Si Lu followed Lan Amber as they swam deeper into the sea, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement.
"Wow! Look at those huge coral reefs over there! And the fish—there are so many schools of them! Oh my gosh, this is amazing! The sunlight hitting the water makes it all look like a painting!"
"I've never seen the ocean like this before. Over there—the seaweed looks like it's dancing!"
"Lan Amber, look over there! Isn't that an enormous clam? And those tiny fish swimming around it! That clam's so big it looks like it could fit three or four people inside!"
Si Lu pointed excitedly at the massive white clam, absolutely glowing with awe. "Oh my god! That clam is gigantic!"
It reminded her of something from a fantasy drama—like a clam spirit that had cultivated into a fairy. It was surreal.
"If you like it, I can get you one," Lan Amber chuckled warmly. "A lot of the sea creatures sleep in coral beds, seaweed, or on big clams like that. Others just rest on underwater rocks. We mermaids, though... we have palaces."
"I'll take you to see one soon. Our living quarters are beautiful too."
He reached out and gently ruffled Si Lu's hair, his eyes filled with tenderness.
He wanted to share everything in the ocean with her.
He wanted her to fall in love with it… and with him.
"A palace? That's incredible! You mermaids really know how to live. I'm so jealous," Si Lu said, eyes sparkling.
She wasn't wrong. On land, beastmen slept on hay, animal hides, or inside caves. The fact that mermaids had palaces? That was next level. Si Lu hadn't even slept in a proper bed since she arrived in this world. She sorely missed her soft, bouncy Simmons mattress.
"Honestly, if you want, you can stay in the mermaid tribe for a while," Lan Amber offered. "And when you're ready to go back, I'll take you. We're not that far from shore."
"There are magical sea creatures here, fun things to explore, and delicious food to try. I think you'll love it."
He really did want to keep her with him in the ocean—but only if she wanted that too.
"That sounds tempting," Si Lu smiled, "but I should head back before sunset. My friends will worry. It wouldn't feel right disappearing for days without telling them. Maybe next time, I can stay longer."
"If I'm going to spend time here, I'd want to bring them with me—or at least talk to them first. I'd feel too guilty sneaking away without a word."
Lan Amber nodded gently. "Alright. When the time is right, and you want to play in the sea again, I'll be waiting to pick you up."
He wasn't upset at all. If anything, he admired how much Si Lu cared for her companions. It made him a little envious, honestly.
"Deal!" Si Lu said brightly, holding out her pinky finger.
Lan Amber blinked, confused. "What's that?"
"It's called a pinky promise," Si Lu explained with a giggle. She hooked her little finger around his and gave it a light tug. "It's our way of making a promise. If you break it, you're not allowed to take it back for a hundred years!"
Lan Amber looked at their linked fingers, completely charmed. "Then… I promise. I won't break it."
Just then, Si Lu paused. "Wait a second… I think I hear singing. Do you hear that?"
She turned to Lan Amber, a curious look in her eyes. "Back at the beach, I heard singing too—was that you? It was so beautiful."
Lan Amber's cheeks colored slightly.
"Yes… it was me," he admitted. "Our mermaid songs each have different meanings. That time, I sang only for you—that's why no one else heard it."
He looked away, slightly flustered. "Mermaids express our feelings through song. That melody was… meant for you."
His heart thudded in his chest, pounding like a drum. He stole a glance at Si Lu, unsure if she understood what his song truly meant.
Si Lu's eyes widened. "Wait, so you can choose who hears it and who doesn't? That's incredible!"
"That's one of the abilities that make our race unique," Lan Amber said with a shy smile.
Just then, her attention drifted back toward the giant clam. "And this song now… is it coming from there? The clam seems to be swaying!"
"I'm gonna go take a look. Wait here!"
Before Lan Amber could react, Si Lu was already swimming toward the giant white clam, her excitement outweighing any hesitation. Wrapped safely in her protective bubble, she moved with ease—fearless, trusting that Lan Amber was close behind.
Lan Amber flushed immediately, alarm flashing in his eyes.
Oh no.
He opened his mouth to stop her—but she was already there, walking eagerly toward the clam.
There was guilt in his eyes. Panic, even.
"Wait—" he muttered under his breath, but it was too late.
Si Lu approached the clam, marveling at its sheer size. "It could seriously fit four people," she whispered in awe.
She reached out and gently touched the edge of the shell. The singing was clearer now—almost in her ear.
Was there… a mermaid trapped inside?
"Hello? Anyone in there?"
She leaned in closer, squinting through the small crack in the shell, peeking inside with one eye.
And then—she froze.
Her body locked up in shock. Her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed—only for Lan Amber to appear in a flash and catch her wrist, gently easing her down into a crouch.
"I… I didn't mean to—I didn't know—they were mating!" Si Lu stammered, her face turning beet red, voice rising an octave with panic.
"I just thought someone was singing… I had no idea… I didn't mean to peek…"
Her ears, neck, and cheeks all flushed a deep crimson.
Oh god, she thought, mortified. Curiosity really did kill the cat!
"Let's go," Lan Amber said quickly, grabbing her hand and swimming them away as fast as possible.
Just as they escaped a fair distance, a furious voice erupted from the clam:
"WHO WAS THAT?! Who peeps on people mating?! So shameless!"
The sheer volume of the voice sent nearby fish scattering in every direction.
Both Si Lu and Lan Amber flushed even harder.
Lan Amber nearly choked on embarrassment. If they'd been caught, the rumors would've spread like wildfire. The Prince of the Sea caught spying on a clam couple? He'd never live it down.
"I'm so sorry," Si Lu said, practically burying her face in her hands. "I didn't know! I thought someone was trapped in there or singing—how was I supposed to know they were… y'know…"
She fidgeted with her fingers, too ashamed to look at him.
"I feel so bad. I embarrassed you too. I'm really sorry."
"It's alright," Lan Amber said, still looking a little dazed. "It was my fault for not warning you. I should've said something."
His ears burned red.
Honestly… it was his first time witnessing something like that, too.
He hadn't expected her to run off so quickly. Or get so close. Or peek.
But… well. It happened.
And thankfully, they hadn't been seen.
He exhaled slowly, heart still pounding.
"That's okay," Si Lu said quietly, forcing a shy smile. "Let's just pretend this never happened. It'll be our little secret. Deal?"
She held out her pinky again.
Lan Amber chuckled and hooked his finger around hers. "Deal. Now come on, I'll show you more of the sea."
And just like that, the two swam away into the deep, blue water—blushing, still a little breathless, and carrying a secret neither of them would ever forget.