Chapter 106

Zhao Shuqing paused as she adjusted her collar. Two seconds later, she said, “Yeah, it’ll be a while.”

Lin Feng brightened at her words and said enthusiastically to Zhao Shuqing, “Then don’t just buy things for me. Get some for yourself too—or you could even wear mine.”

“All right.” Zhao Shuqing’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she turned to her. “What about this one? If you like it, we’ll buy it. It feels nice and thick—should last through the whole winter.”

Lin Feng nodded. Anything Zhao Shuqing picked was fine with her.

Once they had the coats, Zhao Shuqing wanted to pick up some socks and gloves for Lin Feng too. While browsing, Lin Feng spotted a brown-and-red plaid scarf. It felt soft and plush, with a wonderful texture.

“This one.” Lin Feng tugged her over. “Try this—it looks great on you.”

Zhao Shuqing glanced at the scarf. It was a basic plaid design, nothing fancy, not even pricey. She wanted to explain that she didn’t usually wear scarves, but those sparkling eyes made her nod instead. She tried it on.

Lin Feng fussed over it adoringly, adjusting the folds. “It looks good.”

“Does it?” Zhao Shuqing chuckled, touching the scarf. The fabric really was nice. “Then we’ll get it. Want one? I’ll buy you a matching one.”

Lin Feng scanned the rack and picked out an orange plaid scarf. “I’ll take this one.”

Without a car, they hadn’t bought much—just the two coats took up plenty of space, plus some socks, underwear, and odds and ends that filled a bag.

On the way back to the hotel, they detoured for some milk tea. Lin Feng hugged two cups close, finally content.

After a short rest at the hotel, Zhao Shuqing didn’t let her change. Instead, she said, “Tonight, we’re eating by the river.”

Lin Feng was midway through taking off her shoes. She looked up, puzzled. “Dinner by the river? Like grilled fish?”

Zhao Shuqing laughed and patted her head. “A candlelit dinner.”

Lin Feng had never heard the term, but it sounded wonderful. She spent the whole afternoon buzzing with excitement, poking her head out every so often to ask Zhao Shuqing the time. Each time, Zhao Shuqing patiently told her, like a precise cuckoo clock.

At five-thirty, the hospital’s checkup email arrived. Zhao Shuqing skimmed it. Lin Feng’s results matched human norms—aside from her light weight, nothing seemed off.

No implanted chip either. Zhao Shuqing frowned. Xu Tang didn’t strike her as the type to bluff. What was this “thing” she’d mentioned?

In Lin Feng’s blood test report, something clicked for Zhao Shuqing. But this was just a basic checkup—no test for human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG.

HCG was a key marker for early pregnancy blood tests. Before Zhao Shuqing could decide whether to bring Lin Feng back for another check, Lin Feng poked her head out from the bathroom. “What time is it now?”

Zhao Shuqing checked. “Five forty-five.”

Lin Feng bounded out. She’d changed into the new outfit Zhao Shuqing had bought her that day, the orange plaid scarf wrapped around her neck and covering the lower half of her face. She looked just like a college student studying abroad.

“Can we head out now?” Lin Feng sat beside Zhao Shuqing and took her hand. “It’s getting dark outside. If we wait longer, we won’t see a thing by the river.”

Zhao Shuqing smiled at her concern. “We’re eating at a restaurant, not some roadside stall. We’ll be fine.”

But it was about time. Zhao Shuqing stood. “I’ll grab our coats. Let’s go.”

At Lin Feng’s insistence, Zhao Shuqing tied on the brown-and-red plaid scarf too. Though their outfits differed, the matching scarves drew plenty of eyes.

Lin Feng was stunning besides, turning heads the moment they entered the restaurant. Zhao Shuqing took her hand discreetly and murmured in her ear, “Let’s sit over there.”

The server approached with menus. “Good evening, ladies. We’re offering a couples’ set meal tonight, with a complimentary bouquet. Interested?”

Couples?

Zhao Shuqing glanced at Lin Feng across from her, wrapped in the matching scarf. Anyone would assume they were a pair.

The thought wasn’t half bad.

“Sure.” Zhao Shuqing nodded and ordered two drinks. The server left with the menus.

Lin Feng hadn’t understood a word, but Zhao Shuqing’s smooth exchange impressed her. Her eyes shone as she asked, “What did she say?”

Zhao Shuqing replied, “She asked if we wanted the couples’ set.”

Lin Feng blinked, her ears turning pink.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Shuqing asked innocently. “Can’t we order it?”

