"Father! I will not accept marrying Fairy Yun Yao." Yu Bai knelt on the ground, earnestly pleading.
The old Dragon King wouldn't listen to him, sternly saying, "This marriage was decreed by the Heavenly Emperor. Refusing now is like defying an imperial order! I am helpless! Besides, I remember you saying you liked Fairy Yun Yao when you were a child!"
"..." Yu Bai was extremely frustrated. Back then, when he was young and playing in the Heavenly Palace, he had met Yun Yao. They played happily, and he had no understanding of matters between men and women. What he casually mentioned to his mother turned into a marriage.
At that time, he just thought it was fun to play with someone, and wanting to be together was just a friendly affection. Unexpectedly, it turned into an engagement.
Moreover, they haven't seen each other in a hundred years. How could there be any feelings?
"I will not accept this marriage!" Yu Bai resisted.
"Do you have someone you like?" the old Dragon King suspiciously asked.
"No." Yu Bai shook his head.
"That's good then. If we take this opportunity to ally with the Heavenly Realm through marriage, our West Sea will have protection. This marriage is beneficial for you and the West Sea with no downsides. Why reject it?"
It turned out that the old Dragon King's recent kindness and concern were fake. He was as cold and ruthless, selfish as ever.
"I have no feelings for Fairy Yun Yao." Yu Bai strongly refuted.
"This matter is settled, leave now!" The old Dragon King didn't want to listen and directly dismissed Yu Bai.
"I..." Before Yu Bai could finish, he was escorted out by a nearby guard.
Yu Bai sat at a coral table in the courtyard, heart troubled. Just then, a small crab approached his feet and tugged at his shoe with its claws. He looked down and called softly, "Yi Ming, stop playing, come and chat with me."
The small crab immediately transformed into a human, becoming a young man in green attire.
The young man had a bright smile, walking keenly to Yu Bai's side and asking, "My Crown Prince, I've heard you're going to marry that esteemed Fairy Yun Yao of the Heavenly Realm. What wonderful news!"
Yu Bai gave him a disdainful look, "Don't tease me! I don't want this marriage at all."
"Fairy Yun Yao is beautiful, comes from a good family, and is related to the Heavenly Emperor. What's there to dislike? Once you marry her, your future will be bright and promising." Yi Ming raised an eyebrow as he finished.
Yu Bai shot him a sidelong glance, "If it's so great, why don't you go? Anyway, I just don't like it."
"You reject it so much, could it be there's someone in your heart?" Yi Ming teasingly said.
"... What nonsense are you spouting! How could I have someone..." Yu Bai loudly refuted, but his voice gradually trailed off.
Whether it was guilt or something else, a complex and unclear feeling suddenly surged in his heart.
Seeing Yu Bai in a daze, Yi Ming quickly called him, "Yu Bai! Crown Prince! What's wrong with you?"
After a while, Yu Bai snapped out of it. He looked at Yi Ming in front of him, and Yi Ming asked in confusion, "Yu Bai, what happened just now? You didn't respond when I called. Did you fall ill?"
"No, I'm fine. I don't know why, but suddenly I feel a void in my heart, like something is missing." Yu Bai frowned deeply, unable to figure it out.
"What's missing? Don't you know yourself?" Yi Ming asked.
"I don't know, I can't remember." Yu Bai replied, pausing before continuing, "I lost six months of memory. I feel that memory is important, but I just can't recall it."
"Why can't you remember such an important memory?" Yi Ming couldn't understand.
"I don't know either..." Yu Bai was troubled.
Time flew by, and the Heavenly Realm had already sent the wedding items to the West Sea: fine jade and silk, gemstones and gold, incense and other auspicious items, all of the highest quality.
Yu Bai saw those things but couldn't feel happy at all. He seemed listless and dispirited.
"Yu Bai, you're getting married soon, cheer up." Yi Ming teased from the side.
"..." Yu Bai rolled his eyes at him, "There are times when you can just keep your mouth shut."
Feeling the killing intent in Yu Bai's eyes, Yi Ming wisely closed his mouth.
"I'm not going to marry." Yu Bai muttered to himself.
"?" Yi Ming looked at Yu Bai in surprise, but since Yu Bai made him be quiet, he pursed his lips and couldn't ask anything.
Yu Bai walked out of the pavilion, and Yi Ming followed behind, calling, "Yu Bai! What do you mean by what you just said? Tell me!"
"..." Yu Bai walked quickly ahead, ignoring him.
Recently, in his dreams, he started hearing a girl's voice. He wanted to clear away the mist before him to see her face, but try as he might, he couldn't succeed. That girl always remained in the darkness.
Yu Bai felt a sense of closeness with her, even feeling entranced by her.
Even though they had never met, why did he feel this way?
He wanted to walk towards her, approach her, be by her side.
The news of the West Sea Crown Prince marrying Fairy Yun Yao from the Heavenly Realm spread along the coastal area. Many fishermen lived there, relying on fishing for a living and long worshipping the West Sea God. Upon hearing the news, the people began joyful celebrations of the upcoming union.
That day, Hui Yue was clearing fishing nets by the sea, with the salty sea breeze blowing against her. Qing Hong excitedly ran to her side to share the good news, "Hui Yue, I've got good news for you!"
Hui Yue stopped her work, smiling, "What good news? You're so happy; is it that you and Brother Ah Niu are getting married?"
Qing Hong grasped Hui Yue's hand to let her know where she was, her face bashful as she said, "I'm not marrying Brother Ah Niu! The one getting married is the Crown Prince of our West Sea!"
"The West Sea Crown Prince?" Hui Yue felt as if her heart had been struck.
"Yes! The West Sea Crown Prince's name is Yu Bai, he is handsome and noble. Half a year ago, he fought against the Demon Clan's Demon Lord to protect the people at the End of the World, and returned unscathed! It's truly a miracle!" Qing Hong spoke with a lovestruck expression.
"That's amazing!" Hui Yue replied with a forced laugh.
Only she knew the truth.
"Yes! He is the dream of countless women!" Qing Hong raised a fist to her cheek in admiration.
"Who is he marrying?" Hui Yue hadn't wanted to ask but couldn't suppress her curiosity.
"I heard his fiancée is Fairy Yun Yao from the Heavenly Realm!" Qing Hong exaggeratedly said, "Fairy Yun Yao is famous for being exceptionally talented and beautiful! Truly a match made with Crown Prince Yubai!"
"Ah... is that so... that's quite good." Hui Yue forced another laugh, only she knew how strained her smile was.
She thought she could pretend nothing was wrong, but her heart couldn't stop aching, as if a thousand knives slashed at it.
Qing Hong still wanted to chat excitedly with her, but didn't expect Hui Yue, who usually loved such lively news, to say, "I'm not feeling well, I'd like to rest alone for a bit."
Qing Hong quickly asked with concern, "Do you want me to find Doctor Xu for you?"
Hui Yue shook her head in gentle refusal, "No need, thank you, I just need to rest alone for a while."
Seeing Hui Yue's face turn pale, Qing Hong, worried, patted her hand and reluctantly bid her farewell.
After Qing Hong left, Hui Yue sat dazed on the bed. Despite it being summer, she felt as if she was plunged into an icy abyss, chilling her to the bone.