Chapter 33

Lin Feng sat on the bed, her bath towel draped just right over her legs—or so it seemed. The moment Gu Yao pushed open the door, she caught sight of Zhao Shuqing blow-drying Lin Feng’s hair. At first glance, it looked exactly like the aftermath of some steamy intimacy.

Zhao Shuqing shot her a dark look, while Lin Feng blinked at her in confusion before glancing up at Zhao Shuqing.

“You’ve got the wrong idea,” Zhao Shuqing said, setting down the hairdryer. She turned to Gu Yao. “We’re not like that.”

Gu Yao: “…” Player. The girl’s right there on your bed, and you’re still denying it?

As expected, scumbags came in all genders and education levels.

Zhao Shuqing caught the way Gu Yao’s face screamed 【Player】, 【Hit It and Quit It】, and 【Can’t Believe It】. With a helpless sigh, she lifted one corner of the bath towel, revealing Lin Feng’s beautiful, shimmering tail. “Get it now?”

Gu Yao: “…”

A mermaid.

Gu Yao bolted inside like an excited kid, her eyes lighting up at the beautiful mermaid right in front of her. “Oh my god, you’re Lin Feng, right? I saw you singing on the hot search. You’re even prettier in person than in the videos!”

Her words sounded like something straight out of a fan meet-up. Lin Feng didn’t catch half of it—what was a “hot search”?—but she picked up on the compliments. A happy smile spread across her face as she said to Gu Yao, “Hello.”

Gu Yao clapped a hand over her mouth, practically tearing up with excitement. “The beautiful mermaid just greeted me!”

Zhao Shuqing gave Lin Feng’s head a gentle pat before looking up at Gu Yao. “Don’t scare our little Lin Feng.”

Lin Feng tilted her head up, her eyes curving into happy crescents as she gazed at Zhao Shuqing.

Sure, it was an escape from the lab, but Mermaid Miss seemed blissfully unaware of that fact. She sat on Zhao Shuqing’s bed, fiddling with her hair, while Gu Yao plopped down nearby, snapping photos and videos like crazy.

Zhao Shuqing came in from the door with takeout bags and spotted Gu Yao filming away while gushing, “She’s so gorgeous. If my wife looked half this good, I’d be set for life.”

Zhao Shuqing set the breakfast on the table and asked offhandedly, “Taking the day off?”

“Yeah, I pulled overtime for half a month straight. Finally my turn to rest, or I’d drop dead at the lab bench.” Gu Yao pocketed her phone and watched as Zhao Shuqing unpacked the food. Curiosity piqued, she asked, “Why’d you order so much? Can you eat it all by yourself?”

“It’s not just for me,” Zhao Shuqing replied. “Lin Feng needs to eat too.”

Lin Feng had smelled the delicious aroma ages ago. She pressed her hands to the edge of the bed, her tail twitching faintly as she asked, “What’s for breakfast?”

“Fish cake and fish fillet porridge,” Zhao Shuqing said. “Like it?”

Lin Feng nodded eagerly.

The delivery included a pack of spicy strips. Zhao Shuqing figured neither she nor Lin Feng liked spice, so she tossed it to Gu Yao. “Here, a gift for you.”

Gu Yao eyed her with mock disgust. “You two get the good stuff, and I get spicy strips? Really?”

Zhao Shuqing grinned. “Don’t want it? Hit the road.”

Gu Yao pouted but didn’t budge.

Lin Feng truly loved human food, especially anything with seafood or fish and shrimp. She couldn’t handle spice, though, and preferred mild flavors—steamed fish and fish fillet porridge were her staples. She took to the fish cakes just as much. Even after eating half, she made sure to save a couple for Zhao Shuqing.

Gu Yao watched them huddle together over breakfast with jealous eyes. Without that massive tail, the pair looked just like a fresh new couple.

Zhao Shuqing could feel Gu Yao’s burning stare the whole time. Halfway through, her appetite vanished, and she shot her a plaintive look. “Quit staring like that. How are we supposed to eat?”

Gu Yao blinked in confusion. “Lin Feng’s eating just fine. Why are you so dramatic? Can’t I even look?”

Zhao Shuqing: “Starting trouble first thing in the morning, huh?”

Gu Yao put on a pitiful face. “I’m in a bad mood. I just want you to hang out with me.”

Lin Feng looked up, glancing from Gu Yao to Zhao Shuqing.

Zhao Shuqing handed the rest of the fish cakes to Lin Feng. “Eat up.” Then she turned to Gu Yao. “Cut the drama. Spill it if something’s up.”

Truth be told, Gu Yao wasn’t picking fights on purpose. She was genuinely down in the dumps.

Ever since Xu Tang had told her she had someone she liked, Gu Yao hadn’t dared contact Zhao Shuqing, terrified she’d ask why her confession had flopped that day.

Why else? The other person just wasn’t into her.

Gu Yao sighed and slumped in a chair, fidgeting with her shirt hem. “I never see Group Leader Xu getting close to anyone. You think she just made up some excuse to shut me down?”

Zhao Shuqing listened to Gu Yao’s tale and thought it plausible. She spent tons of time with Xu Tang and had never seen her show interest in anyone.

Where had this “someone she liked” popped up from?

“I think Senior Sister just grabbed the first excuse to reject you,” Zhao Shuqing said, analyzing seriously. “I’m with her every day. Would I not know?

“You haven’t caught her eye yet. Friends? Sure. Anything more? Tough road.”

“Ah?” Gu Yao wailed in despair. “What do I do? I can’t even say hi to Group Leader Xu in the cafeteria anymore.”

