Before getting out of the car, Zhao Shuqing switched it to pet mode, ensuring Pumpkin could stay inside alone without any risk of suffocation.
The boss was still warmly greeting customers. When she spotted Zhao Shuqing, she froze for a moment and pointed at her in surprise. “Hey, aren’t you that…”
It was clear the boss remembered her.
“Mm.” Zhao Shuqing nodded lightly and tugged at her scarf—the one Lin Feng had picked out for her. She had worn it nonstop lately and hadn’t even taken it off for the flight, just stuffing it into her backpack to bring it along. Zhao Shuqing uncovered her face and asked the boss, “Any seats available?”
The boss hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “We have a private room. Why don’t you take that?”
Zhao Shuqing blinked. She was just one person eating hotpot—dining hall seating would have been fine. Why a private room? But then she caught the boss’s evasive, uncertain glance, and it all clicked.
Because of the mermaid incident, Zhao Shuqing had become a household name. Being famous drew attention, and the boss was worried her presence would cause a stir.
“Sure.” Zhao Shuqing nodded and followed the boss into the restaurant.
The hotpot place was bustling that day. Even though it was a weekday, the dining hall was packed, with nearly every table full. The air was thick with the scent of chilies and spices.
The boss showed Zhao Shuqing to the largest private room and even comped her a bottle of fresh-squeezed juice.
“Sorry about this,” the boss said apologetically. “We’re swamped with customers today, so the dining hall might not be convenient. This juice is on the house, and I’ll give you a twenty percent discount at checkout.”
“No need to go to such lengths.” Zhao Shuqing removed her scarf and replied calmly, “Charge me what you normally would. I’m just here for a meal.”
The boss nodded slightly and called out, “Scan the code to order. Let the server know if you need anything.”
Once the boss had left, Zhao Shuqing let out a sigh. Even grabbing hotpot felt disruptive these days.
The citywide lockdown earlier hadn’t impacted food supplies much. Aside from some seafood and a few vegetable options being unavailable, everything was business as usual.
Zhao Shuqing ordered a yin-yang pot and some of her usual favorites. Only when she submitted the order did she realize she was eating alone—no need for so much food.
The hotpot bubbled vigorously, steam rising in thick clouds. Midway through her meal, Zhao Shuqing paused, staring blankly into the misty broth.
If Lin Feng were still here, she would have been overjoyed, right?
She loved hotpot more than anything. Every time, she piled on the orders, stuffing herself until her belly was round and content, as if it might be her last meal for a while.
Zhao Shuqing would always remind her to eat slower while dipping her favorite squid rolls for her.
But now, the squid rolls were gone. And so was Lin Feng.
What flavor was left in a hotpot like this?
Her appetite vanished. She asked the server to pack up the remaining meatballs and meat rolls. What had started as a few hundred yuan feast ended up as two small takeout boxes. Zhao Shuqing paid the bill and carried them back to the car.
The AC was still running. Pumpkin lifted its eyelids at the sound, saw it was Zhao Shuqing, and flopped back down.
“Seriously, don’t you get tired of lounging like that?” Zhao Shuqing opened the door to the airline box and scratched under Pumpkin’s chin. “I got you some meatballs. Want me to boil them up when we get home?”
Pumpkin let out a little purr in agreement.
Freshly full, Zhao Shuqing saw no rush to drive back. The sunshine was lovely, the streets vibrant with activity, and she savored the atmosphere from her seat in the car, watching the pedestrians stream by.
Pumpkin must have grown bored in the carrier too. It poked its head out stealthily.
Zhao Shuqing glanced at it and realized the cat just wanted to stretch its legs. She warned, “No scratching. No peeing. Or I’ll toss you out to live as a stray.”
Pumpkin tilted its head up at her, its black pupils narrowing into slits.
“What, not convinced?” Zhao Shuqing booped its nose with her finger. “If you were a stray, you’d lose at least ten pounds off that chubby frame.”
Offended by the fat comment, Pumpkin wrinkled its nose, hopped onto the passenger seat, and presented Zhao Shuqing with its plump, furry rear. She sneaked a pat—nice and soft.
Lately, with everything going on, Pumpkin had bounced between Gu Yao and Wen Xiaoying for fostering. And because of Lin Feng, Zhao Shuqing had even considered rehoming it.
But now, after half a year apart, the little fatty was tolerating her well—no revenge biting.
Pumpkin wasn’t used to car rides. It started to climb around and soon wanted to scratch. Spotting its butt wiggle, Zhao Shuqing pinched the tip of its tail. “Scratch and you’re out.”
