Free Web NovelChapter 222: Chapter 222: A Pearl Meets the Sea
The following day, Cang Yuze took Yue Yue to the royal gardens of the Sea Empire.
It was a breathtaking sight. The garden was housed under a massive, shimmering transparent dome that kept the deep-sea pressure away.
Outside the glass, colorful schools of glowing fish swam by like living stars.
Inside, the garden was a mix of nature and futuristic technology.
Strange, bioluminescent flowers pulsed with soft light, and silver platforms floated silently above streams of crystal-clear water.
Cang Yuze walked a few steps ahead, his regal robes trailing behind him. He pointed out different rare plants, explaining their medicinal uses with a patient, gentle voice.
Han Soi followed a few paces behind Yue Yue; his eyes were fixed on her. He was here to make sure she was safe and didn’t encounter any danger at all.
After finding out she is pregnant, he couldn’t bear to leave her alone for even a second.
On the other hand, Yue Yue wasn’t really listening to Cang Yuze’s explanations.
She was staring at his back. She watched the way his long hair swayed and the graceful way he moved. Up close, his features were so perfect they seemed sculpted from marble. freёwebnovel.com
Suddenly, she felt like she had been transported back in time. frёewebηovel.cѳm
A memory flashed in her mind. She remembered a much younger version of him, a boy who was quiet and shy.
She remembered a day when they were playing near a river back in their tribe. She had been running too fast, tripped on a root, and tumbled straight into the cold water with a loud splash.
The young Cang Yuze had dived in without a second thought. He had dragged her to the shore, soaking wet and shivering.
Instead of thanking him, she had looked at his dripping wet tail and started giggling.
"Your tail looks like a wet mop!" she had teased, poking it with a stick. "Be careful, Zeze. If you keep looking this delicious, I might just cook you and eat you one day!"
He had blushed a deep red back then, hiding his tail behind his back while she laughed.
Looking at him now, the urge to tease him was almost overwhelming. She wanted to run forward, jump on his back, and demand that he carry her just like he used to when she was tired of walking.
But she held herself back.
He wasn’t that shy boy anymore. He was the Crown Prince of the Sea Empire. He carried the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders and possessed an authority that made others tremble. She didn’t want to disrespect his position or make him feel awkward in front of his people.
Cang Yuze suddenly stopped and turned around. He noticed her dazed expression and softened his gaze.
"Yue Yue? Is the walking too much for you?" he asked, stepping closer. "You’ve been quiet for a while."
Yue Yue snapped out of her thoughts, her face heating up.
"No, I’m fine," she said quickly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was just... thinking about the past. About how much you’ve changed."
Cang Yuze tilted his head, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.
"I may have changed on the outside," he said softly, his voice for her ears only. "But if you want to threaten to eat me again, I promise I won’t hide my tail this time."
Yue Yue’s eyes widened. He remembered. He had remembered every single word.
Yue Yue blushed furiously before pushing him away and running in a different direction.
Then her gaze unknowingly landed on a secluded corner of the coral garden. There, under the shade of a shimmering blue tree, she saw two figures.
These were the first people she had seen in the palace besides the servants and her own companions.
As she walked closer, she realized she recognized one of them. It was Cang Yuzain, the younger brother of the Crown Prince.
But he wasn’t alone; he was leaning close to a young woman, their laughter echoing softly. For a moment, they shared a quick, sweet kiss, and Yue Yue immediately realized they were lovers.
Cang Yuze coughed slightly to announce their presence.
The young couple jumped apart, and Cang Yuzain’s face turned bright red when he saw his older brother.
However, the young girl beside him didn’t look scared at all. Instead, her eyes lit up with pure curiosity as they landed on Yue Yue.
"Brother! You are here!" Cang Yuzain said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.
The young girl didn’t wait for an introduction. She practically skipped over to Yue Yue, circling her with wide, sparkling eyes. She looked incredibly young, her energy vibrant and bubbly.
"Oh my stars! You are so beautiful!" the girl exclaimed, her hands clasped together. "Your skin is so different from ours. You look like a pearl from the surface!"
It seems the girl clearly knows about her. She didn’t seem surprised at all.
Yue Yue couldn’t help but smile at the girl’s enthusiasm. "Thank you. My name is Yue Yue."
"I’m Liling!" the girl chirped.
While the men stood to the side, Cang Yuze watching with a protective gaze and Han Soi keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings, the two females quickly hit it off.
Yue Yue began to describe the Land Empire to Liling. She spoke about the vast green forests, the mountains that touched the clouds, and the way the sun felt when it moved across the open sky. Liling listened with her chin in her hands, looking completely enchanted.
In return, Liling showed Yue Yue the secrets of the Sea Empire. She pointed out the hidden bioluminescent tunnels and explained how the water temperature was controlled by ancient crystals.
"I want to see the land so badly," Liling whispered, a hint of longing in her voice.
"I want to see a real forest, not just seaweed. But I’m not even eighteen yet. The elders say the surface is too dangerous for someone who hasn’t fully matured."
Yue Yue felt a pang of sympathy for her. Liling reminded her of a caged bird, full of dreams but restricted by her youth and the safety of the deep sea.
"One day, you will go," Yue Yue promised softly. "And when you do, it will be even more beautiful than you imagined."
Liling beamed at her, grabbing Yue Yue’s hands. "When I go, will you show me around? Promise?"
