Chapter 50

Everyone had complicated feelings about Xu Tang’s words. During the rest of the meeting, some people stayed while others left. Those who departed had to sign a confidentiality agreement with the assistant at the door first. Most chose to remain.

Zhao Shuqing stayed, and so did Gu Yao.

The two women, seated in different spots, exchanged a glance. They could both see the bewilderment in each other’s eyes.

Yet neither of them left. Gu Yao remained because of her connection to her professor, while Zhao Shuqing had no choice—she couldn’t allow these people to experiment on Lin Feng without her knowledge.

The meeting dragged on slowly. Xu Tang outlined the tasks and priorities for the two teams going forward. The joint experiment required not only knowledge of marine biology but also a heavy emphasis on gene engineering.

It wasn’t until noon, at 12 o’clock, that the four-hour meeting finally wrapped up.

Zhao Shuqing left the conference room with a grim expression, clutching her files. Gu Yao hurried out after her and called out, “Shuqing, wait for me! Let’s head back together.”

Gu Yao jogged over. Seeing Zhao Shuqing’s dark look, she knew exactly what was on her mind. With so many people in the hallway, it wasn’t the time to talk. She grabbed Zhao Shuqing’s hand and hurried away.

When Xu Tang emerged from the conference room, she glanced at the pair’s retreating backs. Her face remained impassive as she turned away.

Downstairs at the dormitory, Gu Yao finally asked Zhao Shuqing, “Shuqing, what’s this Mermaid Plan all about? You didn’t know either?”

Zhao Shuqing shook her head. She never would have imagined that Xu Tang would keep it from her too.

Why?

Zhao Shuqing couldn’t understand. If this was truly a national mission decided before they set out to sea, why hide it from her?

Was it because of secrecy?

Or because her clearance level wasn’t high enough to know about the plan in advance?

Either way, it left a bitter ache in Zhao Shuqing’s heart—for herself, and for Lin Feng.

“How can they do this?” Gu Yao fumed. “Poor Lin Feng, forced into experiments like that.”

Zhao Shuqing said nothing and didn’t slow her pace. Gu Yao couldn’t read her thoughts, so she followed her into the elevator, watching her carefully.

Lin Feng was sprawled on the table, bored out of her mind as she stared down the clownfish. She heard the door open and sat up straight, looking toward it eagerly. When she saw it was Zhao Shuqing, a brilliant smile lit up her face. “Zhao Shuqing.”

Zhao Shuqing gazed at Lin Feng, while Gu Yao behind her shot the pair a complicated look. Deciding she was the third wheel, Gu Yao murmured quietly, “You two chat. I’ll head back to my room.”

Once Gu Yao had gone, Zhao Shuqing stepped inside and changed her shoes. Lin Feng sat in her chair, watching her and tilting her head. “What are we having for lunch?”

Zhao Shuqing paused, then put her shoes away in the cabinet. She walked over and crouched in front of Lin Feng. “What do you want to eat?”

Lin Feng grinned. “Anything you make is fine.”

Zhao Shuqing stared at Lin Feng’s smile, her heart twisting with sour bitterness. She couldn’t bear to imagine what would await Lin Feng if she truly became an experimental subject.

For now, though, Zhao Shuqing forced a smile and decided to make her lunch first.

The fridge was stocked full of ingredients. Zhao Shuqing washed a small plate of cherry tomatoes for Lin Feng to tide her over, then tied on an apron and got to cooking.

Half an hour later, a simple spread of two dishes and a soup was ready. Lin Feng beamed at the sight of her favorites—steamed fish and big shrimp—on the table. She dug in happily, bowl and chopsticks in hand.

After the meal, when Lin Feng saw Zhao Shuqing clearing the dishes, she scooted over to help collect the bowls and utensils.

“No need.” Zhao Shuqing stopped her, speaking softly. “Rest up. I’ll handle the dishes.”

Lin Feng hugged the stack of dishes thoughtfully. She really did hate washing them—the soapy feel on her hands was awful. So she handed them over without protest and asked quietly, “Can I take a bath?”

Zhao Shuqing glanced at the time and nodded. “Go ahead. Fill it yourself.”

Lin Feng lit up with joy. She grabbed the clownfish’s fish tank and headed to the balcony to run the water for her soak.

By the time Zhao Shuqing finished cleaning the kitchen, she found Lin Feng sitting in the bathtub, chattering away to the clownfish. She smiled and went to pour Lin Feng a glass of milk, but she couldn’t find her usual cup. Settling for an unused one, she walked over.

Zhao Shuqing set down the milk and asked, “Have you seen my everyday cup?”

Lin Feng froze, not daring to look up. “Nope.”

Zhao Shuqing frowned in confusion. “Things keep going missing around here lately. That little bear spoon vanished too. Did I just forget where I put them?”

Lin Feng kept her head down and murmured, “No idea.”

Zhao Shuqing eyed her curiously—Lin Feng seemed off—but cups and spoons were minor things. She probably misplaced them in her carelessness. Nothing valuable; she could always buy replacements.

