Chapter 37

Lin Feng had been unconscious for two days, then slept through another full day. Even with IV nutrients dripping steadily, hunger still gnawed at her.

Seeing Lin Feng nod, Zhao Shuqing pulled out her phone to order some takeout for her little mermaid miss.

Unfortunately, at well past 2 a.m., most places had shut down for the night—including the fish fillet porridge shop Lin Feng loved so much. Nearby, only a handful of barbecue spots and the convenience store remained open.

“No takeout available,” Zhao Shuqing said, pocketing her phone. She thought for a moment, then turned to Lin Feng. “Hang on a bit. I’ll run back to the dorm and whip up some porridge for you.”

She recalled the instant fish balls, shrimp, and crab sticks among her snacks. Toss in some rice and simmer it all together, and it would pass for seafood porridge, more or less.

The moment Lin Feng heard she was leaving, she reached out and grabbed Zhao Shuqing’s clothes. “Don’t go.”

“I’m not going far,” Zhao Shuqing reassured her. “The dormitory’s right next door. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, tops.”

Lin Feng shook her head stubbornly. “Not hungry. Don’t go.”

Zhao Shuqing hesitated, then sat back down. “Alright, let me check again for other options.”

In the end, she found a twenty-four-hour porridge shop ten kilometers away. With a rush delivery fee, a steaming bowl arrived not long after.

Zhao Shuqing silently thanked the miracle of modern food delivery. She and Lin Feng could enjoy a hot meal without even leaving the room.

Lin Feng’s tail was badly injured, and the sickbed couldn’t be raised like those in a proper hospital. Zhao Shuqing piled several pillows behind her back instead, then fed her the porridge one careful spoonful at a time.

“Not many shrimp,” Zhao Shuqing remarked after one bite. “The portion’s smaller than your favorite place, too. But it smells great. Do you like it?”

Lin Feng nodded. She thought all human food was delicious—no matter where it came from.

Zhao Shuqing smiled and slowly fed her about half a bowl. Lin Feng’s stomach still needed time to recover after waking up, so Zhao Shuqing finished the rest herself.

By the time they were done eating, it was well past three. Lin Feng’s eyelids began to droop again.

Zhao Shuqing, on the other hand, was wide awake. She was used to pulling all-nighters—her record was two full days without sleep while cramming for a paper, followed by over twenty hours of crash recovery.

“Are you sleepy?” she asked gently. “Go ahead and rest. I’ll stay right here.”

Lin Feng turned her head to gaze at her, then slowly reached out to touch Zhao Shuqing’s cheek. Zhao Shuqing didn’t pull away. Instead, she cupped Lin Feng’s hand against her face and murmured, “Sleep well. You’ll see me again tomorrow.”

Lin Feng nodded, her eyes drifting shut. Her breathing evened out soon after—she was fast asleep.

Zhao Shuqing marveled at how quickly she conked out. She reached over to smooth Lin Feng’s tousled hair. The once-vibrant light strands had lost their luster, turning dull. Lin Feng had always been so clean and tidy; it was only her exhaustion now that left her looking so disheveled.

Zhao Shuqing tucked the blanket around her securely, then glanced at the tail wrapped up like a mummy. She let out a soft sigh.

The next morning, just past seven, Lin Feng’s eyes fluttered open.

True to her word, Zhao Shuqing was still there—curled up asleep at the bedside. Her uncomfortable position had her brows furrowed tightly, as if she weren’t resting easy.

Lin Feng shifted slightly, leaning over to trace Zhao Shuqing’s furrowed brow with a fingertip. She stared, a little dazed.

Blub-blub.

Blub-blub-blub.

A butterflyfish in another tank bubbled up as well.

Lin Feng couldn’t take it anymore. She whipped her head toward her “fellow patients” and snapped, “No laughing. Laugh again, and I’ll eat you all.”

Zhao Shuqing stirred, frowning as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Who are you talking to?”

Lin Feng huffed and flopped back down, cheeks puffed out in a pout.

Zhao Shuqing instinctively glanced at the fish tanks nearby. For a fleeting moment, she had the odd sensation that the fish were staring right back at her.

A strange feeling.

Probably just her imagination.

She yawned and checked the time—seven o’clock sharp.

The oceanarium’s medical center wasn’t like a regular hospital ward with strict rounds. Usually, just one doctor was on duty, napping unless there was an issue. After all, fish couldn’t complain or cause a ruckus, so morning checks were always laid-back.

Zhao Shuqing got up first to freshen up. She’d been staying in the room these past few days, so her toothbrush and towel were handy. After a quick rinse, she soaked the towel, wrung it out, and approached Lin Feng. “Let me wipe your face for you.”

Lin Feng had spent the last couple of days either sleeping or crying, leaving her face grubby. Zhao Shuqing wiped it meticulously. Lin Feng squirmed, embarrassed, averting her eyes and reaching for the towel. “I can do it myself,” she mumbled.

“No need.” Zhao Shuqing flipped the towel to a clean side and moved to her hands. “Stay still. I’ll be done in a sec.”

Once the face and hands were clean, Zhao Shuqing rinsed and wrung the towel again, then brought it to Lin Feng’s neck.

The warm towel draped over her skin, and Lin Feng instinctively tilted her chin up. The angle let Zhao Shuqing clean more thoroughly—and revealed the faint blue veins tracing the pale column of her throat.

