Chapter 142

After Lin Feng kicked Pumpkin off the bed once again, she was no longer afraid of that fuzzy sensation.

Though she still hadn’t reached the point of getting along peacefully with Little Fatty, at least she no longer screamed at the sight of a cat. Zhao Shuqing was relieved.

After finishing her call with Yue Jiuchu, Zhao Shuqing wanted to take Lin Feng to the hospital to visit Gu Yao. But in two days, it would be time for the prenatal checkup, so Zhao Shuqing thought it over and decided to head to the hospital after the checkup.

Early in the morning, Lin Feng had already finished washing up and was sitting at the vanity, yawning. Zhao Shuqing, her own hair a messy tangle, yawned right along with her.

Lin Feng glanced at the person in the mirror and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Zhao Shuqing combed Lin Feng’s hair, noticing that large patches of light-colored roots had already grown in at the crown of her head. When she parted it, the exposed strip was as wide as her palm. The strands were soft and thick, overflowing from the grip between her thumb and forefinger.

This hair was way too abundant.

“Should we dye it again?” Zhao Shuqing tied her hair into a low ponytail and eyed the roots. “It’s getting pretty obvious. Your hair grows so fast.”

Lin Feng touched the top of her head and tilted her face up to ask the person behind her. “Is it that noticeable? I can’t see it.”

Zhao Shuqing thought to herself that it would be a miracle if Lin Feng could see the top of her own head. She pressed Lin Feng’s head back down gently and smiled. “After we finish the checkup with Dr. Luo, let’s go see Gu Yao.”

“Hm?” Lin Feng turned around to look at her. “Can Gu Yao be discharged already?”

“Not yet.” Zhao Shuqing twisted her body back around and continued combing her hair. “But we can go visit her.”

Once her hairstyle was set, Zhao Shuqing patted Lin Feng’s back. “All right, up you get. Time to change clothes and head out.”

Maternity clothes were tricky to put on, especially with Lin Feng’s big belly making it awkward. Zhao Shuqing usually helped her dress. Little Fish was as obedient as could be, extending her arms when asked and lifting her legs without complaint, letting herself be maneuvered like a doll without a hint of fuss.

Supporting Little Fish as they descended the stairs, Zhao Shuqing thought how convenient a single-level apartment was—no more wasting time going up and down.

After all the hustle, Lin Feng finally stood at the door.

Zhao Shuqing crouched down to tie her shoelaces, finishing one foot before asking for the other. She helped her into a coat, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and topped it off with a fluffy white hat that left only her sea-blue eyes peeking out, blinking at Zhao Shuqing.

Auntie the housekeeper stood behind them, handing over the bag and asking worriedly, “Isn’t she wearing a bit too much?”

Layer upon layer, she looked like a plump little penguin.

“Not at all.” Zhao Shuqing took the bag with Lin Feng’s prenatal items. “It looks bulky, but it’s really just two layers. Mostly, it’s the belly.”

Lin Feng nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

Auntie smiled. “What would you like for lunch, Miss Lin? I’ll head to the market soon.”

“We’re not coming back for lunch today,” Zhao Shuqing said, taking Lin Feng’s hand. “We’re visiting a patient and won’t be home until evening.”

Lin Feng nodded and added, “For dinner, I’d like chicken stewed with mushrooms. Can you make that for me, Auntie?”

Auntie adored Lin Feng and wasn’t the least bit afraid that she was a mermaid. She nodded eagerly. “We’ve got fresh hazelnut mushrooms at home. Come back early, and I’ll make it for you.”

Lin Feng thanked her sweetly, and the two headed out the door together.

The seatbelt in the passenger seat had been swapped for a maternity one that wouldn’t press on her belly. Zhao Shuqing fastened it securely before driving to the hospital.

The prenatal checkup went smoothly—just the usual concerns, nothing new. As the pregnancy progressed, the scans grew clearer: two sets of webbed feet, and the webbing was growing along with the babies.

Dr. Luo held back in front of Lin Feng. Only when Lin Feng went off for fetal heart monitoring did she pull Zhao Shuqing aside to chat.

“Everything else looks normal,” Dr. Luo said. “The babies are growing well this period. Advise her to drink more water and rest more—it’s already tough enough. Watch her weight too, or she risks preterm labor.”

Twins often came early, but Lin Feng was in good shape. Dr. Luo hoped she could carry to full term.

Most crucially, no one knew exactly how long a mermaid pregnancy lasted—they could only estimate.

As they left the hospital, Lin Feng fiddled with her hat in the car. Zhao Shuqing glanced over. “What are you doing?”

Lin Feng abandoned the hat and started tugging at her clothes instead.

Zhao Shuqing was driving and couldn’t lend a hand, but she was curious what Lin Feng was up to.

“Found it.”

Lin Feng pulled a tiny flower from an inner pocket and showed it to Zhao Shuqing. “A human kid gave it to me just now. Said it’s winter plum blossom.”

Zhao Shuqing took a quick look. The orange-yellow winter plum was no bigger than a fingernail— no wonder she was patting herself down everywhere. It’d be easy to lose.