She watched Lin Feng and hesitated for a long moment before sitting down. Her gaze was calm as she regarded her.

Lin Feng panicked, convinced her secret hoarding had been discovered. She couldn’t meet Zhao Shuqing’s eyes, her mind racing with what to do if she was busted.

What could she do?

She’d hidden them; it was done. Zhao Shuqing wouldn’t really throw her out over that, right?

Lin Feng summoned her courage and glared back, cheeks puffed out. “Why are you staring at me?”

Now it was Zhao Shuqing’s turn to be stunned. She looked at Lin Feng silently, her expression complicated.

“Lin Feng,” Zhao Shuqing said. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Lin Feng’s eyes widened. Was this woman seriously going to toss her out over a cup and a spoon?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Her eyes reddened with anger, and she snapped, “Bad woman!”

Zhao Shuqing blinked. “Huh?”

She hadn’t even said anything yet—why the scolding?

Lin Feng burst into tears. “You just want to throw me away!”

Zhao Shuqing startled and leaned in to comfort her. “No, how could I ever throw you out?”

Lin Feng sniffled, tears clinging to her lashes. “You do…”

She was lazy and gluttonous, only good for baths.

She slept restlessly and could barely brush her teeth right.

She wasn’t as driven or cute as Gu Yao, nor as composed as Xu Tang. Zhao Shuqing was sick of her.

Fine, throw her out then. She’d swim back to the Pacific Ocean. If she couldn’t make it, she’d starve.

Starve to death.

As Lin Feng grew more aggrieved, tears rolling down like little pearls, Zhao Shuqing couldn’t help but laugh through her worry. “I really am not throwing you out. What I meant was… the meeting this morning. They talked about possibly using your eggs, so I wanted to tell you.”

Lin Feng stopped crying at that. She hiccuped and asked, “Eggs?”

She didn’t fully grasp human words yet, but she’d heard the term long ago, back when she was trapped in that cramped rock crevice in the deep sea. Now she stared blankly at Zhao Shuqing, realizing what lay ahead.

Zhao Shuqing explained what eggs were. Lin Feng sat quietly in the bathtub, listening.

In the end, Zhao Shuqing watched Lin Feng’s downcast eyes and the light fading from them. Bitterness welled up in her mouth.

“Lin Feng.”

Zhao Shuqing cupped the mermaid’s cheeks and leaned in for a gentle kiss. She whispered, “If you don’t want this, I can help you escape.”

Lin Feng blinked. “What?”

Help her escape?

Zhao Shuqing nodded firmly. “Yes. If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll find a chance to get you out. Then you’d be free—to return to the sea and live without restraints.”

Lin Feng stared at her. “Could I still see you?”

Zhao Shuqing gave a wry smile. “Of course not.”

Lin Feng shook her head at once. “Then I’m not going.”

“But do you know what your future here would be like?”

“Still not going.”

Lin Feng reached out, touching Zhao Shuqing’s cheek. “Anywhere without you, I won’t go.”

Zhao Shuqing opened her mouth, but no words came. She could only bow her head and capture Lin Feng’s lips, their breaths mingling as one.

Lin Feng returned the kiss, stroking Zhao Shuqing’s cheek, letting her kiss freely.

Even in the sunlight, Zhao Shuqing felt piercingly cold.

She knew egg extraction was just the first step. If the hybridization succeeded, Lin Feng might have to endure pregnancy—swollen belly and all—birthing a new kind of human…

Xu Tang’s office always had the curtains drawn year-round. She only opened them or turned on the lights when someone visited.

Normally, the room stayed dim, sometimes pitch-black without a single lamp.

Even so, Xu Tang moved freely in the dark. She was human now, though, and had to adapt to sunlight no matter how uncomfortable.

After the meeting, she’d holed up in her office until her assistant called—someone was here to see her.

Zhao Shuqing entered just as Xu Tang pulled back the curtains. Half the office remained shadowed.

Xu Tang turned to her with a smile. “You’re here.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded. “Senior Sister still loves drawing the curtains, huh? It’s not great for your eyes.”

“No worries.” Xu Tang secured the curtains and said, “I’m used to it, and it hasn’t hurt my vision.”

She added, “Have a seat. Want me to make you some coffee?”

“I don’t like coffee.” Zhao Shuqing pulled out a chair and sat. “No need to bother. I’ll be quick—just two things.”

Xu Tang raised an eyebrow and took a seat. “What is it?” She paused, then guessed, “About Lin Feng?”

Zhao Shuqing nodded gravely. “I told Lin Feng about the Mermaid Plan. She… agrees to participate. But I have two conditions. First, we wait until her body’s fully healed. She still has injuries—no experiments yet.”

Xu Tang nodded. “That’s fine. The Genome Group has other projects unfinished anyway. It won’t start soon, and by then, Lin Feng should be recovered. What’s your second condition?”

Zhao Shuqing fell silent for a moment before speaking. “The Mermaid Plan needs human eggs and mermaid eggs, right? For the human side, I want to provide the genes myself.”