Xinghai had also heard the news. After returning to the dormitory, he placed a card into Fanli’s hand. "I didn't expect this accident to happen, so I didn't go out of my way to earn much. There’s only about 8,000 fudo on this card right now. Take it for your tuition first. The remaining thousand or so will only cover our dorm fees for a little over two months. I’ll find a way to earn more. If I really can’t, we’ll move out and find a place cheaper than the dorms..."
"Actually, there’s no need, because I..." Fanli started, then stopped herself.
If she hadn't come into such a massive sum of money, Xinghai’s help would have been a godsend, enough to make her weep with gratitude while simultaneously worrying for a long time. But now, she instinctively felt that if Xinghai knew she was wealthy, the dynamic between them might change.
"Are you still being polite with me?" Xinghai pinched her cheek. "I said I would take care of you, and I will. My card stays with you from now on. I’m going out to look for a job tomorrow."
Clutching the slightly worn bank card, Fanli knew this was likely all of Xinghai’s savings. Seeing him so earnest, she felt deeply moved and didn't want to dampen his motivation to be her hero. She nodded vigorously. "Okay. Actually, I earned over two thousand from my research results, so it’s not that urgent. Don’t overwork yourself."
"Don't worry. I was planning to earn money to... prepare for some things anyway." He coughed slightly.
"Mm!"
Xinghai was a man of action. Starting the next day, he truly began sending out resumes everywhere. Seeing how hard he worked, Fanli felt even more hopeful about the future. She decided that all the pre-marital preparations would be left to Xinghai. Once they were married, she would simply pull out the passbook as a surprise for him.
Though it was a long way off, she had already begun to fantasize. What should she buy for him then? A top-tier private vessel? A luxury mansion? Would the gift be too big? No, after marriage, it would be their joint property; size didn't matter. However, she needed to keep an eye on the real estate price trends and appreciating districts in St. Yejana before deciding whether to invest in property...
The feeling of sudden wealth was joyful. But that joy only lasted a few days before everything settled back into a calm routine. Moreover, because she no longer had financial worries, she bought all the textbooks for the new academic year in one go, including the electives.
This academic year, the compulsory courses were Macro-Arcanum, Micro-Arcanum, Level 2 Potions, and Fundamentals of Combat Theory. Her elective courses were Arcane Politics, History of Arcane Thought, Marine Biology, and Level 1 Abyssal Language. Thus, before the semester started, Fanli spent most of her time focused on previewing her studies and familiarizing herself with the new environment.
A few times around eleven in the morning, Feisi called her to go shopping, only to find her sleeping. Thinking she had stayed up late, Feisi asked and learned that Fanli had been up since four in the morning, studying until ten before taking a short nap, only to continue the battle after lunch—and she did this every weekday. It made Feisi almost think summer vacation had already ended.
Consequently, Feisi silently tucked away her discount coupons and scurried back to her own dorm to study.
Sometimes, Fanli would suddenly snap and scream, "Aaaaah, I don't want to study anymore, I want to get married!" startling her friends into spitting out water. Only Xinghai would say "Okay" with utter sweetness. But Fanli was just venting; once she was done shouting, she went right back to her books.
The fulfilling days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, summer vacation ended and a new campus life began.
St. Yejana University started a month earlier than Luoia University. On September 1st, the morning of Oda Day, the first class was Potions.
Following their usual habit, Fanli’s small group of five squeezed into a corner in the front row. Unlike before, many students recognized Fanli through introductions from Luoia students and proactively greeted her, expressing their admiration. Those close to Kundi and Lina, however, noticed Kundi’s cold gaze and didn't dare have any interaction with her.
Not long after sitting down, Fanli felt as if something had drifted past her. She looked up but saw nothing unusual, yet her sleeve was tugged twice.
"Sister Fanli..." Hearing a milky, childish voice from below, not only Fanli but all the girls nearby looked over.
Fanli looked down and saw a small boy sitting between her and Xinghai. He had a head of white hair like a mushroom cloud, eyelashes as long as baleen brushes, and eyes that were large, round, and framed by prominent lower lids that made him look like he was always smiling.
