Chapter 36 - A Public Confession
"What?" the Dean exclaimed, rising abruptly from his chair. "Lina is at it again?"
By the time Fanli led the Dean back down to the square, the scene had only worsened. Dangdang was still being tormented by Lina’s sycophants, curled into a ball and crying out in pain as they struck her. The girls of the Oceanic Tribe watched with pale, grim faces, seeing their own precarious social standing reflected in Dangdang’s humiliation—a classic case of "killing the chicken to scare the monkeys."
The Predatory Tribe students, however, looked on with nothing but bored impatience. Some picked at their teeth, while others pressed their pointed ears flat against their heads, using them as makeshift earplugs to drown out the noise. The Sea God Tribe students were split: some attempted half-hearted mediation, while others simply watched with undisguised disdain for the "low-class" squabble.
The Dean’s voice cut through the chaos like a crack of thunder. "All of you, stop this instant!"
The students who had been beating Dangdang scattered like a school of startled minnows. Fanli didn't wait; she surged forward and gathered Dangdang into her arms. Dangdang’s face, which had been twisted in a mask of feral rage and humiliation, softened the moment she saw Fanli. She clung to Fanli’s back, sobbing out a broken "Lili" as the tears finally began to flow.
Fanli gently patted her back, her heart aching. "Don't cry, don't cry... Can you still move your tail? Let me see."
"Lili, let’s get her to the infirmary first," Xinghai said, swimming down to assist. He reached out to support Dangdang. "Here, you take her tail, and I’ll take her arms..."
"Don't go yet," Dangdang hissed, her eyes rimmed with red as she shot a venomous glare back at Lina.
Lina didn't fear the Principal much, but she held a certain degree of respect—or perhaps wariness—for the Dean. Seeing him arrive, she reluctantly detached herself from the group of boys she had been lounging with, her movements sluggish and defiant.
"What is the meaning of this?" the Dean demanded, his hands clasped behind his back as he addressed Lina. "Lina, why must you continue to bully your fellow students?"
"She was spreading rumors around the school," Lina replied. Her arrogance had dimmed slightly, but her tone remained haughty. "I was merely teaching her a lesson."
"And what rumors could possibly justify this?"
"Students like Dangdang shouldn't even be at Luoya University," Lina spat, regaining some of her fire. "Her head is filled with nothing but men, men, men. Trading herself for resources, living only for the next handout. If this school becomes a breeding ground for that kind of atmosphere, students like Fanli wouldn't even bother applying. Dean, you have no idea what she was saying just now..."
Lina tried to cut the Dean off, but he raised a hand. "She was speaking in public, and it was affecting my reputation! I told her to shut up, but she just kept chirping away like a—"
"Am I speaking, or are you?" the Dean interrupted sharply. "If you want to run the school, by all means, the floor is yours."
Lina lowered her head, though her jaw remained set. "I won't interrupt again, sir. Please continue."
"Lina, before you even entered the Arcane Academy, I had heard rumors of your reputation at the Luoya Affiliated High School. I was initially hesitant to admit you, regardless of your high marks. After the term started, I thought perhaps the rumors were exaggerated—that you were merely impulsive, not unreasonable. Aside from Fanli, I considered you one of the top candidates for the Double-S rank. I had high hopes for your advancement. And yet, look at this. How old are you? Are you a primary schooler? This level of maturity is frankly embarrassing."
"I..." Lina looked genuinely dejected, a stream of bubbles escaping her mouth as she struggled for words.
The Dean didn't give her a second glance. He looked down at the injured Dangdang and sighed. "Fanli, Xinghai, take her to the infirmary. I will handle things here."
"Yes, sir!"
As Fanli and Xinghai carried Dangdang away, the Dean’s stern lecture continued to echo across the square.
At the infirmary, the doctor’s brow furrowed the moment he saw Dangdang’s condition. "The upper lobe of the caudal fin is fractured," he noted grimly. He pointed to the jagged lacerations where scales had been ripped away and the delicate bioluminescent lines had been severed. "This... this is clearly the work of an Orca. They’re always aggressive, but it’s rare to see them go this far against a classmate. What kind of trouble did you get into?"
"Just a verbal dispute," Fanli said, her eyes fixed worriedly on her friend. "Is it serious?"
