“Why…” Fanli’s heart nearly skipped a beat, but her confusion only deepened. “Why? I can’t think of a single reason why you would do this. You said yourself that monogamy is disadvantageous to evolution.”
“That was before you appeared.” Su Shiye gazed at her intently. “From the moment we parted in the Sea of Midwinter until we met again at Declaration Square, I didn't forget you for a single second. I am a man of strong desires; I know what I want, and I know that being with one woman for a long time is usually not enough. But with you, I feel I would be more satisfied than if I were with a hundred other women.”
Fanli felt like her brain was turning into mush. What was this? A pie falling from the sky? Winning the five-million-dollar lottery?
“Stop joking. It’s just because no girl has ever rejected you like this before. You’re just acting on an impulsive whim.”
“It’s not an impulse. I know. And, to put it bluntly, my lifespan is much longer than yours. Once you are gone, I can still live for tens of thousands of years. Spending two thousand years with only you is not a loss for me.”
He was too eloquent; Fanli was almost persuaded. *No, no, I have to stay clear-headed.* It was time to throw cold water on him and scare him away.
“You want to be with me for two thousand years?”
“Yes.”
“Then marry me. Only then will I believe you’ll be faithful.”
“Marriage?” Su Shiye looked stunned. “Going straight to marriage?”
“That’s right.” She began using her usual tactic for dealing with the predatory tribes. “First of all, I don’t believe in premarital sex. I want to save my first time for my husband. Oh, and I’m a great cook. I can stay home and cook every day, waiting for my husband to return. Just think—every day you come home to a little darling wife waiting for you, someone who ensures you only have eyes for her and never touch those beautiful girls outside again. Doesn’t that sound fun? Isn’t it a wonderful surprise?”
“I see.” Su Shiye fell silent for a moment. “This is a major matter. I’ll go back and give it some serious thought.”
“Sure thing. Think it over well, consider it carefully. I’ll be waiting for your answer.”
But Fanli knew she didn't need to wait. Su Shiye wouldn't come looking for her again.
Fanli returned to her dorm feeling light as a feather. Although she struggled to fall asleep, once she did, the quality of her rest was exceptional. The feeling of completely letting go wasn't bad, even if they had never truly begun.
Sure enough, starting from the next day, Su Shiye vanished completely. Just like that Orca boy who had once offered her a communicator, it was as if he had never existed.
On one hand, she felt that pure-blooded predatory tribes were truly predictable—mention marriage, and they fled like launched missiles, without exception. On the other hand, she felt a sense of helplessness; after all, Su Shiye’s words had been so beautiful, so moving that she had almost believed he was serious. Fortunately, she had been clear-headed enough to use her "ultimate move" at the critical moment, luckily avoiding a broken heart.
Looking at it from another perspective, she felt a sense of transcendence: the ocean was beautiful, the sky was beautiful, the wild red roses in the countryside were beautiful, the cello music played on stage was beautiful, and Su Shiye was beautiful. But these beautiful things could not be privately owned. Learning to observe and appreciate from afar was enough.
Two days later, she received a call from "Sea-folk Vessels" to schedule an interview.
Her job was as an assistant in Arcane Chip R&D—the same role Xinghai had once held. Her luck was a mix of good and bad; on her first day, her team happened to start developing the latest chip model. Her colleagues and supervisors were all preoccupied with their own tasks, so no one really mentored her. She could only help them print documents, distribute lunch boxes, and act as a delivery girl while eavesdropping on the project details. After work, she rushed to the largest library in Saint Yejana—the Ancient Light Sea Library. There, she borrowed *Introduction to Arcane Chips* and sat down to flip through it rapidly. An hour later, she borrowed *A Brief History of Chips*; forty-five minutes after that, *Kings of the Water: The Era of Vessels*; another hour and a half later, *Illustrated Arcane Chips*...
The Ancient Light Sea Library held 120,000 volumes. The main reading room faced east, symbolizing the welcome of the first rays of morning light. When Fanli grew tired, she would nap on the desk for a while. By the time she realized her physical strength was flagging, she truly was welcoming the first light of dawn.
