Inside the snack shop, Buke Shasha stared blankly at the glass display case, comparing which type of dried shrimp looked tastier. Fanli was also busy studying the exquisite delicacies gathered from various sea regions, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a figure stopping outside the window. She looked up and nearly choked on the spot: two massive grey shark heads were floating outside, their gaping, bloody maws twisting and writhing like crawling snakes.
The interior was brightly lit, making the outside appear much darker. Looking closer, she realized they were two members of the ocean race disguised as blue sharks.
Then, the two of them entered one after the other.
"Hey, pretty lady, want a photo?" the smaller blue shark asked in a gruff voice, though it was clearly a child’s tone.
Before Fanli could respond, the larger blue shark swam over and pulled her into a massive bear hug, refusing to let go. The smaller shark whipped out a camera and snapped a photo—capturing the moment Fanli used her elbow to strike the large shark so hard it went belly up. Startled, the smaller shark’s hand shook, and he pulled his front fins to his chest like a frightened maiden.
Buke Shasha glanced at them indifferently before returning to her snacks, completely unfazed.
"Forcing a sale and harassing a girl?!" Fanli delivered a fierce hand-chop to the large shark’s head, knocking the costume askew. "Come on, you’re going to the police station with—"
A much smaller head emerged from the bulky plush costume. He rubbed the back of his head, his watery blue eyes filled with grievance. "Ugh, my wife is so mean..."
Fanli let out an excited shriek and leaped onto him, wrapping her arms and tail around him tightly. "Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be out with You Can?"
Xinghai held her close and laughed. "You Can had something come up at the last minute, so I came to work. What a coincidence, right? My job tonight just happened to be at Eternal Square."
"And this is..." Fanli approached the trembling little shark and forcefully removed his "head," revealing Yujin’s terrified face. "You two are terrible. You scared me to death just now..."
"Fanli-jie is the scary one..." Yujin hid behind Xinghai, peeking out with half his head, his lips quivering.
Fanli ruffled his hair before burying her face back into Xinghai’s chest. She held him tight, breathing deeply and exhaling a stream of anxious bubbles. "I missed you so much."
"We’ve only been apart for half a day," Xinghai said with a smile, stroking her hair.
She shook her head, clinging to him reluctantly. "I still missed you."
She felt a wave of guilt. That single look she had exchanged with Su Shiye felt like a form of emotional infidelity. To have such a perfect boyfriend like Xinghai and yet still feel her heart stir because of a playboy—she felt truly awful.
These tiny flickers of emotion were secrets buried deep in Fanli’s heart. To anyone else, this scene was simply a sweet girl acting spoiled with her boyfriend. This included the shop assistant, who watched with envy, and Su Shiye, who stood outside the window.
To come see her, Su Shiye had specifically used an illusion spell—no one but Fanli could recognize him. But seeing the scene inside, he stood motionless for over ten seconds. Then, with an expressionless flicker, he vanished into the crowd.
Shortly after, Landy Rose arrived, having followed Su Shiye. Seeing no sign of him, she was about to leave when she noticed Fanli—and specifically, Fanli’s Melo pearl jewelry set.
Though Landy Rose was of the Sea Deity race, her mother had married her father before she was even a hundred and thirty. Not long after Landy was born, her mother caught her father mating with an Ocean race woman in their home. Her mother abandoned the family, and her father dumped his only daughter into foster care. From then on, her life had been an endless cycle of "abandonment—adoption—pleasing others," until her first performance with an underground choir. She had been the only model willing to pose for the performance posters using only her hands to cover herself. The show became a massive hit, launching her career as a provocative star. Once she had accumulated enough popularity, she put her clothes back on and rebranded herself with an intellectual, independent, "strong woman" image, becoming the "Landy Rose" known today.
Whether it was material goods or subtle emotional shifts, she possessed a high level of sensitivity. Having seen Su Shiye’s reaction when he looked at Fanli earlier, she sensed something was wrong. Now, seeing the earrings and forehead ornament Fanli wore, she immediately recalled a bit of gossip from Su Shiye’s inner circle last year: "I heard the Archon bought a set of Melo pearl jewelry for a female student at Luoya University... Has the Archon’s taste changed recently?"
There were so many female students at Luoya University, but for some reason, Landy Rose felt this red-haired Ocean race girl was suspicious. She had felt something was off from the first time Fanli spoke to her. However, she merely gave Fanli a cold, sweeping glance before turning to swim away.
