Chapter 345: "Not a Prisoner of War, a Fiancée.

Yu Zhizhi returned to the City Lord’s Tree House.

A Tiger Whale Soldier led her to the conference room. Her steps were somewhat timid as she approached the door. The soldier pushed it open and said, "Ms. Zhi Zhi, please come in."

Yu Zhizhi slowly shuffled inside. The Tiger Whale Soldier outside gently pulled the door shut.

"Lord Shen He."

Yu Zhizhi slowly held her breath.

The figure sitting by the wooden table stirred slightly. Shen He glanced sideways at the timid rabbit, who looked as if she wished she could shrink into a corner.

"What can you possibly see from all the way over there?" Shen He pulled out the chair beside him. "Come sit."

It was only then that Yu Zhizhi noticed the video call was already connected.

’Those shark pups...’

She walked toward the wooden table, where she could see two Little White Sharks on the floating screen, fast asleep in a tank.

They had hatched not long ago. Their bellies were a pale grey, and the fins on their backs were small and pointed. With every breath, they blew bubbles from their mouths.

Yu Zhizhi slowly sat down. It was her first time seeing such tiny sharks. Despite the lack of interaction, just watching the two little ones brought a profound sense of peace to her heart.

She couldn’t help but smile. As she reached out to touch the shark pups, the floating screen rippled.

In the tree house, the morning sun shone brightly, and the potted herbs were lush and green.

Shen He’s gaze fell on the little rabbit’s profile. He watched her for a long time. The anger he’d felt before seeing her had now all but vanished.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t notice the shark’s gaze; her eyes were glued to the pups on the screen. She watched them occasionally swish their tails. Inside the enormous tank, the two pups stayed close together, their heads touching.

Time slowly ticked by...

Realizing a long time had passed, Yu Zhizhi snapped back to reality. She glanced at the man sitting beside her, then stood up and said softly, "I... I should get going."

’Lord Shen He hadn’t said much since I arrived, but...’

’...sitting next to him, I always get the feeling I could be swallowed whole by a Great White Shark at any second...’

Shen He’s grey eyes followed her every move. A smile touched his lips as he reached out and seized the little rabbit’s wrist. "You may have had your fill of looking, but I haven’t."

Yu Zhizhi’s body trembled. In the next instant, he yanked her into his embrace, and her forehead collided with his chin.

Ngh...

’Are shark skeletons made of stone?’

’It’s rock-hard.’

Trembling, Yu Zhizhi looked up. Her body was trapped by Shen He’s powerful arms. He lowered his gaze slightly, his grey eyes hiding a myriad of emotions.

"Congratulations, Miss Rabbit."

"...For what?" Yu Zhizhi asked, completely bewildered.

The shark’s face drew closer. "Congratulations on your advancement to an SS-Level female. The Deep Sea Empire must have you."

Shen He’s voice was deep and rich, full of magnetism. His breath brushed against Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears, making her shiver uncontrollably.

Shen He’s gaze slowly drifted downward, settling on her lips.

The man’s desirous gaze made her heart race. She instinctively tried to pull back. "Lord Shen He, I still have so much to do today..."

"And you’re aware of it," Shen He added. "It’s been a long time... since *we’ve* done it."

Shen He’s coarse thumb gently stroked her delicate wrist. His other hand lifted her chin as he slowly leaned in.

Yu Zhizhi hurriedly turned her head aside.

His lips brushed against the little rabbit’s cheek.

Shen He chuckled lowly. "Are you going to let me kiss you nicely, or do you want me to tie you up and kiss you?"

He saw the little rabbit flinch. Her limpid, rabbit-like eyes began to well with moisture. With trembling lashes, she reluctantly turned her face back toward him.

This put Shen He in an even better mood.

’...Truly adorable.’

He gave the little rabbit’s cheek a light pinch, then bent his head and gently kissed her.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t pull away this time.

’She was afraid the shark would actually do something perverse.’

’This was the City Lord’s Tree House, and she could hear the footsteps of people coming and going in the corridor.’

’If someone opened the door, they would see them...’

’...’

’...kissing.’

Yu Zhizhi was mortified, her cheeks burning with heat. But Shen He had no intention of letting her off so easily. His fingers gently traced the small tuft of her rabbit tail. "So, Miss Rabbit does know how to take the initiative for things. It seems you’re quite fond of cats, aren’t you."

"..." Yu Zhizhi looked at the Big Shark so close to her, her gaze flickering away.

The shark’s gaze drifted downward, settling on the delicate, snow-white expanse of her chest, framed by the dress’s lace. The light-colored, waist-cinching formal dress was beautiful on her, but also highly inconvenient.

He leaned down, his nose brushing against her collarbone.

Inhaling the faint scent of jasmine and milk on her skin, Shen He’s eyes grew darker. It was strange. He never thought of her when she was away, yet the moment he saw her, he found himself wanting her constantly.

’What rabbit?’

’She’s clearly a little succubus with horns.’

’The restraint was agonizing.’

"Come to my room tonight?" Shen He invited.

Yu Zhizhi quickly shook her head. "N-No, I can’t. I have to study..."

’All the Healers had exams this month. She had to review.’

Shen He: "Come to my room. I’ll teach you."

Yu Zhizhi mumbled under her breath, "You’re not a Healer... Besides, I already have plans with Noel."

For a moment, Shen He was at a loss for words.

He slowly raised his head and stared intently at the little rabbit in his arms.

’’Noel?’ Sounded rather intimate.’

"How does he teach you?" Shen He demanded.

"Well... we work on problems," Yu Zhizhi recalled. "And there are practical lessons. I go to him if there’s anything I don’t understand."

Greenfield City’s acting City Lord, the young prodigy of the Rabbit Clan, the most talented Healer in the Valoran Empire... and most importantly, he was also a rabbit.

Shen He considered that members of the same Beast Clan were more receptive to each other’s scents.

’And rabbits... they were perpetually in heat.’

He gripped the little female’s chin. "Are you planning to take a Rabbit Clan male as your Beast Husband?"

Huh? Yu Zhizhi was taken aback; the thought had never crossed her mind.

Yu Zhizhi shook her head.

’Ever since she awakened her Healing System talent, she’d been in constant contact with Noel. If it weren’t for him, her progress wouldn’t have been this rapid.’

’Plus, Noel understood the *Bright Moon Diary* much faster than she did and had even annotated the more difficult passages for her.’

"Good, as long as you have no such plans." Shen He’s tone softened slightly. "Don’t forget, you have a marriage contract with the Deep Sea Empire."

’...Since when?’

Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare to argue.

Shen He: "Once I find Buli and the others, I’ll take you back to the Deep Sea."

"...I don’t want to be a Prisoner of War."

"Not a Prisoner of War, but a fiancée."

’Fiancée?’

’Yusen’s?’

Yu Zhizhi fell silent.

’She thought of Buli.’

’Buli, and the Sea Snakes... they were all on the list of the missing. I wonder how they are now.’

’Lord Shen He cared deeply for his soldiers; she could tell from her time in the Deep Sea Empire.’

’He was good to the men in his legion and ruthless to his enemies.’

Yu Zhizhi then thought of the test.

’Sigh... The Big Shark despises smugglers, and Buli and the others’ disappearance is linked to them. If I’m really found out by the test, what will he do to me?’

Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare to even imagine.

Suddenly, a Tiger Whale Soldier’s voice came from outside the door. "D-Duke."