Zhao Shuqing had spent the past few days cross-referencing the mermaid’s data, confirming multiple times that there were no issues. Only then did she publish her paper.
It was quickly accepted by a globally renowned journal, and soon after, the notice for Xu Tang’s meeting arrived.
Gu Yao knocked on Zhao Shuqing’s door bright and early. As soon as she stepped inside, she asked, “Are you going too?”
Zhao Shuqing nodded, toothbrush still in her mouth. She was Lin Feng’s dedicated care researcher, handling all the mermaid-related work. Naturally, she had to attend this Mermaid Plan meeting.
Gu Yao watched Zhao Shuqing head back to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face. Leaning helplessly against the doorframe, she said, “I just don’t get it. What is Group Leader Xu planning? She’s even keeping secrets from you?”
Zhao Shuqing rinsed her mouth and replied, “Yeah, I don’t know any details about the plan either. Don’t ask me—everything will be clear once the meeting starts.”
Gu Yao frowned. “I just have this uneasy feeling.”
Zhao Shuqing fell silent as she brushed her teeth, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Truth be told, she felt uneasy too.
But then Zhao Shuqing thought about it—Lin Feng was the world’s only known mermaid. Even for an experiment, they probably wouldn’t harm her at a fundamental level. After all, Lin Feng had blown up online lately, especially that video of her singing in the ecological pool. It had racked up over three hundred million views and even made the news.
With popularity like that, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
Gu Yao found Zhao Shuqing’s reasoning sound, and her worries eased considerably. “I’m heading out to grab breakfast. What do you all want? I’ll bring it back.”
She turned specifically to Lin Feng, who was sprawled on the bed, swishing her tail while resting her chin on the pillow and playing a matching game on the tablet. Grinning, Gu Yao asked, “Lin Feng, what do you feel like for breakfast? How about some pancake fruit?”
Lin Feng turned her head. “Pancake fruit?”
She thought Gu Yao was truly a remarkable human, always introducing her to new things every few days.
What was pancake fruit?
Some kind of apple?
Zhao Shuqing emerged from the bathroom and said to Gu Yao, “She’s never had pancake fruit before. No idea if she’ll like it.”
“No problem if she hasn’t tried it. She’ll know once she eats it, right?” Gu Yao smiled at Lin Feng. “I’ll get you one, plus a few other things. If you like it, I’ll buy more next time. If not, I’ll eat the extras.”
Gu Yao chattered away, settling on breakfast for all three of them. She bounced off happily like a little sparrow, leaving Zhao Shuqing shaking her head in exasperation. She went to change her clothes first.
When Lin Feng saw Zhao Shuqing pull the Research Institute uniform from the closet, she knew her researcher was about to head out.
“Where are you going?” Lin Feng asked.
“To a meeting.” Zhao Shuqing finished changing and came over to gently caress Lin Feng’s cheek. “I don’t know how long it’ll run. If I’m not back by lunch, I’ll call you.”
Zhao Shuqing sat on the edge of the bed, tapped the tablet, and then video-called it from her phone. A notification popped up on the small device. She showed Lin Feng how to answer: “See? This way, we can see each other face-to-face.”
Ever since Lin Feng had come looking for her at the hospital last time, Zhao Shuqing had realized she couldn’t be by her side every moment—and neither could anyone else be with Lin Feng constantly. Fortunately, Lin Feng was a quick learner; she’d mastered video calls after one lesson. Today was just a refresher.
Lin Feng nodded reluctantly, tugging at Zhao Shuqing’s clothes. “Come back soon.”
Zhao Shuqing’s heart fluttered at the plea, her gaze toward Lin Feng complicated. Seizing the moment before Gu Yao returned, she cupped Lin Feng’s face and leaned in for a kiss.
Lin Feng parted her lips instinctively, meeting the kiss. They savored each other’s breaths in a tender, lingering tangle.
Only when they’d had their fill did Zhao Shuqing reluctantly pull away. Gazing at Lin Feng’s lips, now glistening from their kiss, she felt her heart swell full to bursting.
It was utterly absurd.
Yet utterly addictive.
After breakfast, Zhao Shuqing gave repeated instructions before leaving with Gu Yao. The meeting venue wasn’t far; they could walk there.
The house had surveillance cameras. Once seated, Zhao Shuqing pulled up the feed and saw Lin Feng slumped over the table, staring blankly at the clownfish. She must have been bored— she wasn’t even bothering with the tablet anymore.
Zhao Shuqing’s heart itched with the urge to rush home and keep her company.
“Dr. Zhao.”
Colleagues and teachers trickled in one by one, greeting her. Zhao Shuqing closed her phone for the moment and smiled back at them.
She didn’t relax until Xu Tang arrived. Approaching her, Zhao Shuqing said, “Senior Sister.”