A while later, Fanli said her goodbyes to Xinghai and Yujin and returned to the Holy City Opera House.
Su Shiye was no longer in his previous spot, and Fanli breathed a sigh of relief. Following her friends into the interior of the opera house, she found their seats amidst a heavy, ritualistic silence. Fanli nearly choked again.
Thanks to the two young mistresses, Miser and Buke, their tickets—which were nearly impossible to obtain—were in the Supreme VIP section. Furthermore, her seat was directly to the diagonal right of Su Shiye.
Consequently, once she sat down, as long as Su Shiye spoke to the female companion beside him, she would have a clear and prolonged view of the Archon’s beauty.
Su Shiye’s hair was styled in a side part, the shoulder-length strands cut into fine layers. The hair on the right was meticulously tucked behind his ear, fully revealing his right profile and a yellow sapphire earring. The hair on the left, however, swayed slightly with the movement of the water.
She thought that Su Shiye must be very aware of how handsome he was to style his hair like that... Anyone with a slightly wider or chubbier face wouldn't be able to pull it off.
His face was so lean. His jawline was long and sharp; even when he lowered his head, there wasn't a trace of fat. His features were likely the most defined of any man she had ever seen.
His eyelashes were long, and their white color was naturally striking. Paired with those golden eyes, they possessed the beauty of a frozen lake at dusk beneath a snowy mountain—a beauty so profound it seemed non-human. Well, he wasn't human to begin with... Wait, why was he looking over?!
Fanli instantly averted her gaze to the stage curtain, pointing at it. "This curtain is lovely. You can tell it’s a grand theater curtain just by looking at it."
However, none of her friends answered her; they were all busy greeting Su Shiye.
"Today is your first day of school, isn't it? You've organized an outing quite quickly," Su Shiye remarked graciously.
"Archon Su Shiye, you’re amazing to remember that." Miser Hege rubbed her chin. "But then again, you even remember my cousin-in-law’s birthday. The mental capacity of a great figure is truly different from us ordinary folk."
Su Shiye smiled slightly and looked toward Fanli. "Miss Fanli, what a coincidence."
"A very big coincidence," Fanli smiled. "To run into the Archon just by coming to a show—today is our lucky day."
"The earrings and forehead ornament suit you well."
Only then did Fanli realize these were gifts from him. She could only say awkwardly, "Thank you." But because Su Shiye had mentioned them, everyone around—including the prominent political and business figures accompanying him—turned their gaze toward her forehead and ears, racking their brains to come up with extravagant praise for the jewelry.
However, only the Chief Investment Officer of the Light Sea Bank noticed the hidden meaning. His memory had always been excellent, including the Archon’s romantic escapades in the Red Moon Sea. Thus, instead of praising Fanli or her jewelry, he spoke directly to Miser Hege beside her. "Miss Miser, I’d like to discuss your cousin’s recent charity project in the Bodhi Sea. Would that be alright?"
Miser Hege readily agreed.
"It’s a bit inconvenient to talk like this..." The investment officer smiled apologetically at Fanli. "Would this young lady mind switching seats?"
It seemed they were going to discuss something important, so Fanli moved at lightning speed. The investment officer took her seat and gestured toward his own. "You can take my seat."
Fanli looked back at his seat—it was directly to the right of Su Shiye.
No!!!
Fanli wished she could strap a rocket to her tail fin and launch herself right out of the opera house.
"It’s fine, I’d feel bad taking your seat. I’ll just stand. Please, go ahead with your talk."
"That won't do. We’ll be talking for a long time. Once the performance starts, it would be impolite for you to remain standing. Don't be modest, please sit."
"Come," Su Shiye said.
No!!!
Nevertheless, Fanli had no choice but to sit down, bracing herself. Su Shiye immediately cast a silence ward and turned to her with a faint smile. "They really are quite beautiful. I’ll buy you more in the future."
At this moment, not only the investment officer but even the female companion traveling with Su Shiye noticed something unusual. They all knew that in public settings, Su Shiye never used silence wards when speaking to women.
"No need, no need. This set is enough to last me a hundred years. Thank you for your kindness."
"By the way, have you used up all the antifreeze you bought in Antioch?"
He had actually been the one to buy it. But she was still surprised. "It was gone a long time ago. Dangdang and I eat very fast. The Archon’s memory is truly impressive, remembering such a small thing..."
"To me, it wasn't a small thing."
