63: I'm sorry you had to suffer.

When other Merfolk Clan members approached Nan Zhisui, Lan Xing didn't panic.

When Yu Lang and Yu Chen approached Nan Zhisui, Lan Xing didn't panic either.

But when Mu Yang and Chu Chen put all their effort into trying to mate with Nan Zhisui, Lan Xing panicked!

"Big Sister, Big Brother, Nan Zhisui is my female master, don't mess around!"

Mu Yang looked at Lan Xing thoughtfully and said, "Didn't we hear that you two are arguing and that you want to sever your mate bond with your female master?"

Lan Xing's expression changed abruptly, and he said anxiously, "It hasn't been severed yet; we are still mates!"

Chu Chen, unaffected, thought seriously about the relationship between best friends and mates for a long while before nodding. "Hmm, I think what you said makes sense."

"Let's be best friends first. If we want to be mates in the future, we can change it then."

As she spoke, Chu Chen hugged Nan Zhisui tightly again, chest pressing against chest.

Nan Zhisui: "..." So enthusiastic, that's really not necessary!

After dragging Lan Xing back to the palace, the Merfolk Clan royals started a meeting.

Nan Zhisui pulled Little Fu along and eavesdropped outside the door.

She didn't mean to eavesdrop, okay? It was all because she couldn't be more than 50 meters away from Lan Xing!

Inside the palace.

The eldest brother, Mu Yang, was quite silent.

The second brother, Luo Chuan, was very straightforward. He asked directly, "Lan Xing, is that ridiculously beautiful Female from the Merfolk Clan outside really your female master?"

Lan Xing nodded. In front of his older brother and sister, he was still very well-behaved.

Luo Chuan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Lan Xing, have you been blessed by the beast god? To actually know such a beautiful Female from the Merfolk Clan! Your brother and I have waited for hundreds of years and haven't encountered anyone this beautiful!"

Mu Yang interjected, "What's this about you wanting to sever your mate bond?!"

Lan Xing still wanted to be understood by his family. He said, "She... she abandoned her husband and child! She abandoned me and Little Fu. Is there anything wrong with me severing the mate bond with her?"

Mu Yang, Luo Chuan, and Chu Chen said in unison, "Are you crazy?!"

Luo Chuan: "You said she abandoned her husband and child, but isn't she back now?"

Chu Chen: "Females, you know, always make some mistakes. Look at your sister—that's me—don't I often make mistakes? It's no big deal, why can't you forgive her?"

Luo Chuan: "Besides, she even bore you a cub, and a Female cub at that. You know not all Females are willing to bear cubs. Don't be unreasonable. Look at your sister; she hasn't borne a single one."

Chu Chen glared at Luo Chuan. "Just talk, don't drag me into this."

Mu Yang blushed a little. "And she's so beautiful, it's understandable if she's a bit fickle. Besides, didn't she come back to find you? What Female doesn't make mistakes?"

As Lan Xing listened, these words that were meant to comfort him only made him feel more aggrieved.

He was originally the little prince of the Merfolk Clan, and could be considered the clan's little pet.

During his coming-of-age ceremony, an accident occurred, and when he was most helpless from severe injuries, he was captured by Land Beastmen. The Land Beastmen sold him to her for just a few blades of grass.

Yet, after she lured him into the Cave, she immediately mated with him. Later on, she just left a fish egg for him.

When he was with her, he had actually been happy.

He had looked forward to their future life and considered how Land Beastmen and Merfolk Clan members could live together.

If she could settle by the seaside, he could go see her every day.

But she had unexpectedly abandoned her husband and child and left directly.

Once she left, he hadn't seen a shadow of her for five years.

He grew up as the clan's pet; he was a little prince; he had never suffered such grievances.

He had only just reached adulthood.

Why was it that after he had suffered so many grievances, none of his family members felt sorry for him, and instead said he was very lucky?

If his family couldn't understand him, who could?

"You all talk about me, but what did I do wrong?"

As Lan Xing spoke, tears of grievance—pearls—were about to fall.

"You are my closest family, why can't even you understand me?"

"Did I commit some heinous crime? Is this what I wanted? Did I wrong her?"

"Just because she is a Female and I am a Male, she can be forgiven for abandoning her husband and child? No matter how many years pass, as long as she comes back to find me... she is considered a good Female, right?"

"Why?!"

Lan Xing clenched his fists, turned his head to the side, and sulked, "Anyway... I must sever the mate bond."

But unexpectedly, not only did Chu Chen not understand, she even became Life Qi. "Lan Xing, don't be so absolute!"

Nan Zhisui's heart tightened as she listened.