When Fanli’s eyes met his, he truly did smile. "Sister Fanli, good morning..." His facial structure was small, and when he smiled, his cheeks puffed out into two adorable balls of flesh.
That smile instantly melted the hearts of the surrounding girls.
Fanli felt he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him. She tapped her head and asked, "And you are?"
"I'm Xiaoyu..."
Xiaoyu didn't mind being completely forgotten at all. Instead, he eagerly turned around and pulled out a piece of doodle paper with a four-panel comic drawn in a kindergarten style: the first panel showed a small boy being bullied by a group of Hunter-tribe boys; the second showed a short-haired older sister grabbing a boxfish and pointing it at the mean kids, making them run away; the third showed the sister patting the boy's head; the fourth was a close-up of the sister, her gently smiling eyes colored with dark blue ink, with sunlight filling the background behind her.
"Ah, I remember! Xiaoyu!" Fanli clapped her hands. "Why are you here? Did your school organize a trip for you to audit classes at St. Yejana?"
"Mm! I came specifically to find Sister Fanli!"
"This child..." Xinghai said in shock, "is from the Rift Sea?"
"Yes!" Xiaoyu nodded obediently to Xinghai as well. "Hello, Brother Xinghai!"
"How do you know my name?"
"Before I came, I memorized the names and photos of everyone in the class..."
Before he could finish, the professor entered.
"Good morning, and welcome to all our new students! Especially those who have just arrived from the outer seas. Everything in St. Yejana must feel quite fresh, doesn't it? I hope you've all had a smooth transition..."
The professor was a short-haired woman, much younger and more humorous than Dean Meve. Her teaching style was lively, and the atmosphere of the entire class was excellent. During the lecture, she asked some basic interactive questions, and the number of students who volunteered to raise their hands was at least three times higher than at Luoia. Fanli felt slightly disappointed; back at Luoia, when she wasn't prepared, the teachers loved to pick on her. Now that she was prepared, she wasn't being called on. Such was the irony of fate.
"The next question is a bit more obscure; let's see if it trips you up. Can any student introduce the military application models of Nitrated Stingray Solvent?"
Nitrated Stingray Solvent...
Fanli had seen an introduction to it in her books, but because she had focused her energy on medical potions, she had only skimmed the military aspects and wasn't sure if she could provide a detailed explanation. She didn't intend to raise her hand, but as the silence in the classroom stretched on, she had a feeling she was about to be called.
"Does no one know? Not even the top students?" The professor looked around the room. "I'm going to start calling names."
As expected, it began. In the Arcanum department, the top students were always the first targets.
"Then let's invite the top scholar of the Storm Sea and the celebrity of the Red Moon Sea—Fanli."
Fanli thought *oh no* and stood up, bracing herself. "The main components of Nitrated Stingray Solvent are extracted from sponges and stingray venom. Therefore, it is also known as 'Stingray Fire Venom.' In the narrow space of a gun barrel, its explosive power and the release of venom are sufficient to replace 98% of explosive-type potions. Simultaneously, the nitro groups in the solution contain a large number of nitrogen atoms that combine to form nitrogen gas, providing significant pressure behind the barrel."
"Very good, very good!" the professor said excitedly. "We all know that Nitrated Stingray Solvent also contains a large amount of lacquer. So, how do we explain the principle of this lacquer?"
When they heard the professor say "We all know," all the students wanted to say, "We really don't." When she mentioned the lacquer, Fanli’s vision practically went dark.
Was it really going to be this intense?
She truly hadn't paid any attention to the lacquer part!
"Wait, Student Fanli, don't answer yet. Give other students a chance to shine." The professor clapped twice. "For this question, why don't we ask the top scholar of the Rift Sea to answer—Student Jianté Yujin, are you here?"
Jianté Yujin.
Unlike when they heard Fanli’s name, the entire class took on a solemn expression.
Jianté, the ruling clan of the Rift Sea.
The political leaning of the Rift Sea had always been toward the Storm Party.
