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Finally realizing and understanding the depths of his mistake, Qin Yuan went to find a jewelry designer without another word. He wanted it made in the same style as the one he was wearing and started to look for a beautiful, matching sapphire.

On the other side, the people of the research institute recruited several sets of married couples as volunteers to conduct artificial embryo cultivation. The technology had progressed to the point that it could imitate the development of embryos, to the point that they could be completely developed outside of the body. The ten couples all voluntarily offered their eggs and sperm and signed a confidentiality agreement.

The initial results of the first stage were gratifying; seven embryos had survived the early stages of development out of the ten. Although they had not taken form, it was already enough to thoroughly please and excite everyone. They all paid close attention to the embryos as they matured, waiting for the new lives to come into being.

During that period of time, Shang Ke reveled in a rare period of peace and happily led Waves out into the ocean to play. They found many bizarre items on the seabed. With the rate at which they were progressing in their scavenging, they would have enough to open a treasure exhibition hall at this rate. The ocean area was larger than land by several folds, so who knows just how much treasure is hidden within its depths? Shang Ke would discover something new every time he went out and fell deeply in love with the sea.

Qin Yuan built a treasure room for Shang Ke to store the things he found and brought back. He just hadn't expected the dolphins to make a hobby out of collecting things, or that they would have such good taste in what they brought back. The things he gathered all held some sort of value and there were visible trends between groups of objects.

Qin Yuan found Flames already sleeping when he entered the bedroom. His head was leaning on the dolphin pillow, his breathing even and his lips slightly parted, looking as if bubbles would be blown out at any moment.

Qin Yuan's gaze was full of gentleness as he quietly walked over and leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead. Then, he took Shang Ke's left hand and slid a sapphire ring on his finger. The stone was azure like the deepest parts of the sea. It was recognizable as a match to the one he was wearing.

"Flames, I wish for you to stay with me forever, as my lover." Qin Yuan dipped his head down to press a kiss on the stone this time, his deep voice like the low-tone of a cello, echoing in the quiet room.

Qin Yuan silently gazed at Flames for a moment, then placed his hand inside the blanket. He got back up and headed for the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing, the formerly-sleeping Shang Ke suddenly opened his eyes. He raised his left hand to look at the ring Qin Yuan had placed onto his finger and a happy smile unknowingly made its way across his face. He hugged his pillow and bit into it to muffle his squealing, then jumped out of bed and tiptoed his way to the bathroom. Pausing outside the door, he gently pushed the door open, poking his head in like a ghost ready to cause trouble, staring at the naked man showering inside.

Upon hearing the faint scraping of the door Qin Yuan turned to see what caused it, and his eyes met a pair of gleaming, clear crystals that could drown him in love so easily.

"Flames, you're awake." Qin Yuan pretended to be calm, assuming a straight face immovable by beauty.

Shang Ke's hand slowly drew circles on the door, the sapphire on his finger gleaming as he did, and he slowly spoke, "I suddenly really want to play with water."

Qin Yuan's heart was tickled by the motion of him drawing circles on the door and his abdomen tightened, but he managed to speak without any obvious change to his demeanor, "It's late, so let's not play with water anymore."

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