Lin Feng was beautiful to begin with, her neck as graceful as a swan’s. Now, reclined against the white pillow with her head thrown back, she exposed her most vulnerable spot.

Zhao Shuqing’s touch lingered through the fabric, her gaze turning hazy for a moment.

So slender.

So white…

She ran the towel along Lin Feng’s neck, then brushed aside her long hair to wipe down to her collarbone, her shoulders, and the tops of her chest.

The swimsuit was still in place, but the heat radiating through Zhao Shuqing’s fingers felt intense. Staring at Lin Feng’s lovely curves, she felt a dangerous urge—to untie that pesky fabric and wipe her down properly, inch by inch.

Shaken, Zhao Shuqing jerked her head away and dunked the towel in fresh water to steady her pounding heart. She turned back, skirting the chest area to clean Lin Feng’s lower back and stomach instead.

“Mm…” Lin Feng’s brows pinched together. She gazed up at Zhao Shuqing and murmured softly, “Zhao Shuqing.”

Sweat beaded on Zhao Shuqing’s forehead. Two seconds later, she lifted her head to meet Lin Feng’s eyes. “What is it?”

Lin Feng blinked at her. “Your face is really red.”

Zhao Shuqing felt like a teakettle that had just boiled over—bang.

“Don’t—don’t be ridiculous,” she stammered, denying it. “I’m just hot. The temperature’s brutal today.”

Lin Feng gave her a puzzled look. She didn’t feel hot at all.

Zhao Shuqing snatched up the towel and basin, fleeing outside to change the water. Her cheeks stayed flushed. A passing doctor greeted her, but she barely registered it.

She hid in the bathroom for a full half hour before her face cooled and she returned, composed.

By then, Lin Feng was sitting up in bed, looking thoroughly displeased.

A nurse had touched her.

She wasn’t happy.

But Lin Feng knew she was sick and needed this to heal—and to get revenge later. Gritting her teeth, she let the nurse jab an IV into the back of her hand. The nurse had wanted to use her tail, like with any fish, but Lin Feng refused.

The moment Zhao Shuqing stepped inside, Lin Feng shot her a pleading look. Steeling herself, Zhao Shuqing set the basin on a side table and approached the bed.

“Zhao Shuqing,” Lin Feng whined pitifully, holding up her IV’d hand. “It hurts.”

The nurse blinked curiously. “Does it hurt?”

Zhao Shuqing sighed and translated, “It’s not that bad. She just needs some coaxing. Sorry about this.”

The nurse chuckled. “No worries. You two are really close, huh?”

Zhao Shuqing managed a smile, though it tasted bitter.

Once the nurse left, she took Lin Feng’s hand and sat down, chafing it gently. “Anywhere else uncomfortable? Tell me all at once.”

Lin Feng felt genuinely wronged—the needle had hurt plenty, and she hadn’t lied.

Zhao Shuqing’s heart softened at the sight. She scooted closer, propped up the pillow higher, and said, “Try sitting for a bit. No more lying flat all day.”

Lin Feng leaned back, eyeing her. “What for breakfast?”

Right— they hadn’t eaten yet.

Zhao Shuqing asked, “What do you want? More porridge?”

Lin Feng shook her head.

Glancing at the clock—just shy of eight—the steamed fish shop wasn’t open yet. After a moment, Zhao Shuqing suggested, “How about I grab you a cup of soy milk from the cafeteria?”

Lin Feng had tried soy milk before—not her favorite, but tolerable.

At the mention, she added promptly, “Buns.”

This fish knew soy milk went with buns.

“Got it.” Zhao Shuqing pinched her cheek affectionately. As she stood, she said, “I’ll go buy breakfast. That nurse sister can watch you while I’m gone, okay?”

She nearly bit her tongue after saying it.

Nurse sister? Lin Feng was older than all of them.

But those deep blue eyes staring up at her made Zhao Shuqing swallow her words. She ruffled Lin Feng’s hair and headed out, asking the nurse to keep an eye on her.

She returned from the cafeteria with two cups of soy milk and four buns. Just as she entered the medical building, she spotted a familiar figure ahead.

“Senior Sister!”

Zhao Shuqing called out and hurried to catch up. Xu Tang paused and turned, smiling warmly.

Once Zhao Shuqing drew near, Xu Tang noticed the breakfast in her hands and arched a brow. “Got some morning grub?”

“Yeah.” Zhao Shuqing grinned. “Lin Feng wanted soy milk, so I picked up my breakfast too. Have you eaten, Senior Sister?”

“I have.” Xu Tang chatted idly with her as they reached the room. “I looked into what you asked yesterday. Equipment failure—none of the cameras recorded anything until this morning.”

Zhao Shuqing frowned. “Senior Sister, do you buy their story? That an orca bit Lin Feng?”

Xu Tang regarded her steadily, offering no answer.

Zhao Shuqing’s shoulders slumped in defeat. She sighed. “I know it’s all speculation on my part, but I really feel like someone might be targeting Lin Feng. Could it be foreign agents this time? Spies or something?”

Xu Tang’s eyes crinkled with amusement. Her hand rested on the door handle, pushing it open with a soft creak.

Lin Feng looked up from inside, her gaze locking straight onto Xu Tang’s.

Xu Tang gazed back at her. “If someone’s out to harm her, why not just ask?”