The culture of the Rift Sea was known for its strong national consciousness, self-restraint, integrity, and ambition. The male members of the Jianté clan, in particular, possessed an aura of ancient nobility.
Jianté Yujin, the young lord of the Rift Sea’s ruling clan—what did it mean for him to come to St. Yejana University at such a young age, without fear of being held as a hostage? Had the Rift Sea defected too? Was the era of Lord Sushiye unifying the Sea of Light truly imminent?!
Whatever the reason, this mysterious young lord from the Eastern Sea, with such noble birth and superior grades—a genius who excelled in specific subjects—commanded respect in every aspect.
"I'm here."
Hearing that voice, the ears and ear-fins of every student in the classroom perked up.
"The lacquer in Nitrated Stingray Solvent is composed of..."
The professor interrupted, "Student Jianté, could you please stand up to answer? No one can see you."
Thus, beside Fanli, the little mushroom-cloud boy wiggled his tiny tail and, like a hot air balloon ascending, slowly rose from beneath the desk to the same height as Fanli. He clenched his two small fists and wiggled his tail like a bee flapping its wings, saying with extreme seriousness: "It is formed by the fusion of toxins from Bobbit worms and resinous substances secreted by lac insects. After the two main components and seventeen secondary components evaporate and dry, they are usually stored in flake form..."
It was as if a flock of crows had flown silently over the classroom.
Xiaoyu’s milky voice echoed through the seawater of the classroom. The content made everyone feel like they were in a Level 10 Arcanum course, but the voice made them feel like they were in kindergarten or primary school.
After he finished his answer, the class remained silent for a long time, with only the professor enthusiastically lecturing on the next topic.
Everyone knew that the Sea God race and the descendants of the Primordial Gods grew slowly, started school late, and had long life cycles. Most entered university between the ages of 150 and 180. Therefore, Jianté Yujin, who was only 67 this year, would naturally look smaller than others. But this... this was way too small!
Fanli and Xinghai stared at Xiaoyu without blinking.
"We'll be classmates from now on." Sitting in his chair, Xiaoyu couldn't reach the desk, so he had to stand upright and lean against it. "Sister Fanli, Brother Xinghai, please look after me!"
"Xiaoyu, did you know you're living next door to me..."
"Mm, I wrote in the remarks of my housing application that I wanted to be in the same building as Sister Fanli." Xiaoyu wagged his tail happily. "I don't know why, but I accidentally got it!"
Fanli thought for a long time. "That certainly was a very lucky accident."
The reality was that when the dormitory management saw the surname "Jianté," they were startled; when they saw "Yujin," they were even more shocked. They immediately kicked out Fanli’s neighbor, who was already moved in, and gave her a 3,500 fudo subsidy to move elsewhere...
Not only that, his arrival from the Rift Sea had alarmed the President of St. Yejana University and the Dean of the Arcanum Institute. They had the same questions as the students in the classroom, but their conclusion was consistent: taking good care of him was definitely the right move.
In truth, they were all overthinking it. Xiaoyu had simply gone behind his parents' backs and secretly changed his first choice from the "Amaterasu Potion Economics Academy" to "St. Yejana University"...
After class, several Sea God girls swarmed forward. Fanli originally thought they were there to gawk at the adorable Xiaoyu and stepped aside, but one of the tall girls grabbed her hand. "Hello, Fanli. My name is Mise Hége, Mise Xunyue’s cousin. Shasha and I have organized an activity tonight. We're going to the Opera House at Life Square and then out for drinks. Are you interested in joining us?"
Mise Xunyue was the Lord of the Bodhi Sea and had once been a classmate of Sushiye. Regarding their attitude toward the Storm Party, the Bodhi Sea’s political stance was conservative. Mise Hége had shoulder-length straight hair with a side part, neatly groomed even in the water. Combined with her height, she looked very capable. When she mentioned "Shasha," she put an arm around the white-haired girl beside her.
"Hello, my name is Buke Shasha."