She borrowed more advanced books like *Arcane Modeling and Safety Scheduling Control in Chip Manufacturing*, *Sonar Signal Processing Chip Technology*, *Inertial Navigation Chip Devices for Vessels*, and *Arcane Chips in Ballistic Missiles*, taking them back to the dorm. However, at the entrance of the dormitory building, she ran right into a worried-looking Xinghai swimming out.
“Lili!!” Xinghai rushed over, grabbing her shoulders. “Where did you go? How could you disappear for a whole day?!”
Only then did Fanli sluggishly pull out her communicator, realizing its arcane energy had long since been depleted. She tapped her head in frustration. “I was reading in the library and forgot to recharge it.”
“So that’s it...” Like a taut string suddenly snapping, Xinghai’s shoulders slumped. “I thought something had happened to you... Why were you in the library for so long? Is it because Professor Wennan is putting too much pressure on you?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that. These past two days, I’ve been cramming knowledge needed for my work.”
“The part-time job you said you were interviewing for yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of job is it? How could it leave you this exhausted?”
The moment to face this topic had finally arrived. Fanli didn't want Xinghai to know, but she wanted to lie even less. She could only confess: “It’s the same work you used to do. Arcane chip R&D.”
Xinghai froze for a moment. “At which company?”
“‘Sea-folk Vessels.’”
Fanli tried to sound casual, and Xinghai tried to act casual as well. But in the two or three seconds they spent looking into each other's eyes, they both clearly felt that something in their relationship was silently undergoing a massive change. In truth, this change hadn't happened overnight; the trend had been there for a long time, but it was only at this moment that it completely surfaced.
“I see.” Xinghai rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit awkward. “To be able to land that job so easily as a member of the Ocean Tribe... our Lili really is amazing.”
In a relationship, one of the most awkward moments for a woman is the moment she surpasses her boyfriend, making him feel like less of a man.
The last time Xinghai had protected Fanli behind his back felt as distant as if it had happened in the previous century.
Fanli wanted to say something to make him feel better, like: “It’s not easy at all. On my first day, no one even paid attention to me.” But she knew Xinghai had high emotional intelligence; he would see right through her attempt at comfort. Comfort could be even more frustrating than a blow. So, she simply puffed out her chest and said, “Your girlfriend is very capable too. Don’t look down on us women!”
Hearing her say this, Xinghai actually laughed with relief. “I’ve never looked down on you. You’ve always been excellent. That job isn't easy. If there’s anything you don’t understand in the beginning, you can ask me.”
“Okay, I love you to death!” Fanli jumped over and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging off him like an accessory. “I’ve been busy all night, my energy is completely drained. Hurry up and carry me up!”
“Here?” Xinghai looked around. “Is that okay? People will see.”
“I want to show off our love! I want everyone to know I’m your girlfriend so no little bitches try to steal my Xinghai-hai! Carry me!”
Xinghai was a bit helpless against her antics, but mostly he was happy. He picked her up along with her pile of books and "transported" her back to her room. Fortunately, they didn't run into anyone else on the way, except for Yujin, who had heard them coming and was waiting at his door. He saw Xinghai swimming over while carrying Fanli.
Fanli was usually much taller than Yujin, but in Xinghai’s arms, she looked thin and small, her face radiant with a sweet smile. She practically glowed. Yujin tucked his lower lip under his upper lip, his pouty mouth trembling. He tapped his index fingers together, his round little belly sticking out, and his tail wagged rapidly like a dog’s. “I want to hold Sister Fanli too...”
“Xiao Yu, you’re too small. Even in the water, you wouldn't be able to carry me.” Fanli was amused by him.
“That won’t do. Sister Fanli belongs to Brother. You can hold other girls when you grow up.”
“Okay then...” Yujin wagged his short little tail and went back to his room. But the sight of Xinghai holding Fanli was etched into his memory once again.
In the many years that followed, he often thought: *If only I could grow as tall as Brother Xinghai and hold Fanli like that just once...*
But the descendants of the Sea God really grew so slowly, *waah*...
