The Three Life-Saving Pearls Given Away

The coastal clan I belonged to followed one unbreakable rule:

On the first full-moon night after her wedding, the person dearest to the Tide Guide had to personally feed her a pearl of life.

Only after swallowing that pearl could she remain human.

If no one gave her one, seven days later her legs would turn into a fish’s tail.

From then on, she would sink forever to the bottom of the sea, never to return to land.

I was the only Tide Guide of my generation.

Before she died, Mother had begged for three life pearls for me and entrusted them, one each, to my husband, Lu Shen; my older brother, Meng Tu; and my childhood friend, Pho Lam.

“These three pearls are all you need. If even one of them remembers you, you won’t have to return to the sea.”

That full-moon night, as the tide rose to my ankles, I stood on the reef and waited for them all.

Instead, they each fed one of the pearls to another girl.

She was the poor college student Lu Shen sponsored, whom he had brought home less than six months ago.

After all three pearls nourished her, color returned to her cheeks. She tugged at Lu Shen’s sleeve and asked coquettishly,

“Brother Shen, I ate three pearls. Does that mean I’ll be really healthy now?”

My older brother stood beside her, wiping her mouth, while my childhood friend clapped in approval.

Lu Shen looked up at me and smiled.

“I looked into those rumors about Tide Guides. They have no scientific basis at all.”

“Your legs are perfectly fine. How could they turn into a fish’s tail?”

“Besides, Mengyu’s health is poor. A few extra pearls will do her good.”

At the very moment the tide reached my knees, my feet began to disappear. Translucent scales crept upward from my ankles.

The pain pierced my heart and sank into my bones.

I bit my lip until it bled, clutching the hem of my ankle-length skirt to hide the changes that no human should undergo.

Then I limped toward shore.

Pho Lam frowned and took two steps toward me as if to pull me along, but his hand stopped in midair.

“Why are you limping? Trying to make people feel sorry for you again?”

“I told you earlier that we gave Mengyu the pearls because she coughed last night. Yet you insisted on coming to the sea in the middle of the night to put on this life-or-death act.”

I slapped his hand away.

The moment my bare sole touched the rough reef, it felt as if I had stepped on thousands of razor-sharp blades.

Cold sweat broke out at once.

Meng Tu shielded Lin Mengyu behind him. His voice carried the stern helplessness of an older brother.

“Tang Huynh, you weren’t this petty before.”

“Those pearls would only gather dust in a box. Mengyu’s health is poor. What’s wrong with giving her a few to build her strength?”

Lin Mengyu peeked out from behind him, her eyes red at the corners, looking like a frightened little rabbit.

“Sister Huynh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know the pearls meant so much to you.”

“Brother Shen said they were just ordinary pearls, so I ate them. If you’re angry, I can try to make myself throw them up and give them back.”

As she spoke, she pretended to stick a finger down her throat.

Lu Shen’s expression changed at once. He hurriedly caught her wrist, his eyes full of concern.

“What are you doing? You’ve already swallowed them. How could you possibly throw them back up?”

But when he turned to me, all that remained in his eyes was coldness.

“Tang Huynh, look how considerate Mengyu is, then look at yourself. You’re being completely unreasonable.”

I looked at the three people who had mattered most in my life.

The last spark in my heart went out.

Four years ago, Mother had been so ill that no medicine could cure her.

To preserve my human life, she dragged her sick body to the clan shrine and knelt on the flagstones for three days and nights.

She bowed until her forehead was battered and bloody. At last, she obtained the three life pearls that could save me.

Before she passed away, Mother took my hand and placed one pearl in each of their palms.

“Little Shen, Little Tu, A Lam—Huynh has had a hard life. From now on, I’m counting on you to look after her.”

“On the full-moon night, remember: you must feed the pearl to her yourselves.”

Back then, Lu Shen had sworn through red-rimmed eyes that he would love me with his whole life.

My brother, Meng Tu, promised that as long as he had even one bite to eat, he would never let me go hungry.

Pho Lam knelt beside the sickbed and vowed he would never let anyone bully me.

And now, four years later, today, they had casually handed my life over to a girl they had known for less than half a year.

All because she had a cough.

“Tang Huynh, cat got your tongue?”

When I said nothing, Meng Tu raised his voice.

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my throat and walked toward them one step at a time.

“Do you remember that those pearls were what Mother traded her life to obtain?”

All three of them froze.

A flicker of panic crossed Lu Shen’s eyes, but impatience quickly covered it.

“Aunt was desperately ill that year. She was grasping at any straw. You actually believe in that kind of superstition?”

“It’s the modern age. Who turns into a fish? Can you stop dragging your late mother into this to pressure people?”

Pho Lam nodded along.

“Exactly, Tang Huynh. The way you’re fighting for attention right now is ugly.”

“Mengyu has no one else. Can’t you be a little more generous?”

I laughed until tears fell onto the reef.