Buke Shasha had a starfish clip in her hair. Her gaze was dull and empty, and she remained expressionless even when being hugged, showing none of the arrogance typical of a Primordial God descendant. These must be the "Widow Gang" Kundi had mentioned.
Fanli felt a natural affinity for these two girls and couldn't help but ask, "Buke Shasha, what is your relationship to Buke Yejia?"
"My older brother."
"Alright, the family reunion is over! Let's talk about the activity." Mise Hége looked down and patted Xiaoyu’s head. "If Student Yujin is interested, he can come along too."
"If Sister Fanli goes, I'll go."
Eternal Square was the most famous and oldest square in the entire Sea of Light. It was established 330 million years ago, after the seven Primordial Gods were born within a single week and the first "Burning Sea" occurred. Since then, St. Yejana had expanded outward with this square as its center; it was the absolute heart of the city.
"I'm quite interested in checking it out." Fanli pulled Xinghai over. "Xinghai, shall we go together tonight?"
Mise Hége looked at Xinghai and quickly noticed that while he had shark-like features, he lacked the vertical pupils of the Shark tribe. She instinctively stepped back a bit, clearly unwilling to stand with him. "Um... Fanli, we don't have enough spots."
"Oh, in that case, I won't go. I want to be with my boyfriend."
Seeing Mise Hége’s troubled expression, Xinghai quickly understood the underlying meaning. He smiled and said, "This is a girls' night out. Don't make it difficult for them."
"But..." Fanli glanced at Xiaoyu. "He's not a girl."
"Ah, I made a mistake," Mise Hége reacted quickly. "It is a girls' night. Then Yujin, you can come next time."
"Even though I love my girlfriend very much, if she's stuck to me all the time, I'd worry I wasn't taking good care of her feelings." Xinghai flicked Fanli’s nose. "Go on. Tonight, Yucan and the others are going to play tail-ball."
Although Fanli felt Xinghai was just trying not to cause her trouble, he had put it that way, and Mise Hége’s attitude wasn't as intolerable as Kundi’s. She could only agree.
"Then it's settled. Welcome to the group," Hége laughed. "Remember to wear formal attire."
At four in the afternoon, after the Arcane Politics class ended, Fanli returned to her dorm to figure out what to wear.
Having been in the Sea of Light for a year, she had only bought two new outfits and didn't understand the local fashion culture. She only knew that for formal occasions, the most retro toga was a choice that could never go wrong. So, she changed into a toga, looked in the mirror, and felt the outfit was a bit too plain—it didn't feel "formal" at all.
She rummaged through her things and found her jewelry box at the bottom of a trunk. Opening the card on top, she read:
*Miss Fanli,*
*This is a gift from a friend, not from the Dictator.*
*Giving a girl pretty little things can be very satisfying for a man. Accept them, if only for my sake.*
*Sushiye*
Beneath it lay a Melo pearl earring and a matching forehead ornament. One earring had long since been sold by her, but that didn't diminish the beauty of the set. She picked up the earring, put it on her ear-fin, and donned the forehead piece, using her hair to cover the side without an earring.
Looking in the mirror again, she found it magical. With the addition of the jewelry, she actually looked somewhat formal.
At six-thirty, the brilliant golden capital turned a golden-orange. A girl from the Hunter tribe drove a private vessel to pick her up, along with Mise Hége, Buke Shasha, and the others.
Inside the cabin, Mise Hége rested her chin on her hand and looked at Fanli. "Hmm... the clothes are lacking, 40 points. But the jewelry is fantastic—I'll give you a 90, don't let it go to your head!"
"Haha, thanks..."
"Hége, Kundi is going tonight too," Shasha said, as if reciting a report.
To Fanli’s surprise, Mise Hége’s eyes suddenly widened. With a *bang*, she slapped the armrest of her seat. "In her dreams! Does that princess-wannabe Kundi really think St. Yejana is the Palace of the Resurrected Gods?! I think that Lina girl suits her just fine, but Fanli is off-limits! She's one of mine! If Kundi dares to try and snatch her, I'll show her what a real arcane energy explosion looks like!" She looked at Fanli again and flicked her chin. "Right, Lizi?"
