Chapter Summaries

Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou hold a highly unusual wedding in an undersea tunnel, surrounded by human and nonhuman family members and friends.
• Whales and dolphins celebrate nearby, while little Lu Xihou leads the flower children down the aisle. The wedding procession includes groomsmen and is extensively recorded by guests and photographers.
• Ge Ranzhou serves as master of ceremonies and formally announces the couple’s marriage.
• Lu Xihou, assisted by Chubby, delivers the wedding rings. Both fathers kiss him before exchanging sapphire wedding bands.
• Lu Ao and Song Zhou publicly confess their love, kiss, and vow that their love will last forever, marking their union and sense of belonging.
• In the author’s note, the writer explains that the epilogue was added in response to readers wanting more time with the characters before the next series installment.
• The first epilogue scene shifts to domestic life after the wedding. In warm weather, Lu Ao regularly swims at dawn, using his supernatural abilities to summon rain and wash the seawater from himself.
• Their young son, Lu Xihou, runs to greet Lu Ao on the beach. Song Zhou arrives carrying a live yellow-lipped fish, prompting Lu Ao’s surprised reaction.

Character developments

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou: Their relationship reaches its formal and emotional culmination. They move from shared struggles and family life to a publicly recognized marriage, expressing complete devotion and permanence.
• Lu Xihou: He is presented as a beloved, energetic child who actively participates in the wedding and shows affection toward both fathers. His confident tackle and playful behavior highlight his secure family environment.
• Ge Ranzhou: Though nervous, he enthusiastically supports the couple and takes on the important role of officiating their wedding.
• The wider community: Humans and nonhumans are shown united in sincere celebration, emphasizing that Lu Ao and Song Zhou’s family is accepted and supported.

Significant themes

• Love and commitment: The wedding symbolizes the couple’s enduring devotion and the completion of their shared journey.
• Belonging and recognition: Lu Ao’s kiss and declaration that their marriage gives them “somewhere to belong” emphasize the importance of publicly affirming their family.
• Family and community: The participation of their child, friends, relatives, and marine creatures shows that their relationship is supported by a broad, diverse community.
• Domestic happiness: The later beach scene contrasts the grandeur of the wedding with the quiet pleasures of everyday family life.
• Human/nonhuman unity: The unusual wedding and presence of whales, dolphins, and supernatural abilities reinforce the story’s blended world and inclusive relationships.
• Playful normalcy: The comic misunderstanding over the fish adds a light, affectionate tone after the emotional wedding conclusion.

Character interactions

• Lu Ao and Song Zhou walk together, exchange rings, kiss, and openly declare their love.
• Both men show affection toward Lu Xihou by kissing him before receiving the rings.
• Ge Ranzhou addresses the guests and officially declares them husbands.
• Lu Ao catches and embraces Lu Xihou on the beach, gently encouraging him to slow down.
• Song Zhou brings home a live fish and casually reports it to Lu Ao, creating a humorous domestic exchange that reflects their comfortable family life.

Chapter Summary — Page 502

• Discovery of the Chinese Bahaba: Song Zhou and Lu Ao discover a rare, enormous Chinese Bahaba stranded in a tidal pool near the Marine Ranch. The protected fish is over a meter long and weighs roughly thirty or forty jin, making the find extraordinarily valuable. Lu Ao is amazed because he has not seen one since childhood.
• Decision to protect the fish: They realize the fish is a gravid female that likely came to the area to spawn. Rather than exploit its value, they decide to release it into their Marine Ranch, believing the environment is suitable. Although Chinese Bahaba are carnivorous and may consume some of the ranch’s smaller aquatic animals, they accept the cost as a contribution to protecting and possibly breeding the endangered species.
• Use of life force: Song Zhou has kept the fish alive by giving it life force. Before releasing it, Lu Ao does the same, and their young son, Lu Xihou, imitates them by placing his hand on the fish and offering it a little life force as well. The Chinese Bahaba initially remains still but soon swims away.
• Lu Xihou’s involvement: Lu Xihou is fascinated by the fish and jokes that it is as large as he is. His fathers encourage him to eat more and grow bigger. He also agrees to stop secretly giving his milk to Chubby.
• A-Ying’s role: After the release, Lu Xihou calls out to A-Ying, the rescued orca that now lives in and guards the Marine Ranch. The orca surfaces in response, and Lu Ao reassures the child that A-Ying has agreed to watch over the Chinese Bahaba.
• Family plans: Lu Xihou asks to play with A-Ying at noon. Because he has recently been coughing and the early-morning seawater is cold, his fathers have kept him from swimming in the mornings, but Lu Ao agrees to take him later. They also plan to inspect the abalone and collect updates for Uncle Weng Qian.
• Setting and family life: The family now divides its time between the village and their completed island development, where Lu Xihou can freely transform into dragon form and play with the spiritually aware marine animals. As they return home, they are greeted by their large, long-haired dog.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lu Ao demonstrates practical compassion and responsibility, prioritizing conservation over profit and gently caring for both the Chinese Bahaba and his son.
• Song Zhou remains calm and capable, using his life-force magic to save the fish and sharing the discovery with Lu Ao.
• Lu Xihou displays curiosity, kindness, and a growing connection to marine life. His imitation of his fathers’ actions shows his desire to participate in protecting the creatures around him.
• Lu Ao and Lu Xihou share a warm father-son bond, with Lu Ao balancing affection, playfulness, and concern for the child’s health.
• Lu Xihou and A-Ying have a close friendship, reflected in the child’s trust that the orca will protect the newly released fish.

Significant Themes

• Conservation over exploitation: The family chooses to protect a valuable endangered species rather than profit from it.
• Family care and teaching: Lu Xihou learns compassion and responsibility by participating in his fathers’ rescue efforts.
• Harmony between humans and nature: The Marine Ranch functions as a refuge where people and intelligent marine animals coexist.
• Abundance and security: The family’s financial success allows them to prioritize ecological preservation and care for rare creatures without worrying about immediate profit.

• Plot/events: While heading home, Lu Xihou spots Chubby running toward them. Excited, he releases the hands of both fathers and runs to greet the dog. Chubby happily circles and jumps around him as they continue home.
• Character development: Xihou’s affection and childlike enthusiasm are emphasized through his immediate excitement at seeing Chubby. Lu Ao, usually restrained, shows a spontaneous smile, while Song Zhou responds warmly.
• Character interactions: Xihou reunites joyfully with Chubby; Lu Ao watches fondly. Song Zhou then takes Lu Ao’s wrist and invites him to go home, reinforcing their closeness and shared family life.
• Themes: Family affection, domestic happiness, companionship, and the comfort of returning home.