Si Lu blinked, wondering if she'd heard right.
Did he really knock out all her friends and partners… just to talk to her?
Seriously?
That was wild. All that just to chat?
But strangely enough, she didn't feel afraid. Something deep inside told her that this big fish meant her no harm. If anything, being around him made her feel at ease—even happy. After all, he was beautiful. Ridiculously beautiful. Who wouldn't feel good looking at him?
"Come, sit down," the big fish said softly.
Before she could react, he gently took her hand, lifted her up, and pulled her to sit beside him.
"Big fish… what did you want to talk about?" Si Lu asked, still a little confused.
"I did want to talk, yes," he said, his voice low and soothing. "But now that I see you, I don't really feel like saying anything."
He turned his head to look at her, and Si Lu's breath caught in her throat.
His eyes—icy blue and crystal clear like the sea itself—were almost too stunning to look at directly.
Honestly, it wasn't just his eyes. Everything about him was dazzling. Sitting there on the reef, his whole body glowed faintly, like he wasn't even real. Like a god that wandered down from the heavens and casually took a seat.
He was that beautiful.
Even the air around him seemed softer, more comforting.
"Do you like what you see?" he asked with a playful tilt of his head, a knowing smile curling on his lips.
Si Lu's eyes widened. "You're beautiful," she blurted.
The moment the words left her mouth, her face turned bright red. She looked away quickly, flustered.
"Uh—I mean, if you wanted to talk, you could've just said something. You didn't have to knock everyone out," she mumbled.
The whole thing felt kind of scandalous—like the two of them were sneaking off for a secret affair or something. It made her heart race in all the wrong ways.
"I didn't want anyone to interrupt," the big fish said, blinking at her with a boyish charm. "You're not mad, are you?"
His tilted head and gentle smile made him look almost… mischievous.
Si Lu's breath hitched. She wanted to touch his hair, that seaweed-blue hair that shimmered like ocean water. Her hand twitched, then hesitated. No—he wasn't just some pretty face. He was strong. And unknown. And maybe dangerous.
They'd only met twice.
He felt harmless, but that didn't mean he was harmless. And if he had a problem with her friends—especially Heiyao—that could be trouble.
Still, damn. This guy was a walking sin.
"No, I'm not mad. Just… maybe next time, they can stand further back? I promise they won't eavesdrop," she said with an awkward laugh.
"Alright," he replied, his smile deepening.
"Your name's Lulu, right?" he asked, studying her expression.
"Yeah, my name's Si Lu, but everyone calls me Lulu," she said. Then she paused, frowning. "Wait… how do you know that?"
She looked up at him and noticed for the first time—there was a tiny red mole beneath his eye. It added a strange sort of allure, like an extra drop of temptation.
"I overheard you," he said with a smile. "It's a lovely name. Do you remember mine?"
He wasn't spying on purpose. He just happened to be nearby. He'd been waiting by the sea for days, hoping to see her again. Ever since they first met, her face had stayed in his mind. He didn't know why. He only knew that being near her made something inside him feel right again.
The necklace he gave her helped him sense her location. Once she got close to the sea, he knew. But as a member of the Mackerel race, he couldn't step on land carelessly. He could only wait for her to come to him.
And she finally did.
"Your name…" Si Lu's face froze in horror. "Oh no, I forgot!"
She clutched her head like she'd committed a crime. "I'm so sorry! I've just been a little scatterbrained lately—maybe it's the pregnancy? Or I'm just dumb. Ugh…"
Lanper chuckled.
"It's okay. Just remember it this time. My name is Lanper," he said gently.
Si Lu stared at him, then nodded solemnly. "Lanper. Got it. I won't forget again. It's a beautiful name—just like you."
"Thank you for the compliment," he said, his smile warm.
Why did it make him feel so happy just hearing her say his name?
When he was with her, everything felt lighter. Freer. And somehow… addictive.
"Lanper, let's be friends!" Si Lu said suddenly, lifting her head and looking him in the eye.
She meant it, too. He was too pretty not to have in her life. She needed a friend like that—just to brighten the scenery, if nothing else.
"Of course," Lanper replied, his gaze soft.
"Yay! So, when did you get here? Do you live in the sea? Oh! And your tail—it's so beautiful! Can I touch it? And your hair? The color's like the sky and the sea had a baby—it's gorgeous!"
"Blue is a beautiful color," Si Lu said dreamily, her eyes drifting to the blue sky above, the endless ocean below, and the living embodiment of it beside her.
Lanper blinked, then burst out laughing.
His laugh was soft, melodic—like a melody on the breeze. It wrapped around her like silk, warm and hard to let go.
Si Lu blinked, dazed.
When he smiled like that, she could barely hold it together. He was too charming—way too charming. That smile could spark war or end one. Probably both.
"Of course," he finally said, nodding. Then, gently, he reached out and tapped her on the forehead.
"What are you spacing out for?" he teased.
"Lanper," Si Lu said seriously, "has anyone ever told you that you're stupidly beautiful?"
It was the truth. That smile should be illegal.
If she could, she'd pack this fish up and take him home right now.