Bai Sha nodded. “Right.” She truly had no way to deal with this. The only option she could think of was to restart. After restarting, not coming here would be her sole means of handling it.
Yin Sha looked deeply at Bai Sha. “If death is inevitable, I want to say something now. I was afraid if I waited too long, I’d never get the chance.”
“What is it?” Bai Sha was puzzled. Yin Sha’s eyes flickered, and she seemed a bit bashful, but finally spoke. “Bai Sha, I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask, but I always felt it wasn’t the right time.”
A question? Bai Sha looked at her, confused. Yin Sha poked her two pectoral fins together, her gaze shifting. “Bai Sha, the reason you’ve always been so good to me… it’s not just because we’re both Great White Sharks, is it? There must be another reason, right?”
Bai Sha was silent. Yes, there was a reason she treated Yin Sha so well. It wasn’t complicated. It was all because Yin Sha was a peerless genius, and her character had proven itself trustworthy over several lifetimes. That was why Bai Sha was good to her. It was perhaps more like an investment—because Yin Sha was worth it, she could invest in her.
As these thoughts ran through Bai Sha’s mind, Yin Sha’s face flushed slightly. “Bai Sha, you’re so good to me… do you like me?”
Bai Sha froze, wondering if she’d misheard. What had Yin Sha just said? She was treating Yin Sha well because she liked her?
Yin Sha lowered her head, embarrassed. “I may not be very old, but I understand there’s no hatred without a cause, and no kindness without a reason. There has to be a reason for everything you do. And that reason… is that you like me, isn’t it?”
Of course it wasn’t… Bai Sha felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. Before transmigrating to this world, she had been a human. A human, no matter the circumstances, could never develop romantic feelings for a shark. For her to fall for Yin Sha, Yin Sha would first need to undergo Transformation, and into a form that was sufficiently beautiful at that. Then, perhaps. But right now, facing a shark, her heart held no such emotional flutter.
Yin Sha continued, “I’ve actually been secretly pondering how to respond to your feelings. There’s an answer hidden in my heart, but I wasn’t sure if I should voice it, if I should bring everything out into the open. Because I’m both looking forward to and anxious about what life would be like afterward. I didn’t want my peaceful life disrupted. I don’t know if I could handle that kind of future. But now, at this moment, I know there are things I can’t delay any longer. I have to face everything bravely.”
As she spoke, Yin Sha looked at Bai Sha as if plucking up her courage.
Bai Sha remained silent.
Yin Sha finally spoke her most important words. “Bai Sha, I’ve felt the affection you’ve sent my way. And I’m willing to accept this relationship.”
Looking at Yin Sha’s expectant eyes, Bai Sha didn’t know how to respond. Should she just tell Yin Sha it was all in her imagination? Wouldn’t that be too hurtful? But if she didn’t clarify, the misunderstanding would only continue. After a brief, rapid debate in her mind, Bai Sha quickly made a decision.
“Yes, Yin Sha, I like you.”
Bai Sha chose to indulge Yin Sha. She wasn’t worried about the trouble this misunderstanding might bring, because if nothing unexpected happened, this life wouldn’t last much longer. Restarting was only a matter of time. When that happened, Yin Sha would remember nothing of this moment. So rather than hurting Yin Sha now, why not weave a beautiful lie to make her happy?
Yin Sha was indeed overjoyed. She smiled brightly and said, “Mm, mm! So from now on, you’re my baby, Bai Sha. And I’m Bai Sha’s baby too!” As she spoke, she snuggled closer, rubbing her body against Bai Sha’s.
Bai Sha’s expression was complicated. She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. Still, she didn’t dislike Yin Sha’s affectionate nuzzling. Even though Yin Sha was a Great White Shark, even by human standards, she was a remarkably fine-looking one.
Rubbing against Bai Sha, Yin Sha finally relaxed and said, “At least I managed to say those words at the final moment. Now I have no regrets in my heart. But… it still feels like such a pity. Both of us should have had much longer, brighter futures. And now it’s all being snuffed out by the Eerie.”
Bai Sha patted Yin Sha with a pectoral fin. “Don’t be so gloomy. Perhaps there’s still a turn of events waiting for us.”
“Maybe.” Yin Sha didn’t dare to hope for any turn of events. How could there be so many lucky things in the world? Meeting Bai Sha had already been an incredibly fortunate event. Luck like that couldn’t come too often. Instead of clinging to faint hopes, it was better to cherish these final moments.
With that thought, Yin Sha hugged Bai Sha and took a playful nibble. “Baby, kiss.”
Bai Sha sighed helplessly at the sudden nibble. “Are you going to call me ‘baby’ from now on?”
Yin Sha nodded affirmatively. “Of course! And baby, you have to call me baby too.”
Bai Sha felt even more helpless. “Isn’t that kind of endearment a bit… cheesy?”
Yin Sha tilted her head, confused. “Cheesy? What does that mean? In the unofficial history novel I read, partners call each other that.”
“Unofficial history novel? How many have you read?”
“Just one. It’s called ‘Sweet Month of the East Sea Demon Cultivators.’ Do you want to hear the story, baby?”
“Not really.” Bai Sha gave a wry smile. In this world, animals who developed sentience possessed cognitive abilities equal to humans, but common sense was still acquired through accumulation over time. For Yin Sha, partners calling each other “baby” was perfectly normal. She had already decided to accommodate Yin Sha in this life, to let her believe she liked her. There was no reason to argue over something like this. Whatever Yin Sha liked, so be it.
“Actually, I will listen to the story. Can you tell it to me, baby?” Bai Sha decided not to fight it.
“Of course, baby!” Yin Sha beamed and began telling the story. Bai Sha listened quietly, and soon came to understand what kind of tale had so profoundly influenced Yin Sha.