Just as he finished speaking, the lights on the opera house dome dimmed. The stage was illuminated, casting half of his face into shadow, but the focus and resolve in his eyes remained unchanged. Fanli’s heart rate went wild. She frowned and turned away, fixing her gaze on the stage and using magic to mask her heartbeat. But it felt like she was overcompensating. The moment she blocked the sound of her own heart, Su Shiye let out a soft chuckle, deactivated the silence ward, and rested his chin on his left hand to enjoy the performance.
As a wave-like operatic vibrato rang out, Landy Rose swam down from above the stage. Her silver-blue evening gown shimmered, making her look like a celestial being of the sea. Regardless of what the outside world said about her, to Fanli, her voice was undeniably moving. However, her lyrics were peppered with Ancient Sea language and technical terms with specific meanings that Fanli didn't quite understand.
But every time she had a question, Su Shiye seemed to read her mind, offering brief explanations in her ear:
"'47 points' refers to the fact that the Holy City concentrates 47% of the Light Sea’s arcane energy."
"Before the Golden Age, clothing was not allowed to be form-fitting."
"Only slaves deeply favored by their masters were permitted to grow their hair long."
...
After each explanation, he wouldn't say another word. This greatly satisfied Fanli’s curiosity about Light Sea art.
Their whispered interactions were witnessed by Kunti, Lina, and the others in the distance. Ryuka, who was with them, remarked that Fanli’s greatest talent was clinging to the Archon’s coattails. Kunti, who had always despised such social climbers, was thoroughly disgusted by Fanli’s behavior.
Consequently, during the intermission, Kunti brought her group over to stir up trouble.
"Good evening, Archon Su Shiye." Kunti performed a left-handed salute. "My father asked me to buy a property in St. Jegana. Do you think the current market is suitable for investment?"
Having said this, she glanced at Fanli with an air of arrogance, as if to say, *This is a topic you can't join in on.*
"Real estate in this city is always a good investment."
"Then where do you think is the best place to buy?"
"If money is no object, one should buy near the Canyon. However, it’s rare for Sect Master Saifei to take such an interest in the Holy City’s housing prices..." Su Shiye said thoughtfully. "Have him call the St. Jegana Real Estate Bureau directly tomorrow. I’ll have things arranged for you."
"Thank you, Archon. Then—"
Before Kunti could finish, Landy Rose swam over and sat directly on the armrest next to Su Shiye. She was positioned higher than him, looking down at him with eyes full of affection. "Archon, was my performance alright today?"
"A voice from the heavens."
"With those words from you, I could go a month without food or water and still be happy." Landy Rose shot a subtle, sharp look at Kunti. "You should come see my performances whenever you’re free. The front row will always have a seat for you."
"Wow, the superstar herself has come down. Landy, you’re stunning every time I see you. I’m so thrilled." Miser Hege let out a whistle, acting like a young boy.
Sensing Landy Rose’s hostility, Kunti pouted, looking both cute and a bit affected. "These days, even singers have become quite important. The times truly are forgiving."
"A superstar? I like the title, but then again, I don't. Sometimes it causes trouble. For instance, many girls' boyfriends pay far too much attention to me—attention I don't want at all. I’d much rather be liked by the girls than by them. But when it happens, the girls get so hostile toward me. Actually, you all know that if even the Archon thinks well of you, the opinions of other men really aren't that important. Anyway, just know that I love you all. Thank you for coming to my show; I’m truly moved."
"The standards of those girls' boyfriends must be very low. Such 'good' men," Kunti said, her voice tight with suppressed anger. "My fiancé, on the other hand, only pays attention to descendants of the Sea Deities..."
Fanli watched the spectacle with great relish.
As the saying goes: *When two vixens clash, one is bound to play the innocent.*
Meanwhile, behind her, Miser Hege and Buke Shasha were still chatting with the investment officer about housing prices. Fanli found this information more useful. After listening for a bit, she raised her own question: "What kind of house do you think two million Fu could buy? Paid in full."
As it turned out, Ryuka, who had been trailing at the back, couldn't help herself and sneered, "Two million Fu? Paid in full? You know friends that rich? And don't say Sea Deities; they don't count as your friends." Her parents combined didn't even earn 160,000 a year; she thought Fanli was daydreaming.
Even Kunti looked slightly surprised. "Your friend?" Although her parents could produce two million Fu, she only had ten thousand Fu in monthly pocket money. In her mind, the typical reaction of an Ocean race member upon hearing the amount of her allowance was to faint first and then cling to her legs.
