Chapter 487 - 486: Just What Did She Have in Mind for the Shark?

"Is the food not to your liking? I can have the kitchen prepare something else for you—"

Yu Zhizhi remembered that Yusen preferred milder flavors. He wasn’t a picky eater and liked a balance of meat and vegetables. His favorite fruit was a crisp apple.

"Ai Xi—" Yu Zhizhi had just called out when Yusen interrupted her.

"That won’t be necessary." The Mermaid Youth looked at the food on the table. His ice blue pupils were like brilliant, clear blue gems from the depths of the sea. "I want... you to feed me."

Yusen lifted his chin slightly. His handsome features were cast in a soft, hazy glow by the dining room lights. "Feed me."

He said it again.

His tone was soft, yet held an undercurrent of firmness. It was like a command, but also like he was trying to be endearing.

Yu Zhizhi was momentarily dazed.

She couldn’t refuse him. Whenever he asked for something, it felt like a task she absolutely had to complete, no matter what.

Yu Zhizhi glanced back at the dining room entrance. The female from the Bee Clan gently closed the door with a smile on her face.

"Okay," Yu Zhizhi said as she slowly walked to Yusen’s side.

She sat down, looked over the food on the table, and finally picked up a freshly baked butter cookie.

Yu Zhizhi picked it up with her fingers and slowly brought it to Yusen’s lips.

’I’ve fed him before... back at the cabin in Paradise.’

The Mermaid Youth stared at her intently. He didn’t rush to eat the food the little female offered. Instead, he asked in a low voice, "You’ve been getting along well with him lately?"

Yu Zhizhi’s hand paused. She knew immediately that the "him" Sensen was referring to was the Big Shark.

She nodded lightly.

Her relationship with Lord Shen He had eased up quite a bit since her time in the Deep Sea Empire.

Back then, she was just a Prisoner of War.

Lord Shen He had constantly emphasized that fact.

Besides, her relationship with Lord Shen He had been a bit "awkward" because she was so desperate to complete her mission back then.

It might also have been because of Sensen that she tried her best to avoid contact with the Big Shark.

And then later, it was because of the smuggler issue...

Yu Zhizhi was afraid that if the Big Shark found out she was from an Alien Star, he would treat her just like he treated the other smugglers.

She had always been very afraid of Lord Shen He.

But after leaving Sun Ridge, her impression of Lord Shen He gradually began to change.

In Silan City, when she was so upset, the Big Shark had stayed by her side the whole time. He didn’t ask anything, nor did he say anything.

Perhaps it started from the first time she encountered his Divine Beast Shen He form. The sea spray brushed against her cheeks as she clung to the Big Shark’s fin. That was the first time she felt truly close to him.

Yu Zhizhi had no intention of hiding anything. She spoke softly, "Lord Shen He has taken good care of me on this journey."

"Is that so?" Yusen’s face still held a faint smile, but he showed no intention of eating the cookie the little rabbit offered. "Do you want him to join us? I mean, to form a bond at the same time."

The Mermaid Youth asked it as if it were a very simple question.

His tone was even somewhat relaxed.

The hand Yu Zhizhi was using to hold the cookie trembled slightly. She quickly shook her head. "N-No, I don’t."

’...Form a bond with both of them at the same time?’

’No way!’

’The Big Shark is Yusen’s brother!’

’Besides, I’m already racking my brain dealing with just one of them. If I had to face two at once... Most importantly, if I try to win over the Big Shark, what if Sensen gets angry and his affection level drops?’

’If possible, I don’t want any of them to interact with each other.’

’By "them," I mean all of my capture targets.’

’Whether it’s Duke Tang of the Valoran Empire, the Spider and the Big Tiger of the Moon Rising Empire, or the shark and the mermaid of the Deep Sea. And then there’s the cat from the Divine Hall Alliance, Dracula from Cang Mountain...’

’I can’t even imagine a scene with all of them together.’

Yusen hummed, leaning back slightly against his chair. He mused, "So it’ll be one after the other, then. When do you plan on sending him the invitation to form a bond?"

The Mermaid Youth’s tone was still calm, like a bright and breezy spring day.

But Yu Zhizhi felt that something was wrong.

Perhaps it was because she was currently a rabbit. Possessing the natural wariness of an animal, she instantly sensed that the Mermaid Youth before her was suppressing something.

’His questions are dangerous.’

’If I dare to answer carelessly...’

’...it could have a terrible impact.’

Yu Zhizhi slowly lowered her hand. Her fingertips still held the fragrant, crumbly cookie. A smile appeared on her fair face, but it was tinged with nervousness and awkwardness. "No, nothing like that."

She...

’...wouldn’t admit it.’

’I did consider whether to form a bond with the Big Shark.’

’But it’s obvious Lord Shen He has no intention of doing so.’

’I’ll just have to raise his affection level slowly.’

’It’s not like we have to form a bond, anyway.’

Of course, Yusen could see the little rabbit was trying her best to hide her thoughts. Even though he already knew the answer in his heart, a trace of bitterness welled up inside him.

But then again, the little rabbit hadn’t admitted it directly. Instead, she was trying so hard to deny it.

Lying so clumsily.

’—Just what kind of feelings has she developed for the shark?’

’I wasn’t sure before.’

But now, her reaction made everything crystal clear to Yusen.

’She’s just trying her best to deny it.’

’Denying her feelings for Shen He.’

’Is it because she cares about my feelings?’

The bitterness in Yusen’s heart seemed to be soothed slightly. He suddenly grabbed the little female’s wrist and, lowering his head, bit into the butter cookie she was holding.

’Sensen ate it...’

Yu Zhizhi watched him nervously.

Yusen pulled her hand and pressed her palm against his cool cheek. The pale blue fins by his ears gradually appeared. "He’s not good."

’The Hai Giant Shark is inscrutable and scheming. He’s often unscrupulous in his methods.’

’It’s only normal for the little rabbit to be deceived by him.’

Yusen gazed at the little female before him, a hint of aggrievement in his ice blue eyes. "I’m good."

Yu Zhizhi’s heart suddenly trembled.

She couldn’t bear to see Sensen with such a pitiful and aggrieved expression, like an abandoned puppy... It always made her feel as if she had done something terrible.

Yu Zhizhi’s palm felt warm. She hummed softly in agreement. "I know. Sensen is the best."

’She would always remember everything Sensen had done for her.’

Yu Zhizhi didn’t know what else to say. After a moment’s thought, she slowly leaned in and placed a light kiss on Yusen’s forehead.

The moment she kissed him, Yusen felt as if his entire world had lit up.

He couldn’t help but turn his head, his cool lips landing on the palm of her hand.

He closed his eyes, as if to etch this moment of tenderness into his very bones forever.

Then, Yusen opened his eyes. Gripping her small hand, he pulled her into his arms. He held her close and slowly began to kiss her soft lips.

’He had longed for this for so long, and it was finally happening.’

Yusen kissed the little female in his arms meticulously, starting with gentle pecks before slowly deepening the kiss.

The air filled with the soft, wet sounds of their kissing.

The kiss left Yu Zhizhi completely dazed. Before she could even react, the youth lifted her up in his arms and set her down on the dining table.

Yusen didn’t stop kissing her.

Gentle, yet obsessive.

She sat there, her hands held tightly by Yusen, her chin tilted up to receive his increasingly forceful kiss.