Chapter 131

The soft bed let out a faint creak. The new mattress was sturdy enough that even vigorous movements barely made a sound. Lin Feng sat in Zhao Shuqing’s lap, arms wrapped around her shoulders as she buried her face against them. She let Zhao Shuqing kiss her neck and nibble at her earlobes.

The intimate, wet sounds stood out sharply in the quiet night. Lin Feng clutched at Zhao Shuqing’s shoulders and whispered, “It hurts.”

“Does it?” Zhao Shuqing brushed her lips over Lin Feng’s eyes and patted her waist. “Is that how you tell me it hurts?”

Lin Feng lowered her gaze shyly. She shifted to plop squarely onto Zhao Shuqing’s thighs, hugging her belly as she complained, “I’m so tired. You promised we’d only do it once today…”

She even sounded aggrieved.

Zhao Shuqing knew Lin Feng was exhausted after everything that day. She leaned in to kiss the woman in her arms, softening Lin Feng’s body until she melted against her, arms clinging stickily around Zhao Shuqing’s neck. Her breaths came quicker now.

Lin Feng’s lips were so soft. Her body was even softer.

The pregnancy had rounded her out lately, making her plush all over—like a warm, freshly baked little bun, springy to the touch. Her butt and thighs were especially yielding.

Held close like that, Lin Feng found she had no strength left. In the end, she simply pushed Zhao Shuqing back onto the pillows. Her eyes reddened as she looked down at her.

“I’ll take the lead.”

The brave Little Fish made her bold declaration.

On their first night in the new house, Little Fish collapsed into sleep from sheer exhaustion. Zhao Shuqing held her from behind, her hand drifting idly over the curve of her belly.

Utterly content, she drifted off.

She slept straight through to the next morning. When Zhao Shuqing finally stirred awake, sunlight flooded the room.

The Little Fish in her arms was still sleeping soundly. At some point, she had rolled over, burrowing instinctively toward Zhao Shuqing’s warmth. Her round belly got in the way though, pressing firmly between them.

Sensing Lin Feng on the verge of waking, Zhao Shuqing gently patted her back to soothe her, encouraging more sleep.

Lin Feng mumbled something indistinct, then nudged against her again with her belly.

Zhao Shuqing was about to smile when she felt a subtle rumble from Lin Feng’s abdomen—like the gurgles of a hungry stomach. She thought it might be her imagination at first, but Lin Feng’s eyes snapped open moments later.

Her belly rumbled again.

Startled, Lin Feng bolted upright, clutching her abdomen in disbelief. Zhao Shuqing sat up too and placed her hand on that warm swell.

This time, the sensation was unmistakable.

It was fetal movement.

Maybe because there were two babies in there, Lin Feng’s quickening felt more pronounced than Zhao Shuqing had expected—almost like intestinal rumblings, but unmistakably the babies stirring.

“So lively first thing in the morning?” Joy bubbled up in Zhao Shuqing, spilling over despite her efforts to contain it. Afraid to press too hard, she rested her palm lightly on Lin Feng’s belly, savoring the little fishes’ activity.

Sleep was the last thing on Lin Feng’s mind now. She had never truly felt pregnant before, but this morning brought home the reality: two tiny lives growing inside her.

The sensation was wondrous, thrilling in its novelty.

“They’re turning over,” Lin Feng said with a smile, watching Zhao Shuqing’s delighted expression. “I can feel it.”

Zhao Shuqing glanced up at her and pulled her back into her arms.

Neither woman stirred from the bed that morning. Zhao Shuqing held Lin Feng close while scrolling through articles on fetal movement on her phone. She also texted Dr. Luo for advice. After all, at over four months along, quickening was perfectly normal.

Dr. Luo reassured them not to worry—it was a standard milestone. She suggested they schedule an amniocentesis after the new year to check on the little fishes.

Zhao Shuqing looked up the risks of the procedure too. There was a small chance of miscarriage, but Lin Feng’s situation was unique enough that it was still necessary. With Dr. Luo’s expertise, Zhao Shuqing trusted it would go smoothly.

The babies were moving now. In Zhao Shuqing’s mind, birth couldn’t be far off. She wanted to pick up some even roomier clothes for Lin Feng before the year turned—her current dresses were getting snug.

She popped open a can of food for Pumpkin, and moments later, Lin Feng descended the stairs.

Her courage was growing by the day. She no longer shrieked at the sight of the cat. She had matured, at least able to stay composed from twenty meters away without panicking.

Pumpkin was too focused on devouring its canned feast to pay her much mind. It flicked its tail dismissively and kept eating.

“What’s up?” Zhao Shuqing went over to steady her. “You should be resting upstairs. Why come down?”

Truth be told, Zhao Shuqing had initially planned to convert a first-floor room into their bedroom. That way, Lin Feng wouldn’t have to navigate the stairs. She could manage now, gripping the wall for support, but once her belly grew larger and she couldn’t see her feet, a misstep could be dangerous.

