Chapter Text
Li Yu was a fish trapped in a bowl and couldn't speak.
Mu Tianchi, on the other hand, was a prince confined to his mansion, just as much a prisoner as Li Yu in his bowl. And he was… alone. Deeply alone.
No one dared to look him in the eye or approach him, aware of his disability and his icy demeanor. His silence was an insurmountable barrier for those around him. His imposing stature and harsh features, marked by severe lines, unintentionally reinforced his intimidating aura. On the rare occasions he encountered someone, be it strangers, princesses, princes, or servants, they immediately lowered their gaze, avoiding any direct contact.
Every day, Li Yu could see clearly that Mu Tianchi watched the interactions of others, his dark eyes following the movements of life around him, but in which he could not participate. The laughter, the conversations, and the friendly exchanges were echoes of a world to which he did not belong. It was as if he lived in a bubble of silence that closed in on him a little more each day.
Apart from Wang Xi, his loyal servant, Mu Tianchi had no one with whom to share his thoughts or feelings… To become so attached to a fish in such a short time, he truly must have had no one else to spend time with. He spent hours watching Li Yu, playing with him, or feeding him. The silence between them was comfortable; after all, neither could speak.
Li Yu knew that in the original novel, the prince had few interactions with others. He quickly realized that experiencing it as a reader was different from living it. Seeing Mu Tianchi day after day, so lonely and distant, was… depressing. He saw the longing in Mu Tianchi's eyes, a silent frustration that resonated with his own.
Every gesture of the prince, every look he gave to others, was filled with deep melancholy and an unfulfilled desire for companionship.
That’s why Li Yu insisted on accompanying him to the Lotus Bridge. He had heard that it was Prince Jing’s favorite place. All he had to do was place his fins on the edge of his tank, and the next moment, Mu Tianchi transported him in a small bowl.
Mu Tianchi was always very attentive to Li Yu’s needs and body language, and Li Yu did the same. When he saw the prince angry, with furrowed brows and clenched fists, Li Yu swam frantically around his bowl, creating ripples to catch his attention.
When Mu Tianchi seemed bored, sitting by the window watching the servants chat in the distance, Li Yu would exaggeratedly flap his fins, gently striking the water’s surface to make little splashes.
Sometimes, very rarely, Mu Tianchi was sad. When that happened, his usually sharp and bright eyes turned dark and distant. He would sit by Li Yu’s bowl, his gaze lost. Mu Tianchi would often place a hand or his cheek against the glass, and Li Yu would come to rub his snout against the side.
The journey to the Lotus Bridge was silent. Mu Tianchi walked with determination, his steps echoing softly on the marble floors of the mansion's corridors.
The servants respectfully moved out of his way, lowering their eyes as usual. The prince held the bowl with extreme care, as if carrying a precious treasure.
As they left the mansion, they were greeted by the gentle light of dusk. The garden was bathed in golden and orange hues at this time of year.
They finally reached the Lotus Bridge, an elegant wooden structure adorned with delicate motifs depicting scenes of nature. The bridge extended over a large, shimmering lake, its calm waters reflecting the dying sun, making way for the moon. Lotuses emerged everywhere on the lake.
Mu Tianchi stopped in the middle of the bridge, where the view of the lake was the clearest. He placed the bowl containing Li Yu on the edge of the bridge, ensuring it was stable. Li Yu looked around, fascinated by the beauty of the scenery. It was a magnificent sight, quite different from the limited view he had from the prince's room.
Mu Tianchi leaned against the railing of the bridge, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
—
Prince Jing took a bite of jiaozi while gazing at the sky. He chewed slowly, savoring each mouthful.
In the modern world, meals were moments of conviviality, shared with family, friends, or colleagues. Li Yu had the vague impression that it was supposed to be the same here.
However, Prince Jing always ate in his room. Sitting at a table near the window, the tray before him carefully prepared by his servants. The prince preferred this solitude, far from the curious glances and incessant murmurs of the court.
Li Yu swam quietly in his bowl, placed on a small table by the window. He watched Mu Tianchi intently, noting every detail of his gestures and expression.
The prince seemed lost in his thoughts, his dark eyes fixed on the sky through the window.
Mu Tianchi took another bite. The delicacy of the dough, the richness of the filling, everything was perfect, but it felt empty.
He remembered the rare moments when he had managed to alleviate Mu Tianchi's loneliness. Once, during a particularly gloomy dinner, Li Yu had managed to distract the prince by swimming frantically in circles, then jumping slightly out of the water to catch his attention. Mu Tianchi had looked up from his meal, surprised, then amused, a slight smile lighting up his face that evening.
