The Little Mermaid Raising Project

Dark lines. Right now, Tian Ling’s face was covered in them. A gloomy aura seemed to radiate from his handsome features, making his brother, the other Tian Ling, shiver beside him. The younger Tian Ling’s proposal wasn’t anything outrageous. He had simply told his older brother that he’d found a high-paying, low-difficulty job—one that his brother was absolutely perfect for. Hearing this, the elder Tian Ling had readily agreed. But when the younger Tian Ling brought him to the workplace, the elder Tian Ling instantly snapped... No wonder. No wonder his brother had insisted on going out without concealing his looks. No wonder his brother had demanded he show his real face, too. This place certainly was a low-difficulty, high-paying job… Except—as the elder Tian Ling stared at the name of the establishment, the images conjured in his mind sent him into a full-blown rage. It was a very large café. It was a very lavish café. Most importantly, it was a maid cafe! Several charming maids in gorgeous outfits drifted through the café, and right before Tian Ling’s eyes was a recruitment notice: Requirements: Female, height over 160cm, age 16 and up… There were many lines of text, but the entire job posting could be summed up in two words: Beautiful Women! "Little brother." The elder Tian Ling placed both hands on his brother's shoulders, his grim expression unchanging. If anything, his head drooped even lower. From the younger Tian Ling's perspective, his brother’s entire face was shrouded in shadow. "Yes," the younger Tian Ling replied, facing his brother. He seemed to have a perfect grasp of the situation. Although his older brother was radiating gloom, the younger one didn't show the slightest hint of discomfort. "How did you find out about this?" The voice was dark and sullen. The younger Tian Ling felt his brother's grip tighten, his hands emitting a faint *creak*, like the grinding of bones. "Oh, uh, that..." The younger Tian Ling scratched the back of his head and gave a couple of dry chuckles, "Hehe." A faint blush crept onto his cheeks. His stunningly delicate expression made several passersby blush and turn away. He leaned in close to his brother's ear and whispered, "Actually... I'm a regular here..." *Creek.* An immense pressure suddenly bore down on the younger Tian Ling's shoulders. His brother's face was now bowed so low it was completely hidden. The elder Tian Ling had only meant to ask how his brother found the ad, but he never expected him to be a regular. In a flash, Tian Ling understood the source of their financial crisis. The younger brother saw countless black flames ignite behind his brother as his lowered head began to lift, slowly, bit by bit. "What... did... you... say...?" The elder Tian Ling's voice wasn't loud, but it was heavy. The younger one felt his brother's hands lock onto his shoulders. He was quite certain that if his brother wished it, he could be sent flying to discuss aeronautics with the birds at any moment. "Uhh... exactly what it sounds like." The younger Tian Ling was still chuckling, "Hehe," but now countless beads of sweat were popping out on his forehead, streaming down his face with the force of the Yellow River bursting its banks. "And... you... think... this... is... suitable... for... me?" Each word was enunciated with painstaking clarity, every syllable stressed, especially the final "me," which was roared with such force it nearly made the younger Tian Ling's heart leap out of his chest. His brother looked at him as if he owed him a massive debt. "Uhh... aside from the gender part, you meet all the requirements, big brother." The younger Tian Ling wiped the sweat from his brow and continued, "You're a master of housework, so this stuff would be a breeze for you. The hours aren't long, the pay is good, and most importantly..." This time, it was the younger Tian Ling who drew out his words. "What is it?" The elder Tian Ling didn't look up, but when his brother reached this part, his own feeble curiosity was piqued. For him, whatever interested his brother usually interested him as well. "Do you really want me to say it?" the younger Tian Ling asked, not answering directly. "Yes!" the elder Tian Ling replied firmly. "You're sure you want to hear it?" the younger one asked again. "I'm sure!" The elder nodded emphatically. "You promise not to hit me!" "Fine!" "Then I'll say it..." "Just say it..." "I'm really saying it now..." *Smack!* A sharp rap. The younger Tian Ling's head and the elder Tian Ling's fist had another physical exchange. The younger one looked innocently at his brother's fist and mumbled, "You promised not to hit me..." Of course, his brother ignored him, clenched his teeth, and said menacingly, "Are you going to say it or not!" "You really promise not to hit me, okay..." the younger Tian Ling reiterated. "Okay." "And if you do, don't hit my head! It'll make me dumber!" The younger one nodded seriously. But seeing his brother's fist about to fly again, he quickly cleared his throat. His eyes suddenly began to sparkle with a golden light. Before the words even came out, he was already staring at his brother's face, lost in a wild fantasy. *Thump-thump-thump-thump...* A flurry of punches. The younger Tian Ling's infinite reverie was cut short by his brother's sudden attack. He clutched his head and grumbled, "I didn't even say anything..." "I know what you were going to say!" the elder Tian Ling stated with certainty. "What?" "You were definitely going to say, 'I want to see my big brother dressed up as a pretty maid, with his skirt fluttering in the wind...'" "Bingo! You're amazing, big brother! How did you guess?" *Thump-thump-thump-thump...* His only answer was another flurry of punches. "You promised not to hit my head! It'll make me dumber..."