Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

·

There was no clear distinction between day and night on the seabed. The creatures here adjusted their routines according to their innate biological clocks.

Following Han Lan’s arrangements, Su Zhi’s group was led to a giant underwater plant called a Snow Floss Sunflower.

It was entirely white, with a broad, sunflower-like disc covered in fine fuzz. Its comfort level completely blew away the most comfortable spring mattresses of modern technology; once you lay down on it, you never wanted to get up.

Plus, it was ten meters in diameter—where in the human world could you find a ten-meter-wide bed?

The moment everyone lay down and their bodies touched the soft surface, the day’s accumulated fatigue melted away, and they quickly drifted off to sleep.

Of course, even though they were technically all sharing one bed, most of them were quite reserved, keeping a one- to two-meter distance from each other.

Except for a certain white-haired girl...

At the edge of the Snow Floss Sunflower bed, Su Zhi wore an exasperated expression as he looked at the girl lying beside him.

Originally, he had been lying in the center, with Shao Ya on the edge.

Then Cao Mingyu suddenly declared he had to follow his heart and sleep in the middle. Su Zhi, having no idea what had gotten into him and feeling a little intimidated, gave him the spot.

Liu Yuhang, swept up by Cao Mingyu’s enthusiasm, followed suit and lay down as well.

Cao Mingyu gave Brother Yuhang an approving nod, then motioned for Fang Yuan to lie next to him too.

Fang Yuan didn’t want to lie next to him, so he lay down beside Liu Yuhang instead...

Like a relay race, the group had managed to push Su Zhi and Shao Ya together.

"Go to sleep, Su Baby. Why are you staring at me?"

The girl lay on her side, winking mischievously with her azure eyes. She lowered her voice, "Are you thinking naughty thoughts...?"

"I—I’m not! Don’t you go sullying my good name!"

"Oh? I was talking about the selection trials the day after tomorrow. What did you think I meant?" the girl asked, her face a mask of innocence.

’Innocent, my ass...’ Su Zhi didn’t want to deal with her. He pursed his lips, shut his eyes, and said, "Sleeping."

"Good night then, Su Baby~"

The ocean quieted for the night.

Occasionally, small fish swam past, casting curious glances at these creatures lying on the Snow Floss Sunflower.

Just as he was about to drift off, Su Zhi heard a rustling sound beside him. His drowsy mind snapped instantly awake.

She was moving closer.

Su Zhi found it ridiculous. They were deep under the sea, yet he could still clearly feel her body heat, the breath on his face, her faint fragrance...

’Why the hell does this goddamn Vast Sea Condensed Pearl have to come with all these weird extra features?! Fucking give me a refund!’

The girl drew even closer.

Su Zhi tried to guess her motive, feeling a little nervous.

’How is she going to tease me this time? I’m mostly used to it, as long as she doesn’t do anything too weird...’

The girl planted a light peck on his left cheek.

Su Zhi’s slightly trembling body instantly went rigid, his mind a complete blank.

’She stole a kiss!’

"Good night."

He heard her whisper, her voice tinged with a smile. Then, the rustling sound slowly faded into the distance.

How was he supposed to have a good night after that? He probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at all tonight.

Su Zhi’s lips curled into a slightly helpless smile, but his heart was honestly replaying the feeling of that moment.

’She really has me wrapped around her finger.’

’Hmph. Two can play at that game. I’ll be sure to pay her back double in the future!’

’Huh? Wait a minute.’

Su Zhi’s eyes snapped open. Only then did he realize the spot beside him was empty.

Shao Ya had been swimming with Xiaoyue for some time before stopping beside a coral reef.

Xiaoyue smacked her lips, looking sleepy. Just as she was about to ask Shao Ya why she wasn’t sleeping, her master pulled her into a tight hug.

"Waaah! I’m doomed, Xiaoyue!"

The girl’s face was flushed red as she let out a puppy-like whimper. "I don’t think Su Baby was asleep! I think he knew I was there!"

"Meeeow..." Xiaoyue struggled free from being smothered against her master’s chest and let out a helpless sigh.

’I really don’t get what’s so complicated. If you like him, just pounce on him.’

"Xiaoyue... what do you think of Su Baby?"

The girl sat down, leaning against the coral reef, and gazed thoughtfully upward.

The occasional schools of glowing fish that swam by looked like a meteor shower, a particularly beautiful sight.

"Everyone else thinks he’s too laid-back, that he doesn’t follow the crowd and lacks ambition... But I know he’s actually a very, very competitive person.

"Especially lately. Su Baby has been in Meditation until late every night. I never even thought he’d break through to a Tier Four Beast Taming Space so quickly. It just feels like... he’s wound himself up so tight, unwilling to stop for even a second."

