In the evening, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun talked about Wa Wei’s situation.
"The singing rfolk is Wa Wei’s sweetheart. She wants to keep it a secret for him, and I can’t bear to force her," Bai Ruozhu said, her expression a bit gloomy. "Seeing her, I can’t help but think of the two of us."
Jiang Yichun felt a pang in his heart, "Then let’s not force it. We’ll wait until she’s ready to talk."
Bai Ruozhu wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I knew you were cold on the outside but warm inside, with the softest heart."
Jiang Yichun smiled, and that smile almost made Bai Ruozhu lose her senses. Is it really okay for a man to be so enchanting?
"I’m only soft-hearted for you," he said with a smile.
...
On the journey that followed, Mr. Ding had recovered considerably and guided the five of them along the way. Everything was in order on the boat, and there were no more instances of individuals abusing power over others. So, the sailors and ship workers felt very relaxed. During the day, they would even relax and sing on the deck, which had its own unique charm.
Bai Ruozhu, on the other hand, was teaching Wa Wei, Yizi, and Teng Ya dical skills. Yizi focused mainly on arrays, only learning so simple basics, while Teng Ya didn’t have much aptitude for dical studies. Bai Ruozhu didn’t expect her to learn perfectly, only hoping she’d understand so basic dical knowledge to take care of herself and her family in the future.
Wa Wei was learning the fastest and best, reminding Bai Ruozhu of the lively and perceptive Tian Fang from the Female Physicians Institution in the past.
Because Wa Wei had been learning the longest, it was often just her and Bai Ruozhu having conversations. After a few days, she suddenly asked, "Sister Ruozhu, how did you et Lord Jiang?"
Bai Ruozhu recalled the first ti she saw Jiang Yichun, riding a black horse, imposing as he was about to enter the city. She was dumbfounded at the ti, wondering how soone could be so handso. In the end, he even gave her a look of disdain.
"He was severely injured while on duty, and my father saved him, so we t," Bai Ruozhu recounted the first encounter between her forr self and Jiang Yichun.
"Oh? It’s that simple?" Wa Wei couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed as she listened.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, "Not bad already. In Danliang Country, many girls have marriages arranged by their parents and only et their husbands after they marry."
Wa Wei pouted, "That’s so boring."
After a pause, she suddenly said, "Actually, I knew him since I was little."
Bai Ruozhu realized Wa Wei was referring to the singing rfolk and hurriedly perked up her ears to listen quietly.
"Back then, my father had just passed away. I hated those who brought disaster and selfishly fled, but there was nothing I could do about it. Afraid that Grandpa would be even more upset, I could only hide by the sea and cry. Then one day, a little boy suddenly appeared nearby, saying my crying was annoying and making fun of for only knowing how to cry all the ti."
Wa Wei couldn’t help but laugh as she spoke, "Back then, he wasn’t cute at all. I hated him so much!"
Bai Ruozhu also laughed, "Lord Jiang is annoying to talk to as well. I always want to hit him."
"Yes, I just want to hit him a few tis. He’s so annoying!" Wa Wei laughed so hard she could hardly catch her breath.
"So it turns out rfolk can be a bit tsundere," Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but muse.
"Tsundere?" Wa Wei thought of the little rfolk’s face back then and found the word most appropriate.
After such an open-hearted talk, she spoke more. She thought that girls her age needed friends to confide in, especially about the sweetness and troubles of love.
"Later, I saw him a few tis, always in the sea. When I got angry and tried to hit him, he would swim away quickly. Once, I was so angry I jumped into the sea to chase him and ended up getting tangled in nearby seaweed. I drank a few mouthfuls of water and it was he who ca back to save ."
Wa Wei’s face shone with radiance, the kind of glow only those bathed in love have.
"At the ti, I was scared to death, clinging tightly to his arm, not daring to let go. He took to the shore, and I realized he actually had a fish tail."
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes widened. Why a fish tail? Fang Qing didn’t have a fish tail in the Luo Family’s illusory realm either?
She didn’t dare to interrupt Wa Wei’s words, could only suppress the confusion in her heart, and continued listening.
"He said then that I knew his secret and threatened to kill , but I knew he wouldn’t really kill . Otherwise, why save ? Later, we beca great friends."
Wa Wei looked up at Bai Ruozhu, "Sister Ruozhu, I didn’t tell you earlier that he might not be able to help you much."
"Why?" Bai Ruozhu felt a tightness in her heart.
The smile disappeared from Wa Wei’s face, replaced by a look of heartache, "He was exiled by his clan when he was very young and lived alone ever since. He used to want to find his parents and ask them why they abandoned him, but the vast sea is imnse, and he’s never found them."
"Why was he exiled?" Bai Ruozhu asked in shock.
"He said that the ancestors of the rfolk were fish, blessed by the gods to beco human. They have innate powerful abilities, but it’s rare for a rfolk to be born with a fish tail like him. His mother hid him until he was five, but the clan discovered him, and so he was exiled," Wa Wei said, biting her lip.
"Even if he’s half-human, half-fish, that’s no reason to exile him, right? How could his parents abandon him?" Bai Ruozhu asked angrily. How could the hearts of the rfolk be so callous, to abandon a five-year-old child like that?
"I don’t know why either. He won’t say," Wa Wei’s voice was a bit choked. "He’s been living alone, fearful of being discovered, avoiding the fierce fish in the sea. It’s really not easy."
Bai Ruozhu nodded, "If I can find the rfolk’s island, I’ll surely get to the bottom of it for him."
"If rfolk can only live to be thirty, his parents might already be gone. That’s why he hasn’t tried looking for them in recent years." Wa Wei’s eyes grew hot, tears couldn’t help but fall.
"Silly girl, he’s about your age, right? There’s still plenty of ti to find a way; don’t overthink it," Bai Ruozhu quickly took a handkerchief to wipe Wa Wei’s tears.
"I’m fine. You and Lord Jiang are good people. I’ll definitely find a way to help you," Wa Wei said earnestly, sniffling.
...
In the following days, the sea saw rare good weather, and even the nights were very calm.
The moonlight cast upon the sea, like a layer of silver light sprinkled down. A silvery white figure moved swiftly through the sea, quick as a fish.
A low singing voice rose, awakening Wa Wei imdiately. She excitedly ran outside, even forgetting her shoes.
This ti the rfolk’s song was very low, seemingly deliberately directed in a certain direction so it wouldn’t carry to other places. Bai Ruozhu’s room wasn’t far from Wa Wei’s, and with her excellent hearing, she faintly caught so of it.
She intended to get up but lay back down again, deciding to let the young couple have so ti alone.
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