“Fine. I’ll be generous.”

“If you all think they’re just ordinary pearls, then let it be.”

After all, I wouldn’t survive another seven days anyway.

I turned away, dragging my leaden legs as I made my way back alone.

Back at the villa, I locked myself in the bathroom.

Water poured from the shower over my legs. The silver-blue scales hardened when they touched it.

I dug at them with my fingernails, trying to tear each one off.

They came away with strips of skin. Fresh blood immediately stained the tile.

It hurt so much.

Outside, Lu Shen knocked on the door. His voice was gentle, with a hint of condescension.

“Huynh Huynh, are you done showering? I warmed some milk for you.”

“We were a little harsh earlier, but Mengyu really isn’t well.”

“Tomorrow I’ll cancel my meeting and take you to buy the limited-edition bag you’ve always wanted. Let me make it up to you, okay?”

I stared at my pale face in the mirror as the horrifying red water spread across the floor.

I didn’t answer.

I used to think that if I were obedient enough, they would always favor me.

Now I understood. When no one loves you, even breathing is treated as a bid for attention.

“Tang Huynh?”

The doorknob turned twice.

I shut off the water and answered, my voice cold as ice.

“No need, Lu Shen.”

“I don’t want anything anymore.”

The next morning, I woke to a commotion.

My legs had swollen badly, and the scales had crept up to just below my knees.

Even a slight movement made them scrape together, the pain almost unbearable.

I put on loose pants and slowly made my way downstairs, one hand against the wall.

In the living room, Meng Tu and Pho Lam stood around the sofa, carrying all kinds of nourishing foods.

Lin Mengyu wore a silk nightdress and leaned against Lu Shen, holding a steaming bowl of bird’s nest soup.

“Brother Shen, this blood bird’s nest is so expensive. I’m not used to drinking it.”

Lu Shen gently brushed the hair from her forehead.

“Be good. You’re in poor health, so you need to build yourself up.”

Meng Tu sat beside her, peeling a tangerine, a smile in his eyes.

“Exactly. Just tell me what you want to eat from now on, and I’ll buy it for you.”

Pho Lam held out an exquisite velvet box.

“Mengyu, see if you like this necklace. I had someone bring it back from overseas especially for you.”

The scene was blinding.

I stood at the turn in the staircase, my legs trembling uncontrollably.

Just then, Jiang Xu pushed the door open.

She had been my best friend throughout all four years of college, and she carried several bags of fresh seafood.

When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she was about to greet me.

But Lin Mengyu hurried over first, her voice sweet.

“Jiang Xu, you’re here! Brother Shen just said he wanted you to stay for lunch.”

Jiang Xu’s gaze passed over me and went straight to Lin Mengyu. She smiled brightly.

“You’re looking so much better, Mengyu. Those three pearls yesterday really paid off.”

My heart jolted. My fingertips dug into my palm.

Even Jiang Xu knew about the pearls.

“Yes, I have Brother Shen and all of you to thank,” Lin Mengyu said, lowering her head shyly.

I gripped the banister and slowly descended the stairs.

“Jiang Xu, do you know what those three pearls meant to me?”

The atmosphere in the living room immediately turned cold.

Jiang Xu turned around, her eyes filled with helplessness and reproach.

“Huynh Huynh, why are you still holding on to that?”

“Mengyu didn’t do it on purpose. And you’ve always been healthy. You hardly ever even catch a cold.”

“Giving her those pearls wasn’t a waste. Isn’t it better to put them to use treating Mengyu?”

I looked at the person who had once sworn we would be sisters for life and suddenly felt I didn’t know her at all.

“Put them to use?”

“They were what my mother left behind to save my life, and you call this putting them to use?”

Lu Shen suddenly set his bowl down with a sharp clatter.

“Tang Huynh, what’s wrong with you now?”

“It’s early in the morning. Xu came all this way to visit you, and you have to ruin everyone’s mood?”

Meng Tu stood up too, blocking Lin Mengyu as if I were a monster who might attack her at any moment.

“Look at yourself! You’re acting like a shrew!”

“After eating the pearls yesterday, Mengyu already looks much better. That proves they really are good for her.”

“As her older sister, what’s wrong with letting her have them?”

I looked at my own brother, the one who shared my blood, and felt a chill inside.

“Since when has she been your little sister?”

Pho Lam sneered and stepped forward, shoving me.

“Tang Huynh, are you done yet? Mengyu may not be your biological sister, but she’s ten thousand times more considerate than you!”

My legs were in such terrible pain that one shove sent me crashing to the floor.

My knee struck the marble hard. Beneath the fabric, the broken scales sliced into me, and my face went white.

I clutched my knee, gasping from the pain.

Lu Shen instinctively reached out to help me, but at that moment Lin Mengyu gave a soft cough.

At the sound of that single cough, Lu Shen’s outstretched hand immediately withdrew. He turned and held Lin Mengyu tightly.