“Are you heading out again today?” Lin Feng asked.

Zhao Shuqing nodded. “I’ll shut Pumpkin in its room before I go. You won’t have to worry.”

But Lin Feng shook her head. “No, that’s not it. I want to go out with you.”

Zhao Shuqing wouldn’t hear of it.

“Mermaid tensions have eased a bit, but it’s still not safe for you outside.” She spoke softly. “I’m just running a quick errand for a few things. If you’re bored, stroll around the yard or by the lake. Stay inside the grounds.”

Lin Feng pouted, unhappy at being left behind. She wanted to go with Zhao Shuqing.

In the end, Zhao Shuqing promised to bring back milk tea and snacks. Only then did Lin Feng agree to stay home alone.

Pumpkin went into its dedicated cat room on the first floor. Zhao Shuqing had cleared out a whole space for Little Fatty, complete with cat trees on the walls and ceiling, a towering climber, and hammocks—plenty for one cat to roam.

Little Fatty slunk in reluctantly, leaped to the top of the tower, and glowered down at Zhao Shuqing. It flexed its claws.

Before heading out, Zhao Shuqing slipped her spare phone into Lin Feng’s hands. “Call me if anything comes up.”

“Got it,” Lin Feng said, holding the phone. “Come back soon, and don’t forget what I asked for.”

“I won’t.” Zhao Shuqing kissed her Little Fish at the entryway, then finally tore herself away to leave.

The mall was bustling that day. Zhao Shuqing consulted the directory map and located a maternity store, heading there first.

It was her first time in a place like this, and she caught a whiff of something sweetly milky—like the scent from baby formula or a child’s skin. A sales associate was chatting with a woman pushing a stroller. Zhao Shuqing took the chance to browse on her own.

She circled the shop and noted plenty of baby products and formula, but disappointingly few maternity clothes—just a small rack of loose sundresses that looked halfhearted.

“Excuse me,” Zhao Shuqing called to a nearby associate. “Is this all you have?”

“What are you looking for?” The associate was helpful enough. Zhao Shuqing gestured to the dresses. “I’d like a couple of skirts. Is this everything?”

“Yes, that’s our current selection,” the woman explained. “Most moms prefer online shopping. In-store demand is low.”

Disappointed but undeterred, Zhao Shuqing picked up some nutritional milk powder and creams for pregnant women anyway. She’d make sure Lin Feng got an extra meal.

She could hunt for clothes elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng was raiding the fridge.

She had eaten a big breakfast, but less than two hours later, hunger struck again—this time for fruit. She remembered the grapes Zhao Shuqing had bought the day before. Perfect.

Winter offerings were slim, but the supermarket had a good variety. Besides grapes, there were a few fuzzy pink water peaches.

Humming to herself in the kitchen, Lin Feng washed the grapes and a peach, taking care to rinse them thoroughly. She carried the bowl out to the lakeside table and chairs.

The sun shone warmly, and the breeze wasn’t too sharp—pleasant against her face.

Lin Feng puffed out a breath, watching the vapor cloud form and dissipate. Amusing.

A little sparrow landed in the nearby grass, cocking its head at her. It chirped and hopped closer, then onto the table, eyeing the fruit.

Lin Feng had planned to eat it all herself, but the bird looked so pitiful that pity welled up in her.

“You haven’t eaten in three days? And you had to dig through trash?” She gazed at it sympathetically. “Poor thing. Here… have a grape. Help yourself, as long as you’re full.”

The sparrow pecked delicately at the flesh, eyeing Lin Feng with open curiosity the whole time.

Lin Feng munched on her peach, crunching away as she chatted idly with it.

“This place used to belong to mermaids too, right?” She glanced back at her new home, then at the sparrow. After some thought, she offered another grape and murmured, “Do you know who lived here?”

The sparrow twittered rapidly, snatched the grape, and flew off. Lin Feng watched it go, a touch forlorn. “Spoke too fast… I didn’t catch that.”

Mermaid speech and bird talk didn’t line up perfectly, but no matter. After Lin Feng finished her peach in the sunshine, the sparrow returned—with a friend. Two plump, scruffy little birds stood on the table, staring longingly at the grapes.

Lin Feng hesitated. These were grapes from Zhao Shuqing— she couldn’t let birds eat them all.

“Fine, you can have some,” she negotiated. “But one grape per question.”

Chirp chirp!

“First one, then.” She plucked off a grape. “What’s the name of the mermaid who lived here before?”

When Zhao Shuqing got back, she spotted Lin Feng in the yard, waving eagerly from afar. In that instant, she understood what Chen Huijun meant about Ye Gui waiting like that every day—it was pure bliss.

Now, she felt it too.

Zhao Shuqing parked and stepped out to find Lin Feng right by the car, beaming smugly at her.

Zhao Shuqing arched a brow. “How’d you know I was back? Did you put a tracker on me?”

Lin Feng grinned triumphantly. “I’ve got my ways, of course.”