Resting her chin in her hands, the girl looked at the "stars" and told her cat many, many things.

Xiaoyue gave her a look, not even needing to think, and meowed, "Meow, meow."

’It’s because he’s faced so much doubt and prejudice.’

’He’s working so hard because he wants to prove he’s strong enough, that he’s worthy of you.’

"But I don’t care about any of that! Even if he weren’t that strong, it wouldn’t change how I feel about him! If things get really tough, he can always live off me..."

The girl muttered under her breath, then quickly clamped her mouth shut and tapped herself on the head a few times.

"Pah! Pah! What’s wrong with Su Baby working hard to get stronger? You selfish, wicked woman!"

"Pfft..." Su Zhi, who was eavesdropping from a distance, clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.

"Meow, meoww." Xiaoyue pretended not to see Su Zhi and patted the girl’s shoulder.

’There, there. There’s nothing wrong with being concerned about him.’

"But..." Shao Ya pouted dejectedly. "I just don’t want him to be so tense. I want him to know he’s not alone. I want to be his most reliable support."

Xiaoyue pondered for a moment. This kind of problem was a bit beyond a little cat’s pay grade.

"Meow." Finally, Xiaoyue clapped her left paw against her right and offered her own suggestion—

’Just pounce on him! I’ll go tie him up and bring him here!’

"Huh? No! I’m not ready... Come back! Don’t you go anywhere!"

The girl and the cat played in front of the coral reef, the boy chuckled to himself behind it, and several schools of small fish, seeing Xiaoyue, were overcome by a genetic fear and scurried past in a panic.

Suddenly, Xiaoyue’s ears twitched. She stopped playing and made a "hold on" gesture.

Shao Ya froze, forgetting to remove the cat’s paw that had landed on her chest during the scuffle, and pricked up her ears to listen as well.

The sound was coming from behind a patch of seaweed not far away...

"HISS!"

Xiaolan bared her fangs at the Storm Fish Dragon trailing behind her, looking utterly fierce.

’Stop following me! I don’t want to go back and get whipped!’

"Awooo." The Storm Fish Dragon circled Xiaolan relentlessly.

’Please stop making a scene, Young Miss. Come back with me. The King only scolds you for your own good.’

"HISS!"

’I don’t want him to do things for my own good!’

Xiaolan’s eyes widened, and she fired a High-pressure Water Gun at the Storm Fish Dragon.

"Awoo?" The Fish Dragon took the tickle-like attack without moving an inch and blinked with some anticipation.

’Are you feeling better now? If not, you can hit me a few more times. As long as you come back with me!’

"Hiss." Xiaolan turned her head away.

’I’m not going back, and that’s final.’

The Storm Fish Dragon watched as Xiaolan threw a tantrum and flopped down onto the seaweed, and it looked completely exasperated.

’I’m just a Guard at the Dragon Palace gate, earning a few thousand fish a month. I have a fish-loan to pay off for building my nest, my family is nagging me every day to find a female Fish Dragon, and now I’m stuck with this thankless job...’

’Why is my fish-life so damn hard? I really want to punch a hole right through the Dragon Palace!’

Just as the Guard Fish Dragon was contemplating whether he should just tie Xiaolan up and drag her back, a voice called out from behind him. The white-haired human girl had appeared.

The Guard Fish Dragon knew this was the Clan Leader’s esteemed guest, so he quickly bowed.

"Let me talk to Xiaolan. You can go back for now!" Shao Ya said, blinking. She asked Xiaoyue to translate for her. "Just say the guest wants to play with Xiaolan for a bit and will bring her back later."

"Awoo!" The Guard Fish Dragon nodded repeatedly, shot Shao Ya a grateful look, and swam away.

"It’s not easy being a Fish Dragon, huh..."

Shao Ya gave a somewhat helpless smile and walked over to sit beside Xiaolan, hugging her knees. "You ran out so late, Xiaolan. Did you have a fight with your parents?"

"Hiss." Xiaolan nodded, looking hopefully at the white-haired big sister.

When she had been caught earlier and was terrified, this was the same sister who had comforted her.

Although Xiaolan admired Xue Li the most, she still had a rather deep impression of Shao Ya.

"I get it. Don’t take it too hard. Parents often don’t understand what we’re thinking, so it’s normal to disagree on things! I’ve fought with my dad, too."

Xiaolan nodded, a little surprised.

’I thought she would also say something like, "They’re just doing it for your own good"...’

"But—based on this big sister’s experience with arguments, you’ll feel a lot better if you talk things over with someone your parents don’t know well."

Shao Ya clapped her hands. "So, can you tell me why you were fighting with your mom and dad?"

Xiaolan lowered her head, looking aggrieved. "Hiss..."

·

·

’I fucking did it!’