Fortunately, during the Sunday evening lecture on Micro-Arcana at Sefi, Feisi brought more good news. "Jante Yujin pulled out of Quinti Sefi’s group and joined ours!"
"Huh?!"
Just then, Yujin walked over. Fanli asked in surprise, "Little Yu, why did you switch groups?"
"Because I saw that you and Sister Feisi are close, so I decided to go to her group."
"Didn't Quinti blame you?"
"She started by asking if I was being petty about partisan disputes. I just told her the truth—it was for Sister Fanli. She called me a traitor to the descendants of the Ancestral God. I told her that what I learned from Sister Fanli was that 'all people are born equal' and 'helping others is a joy.' Quinti’s grades are already good enough, so I wanted to help Sister Feisi."
Though it seemed she had offended Quinti, Fanli had to admit she felt a surge of satisfaction at Yujin’s words. She patted his mushroom-cloud hair. "Good boy. You really are a sweetheart."
In the front row, Quinti was indeed fuming. She sat with her arms crossed, venting endlessly to Lina.
"When you first told me Fanli was annoying, I didn't see it, but she really is loathsome. It’s one thing to seduce Allen—he is my fiancé, after all—but she won't even let a child like Yujin go. Can she not survive without a man?"
"Oh, that’s not quite what I meant," Lina said calmly. "Fanli is annoying because she sees everyone as either a friend or a foe. If you're her friend, you're overshadowed by her; if you're her enemy, she’s a handful. As for men, she doesn't seem to be seducing everyone left and right. Hasn't it just been Xinghai from start to finish?"
"Not at all! Think about how Allen was flirting with her before the Macro-Arcana class this week. If she didn't use some kind of trick, I don't believe it!"
Because of the Fanli incident, Quinti had been making Allen’s life a living hell. Allen had coaxed her, pleaded with her, and sent gifts worth over twenty thousand Fu, but nothing worked. Eventually, he gave up and started a cold war with her. But now that he had stopped coddling her, she felt even more uncomfortable.
"Actually, Allen was never the type to settle down anyway." Seeing Quinti’s expression sour further, Lina realized she’d misspoken and quickly changed her tune. "Oh, he’s just a man. You’re a Sefi Princess; if you lose one Allen, are you afraid no one else will want you?"
"'Lose one Allen'? How many Allens do you think there are in the entire Light Sea? How many sons are left in the Oda Clan that your family serves?"
Lina was speechless. In her opinion, Aze was far more reliable than Allen. But Aze was highly rebellious and only admired Sushiye; he would certainly never enter an arranged marriage with a girl like Quinti. Lina’s own "young mistress" temper only flared up occasionally, but Quinti maintained her princess persona twenty-four hours a day, regardless of the occasion or the person. Only a playboy like Allen could endure such humiliation to marry her.
Knowing she had been too harsh, but unwilling to apologize, Quinti turned to her younger sister. "Xiami, tell me, am I right?"
Xiami Sefi had just been listening in. When asked, she jumped like a startled rabbit and nodded repeatedly. "Sister is right..."
***
After class, Quinti and Lina went to attend a Sea God Charity Gala organized by the Oda Clan.
Xiami didn't like crowded places, but there was someone she desperately wanted to see. After agonizing for a long time, she arrived at the hotel half an hour late. As it happened, she saw the person she had been pining for right downstairs. She quickly swam over and gave a small wave. "Allen..."
Allen was leaning against a Roman column. He lifted his eyelids to glance at her and gave a listless "Oh."
"Allen, what’s wrong..." Xiami looked at him cautiously. "Are you... in a bad mood?"
Allen didn't actually dislike Xiami, but the moment he remembered her sister was Quinti, anger surged to his head. "Your sister is a freak. She’s been hounding me over that trivial matter on Bukko Day until now, and she just scolded me in front of everyone again. Tell me, we’re just supposed to be an arranged marriage—why is she acting like we’re in some grand romance? What is she doing?"
"Sister... just has a bad temper, but her heart isn't bad... And she only stays chaste for you and is strict with you because she has expectations for you..."
"Then I beg her to let me go! If she’d just mate with a few more guys, she wouldn't make me feel so suffocated!"