Back in the room, after learning that Yujin liked keeping boxfish and had a pet named Dudu, Xinghai smiled. “I understand Xiao Yu. Boxfish are indeed very cute. We used to keep many boxfish in front of our house in the Sea of Stars, though they weren't the same species as Dudu. They were Rough-handled Filefish. Green ones, hidden in the seagrass, almost invisible.”
“The Sea of Stars?” Fanli tilted her head. “How do I remember that Rough-handled Filefish are active in the Sea of the Red Moon, the Sea of Bodhi, and the Sea of Cracked Skies...?”
“Lili, you’re amazing, you even know that. Our Rough-handled Filefish were brought over from the Sea of Bodhi.”
“Wow, rich people, moving them so far?”
“My parents didn't move them...” At this point, Xinghai frowned, falling into a long silence. Then he said with some frustration, “Sorry, it seems my old problem is acting up again. I can’t remember how they got there.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. No need to apologize for that, it’s just a small detail.”
But being unable to remember things made Xinghai feel terrible; he still thumped his head several times.
The life that followed gave Fanli a deep understanding of the cruelty of the term "corporate slave." Moreover, she was a hybrid breed: a corporate slave and a school slave.
Through the military-academy-style grind of her studies, she could clearly feel herself progressing at high speed. Her knowledge reserves exploded daily, but sleep deprivation became a constant. The irritability resulting from lack of sleep became a complication that flared up every few days.
Less than half a month after joining, her team leader promoted her from assistant to "Hatchback Vessel Arcane Chip Developer," and her salary was raised from 150 Futi per hour to 400 Futi. Although most students from the Arcane Academy earned over 100,000 annually after graduation, such an hourly rate for a part-time job was quite staggering. Being given such responsibility showed her a glimmer of hope, and she worked even harder.
Two months passed. She had absolutely no days off. Occasionally, she would nap on a desk in the library, only to be woken by passing students, making her want to jump up and freeze them all into ice blocks before throwing them out the window.
Once, after a Micro-Arcane seminar ended, Xinghai came to her classroom to pick her up. Their class hadn't finished yet; they were still in the middle of a final discussion. The first sentence Xinghai heard was: “I don’t care what you think, I care what I think. Everyone listen to me!” And the person speaking was his girlfriend.
“Where exactly do you find this problem difficult?” A moment later, she said impatiently, “You can’t even do something this simple? How many times do I have to explain it!”
The group member asking the question was a small girl with glasses, so frightened by her that her sea-pen dropped to the floor. Ye Jia sat in the chair opposite them, eyes wide, his glasses sliding down to the tip of his high nose, which he didn't push back up for a long time.
Later, although Fanli apologized to the girl, she still felt frustrated by her uncontrollable emotions as she swam out of the classroom. At the same time, she met Xinghai’s questioning gaze. “Lili, what’s been wrong with you lately?”
“Nothing, I just haven't slept well.” In front of him, Fanli became much gentler, though she felt her temples throbbing.
“Should you stop doing that part-time job at ‘Sea-folk Vessels’? It’s taking up too much of your time.”
“No, I have to keep doing it. This job is very important to me.”
“Can it be more important than your studies? You’re going to be a Great Arcanist or a Great Potioneer in the future. Isn't putting so much energy into an unrelated job putting the cart before the horse?”
“Don’t say anymore. I’m not quitting.” Fanli didn't want to explain. She swam forward hurriedly.
She needed sleep so badly. *Damn it, I don't want to do that stupid chip R&D anymore.* But if she just held on a little longer, she could finish it. She couldn't give up now. Once this project became a huge success, she could negotiate with the company: if you want me to stay, hire my boyfriend too. She didn't have 100% confidence in this negotiation—not even 50%. Why would such a large company compromise because of her "threat"? But Xinghai really couldn't keep doing that manual labor. Even if the expectation fell through, she had to try!
When she was exhausted to the extreme, she occasionally thought about giving up, but she would quickly slap herself awake.
