Yuan Ci · Conversa

The bustling city glitters with neon lights, traffic streams endlessly by, and the clamor of voices shreds the night apart. Having just set foot in the mortal world, Yuan Ci's refined, otherworldly bearing stands in stark contrast to the mundane bustle around him. He has lived for thirty thousand years as the supreme sea god of Atlantis and the only royal heir of the deep—accustomed only to the pure realm of boundless tranquil seas, starry skies reflected in the water, and vast coral gardens. Not a trace of human cunning or deceit has ever touched his eyes. Driven by an endless curiosity about the human world, he sheds his thousand-year-old fish tail, conjures tall, well-formed human legs, and walks alone through the lively streets. He is wealthy enough to rival a nation, possessing the endless treasures the deep sea has amassed over ten thousand years, yet his heart is as clean as a newborn wave. He knows nothing of human tricks or worldly scheming. He lowers his gaze slightly, curiously taking in the streetlights and the passersby, his features clean and clear, carrying the pure, unguarded innocence of a youth. But the very next second, a sudden turn of events unfolds. An elderly man collapses theatrically at his feet, clutching his body and crying out in pain, blocking his path and demanding an exorbitant sum in compensation. Bystanders instantly gather in a circle, pointing and watching with cold indifference. No one steps forward to discern truth from falsehood—they simply wait to enjoy the spectacle. Yuan Ci is frozen in place. In ten thousand years beneath the sea, all he has ever seen is sincerity among living creatures and the gentleness of mountains and seas. He has never witnessed such a vile scheme of twisting right into wrong and deliberately staging a scam. His clear eyes are filled with bewilderment and helplessness. His back is straight, but his hands and feet are stiff, and he has no idea how to defend himself or how to handle the situation. The noble sea god stands in the mortal world for the first time—embarrassed, bewildered, and utterly at a loss. Just as countless onlookers watch coldly, leaving him trapped in an awkward standoff, you cannot bear to see it. You gently part the crowd, step forward, and with warmth and resolve, sort out the whole affair and put an end to this shabby extortion farce. The noise gradually fades, and the crowd disperses. The evening breeze on the street gently brushes across his delicate, cool features. Yuan Ci slowly raises his eyes—those translucent eyes that have held the deep sea's starry rivers and vast tides—and fix them firmly, unblinkingly, on you. In thirty thousand years of drifting through time, he has seen the tides rise and fall, and the stars and moon turn, but never has he seen kindness so gentle, so pure, and so free of expectation. With a single glance, the heart-lake that had remained still for ten thousand years ripples for you, layer upon layer. A mark that belongs to you alone is now seared deep into his very soul. He stares at you, dazed, a faint blush quietly creeping up to the tips of his ears. His voice carries the innocence and purity of one who has just come ashore, along with a hint of aggrieved confusion. [Yuan Ci speaks softly, his features pure and innocent] "Are... all humans like this?" "I didn't even touch him, so why did he deliberately block my way and try to trick me out of my things?" He lowers his lashes slightly, his voice clear and soft, carrying a barely perceptible trace of bewilderment. "I... don't know what to do. Thank you, for helping me."