Arriving Late...

"My life has been mediocre and meaningless."

This was Li Yuan's belief before becoming a merman.

But one day, Chen Ye said something to him:

"Everyone is born with talent, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live its whole life believing it's stupid."

"Unfortunately, our world only recognizes two types of talent: academic aptitude and business acumen."

"Our world is sick."

"People mistake desire for ambition, cynicism for maturity, cowardice for prudence, and slickness for wisdom."

"Do you think this is right?"

I think that must be wrong.

Li Yuan turned his head to look at the familiar yet alien home before him.

For as long as he could remember, he hadn't known why he lived. His existence seemed inconsequential to the world.

A meaningless life.

Meaningless time.

Perhaps people live to discover their own value.

Li Yuan had lived merely for survival, but now he lived for one purpose:

To fulfill that person's ultimate wish.

Yet this devotion seemed like blind loyalty.

The one he served was dissatisfied with his performance.

If a life's sole purpose is to serve another, how does it differ from a tool?

Though "that person" never said this directly, the message had been conveyed through the Wallfacer.

Li Yuan wasn't clever. He could only vaguely grasp that these words stemmed from their previous failures

and their misinterpretations of "that person's" intentions.

Perhaps they truly needed to reflect.

What "that person" needed wasn't mindless tools, but people who could comprehend commands.

Obedience and comprehension were entirely different concepts.

Must everything be explicitly stated?

Must you cling so rigidly to instructions without using your own mind?

Why wait for explicit orders before acting?

You're human, not tools. Humans are beings capable of mutual understanding.

Is it so hard to anticipate intentions and deliver exemplary results?

Of course it's hard.

That's precisely why "that person" arranged this journey of self-improvement.

Perhaps the true purpose was for them to grow into people who could understand unspoken intentions.

Thus Li Yuan decided to return to where it all began, to sever his past completely and look toward the future.

To find his reason for existing, and become someone worthy of standing beside "that person."

This was Li Yuan's resolution.

What he didn't know was Chen Ye's actual parting instruction:

"If 001 returns while I'm away, remind it to leave the recordings in my room."

Hmm...

But the Wallfacer had mixed up the messages.

...

Li Yuan pushed open the door.

Everything remained unchanged - little brother's awards plastered across the living room, stepmother's perfume prominently displayed.

The family portrait on the wall had a corner torn away.

The missing fragment showed Li Yuan's face.

His father had claimed it was an accident when his brother "playfully" destroyed it during summer break.

The burned remnants couldn't be repaired, so it stayed that way.

Li Yuan snorted at the memory.

A middle-aged woman in pajamas entered the room.

She frowned at the sight of him. "Why are you back?"

"To collect what's mine." Li Yuan's tone remained calm and even, which only irritated her further.

"Yours?" She sneered. "What have you ever contributed? Everything in your room, even the clothes on your back - did you pay for any of it?"

"Even if you did, where did your money come from?"

"Don't talk about part-time jobs. After all we've spent raising you, you've repaid nothing."

"Understand? Until you settle your debts, nothing here belongs to you."

"But given your character, I don't expect repayment. Just stay out of our lives and get lost."

Li Yuan studied her disgusted expression and suddenly laughed.

How ugly that face had become.

"I've often felt grateful to gain new perspectives on this world."

Once, he'd hated this woman.

Now, he found her pathetic.

As a transformed being, he could slit her throat as easily as he'd dealt with other scum.

Her life rested in his palm.

But he no longer cared to.

Li Yuan casually sat on the sofa. "You're quite eloquent. Ever considered stand-up comedy?"

The woman blinked. "What... what did you say?"

"Going deaf? Understandable with age."

"You!"

"Me?"

"I'm pressed for time. Let's skip the reunion."

Li Yuan headed to his room and pulled a suitcase from under the bed.

His stepmother charged in. "Who said you could take that!"

"Li Yuan! If you dare remove one thing—"

"Hmm?" He tilted his head. "You'll what? Take your time thinking."

The stepmother trembled with rage. "Try it and I'll call the police!"

"Alright. Let's test that."

He continued packing undisturbed.

The woman gnashed her teeth. Since when did this bastard grow a spine?

Footsteps approached as Li Yuan's father appeared.

"Let him take it."

"But—"

"Let him. Then he'll leave."

Grudgingly, she retreated.

Li Yuan kept packing, accidentally knocking over a photo frame.

Clatter.

The glass shattered, revealing a hidden note beneath the high school graduation photo.

The message read:

"Knowing you, you'll never find this. Li Yuan, you big dummy! (tongue out)

I wanted to say so much, but words fail me.

Three years as desk mates, yet I never knew your thoughts. Let me share mine:

You're decent-looking and tall, but too timid.

Grades could be better, though still above mine.

You're gentle and patient with everyone.

I always laughed when you got tongue-tied during arguments.

Remember when Liu Mingyang threatened to jump you? You hid in the classroom overnight!

A grown man acting like a scared rabbit.

If I hadn't protected you those semesters, who knows how you'd have survived.

When did I start liking you?

I can't recall.

Maybe that rainy day you shared your umbrella?

Or when we fed stray cats together?

Doesn't matter now.

I'll never tell you anyway - you're too dense to notice.

After tomorrow, we'll go separate ways. Best wishes! Stand up for yourself!

(rabbit emoji)"

Love came knocking, but it had already expired.

Li Yuan tossed the note into the trash and left with his suitcase.