Well, she shouldn't have brought up the house; the spear was pointed at her again.
Since she had become a nouveau riche, she might as well act like one. It was time for a little flex.
"It’s like this: I’ve recently had my eye on a three-hundred-square-meter luxury residence near Eternal Square. I know that in our department, only two students have families with houses there, and one of them is Buke Shasha. I’m not familiar enough with it, but I really, really want to buy it. So I wanted to ask Shasha: where did your money come from?"
"..." That was the collective reaction of everyone, including Buke Shasha.
Su Shiye couldn't help but laugh. "Having a pleasant chat?"
"This matter isn't pleasant. What’s pleasant is that so many people think the Archon has feelings for me." Seeing Fanli back down, Landy Rose turned her focus back to Kunti. She stared at Kunti while lightly hooking her arm through Su Shiye’s, smiling provocatively.
"It’s not good to say such things, Miss Landy." Su Shiye withdrew his arm, maintaining his politeness. "It’s not just me; I doubt there’s a man in the entire Light Sea who isn't enchanted by a woman like you."
Landy Rose kept smiling, but her facial muscles stiffened slightly. Su Shiye never made anyone feel embarrassed; no matter how rude or forward a woman was, his responses were always watertight, keeping them firmly outside his private emotional sphere.
At this moment, even the surrounding politicians and businessmen felt a sincere admiration for Su Shiye’s ability to handle women.
After the second half of the performance ended, the crowd began to disperse. After saying goodbye to his friends, Su Shiye activated a silence ward for Fanli. "So, you’ve become a little wealthy lady now, have you?"
"...How did you know?" Fanli had intended to deny it, but since Su Shiye spoke with such certainty, there was no point in hiding it.
"Two point six million Fu, transferred from the Black Crocodile Union in the Storm Sea. People here report such records to me. I guessed Su Yi would leave a small nest egg for herself, lest you starve her body to death."
"Yes... I only found out after I arrived in the Holy City."
"Your first instinct upon getting money was to invest in real estate. Wise. Property prices in the St. Jegana city center only go up. Buy it and rent it out, and you can continue being a wealthy little landlady."
Seeing her classmates leaving one by one, Fanli wanted to follow, but seeing her with Su Shiye, they showed no intention of waiting for her. She could only sit back down and continue talking to him. "I don't plan on renting it out. I just want to buy it."
"For your own use?"
"Mhm..." Fanli paused for two seconds. "When I get married to my boyfriend in the future, I’ll give it to him as a surprise."
The sense of guilt washed over her again. Although the moment was brief, she knew clearly that in those two seconds, she hadn't wanted to mention the fact that she had a boyfriend.
However, Su Shiye didn't seem too surprised. Instead, he smiled composedly. "Your boyfriend is getting a good deal by marrying you."
"Is he?" Fanli scratched her head. "But I feel like I’m the one getting the good deal..."
"How so? Is he richer than you?"
"Not at all. He’s just an ordinary mixed-blood student. But he’s kind-hearted and loves me with all his heart. I think those things are priceless; money can't buy them."
"You’ve only been dating for how long? Are you sure you can tell he’s kind-hearted and loves you completely so soon?"
"Yes. I know."
"Do you know about his past? Do you know if he’s hidden anything from you?"
"I trust him. Whatever he says, I believe."
Her firm conviction actually made Su Shiye laugh. "Then congratulations are in order. As for the house, you really should choose carefully and pick a district with better value."
"What? Two point six million isn't enough?! Are those houses built out of diamonds?"
"My little wealthy lady, this is St. Jegana, not Luoya. Ordinary commercial housing in the Canyon starts at four million. The top-tier luxury districts range from fifty million to a hundred million. Villas start at a hundred million."
Fanli was stunned. "Fine, the world of the rich... I really, really don't understand it. I actually had the delusion that I had become a massive tycoon."
"You just arrived; it’s normal not to know the market. Actually, if you aren't set on paying in full, you could buy a Canyon house with installments. How about this: I’ll take you there this weekend to have a look? My press secretary lives there; I’ll have him show you around."
"No!" Realizing her reaction was too strong, Fanli covered her mouth, pretending her throat was uncomfortable. "Um, that’s not necessary... I don't have the earning power for installments. I’d end up on a blacklist for missing payments. Thank you for your kindness, Archon, I truly appreciate it. I’ll decide after I’ve discussed it with Xinghai. It’s late; I should head back..."
