Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Raising the Cub
Yusen was so cold tonight.
Holding him was like embracing a block of ice.
Yu Zhizhi smelled the faint scent of the ocean on the Mermaid’s body. Her eyelashes brushed against his back, and her every breath was soft and warm.
Yusen’s entire body was rigid.
The snow-white scales that had spread from his neck to his cheeks gradually faded away.
Yu Zhizhi noticed his body temperature rising and looked up in pleasant surprise. "Sensen, you’re not cold anymore?"
’...That’s right.’
’I’m not cold anymore.’
’The little female’s body is so scorching hot, it could easily melt my protective layer of ice.’
Yusen slowly turned back around and pulled her into his arms.
He was supposed to be angry with her. He was supposed to feel wronged to the point of breaking. He was supposed to care so much that she had chosen Duke Bolan back then...
But now, she had come back.
The Mermaid held her tightly. Yu Zhizhi was pressed so firmly into his chest that she could barely breathe. She lifted her chin slightly to look at his pale jawline.
She felt the young man’s breath ghosting over her rabbit ears.
The corners of Yusen’s downcast eyes flushed slightly red. "You..."
His voice was low, laced with an uncontrollable tremor. "Are you still attached to him?"
Yusen couldn’t be sure if the little female still held any affection for that snake.
He couldn’t be sure—
if she would one day leave him and return to the Duke’s side.
’Who?’
Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears twitched. ’Is Sensen talking about the Duke?’
’Hmm...’
She fell into thought.
Seeing her remain silent for a long moment, Yusen’s arms tightened around her, his grip growing stronger until he heard a soft cry from his embrace.
"That hurts..."
His eyes were red as he lowered his head, seeking her lips.
It was as if he were desperately seeking comfort.
Wanting to confirm her presence.
And even more, wanting to know what was in her heart.
Yu Zhizhi’s body gradually went limp. The Mermaid’s chest before her was slightly hot. Her sealed lips could make no sound. The moment she found a gap and tried to gasp for air, he hooked his tongue with hers again.
’Sensen...’
He kissed her until her mind went blank, unable to think about anything. Her lips slowly started to go numb. Yu Zhizhi let out a soft whimper, her eyelashes growing damp.
Hearing the little female’s tearful murmur, Yusen softened his movements, slowly pulling away to press a kiss against her eye.
He held the little rabbit as if she were his most cherished treasure.
His ice blue eyes, now colored with desire, were dark and unreadable.
"Will you go look for him?"
the Mermaid asked hoarsely.
Yu Zhizhi’s lips were slightly swollen. She slowly shook her head.
’This answer...’
’He liked it very much.’
Yusen lightly pecked the tip of her nose, an irrepressible smile gracing the corners of his mouth.
The kiss tickled Yu Zhizhi, and she laughed out loud. "Sensen..."
She looked up and took the initiative to rub her cheek against the beautiful Mermaid’s. "But, I have to talk to the Duke every weekend."
"..." Yusen’s body stiffened slightly.
Yu Zhizhi said in a small voice, "I... Of the six Snake Cubs I gave birth to, the smallest one... it’s not in good health."
Speaking of Yu Meng, Yu Zhizhi’s voice filled with worry. "I’m afraid something will happen to it, and I’m also afraid..."
"...that it will be abandoned."
Yusen wasn’t surprised to hear about the six Snake Cubs, but a faint bitterness welled up in his heart.
On the Beast World Planet, S-Class females had endless suitors. There were always some bad ones who would use all sorts of tricks to coax them, curry favor with them, and possess them.
He lowered his gaze. Seeing the little female’s sorrowful expression, he cast all other emotions aside.
"It’s okay, the Snake Clan will take good care of it..."
Yusen only wanted to comfort her; he couldn’t bear to see her sad.
But then he suddenly recalled a rumor he had once heard—
the cold and ruthless Snake Clan would abandon any young that didn’t meet their standards, casting them aside the very day they hatched.
’So that’s why the little rabbit is so concerned, and why she always has to call the Duke Mansion.’
Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly. "I hope Little Amon will be okay. If... if..."
She bared her little rabbit teeth slightly, putting on what she believed was a ferocious snarl.
"If he’s not good to Little Amon, I’ll curse him out!"
Seeing the little female’s fiercely cute expression, Yusen couldn’t help but chuckle. "Okay, I’ll curse him out with you."
’So that’s how it is.’
’She’s worried about the cub...’
A thread of pleasure bloomed in the Mermaid’s heart. All he needed to know was that the little female wasn’t thinking of returning to that snake’s side. That was enough.
He didn’t care about her past, as long as he was the only one by her side in the future.
"I’ve also been thinking about something else—"
It was rare for her to talk about her cub with anyone, and since it was Sensen, Yu Zhizhi trusted him one hundred percent.
"What is it?" Yusen looked at her.
"If the Snake Clan really does reject Little Amon, I’ll bring it here to live with me."
Yu Zhizhi had had this thought for a long time.
Just then, the System’s voice sounded—
[A reminder to the Host: You cannot raise a cub without your own territory.]
[If you wish to raise a cub, please unlock a territory first.]
Yu Zhizhi: "..."
’Territory?’ She remembered the foundation she was rewarded with after completing her first mission.
’What did the System say back then?’
’Unlockable at Level 5...’
Seeing the little female fall into a long silence, Yusen assumed she was worried she wouldn’t be able to raise the little Snake Pup properly if she brought it to her side.
He gently patted the little female’s head. "If you want to bring it, then bring it."
A smile played on the Mermaid’s lips. "I’ll raise it."
’If the Snake Clan doesn’t want it, he can bring it back to his own territory.’
’He was willing to raise the little rabbit’s cub.’
’Its food, clothing, and housing could all be provided according to the highest standards of the Mermaid Clan.’
’He would just have to hide the little Snake Pup’s identity so no one would know it came from Varolan.’
’Otherwise, those old fossils would never stop nagging.’
Yu Zhizhi was taken aback.
She never expected Yusen to say something like that. A warm current flowed through her heart. She hugged the Mermaid in front of her and said softly, "Thank you."
Yusen gently stroked her.
He thought about how the little female had told him so many of her innermost thoughts tonight.
And so, an abrupt desire to confess his own secrets arose.
"Do you remember those heretics who tried to assassinate you?"
Yu Zhizhi nodded. "I remember."
"I know the person behind them."
"Hm?" Yu Zhizhi was slightly stunned. "Are you close?"
"Not really."
Yusen’s tone was light. "He’s my brother."
He had never mentioned this to anyone.
Nor did he allow anyone to mention it in his presence.
But all of this, he was willing to tell this little rabbit, holding nothing back.
He wanted her to know everything about him.
’...Brother?’
’The brother the Duke mentioned tonight? Yusen seemed furious at the time, like his whole mood soured.’
"Well, is he pretty like you?"
’Does Yusen’s brother also have a light blue fishtail like him?’
The Mermaid froze for a second. He recalled that no one had ever used the word "pretty" to describe that person. He wondered what kind of expression his brother would have if he knew.
The young man couldn’t help but let out a stifled laugh.
Yu Zhizhi didn’t know what he was laughing about. She watched him curiously, an involuntary smile spreading across her own face.
Yusen said slowly, "He and I have the same mother but different fathers. He’s not a Mermaid; he’s a shark."
The young man’s voice held a teasing note. "He’s not pretty at all."
No one would ever use the word "pretty" to describe a ruthless Imperial Giant Shark.
"...A shark?"
Thinking of the massive teeth of a vicious man-eating shark, the color drained from Yu Zhizhi’s face.
’This is bad. There’s a shark that wants to kill me...’
