Chapter 1

When I bonded with the leader of the merfolk, he promised to love only me for the rest of his life.

Then a strange phenomenon brought another woman from my world into his territory.

He let her cross every boundary, indulging her as she invaded the private space he had always guarded.

He even secretly passed me over to the coldest of the serpent chieftains so he could take the other woman on a honeymoon.

“Ruoli gets jealous. Deal with her for me for a while. We both have two, after all... She's innocent. She won't notice.”

That night, the serpent chieftain pinned me beneath him and kept me in his arms through an endless tangle of passion. Then he leaned close to my ear and deliberately asked:

“Can you tell now...”

“The difference between him and me?”

1

When I arrived at the study, Gu Sui was dealing with tribal affairs.

My footsteps were light, but beastkin heard, saw, and smelled far better than humans.

His ears twitched.

Recognizing my steps, he looked up from his desk and held out a hand.

“Why don't you rest a little longer?”

His voice was gentle.

I smiled.

“I can't sleep anymore. I wanted to come and look at you.”

He put his work aside, rose, and draped a soft fur cloak over me, reminding me not to catch a chill.

He'd always been that considerate.

Every day of our three years together, without a word of complaint.

Even though children mattered enormously in this world, he'd never pressured me when I said I didn't want any.

So I'd assumed our happy life would last forever.

He found a storybook for me, then returned to his work.

As leader of the merfolk, he was busy every day with countless matters, all to lead his people to a more prosperous land.

Sometimes, I wouldn't see him for days.

My fingers tightened.

“Gu Sui, I heard... a woman from another world fell into your territory a while ago. Like me?”

His expression remained calm.

“There is such a person.”

“We don't know her origins. She needs to be questioned carefully. Once we're certain she's no threat, I'll let her go.”

I almost believed him.

Then I lowered my head and caught him unconsciously turning the jade thumb ring he wore.

He always did that when he lied.

He still didn't know that women only asked when they already had the answer.

Not long ago, I'd seen that other traveler—Xu Qin.

On the mountain behind the settlement.

Without my knowing a thing, Gu Sui had personally taken her there several times.

Like me, she disliked the damp air by the sea.

She'd picked armfuls of flowers and tucked them into Gu Sui's hair.

Smiling brightly, she'd pinched his cheeks with both hands and pouted.

“Gu Sui, I don't like this look on you.”

“You don't look friendly at all. If you don't want to smile, don't force yourself.”

Gu Sui had laughed aloud.

He let her overstep, let her enter his private space as she pleased.

I remembered very clearly doing the same thing myself.

Back then, he'd gently refused.

“I've never liked flowers. Stop teasing me.”

2

Yesterday, Gu Sui hadn't returned to our room.

I knew perfectly well he'd gone to see Xu Qin again.

Only when I tried to go out did I discover he'd stationed guards to keep me inside.

So he'd noticed something wrong yesterday.

Had he pretended not to know just to confine me here?

But I wasn't planning to leave yet anyway.

I told the guards I wanted to pick flowers on the mountain.

They flatly refused to let me through.

So I deliberately tugged down my collar, exposing my shoulders and collarbones, and gave them a cold look.

“Let me out, and you won't die.”

“Keep insisting, and if Gu Sui hears you tried to take liberties with me... I can't promise the same.”

Terrified, they hurried out of my way.

Back before Gu Sui and I had bonded, a low-ranking soldier had taken a fancy to me.

All he'd done was boldly take my hand and confess his feelings.

Gu Sui had ordered him dragged away.

He'd never been seen again.

I threatened the guards.

If they told Gu Sui about today, I certainly wouldn't let this matter of their “taking liberties” drop.

If they kept quiet, I wouldn't let him find out either.

They could only grit their teeth and agree.

I slipped quickly toward the study.

At this hour, Gu Sui would normally be working.

I only wanted to see whether Xu Qin was with him.

But he wasn't at his desk.

I was about to leave when I heard his voice among the crowded bookshelves.

“Qinqin's birthday is in a few days. Apparently, people in her world have a custom called a honeymoon. I'm planning to take her away for a trip.”

My hands clenched.

That damned fish.

As if lying yesterday hadn't been enough.

He was already a fish, and he still thought the grass was greener somewhere else.

Another voice answered.

Cold.

Like a venomous snake coiling around you in a damp, suffocating cave.