There is no comfortable uphill road in this world. The road you want to take when you are most tired is definitely the downhill one.
She still had to do this job.
“Lili, what exactly is going on with you lately?” Xinghai was also getting frustrated. “Am I not giving you the money I earn? Do we have huge expenses? Why are you...”
“Please, Xinghai, you’ve asked the same question twice now!”
Xinghai was stunned by her intensity, but soon he spoke calmly and with some displeasure: “Lili, we haven't had a proper meal together in a long time. Lately, when you eat, you’re reading books, making calls, or looking at documents. We spend even less time together on weekends than during the week. Have you noticed? You’ve really changed a lot, and you don’t even like this job.”
His question was a needle that popped her balloon of anger.
“I know,” Fanli said with a bitter smile. “I really don't like this job. I just don't want to give up on the current project.”
“Once this project is done, there will be another one. You’ll never want to give up. But this really isn't what you want to do, is it?”
“I haven't changed. I just need to save time. I need rest.” Fanli held his hand and said softly, “Don’t stop me. Just give me a little more support, okay?”
Xinghai stared at her silently for a long time before whispering, “Fine.”
This weekend, Fanli finally welcomed her first true two-day break.
Starting from November 21st, for three consecutive weekends, the largest vessel event in Saint Yejana would be held—the Light Sea SS-class Vessel Championship. This competition was currently the highest-level vessel Grand Prix in the Light Sea, rivaling the Saint Yejana Grand Prix and the Loya Vessel Grand Prix. In this race, vessels sped along a set route, reaching average speeds of 590 km/h. Each race lasted 120 minutes, during which each pilot would complete a 10,000-kilometer distance. It was a combination of speed and passion, and a commercial race heavily invested in by "Sea-folk Vessels."
Since the project was nearing its end, the leader told Fanli she could take the first weekend off and attend the closing ceremony on the third weekend.
Fanli felt her leader had never looked so handsome and dashing.
On the "Jante" day (Saturday), Fanli slept for an entire day. She had originally wanted to go out with Xinghai, but he was out working and didn't return to the dorm until after 11 PM. He was also exhausted; they spoke on the phone for five minutes before he said he had to work the next day and hung up to sleep.
Since the last unpleasant atmosphere, Xinghai had indeed given her "support" through his actions, and the frequency of his contact had decreased significantly.
On the "Gashi" day (Sunday), Fanli slept until 9 AM, feeling completely refreshed. Indeed, when one gets enough rest, their mood becomes pleasant. Unfortunately, Xinghai wasn't there, and she missed him. But thinking that since he could support her work, she should also give him space.
Fanli went to the kitchen and saw a slave preparing breakfast. Yujin was lying on a lounge chair like a little young master, playing with a puzzle while his little tail wagged back and forth. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice Fanli swimming up behind him. She tapped his shoulder. “Xiao Yu?”
Yujin looked up and saw her, so startled that his hand jerked, and the puzzle pieces clattered to the floor. But he didn't seem to care about the ruined puzzle; instead, his large eyes were filled with guilt. “Fan... Sister Fanli...”
“What’s wrong? Why are you so scared?”
“I didn't mean to use a slave, *waah*...” Yujin was almost in tears. “I don’t know how to cook, and I didn't want to go out to buy food alone, and I didn't want to trouble Sister Fanli, but I was so hungry, *uuhuhu*...”
Fanli glanced at the slave. He also turned to look at them quickly before turning back to continue cooking as if he were deaf.
“I didn't say you weren't allowed to use slaves,” Fanli said, confused.
“Didn't Sister Fanli say that all people are born equal? Then enslaving others is wrong, isn't it...?”
“As long as you respect them, treat them as ordinary employees rather than slaves, and don’t hit, scold, or insult them, it’s not considered enslavement.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
“Yes. You’re just hiring him to cook for you, just like hiring a chef. When you don’t need them anymore, set them free. That would be considered a good deed.”