"It’s not life-threatening. She’ll need a few days of rest. However, given the severity of this campus violence, I suggest you report this to the authorities. Students this malicious should be expelled."
"No report. I can't," Dangdang said, shaking her head weakly.
"Why not?"
"The one who started it was Lina."
"Lina? The daughter of Liefu from the Oda Clan?" The doctor’s frown deepened. "Forget it then. Let’s just get you treated. The Orca Tribe has terrifying combat power and explosive strength; if they lose control for even a second, you could lose your life. Avoid them in the future, do you hear me?"
After forty-five minutes of agonizing treatment, Dangdang finally drifted into a fitful sleep. Fanli and Xinghai swam out quietly, closing the door behind them. As the immediate worry faded, a slow-burning anger began to consume Fanli. "Lina went way too far!"
"It was excessive," Xinghai agreed. "Lashing out like that serves no purpose other than escalating racial tensions and bringing trouble to everyone involved. It was meaningless."
"Exactly! She already knew what kind of person Dangdang was. Why get so angry over words she’s heard a thousand times? I don't understand it. Was it really necessary to break her tail?"
"You've had a hard time," Xinghai said, intentionally slowing his swimming pace so she wouldn't have to struggle to keep up. "You and Dangdang just got back from a trip that was supposed to be relaxing. To have it end like this... it’s a real dampener."
"Sigh. Dangdang has her own faults too. She knew Lina hated that kind of talk, yet she kept poking the hornet's nest. Her mother told me Dangdang had a temper and asked me to look out for her, to remind her not to offend the wrong people. I was away from her for only two days, and she let her guard down."
"Away from her for two days?" Xinghai paused, his movements momentarily stilled. "You didn't come back to Luoya with her?"
"Ah, no." Fanli stopped as well, a sudden wave of guilt washing over her. "I... I stayed behind to play for two more days. Dangdang and her boyfriend came back first."
"You can spend two days playing by yourself? I never realized the Resurrection Sea was that interesting. It seems I’ve missed out on a lot."
Fanli lowered her head and swam forward, her pace quickening unconsciously. In her distraction, she accidentally collided with a student entering the infirmary for a back injury. The boy let out a sharp "Ow!" and Fanli hurriedly apologized. As the student went inside grumbling, Xinghai reached out and caught her arm, pulling her gently to the side. "Why are you being so careless?"
Even through the fabric of her sleeve, the touch of Xinghai’s hand made Fanli flinch with a sense of betrayal.
She tried to convince herself there was nothing to feel guilty about. Her secret meeting with Su Shiye had nothing to do with Xinghai. Xinghai was just a good friend; she didn't owe him an explanation for her private life. But when she looked up and saw his eyes—clear as the shallowest reef waters—she felt like a sinner being watched by a forgiving angel.
*Fine,* she thought. *If we’re such good friends, there’s no reason to hide it. I didn't hide it from Dangdang, did I? I’ll just tell him like it’s casual conversation.*
"For those two days... I wasn't traveling alone in the Resurrection Sea. I went to the Winter Sea."
"The Winter Sea?" Xinghai asked, confused. "That’s incredibly far. How did you get there?"
"I took a private vessel."
"A private vessel that fast?" Xinghai was stunned for a moment, likely calculating the astronomical cost—something Fanli could never afford. Then, the light in his eyes dimmed. "I see. You were with a man."
"Yes."
A long silence stretched between them, filled only by the sound of distant bubbles. "How far did it go?" Xinghai asked quietly. "...Did you kiss?"
Fanli said nothing.
After another moment, his voice dropped even lower. "Did you go all the way?"
Fanli’s head snapped up, her hands waving frantically. "No! Of course not! How could you even think that?"
For several seconds, the water around them seemed to thicken with an awkwardness as heavy as a death sentence. Under Xinghai’s gaze, Fanli’s confidence crumbled. She looked down and saw a Bluefin Sand-eel burrowing into the seabed to hide; she wished she could do the same. Then, she heard Xinghai say calmly, "That’s good. Congratulations."
Fanli looked up, finding that Xinghai truly didn't seem to have any special reaction. His "congratulations" sounded exactly like the ones he gave to Dangdang or Feisi. She had thought that if he got angry, she would explain everything—tell him that her feelings for Su Shiye were just a momentary lapse, a "fever" that wouldn't go any further...