"You know perfectly well she would never do that..."
"Ugh, I’m truly terrified of her! My father is just bullying me because I’m easy to talk to, forcing me to marry her. If it were my brother, he’d have staged a divorce ceremony within a minute!"
Actually, Xiami really wanted to say: *If you must marry into the Sefi Clan, I could do it too...* But she could never say such words in her life. She could only lower her head timidly. Seeing her apparent disagreement, Allen grew even more irritated. He cursed, "Quinti, that foul woman," and swam upward.
Then, in front of a hotel room door, he saw a glimmer of purple light. With a head of black curls cascading down her back, the young woman turned around and gave him a smile of infinite tenderness. Without hesitation, he pushed her into the room, kissing her wildly while slamming the door shut.
"Qing, I missed you so much." He held her waist, his eyes full of passion mixed with a hint of loathing. "I hate Quinti so much."
This Sea God girl named Qing was the daughter of the housekeeper in Quinti’s home. Her relationship with Quinti was similar to Lina’s with Allen, but because their ties to the Sefi household were closer, they had already been granted the right to use the Sefi surname.
In great families like the Oda and Sefi, Qing Sefi seemed to have nothing to offer except beauty and gentleness. However, Allen had fallen for her. Especially when Quinti’s tantrums became so pretentious they were suffocating, Qing’s gentleness became all the more precious.
At that moment, Quinti began spamming him with "deadly" consecutive calls. He cut off the communication device, flipped over to press Qing onto the bed, and kissed her from her cheek to her earlobe and neck. He murmured indistinctly, "Qing, give me a child..."
His voice was very low, but she heard him. She loved him so much that hearing such a request made her nearly cry with emotion. "Okay."
"Viviparous, can we?" His tail emitted a golden, noble light, intertwining with the dark purple glow of hers.
"Okay..."
His words seemed to possess a magical power. The moment she agreed to his request, she unconsciously manifested two legs. Her legs were fair and slender, as beautiful as the rest of her. He surrendered to her sensuality, sighing softly.
"You are so beautiful, so gentle. If we have a daughter who is just like you, I’ll be the happiest man in all of Saint Yejana." Allen kissed her repeatedly, his fingers gently hooking her shoulder strap. "Baby, I love you. My future wife will be just like you. The image of the mother of my children in my heart is also just like you..." Not like Quinti. Quinti was too detestable.
***
Since coming into money and saving time on part-time jobs, Fanli thought her life would be easier after the semester started. But facts proved that hyperactivity has nothing to do with a bank balance. Without work, she spent all her time on self-improvement. On this day, she finished her scheduled reading early at the library. Emerging, she felt physically drained, yet she still felt unsatisfied. She picked up a copy of the *Saint Yejana Daily* at a roadside newsstand—both the daily and evening papers were free—and read while she swam.
The newspaper was full of real estate listings. She read and compared them one by one.
Through recent research, she had learned that the most expensive residential areas in all of Saint Yejana were in the West District’s wealthy quarter and beside the Eastern Canyon. The apartments there were astronomical in price. Especially the "Number One Manor of the Holy Capital" by the canyon; it was excavated five floors underground, and all 5,250 rooms were completely dry. One could conduct land-based activities inside, such as colosseums, theaters, wine cellars, game rooms, saunas, high-end slave trade centers, and museums of mechanical potions. The richest man in Saint Yejana had bought a section there and built an artificial beach inside, using arcana to create a simulated sky above, allowing one to experience a 99% realistic sea voyage at any time.
Currently, there was a house in the canyon with a down payment of over one million Fu. She was somewhat tempted. But thinking about her lack of a fixed income, it seemed unwise to rashly spend all her money. So, she began browsing recruitment ads, hoping to scout a new job for Xinghai... but looking at work content right after a busy day was a bit much to take.
"Ah, so tired..." Fanli let out a long sigh.
"Such a diligent girl. If you're tired, take a rest."
Hearing that voice, her hand jerked, and the newspaper drifted away with the current. Looking back, she saw Sushiye swimming beside her. He seemed to have just come from an important occasion; his jewelry was more abundant and magnificent than usual, and he appeared in his merman form. His long Holy Spirit fins glowed in the water, making him look like a god descended to earth.