Xu Tang nodded with a smile. “I saw your paper got published. Did you bring the original? Send it to me—I’ll have my assistant print copies for everyone.”
Zhao Shuqing nodded and followed Xu Tang’s assistant to print the files. By the time she returned, the conference room was packed. Members from the Genome Group and the Marine Group sat on opposite sides, joined by some high-status strangers Zhao Shuqing didn’t recognize.
She felt a twinge of puzzlement. What kind of meeting was this? So secretive, yet drawing such a crowd.
Once the materials were distributed, everyone pored over them intently. Xu Tang read through hers carefully before speaking. “I assume you’ve all had a chance to review? Then I’ll start with the main purpose of this meeting.”
Heads lifted, eyes turning to the head seat.
Xu Tang rested her hands on the table and swept a calm gaze over the room. “This meeting requires complete confidentiality. Please leave any opinions or questions inside this room—don’t discuss them afterward.”
She turned to the Genome Group professor beside her. “The Genome Group was working on a shelved project recently. I’m sure you’ve all heard of it: the Double Cisgender Plan. It has achieved significant results. At least on the human gene level, two cisgender pairs can now form new embryos. For humanity, this is a major breakthrough.”
The room erupted in murmurs.
Xu Tang continued, “The successful development of the Double Cisgender Plan is a milestone for humanity. It means that even if males can’t reproduce and the gene bank runs dry, we won’t face extinction.”
“But this isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning.” Her voice echoed through the conference room, holding everyone’s attention in rapt silence.
She scanned the faces before her. “You’ve all read Dr. Zhao Shuqing’s published paper by now, confirming the high similarity between humans and mermaids. The Genome Group’s report shows over eighty-five percent genetic overlap. What does that imply?”
Xu Tang said softly, “It implies humans might one day achieve a five-hundred-year lifespan.”
Zhao Shuqing furrowed her brow.
Someone quickly raised an objection. “We can’t calculate it that way. There’s still a fifteen percent gap. Mermaids’ genes are fixed—how can humans gain five hundred years from them?”
Xu Tang turned to the speaker. “Current humans can’t, but hybrids of humans and mermaids might.”
Zhao Shuqing’s eyes widened. “You want humans to breed with mermaids?”
The room buzzed with disapproval. “Group Leader Xu, that’s absurd! Humans can’t breed with other species—even animals don’t do that. It’s against ethics!”
Xu Tang replied, “Ethics presuppose humanity’s survival.”
She addressed the dissenters. “Haven’t you seen how low the birth rate is now?”
“But we still have the gene bank. And even if reproduction is hard, there’s the Double Cisgender Plan.”
“The Double Cisgender Plan doesn’t guarantee healthy offspring. The environment is worsening—males can’t reproduce already. Female infertility is just a matter of time. If we don’t adapt, humanity will go extinct from lack of heirs.”
“But even so… not with mermaids!”
Xu Tang regarded the speaker calmly. “Group Leader Liu, no need to get worked up. We’re just running the experiment—not committing to implementation. What seems incomprehensible now might be embraced centuries from now, when extinction looms due to infertility. They might thank our decision.”
Her words struck a chord, moving everyone present.
Yes, they couldn’t accept breeding with mermaids now because the gene bank still had stock, and births ticked up yearly, however few. They didn’t need to worry yet.
But everyone here was a scientist. Their responsibility extended beyond the present to the future.
If that day came—gene banks empty, no more children—humanity might activate this plan, breeding with mermaids to fuse genes and birth a new race.
Seeing no further opposition, Xu Tang turned to Zhao Shuqing beside her. She’d noticed Zhao Shuqing had spoken up early on but then fallen silent, which piqued her curiosity.
“Shuqing,” Xu Tang said. “You’re Lin Feng’s researcher. You’ve been quiet—what are your thoughts?”
Zhao Shuqing looked up at her, hesitating a few seconds before asking, “What will happen to the mermaids used as subjects?”
Xu Tang smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry on that front. We only need the mermaid’s eggs. She’ll remain free, just providing fresh samples periodically. No further demands.”
Zhao Shuqing gave Xu Tang a long, searching look. “Was the Mermaid Plan decided before we even captured the mermaid?”
Xu Tang replied, “It’s a national project. It was set before the expedition even sailed.”
Just not shared with you.
Zhao Shuqing caught the implication. Everything was already in place; she couldn’t voice dissent now. Frustration choked her—she couldn’t accept it, yet had no choice.
Xu Tang addressed the group without glancing her way. “Next, the specifics of the experiment. If anyone doesn’t want to join the Mermaid Plan, please sign the confidentiality agreement at the door before leaving. Those who stay will receive joint task assignments.”
She added, “I hope everyone makes their own judgment. This could be the dawn of a great new humanity.”
