The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 110

Chapter 110: I Love Slacking Off Part 30

Night fell, the moon rising as the sun set, the cool moonlight scattering like silver dust on the ocean surface.

Moonlight streamed into the room, illuminating the rocking chair by the window. Tao Ning lay there, pretending to sleep, the window half-open, the cool night breeze carrying the scent of the sea.

Her long eyelashes cast fan-shaped shadows on her cheeks.

Only one dim lamp was lit in the room, its light unable to compete with the moonlight outside.

The assigned house was fully furnished, with a housekeeping robot taking care of everything. Tao Ning didn’t need to lift a finger, just move in.

After settling in, she strolled downstairs, lay down on a lounge chair, and relaxed.

Seeing this scene, 520 wanted to add background music and a large fan, with Tao Ning leisurely fanning herself as the chair swayed gently.

It wasn’t sure how much the host had learned in these worlds, but her retirement posture was becoming increasingly practiced.

Callista followed her memory to the house. It was late, and everything was quiet.

She hadn’t told Ningning when she would return and wondered if the door would be unlocked.

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t, she could always climb over the wall, maybe even surprise Ningning.

If 520 knew her thoughts, it would definitely say the Mermaid was uncultured, not understanding the difference between a surprise and a fright.

Someone sneaking into your house in the middle of the night wasn’t a surprise, it was nightmare fuel.

Callista lifted her skirt, preparing to climb the wall, when she noticed the courtyard gate was unlocked.

The gate, which had been locked during the day, was now ajar, as if waiting for someone.

Not only was the gate unlocked, but the light above it was also on, illuminating the path.

Lowering her skirt, Callista reached out and pushed the gate open.

Instead of entering through the main entrance, she circled around to the side of the building and saw the sleeping figure in the moonlight.

The gentle light illuminated her face, soft and hazy, making Callista’s heart flutter.

A warm feeling washed over her.

During the three months away from the ocean, she had been fortunate. She met Tao Ning shortly after coming ashore, who taught her about human society, allowing her to return safely.

They had faced dangers together, traveling across half the galaxy, even facing life-threatening situations.

While not exactly going through hell and high water, it was close enough.

But such peaceful moments were rare. So this was what it felt like to have a light left on for you.

Holding the doorframe, Callista bent down, brushed the hair from her face, and gently kissed Tao Ning’s lips.

She didn’t deepen the kiss, just a teasing lick, like tasting jelly.

Tao Ning was awakened by the sensation on her lips, opening her eyes to meet two pools of blue, a smiling ocean.

Before her mind could react, her body moved instinctively, her hand reaching up to cup the back of Callista’s neck, her chin lifting slightly, bringing their lips closer.

Reluctantly parting, Tao Ning noticed a wound on Callista’s cheek, a narrow, deep cut from a sharp object.

Tao Ning was instantly awake: “What happened to your face?”

Licking her slightly swollen, red lips, Callista smiled: “A fight. I won. I was so eager to tell you the good news that I didn’t have time to treat it.”

Tao Ning didn’t dare touch the wound, her fingertip gently brushing the uninjured skin beside it: “Does it hurt?”

She had endured worse injuries, deep wounds that exposed bone, staining the sea red, so this was nothing.

Callista, meeting her concerned gaze, felt a warmth spreading through her.

She pouted, feigning distress: “Yes, it hurts! That Mermaid was so savage, she scratched me so hard!”

Tao Ning instinctively blew on the wound.

Not mentioning that she had almost ripped out the black Mermaid’s reverse scale, Callista touched her cheek worriedly: “Will I be scarred? I won’t be beautiful anymore.”

Mermaids loved beauty, both external and their own.

But that black mudfish deserved it, daring to take advantage of her absence and lead her little group to steal her territory. They had been driven away once before, but she couldn’t find them now.

Callista had just returned home, hadn’t even had time to find some gifts for Ningning from her nest, when she heard a tribe member’s cry for help.

So she had a good fight, black scales flying everywhere. The wound on her face was from the other Mermaid’s desperate struggle.

Remembering that she had forgotten to bring the gifts she wanted to give Ningning, Callista became even angrier.

If she ever saw that black mudfish again, she would definitely give her another beating.

Tao Ning examined the wound carefully, shaking her head, and comforted her, “No, you won’t. I’ll apply some medicine, and you’ll be fine.”

This wasn’t the answer she wanted. Callista immediately said, “No, I don’t like the smell of medicine.”

Tao Ning, pulled back to reality, sat back down on the chair and said helplessly, “But how will it heal without medicine?”

Callista pointed at her cheek: “We Mermaids don’t use medicine for injuries, just a kiss will do.”

Tao Ning: “…”

Unable to resist the Mermaid’s repeated requests, Tao Ning kissed the uninjured skin beside the wound.

The red scratch instantly vanished, as if it had never been there.

Callista, also sitting on the chair, cupped her face in her hands: “See? All better. I didn’t lie, did I?”