"Lord Dictator..." Fanli immediately saluted. Remembering how she had lost her temper over the phone last time, yet seeing his kind attitude now, she felt quite apologetic and became much gentler.
"Why are you looking at houses again? Haven't made a decision yet?"
"Um..."
"I know a place where the prices aren't high but the environment is excellent. It’s just a bit far from the city center. Do you want to go see it?"
"Where is it?"
"Sea Mist Tree."
Though she was tempted and wanted to see it, meeting Sushiye’s gaze brought back that dizzying sensation that felt suspiciously like love. She quickly averted her eyes and closed them, forcing herself to regain clarity. "Never mind, maybe another day. Thank you for your help."
"There’s a delicious restaurant there, built on the tree, with the best butter crabs in the entire Light Sea."
"You know I like butter crabs?"
"I didn't know you liked them, but I do. Trust me, with just one bite, you'll feel the day's fatigue vanish."
Now, a gourmet critical hit was added. Fanli wavered like a pufferfish-shaped tumbler toy—one poke and she’d tip. She resisted for a long while but still shook her head. "Next time. I’m going home now."
"Today, a friend of mine, the founder of 'Sea Tribe Fleet,' invited me there to discuss the economic situation. Are you sure you don't want to listen in? He might be interested in meeting a future Grand Arcanist of the Light Sea."
Hearing "Sea Tribe Fleet," Fanli’s ear fins perked up. "I want to go see."
Sea Mist Tree was in the northern part of the Holy Capital, in the middle of the Emerald Mountain Range. It was a famous scenic spot in Saint Yejana. The place was indeed far, but upon arriving, Fanli found that pictures in books didn't capture even a tenth of the actual scenery. Not only was it on an underwater mountain, but it was surrounded by coral reefs, rocks, and schools of multicolored fish—so vibrant and dazzling it didn't feel like Earth.
The entire tree was over three hundred meters tall, with a diameter large enough to live in. A deep blue vessel marked with a ruby eagle was parked in front of a restaurant. The Red Guards of the Holy Capital emerged one by one, lining up to see Sushiye and Fanli out, but they did not follow them inside.
The vast restaurant was decorated as if a wedding were about to be held, but of the thirty tables, only one was occupied by a grey-haired Sea God man. Seeing Sushiye enter, he performed a left-hand salute, and Sushiye returned a right-hand salute. He looked at Fanli. "And this beautiful lady is?"
"Fanli, my friend, a student at Saint Yejana University, Arcana Department, Double S."
"By my Bukko Ancestral God, this girl is a genius." The man nodded to Fanli. "Hello, Miss Fanli. My name is Marvin. Coincidentally, I am also a friend of Lord Sushiye."
Fanli was amused by him. Afterward, they sat down together.
Sushiye was a man of his word. He said they would talk about the economy, and he truly discussed the Light Sea economy with him, not mentioning any other topics. Fanli had no foundation in economics; she felt like she understood every word they said, but when put together, she understood nothing at all.
Two hours later, Fanli was struggling to keep her eyes open when she heard Marvin say with undiminished energy, "It’s like this: macroeconomists looking at the future of various industries generally don't consider the Ministry of Finance. In their thinking, the concept of a Ministry of Finance collapse doesn't exist. Therefore, the fundamental problem of the economic crash twenty-four hundred years ago was the lack of communication between the financial circle and economic experts; the models were very unstable..." Seeing Fanli’s weary face, he turned to her. "Miss Fanli, our friend here has a sharper eye than the professionals. It was he who founded the Light Sea Macroeconomic and Financial Exchange Center, successfully preventing the economic crises predicted for the last fifty years. His way of looking at the economy and markets is very unconventional and has influenced many decision-makers."
"Only those who save us from disaster are heroes; those who prevent disaster are just gatekeepers at best," Sushiye laughed. "Besides, I only propose ideas. The achievements belong to the elites and experts. You’re praising me so much I might float away."
"Lord Sushiye is truly too modest. Talking to you, I feel like I’m the one who’s two hundred years old."