That evening, as Mu Tianchi finished his meal, Li Yu swam gently to the edge of his bowl, his fins barely brushing the surface of the water. He looked at the prince with curiosity. Mu Tianchi turned his head toward him, then set down his chopsticks and reached out his hand.
The prince slowly dipped his fingers into the water. Immediately, Li Yu approached, rubbing his snout against Mu Tianchi's fingers. The contact brought a certain tranquility to the prince, his features relaxing slightly.
It was clear that he didn't want to play with him. After stroking Li Yu, Mu Tianchi settled back at the table, but this time, he abandoned his meal with a sigh. He simply watched the fish.
Li Yu continued to swim quietly, occasionally glancing at Mu Tianchi. Prince Jing placed his hand on the edge of the bowl.
—
Li Yu touched his aquarium with his fingertips and watched Mu Tianchi sleep, his nose buried in the blanket.
The Moon cast a silvery glow through the slightly open shutters. Mu Tianchi, lying on his imposing bed, rested peacefully.
Although Li Yu knew the prince was aware that he could transform into a human, he always did so at night or when Mu Tianchi was absent.
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of this form. On the contrary, he had enjoyed looking at himself in the mirror from head to toe. His brown hair with reddish highlights accentuated his clear eyes, his body was normal. His face had a softness and delicacy, and he often found himself touching his reflection, exploring the contours of his face with curiosity. To be honest, he had few flaws, except for the scales scattered across his body.
It was just that… feeling Prince Jing’s gaze on him was intimidating, and feeling his touch was embarrassing in this form.
The first time he transformed without reason in Mu Tianchi’s presence, even if it was brief, he had felt a strange tension in the air, a sort of electricity that made him nervous.
So, to make Li Yu comfortable, they had an unspoken rule that he could get used to being near Mu Tianchi in human form: he would do it when Mu Tianchi was asleep.
Li Yu always thought he could take the opportunity to wander around the mansion. But each time, he stayed in the prince’s room to practice writing, eat the food Mu Tianchi brought him, or simply watch Prince Jing.
He often wondered why he stayed so close. Perhaps it was the security he felt in the room, or maybe he was too used to being near Mu Tianchi.
That night, Li Yu hesitated as he sat on the edge of the bed. The bed was a true work of art, massive and carved from dark wood, adorned with intricate motifs depicting dragons and carp. The deep blue silk sheets were very soft, and the light scent of jasmine and tea permeated the fabric. Additionally, the mattress was soft and relaxed his legs.
Li Yu watched the prince sleep. He wanted to lose himself in the sense of security that the prince's presence provided. Li Yu imagined Mu Tianchi’s arms around him, the warmth of his skin against his, the soothing rhythm of his breathing. He wanted to feel the steady beat of Tianchi’s heart under his fingers, to be enveloped by his unique scent. An invisible barrier made of respect and fear of being too bold prevented him from crossing that line.
Because his desire was not entirely innocent. He also wanted Mu Tianchi to hold him firmly, for his hands to gently caress his back, to press tender kisses on his neck and shoulders.
Just imagining these moments of tenderness and passion was enough to send shivers down his skin. He felt his body react to these thoughts, his fingers trembling slightly, his breath becoming a bit more uneven.
Li Yu shook his head to pull himself together and sighed softly before heading to the desk near the window. He lit a small oil lamp and took a brush and rice paper, deciding to practice writing characters. His writing was still clumsy, but he was determined to improve.
He glanced at Mu Tianchi occasionally, ensuring that the prince was still sleeping peacefully. Sometimes, he paused to nibble on fruits or cakes. They were all his favorites, and he almost smiled because of that.
After some time, Li Yu moved closer to the bed again. He knelt beside Mu Tianchi, observing the steady rise and fall of his chest with each breath. Mu Tianchi's lips, slightly parted, released a soft and peaceful breath.
He reached out his hand but stopped halfway. Fear of crossing an invisible boundary he had drawn held him back. He settled for placing his hand on the blanket, feeling the warmth emanating from the prince's body through the fabric. The softness of the silk under his fingers seemed to amplify the warmth rising within him. Suddenly, he felt a hand brush against his own. His gaze met Mu Tianchi's as the prince's eyelids slowly opened. Mu Tianchi hesitated too, uncertain whether to approach.