“Oh? What about your female?”

The voice sounded a little familiar.

Then Gu Sui answered slowly.

“Ruoli gets jealous. Deal with her for me for a while.”

“We both have two, after all. She's innocent. She won't notice.”

“Once we're back, I'll arrange somewhere outside for Xu Qin to stay. Ruoli won't find out.”

His voice was as gentle as ever.

Inside, I felt the cold of deepest winter.

Until I registered the crucial phrase.

“We both have two.”

...Well, hello.

3

I wasn't from this world.

I came from the twenty-first century.

It had been more than three years since I'd crossed over.

Like that other woman, I'd landed in Gu Sui's territory the moment I fell into the beastkin world.

His subordinates had seized me and brought me to him for questioning.

He'd asked why my clothes were so strange.

Why I couldn't change into beast form.

Only once he was certain I couldn't put up a fight had he allowed me to move about freely.

But I was from inland.

They lived together along the coast.

The damp air and daily waves made me miserable.

Gu Sui had let me leave his territory and even sent guards to protect me.

So whenever I went out, I picked him a bouquet of flowers.

He was gentle, but always distant, keeping everyone at arm's length.

Only later, after we'd faced life and death together and I'd learned about the shadow over his childhood, had he truly opened his heart.

He spoiled me.

Loved me.

Then asked me to bond with him.

That was when I learned there was no concept of marriage here.

Only bonding.

Two beastkin who loved each other and both consented could form a bond.

Afterward, they shared honor and disgrace alike.

Each carried the other's scent, telling every other beastkin that this person was claimed.

He'd made me so many promises.

And he'd never broken one.

That was precisely why, when he did, the gulf between promise and reality hurt so much.

Except...

Perhaps he didn't know.

I'd never loved him.

Back in my old world, merfolk and jiaoren had always been my thing.

The instant I'd seen him, I'd wanted him too much to let go.

Like finally getting my favorite toy.

I often made him bring out his fish tail so I could play with it.

If this toy had found a new owner, then I could simply get another.

4

When I returned, the maids in the courtyard bowed.

Counting on my human hearing being less keen than theirs, they deliberately lowered their voices to whisper.

“Does our lady still think she's as favored as before?”

“Look how cold the chief's become. Instead of finding a way to win him back, she's taking it out on the gate guards.”

Damn Gu Sui.

If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have to put up with this nonsense.

I called them over.

“You won't be attending me anymore.”

They stared in shock.

Apologies poured out as they tried to save their jobs.

But I turned away without listening to another explanation.

Back in my room, I remembered where I'd heard that voice.

A powerful serpent beastkin worked alongside Gu Sui.

Last time he'd come to discuss business, I'd happened to pass by and heard him.

No wonder he'd said they “both had two.”

Snakes certainly did...

While I was still wondering how to find out what he looked like, night arrived.

I'd bathed and was ready for bed.

Just as the candle went out, the bedroom door quietly opened.

A tall figure stepped inside, seeming to bring cold, damp air with him.

His gaze settled on me.

Icy.

Without warmth.

I tried calling, “Gu Sui?”

The tall man gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment.

I knew.

This was the serpent beastkin.

The room was dim, but I could still make out firm muscle and a sharply carved jaw.

Good heavens.

Clearly, this was my beastkin husband, lost to me for years!

I patted the bed, cleared my throat, and put on a coaxing voice.

“Don't just stand there. Come to bed.”

He obediently approached and sat.

Without saying a word, he watched me intently.

The pressure was overwhelming.

For some reason, I couldn't get a clear look at his face.

Never mind.

I planted a hand on his chest and looked into those faintly gleaming eyes.

Deliberately displeased, I said, “You're being strange today. You used to come in and start with hugs and kisses.”

“And then... seven times a night.”

At last, he spoke.

His voice was cool.

“Seven times...”

“Would that be enough?”

I swallowed.

“That's your limit.”

“Not mine.”

He bent close.

His large hand covered my face.

His palm was ice-cold, without a human's warmth.

He sighed softly.

“So warm.”

The lines of that face imprinted themselves in my mind.

Yet I still couldn't make out his true appearance.

By the time the night grew deep and heavy with dew, through my haze, all I remembered was that he really was very capable.

Two...

Apparently, there could be a very big difference between one pair and another.