Chapter 2619: Turning Point

After a while, Shang Hongyu suddenly stood up and said, "Ah Zu, my sister has something to tell you. I won't disturb you two." With a strange smile, she walked away, winking at her sister as she closed the door.

Zu'an looked at Shang Liuyu with some surprise. "Sister Shang, what do you want to tell me?"

Shang Liuyu's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. Her usually carefree expression now carried a hint of shyness. After a moment, she confessed truthfully, "She said our relationship has reached this point, and we should become true husband and wife before you leave, so that..."

"So that what?" Seeing the woman's shy demeanor, Zu'an truly understood the phrase "beauty that makes one want to devour it." He couldn't help but tease her with a follow-up question.

Shang Liuyu looked up into his eyes, her fair, delicate hand gently caressing his cheek. "So that if anything happens to you on this journey, I won't be left with only regret."

Zu'an held her hand, a wave of emotion washing over him. The two sisters were truly concerned about his safety. After all, he was heading to a world in another universe, where everything was unknown. Not just them, but even he himself had no certainty.

He gently pulled the beautiful woman into his embrace. "I'll be extra careful. With a true god watching over me now, it's not as dangerous as you imagine."

"Mm-hm." Shang Liuyu rested her cheek against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, and her mind gradually calmed.

"What you just mentioned was your sister's opinion. What are your own thoughts?" Zu'an asked.

"I..." Shang Liuyu's red lips parted slightly, then she shook her head after a moment, her face filled with bewilderment. "I don't know."

"Do you feel like something's still missing?" Zu'an smiled, as if he had anticipated her answer.

Shang Liuyu nodded instinctively. "I do feel that way, especially after hearing your story with the ancient mermaid queen. Although she's very likely my past life, we are different people, after all. I truly envy the profound love you shared."

Although her words were vague, Zu'an understood what she meant. His mutual affection with Shang Liuyu had indeed reached its peak, but there was still a lack of an opportune moment to take their relationship further. Originally, without the matter of the ancient mermaid queen, this separation would have been an excellent opportunity. But with that incident, and unfortunately, the two women also had intricate connections.

Women are emotional beings. Ever since Zu'an first met Shang Liuyu, he had known her nature: seemingly uninhibited, yet full of the romantic fantasies of a literary young woman. She clearly didn't want to be overshadowed by her past self.

"You don't need to feel pressured. I'm not some lecherous guy who only thinks about one thing. How could I leave you with regrets on such short notice? When I return, we'll choose an an auspicious day to get married..." Halfway through his sentence, Zu'an's expression suddenly froze.

Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, what a huge jinx! In movies, characters who go on dangerous missions far away and promise to get married upon their return usually meet an unfortunate end. How could I make the same mistake!

Shang Liuyu evidently thought of the same thing, a hint of panic appearing on her face. "I remember you once mentioned that saying things like that is unlucky."

"Then stay with me tonight and comfort my wounded heart."

"Don't worry, I'll only hold you, nothing else."

Shang Liuyu softly hummed in affirmation, her pale skin as if brushed with the finest rouge in the world. With their separation imminent, she also wished to spend more time with her beloved.

The two embraced, leaning on the bed and speaking of the longing they felt during their time apart. However, Shang Liuyu's voice suddenly trembled, "You... why are you touching my foot?"

"So beautiful." Zu'an toyed with her delicate foot, finally understanding why there were so many foot fetishists in the world. "Sister Shang, do you know that the first time I saw you, I dreamed of being able to do this someday?"

Shang Liuyu recalled the scene in the pavilion from back then, a gentle smile appearing on her face as she playfully chided, "So, you were already a mischievous pervert back then, plotting something!"

"It was clearly a sincere appreciation of beauty." Recalling the past, a nostalgic look crossed Zu'an's face. "Back then, I wouldn't dare have any ill intentions."

"And now you dare?" The moment Shang Liuyu asked, her heart fluttered, and she secretly felt a little regret.

"Now, if Sister Shang tells me to stop, I will certainly obey." Zu'an grinned as he leaned closer.

Shang Liuyu's cheeks immediately flushed scarlet. "Stop!"

Zu'an couldn't help but laugh wryly, "I haven't even started yet."

"But you've been... holding it this whole time." Shang Liuyu could feel the warmth of his palm on the sole of her foot, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.

Seeing her body tense up, Zu'an was amused. "Are the feet of your mermaid clan all very sensitive?"

Shang Liuyu turned her head away from him, playfully chiding, "You often play with my sister; don't you already know?"

Hearing her delightful tremolo, Zu'an truly felt it was the best enjoyment, and the pressure in his hand instinctively increased a bit. Shang Liuyu trembled all over and cried out in alarm, "Stop!"

"Alright, aren't I good at keeping my promises?" Zu'an looked at her slightly flustered appearance with a smile.

"Then take your hand away." Shang Liuyu's face was flushed. She tried to pull her foot back, but he held it tightly, making it impossible to withdraw.

"I only promised to stop when you said 'stop,' not to let go."

"You rogue!"

"Oh, no... stop!"

Zu'an immediately found it amusing. "So, is it 'stop' or 'don't stop'?"

"You're deliberately teasing me." Seeing his mischievous expression, Shang Liuyu felt a little exasperated. Unable to resist, she leaned in and bit him on the shoulder.

The two quickly fell into playful wrestling. As their antics subsided, the room suddenly became quiet. They were so close that they could feel each other's breath. Shang Liuyu's beautiful eyelashes fluttered, and she suddenly felt a little at a loss.

Zu'an naturally and slowly leaned in. Shang Liuyu's breathing quickened, but she didn't pull away. The two lovers naturally kissed.

After an unknown amount of time, Shang Liuyu's trembling voice suddenly echoed:

"Why are you taking off your clothes?"

"It's too hot. It'll be cooler to sleep without them."

"But you're taking off my clothes."

"Oh, aren't you hot?"

"This is an underwater dragon palace."

"Oh, the Dragon Palace seems very hot today."

"No... stop!"

"Don't worry, I'll just rub against you."

After another unknown period of time, Shang Liuyu gently bit her red lip, her eyes shimmering like a rippling lake. "If you want to, I... I can."

Zu'an felt like he was about to explode, but sensing her tender affection, he still shook his head. He knew she was truly willing at that moment, but he feared she might feel a tinge of regret afterward, and he didn't want her to experience any sorrow.

Shang Liuyu felt his thoughtfulness, and her heart grew even sweeter. However, she looked down, still somewhat concerned. "But if you're like this..."

"You can help me."

"Ah, last time... my sister ended up coming. How about I go call her over?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be..." Zu'an whispered something into her ear.

Shang Liuyu's eyes widened in confusion. Her face instantly flushed scarlet. "Where on earth did you learn all these strange things, you rascal?" As if afraid he would succeed, she simply transformed back into a mermaid tail, trying to cut off his thoughts.

The next day, Shang Hongyu and Shang Liuyu accompanied Zu'an several thousand miles out of the Dragon Palace before reluctantly waving goodbye.

Shang Liuyu suddenly let out a soft sigh. "Sister, do you think I'm very useless?"

"What? You still didn't give it to him last night, even with such a good opportunity?" Shang Hongyu was startled, looking exasperated.

Shang Liuyu immediately blushed deeply. "I wasn't talking about that! I meant he's about to embark on an unknown world, and I can't help him at all."

"So, did you or did you not give it to him last night?" Shang Hongyu was clearly more interested in the first question.