Zhao Shuqing tapped her forehead. “Right there—that’s your problem.”

Gu Yao: “?”

Zhao Shuqing: “Still calling her Group Leader Xu?”

Gu Yao: “…”

Light dawned on Gu Yao. She scooted her chair closer. “So what do I call her? Little Tang?”

Zhao Shuqing: “She’s older than you.”

Gu Yao: “Tang-jie?”

Zhao Shuqing: “Sounds like the cafeteria lunch lady.”

Gu Yao: “Little Tang Sis?”

Zhao Shuqing’s eyes lit up. “That works.”

Gu Yao perked up, but worry crept back. She nudged Zhao Shuqing with her elbow. “Still, what if she’s for real? What if she really likes someone? Shuqing, help me out. I haven’t slept right in days over this. Look, I’ve got bags under my eyes.”

It wasn’t an outrageous ask, so Zhao Shuqing figured she could lend a hand.

“Want me to ask her when I’ve got a chance?” she offered.

Gu Yao nodded frantically and hooked her arm through Zhao Shuqing’s. “Dinner on me later!”

Zhao Shuqing smiled, unbothered by a mere meal. Truth was, she was curious too. Did Xu Tang really have someone?

If so, she’d love to meet them.

With that weight off her chest, Gu Yao turned her attention to Lin Feng, who had been sitting quietly nearby, ears perked as she eavesdropped. Their eyes met, and Lin Feng quickly pretended to be fascinated by the room before burying herself back in her porridge.

“Lin Feng… right?” Gu Yao ventured, keeping her distance. Human-like or not, Lin Feng wasn’t human, and Gu Yao didn’t want a claw to the face if she got feisty. That’d ruin her shot with Xu Tang for good.

Lin Feng lifted her head from the bowl, fixing Gu Yao with her striking blue eyes.

She’d seen it all—this Gu Yao woman was super close with Zhao Shuqing. They’d huddled together, chattering nonstop. Lin Feng hadn’t understood everything, but whatever they talked about had Gu Yao beaming, even looping her arm through Zhao Shuqing’s.

Lin Feng felt a twinge of envy. She hadn’t gotten to do that.

Undeterred by Lin Feng’s standoffishness, Gu Yao grinned warmly. “What else can you say? You look so human. If you were one, your suitors would line up from the dormitory all the way to the gate.”

Lin Feng looked up at that, hesitating as she glanced at Gu Yao, then at Zhao Shuqing, like she had something to say.

Worried Gu Yao’s enthusiasm might overwhelm Lin Feng, Zhao Shuqing moved to shoo her out. “Alright, time for you to head back.”

Gu Yao whipped around. “Why? I just sat down.”

“You’ve been here over half an hour.” Zhao Shuqing grabbed her arm, hauled her up, and dragged her to the door, whispering, “Lin Feng escaped from the lab. I’ve gotta take her back now. Enjoy your day off—don’t waste it here.”

“Fine,” Gu Yao relented as she was shoved outside. She called back, “Remember your promise. Ask Little Tang Sis if she really likes anyone!”

Zhao Shuqing muttered “Got it, got it” while pushing her out the door. She added, “Lin Feng’s scared of cats, so keep watching Pumpkin for a couple days. Don’t mistreat our Little Fatty.”

Gu Yao laughed. “No worries. She’s eating and sleeping like a king—total bliss.”

After bidding Gu Yao farewell and shutting the door, Zhao Shuqing turned to find Lin Feng on the bed, gazing at her with a resentful look, clearly holding something in.

“Zhao Shuqing.”

Lin Feng called to her.

“Mm?” Zhao Shuqing walked over. The instant she sat, Lin Feng launched herself into her arms, her long tail thrashing the bed into a mess.

Zhao Shuqing froze for a second before wrapping her arms around Lin Feng’s waist, cradling her close. Softly, she murmured, “You didn’t put on the medicine last night, did you? Let me see your tail.”

Lin Feng obediently offered her tail. Zhao Shuqing fetched a fresh tube of ointment from the cabinet—the vet’s prescription was just basic wound cream for inflammation, safe for humans too. She had some on hand, so she used that.

She squeezed a big dollop of the white cream onto her palm and eyed the nearly healed wound before applying it carefully.

The cool sensation of the ointment made Lin Feng shiver all over. She stared at Zhao Shuqing, who focused intently without blinking, her tail gripped warmly in those hands. It felt so hot.

Nestled in Zhao Shuqing’s lap, Lin Feng blinked her eyes and suddenly blurted, “Wife.”

Zhao Shuqing’s hand jerked, smearing cream onto nearby scales.

She whipped around in shock, only to see Lin Feng grinning innocently, as if that “wife” hadn’t come from her mouth.

“You… what are you saying now?” Zhao Shuqing frowned slightly. She recalled Gu Yao saying something like “If my wife were this pretty” while filming earlier. Lin Feng must’ve picked it up.

“Don’t mimic people randomly,” she scolded, brow furrowed. “Wife” wasn’t a word for just anyone.

Lin Feng tilted her head, her blue eyes deep and clear. Meeting Zhao Shuqing’s gaze, she smiled again and cooed, “Wife~”

Zhao Shuqing’s eye twitched.

Lin Feng seemed hooked on the word, her eyes sparkling as she murmured it once more.

Zhao Shuqing was inwardly crumbling. She knew Lin Feng probably had no clue what it meant, but she sure did.

Just as Zhao Shuqing sighed, preparing to explain that she wasn’t—and never could be—her wife, Lin Feng leaned in and planted an icy-cool kiss on her cheek.