Chapter 142 – Love in a Fallen City: You Are My Eternal, Unfading Starlight – Lost the Best Helper Who Could Yell (06)
Turs Walker’s vacation was almost over, and he had to return to the Allied Forces Headquarters. That meant he wouldn’t be able to spend much time with Bai Tang anymore.
Worried about leaving Bai Tang alone at home, he called back the servants who were on leave and even asked Mr. Eddie to assign a staff member from the mermaid base to help take care of the little mermaid.
Since it concerned the physical and mental health of the little mermaid, Mr. Eddie readily agreed.
Turs had thought he still had a few more days to spend with Bai Tang, but then a sudden urgent order came from his superiors—he was to report immediately.
“Tang Tang, I’m sorry. I have to go now,” Turs said apologetically.
“It’s okay. Your work is more important,” Bai Tang replied with understanding. Besides, it wasn’t a bad thing that Turs was going back to headquarters—this way, Le Mengqi wouldn’t keep trying to cozy up to him under the guise of gratitude.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Turs had made up his mind: once this mission was over, he’d take a long vacation.
He had a lot of unused leave piled up, and with his wedding leave added in, he could easily take two years off to be with Tang Tang without any distractions.
“Don’t run off on your own. If you want to go out, wait until your tail transforms into legs, then ask Warren to drive you around. But you must be home before dark,” Turs instructed with concern.
Seeing that the little mermaid had a look of “Just go already” and clearly wasn’t listening, he sighed. It seemed like the little mermaid couldn’t wait for him to leave so he could have free reign at home.
Well… Bai Tang really was too lively. But compared to the quiet and obedient version from when he first arrived, this cheerful and energetic Bai Tang was much better. A healthy Bai Tang was the best thing.
Knowing Bai Tang wouldn’t remember his instructions, Turs turned and gave detailed orders to Warren and the others: they were to take good care of Bai Tang and report to him every evening, with updates on anything urgent at any time.
And just like that, Turs left home, still filled with worry for Bai Tang.
When the tiger is away, the monkeys become kings.
That was basically the situation in the house now.
Bai Tang might technically be the “weakest” in the household, but he was also the one everyone cherished like a treasure—so delicate, just like any mermaid, he needed careful care.
Among the staff, Auntie Li, who had no children of her own, doted on Bai Tang the most.
The birth rate in the Alliance was extremely low, and it was especially difficult for women to conceive. Auntie Li was already eighty-nine years old, which was middle-aged by current population standards. She’d married at thirty-five and never had children in all those years.
Now, a soft, fair little mermaid was calling her “Auntie Li” in a sweet, gentle voice—it melted her heart. As a result, Auntie Li spoiled Bai Tang to an alarming degree.
Take today, for example…
Just as Auntie Li hung up the phone after rejecting Le Mengqi’s request to visit Bai Tang, she turned around—and saw the little mermaid staring at her with teary eyes.
“When did you get up, Tang Tang? Are you hungry? Auntie Li will go get you breakfast right away.”
Bai Tang said nothing. He just kept staring at Auntie Li.
Auntie Li panicked. “Is your tail hurting? You’re about to go through transformation in the next few days. Should I call the General back?” She picked up the phone, ready to dial.
The little mermaid’s voice was soft and trembling, “No… I don’t want Turs to come back. If he comes back, Le Mengqi will come too…”
Auntie Li had heard of Le Mengqi before. Though she was also a rare mermaid, her behavior was exactly the kind that Auntie Li despised. If someone said they didn’t want to see you, how hard was that to understand?
Hearing Bai Tang’s words, Auntie Li caught the most important point and disliked Le Mengqi even more. What, did she want to be the homewrecker?
A vivid scene formed in Auntie Li’s mind:
Le Mengqi clinging triumphantly to General Walker’s arm, while Bai Tang—covered in dirt—fell to the ground, desperately trying to reach for the general’s hand, only to be coldly pushed away, left behind as Le Mengqi walked off laughing.
The tearful little mermaid in that imaginary scene overlapped perfectly with the real Bai Tang in front of her… Outrageous! Auntie Li was livid. Women who tried to tear apart other people’s families were nothing but trash.
She pulled over a small round stool and firmly sat Bai Tang down. “Don’t be sad, Tang Tang. Auntie Li will avenge you.”
Then she dialed the mermaid base directly and specifically asked to speak with Le Mengqi.
Getting a call from General Walker’s household, Le Mengqi secretly flashed a V-sign in victory. See? No man could resist for long. And now the call had come.
While imagining all the possibilities, she took the phone from the staff member and answered in her sweetest voice, “Hello? This is Le Mengqi…”
Just as I thought—shameless little vixen, Auntie Li thought to herself as she looked at the confused Bai Tang. She pressed the speakerphone button.
“So, you’re Le Mengqi? As a mermaid, you don’t respect yourself and still want to steal someone else’s protector? And you have the nerve to live in the mermaid protection base? If you’ve got no shame, don’t drag the rest of the mermaids down with you. How cheap can you be—”
A torrent of harsh words came flying out of Auntie Li’s mouth—relentless, without repeating a single insult.
Le Mengqi was stunned. Wasn’t this just a servant from the Walker household? How dare she curse at her?!
She looked around at the other mermaids who were playing nearby. To maintain her gentle image, she said weakly, “I think you’ve got the wrong person, I’m not—”
“You’re not who? Isn’t it you always trying to visit someone else’s protector? Isn’t it you submitting requests every day to leave the base? Or is it not you who can’t go three sentences without mentioning General Walker?”
