Chapter 454 - 453: The Duke’s Wedding?

That deep, mellow voice instantly jolted Yu Zhizhi fully awake.

The water temperature was perfect. She shivered, and through the thick steam, she gradually made out the figure standing beside the bathtub—

’It’s Big Shark!’

Yu Zhizhi’s heart suddenly began to pound. For a dazed moment, she thought she was seeing the Duke...

She slowly curled into herself, hiding half her face in the hot water. "L-Lord Shen He..."

Her body was sore and weak. Now, seeing Big Shark again, her legs couldn’t help but tremble.

The man’s gray eyes stared intently at her through the steam. After a long moment, the corners of his mouth pulled into an unreadable smile. "If you miss him so much, why don’t you invite him to your territory?"

He sat on the edge of the tub and crossed his legs. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, offering a glimpse of his chest muscles.

’...Him?’

Yu Zhizhi froze. ’Who is Big Shark talking about?’

She suddenly remembered everything that happened after she mentioned Tang Luo Ke... She couldn’t help but sink lower, as if she wanted to hide at the bottom of the tub.

’Oh, no...’

’How could I dare mention anyone else ever again?’

Shen He watched the little female trembling in the hot water. Her pair of rabbit ears, damp from the steam, drooped obediently, making her look as if she’d been horribly bullied.

’And wasn’t she?’

Thinking of what happened in the conference room, Shen He felt a tickle in his throat, and his fingers began to itch with the urge to fish her out of the water and have a good "chat."

Yu Zhizhi saw the change in the man’s eyes, and her heart dropped. She immediately tried to duck under the water—

But Shen He was quick as a flash. In the same instant, he cupped her chin and pinched her soft, wet cheek, looking at her with some amusement.

"Trying to hide underwater?"

’Has she forgotten who I am?’

’Silly rabbit.’

Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks were flushed from the hot water. Her eyelashes were damp and clumped together as she looked pitifully at the man sitting on the edge of the tub. "I’m so tired... so sleepy. I want to sleep."

The Big Shark before her had far too much stamina. He exuded an overwhelming aura of male hormones. Even in a casual shirt, he carried the air of a predator. This was especially true of his gray eyes—the eyes of a top predator from the depths of the sea. As a member of the Rabbit Clan, the weakest on land, Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare to meet his gaze.

The little female’s voice was syrupy and aggrieved.

Shen He’s fingers could easily crush diamonds, but right now, without using any force at all, a clear red mark was already visible on her cheek.

He retracted his hand and draped a towel over her head.

Beneath the white towel, her rabbit ears twitched slightly.

Shen He’s breath hitched.

’Ah, the little rabbit, caught by me once again.’

’So cute.’

’Even cuter when she’s been made to cry.’

Yu Zhizhi placed both hands on the towel and gently began to dry her hair.

A knock came from the door.

Following Shen He’s instructions, Buli had brought a brand-new, long white dress.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare to move. Through the bathroom door, she heard Big Shark seemingly talking to Buli about something. Soon after, she heard the main door close.

’Hm?’

She waited a while, and once she was sure the room was empty, she climbed out of the tub, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and secretly pulled the door open.

The dress was neatly folded on the bed.

She walked over barefoot and changed into the nightgown.

Only a dim lamp was lit in the room. The storm outside had lessened considerably, and the ship rocked gently. Yu Zhizhi crawled into bed, hugged the covers, and fell into a deep sleep.

She slept for a long, long time.

She didn’t slowly wake up until noon the next day.

The raging storm from outside was completely gone. She moved to the window, pulled back the curtains, and saw a clear, blue sky.

’It seems we’re far from the Sun Ridge sea area now...’

’It should only be a few more days before we reach my territory, right?’

She went to the door, opened it quietly, and saw a young crewman standing guard outside. Hearing the noise, he immediately bowed. "Miss Healer."

On the warship, everyone knew that a Miss Healer had come aboard.

It was the young soldier’s first time interacting with a noble female. He kept his head down, his voice stuttering, "If... if you’re hungry, I’ll go get you some food."

Yu Zhizhi was indeed hungry, but she asked, "Where is your... uh, Captain?"

Although she didn’t know what Shen He was up to, it seemed he and Buli were both hiding their true identities.

At the mention of the "Captain," the crewman’s attitude became even more deferential.

After last night, those who were still alive understood where they stood.

That Captain was an incredible, important figure.

"The Captain is in the conference room."

The mention of the conference room made Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks flush, and she didn’t ask any further questions.

’It must be an important meeting for the Deep Sea Empire.’

"The Lord instructed us that whatever you want, you should just tell us directly," the crewman said.

Yu Zhizhi pressed her lips together slightly. "Um... how far are we from the Sky Star Territory?"

"Tianxing?" The crewman froze. He glanced thoughtfully at the horizon behind them. "We’re currently heading for the Silan Sea Area in the Valoran Empire. We might be getting farther and farther from the Sky Star Territory."

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes widened in surprise. "The Valoran Empire?"

’Why are we going to Valoran?’

The crewman nodded.

Yu Zhizhi grew flustered. ’What does Big Shark mean by this?’

She couldn’t worry about anything else and walked straight outside.

The crewman immediately followed her.

"Where’s the conference room?" she asked.

It had been late last night, and she had been unconscious when Shen He carried her back to her room, so she didn’t remember the way at all.

The crewman pointed her in the right direction.

Yu Zhizhi reached the conference room door and saw Buli standing outside. She immediately trotted over to him.

Buli was a little surprised to see her. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you..."

"Why are we going to the Valoran sea area? Weren’t you supposed to take me back to the Sky Star Territory?"

’This was what Zero and Shen He agreed on! Didn’t Big Shark already join the Divine Hall Alliance? Did he go back on his word?’

Yu Zhizhi’s face paled slightly.

"Did Lord Shen He have a change of plans...? Is he... is he going to send me back to the Valoran Empire?"

’Is he going to use me as a bargaining chip?’

’With the Duke?’

From the moment Shen He captured her, he had his own agenda.

Yu Zhizhi knew that in his plans, she had never held much weight.

Buli was slightly stunned; he probably hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Miss Rabbit. Especially after hearing her last sentence, he glanced at the closed conference room door. ’At this distance,’ he thought, ’Lord Shen He must have heard everything Miss Rabbit said. I wonder what kind of expression he’s making right now.’

A slight smile appeared on Buli’s face. He lowered his voice as much as possible. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you’ve misunderstood. Lord Shen He has no such intention."

"We will take you back to the Sky Star Territory. It’s just that right now, we must represent the Deep Sea Empire and attend Duke Bolan’s wedding."

"Once the wedding is over, we will take you home."

Buli made himself exceptionally clear.

’This Miss Rabbit before me already has her own territory. She no longer belongs to the Valoran Empire.’

’This point is exceptionally important, whether for Lord Shen He or for Prince You Sen.’

’Lord Shen He would absolutely never let her return to Valoran.’

’Especially not when Tang Luo Ke’s whereabouts are unknown.’

Hearing Buli’s reassurance, Yu Zhizhi’s emotions gradually calmed. She slowly clutched the hem of her white dress, then suddenly snapped her head up. "Wedding?!"

’Big Shark is taking me to attend the Duke’s wedding?!’