Chapter 1175: The River God’s Bride 10

Looking at Bingtong’s flushed, bright red fish head, Tang Wan could not help but feel a flicker of speechless amusement. Was he… actually shy? The thought was almost surreal. How could that originally bluish-white fish face suddenly turn so red?

Even so, she did not expose him directly. Worried that pointing it out would only make him more embarrassed, she instead pretended not to notice and looked at him with a slightly anxious expression, her tone soft and dependent as she said, “Tongtong, you’re back? Where did you go just now? You suddenly disappeared… I was so scared being here alone.”

Hearing this, Bingtong immediately realized how inappropriate his earlier behavior had been. A trace of guilt flashed across his expression as he hurried to explain, “I… I suddenly remembered something urgent that I hadn’t done. Don’t be afraid. I won’t leave like that again.”

“That’s good,” Tang Wan replied with a small, trusting smile. “I believe you.”

Seeing her accept his explanation so readily, Bingtong felt a weight lift from his heart. Gathering his courage, he stepped a little closer, his voice lowering instinctively as he asked, “My lady… now that the ceremony is complete… should we… consummate the marriage?”

Tang Wan’s heart skipped for a moment at his bluntness, but her expression remained composed. Looking at him, she spoke with gentle reasoning, “Tongtong, it’s not that we can’t… but in your current form, how are we supposed to…?”

Her words caused Bingtong to pause, a hint of embarrassment surfacing as he hesitated. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone carrying a trace of unease. “But… my human form isn’t very impressive. I’m not as strong or imposing as I should be. If you don’t like it… you won’t run away, will you?”

“Of course not,” Tang Wan answered immediately, her voice firm and reassuring. “I promise.”

Only then did Bingtong nod, his expression easing. In the next moment, he quietly gathered his power, and his figure shifted, transforming into a human form. When the light faded, a slender young man stood before her, his features delicate and unexpectedly handsome, his height modest but his appearance striking in a way that was difficult to ignore.

Yet despite his transformation, Bingtong seemed far from confident. He fidgeted slightly with his clothes, his gaze uncertain as though bracing himself for rejection. In his mind, strength and size had always been measures of worth. Among his kind, the stronger and more robust one was, the more admired they would be. Humans, too, seemed to favor larger, more imposing creatures—at least, that was what he believed.

But Tang Wan’s reaction was entirely different.

The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up, genuine surprise flashing across her face. She had not expected him to look like this at all. “Tongtong… you look so good like this,” she said, her voice lifting slightly with undisguised approval. “I really like this appearance.”

“Really?” Bingtong’s eyes brightened at once, hope replacing his earlier uncertainty. “You don’t think I’m too thin? Not strong enough?”

“Not at all,” Tang Wan replied without hesitation, her tone earnest. “This suits my taste perfectly. I truly like it.”

Her words seemed to dispel the last of his worries. Encouraged, he stepped closer again, his expression turning eager as he asked, “Then… can we proceed now?”

There was a simple, almost childlike anticipation in his voice, as though he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. For him, the idea of marriage carried a straightforward meaning—having a wife, sharing a life together, and building a family. It was something he had long desired, which was why he had sought a bride so soon after becoming the River God of this region.

Tang Wan, seeing his earnestness, felt a trace of helpless amusement. Fortunately, now that he had taken on a human form, his appearance was more than acceptable—far better than she had initially imagined. Lowering her gaze slightly, she gave a small, shy nod.

“Mm.”

At her response, Bingtong’s earlier nervousness vanished entirely, replaced by unrestrained excitement. Moving closer, he gently pulled her toward the coral bed, his actions clumsy yet careful, as though afraid of doing something wrong.

The room, adorned with pearls and soft red decorations, seemed to grow quieter as the distance between them closed. Outside, the waters of the river flowed on in silence, while within the chamber, the newly formed bond between them began to settle into something real, marking the true beginning of their shared life.