Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Don’t Smile at Other Males
Yusen’s brow furrowed slightly at the Duke’s words.
He saw the young female’s gaze return to the video, her attention stolen away just like that.
The Mermaid’s heart grew heavy.
Even the warmth of her fingers was slowly leaving his.
He looked down at his own empty hand, his eyes dimming.
Yu Zhizhi’s breath hitched.
Little Amon...
Hearing that the little snake she missed so dearly was awake, she couldn’t help but look forward to getting a good look at him.
"I..."
Yu Zhizhi hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Yusen. "I want to stay here a little longer, okay?"
’She chose the Duke.’
Yusen lowered his gaze, his icy blue eyes hidden in shadow, unreadable and unfathomable.
His expression instantly fell. Without a word, he stood up and left. His lonely figure disappeared around the bend of the staircase.
On the video.
The Duke’s lips quirked into a slight smile as he set down his pipe. The smart camera focused on the bamboo basket. A snow-white Little White Snake had just woken up, its round eyes half-lidded, a single teardrop clinging to the corner of one.
It yawned.
Its tail, which had been curled up, gave a slight wag when it saw the Duke.
The Duke was in a rare good mood.
"Little Amon, this is your mother," he said slowly. "Come and say hello."
The listless, soft Little White Snake had been drowsy, but its eyes shot wide open the moment it heard the words "your mother."
"SQUEAK—"
It let out a soft cry, raising its head to look at the floating video screen before it.
The Little White Snake saw the person on the screen and began to tremble uncontrollably.
It couldn’t resist the urge to get closer, to touch her, to nuzzle against her, but its head passed right through the hologram. The pale, virtual image rippled like water.
WHIMPER—
’I can’t reach her, I can’t reach her.’ The Little White Snake’s eyes welled with tears.
It slumped sadly in the bamboo basket, the brief exertion having completely exhausted it. All it could do was stare with its round, reptilian eyes, greedily drinking in the sight on the screen.
Yu Zhizhi was also watching Little Amon. He was so tiny and soft, a pure snowy white. His vertical pupils were a faint gold—a truly beautiful and elegant little snakelet.
She couldn’t help but smile softly. "Hello there, Little Amon."
Hearing his mother’s voice, Little Amon happily wagged his tail, making the whole basket rock back and forth.
The Duke watched the Little White Snake with a meaningful gaze.
He usually didn’t even have the strength to eat, sleeping from morning till night. He was listless no matter who called him. Yet now, upon seeing the little rabbit, he seemed to have boundless energy.
On the Beast World Planet, young beasts have a profound attachment to their mothers.
From the moment they are born, they remember their mother’s scent.
When they grow up, they can find their way back to their mother, no matter the distance.
Since the dawn of the Beast World, females with high Fertility have held a revered status. A large part of this is because their children would never, under any circumstances, allow their mother to be wronged.
The Little White Snake couldn’t speak yet.
He would whimper in response.
Even with his frail body, he used all his strength to answer his mother’s call.
Yu Zhizhi was utterly charmed by the Little White Snake. Her eyes curved into crescents and her voice was gentle. "You have to eat well, Little Amon, okay?"
"SQUEAK—" the Little White Snake answered eagerly.
He suddenly grew anxious, as if sensing the call was about to end.
The Duke spoke slowly. "He wants to know when the next video call will be."
Yu Zhizhi rested her cheek in her hand. Watching the snow-white snake on the screen, she murmured, "Then... can we call next weekend?"
The Duke lowered his reptilian eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "Of course."
At the door, the servant didn’t dare make a sound.
’Could this be the legendary...’ he couldn’t help but marvel. ’Gaining favor through his son?’
The video call ended.
The snow-white Little White Snake instantly deflated.
He curled back up in the bamboo basket, nibbling forlornly on the soft cushion beneath him.
For once, the Duke reached out and stroked the little snake’s head.
It was the first time he had ever touched the little snake.
He instructed a servant to return him to the young beasts’ courtyard and see that he was well cared for.
The Duke sat at his desk, resuming his work on official documents. A mocking smile touched his lips as he thought about how the little rabbit was probably on her way to the attic now.
’Of course, he knew a video call could only hold her attention for so long.’
’To possess her completely, he would have to wait patiently for the right moment.’
’This was just to plant a thorn in that fish’s heart.’
’He wanted the Mermaid to know that even with the young female a world away, the bond between her and the Duke was unbreakable.’
’If the Mermaid threw a tantrum over this, their relationship would grow distant, and eventually, they would fall apart.’
The Duke looked forward to that day.
Yu Zhizhi reluctantly got to her feet on the stairs.
It was late.
She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost one in the morning.
As always, she tiptoed back to the attic.
’I wonder if Yusen is asleep?’
’What the Duke said earlier seemed to have really upset him.’
’Was it because of...’
’That one word, "brother"?’
Yu Zhizhi made a mental note. ’I’ll make sure to never mention that word in front of Yusen, so I don’t upset him.’
Back in the room, Yusen was lying on his side, facing the wall.
He wasn’t the least bit sleepy.
His chest felt heavy and tight, as if a waterlogged pillow was being pressed against his face. It was a sour, suffocating feeling, and he could barely breathe.
The mere thought of the young female laughing and chatting with another male, her eyes crinkling with a smile, was enough to drive him mad with jealousy.
...Don’t.
’Please don’t smile at other males.’
Yusen gripped the blankets tightly, a patch of white scales appearing on his neck.
It had been a long time since he’d been angry enough for them to turn white...
The Mermaid’s body trembled, and a layer of frost began to form over his exposed fish tail.
CLICK.
He heard a slight movement from the door behind him.
The trembling in his body stopped abruptly. The Mermaid’s finned ears twitched, and he held his breath.
Light, gentle footsteps, accompanied by a faint scent of jasmine, approached from behind.
The Mermaid, who had been stewing in anger, suddenly felt a pang of sour hurt. He stared hard at the wall, refusing to turn and look at the little rabbit who had returned after enjoying herself.
Yu Zhizhi slowly lay down on the bed.
She tried to pull the blanket over herself.
Her fingers brushed against his fish tail by accident. The scales were cold. She paused, then couldn’t resist gently placing her palm over them.
’She wanted to warm him up.’
The young woman’s touch was so gentle.
But it only made Yusen feel worse.
’He didn’t understand how this little rabbit could come back as if nothing had happened.’
Just as Yu Zhizhi was gently stroking his fish tail, she suddenly felt a hand grip her wrist.
She froze.
Yusen, his back still to her, pushed her hand away.
"I’m tired."
Yusen’s voice was colder than she had ever heard it. "I’m going to sleep."
He paused.
The young man ordered her out. "Go back to your own room."
Yu Zhizhi hadn’t expected Yusen to send her away.
Her expression was bewildered, but she slowly sat up.
Sensing the young female’s movement.
’She’s leaving.’
A sneer flashed in Yusen’s eyes—
’He was mocking himself for falling so fast—it was a disgrace to the Mermaid Clan. She had complete control over his emotions, and now, he was about to be abandoned.’
The next second.
But the young female suddenly lay back down.
She hugged the Mermaid from behind.
Yu Zhizhi pressed her forehead against the Mermaid’s back, her voice soft and muffled. "I want to sleep with Sensen."