On the Earth where she was from, people were usually especially tolerant of men.

If a woman committed the same mistake, it was often unforgivable, but if a man committed it, it was lightly brushed aside.

But in the Beast World, it seemed to be reversed. A Male committing a mistake was unforgivable, while a Female committing a mistake was lightly brushed aside.

Growing up on Earth, Nan Zhisui could especially empathize with Lan Xing's current feelings.

She felt heartache for Lan Xing.

She stroked the Little Merman's Face and said, "Little Fu, we can't let your Fish Father be this sad anymore."

Little Fu wagged her tail, looking at her with big, watery eyes.

"Let's go comfort your Father Beast."

"Mm!"

Nan Zhisui and Little Fu swam in.

Seeing the beautiful Seven-colored Mermaid and the golden Little Merman swim over, Lan Xing felt a moment of panic.

"You heard it?"

He had just said some very harsh words, and she had probably heard them all.

After hearing his words, would she dislike him even more and like him even less?

Lan Xing suddenly felt miserable deep down.

He consoled himself: ...It doesn't matter. Anyway, they are going to sever the mate bond.

"Sui Sui." Chu Chen swam up to her with a smile and persuaded her, "My brother is young and was spoiled by the family; he has a big temper, don't blame him."

"You must not agree to sever the mate bond with him."

If a Male is not mated, he spends his life alone, at most just lonely.

But if he is mated and then abandoned, a piece of his spirit will be missing, and he will permanently become a Wandering Beastmen.

If he becomes a Wandering Beastmen, his mental state will become unstable.

Nan Zhisui knew Chu Chen was worried about her brother, so she said in a low voice, "Sister, don't worry, I don't intend to sever the mate bond."

Lan Xing pretended to be strong and turned to Face Nan Zhisui.

"What are you doing out here? Watching them criticize me? Do you want to laugh at me too?"

The newly adult Merfolk Lan Xing clearly didn't look very big.

At this moment, the corners of his eyes were red, and one could tell that his sense of grievance hadn't passed yet.

"I heard you talking outside," Nan Zhisui said softly.

"So what if you heard..." Lan Xing turned his head slightly. "Then what do you want to say?"

He was still somewhat panicked.

"Lan Xing, after hearing what you said, I think you are quite right... It was indeed my fault."

Lan Xing looked up at her abruptly.

Nan Zhisui lowered her posture significantly.

"It was indeed my fault, so for the sake of our lovely baby Fu Fu, will you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

She tugged at Little Fu, "Baby, go comfort your Fish Father."

The golden Little Merman immediately swam to Lan Xing's side, planted a kiss on his Face, and acted coquettishly, "Daddy, hug Fu Fu~"

"And also, everyone... Big Brother Mu Yang, Second Brother Luo Chuan, Big Sister Chu Chen..."

Nan Zhisui said sincerely, "For the past five years, for some reasons, I indeed didn't take good care of the father and daughter. Now, I also ask you brothers and sisters to give me a chance."

Every word Nan Zhisui said here was siding with Lan Xing, speaking up for him.

In the Beast World, where had anyone seen a Female lower her posture and speak up for a Male out of heartache?

After all, in this Beast World where Females were few and Males were many, Females were always favored and doted on.

In such an upbringing environment, Females with privileges easily became arrogant and willful.

And even if a Female became arrogant and willful, she could easily obtain the understanding and forgiveness of Males.

Therefore, Nan Zhisui's act of lowering her posture to take the blame and speaking up for Lan Xing instantly maxed out the favorability of the several royal Merfolk.

The scene quieted down.

Even Lan Xing appeared very surprised.

Chu Chen chuckled, patted Lan Xing's shoulder, and said, "Little brother, you are blessed."

Then she swam away.

Mu Yang and Luo Chuan looked thoughtfully in Nan Zhisui's direction, then swam to Lan Xing and said in a low voice, "Little brother, if you don't want this Female, we will definitely snatch her up."

After saying this, Mu Yang and Luo Chuan also left.

In the palace, there were only three fish: Nan Zhisui, Lan Xing, and Little Fu.

Lan Xing held Little Fu, lowered his head, and not knowing if it was out of shyness or embarrassment, he turned his head to the side.

"Are you still Life Qi?" Nan Zhisui asked.

With a slight nasal tone, Lan Xing asked back in a low voice, "Don't you think I'm being overly sensitive?"

"I don't think so," Nan Zhisui said. "You weren't wrong. Besides, you are the younger brother after all, and my mental age is older than yours, so I should have considered you more. Furthermore, I was indeed at fault..."

Nan Zhisui's voice softened, and she said gently, "Lan Xing, I have wronged you."