"No..."
"No?!"
Wait, what happened to the warm, cool older sister? Why did she turn into this the moment Kundi was mentioned...
"No," Fanli waved her hands quickly. "I mean, I already rejected Kundi. She demanded that I break up with Xinghai, and I can't do that."
"Xinghai? That hybrid... I mean, mixed-blood who sits with you in class?"
"Yes."
"Fine. You're with us. You don't have to break up with Xinghai, but there will be many times we'll require you to act alone. You know how it is—women's business doesn't always need a man involved."
Fanli was going to say she'd think about it, but considering Lina was now hanging out with Kundi, she would inevitably face trouble in the future. Having a "big sister" figure wouldn't be bad. So, she nodded.
"Decisive! With you on our side, why should we fear Kundi?!"
It felt like she had joined some formidable war...
The scenery outside the window blurred past. In less than half an hour, they arrived at the intersection of Eternal Square.
This was also called the "Crossroads of the Sea of Light." Every day, 92,000 people passed through here, coming from different seas, possessing their own racial characteristics, speaking various accents of the Sea-race language, and spreading their unique cultures.
Night had completely enveloped St. Yejana. Eternal Square had lost its golden sunlight, but colorful lights had turned it even more fashionable and prosperous than the day. The Central Mimicry Ocean Current stood to the east, and the Avenue of the Infinite Sea God lay to the west. This had once been a sacred domain, but now it was the wildest and most passionate place. Here, every few meters of swimming brought the sound of different music from different buildings, the sight of various street performances, and the scent of diverse cuisines and wine dissolved in the seawater. Sea-race citizens moved shoulder to shoulder, and the glittering arcane advertisements made it feel like an open-air carnival.
On the traffic light, the red ship icon dimmed, and the green fishtail lit up. Crossing the road, they reached the St. Yejana Opera House.
A large crowd of elegantly dressed Sea-race people stood by the various entrances.
"Hége, I see Lord Sushiye," Shasha said, swimming upward slightly with her usual expressionless face. "He's with Randy Rose. There’s no security cordon. Impressive."
"Yeah, every previous Dictator had a security cordon. But everyone on this street combined probably couldn't beat Lord Sushiye, haha. He doesn't need that kind of thing," Mise Hége said, looking at the crowd of finely dressed people.
The name "Sushiye" was like a switch for an internal alarm. Once they mentioned it, Fanli involuntarily straightened her back and looked toward the crowd in front of the Opera House.
Then, amidst the throng, she finally saw the profile of the face she hadn't seen for months.
He was surrounded by elites from the business, philanthropic, and political worlds. With one hand on his hip and his head lowered, he was listening to the speech of the capital's wealthiest man. His entire silhouette possessed a piercing sharpness like a cold weapon, especially the line of his jaw. When he nodded, his topaz earring swayed slightly, but because the water current frequency was so low, it looked like a slow-motion shot from a movie.
Sushiye seemed to be in a good mood, occasionally interjecting a comment that made the tycoon laugh heartily.
He would smile too, but it was always restrained. Even his laughter was deliberately lowered, lasting only a moment or two.
But soon, Randy Rose intervened between them, forcibly monopolizing him, leaving the other ladies who wanted to approach Sushiye looking frustrated.
At this moment, inside the Opera House, there was the aura of ten thousand years of accumulated art. In the posters plastered on the walls, the weeping, smiling, charming, and elegant actresses of the past would never grow old. Wearing bright red lipstick and twirling their light fan-mussel silk skirts, they swam from one painting to another, showcasing the glorious youth of their respective eras. Gentlemen and ladies walked in arm-in-arm; compared to a million years ago, the only difference seemed to be their attire.