“No, it’s not that.” Lin Feng fidgeted with the hem of her coat, pinching the fabric before murmuring hesitantly, “It just feels weird. Why are you being so nice to me today, Zhao Shuqing? You never used to say stuff like this.”

Zhao Shuqing raised an eyebrow. “Was I not good to you before?”

“You were.” Lin Feng’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “I just want you to be this nice every day from now on.”

Zhao Shuqing pressed her lips together, a hesitant laugh escaping her. Just then, the server arrived with a modest bouquet, sparing her further awkwardness. Zhao Shuqing handed it to Lin Feng herself.

The candlelit dinner was thoroughly romantic. For the first time, Lin Feng realized eating could be more than filling one’s stomach—it meant savoring flowers’ scent, soft music, and the company of someone dear.

Back at the hotel, Zhao Shuqing eagerly unwound Lin Feng’s scarf. The two different-colored plaids fell together, followed by Lin Feng’s coat, Zhao Shuqing’s trench coat, trailing from the door to the bed.

Lin Feng was surprised by Zhao Shuqing’s urgency. They’d gone at it just last night—if it were any other day, Zhao Shuqing wouldn’t have wanted a repeat so soon.

She was acting strange today.

“Zhao Shuqing…”

Lin Feng lay back on the soft bed, her legs gently rubbing against Zhao Shuqing’s lower back. Fine tears glistened at her eyes’ corners, her lip bitten bloody—a vivid red like ripe cherries.

Zhao Shuqing leaned down to claim her lips. Lin Feng wrapped her arms around Zhao Shuqing’s shoulders, lost in the kiss.

They might have overdone it; Lin Feng’s belly felt faintly bloated. Zhao Shuqing didn’t push, drawing a hot bath for them instead.

Reclining in the steaming water, nestled against Zhao Shuqing, Lin Feng closed her eyes in bliss. The misty bathroom felt utterly soothing.

“Lin Feng.” Zhao Shuqing toyed with her fingers, resting her head on her shoulder. “Later, help me record a video, okay?”

“Hm?” Lin Feng twisted to look at her, cheeks flushing. “What kind?”

If it was something naughty, it might be tricky—but she’d try.

Zhao Shuqing laughed, flicking her nose. “What are you imagining? It’s something proper.”

Lin Feng peered at her curiously. “What do I have to do?”

Zhao Shuqing explained, “Not much. I just need a blood sample from you for a test video. You know that telomerase test strip I developed recently? I need your help with it.”

“Sure.” Lin Feng agreed without hesitation. It was just a blood draw—she’d done worse before and been fine. If Zhao Shuqing needed it, of course she’d help.

Her quick agreement stunned Zhao Shuqing.

Gazing at this pure, paper-white little fish, her heart ached with a sour pang. She hoped Lin Feng could thrive here alone after she left.

Zhao Shuqing had it all planned. Mermaids had only appeared in Country Z so far, and they preferred living in groups. With their reproduction crisis, they’d cluster together. Country F had no mermaid sightings, so Lin Feng would be safe from her kind here.

She’d decided to leave Lin Feng behind. Camille would handle her daily needs, and if Lin Feng wanted to return to the sea, no one would stop her.

If she stayed, language might be a hurdle at first, but she was clever—mastering Chinese had taken just a couple months. A foreign tongue would be faster.

Far from conflict.

Far from other mermaids.

That was Zhao Shuqing’s best protection for her.

After the bath, Zhao Shuqing set up a tripod from her suitcase. She had Lin Feng dress and sit in a chair for an unedited continuous video.

First, she guided Lin Feng to explain leaving Country Z, the mermaids’ purpose, and their infiltration of human society.

Lin Feng didn’t understand the point but followed Zhao Shuqing’s lead, recounting the facts. Then Zhao Shuqing took out the prepared test paper from its sealed bag. She had Lin Feng shift to mermaid form for a blood test, then back to human for a second.

Finally, Zhao Shuqing pricked her own finger for a comparison.

Lin Feng’s test papers turned red in both mermaid and human forms. Zhao Shuqing’s stayed unchanged.

Zhao Shuqing stared at the three strips before the lens and hit pause. The video saved.

Lin Feng’s gaze flickered, her brows furrowing faintly. An inexplicable unease stirred in her chest, aching at the sight of Zhao Shuqing’s silence.

“Zhao Shuqing…”

She wanted to ask why the sudden video, why the extra kindness today—but she held back, afraid one wrong word might shatter her like a bubble.

Zhao Shuqing looked up from her phone at Lin Feng’s voice.

“What’s up?” she asked. “Something wrong?”

