Beauty and the Beasts

He knew that Bai Qingqing hadn’t given up hope on this largest pearl of his.

Aye, he shouldn’t have taken it out to coax An’an just so that he could spend more time with Bai Qingqing.

Oh, great. Not only did he not manage to get himself a spouse, but he even lost his pearl.

Bai Qingqing, who read Bluepool’s suspicions perfectly clearly, said amusedly, “I won’t ask for your luminous pearl. At most, I’ll let An’an bring it back first, and bring it back once she falls asleep.”

Bluepool cast a doubtful look at her. At the thought of the fact that he would get to see Bai Qingqing again, the frustration in his heart dissipated.

“Alright, then.”

Despite his consent, Bluepool couldn’t help but feel heartache watching An’an toss his dowry here and there.

“Do you need to cleanse your body?” asked Bluepool.

“That’d be great. I perspired a lot earlier.” Bai Qingqing wobbly stood at the bottom of the bubble and said as she pushed against the bubble, “Hey, let me out.”

Bluepool was about to push the bubble to the water surface, when Bai Qingqing said, “No need for that. Just burst it, I’ll swim up by myself.”

Bluepool frowned. “Are you able to do that?”

Bai Qingqing raised a brow and smiled. “Don’t belittle me. I’m a very good swimmer.”

“Very well, then.” Bluepool, who wasn’t completely reassured, raised the bubble and waited for Bai Qingqing to take in a breath, before bursting the bubble.

Instantly, clear water rushed at her from all directions, causing her to surge quite a distance upwards.

Bai Qingqing swam upwards unflustered, going with the flow of the water, and very smoothly floated to the water surface.

“Ah ah…”

Hearing the commotion, An’an raised her head to look for her mother. But there were too many fishes blocking her view. She reached out her tiny hands and smeared them against the bubble, her actions hinting at her impatience.

Bluepool was tickled and surprised that a tiny human who hadn’t yet learned to speak actually had a temper.

“Your mommy doesn’t want you anymore. She gave you to me.” Bluepool deliberately put on a face and said.

An’an merely cast a glance at him, then ignored him haughtily. Seeing that her mommy was still in the water, she continued playing by herself—nibbling at the luminous pearl.

“Tsk. You know how to put on airs at such a young age. You’re going to be incredible when you grow up,” Bluepool said with an emotional sigh.

“Release the little silver fishes!”

Bai Qingqing’s weak and muffled voice drifted to the depths of the water.

Bluepool instantly let out half of the fish. Some pestered him, while some swam upwards to Bai Qingqing.

Vision trailing upwards following the little silver fishes, Bluepool caught sight of a pair of fair, slim, and long legs, causing his fishtail and expression to freeze.

Watching her baby as she bathed, Bai Qingqing’s dress spread open in the water, feeling extremely relaxed, when she accidentally caught Bluepool staring dazedly at herself. She was confused for a moment before she suddenly realized what was going on. She let out a shriek and roared at Bluepool as she covered herself with her dress. “Come up right now!”

The startled Bluepool snapped out of his reverie, and with a flick of his fishtail, swam up with An’an.

Bai Qingqing glared at him and then continued bathing.

Bluepool felt aggrieved. He merely stared for a short while. Need she be so angry with him? Furthermore, Bai Qingqing did wear something inside her dress, so all he could see was a pair of pretty legs.

But why did he feel so sheepish when he was discovered?

By the time Bai Qingqing was done bathing, An’an had become tired from playing. Sprawled at the bottom of the bubble, the luminous pearl was still inside her mouth.

“An’an, let’s go home.” Bai Qingqing crawled to shore and took An’an from Bluepool’s hands.

With one hand holding onto the luminous pearl, An’an circled the other arm around Bai Qingqing’s neck and let out a big yawn.

Bai Qingqing had wanted to take the luminous pearl from her, but the latter refused. Bai Qingqing had no choice but to say to Bluepool, “I’ll return this to you later.”