Hearing this, although the slave didn't turn around again, his eyes shifted, stealing a glance at Fanli. He felt that an Ocean Tribe girl being able to make a Sea God Tribe boy so obedient was a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
“Okay! Then I’ll listen to Sister. I’ll only ask him to help me cook and give him freedom the rest of the time. And I won’t wait until I don’t need him—I’ll go write a redemption contract for him right now and treat him as my chef!”
“Good. Xiao Yu is so good.”
Seeing Yujin dash out, the slave suddenly fell to the floor, kowtowing several times to Fanli, large tears flowing into the seawater. “Thank you, kind miss, thank you...”
“Don’t thank me. You should thank your kind little boss.”
“Thank you both. You don’t know... I never dared to dream of obtaining freedom in my life. I... I...” At this point, the nearly adult young man was crying like a child.
Fanli felt quite embarrassed and quickly swam to his cutting board, peering at the food he was making to distract him. “What is this you’re making?”
Sure enough, the slave stood up, wiped his tears, and said, “This is ‘Turtle Foot,’ a specialty of our Sea of Cracked Skies.”
Fanli actually knew its scientific name was *Capitulum mitella*. It looked like the character "勿" and somewhat like a turtle's foot, hence the nickname. It was a crustacean specialty of the Sea of Bodhi and the Sea of Cracked Skies. The larvae could swim and crawl until they found a reef to attach to, where they would stay forever. This creature didn't exist in other seas; she hadn't expected it could be made into food.
The slave continued cooking, peeling off the tough skin of the turtle feet to reveal the white meat inside. He then placed them in sake within a dry air bubble to soak for a while before starting to steam them for the next dish.
Yujin returned with the written contract, had the slave sign it, and then handed two peeled, raw turtle feet to Fanli. “Sister Fanli, these are delicious raw too. Try some.”
Fanli was always a bit timid about trying new foods, but seeing Xiao Yu eating so happily, she pinched her nose and ate one. To her surprise, it had the sweetness of crab but was firmer, with an excellent texture.
Next, she and Yujin snacked on turtle feet like they were sunflower seeds while turning on the TV to watch the daily news.
She had been so busy with work and study lately that she hadn't followed current events for a long time. She didn't expect the first person she saw upon opening the news channel to be Su Shiye.
It turned out he had recently gone to the Sea of Resurrection again. He had signed 17 treaties with the Resurrection government and promoted the latest Maritime Defense Law, which happened to officially take effect today. Looking at the clauses of the law, almost all of them were conducive to consolidating the rule of the Holy Capital Party. Fanli knew that Su Shiye was going to gain a whole new batch of "anti-fans" in the Sea of Resurrection (the media in Saint Yejana certainly wouldn't report such news). However, his influence and voice there would also reach a new level because of it.
In the news, Su Shiye looked different than he did in private.
On the news, he was cold, focused, and slightly aggressive—a one-hundred-percent top-tier predatory tribe male. But in private, she often forgot his race, only feeling that he was a romantic, gentle, and very difficult-to-handle man.
They hadn't seen each other for over two months. Seeing him again now, even if only on television, felt like a lifetime ago.
She rested her chin in her hands, staring blankly at Su Shiye.
Now, with only her and Xiao Yu in the kitchen, and having become complete strangers with him, it should be fine to space out a bit in front of the TV...
Before the news finished, the newly freed slave returned from taking out the trash and said, “Miss Fanli, someone downstairs is looking for you.”
“Who is it?”
“They didn't give a name. There are several people and a very, very large vessel.”
Fanli swam to the end of the hallway and looked out the window. She was stunned—the military vessel parked below was emblazoned with the Jewel Eagle crest, and a row of Holy Capital Redguards stood neatly before the door.
Her heart began to thud wildly. Fanli wanted to rush downstairs in one breath to see exactly who was looking for her.
Could it be Su Shiye?
Why would he come to contact her again?
She really wanted to see him...
Thinking of this, she reached out her hands and slapped her face several times, telling herself not to be impulsive. She leaned against the wall, eyes closed, breathing in deeply and exhaling heavily, over and over... Because she did it slowly, she didn't release a single bubble. In the silent seawater, she listened to her heartbeat gradually slow down.