Lin Feng stared intently, then shook her head.

Zhao Shuqing backed the video to the cloud before setting her phone down. She knelt in front of Lin Feng, taking her hands gently. “It’s late. Time for bed.”

Lin Feng sensed something off but couldn’t pinpoint it.

Zhao Shuqing had been so good to her today—gentle in intimacy, even holding her as they slept.

Still, the feeling nagged, keeping Lin Feng awake until the early hours.

Zhao Shuqing hung up after two rings. In the dark, she gazed at the sleeping Lin Feng, then slipped out of bed to take the call in the bathroom.

“Ms. Zhao, this is the embassy staff here to escort you to the airport,” the voice said. “We’ll arrive at the hotel in about half an hour. Please be ready.”

Zhao Shuqing made a nasal hum and hung up. She stood before the mirror, staring silently at her reflection for a long moment.

After a quick wash, she changed and approached the bed. Lin Feng slept deeply, whatever hour she’d drifted off—her pale face buried in the pillow, brows knit anxiously as she clutched the covers tight.

Zhao Shuqing ached to stroke her cheek but didn’t want to wake her. She stood by the bedside, committing every detail to memory. Photos on her phone weren’t enough; she needed her eyes for this.

Oblivious, Lin Feng burrowed deeper into her blanket in her dreams.

As Zhao Shuqing checked out at the front desk, dragging her suitcase, the embassy staff arrived. She signed, then handed an envelope to the student worker. “The person in my room can’t read. When the time comes, please read this letter to her.”

The student hadn’t grasped her meaning when Zhao Shuqing wrapped her scarf, grabbed her bag, and walked out the door.

Zhao Shuqing climbed into the car with the embassy staff and settled into the back seat. She gazed out the window at the receding coastline and the sun slowly rising on the horizon.

Zhao Shuqing thought, everything would start anew.

Lin Feng slept soundly. When she woke, she stretched lazily under the covers and reached out to pull Zhao Shuqing close, only to find the spot beside her empty at some point.

Lin Feng cracked open one eye and patted the cold sheets. She twisted her head to glance at the bathroom, but it was empty too.

Where was Zhao Shuqing?

Lin Feng sat up, wrapping the quilt around herself. She yawned lazily. She didn’t really like hotels; they never felt as comfortable as home. If they were going to stay here long-term, they should find somewhere else.

She wondered if it was easy to rent a place abroad.

“Zhao Shuqing,” Lin Feng called out. “What time is it?”

The empty hotel room offered no reply.

Lin Feng hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. She checked the bathroom and the room, even looking under the bed and behind the curtains. There was no sign of anyone—no trace of Zhao Shuqing at all, not even her luggage.

When Zhao Shuqing had first arrived, she’d brought one suitcase. Later, after the entry restrictions and Lin Feng’s arrival, she’d prepared another—a silver-gray 32-inch one.

But now, the room held only that newer suitcase, filled with the clothes Zhao Shuqing had bought for her yesterday and some daily necessities. All of Zhao Shuqing’s things were gone.

A vague sense of dread stirred in Lin Feng’s heart. Combined with Zhao Shuqing’s odd behavior the day before, a sudden realization hit her: those people claiming to be from the embassy had come looking for Zhao Shuqing, saying she needed to return home…

Return home?

Lin Feng’s heart sank, her mind going blank. In a panic, she rushed to the door and yanked it open—only to find someone standing there.

The front desk attendant, a foreign student, had been about to knock. She froze for a second before hurriedly greeting Lin Feng in Chinese. “Hello, are you Miss Lin?”

Lin Feng rarely heard Chinese spoken and stared at her blankly. “Who are you?”

“I’m from the front desk.” The young woman pulled an envelope from her pocket and explained, “Miss Zhao Shuqing left this before she departed. She said you might not be able to read it, so I should read it to you.”

The moment Lin Feng heard Zhao Shuqing’s name, she perked up. “Where did Zhao Shuqing go?”

The attendant blinked, then replied, “Miss Zhao Shuqing should have gone back home. She left early this morning.”

“Back home?” Lin Feng said in disbelief. “Why didn’t she take me with her?”

Was it because she didn’t have a passport?

Or a proper identity?

She could turn into a fish and swim back. Lin Feng had made the journey once before; it would be easier the second time. But why hadn’t Zhao Shuqing told her?

Was she… abandoning her here?

The attendant looked at Lin Feng’s ashen face with concern. “Are you okay? Do you still want me to read the letter?”

Only then did Lin Feng remember the letter. She nodded urgently. “Yes, read it, please.”