Outside the Opera House, the private vessels whistling past were all the latest models, with an average price of 70,000 fudo. Occasionally, ultra-luxury sonic vessels like the "Serpent Shadow" and "Frost Tyrannosaur" flashed by. Besides these, some antique enthusiasts who didn't care for speed or modern looks drove high-horsepower modified vintage vessels, instantly pulling time back 2.9 million years. Young Sea-race members swam in groups through Eternal Square, squandering their most beautiful and carefree years. When they passed the Opera House and saw the legendary Dictator, some would scream, "Lord Sushiye, I love you!" only to have their heads jokingly smacked by their companions.
On every building in Eternal Square, arcane phantoms played brand advertisements, commercial promotions, classic sea-dance clips, and the stage performances of newly debuted singers... Like fireworks, they illuminated St. Yejana at night.
Here, time was a tangled web. Hundreds of millions of years of civilizational change were accumulated in every corner. All Sea-race members would often forget what era they were in, knowing only that they were still striving to live, their hearts beating truly.
And the Sushiye here was different from the one in the Red Moon Sea, the Resurrection Sea, or the Winter Sea. The vibrant lights gradually rendered his pure white hair, making him appear noble and elegant one moment, and revealing a secular beauty of the nightlife the next. He was so relaxed; hearing someone confess their love, he would even turn back and wave gently, as if he were taking a stroll downstairs at his own home and had run into a neighbor he'd known for decades.
He belonged to St. Yejana.
Like fate, like a shackle. As Fanli watched in a daze, his gaze swept over her, then quickly snapped back. Their eyes met. A hidden place deep in her heart was struck.
He froze for two seconds, then fully raised his head, gazing at her from a distance.
His deep eyes were a quiet, lurking tenderness amidst this hallucinogenic night.
At this moment, Fanli could no longer deny one fact...
She had never forgotten Sushiye.
It was just that in the past few months of absence, the busy life, the massive changes, and the mountain of nonsense at school and work had made her forget the impact of that encounter.
But as long as her brain stopped spinning, whether it was the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth time... no matter how many times, it was always the same when she saw him.
"Fanli, Fanli?" Mise Hége waved a hand in front of her face. "Shasha and the others are going to buy some snacks and drinks. What do you want?"
Fanli felt it was somewhat difficult to breathe. She took the opportunity to shake her head, forcibly pulling herself away from his entangling gaze. "I'll go with you to take a look."
However, she couldn't control herself and stole another glance at Sushiye. Seeing that he wasn't looking at her but was listening to his female companion instead, she breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt exhausted. But just as she relaxed a bit, he raised his gaze once more.
A vessel sped past the street, bringing a surge of waves and memories of the Winter Sea.
Beneath the aurora, that burning embrace, a kiss wilder than the neon lights here, and that sentence that had nearly scorched her: "Lili, I like you so much..."
This man, who was worlds apart from her, had once been so intimate with her...
Her heart beat so fast it nearly shattered her chest. This really wasn't good.
She quickly followed the others away, almost as if fleeing. She wanted to slap herself.
*Fanli, what are you doing! You have a boyfriend! Even if you didn't, the lesson from being kissed a few times and hurting for so long afterward wasn't enough?! You love Xinghai! You're crazy! What does this polyamorous man have to do with you? Even if he did, could you handle him? Even if you could, is he worth your heart? You fickle woman! Falling for everyone you see! Brainless...*
She scolded herself all the way, and after a long time, she repeatedly replayed Sushiye’s world-view-shattering polyamorous speech in her mind. It was like a bucket of cold water, and she finally regained her reason. She knew that the inexplicable heartache just now was just a momentary lapse.
She loved Xinghai. Xinghai loved her. She and Xinghai were in love.
Comfortable...
She didn't know that Sushiye remained in the same spot, motionless, watching her quietly. No matter how others joked with him, he never smiled from the heart again.
"That would be absurd. Lord Sushiye certainly wouldn't be as ignorant as them; he always thinks things through most thoroughly... Lord Sushiye?"
Hearing his companion's voice, Sushiye shook his head slightly and frowned. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Say that again."
But even when she repeated it, he didn't take it in. Finally, he could only say apologetically, "I didn't rest well yesterday. Please excuse me." Then, he moved toward the direction Fanli had gone.
***