"Very well. I’ll walk out with you."
Fanli knew that, at this stage, she could only talk about these things with Su Shiye. If there hadn't been that messy chapter in their history, she would have been very happy to associate with him, even willing to be one of his many hangers-on. But since it had happened, she had to do her best to clear the air.
Fortunately, Su Shiye was broad-minded and perceptive. Seeing her sensitivity, he increased the distance between them.
By day, St. Jegana possessed the most beautiful sunlight in the Light Sea, but at night, Eternal Square was intoxicated by a hallucinogenic glow. Neon lights shimmered in the seawater, and ultra-luxury sound-ships kicked up waves and foam. The Holy City Red Guards set up a cordon for them. Su Shiye moved in front of Fanli. "It’s late. Let me send you back."
"No need." Fanli’s refusal was a reflex, strong and resistant. "I’m living with Xinghai. He’s waiting for me; it wouldn't be convenient."
After hailing a taxi-ship, he handed her a business card. "Alright. Then call me when you get back to let me know you’re safe."
Fanli took the card but accidentally brushed his fingers. she jerked her hand back, losing her grip. The card fluttered down. Both reached for it at the same time, and their hands touched again. This time, she immediately hid her hands behind her back.
"Sorry, I didn't hold it properly." Su Shiye smiled and handed it to her again.
She carefully avoided him as she took the card.
"Miss Fanli, I enjoyed our chat today. Let’s stay in touch when there’s a chance." He gave a shallow smile. "Just send me a word before you go upstairs later. Don't let the one at home misunderstand."
She ducked into the cabin without looking back and closed the door. Through the glass window, he saw her preoccupied profile. Her cheeks were still as white as moonlight amidst the neon and the night. Her long eyelashes remained lowered for a long time before she looked up and gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you for your help tonight, Archon."
"Don't think of me as the Archon." As the taxi-ship started, he leaned in slightly, looking down at her. "Lili, in front of you, I am just an ordinary man."
They locked eyes for a moment. He heard her heart rate quicken again, but only for a second before it was suppressed by magic. She smiled, polite and distant. "Goodbye, Archon."
Only after the ship had traveled far away did the smile on Su Shiye’s face gradually fade. His brow furrowed briefly before returning to a calm expression.
"Goodbye, is it... We will meet again." His expression was mild, but his voice was cold.
At that moment, Aize, who had just arrived to pick him up, approached and asked in confusion, "Archon, what do you think is the best way to win Fanli over?"
"The biggest mistake Jasithian made was being too bound by convention." Su Shiye summoned his driver, speaking fluently. "She was already engaged to him, yet he insisted on waiting until after marriage for sex, failing to sleep with her immediately."
"What do you mean..."
"Women are complex, yet simple. Once they become mothers, all their youthful ideals are grafted onto their children. Whether it’s Su Yi or Fanli, as long as their offspring are born in St. Jegana, their roots will not remain in Veda or any city in the Storm Sea." At this point, Su Shiye smiled. "They will remain only in St. Jegana."
"I see! So you plan to take her into your harem? That’s brilliant!" Aize was excited at first, then said hesitantly, "But I always feel like this Fanli, just like Academician Su Yi, is monogamous..."
"I will work to make her accept polygamy," Su Shiye said. Then, he thought solemnly for a long time. "If she truly cannot accept it, I can make some concessions."
"No way! That would be a huge sacrifice! But then again, that’s only for you... If it were me, being able to marry a wife like that, even if she let me be polygamous, I wouldn't want to. The children she bears would be so much more beautiful and intelligent than those of other wives; it would be unfair to the other kids..."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Waaah, I was wrong! I shouldn't have fantasized about the future Archon’s Consort!"
Su Shiye stiffened slightly, looking displeased. "Are you looking for a beating?"
"I—did I say something wrong? You’re about to enter a monogamous romantic relationship with her. If she’s not the future Archon’s Consort, what is she..."
"It’s merely a reproductive strategy. Where is the romance? Where is the consort?"
Aize didn't dare speak further, but he felt quite aggrieved. A man and a woman completing a monogamous reproductive strategy—isn't that just getting married and having kids? Even without a wedding, giving up polygamy for one woman and focusing on cultivating her and her children’s sense of belonging to the Holy City—what’s the difference between that and marriage?
What did he say wrong!
***4.3 Theater***
Aize: "This man doesn't understand love!"
Yejia: "I do. But even understanding love doesn't make me the male lead. How sad."
***