Little Fatty shot her a resentful look, retracted its claws, then turned to paw at the window.
Zhao Shuqing watched it for a moment. Seeing the cat was just gazing at the passersby and cars outside, she relaxed and turned to her phone.
A few days ago, she had caught up with Camille about what happened.
Zhao Shuqing had left at dawn that morning, around six-thirty. Lin Feng departed the hotel after eight. Camille, delayed by some errands, arrived just in time to miss her. The hotel staff knew nothing, but a passerby pointed her to the shoes Lin Feng had left on the shore.
Camille panicked at first, thinking Lin Feng had jumped into the sea. She called Zhao Shuqing repeatedly, then switched to email, figuring she might be airborne. Unfortunately, Zhao Shuqing had been swamped after landing and didn’t check her messages for over a week.
The mermaid story had blown up not just domestically but abroad too. Camille refused to believe Lin Feng was a mermaid. After seeing the video, she was speechless with shock. Even now, she messaged Zhao Shuqing in the dead of night, unable to sleep, pestering her about Lin Feng.
Zhao Shuqing sighed softly. Her fingers tapped the screen—tap-tap-tap—as she chatted idly with Camille.
Suddenly, Pumpkin, which had been glued to the window enjoying the view, shot upright. It chittered from its throat—chit-chit-chit—its whole body thrumming with excitement as it lunged at the glass, head bobbing wildly.
Zhao Shuqing blinked, then recognized the classic cat hunting pose: vibrating its jaw to mimic insects or prey, luring them in.
“What is it?”
Curious, she leaned over and peered out the window. She scanned the nearby branches, the roof of the adjacent car—no sparrows or small birds in sight. She poked Little Fatty. “Who are you ‘hunting’?”
Pumpkin’s eyes were huge, locked intently on the crowd across the street waiting to cross. The chittering continued. Spotting Zhao Shuqing, it even swatted her face with a paw, urging her to look.
Zhao Shuqing followed its gaze. The light turned green, and pedestrians surged forward in a diverse throng—men and women, dressed in all sorts of styles. She couldn’t fathom why Pumpkin was hunting-mode on a crowd.
Hunting…?
A jolt hit her. Zhao Shuqing’s eyes widened as she stared at the opposite sidewalk. Near the university district, the area teemed with people. She scanned frantically, eyes blurring, then shoved open the car door and dashed out.
She tried to dash across but honking cars forced her back to the curb.
“Lin Feng!”
Zhao Shuqing shouted toward the crowd, “Lin Feng, are you there? Did you come ashore? If you’re on land, come find me!”
Onlookers turned, staring at the woman in a thin gray sweater, pacing and calling out.
No one answered.
Strangers, as far as the eye could see.
Undeterred, Zhao Shuqing aimed for the crosswalk. But the light flipped red.
Cars surged from both sides, streams of traffic and people trapping her on this side. She watched helplessly as the crowd dispersed, no familiar figure among them.
By the time the light changed again and the crowd thinned, Zhao Shuqing hadn’t budged from the intersection.
Passersby shot her curious glances. A winter gust lifted her long black hair from her shoulders. She barely registered how many cycles of lights had passed.
Her hands and feet had gone numb from the cold. Staring at wave after wave of strangers opposite, she squeezed her eyes shut in anguish.
She returned to the car. In her haste, she had left the door ajar; the warmth had mostly escaped. Zhao Shuqing slid back inside, closed the door gently, and slumped over the steering wheel.
With her cheek pressed to it, her gaze fell on Little Fatty curled up in the passenger seat, and beyond it, the street scene.
Pumpkin blinked slowly, flicked its stubby tail, then buried its head again, assuming a remorseful sleeping pose.
Zhao Shuqing kept staring out the window, lost in thought.
Lin Feng… couldn’t possibly show up in the city, right?
Zhao Shuqing pondered. The swim to Country F had taken her a full month last time. It had been less than half a month since her return, and she was pregnant—she wouldn’t come back this soon.
Besides, if Lin Feng really had returned, she would have responded to Zhao Shuqing calling her name.
Lin Feng was so attached to her, always wanting to stay by her side. How could she ignore the call?
Zhao Shuqing lowered her gaze to the lazily sleeping Pumpkin. It had probably just spotted a bird or something—nothing more.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Straightening up, she gripped the wheel. An idea struck: If Lin Feng came ashore, she’d be clueless about city events and at risk of capture. To prevent that, Zhao Shuqing needed a plan.
The Marine Group was disbanded, the oceanarium shuttered. Jobless with a hefty payout, she was free to do what she wanted.
Top priority: head to the coast and wait for Lin Feng.