But now, it seemed unnecessary. Xinghai really did just see her as a friend.
It appeared her previous suspicion—that there was a spark of something more than friendship between them—had been a mere delusion.
*Being friends is fine. It’s better this way,* she told herself. She didn't need to explain, and she didn't need to feel guilty. The foolishness of being swept away by Su Shiye’s kiss was her own burden to bear, a lesson she would remember.
After school, Xinghai asked if she needed a ride home. Not wanting to trouble him, she told him she could make it back on her own. Xinghai didn't push. He simply stopped the "routine" of escorting her every day.
Not only that, but while he still sat with their small group during class—usually next to Lansi—he stopped seeking Fanli out. Even when they crossed paths in the cafeteria, he would offer a polite smile and a greeting before heading off to eat with the other boys.
December bled into the New Year. Because the sea race enjoyed such long lifespans, the turning of the year wasn't a major event in the Light Sea. There was only a single day of holiday, usually spent in small gatherings.
But Fanli’s New Year was miserable.
A new tenant had moved in downstairs: a male of the Black-lined Cod tribe. He was short, stout, and had been divorced for twelve years. Even through his silver-grey scales, it was obvious his tail lacked any muscle; it was all marbled fat. Two long black lines ran from his waist down to the base of his tail, looking like guide marks for a butcher’s knife. When he introduced himself to Fanli and Dangdang, his beet-red cheeks and nose flushed even darker. He glanced at Dangdang’s bioluminescent lines and remarked, "Look at that, we both have lines," with a grin that sent Dangdang running to her room to gag.
The Black-lined Cod were bottom-dwellers by nature, so the man spent all his time on the first floor, slumped like a pile of melting lard on the sofa. Worse yet, because their swim bladders could function like internal drums, he frequently emitted a rhythmic, hollow "thump-thump-thump" sound. Dangdang complained incessantly, wondering what kind of madness possessed him.
Dangdang didn't want to see the Cod man, nor did she want her boyfriend, Bo'en, to see her in such a pathetic state. She remained curled up in her room like a hermit, refusing to be drawn out.
Meanwhile, Little Red and Mrs. Red—no, the *new* Mr. Red—had taken their secret savings and moved to a cleaner district in the city. They sent Fanli a New Year’s card featuring a photo of their happy travels: the new Mr. Red had his arm around Little Red, kissing her forehead firmly while she blew a kiss to the camera. The background was some nameless tropical island.
Comparison was the thief of joy. Seeing their card only made Fanli miss them more.
She sorted through the rest of the mail. There were cards from the Shuangsi couple, Liuxiang, You Can, and several other classmates. She replied to them immediately. There was one final envelope, a golden one. She had assumed it was from Xinghai, but the postmark featured an eagle clutching a ruby in its beak. The origin: St. Yegana.
*Miss Fanli,*
*Happy New Year. I think of you every day.*
*—Su Shiye*
Ever since she had realized that Su Shiye was just like any other Predatory Tribe male—a fickle flirt—she had lost all interest in him. For the first two days after her return, she had been restless, tossing and turning in her sleep. Even when she did drift off, Su Shiye appeared in her dreams again and again. But now, as long as she didn't dwell on those four kisses or picture his face, her heart remained still.
Su Shiye wasn't the right person. He likely didn't think she was the right person either; he was just a wanderer.
He could go on being a playboy all he wanted, but a poor student like her didn't have the luxury of such games. She was busy with work and study.
Fanli tore the card into tiny fragments and threw them into the trash.
After three nights of the Cod man’s "thumping," Fanli was suffering from severe sleep deprivation. By the morning of Buke Day, she was a nervous wreck. At lunch, the dark circles under her eyes were so heavy they practically dipped into her plate.
"Lili, honestly, with everything going on lately, you must be the most exhausted of us all," Liuxiang said from across the table. She glanced at Dangdang’s empty seat and cast a Silence Ward around the two of them. "You promised Lina you’d help her pass the exams, right? Now that things are like this between her and Dangdang, whose side are you on?"
"Dangdang’s, obviously."
"Then what about Lina? Are you not going to help her with the exams anymore?"