When it came to the art of scolding someone like a street shrew, Auntie Li had never lost a fight.
Le Mengqi hung up the phone with a dark expression, unable to figure out where her plan had gone wrong. She had intended to show concern for both Bai Tang and General Walker—not necessarily to speak with them directly, but at least to leave a good impression.
The servants would surely pass along that she had called to check in. That way, she could quietly build her presence and subtly plant the idea of her gentle and caring personality in General Walker’s heart.
So where had it all gone wrong?
Auntie Li, after being hung up on, slammed the phone down hard. Then she turned around with a bright smile.
“Don’t be scared, Tang Tang. Auntie Li cursed her out for you. If she dares call again, I’ll curse her again. Let’s see if that little tramp dares show her face around here again!”
What kind of god-level move was that?!
The system was stunned—one of the female lead’s supporters was gone, just like that. And not just any supporter—the one with the sharpest tongue.
Bai Tang had originally intended to win over those who, in the original storyline, sided with the female lead, so he could reduce her support. He hadn’t expected such a great result so quickly.
In the original plot, Le Mengqi used her sweet and gentle persona to win over everyone around Turs Walker. They all supported her, which led to Bai Tang losing favor and being sent back to the mermaid base without resistance. Otherwise, if Bai Tang had even slightly resisted, the authorities would have had to consider the mermaid’s emotional state, and things wouldn’t have escalated so easily.
“Don’t be sad, Tang Tang.” Auntie Li looked out the window—the weather was nice. “After breakfast, let Mr. Warren take you out for a little drive to relax. You’re about to go through your transformation soon, so don’t overthink things. Auntie Li will handle everything for you…”
Although Bai Tang hadn’t intended to use Auntie Li emotionally, her fierce protectiveness really touched his heart.
He smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Auntie Li~”
After breakfast, Bai Tang sat in the car.
“Good day, Mr. Warren~”
“Good day, Bai Tang.”
Warren genuinely liked Bai Tang, who was obedient and well-mannered. That soft, fair little mermaid—how could anyone not adore him?
Recently, things in the Interstellar Alliance had been a bit chaotic. Though they’d won the recent war against the Zerg, traces of the enemy had been discovered again a few days ago.
The military had strong reasons to believe that some Zerg had infiltrated the Alliance. To investigate, they urgently called Turs back from his vacation.
Because of that, Mr. Warren didn’t dare drive too far. He cruised slowly, circling the area.
This world wasn’t too different from the sentinel-and-guide world Bai Tang had lived in before—just a bit more advanced. The streets were filled with high-tech, compact jet cars.
The one Bai Tang was riding in was different from the standard models. Only those with military rank could own it—a large, hovering jet vehicle that was far more stable than anything sold on the market. Ordinary citizens, upon seeing such a vehicle, wouldn’t even dare approach it.
This car had been left specifically for Bai Tang’s safety by Turs.
“Mr. Warren, where is the military headquarters?” Bai Tang asked curiously. After circling the area a few times, even the most beautiful scenery became boring.
“The military headquarters is a bit far from here. Are you missing the General?” Warren chuckled. “Without an invitation, outsiders can’t enter the base freely. How about we head home early and do a video call with the General instead—”
BOOM—
Before Mr. Warren could finish speaking, the building next door exploded with a deafening blast. Flames erupted from the middle floors, and nearby crowds immediately panicked, shoving and scrambling to escape.
The explosion had occurred in a large shopping mall—usually a lively place with heavy foot traffic.
With people running in all directions, the hover car couldn’t move at all.
“Mr. Warren, what happened?” Bai Tang asked, watching the panicked crowd as he craned his neck to see outside.
“Sit tight, Tang Tang. It’s dangerous out there.” Mr. Warren quickly rolled up the windows.
He immediately sent out a communication request for backup. If he were alone, escaping would be no problem—he could simply abandon the car, and regular citizens wouldn’t dare touch a vehicle registered to a general. But with a young mermaid on board, he had to prioritize his safety.
“There’s Zerg activity underground. They’re retaliating against the Interstellar Alliance. D*mn—this car belongs to Turs Walker. They must be targeting him for a suic*de attack. Tang Tang, get out of the car immediately!” The system issued a red alert.
Bai Tang said, “Mr. Warren, maybe we should get out and go on foot.”
Just as Bai Tang spoke, a massive Zerg creature burst from the neighboring building, roaring as it began to attack humans with terrifying force.
“No, if your identity is revealed, the situation will become even more chaotic…” Mr. Warren frantically tried to start the vehicle, but there were simply too many people—he couldn’t move at all.
“Qiu’er, can you turn my tail into legs?” Bai Tang asked.
“There is a way, but it will seriously damage your body,” the system replied, clearly reluctant. Bai Tang’s body was already weakened due to his recent heat cycle.
“We don’t have time. If we don’t act now, both Mr. Warren and I will die here.” Bai Tang pressed his lips together in determination.
The system clenched its metaphorical teeth. As the Zerg drew closer, it pulled out a vial of potion.
Bai Tang’s red-bronze fish tail transformed into slender legs right before their eyes. He quickly pulled his coat around his waist to cover himself.
“Mr. Warren, let’s go.”
Mr. Warren stared at Bai Tang’s long legs for a moment, then yanked the door open.
“Go!”
Just as they got about five steps away from the car, a tentacle came crashing down onto it.
Mr. Warren looked back at the crushed vehicle with lingering fear, deeply relieved that Bai Tang had transformed his tail in time.
Author’s Note:
What a pitiful heroine—her allies are turning against her one by one.