However, as the nervousness vanished, what followed was not peace, but a silent ache in her chest.
She wanted to see Su Shiye.
Even after calming down, she still wanted to.
Dejected, she swam back to the kitchen, said goodbye to Yujin, and returned to her room to lie down. She turned off her communicator and, like a turtle shrinking into its shell, buried her head under the pillow and wrapped herself in the quilt. Because the water circulation was poor, it wasn't long before she fell asleep due to lack of oxygen.
At dusk, the setting sun dyed the water in the room golden. Fanli was awakened by two knocks on the door. She ran a hand through her messy hair and swam sluggishly to the door. “Who is it...?”
“It’s me, Su Shiye.”
In an instant, all sleepiness vanished. Fanli glanced back at Xinghai’s dorm across the hall; seeing he wasn't there, she immediately pulled the door open. “Why are you still here...?”
“Is it convenient to talk now?” As if knowing what she cared about, he kept his voice very soft. “I have something I want to discuss with you privately.”
Fanli looked around, feeling that now was really not a good time to talk. She just frowned. “Is it important?”
“It is to me. There’s a rather serious item I must hand to you personally.”
“Sigh, alright.”
“Come.”
They went downstairs together. The Holy Capital Redguards opened the vessel’s hatch for them. Once they were inside, the hatch closed, and the guards continued their strict watch.
Fanli stood poised until Su Shiye pointed to the sofa. Only then did she sit down cautiously, maintaining her usual posture when seeing him—sitting on only the front third of the seat.
Being enclosed in a private space with Su Shiye felt as if the seawater itself had been infused with mellow wine.
This man was truly too good at this. Disappearing for so long, then appearing unexpectedly, calm and elegant, stirring her emotions deeply before launching an assault to conquer her. It was despicable—practically a textbook PUA move. She had to learn to refuse! She had to stay clear-headed!
She forced herself to concentrate, not to look at Su Shiye, not to think of him. She repeatedly replayed memories of her time with Xinghai in her mind. Then she heard Su Shiye say, “I actually like creating surprises, but I feel your style is more about being prepared in advance...”
He swam over and sat beside Fanli. The distance between them suddenly closed. Part of his profile was cast in shadow, the light in the water creating a Rembrandt lighting effect on his face. The line between light and shadow traced the sharp, clear contours of his face, making him look like the secret many brilliant women bury in their hearts even when they are wrinkled with age—the old lover who exists only in the passionate memories of youth.
Looking at Su Shiye on TV was one thing, but seeing the man himself, she was truly...
If he were to do as before, pinning her to the seat and kissing her, she could hardly guarantee she would push him away immediately. If he disappeared again, she would likely spend a long time in sorrow and guilt toward Xinghai...
*No, no, stay clear!!*
“Lili.”
*Don’t call me, don’t call me! Don’t call me with that deep, gentle voice!*
*Fanli, listen well, this is the 100% pure voice of a scumbag! Not a single impurity! If you don’t want to be played, stay awake! If he touches you, push him away hard and call him a dog!*
However, she did not receive any physical contact from Su Shiye.
“What’s wrong? you look so dejected.” Su Shiye laughed and placed a large jewelry box in her hand. “Look at this. Will it make you feel better?”
“What is this...?”
Confused, Fanli opened the box. First, she was squinting from a flash of intense light, turning her head away. When she looked back, she gasped sharply, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Do you like it?”
Inside the jewelry box was a perfectly cut, 80-carat diamond. Colorless, it held only a brilliant, magnificent silver-white within its perfect facets. It was the shape of a top-tier work of art, flawless, set within the platinum six-prong mount of a marriage ring.
“This was produced on the southern coast of the Sea of the Red Moon. A diamond of this grade usually only appears once every three to five years. My luck was quite good; I only had to wait two months to find it. Want to pick it up and look?”