"Regardless of what happened with Dangdang, I’m not helping Lina."
"Why?"
"I can't help her. My abilities are limited. I’m not even sure I can secure a Double-S for myself." Thinking of Dangdang’s injuries, Fanli’s brow furrowed. "Even if I were sure, I wouldn't want to. Lina really crossed a line."
"I see. Well, make sure you protect yourself."
"I will."
A moment later, Feisi, Lansi, and You Can arrived with their trays. Liuxiang rolled her eyes, picked up her plate, and swam away without a word.
Fanli started to call her back, but Feisi stopped her. "Forget it. The exam weights have been changed; we all need to focus on studying. Who has the energy to coddle her moods? She’s such a spoiled princess."
"The exam weights changed? What do you mean?"
"Haha, Goddess, that’s what happens when you sleep in class! You missed the most important update!" You Can handed her a thin pamphlet. "Thank me later! I grabbed an extra copy just for you!"
Fanli usually only pretended to sleep, but this time she had actually drifted off. She scanned the pamphlet, and her drowsiness vanished, replaced by a throbbing headache. The requirements for the Level 2 Arcane Exam had shifted: the combined weight of Arcana and Potions had been raised to 70%. Specifically, Arcana now accounted for 45%, and electives were no longer tested at all.
Her entire strategy had been to use her high marks in other subjects to pull up her total score. Now, the school’s adjustment had rendered all her previous efforts moot.
"Why would they make such a change?" Fanli felt a surge of panic, but she kept her expression neutral, only allowing a hint of irritation to show.
"The classroom was in an uproar when the Dean announced it today," Feisi sighed. "There’s nothing we can do. The Ministry of Education in the Holy Capital wants to cultivate specialized arcane talent... But Lili, what are you worried about? Aren't these two subjects your strongest? I’m the one who’s doomed; my Potions are fine, but my Arcana is a disaster."
Fanli took an hour to adjust her mindset and went home to draft a new study plan. But no matter how she scheduled her time, her body simply couldn't handle the strain of prolonged Arcana study. If she continued like this, she wouldn't make it to St. Yegana this year. She would have to wait for the second round of exams. That didn't sound too bad on the surface, but if a student who was supposed to be Double-S failed, she would stand out like a sore thumb among the suspects in the "Miss Bubble" case.
Fanli closed her Arcana book and turned to Potions.
Potions were less physically taxing than Arcana, but they still had significant side effects. Whenever arcane formulas and theories appeared, her head felt like it was being split open. Her efficiency was abysmal.
She pushed open the window, hoping for a breath of fresh oxygen, but the seawater flowing into the room was always tainted with the smell of leather, old seaweed bags, pickled fish, and brass... This slum was the sewer of Luoya, and the living conditions were abysmal.
The Cod man had come home early from work, tossing greasy mechanical parts all over the living room table, killing any desire she had to go downstairs for food. And then, before long, the frequent "thumping" of his swim bladder began again.
Fanli was too distracted to study. She picked up a copy of the *Encyclopedia of Light Sea Species* she had recently bought. Flipping through the index, she couldn't resist looking up the Black-lined Cod. When she read one particular passage, she nearly fainted: *"The swim bladder of the Black-lined Cod can be used as an internal drum. When the drum sounds, it signifies a surge in mating desire. The faster the beat, the greater the interest. Members of the Black-lined Cod tribe carrying these genes exhibit the same sexual characteristics."*
At that exact moment, a rapid-fire "thump-thump-thump-thump-thump" erupted from downstairs—dense, fast, and relentless.
Fanli felt just as nauseous as Dangdang.
She stood up and stuffed sponges into her ear fins, but the thumping was so resonant the sponges did little to help. In her frustration, she accidentally knocked over her trash can.
The fragments of the New Year’s card from St. Yegana floated up. Seeing the elegant script of "Miss Fanli," a truly wicked thought crossed her mind for a split second: *If I just met with Su Shiye once and made a small request, I could leave this miserable environment behind, couldn't I?* If she wrote back saying, "Lord Su Shiye, I think of you every day too," he would probably be in Luoya in no time. She liked him anyway; what was the harm in being a little more intimate? Even setting aside the financial benefits, just the thought of him made her heart ache and her body feel weak from her spine to her tail fins...