The young woman opened the light beige envelope in front of Lin Feng and drew out a thin sheet of paper. Through the corridor’s overhead light, Lin Feng could faintly make out the black ink handwriting.

【Lin Feng, by the time you wake up, I should already be on the plane heading home.】

【Your situation is unique; I can’t bring you back. But I’ve arranged for my friend Camille here in Country F to pick you up before checkout at noon. She knows a bit of Chinese. You should settle down here and live well. With your smarts, you’ll adapt to the environment in no time.】

【Leaving you here is the decision I made after thinking it over. Once I’m back, I’ll be swamped dealing with Xu Tang’s situation and won’t have time to look after you. Maybe we can meet again once things settle down.】

【But we probably shouldn’t meet again.】

【We were wrong from the start. Parting ways might be for the best.】

【If you don’t want to stay in Country F, go back to your homeland. Don’t come looking for me, and please forget me as soon as you can.】

The letter was straightforward; Zhao Shuqing hadn’t used any obscure words or idioms. She’d ended things with the simplest language.

The attendant clearly hadn’t expected a breakup letter. After finishing, she glanced at Lin Feng with trepidation. “Miss Lin, are you alright?”

Lin Feng stared at the letter for a long time before asking, “When did Zhao Shuqing leave? Where did she go?”

“She left before dawn. I don’t know where exactly.” The attendant folded the letter back into the envelope and handed it to Lin Feng. “Miss Lin, checkout for this room is at noon. If you need to extend your stay, come to the front desk. Let us know if there’s anything else you need.”

At that moment, Lin Feng clutched the letter Zhao Shuqing had written her, her eyes filled with anguish.

Zhao Shuqing had left her here.

No wonder she’d been so good to her yesterday. Lin Feng had even foolishly thought they’d live together here, buying matching scarves and all.

Zhao Shuqing had planned it from the start, yet still deceived her.

Why?

Just because Lin Feng had lied to her before? Was this Zhao Shuqing’s revenge?

Lin Feng didn’t understand duty or Zhao Shuqing’s worries. She only knew the woman who’d once been so kind to her had abandoned her, leaving her alone in a foreign land, in an unfamiliar place.

A mermaid unable to rejoin her pod in the ocean was cast out by her kind.

And Lin Feng had been cast out not just by her own people, but by Zhao Shuqing too.

“…Miss Lin, are you okay?” The attendant watched her pale face and dull eyes, worried she might collapse. She leaned closer. “Do you need me to call a doctor?”

Lin Feng suddenly lifted her head, locking eyes with the young woman.

Her sea-blue eyes swirled like a vortex, deep and alluring.

The attendant felt her mind yanked away under that hypnotic gaze, an ethereal voice echoing in her ears.

It was a song.

An overwhelming trust washed over her toward the woman before her. She would give up her life without hesitation if asked.

“I need to find Zhao Shuqing,” Lin Feng said, staring into her eyes, enunciating each word. “Help me prepare some things, alright?”

“…Of course.”

Lin Feng instructed, “A waterproof backpack, a world map, and some food and drinking water.”

The attendant nodded and, confirming no other requests, turned and left to gather the items.

Once she was gone, Lin Feng clutched her throbbing forehead. She slid down the doorframe and collapsed onto the carpet.

Blood filled her blue eyes, a single tear of blood trickling from the corner. She wiped it away, staring at the red streak on her hand in silence for a long while.

Mermaids were also known as sirens.

Beautiful and deadly, they used their enchanting forms and mesmerizing songs to lure passing ships, drawing sailors into caves to devour them.

That was the Western myth of sirens, but it held truths about mermaids—they could beguile hearts.

Her eyes burned.

In the past, Lin Feng would have cried out, but now the pain didn’t seem as unbearable as she’d feared.

Compared to being abandoned by everyone, at least this agony kept her clear-headed.

Lin Feng endured the pain in her eyes and changed into fresh clothes. By then, the attendant had returned with everything, delivering it right to the door.

“Miss Lin, everything you asked for is here. Is there anything else?”

“No, thank you.”

Lin Feng looked into the attendant’s vacant eyes, concern and a twinge of guilt in her voice. “Sorry about this. It should wear off soon. I had no choice.”

The attendant smiled faintly with narrowed eyes and stood up to leave.

Lin Feng watched her enter the elevator, then tucked Zhao Shuqing’s letter into a pocket of the backpack. With grim determination, she left the room carrying only the small bag.

By the time Camille arrived late with her girlfriend, all that remained were Lin Feng’s clothes—and a pair of white sneakers left on the embankment…