Looking at the perfectly healed skin, Tao Ning fell silent.

She had heard that Mermaids had strong healing abilities, but she hadn’t expected it to be this strong. She figured Callista’s healing speed was among the best in her tribe.

520 sighed: [Such a small wound, kept it until now just to show you. You two are truly a match made in heaven when it comes to being love-struck.]

The already slippery Mermaid, after experiencing the human world, had become even more cunning. She would never have said such things before.

In the ocean, the victorious Mermaids gathered on a secluded island.

They held medicinal herbs, crushing them and applying them to each other’s wounds, the lazy ones simply licking their injuries to promote healing.

They didn’t have the leader’s powerful combat abilities and superior healing, relying more on herbs.

Born from the ocean, healed by the ocean.

A blonde Mermaid said, “Don’t you think the leader has become smarter after returning?”

Another Mermaid replied, “You mean how she tricked the black mudfish tonight, pretending to aim for her stomach while actually grabbing her reverse scale?”

“You uncultured Mermaid, that’s called cunning, not treacherous!”

“With the leader back, that black mudfish won’t dare come again.”

“She was gone for so long, we forgot to ask if she brought Lin back…”

“Sigh, she came back, then left again, I wonder what she’s doing.”

The leader wasn’t doing anything. The cunning leader, after tricking a human, was being bullied by an even more cunning human, crying small pearls in bed.

The next day, the door opened, and Tao Ning, who had woken up first, slipped on her shoes and quietly closed the door behind her.

Downstairs, she placed a basket of pearls on the table and went into the kitchen.

The housekeeping robot had prepared breakfast, ready to be served when they woke up.

520, finally online, immediately saw the pearls and recognized them as Callista’s tears.

Only her tears could form such perfect spheres. Callista, who loved beauty, cried perfectly round pearls.

520: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… too many to count.]

Looking at the overflowing basket, 520 shook its head gravely: [Savage…]

“Hey, did you hear? We have a new colleague starting today.”

After the weekend, on a Monday morning, someone brought up the topic while holding a coffee cup.

Another person yawned, pouring water into their cup: “A new colleague? We haven’t had one in years.”

“Where were they exiled from?”

“You might not believe it, it’ll shock you.”

Others gathered in the break room, urging impatiently, “Stop keeping us in suspense, just tell us!”

“Kelei Star, surprised?”

“Kelei Star? The ‘Crown Jewel’ of the First Star System?”

“Is there another Kelei Star?”

Someone said, “That’s not so unusual. Didn’t we have a professor from the Research Institute who was exiled here due to political strife? He was so frustrated with the lack of funding that he quit and now runs a barbecue stall, advertising ‘not cooked by kitchen robots, purely handmade,’ his business is booming.”

“You’re saying that old man in floral shorts and watermelon sunglasses used to be from the Kelei Star Research Institute?”

“You didn’t know?”

“I haven’t been here long, of course I didn’t know.”

The group chatted excitedly, from the old man in watermelon sunglasses to the Kelei Star Research Institute, finally returning to the topic of the new colleague.

They were all curious how this person ended up exiled here.

The people at the Deep Sea Research Institute were too far removed from the First Star System and, despite their best efforts, couldn’t stay updated on current events.

Deep Sea Star wasn’t prosperous and hadn’t developed its tourism industry. Anyone who saw photos of it would be surprised that such a niche tourist destination existed in the interstellar age.

The Federation actually restricted the population on Deep Sea Star, making it easy to leave but difficult to enter, to avoid disturbing the Mermaids’ habitat. The overall pace of life was slow.

Even the current governor had no ambition for political achievements, content with a peaceful life, practically retired.

There was also a research institute here, established by the Federation, officially called the Deep Sea Star Mermaid Habitat Research Institute, or Deep Sea Research Institute for short.

As the name suggested, its purpose was to study the Mermaid habitat and, incidentally, observe if any Mermaids came ashore.

Although the institute’s name included “Mermaid,” any Mermaid who came ashore would be sent to the Research Institute in the First Star System for protection. The Deep Sea Research Institute was just a name.

Gradually, it became known as the “Triple No” Institute: no funding, no data, no career advancement.

Once here, it was difficult to achieve anything that warranted a transfer.

The director vaguely mentioned that the new colleague had volunteered to come to Deep Sea Star, insisting on it.

Not only that, but she had also declined offers from the military and the Research Institute, determined to come to the Deep Sea Research Institute.

The director repeated “determined to come” twice, emphasizing the person’s fondness for Deep Sea Star.

The institute staff: “…” We’re dumbfounded.jpg

So someone asked, “Then, what’s the new colleague’s name?”

The director casually dropped a bombshell: “Zang Yuzhu.”

The institute staff: “…”

After a long silence, someone finally spoke, “The one who single-handedly destroyed the White Ravens and then exposed her adoptive family’s crimes?”

