Chapter 5

I stayed in the hospital for three days and finally discovered a shocking secret. The doctor who did my ultrasound examination turned out to be a clownfish merman from the bottom of the sea!

I secretly observed him for a long time. When he bent down to record the data, I asked in a low voice, "Can you cry out pearls?"

The doctor's hand trembled. His pen nearly dropped to the ground as he awkwardly pushed his glasses. "Mrs. Atwater, not all merfolk can produce pearls..."

I sighed in disappointment and turned my head to look at Theo, who was sitting beside me, peeling apples. I asked quietly, “So, you're a rare variety?"

The fruit knife in Theo's hand paused as he expressionlessly handed me an apple." Eat."

I pursed my lips. As expected, merfolk who could cry pearls were all treasures.

Meanwhile, Melody had called no less than ten times. The first time the phone rang, Theo was peeling grapes for me. The screen lit up, and he glanced at it, his fingers slightly stiffening.

I narrowed my eyes. "Answer it."

Theo silently tapped decline.

I said, "Cry me a pearl."

Theo said nothing.

Five minutes later, I received a pale purple pearl, to much of my satisfaction.

When Melody's second call came, Theo was massaging my calves. The phone's vibration made him pause.

I lazily looked up. "Answer it."

Theo declined with a poker face.

I said, "Cry."

Theo took a deep breath, his eyes turning slightly red.

With a thud, a pearl fell to the floor.

By the third and fourth time, Theo had developed a conditioned reflex. Whenever his phone rang, his eyes would start to redden, and tears would well up even before I could speak.

I laughed so hard that I slapped the bed. "Theo, do you have tear incontinence?"

Theo's expression darkened. He silenced his phone and answered through gritted teeth, "Elle, don't go too far."

I blinked innocently. "What did I do? I didn't say anything."

He was so mad that he turned around and went to the balcony for some fresh air. After less than two minutes, he silently returned, placed a pearl in my palm, and whispered, "Stop being mad."

I was puzzled.

The system was frantically trying to suppress its laughter in my mind.

"Elle, you've turned the villain into an automatic pearl-producing machine!"

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, I carried a sack full of pearls, happily preparing to go home and string them into a pearl curtain.

Theo carried the luggage in one hand and supported me with the other, afraid I would stumble or fall.

Just as we reached the hospital entrance, Melody suddenly rushed out from the side. Her eyes were red and swollen as she blocked our way.

"Theo! I have something to say to you!"

Theo's eyes reddened almost reflexively, tears instantly welling up.

Melody was confused.

I was suppressing my laughter until my stomach hurt. I quickly took Theo's arm and asked with feigned gentleness, "Ms. Carlisle, what's wrong?"

Melody opened her mouth, seemingly not expecting Theo's reaction. After a long pause, she finally said with difficulty, "I'm sorry... About that situation with my father… I misunderstood you—”

Theo interrupted frigidly, “It’s alright."

With that said, he pulled me quickly toward the car, afraid that the pearls would fall out again if we stayed any longer.

I turned and waved to Melody, remarking with a grin, "Ms. Carlisle, just ask Reagan if you need anything. Theo's busy."

He was busy crying me pearls!

Once in the car, Theo fastened my seatbelt with a grim expression.

I poked his cheek. "What's wrong? Unhappy?"

He was silent for a moment before suddenly whispering, "Elle, do you only like my pearls?"