Chapter 70

Lin Feng’s medical report came back quickly. Her eggs had fully matured, ready for retrieval.

When the anesthetic was administered, Lin Feng struggled fiercely. Zhao Shuqing held her close, soothing her as best she could. The needle for the spinal injection was exceptionally long, and just three seconds after it went in, Lin Feng lost consciousness.

Though a mermaid’s physiology closely resembled that of a human, there were still notable differences. The procedure lasted around two hours, with Zhao Shuqing remaining by Lin Feng’s side in the operating room the entire time.

Zhao Shuqing’s only role was to stand there and watch as the other researchers handled the unconscious mermaid. They took samples from her tail, sliding long catheters between her scales.

It made Zhao Shuqing feel deeply uneasy.

A stifling weight pressed on her chest. The mermaid she had cherished for so long was being casually touched and prodded, treated like some lab animal for experimentation.

She couldn’t bear it, yet she had no power to intervene.

All she could do was stand in the operating room, utterly helpless.

The sensation left Zhao Shuqing with a profound sense of discomfort.

The surgery took two hours in total, yielding thirty-two eggs. Zhao Shuqing glanced at the cluster of transparent cells in the culture dish before turning her gaze back to Lin Feng, who lay motionless on the operating table.

The researcher in charge addressed her. “She should wake up in about an hour. Once she’s clear-headed, you can take her home.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded. “Thank you.”

Another researcher chimed in. “Want to get your procedure done while she’s out?”

“Not yet,” Zhao Shuqing replied. “I’m afraid she’ll wake up and not see me. I’ll wait until she’s a bit more recovered.”

The researchers exchanged glances but raised no objections.

Zhao Shuqing stayed in the operating room until the anesthesia wore off. Right on cue after an hour, Lin Feng’s eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

“You’re awake?” Zhao Shuqing gently touched her cheek and murmured, “It’s over. There shouldn’t be anything else lined up after this.”

This egg retrieval had produced a smaller batch, but it would suffice for the laboratory’s needs for a while. They probably wouldn’t resume dosing Lin Feng anytime soon.

Still groggy from the drugs, Lin Feng peered blearily at Zhao Shuqing and blew a bubble.

Zhao Shuqing gazed at her helplessly and gave a wry smile. “You’ve got the energy to play around with me? Do you have any idea how heartbroken I was seeing you lying there?”

Lin Feng blinked slowly, reached out to tap Zhao Shuqing’s nose, and offered a faint smile.

From then on, Zhao Shuqing spoke to her in a calm, measured tone. Lin Feng’s speech was thick and slurred, like she had a lisp, which Zhao Shuqing found endlessly amusing. Fortunately, after a little over an hour awake, Lin Feng had mostly recovered. Zhao Shuqing then escorted her to the ecological pool, where she could rest submerged for a bit.

Next came Zhao Shuqing’s turn.

Gu Yao, worried for her, accompanied her into the operating room. The human egg retrieval yielded far fewer—just eleven this time—with the rest requiring a month’s recovery before another round.

The two procedures stretched from daytime into the evening. Zhao Shuqing waited until she felt steady enough before leaving the operating room on her own.

Lin Feng perched on the edge of the pool, looking anxious. Her delicate brows furrowed as she asked everyone in sight, “Where’s Zhao Shuqing?” The researchers explained she was still in surgery, prompting Lin Feng to fret, “Why hasn’t she come out yet?”

Spotting her distress, Zhao Shuqing approached with a smile.

Lin Feng’s head snapped up at the sight of her, eyes brimming with concern. She started to clamber out of the pool, but Zhao Shuqing reached her first.

“Waiting for me?” Zhao Shuqing pulled her into an embrace and soothed her. “See? I’m out now. Everything’s fine.”

Lin Feng’s eyes were red-rimmed as she gazed up at her worriedly. “Why did you have to get surgery too?”

Zhao Shuqing smiled. “Because I’m like you—I need to provide genes as well.”

Lin Feng stared at her in confusion.

Zhao Shuqing caressed her cool cheek and explained softly, “The Mermaid Dual-Female Plan requires your genes and those of another human. I didn’t want to leave it to someone else, so I stepped up.”

Her voice turned tender. “If it works, it’ll be our child.”

Lin Feng’s pupils dilated in shock. Tears welled up, and she threw herself back into Zhao Shuqing’s arms.

“Woo…” Lin Feng mumbled thickly. “You didn’t have to do this… You don’t have to be so good to me…”

She was bait for mermaids, the worst of the lot.

Why was Zhao Shuqing treating her so kindly? Why did she want a child together?

Lin Feng felt an overwhelming sadness. Their hearts were connected; Zhao Shuqing cared for her too. Yet it seemed they could never truly be together.

Seeing Lin Feng cling to her and sob, Zhao Shuqing’s own heart ached. She stroked the mermaid’s head, holding her close by the ecological pool. All the hardships of the past few days seemed to dissolve in that moment.

Zhao Shuqing chuckled lightly. “Let’s go home.”

The laboratory director stopped by Xu Tang’s office to report on the day’s tasks. “Zhao Shuqing has already taken the mermaid and left. Shall we start the experiments tomorrow?”