Then she slapped herself. Hard. Twice.
*Fanli! You idiot! What are you thinking?!*
*Study hard! Find a good job! Once you’re not lacking money, these pathetic thoughts won't even occur to you!*
Out of sight, out of mind. She scrambled to pick up the fragments of the card with the speed of a marmot and dashed outside to throw them into the communal waste pile.
*If I can't study Arcana right now, I’ll make sure I get a perfect score on the other 30%! I’ll chip away at Arcana bit by bit. There has to be a way!*
The next morning, she was up at five sharp.
With a clearer head, her mood began to improve, and she realized something: if Xinghai truly didn't care about her secret meeting as much as he acted, he would have maintained their friendship. His current distance was proof that he actually *did* care.
The day before, she had bought fresh squid at the market. She peeled them, cut the white meat into chunks, marinated them, and left them in an air bubble to dry overnight. Now, they were dried squid. She crushed the ink sacs, spread the ink over the dried meat, and arranged them in a seashell bowl.
After class that day, she failed to intercept Xinghai. Without waiting for her, his swimming speed was something she couldn't hope to match. She put every ounce of strength into her tail and still couldn't catch him. It took her half an hour just to find out he had gone to the gymnasium.
The gymnasium was the tallest building at Luoya University, divided into many vertical layers. In the highest waters, many boys were playing a wrestling game—only upper-body contact was allowed, and the winner was whoever could flip their opponent onto their back first. The game originated from the Abyssal Race, though the Abyssals focused on raw power while the Light Sea Race prized elegant technique.
In the middle layer, students were playing Puffer-ball—similar to human volleyball, but with different rules and a ball that resembled an inflated porcupinefish.
On the bottom layer, the most spacious of all, two teams were playing Tail-ball. Tail-ball was a hybrid of soccer and basketball, played with six members per team. Players moved the ball by manipulating water currents and could only pass using their tail fins. Points were scored by shooting the ball into the opponent's hoop, with different values for front shots, back shots, long-range, and close-range.
Around the court, a group of cheerleaders swayed their tails in unison, shouting encouragement.
It was a sport that demanded incredible vision, as the speed of the Predatory Tribe players was often too fast for the naked eye to follow. Upon entering, Fanli could only feel the turbulent currents and see twelve high-speed shadows. One shadow in particular was exceptionally fast, consistently outstripping everyone else. Neither his teammates nor his opponents could keep up with him.
A moment later, the boy scored.
The cheerleaders hugged each other and screamed, while the male spectators roared, "Nice! Beautiful!!" The excitement was so intense the water felt like it was boiling.
The score changed to 40:39.
"The Shark Team has taken the lead. That hybrid freshman is incredible—even better than Kaimo." A boy nearby pointed at the scorer. "I’ve never seen a hybrid with that kind of explosive power. It’s like he was trained by the special forces."
"Of course he is! That’s my idol! My idol!!"
Fanli finally saw that the boy shouting with fanatical devotion was You Can. The person they were talking about was Xinghai.
Her eyes lit up—Xinghai was the one who had just scored!
*Xinghai is this amazing? His athletic ability is this good?*
Kaimo was on the same team, currently launching a second offensive against the Orca Team. Xinghai was watching the Shark Team’s hoop, his tail swaying slowly, looking much more relaxed than before. He brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes; the lines of his arms were lean and powerful, and his serpentine armband glittered in the light. Then, his gaze drifted, and he spotted Fanli in the crowd. He froze for a fraction of a second.
Suddenly, the tail-ball flew toward him. He spun mid-water, his tail rotating 240 degrees with a sharp *thwack* as he precisely hammered the ball back.
The ball went to Kaimo, but Kaimo’s shot was blocked. Then, as if he had teleported, Xinghai appeared near the hoop and tipped the ball in.
42:39.
Xinghai glanced back at Fanli, his aqua-blue eyes looking as cold as ice. But it was only for a heartbeat. The Shark and Orca teams shifted the battlefield in an instant, and Xinghai surged forward again, passing three times before bringing the ball back. All six members of the Orca Team abandoned their marks and swarmed him to block his path. Suddenly, he stopped dead in the water and fired a long-range shot.