They chatted for a few more minutes. Marvin concluded the conversation and exchanged books they had recently read with Sushiye. He gave Sushiye a copy of *The River of Evolution*, and Sushiye gave him *A History of the Light Sea and a Day in the Life of a Star Limulus*. They appeared to be books on evolutionary biology and "Big History," respectively. Fanli secretly noted the titles, planning to buy them when she got back and aggressively move them to the front of her reading list.
Finally, Sushiye glanced at Fanli. "By the way, Li-li, on the way here, you said you had an important question to ask Marvin. What was it?"
"An important question? I don't—" At this, Fanli immediately caught on. Sushiye was providing her with a free choice. "Oh, right! I wanted to ask Mr. Marvin, why doesn't the 'Sea Tribe Fleet' in Saint Yejana hire employees with Ocean Tribe blood anymore?"
Marvin gave Sushiye a meaningful look, pretending not to hear the specific gender implication. "What is your friend’s name?"
"Xinghai."
"One moment."
Marvin went out with his communication device. After ten minutes, he finished the call and returned, sitting down with a solemn expression.
"I went to ask. This boy named Xinghai used to work at my company’s Luoya headquarters as an Arcane Chip R&D Assistant. His work ability was recognized by the team in Luoya. But how should I put it... though he is efficient and smart, he lacks ambition." At this point, Marvin looked at Fanli and Sushiye with some hesitation. "He doesn't seem to have any goals, nor has he made any particularly outstanding achievements. His grades in school were good, but not good enough to significantly impact his resume. The most fatal point is that he has instances of disappearing and skipping work without reason. For the work intensity of Saint Yejana, that is a fatal flaw. If I were to transfer him to the Saint Yejana headquarters, it would just be a matter of me saying the word. But for the corporate culture of 'Sea Tribe Fleet,' which values fairness extremely highly, his days there might not be easy."
This evaluation made Fanli’s heart tighten. "Xinghai is indeed a laid-back and steady person. But he is very responsible; he wouldn't skip work without reason."
"Then, how do you think this should be resolved?" Sushiye asked.
"Me?" Fanli pointed at herself. "But I’ve never worked at 'Sea Tribe Fleet'..."
"You can do it well. I trust my eye for people. Usually, a student like you would have at least five major companies fighting over you a year before graduation. If I introduce you, the pressure on me will be much less."
Afterward, the three of them left the restaurant together, and Marvin went his separate way. Fanli pressed down her bangs, which had been ruffled by the waves, and looked up at Sushiye. "Lord Dictator, you helped me so much today. I don't know how to thank you."
Sushiye felt it was almost unbelievable. She was right there, less than two meters away from him—no longer the distant Red Moon Sea, no longer an untouchable arcane phantom.
"Cook a meal for me. You promised me that if I went to Luoya, you would cook for me. As it turned out, I didn't get a chance to fulfill that appointment before you came here."
"Is that all?"
"That’s all."
"Alright, then when you want to eat, call me. I’ll be there whenever you need!" Fanli waved to Sushiye. "It’s getting late, I’m going home too."
"I’ll take you back."
Every time she was treated tenderly by him, every time their eyes met, every time she received a kindness she shouldn't have from him, it was like swallowing a sugar-coated pill. At first, it was full of happiness and sweetness, but slowly, the bitterness seeped into her heart. Fanli repeatedly told herself not to let any strange "intuitions" take hold. Sushiye was this considerate and thoughtful to every woman; she was not special.
"No need to trouble yourself."
"I’m not comfortable with you going back alone. Don't overthink it; I’m simply worried about your safety." Sushiye placed his hand gently on her back, seemingly just politely urging her into the vessel. She still sensitively pulled away and took out her communication device.
"Don't worry about me. I’ll just call my boyfriend to pick me up."
"Then I’ll wait with you."
"You’re so busy with work, you really don't have to."
"I’m not busy. I’m off today. Tomorrow I have to go to Srotapanna for four days. I want to spend more time with you today."
Another sugar-coated pill went down her throat. Fanli quickly changed the subject. "Going to the Bodhi Sea? I’ve never been there. It must be fun."
"The Bodhi Sea has underwater Bodhi trees, the Quiet Mountains, and the Valley of Musky Bellflowers. They are all very beautiful. Do you want to come with me? I’ll take you to see those places."