Xu Tang stared off into space, silent for a long stretch before asking, “They’re both gone?”

The director gave her a puzzled look. “Yes, right after the samples were collected.”

Xu Tang rubbed her fingertips, a flicker of irritation rising within her.

She had designed the plan herself and even approved Zhao Shuqing’s gene donation. So why did it leave her feeling so uneasy now?

She had first taken notice of Zhao Shuqing around the time she connected with Shen Qingming.

Shen Qingming paid special attention to the “gift” of Mermaid Miss that had been sent his way. He often brought presents to visit Zhao Shuqing at the orphanage. Back then, she was just starting junior high—slim and gangly, her frame delicate in that awkward growth spurt phase.

As Shen Qingming’s “student,” Xu Tang had visited her frequently too.

Zhao Shuqing was an excellent student, and Shen Qingming had high hopes for her. Even she herself had declared her dream: to attend university and become his student. That was when Xu Tang had started paying attention to the girl.

Orphaned and fatherless, yet remarkably resilient.

Xu Tang had watched Zhao Shuqing’s determined efforts, seen her grow up, and eventually dive into this line of work alongside her.

And now, here they were—watching her start a family with a mermaid.

Xu Tang’s darkened expression was rather intimidating. The director, seeing no response after a while, ventured cautiously, “Group Leader Xu? If there’s nothing else, I’ll go make the arrangements.”

Xu Tang lifted her gaze and replied flatly, “Go ahead.”

The director snatched up the files and hurried out. She didn’t understand what was going on, but she could sense Xu Tang’s anger.

Once alone, the office fell back into dim silence. Xu Tang held her pose for a long time before tossing her pen aside and pinching the bridge of her nose against a budding headache.

Soon, footsteps approached outside. The visitor lingered at the door without entering, peeking in furtively.

Xu Tang opened her eyes and glanced toward the doorway.

“What are you sneaking around for?” she called out. “Come in.”

The figure hesitated briefly before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

“Little Tang Sis.” Gu Yao smiled at her, holding a takeout bag. She grinned ingratiatingly. “I got your favorite sweet and sour fish. You barely ate at lunch—you must be starving now, right?”

Xu Tang felt a surge of annoyance, especially at the sight of her brand-new “girlfriend,” whom she’d only been dating a few days.

Not long ago, she and Gu Yao had been out for their usual meal and chat, much like any other meeting. But that day, Gu Yao had suddenly asked, “What are we, exactly?”

Xu Tang looked at her, puzzled, and countered, “What do you think?”

Gu Yao’s eyes darted away, her ears turning pink as she whispered from across the table, “We’re… dating?”

Xu Tang was genuinely taken aback, staring at her in stunned silence.

Mermaids had only one lifelong partner—Lin Feng was hers, and Xu Tang was the same. The very idea sparked instinctive resistance deep within her.

She didn’t love Gu Yao. She felt nothing for the woman.

Their outings—meals, shopping—were purely because Xu Tang wanted to groom another helpful human ally.

Someone like Shen Qingming.

Cultivate her from youth, and by the time Xu Tang needed her, she’d be an expert in genetics, eager to assist at the slightest beckoning.

But Xu Tang had overlooked one crucial detail: humans didn’t share their rule of a single lifelong mate.

Gazing into the woman’s eyes, Xu Tang hesitated only a moment before smiling. “Of course.”

They were girlfriends.

Even if Xu Tang felt no affection, they could start as such.

Gu Yao pulled up a chair and sat beside Xu Tang, unpacking the takeout. It was sweet and sour fish from Xu Tang’s favorite spot—pricey, but Gu Yao ordered it every time.

Who could blame her? Her girlfriend loved it.

Gu Yao felt like the luckiest person alive. Her job was going great, bonuses were rolling in, and she saw her girlfriend every day.

Life was bliss.

“Here, yours.” Gu Yao snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks, scraped off the splinters, and handed them over. She even peeled back the lid on the rice for her.

Xu Tang murmured a soft “Mm,” watching Gu Yao eat beside her. They sat too close, their arms brushing.

With a blank expression, Xu Tang shifted away, putting some distance between them.

Gu Yao noticed nothing amiss and said cheerfully, “Little Tang Sis, I was thinking of heading out early today to check on Shuqing and the others. They both just had their procedures and won’t have anyone at home to look after them. I could at least bring them tea and water.”

Xu Tang nodded. “Work doesn’t start until tomorrow. Go ahead if you like.”

Delighted by the approval, Gu Yao picked up a piece of sweet and sour fish and placed it on Xu Tang’s rice. Xu Tang eyed it and said, “From now on, don’t come to my office so often during work hours.”

Gu Yao paused mid-bite and looked up at her girlfriend. “…Why not?”

“Didn’t we agree on this?” Xu Tang gave her a sidelong glance, brushing her cheek with the back of her finger in a coaxing gesture. “You’re a team member now, and I’m the group leader. If word gets out that we’re dating, it won’t look good.”

“But…”

“We’ll just keep our distance at work. Privately, I’ll still dote on you.” Xu Tang spoke gently to Gu Yao. “Don’t let anyone know about us, got it?”

After a long hesitation, Gu Yao nodded slowly. “I understand, Group Leader Xu.”