Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Drowning
Louis walked down a small path on Zero Star Street. The pine trees on both sides were covered in such thick snow they were almost completely white.
His black boots left a neat trail of footprints.
Ignoring the provocation from his green eye, he muttered to himself, ’What’s a Glazed Lamp? Do they sell them in Paradise?’
Ahead, a squad of guards marched by on patrol.
The young man’s deep green left eye gradually faded back to black. He found a pharmacy that was still open and, after asking the owner, learned that he had to go to a shopping center near the Lost Tower to buy one.
It turned out that Glazed Lamps came from an ancient kingdom.
「In the log cabin.」
After Louis left, Yu Zhizhi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her rabbit ear. She flinched, only to realize the Mermaid in front of her had just bitten it.
While she was still dazed, the Mermaid gripped her jaw and kissed her with wild abandon.
Yu Zhizhi’s eyelashes trembled. Whenever Yusen got close, her whole body seemed to melt. She could only lean weakly in his arms, enduring his possessive kiss.
The Mermaid had only meant to drive Louis away, but once he started kissing her, he couldn’t stop.
He cupped the back of the little female’s neck with one hand, pressing her even closer to him.
Just like the night of her differentiation, the little female carried the sweet scent of jasmine. Her wrists were so delicate that a gentle grasp was enough to keep her from breaking free.
A faint blush crept onto the Mermaid’s pale face.
It was the uncontrollable flush of arousal.
He kissed her until her legs went weak and she could barely stand.
She couldn’t help but retreat, her back soon pressing against the wooden staircase railing. Yusen braced one hand on the wooden banister and, as if to punish her for "escaping," bit her lip hard.
The young man’s ice blue eyes were clouded with a thick, nocturnal mist. His breath, carrying the Mermaid’s unique scent of the ocean tide, easily enveloped her.
She was drowning in it, unable to break free.
"Yu... sen..."
Yu Zhizhi whispered his name.
"Gentler..." The little female’s voice trailed off in a tremble.
The Mermaid’s fingers lifted the thin gauze of her dress and gently caressed her rabbit tail.
He lowered his head, inhaling the alluring fragrance from her snow-white neck, and chuckled hoarsely. "Not a chance."
...
When Yu Zhizhi woke up, it was already the middle of the night.
She didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. Her last memory was of Yusen carrying her collapsed form up to the second floor.
Yu Zhizhi slowly pushed herself up. She turned on the bedside lamp and saw the clock on the wall.
Two-thirty in the morning...
’I wonder if Louis is back yet?’
Dragging her exhausted body, Yu Zhizhi slowly steadied herself against the wall and walked out of the bedroom. She was wearing a long nightgown, its ruffled hem falling nearly to her ankles.
The wooden steps creaked softly. She lifted her skirt slightly, lightened her steps, and slowly made her way to the door of Louis’s room on the first floor.
She knocked softly twice.
There was no response.
Yu Zhizhi pushed the door open to find the pitch-black room empty.
After a moment’s thought, she headed for the living room.
She twisted the doorknob and pulled the door open. A gust of wind and snow hit her face. Shielding herself with her scarf, she saw a tall, slender figure sitting on the steps outside.
"...Louis?" she called out softly.
Louis heard the sound behind him. He picked up the Glazed Lamp sitting beside him and stood up.
The young man wore a gentle smile. The wind and snow outside were heavy, dusting his head and gradually turning his black hair white.
"It’s cold out here. Hurry and come inside," Yu Zhizhi said quietly.
’I wonder when he got back.’
’Was he just waiting outside this whole time?’
"You know, you could have let yourself in. You know the password."
Louis carried the Glazed Lamp into the warm, dark house. His voice was gentle. "Without your permission, Miss, I would not enter on my own."
As he spoke, he held up the small, exquisite Glazed Lamp in his hand.
"I wasn’t sure what style you would like, Miss, so I picked this one. It should be just the right size for your bedside."
"Thank you." Yu Zhizhi took it. She looked at the little Glazed Lamp in her hands, her eyes curving as she smiled. "I love it."
In the pitch-black cabin, there was only the light of this one small lamp.
Louis gazed at the girl before him. In the glow of the Glazed Lamp, her clear eyes looked even brighter and more captivating.
Her snow-white rabbit ears made her look even more delicate and innocent.
’Just looking at her makes me feel happy.’
’It’s a wonderful feeling.’
’It helps suppress the thick, sinful thoughts in the depths of my heart.’
"Miss," Louis’s voice was very soft. "Do you really want to have a Mermaid Baby?"
Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment, then nodded gently. "Mhm."
At the mention of it, Louis saw a flicker of distress on the little female’s face. "But he doesn’t want to."
They had been so intimate, yet he had withdrawn with such indifference after the passion faded.
Yu Zhizhi knew.
’Tonight was a total loss.’
’The pleasure that made her feel like she was "about to die" couldn’t compare to her desire for a Mermaid Baby.’
"Louis, can you help me?"
Yu Zhizhi looked at him with a sincere expression.
The journey from here to the Deep Sea Empire was very long and fraught with danger. Even if she managed to avoid trouble and reach the Valoran Empire, there was a high chance she’d be detained by the Duke or the Beastmen of the K family.
And if, by some chance, no one discovered her trail...
...a smooth, uneventful journey to the Deep Sea Empire would still take four months.
’If that happens, I’ll be too late for the mission.’
’Right now, Yusen is my only compatible target.’
Hearing her question, a faint smile appeared on Louis’s face. "Mhm, alright. I’ll figure something out."
’When did I start thinking she was special?’
’It was probably...’
’...back when we first met. Following my instincts, I captured her and held her before me.’
’That was the most restrained and rational I had ever been.’
’A release.’
’A soft, snow-white little rabbit like her should be heading toward the light.’
Just as the gates of fate were about to close—
the girl reached out and placed a vial of calming agent in his hand.
It was only because of that that Louis was able to stand here now, sound and whole, experiencing the world around him.
What he could be sure of was that he held a great deal of affection for this little rabbit.
And now, the little female he was so fond of was looking at him with such innocence, asking for his help.
’She has always been very fond of the Mermaid.’
’So it seems perfectly reasonable that she would want the Mermaid’s baby.’
She was asking him for help herself. How could Louis have the heart to refuse?
But a heavy, cloying feeling spread through his chest.
He could barely breathe.
"You should get some rest." His gaze was locked on the little rabbit-girl’s face. He didn’t rush her to leave, afraid he was about to lose control.
"Okay, good night~"
"Good night, Miss."
Yu Zhizhi carried the Glazed Lamp, holding onto the railing with one hand as she slowly made her way up to the second floor.
She moved very slowly, pausing with every step.
Louis stared intently at her slender, fragile figure. Sensing a strange stirring within him, he covered his left eye with one hand, his right eye flashing with a warning. "If you dare try anything, I’ll gouge you out."
That night, Yu Zhizhi slept very well.
When she got up the next day, she saw a sumptuous breakfast already prepared on the coffee table. Louis was outside in the yard, sweeping snow.
She sat on the fluffy, warm rug, enjoying a cheese and fried egg panini while pulling up the latest news on a projection.
Then, Yu Zhizhi saw the most important event of the day in the Valoran Empire—
[Live Now: Hatching Day Ceremony for the Platinum Duke Mansion’s Six Snake Pups! Click the bottom-right corner to join the stream!]
A look of delight crossed Yu Zhizhi’s face—
’The Snake Cubs are about to hatch!’