*Go? Go where? To play with fire?*
Sushiye was being too proactive, far too proactive. she couldn't take it anymore. She used her ultimate move: "No, no, no, I won't disturb you. I heard there are many beautiful girls in the Bodhi Sea. Stay a few extra days and enjoy yourself. For miserable students like us, we can only watch with envy. Alright, I’m leaving..."
Just as she turned, he grabbed her back. His grip was so strong she thought her bones might break.
"Mentioning other women... are you joking?" Though his expression was neutral, Sushiye’s brow was slightly furrowed and his eyes were deep. He was clearly angry. "I told you, the person I like is you."
In the seawater, fragments of red and green algae drifted like willow catkins. Soft corals danced with a slow, sorrowful grace. Seaweed surrounded the underwater tree trunk, its roots deeply embedded beneath the "soil" of the plain.
Her short hair was also like red algae, rhythmically brushing against her fair cheeks. Her eyes were like stars, like the reflection of a sunset in a lake, clearer and cleaner than any water here. But at this moment, those eyes were filled only with shock and fear.
"Don't say it." Fanli’s chest heaved. "Didn't I say everything that needed to be said last time? I have a boyfriend."
"You don't have to accept me. Just let me stay by your side." Sushiye released his grip and looked down at her. "Without your permission, I won't touch you again."
"No." Fanli shook her head firmly. "Not even by my side. We shouldn't see each other anymore."
"Actually, Li-li, you like me too, don't you?" Sushiye didn't back down at all; instead, he became even gentler. "Having a friend like me isn't a bad thing. Your fierce rejection seems more like you're afraid you won't be able to control yourself."
"When you want to stay healthy, there’s no need to put a bunch of snacks in front of yourself and make yourself suffer."
"If someone is happy with their main course, even their favorite snack isn't much of a temptation. Wanting snacks only happens because the main course isn't good enough."
In a battle of eloquence, she was truly no match for Sushiye. She simply skipped the topic. "I’ve already wasted a lot of time here today. I have to go home and be with my boyfriend. Goodbye."
Fanli had just turned around when Sushiye caught up again. "If you could have both, would you consider it?"
"I’m sorry, I don't want both. I only want Xinghai."
"Is having both so bad? Am I that terrible?"
"Of course not. Quite the opposite. You and I both know perfectly well that you aren't too terrible—you’re too good." Fanli’s voice was cold, intending to leave no room for sentiment. "I’m not a fool. If I really 'had both,' you and I also know perfectly well that I would end up losing both."
"Why?"
"Xinghai doesn't accept polygamy. Even if I agreed, he would leave me immediately. And when it’s just you, what say would I have? By then, it would be *you* having 'N' partners, not me having two. You’re using your male advantage to oppress me while pretending to act in my best interest. It’s truly hypocritical, and it shows how much you look down on me."
Sushiye froze. "I hadn't thought that far."
"Of course you didn't. You’re a genetic winner; you don't need to think. You just know by instinct what’s best for you. I admit, you are an excellent, charming man—I don't think any woman in the Light Sea would disagree. But I choose Xinghai. Goodbye, Lord Sushiye."
"Wait."
She had just swum a short distance when his voice rang out behind her. "I am yours. Only yours. Is that alright?"
Fanli turned back, looking at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
A wave rolled past, bringing a heavy rain of crimson algae. Amidst this chaotic flurry of red, Sushiye’s robes and silver hair danced.
"From now on, I will have no non-professional contact with any other woman. I will only be with you. You can have both of us—can you accept that?"
***
**4.3 Mini-Theater**
Wuge: "Lately, some 'tiger and wolf' comments have been appearing under the chapters, like 'Requesting the lengths of the male leads in their land forms.' Oh, I love this topic too much."
Fanli: "Visually, Lord Sushiye is between 186-189cm? Xinghai should be around 178-181cm? The Professor is 183cm? Xitian is over 190cm? Little Yu... haha, does he even have a meter?"
Yujin: "Waaaah, I’m not that short!"
Wuge: "...You guys are so innocent, this topic is impossible to discuss."
*To be continued...*
***
**Glossary**
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