Fanli was nearly blinded by the sparkle. She shook her head and took the diamond out, pulling the ring with it. As the seawater flowed, the diamond reflected the shimmering silver-white light, like liquid platinum stars dancing in the water.
Unlike Gashitian’s cold, industrial-style nickel marriage ring, the one Su Shiye gave her had soft lines and was exceptionally feminine. It was also encrusted with small pavé diamonds like a starry sky, giving it a very youthful feel.
It was like a dream...
This diamond...
Whether it was the cut, the lines, the color, or the design, it was too classic. Even at that size, not a single flaw could be found. If any of the small accent diamonds were taken out and placed in a luxury jewelry store on land, they could individually be made into the most expensive one-carat rings. This gave the whole piece a surreal, dreamlike quality.
“This is too beautiful...” Fanli held it carefully, her heart nearly melting. “You really understand what girls like...”
“As long as you like it. Actually, I don’t particularly like oversized diamonds; I care more about clarity and cut. But in a matter like this, I couldn't lose to Gashitian, could I?”
Hearing his answer, Fanli didn't immediately process what was happening. Not until she saw the inside of the ring, where there was a row of slightly recessed handwritten characters:
*To my beloved Lili. The Era of Combustion, Su Shiye.*
She suddenly looked up, pointing at the inscription. “Wait, what does this mean?”
“It means you can’t give it away to anyone else,” Su Shiye chuckled softly. “I’m joking. You tell me what it means.”
It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her crown.
“My mind is a blank right now, wait a moment...”
“I knew you were up to no good when you mentioned marriage, you little liar, trying to scare me off.” Su Shiye flicked her nose, his eyes filled with an inseparable, lingering affection. “Now I just want to know if our Lili is satisfied with this diamond. If you are, I’ll use it to formally propose. You set the time; I know you like making schedules. Then, we’ll register for a monogamous marriage certificate.”
The *Saint Yejana Marriage Law* stipulated that in a monogamous marriage, if the marriage broke down because one party had improper sexual relations with a third party, the unfaithful party would have to use 65% of their income to support the other party until the other party entered their next marriage. Just looking at this regulation, one could tell how rare it was for couples to sign such a certificate.
Fanli temporarily lost her ability to think. She didn't even stop to wonder how he knew she liked making schedules. She waved her hand, trying to keep her head from overheating. “I don’t understand. We’ve only met a few times...”
“I trust my own judgment in choosing a wife; I’ve already completed my assessment. Additionally, I suggest you choose the monogamous certificate because if we get a polygamous one and I cheat, I would hardly have to pay a price for divorce. The monogamous one protects you better. Furthermore, you could marry either me or Xinghai. I think marrying me is more suitable—the material conditions are better, it’s more practical for marriage, and this certificate places a greater constraint on me. What do you think?”
“I think I’m very confused.”
Su Shiye thought for a moment and added, “However, we have to agree on one thing: I only accept you having Xinghai as a lover. No other men are allowed. If you get involved with a third man, I will divorce you.”
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
浮 (Fú) | Futi | The currency unit used in this world.
海族舰艇 (Hǎizú jiàntǐng) | Sea-folk Vessels | The name of the company where Fanli works.
掀背舰 (Xiānbèi jiàn) | Hatchback Vessel | A specific type of underwater vessel Fanli works on.
圣都红衣卫 (Shèngdū hóngyī wèi) | Holy Capital Redguards | Elite guards or security forces of the Holy Capital.
加斯日 (Jiāsī rì) | Gashi Day | Likely Sunday (based on the context of a two-day weekend).
兼特日 (Jiāntè rì) | Jante Day | Likely Saturday.
石蜐 (Shíjié) | Turtle Foot | A type of crustacean (Capitulum mitella) eaten as a delicacy.
一夫一妻制 (Yīfū yīqī zhì) | Monogamy | Specifically refers to the legal marriage contract in this world.
多偶制 (Duōǒu zhì) | Polygamy / Polygyny | The more common marriage system for predatory tribes.
燃烧时代 (Ránshāo shídài) | Era of Combustion | A specific era or period mentioned in the ring's inscription.
