at the man curiously. It was her first time encountering one, even though she had seen them in the original owner's memory, seeing one up close was different. Her amber eyes reflected a figure of a man with long blue hair and watery black eyes, appearing to be between seventeen or eighteen years old, but his figure was much slimmer than men.

As the mer felt her stare, he looked back at her, his face showing a sign of annoyance as he shouted, "Have you not seen a mer before, huh?"

"Well, no?" Jiho, taken aback by the sudden shout, responded with confusion.

Hearing her response, the mer became more furious, feeling mocked as he pinched his waist and looked at her while bending down a little. "Who the hell do you think you are, trying to harass me just because you think I am a weak mer?" he shouted loudly, causing people to gather around.

Jiho, noticing people slowly surrounding them, asked in a calm voice, "Um, can we talk normally? It's just a misundersta..." Jiho was interrupted in the middle of her sentence.

"What do you mean by misunderstanding, huh? Was your push just now a misunderstanding, or is your attitude toward me a misunderstanding? Just tell me what it is, huh?" The mer pointed his fingers at Jiho as he shouted, making people gather more quickly.

Snap.

Suddenly, Jiho felt something break in her brain. Ah, right, it's her patience. "Shut up, will you?" Jiho shouted angrily, her face losing the previous calmness.

"Do you think you are a world beauty that I harass you? Let me tell you, this is the first time in my life I've seen such an ugly person like you. Listen, even if all the mer in the world disappeared and only you remained, I, Li Jiho, would not touch you." Jiho, finishing her words, turned around and left without looking back, leaving the mer alone without even getting the chance to fight back.

"What is wrong with her?" The mer looked in the direction Jiho left with confusion, but when he realized that she had just insulted him, he stomped his feet on the ground angrily.

"Hump," as he was turning around to leave, he saw the villagers who were still standing there while looking at him. The mer shouted angrily again, "What the hell are you looking at, huh?" Seeing his expression, the villagers started to disperse slowly while avoiding eye contact with him.

Jiho, whose mood became worse than before, headed towards Aunt Zhang's house, relying on the original owner's memories to find it.

As Jiho approached Aunt Zhang's house, she heard raised voices coming from inside. The conversation sounded intense, with words overlapping and tones filled with emotion.

"Wow, you are so rich, huh? Our children haven't even gotten a grain of rice, but you have gone to donate food," a man shouted with rage filled in his voice with a bit of pain.

Aunt Zhang retorted, "Then what should I do? Should I let that child die? When her parents were alive, they helped me so much, so how can I let their child suffer?"

The man continued, "Huh, that woman is already nineteen years old, but my child is only a few years old. Do you want him to die without food?" His voice broke into sobs as he covered his face with both of his hands.

Jiho rubbed her forehead in frustration. She couldn't believe that she had been shouted at by two people already without even knowing her fault. Uncertain whether to interrupt or not, Jiho hesitated at the door. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Sister Ji, how are you?"

Turning, Jiho saw a ten-year-old child, from the original owner's memory she was able to recognize this child as Little Brown, Aunt Zhang's eldest son. "Hello, Little Brown," she greeted him warmly.

Inside the house, the conversation seemed to pause, perhaps noticing Jiho's presence. After a moment, Aunt Zhang opened the door hastily and asked, "Jiho, what are you doing outside? Come."

Jiho laughed awkwardly, not knowing how to answer. "Haha," she gave an awkward smile before quickly entering the house.

Uncle Zhang, who appeared to be in his thirties with yellow hair and slightly dark skin, welcomed Jiho, "Oh, Jiho, how are you feeling, child?"

Startled by his appearance, Jiho stammered, "Hello, Uncle Zhang, I am feeling fine," shocked by the sudden change in appearance, Jiho hastily returned the bowl and bowed.

"Oh, what's the hurry? At least drink some water," Uncle Zhang's voice was much softer and warmer than before, making people feel like it was an illusion.

"No thanks, Uncle Zhang, I need to go home quickly. I still have some unfinished work to do," Jiho stood up as she bowed her head.

"Oh dear, just take it slow. You just got up from illness, and now you're running around like this," Uncle Zhang put his hand on his cheek, looking concerned. If Jiho had not heard it earlier, she would really think this was genuine concern.

'My god, these mers are more dangerous than a woman,' Jiho thought as she bowed her head again and went out. Observing her rush, Uncle Zhang scolded her, "What is she running for, hmph!"

"Daddy, there's rice here," Little Brown pointed out. Hearing this, Uncle Zhang hurriedly looked at the basket, as he saw the rice bowl, a smile formed on his face. He attempted to take the bowl, but it was interrupted by Aunt Zhang.

"Return it to her. She doesn't even have anything to eat. How can we take advantage of her?" Aunt Zhang insisted, trying to take the bowl from Uncle Zhang.

Confused by the situation, Uncle Zhang argued, "What do you mean by return? I didn't snatch it from her; she handed it over herself." He looked at his wife with an annoyed expression.

Aunt Zhang insisted, "But..."

"If she had enough to give us, it means she also has enough for herself," Uncle Zhang snatched the bowl and went towards the kitchen. When Aunt Zhang saw this, her face became more gloomy.

Jiho left the house, still processing the encounter and the dynamics within Aunt Zhang's family, unaware of the trouble that was going to knock on her door.

[I hope you like it and comment to let me know your opinions (≧▽≦)].