The director shrugged: “Is there another Zang Yuzhu in our Federation?”

“Speaking of which, her scumbag cousin stole our credit. The Mermaid finally responded to us, and we were about to welcome her ashore when a ship suddenly appeared and took her away.”

“Exactly! And the Starnet claimed the Mermaid was close to him and went with him willingly, it was infuriating!”

“Stealing our credit and not giving us funding! How despicable!”

“Don’t be angry, he’s in Giant Rock Prison now, serves him right.”

“But can she even conduct research?”

“You should be asking what kind of research she plans to do.”

Strange things happened every year, and Zang Yuzhu was the strangest of all.

No one could understand why she would leave the First Star System and come to this “Triple No” place.

Near noon, their curiosity was finally satisfied as they met their new colleague.

She wore a light-colored inner shirt and a lab coat, her medium-length hair tied up, looking quite professional.

This was Zang Yuzhu, who had declined offers from the military and the Research Institute, unwilling to stay in the First Star System.

Instead of staying on Kelei Star, she came to this remote institute on Deep Sea Star.

Her figure was slender and well-proportioned, identical to the photos online. Anyone meeting her for the first time would find it hard to believe she was capable of destroying a planet.

A few days later, everyone became familiar with Tao Ning, chatting during lunch.

Someone asked, “I heard you’re applying for a research project, what are you planning to research?”

Tao Ning said seriously, “I want to research how to improve the taste of nutrient solution. The current ones are too disgusting.”

Everyone: “…”

At first, they thought they were hearing things.

What research value did that have?

If she wanted to do research, wouldn’t it be better to stay comfortably at the Research Institute with ample funding?

Their Deep Sea Research Institute was constantly short on funds, and applications were rarely approved.

Tao Ning said, “When I was kidnapped, I could only rely on nutrient solution to survive. I couldn’t stand it after just a few days.”

“But the Federal soldiers on the battlefield practically live on it every day, so I was thinking if it’s possible to improve the taste, make it more palatable.”

Everyone’s perception of the research project immediately changed, realizing, So that’s why!

520 cringed, asking, [Really?]

Tao Ning: “No, this reason is more likely to get funding approved. If they don’t give it to me, I’ll talk to Song Man.”

520: […] I knew it.

The Federation, learning that she had declined invitations from both the military and the Research Institute, assumed she was disappointed and sent people to persuade her, even Song Man came several times, extending an olive branch.

All were rejected.

Helpless, Tao Ning could only say she wanted to research tastier nutrient solution on Deep Sea Star, leaving the negotiators speechless.

Nutrient solution? Wasn’t that synonymous with “disgusting”?

In the public’s eye, there was no need to change it. It was just emergency food, for quick energy replenishment.

Besides, on the battlefield, having food was already a luxury, who cared about the taste?

But under Tao Ning’s insistence, the Federation’s attitude was one of bewildered respect.

They couldn’t disrespect her, as she had just shared the method for training the psychic sea, using it to explain her sudden recovery and increased psychic power.

According to Zang Yuzhu’s previous medical records, her psychic sea shouldn’t have recovered so well.

In exchange, Tao Ning was appointed to the Deep Sea Star Research Institute.

Not as a high-ranking researcher, but an ordinary staff member. While others didn’t understand her reasoning, 520 knew she was here for a peaceful life.

It seemed like a loss, but as long as both parties were satisfied, it was a win-win situation.

So Tao Ning arrived here and was assigned a small building.

This was the most suitable reward the Federation could think of after Tao Ning rejected all other offers, something she wouldn’t refuse, and she indeed agreed.

520: [It’s the lack of spiritual energy here that’s holding you back, even coming up with this idea.]

Tao Ning: “It’s not that bad, my time in the cultivation world wasn’t wasted, I learned quite a bit.”

520: [Fortunately, you’re not from this world, otherwise the world consciousness wouldn’t know what to do with you, like a bug that can’t be fixed.]

“…” Tao Ning chuckled, “You’re so funny.”

Tao Ning, who worked diligently three days a week and slacked off the other four, put the ingredients in the refrigerator and glanced at the time.

She decisively removed her lab coat: “Time to clock out.”

Stepping outside, she wasn’t the only one leaving on time. Her colleagues were also leaving, chatting as they walked.

“Teacher Zang, leaving already?”

“Yes, it’s time to go home. The weather is nice today, it rained this afternoon, didn’t it?”

“It did, much cooler now.”

They chatted about everything, from the weather to dinner plans, avoiding any work-related topics, lest they jinx themselves.

Tao Ning seemed to notice something and walked towards it, waving at her colleagues: “Someone’s here to pick me up, I’ll be going now.”

They looked in the distance, seeing a figure standing under a tree near the institute, running towards Tao Ning and leaving with her.

“Who’s that?”

“Probably her girlfriend, she often comes to pick up Teacher Zang.”

“I see.”