“Probably some kid who picked it off the roadside and gave it to you.” Zhao Shuqing didn’t mind. “If you like it, I’ll buy you a bunch later.”

“You too?” Lin Feng had gotten better about her wording. She eyed Zhao Shuqing. “Who else are you planning to buy for?”

Well, well—jealousy.

It was rare to see Lin Feng looking displeased, so Zhao Shuqing’s eyes crinkled with amusement. At the red light, she reached over and pinched Lin Feng’s soft cheek. “When visiting a patient in the hospital, of course you bring flowers and gifts. What else would we get?”

“Oh…” Lin Feng turned her head away from the hand and placed the winter plum on Zhao Shuqing’s head. “Then this flower is for you.”

Zhao Shuqing touched the top of her head and found the little orange-yellow winter plum. It carried a crisp, cold fragrance. She plucked it by the stem, twirled it between her fingers, and tucked it away with a smile.

Before heading to the hospital, they bought fresh flowers, fruit, and milk. Zhao Shuqing carried the fruit in one hand and the milk in the other, while Lin Feng hugged a bouquet of lovely lilies as they walked to the ward together.

The hallway outside the single room wasn’t crowded. At the end sat several people in plain clothes who turned at the sound. Recognizing Zhao Shuqing and Lin Feng, they stood and approached.

“Dr. Zhao, Miss Lin.” One female officer spoke up. “Here for Gu Yao?”

“Yes.” Zhao Shuqing nodded. “Is she in her room?”

“She went downstairs for a check. She’ll be back soon—go on in and wait. I’ll call Captain Yue.”

“Thanks. Appreciate it.”

They entered the room with Lin Feng. The single room wasn’t much different—a larger bed, private bathroom, sofa and tea table, TV, fridge, and central heating blasting warm air.

Zhao Shuqing set down the items and saw Lin Feng still clutching the flowers. She took them from her arms.

“Take off the scarf and hat,” Zhao Shuqing said softly. “Don’t sweat.”

Lin Feng was indeed warm. She removed the scarf, folded it neatly on the sofa, but left the hat on.

“It looks bad,” Lin Feng said.

Zhao Shuqing understood—Lin Feng was self-conscious about her obvious roots. She was always neat and loved looking pretty; she probably couldn’t stand her current appearance.

Dyeing it now was optional anyway. Zhao Shuqing preferred her natural color.

As they sat chatting idly in the room, the door swung open. Gu Yao stood there in her hospital gown. Spotting the two on her sofa, she headed to the bed and sat, crossing her legs as a nurse followed.

“Hey, what brings you two here?” Gu Yao extended her arm to the nurse. “You should’ve said something—I don’t have anything to offer.”

“Please.” Zhao Shuqing watched the nurse start her IV. “Feeling better?”

“I was fine to begin with.” Gu Yao waited until the IV was set before leaning back on her pillow to chat. “You guys made a huge fuss over nothing. I’m in great shape—the ECG today was strong as ever. When can I get out of here?”

Before Zhao Shuqing could reply, Yue Jiuchu pushed through the door. “Discharge is up to the doctor. Rushing won’t help.”

“Captain Yue.”

Gu Yao greeted her warmly but deflated at the delay. She turned to Zhao Shuqing. “My dorm’s been empty forever. Shouldn’t you assign a cleaning auntie to tidy it up?”

Zhao Shuqing blinked. Ever since becoming a lady of leisure, she hadn’t returned to her own dorm and had no idea how dusty Gu Yao’s must be.

Yue Jiuchu spoke up. “If you want to go back, we’ll arrange a dedicated cleaner. But for your safety right now, you have to stay in the hospital.”

Gu Yao was easygoing, leaning on her pillow. “Fine, as long as you keep me safe.”

At that, Gu Yao hesitated, lips pressing together as she glanced at Yue Jiuchu. Finally, she asked, “Have they… taken out Xu Tang and the others yet?”

Yue Jiuchu met her gaze. “No.”

Gu Yao’s eyes lit up briefly. “But we have their location. Why not? Is it because…”

“Something came up.” Yue Jiuchu went to the TV, picked up the remote, and turned it on. She addressed the group. “No outsiders here, so I’ll be direct. We were set to raid them—Military District forces were mobilized. But this morning, we got a negotiation message from them.”

“Negotiation?” Gu Yao asked, surprised. “Negotiate what?”

Yue Jiuchu gestured to the TV.

A news segment was looping, one that had been running since morning. Two hours ago, Xu Tang and several mermaid representatives had held a global livestream.

Xu Tang appeared on screen, speaking to the camera, but the audio was muted—only the host’s quick, icy voice played.

“…The mermaids claim they can provide immortality enzyme. This substance rapidly heals wounds, extends human lifespan, and slows cellular metabolism. No organization has verified it yet.”

On TV, Xu Tang drew a small knife across a companion’s shoulder. Blood welled up instantly, the person grimacing in pain. But soon, the wound that had been oozing red stopped and healed, leaving only a pale scar after a white tissue wiped it clean.

It was like watching a magic trick.