Quick Transmigration: The Sweetheart Everyone Loves Is Stuck in Romantic Chaos Every Day - Chapter 22

“Is that your new mermaid? Not bad.”

“Of course. Cost me ten million in pocket money.”

“What happened to the last one?”

“Too delicate. Died after just a few lashes. Tsk, such a shame.”

“Shame about the mermaid or the money? Haha!”

“Obviously the money!”

The setting was the opulent ballroom of St. Ston Hotel, where Ruan Tang’s nineteenth birthday banquet was in full swing. As the only daughter of the Ruan family—wealthiest in City A—her coming-of-age party naturally drew the city’s entire upper crust.

Ruan Tang listened to the idle chatter of the rich girls around her, her delicate brows knitting ever so slightly.

【Tongtong, what kind of world is this…】

When she’d first heard that mermaids existed in this world—creatures straight out of fairytales—she had been giddy with excitement.

But upon arriving, she discovered that mermaids were nothing more than luxury pets for the elite.

Despite their breathtaking appearance—far more beautiful than any human—they were never seen as equals.

It was so cruel. So wrong.

【Don’t worry, Tangtang. This mission is a simple one. Just protect the female lead of this world and help her complete her storyline, then we can move on.】

The system said all the right things to reassure her, but in truth, it was deeply uneasy.

The moment they entered this world, it had sensed something was off—as if an immensely powerful mental force had infiltrated the plane.

The story data was glitching. Character files were unreadable.

After struggling through piles of corrupted code, it had finally extracted a photo of the female lead.

Please let this mission go smoothly this time, it prayed silently.

【Let’s finish this one fast and get to the next world!】

Ruan Tang bit her lip as she glanced at the mermaids trailing docilely behind their “owners,” bound at the neck by silk ropes.

Their eyes were dull, lifeless—like their spirits had long since died.

Her heart ached.

【Tangtang, I’m sending you the female lead’s photo now. Remember her face, okay?】

【Got it.】

The photo showed a face as cold as it was beautiful. Her pale golden eyes shimmered with an inhuman glow—the signature of a pure-blood mermaid. It was a beauty beyond gender, almost unreal.

So this is a mermaid… she’s stunning.

Just as Ruan Tang was admiring the photo, someone called her from behind.

“Miss Ruan.”

The voice was rich and clear, like the gentle hum of a cello.

She turned.

The man standing there was tall and elegant, dressed in a light gray pinstripe suit that made him look like a polished British gentleman. Yet his foxlike eyes gleamed with a charming, rakish glint.

He raised a wine glass in greeting, a small, seductive smile playing on his lips.

“Happy birthday.”

He looked familiar. Ruan Tang narrowed her eyes slightly—he did resemble Lu Jie from the last world. Her eyes curved as she gave him a sweet, playful smile.

“Thank you.”

Lu Chengzhou watched her smile blossom across her delicate little face—pure and bright, completely free of artifice.

It was as if flowers bloomed in her wake.

His heart skipped a beat.

What’s going on?

He’d seen this girl a few times before. Nothing about her had struck him as special—just another spoiled heiress from high society.

But today, she seemed different.

That smile was too pure… too clean for a world this filthy.

Lu Chengzhou’s smile faded. He took a small sip of wine, his gaze still locked on her.

“Miss Ruan, I hear you’ve never owned a mermaid before. I recently acquired one—rare noble-blooded lineage. Would you accept it as a birthday gift?”

He hadn’t prepared a gift beforehand. But after seeing her today, he found himself wanting to surprise her—just to see her smile again.

Preferably a smile meant just for him.

But—

As soon as he said it, the sweet girl who had smiled so softly at him moments ago suddenly froze.

Her smile vanished. Her brows drew together.

She didn’t even look at him anymore.

She seemed… angry?

“No, thank you.”

Even in anger, her manners were impeccable. She added softly:

“But I appreciate the offer, sir.”

What a good girl.

Lu Chengzhou rubbed the rim of his wine glass, strangely amused.

Still… why was she upset?

Does she not like mermaids?
She will once she sees this one. This one’s top-tier.

He made a quick call, murmuring a few instructions to his assistant.

Twenty minutes later, the assistant returned to report.

“Mr. Lu, everything’s been arranged.”

Lu Chengzhou smiled in satisfaction.

Let’s see if this little beauty lights up when she sees her surprise.

The banquet had reached its highlight—the gift-giving.

Handsome young heirs from every elite family lined up with rare treasures from all over the world, each one hoping to earn even a glance from the legendary Miss Ruan.

She didn’t disappoint.

Ruan Tang was exactly as the rumors described: pure, delicate, dazzling.

Her peach blossom eyes shimmered with unshed tears, making her look vulnerable and lovely. Her lips, small and pink, were barely pouting—and yet managed to stir every man’s imagination.

They couldn’t take their eyes off her.

“Ahem.”

Ruan Xiong, her father, cleared his throat loudly, sweeping his sharp gaze over the crowd with clear warning.

Instantly, the young men backed off.

These little punks! How dare they ogle my precious daughter so blatantly?

True, he’d arranged this banquet partly to help his baby girl find a suitable boyfriend, but clearly none of these brats were good enough.

“Well, sweetheart? Do you like the gifts?”

City A’s richest man, Ruan Xiong, was the textbook doting father. Cold and ruthless in the business world, but always soft and gentle with his daughter.

Ruan Tang, however, looked distracted, eyes scanning the room.

The system had told her the female lead was about to appear.

She couldn’t afford another mission failure.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

A stunning silver cage was wheeled in from the back of the hall. Inside, bound by shining silver chains, was a breathtakingly beautiful mermaid.

Her bearing was cold and proud. Her pale golden eyes gleamed like moonlight, and her long silver hair flowed like a waterfall.

—This had to be her mission target: Leng Li.

Leng Li appeared injured. Her ornate robe had been slashed in places, revealing blue mermaid blood.

Her iridescent tail was curled tightly within the cramped cage, chained so tightly it had begun to bruise.

And yet—there was no fear in her expression. No panic.

Just calm indifference, as if she were nothing more than an exquisite statue.