A 4-point goal.
46:39.
"Wooooooo!!" You Can was more excited than the cheerleaders, clutching his face in a daze.
Shadows blurred; the sound of rushing water was sharp. When Xinghai entered his top speed, his body was almost parallel to the ground, yet he could twist, upright himself, and shoot without a moment’s deceleration.
The score continued to climb rapidly:
48:39
50:41
52:43
55:43
57:45
61:45
"Good grief, what’s with this hybrid kid? Is he on fire?" a boy nearby marveled. "He’s scoring every single point himself. This is insane! It’s become a one-man show!"
"Ah, I’m dying!" You Can clutched his chest and swooned, joining the cheerleaders in their collective infatuation. He didn't even notice Fanli standing there.
Fanli was also struck by how dashing Xinghai looked. Though she didn't fully understand the rules, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
As the horn sounded, the game entered a timeout. But the chatter around her didn't stop.
"That hybrid kid probably has the least raw strength of anyone on those two teams, but his speed is terrifying. Is he really from the Blue Shark Tribe? I keep thinking he looks more like a Grey Whale Shark."
"Exactly! I bet one of his parents was from the Flying Fish or Tuna tribes!"
Fanli was listening intently when she heard the Predatory Tribe girls nearby squeal with excitement. She turned and saw that Xinghai had appeared near her at some point. However, he was talking to You Can and didn't spare her a glance. You Can was gushing with admiration. Xinghai stood with one hand on his hip, head lowered, his chest heaving as his short hair drifted in the water.
"Xinghai..." She swam forward. With so many people around, she felt awkward about giving him the squid dish, so she spoke from a short distance. "Can I have a moment of your time? I have something to say to you."
Xinghai finished listening to a girl next to him before swimming over. His expression was indifferent. "What is it?"
"Lately... it feels like we’ve been drifting apart," Fanli said softly. "I feel like you’re angry with me. Can we sit down and talk?"
Xinghai laughed. He was still breathing heavily, not yet recovered from the intense exercise. "You’re asking me why I’m distancing myself? You really are quite calculating, aren't you?"
"Why calculating?" Fanli was stunned. It felt like the more she tried to explain, the worse it got. She said urgently, "Xinghai, I think there’s a misunderstanding between us. I told you those things because I’ve always seen you as a dear friend and I treasure our bond. I didn't want to hide anything from you. I didn't mean anything else..."
"Who asked you to treasure this 'bond'?" Xinghai interrupted.
Fanli was speechless.
You Can was also stunned. "Brother Xinghai, how can you talk to the Goddess like that?! If you don't treasure the bond, does that mean you don't see me as a friend either? Our group of six was doing so well, waaaah!"
But the cheerleaders nearby weren't so kind:
"Exactly! Who wants your 'bond'? Who’s your friend?"
"Bait-girl, get lost!"
"I see..." Fanli felt a sharp pang of sorrow. She forced a nervous smile and lowered her head. "I understand. I’m sorry for troubling you."
But as she turned to leave, Xinghai grabbed her arm and pulled her back. He seemed a bit nervous himself, but the anger that had been simmering for days quickly drowned it out. He looked at the ground, then at Fanli, trying his best to speak calmly. "Fanli, I’ve been courting you for so long. You didn't accept, and I don't blame you for that. But you already have a boyfriend, yet you still want to be 'good friends' with me? Forget it. I don't make friends with girls."
"I don't have a boyfriend..." Halfway through her sentence, Fanli’s head snapped up. "You were courting me?"
"You don't have a boyfriend?" Xinghai’s brow furrowed.
The two of them were focused on completely different points. Because the conversation was so explosive, all the surrounding students were frozen in shock.
After a long silence, Xinghai was the first to speak. "Yes, I was courting you. If you don't have a boyfriend, I will continue to do so."
"Wh-what kind of courting?"
"The kind where we get married after graduation."
It took several seconds for the surrounding crowd to react, but then a slow, deafening cheer began to rise.
Just then, the horn sounded again. Xinghai looked back at his teammates gathering on the court. He tried to look cool, but he couldn't help himself. Before turning away, a sweet, radiant smile spread across his face. "Lili, I have to finish the game. Wait for me here. I’ll take you home later."
