The Lovers of Monsters

Zhang Jingzhu is a young woman living in Qingcheng City who works a leisurely clerk job at a jewelry design company, a position arranged by her father. Her life is marked by material comfort provided by her divorced parents but lacks deeper emotional connection. Seeking purpose, she volunteers with a local stray animal rescue group. During a rescue mission for an injured Labrador near an abandoned seafood processing factory in Suhan District, she stumbles upon a dark warehouse. Inside, she discovers a merman named Cheng Shui'nan, who has been imprisoned and brutally abused for ten years. His lower body is a massive fish tail, and his upper body is covered in scars from years of torture. The captors, who work for a local boss, are using him to extract pearl tears, a rare commodity linked to the declining quality of pearls in the nearby Nightlight Sea, which is owned by Zhang Jingzhu's employer, Lianzhu Company.

Initially paralyzed by fear and the realization that reporting the merman would likely lead to his death in a laboratory, Zhang Jingzhu decides to take matters into her own hands. She returns to the warehouse repeatedly, bringing food and supplies while trying to gain Cheng Shui'nan's trust. The merman is terrified of humans due to his prolonged abuse, but Zhang Jingzhu's gentle demeanor and consistent kindness slowly break down his defenses. She learns that his mother was also a merman who lived with the captor, a man who exploited her for pearls before she died. Cheng Shui'nan was born in captivity and has never seen the ocean, making him vulnerable and naive. Zhang Jingzhu, who has always felt a sense of emptiness despite her privileged life, finds a profound sense of purpose in protecting him.

The turning point occurs when Zhang Jingzhu attempts to cut the chains binding Cheng Shui'nan. She is interrupted by the return of the guards, including the ruthless Brother Huang. Hidden behind boxes, she witnesses the guards' cruelty on surveillance footage. Cheng Shui'nan, having managed to break his own chains during her absence, attacks the guards to protect Zhang Jingzhu. Using a paralytic smoke ball obtained from her friend Gu Lin', Zhang Jingzhu helps incapacitate the guards. Cheng Shui'nan, severely injured but determined, ensures Zhang Jingzhu escapes while he holds off the attackers. She retrieves the van keys and drives away, leaving the guards behind as they recover from the smoke.

Zhang Jingzhu brings the critically injured Cheng Shui'nan to her apartment. She tends to his wounds in her bathtub, adding salt to the water to help him adapt. Over the following days, his rapid healing ability becomes evident, though the psychological scars remain. Cheng Shui'nan reveals his inability to produce pearl tears, unlike his mother, which was the primary reason for his torture. He expresses deep insecurity, fearing that he is useless to Zhang Jingzhu now that he cannot provide pearls. Zhang Jingzhu reassures him, promising to keep his secret and protect him from those who would exploit him. She quits her job to care for him full-time, dedicating herself to his physical and emotional recovery. The story ends with Cheng Shui'nan beginning to trust Zhang Jingzhu, finding a fragile sense of home and safety after a decade of darkness, while Zhang Jingzhu discovers meaning in her life through their bond.