They looked at each other for a moment, a gentle and palpable tension hanging in the air. The prince, still silent, delicately ran his fingers over Li Yu's palm until the tips of his fingers grazed the inside of his wrist. A wave of pleasant shivers ran through Li Yu, his nerves awakening with each caress.
Then, Mu Tianchi brought his face close to Li Yu's hand and placed a hesitant kiss on his thumb.
The prince's lips, warm and soft, left a lingering sensation of warmth on Li Yu's skin. His breath caught, and he felt his heart beat even harder, as if it might burst. Shyness paralyzed him, but he couldn't deny that he liked it.
Seeing that Li Yu didn't pull away, Mu Tianchi moved to the next joint. His lips slid gently over Li Yu's delicate skin, each kiss sending waves of warmth through his body. The sensation was as frightening as it was pleasant, like being licked by a carnivore.
Li Yu felt Mu Tianchi's long eyelashes brush against his skin as he moved. He wanted to close his eyes but couldn't, completely mesmerized. His fingers trembled slightly with emotion.
Mu Tianchi looked up at him, seeking silent approval in his gaze. Finding not only permission but also encouragement, he continued with more assured and intimate exploration. His lips slowly trailed up Li Yu's arm, each kiss growing longer and leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.
Mu Tianchi moved up along Li Yu's arm, his lips now touching the inside of his elbow and ascending further to his shoulder. Li Yu's breath became erratic, his lungs struggling to supply enough air to support the frantic beating of his heart. He felt vulnerable and incredibly alive.
Mu Tianchi brought his face close to Li Yu's, but instead of kissing him on the lips, he buried his face near Li Yu's neck, his nose under his ear, and embraced him. Li Yu felt the prince's strong muscles against his body, and the warmth of his body gradually spreading around him. He timidly placed a hand on Mu Tianchi's back, his fingers making circular movements through the fabric of his night robe.
The fabric was thin and delicate, almost transparent under the dim candlelight. Li Yu could feel the warmth and texture of Mu Tianchi's skin through the silk. The night robe hinted at the sculpted contours of the prince's body, his muscles firm and defined, and Li Yu couldn't help but admire his beauty.
Li Yu hesitated for a moment as he brought his hand near Mu Tianchi's neck. He knew it was a very vulnerable area. But before he could withdraw his hand, Mu Tianchi gently took it and placed it at the base of his neck. Li Yu felt that the muscles in his neck were slightly tense, so his fingers began to massage slowly and cautiously, exploring every tension in Mu Tianchi's muscles.
Mu Tianchi let out a sigh of contentment, his eyelids closing slightly under the relaxing effect of the massage. Li Yu could feel the muscles relaxing under his touch
Touching Mu Tianchi in this way, feeling the warmth of his skin and the tension in his muscles, made Li Yu feel closer to him than ever before. It was deeply satisfying. His nerves were ablaze in a pleasant manner.
Mu Tianchi, on his part, savored every moment. He knew he could surrender himself to Li Yu's hands, knowing there would only be caresses and loving gestures, never pain or betrayal.
Mu Tianchi tightened his embrace further, pressing his body closer to Li Yu's. Li Yu felt every beat of the prince's heart against his chest, their rhythms gradually synchronizing.
Li Yu's heart still raced, but his thoughts calmed, and his breath became steadier. Mu Tianchi shifted slightly, his lips occasionally brushing against Li Yu's skin as he adjusted his position.
Li Yu's fingers slowly slid through Mu Tianchi's black hair, the soft strands gliding between his fingertips. Mu Tianchi lifted his head slightly, and without thinking twice, Li Yu gathered the courage to plant a kiss on the prince's cheek.
Mu Tianchi remained still for a moment, surprised. Then he closed his eyes. Li Yu's heart pounded rapidly, yet he felt strangely calm and serene, as if this gesture were the most natural thing in the world.
As he pulled away, he felt Mu Tianchi's fingers glide along his jawline, then move up to lightly touch his lips.
Li Yu gently opened his eyes again, meeting Mu Tianchi's gaze once more. Mu Tianchi's face remained impassive, but his eyes spoke a silent language that Li Yu understood. There was vulnerability in that gaze, an underlying fear of fully opening his heart, of relinquishing the last defenses he had erected to protect himself. It was as if he stood on the edge of a precipice, hesitating to take the leap into the unknown.
His restraint wasn't only visible in his eyes. It manifested in the way he held Li Yu firmly, as if afraid this might all be a fleeting dream that could dissipate at any moment.
He truly wanted to kiss him, but just as Li Yu thought about it, he transformed back into a fish.