Chapter 75

Gu Yao had been promoted.

Just before the morning meeting that day, she was still an ordinary technician getting squeezed by her colleagues. But during the meeting itself, she was appointed as the deputy leader of the Genome Group.

Gu Yao was a little dazed.

She glanced at Xu Tang, who was seated at the head of the table, feeling a twinge of guilt deep inside.

Xu Tang didn’t meet Gu Yao’s eyes. After making the appointment, she dismissed one of the Genome Group members and declared the meeting over.

The dismissed member hadn’t even processed what happened. Only after Xu Tang left did she collapse over the table and burst into tears. Her Genome Group colleagues rushed over to comfort her, but the girl sobbed in hiccupping gasps, utterly heartbroken.

Gu Yao stared at the scene in a stupor, at a loss for what to do. In a panic, she clutched her notebook and fled.

She ran, but she didn’t go far.

Xu Tang had just entered her office and was about to draw the curtains when Gu Yao burst in, notebook in arms, slamming the door behind her with a bang.

Xu Tang turned to look at her.

“Why did you do that?” Gu Yao asked in disbelief. “Just because I mentioned a couple of days ago that she was bullying me, you fired her?”

A few evenings earlier, after work, Gu Yao had gone out to dinner with Xu Tang and couldn’t help venting a bit.

“Zhang Ling from our group always dumps her tasks on me,” Gu Yao had said, poking at the rice in her bowl. “She just sits there playing on her phone, video-chatting with her girlfriend. Genome Group workloads are heavy enough as it is, and she makes me do double duty. It’s so annoying.”

Xu Tang had eaten calmly and replied, “Then why agree to help her? Just ignore her.”

Gu Yao had sighed. “No choice. She’s a delicate little princess who can’t do any real work, but she loves ordering milk tea takeout for everyone in the group. They all think she’s great.”

Xu Tang had given her a look. “And she only picks on you?”

“It’s not exactly bullying,” Gu Yao had said. “She doesn’t do it every day. She’s just head over heels for her new girlfriend lately and doesn’t want to work.”

Xu Tang, sitting across from her, had remarked lightly, “If she doesn’t want to work, no one’s forcing her.”

At the time, Gu Yao thought they were just chatting idly over dinner—who doesn’t gripe about coworkers after a meal? She never imagined Xu Tang would fire her just a few days later.

Xu Tang glanced at the fuming Gu Yao, released the curtain, and asked, “Didn’t you say she kept dumping her work on you? Firing her helps you out, doesn’t it?”

Gu Yao shook her head. “It’s not like that. I was just complaining to you. I didn’t want her fired. Zhang Ling’s a good person.”

Xu Tang replied, “You don’t need to feel guilty about firing Zhang Ling. Her reports were always full of errors. Even if I hadn’t done it today, I would’ve fired her eventually.”

She pulled out a chair and sat down. Looking at Gu Yao’s pale face, she beckoned her over. “Come here.”

Puzzled, Gu Yao walked over and stood in front of her.

Xu Tang softened her tone. “I just removed her from the Mermaid Dual Female Plan team. She hasn’t lost her researcher position. After signing the confidentiality agreement, she’ll be reassigned to another project group. No need to blame yourself for her sake.”

“But…”

“No buts.”

Xu Tang reached out, taking Gu Yao’s cold hand in hers. Toying with it absently, she said, “Now you’re the deputy group leader. Aside from Group Leader Liu and me, you don’t have to listen to anyone. No one will make you do things you don’t want to anymore.”

Gu Yao stood there, her gaze dropping to Xu Tang’s beautiful features. Her heart pounded wildly.

She had braced herself for the possibility that Xu Tang didn’t really like her—that maybe Xu Tang was just bored and looking for some fun. Gu Yao had been willing to be that fun for her, but she never expected Xu Tang to actually care about her too.

Gu Yao was overjoyed.

“I-I’ve never been a deputy group leader before. I don’t know if I can do it right,” she said, blushing as she looked down. “The Mermaid Dual Female Plan is such a huge project. What if I mess it up?”

“You won’t mess it up,” Xu Tang said, pulling her closer and steadying her by the waist. “The Double Female Experiment succeeded. The mermaid version will go smoothly too.”

“But we’ve failed over a dozen times already,” Gu Yao said worriedly. “We’ve used up all the genes Shuqing provided. I don’t know if the remaining twenty-odd mermaid ova will work. I’m a little scared.”

Xu Tang smiled gently, coaxing her. “Don’t be afraid. Research is all about repeating failures until you succeed. I believe your Genome Group can do it.”

Gazing at Xu Tang’s warm smile, Gu Yao felt her heart melt like honey. She nodded with a soft laugh. “I know. We’ll definitely succeed.”

Xu Tang looked at Gu Yao standing before her, her pupils trembling faintly. After a moment, she took her hand and said, “Your Genome Group has the afternoon off. Want to come with me somewhere?”

Gu Yao blinked in confusion. “Where to?”

“You’ll see when we get there,” Xu Tang replied.

With the Genome Group’s recent experiments all failing and a member fired that day, morale was low. The group gave everyone half a day off, and by noon, the lab was empty.

Group Leader Liu saw Gu Yao was still there and walked over. “Yaoyao, you’re the deputy group leader now. I’ll send you the group’s plans later. Study them carefully when you get home.”

Gu Yao stood up quickly and nodded. “Got it. I’ll look them over seriously.”

Group Leader Liu couldn’t quite understand why Xu Tang had appointed the young Gu Yao as deputy group leader. She was diligent, sure, but her age and experience were lacking. Plenty of more senior members hadn’t gotten the role yet, and there’d be backlash for sure.

Being the new boss wouldn’t be easy. Group Leader Liu wanted to look out for her.

“If anything comes up in the group, discuss it with me first,” Group Leader Liu advised. “It’ll be rough at the start, but it’ll get better.”

Gu Yao nodded to show she understood.

Leaving the laboratory, Gu Yao changed into her own clothes and hurried downstairs. In a corner of the parking lot, she furtively texted Xu Tang to come down quick.

They were girlfriends, but it felt like they were sneaking around.

A dozen minutes later, Xu Tang finally appeared.

Once in the car, Gu Yao leaned in eagerly for some affection, but Xu Tang deftly dodged.

“Behave,” Xu Tang said calmly as she buckled her seatbelt. “What if someone sees?”

Gu Yao pouted but sat back properly and buckled up. Feeling wronged, she asked, “I haven’t eaten yet. Should we grab food first before heading to that place?”

“Sure,” Xu Tang said, starting the engine. “I want that grilled fish place we went to before. They should have a table now.”

Gu Yao opened her mouth—about to suggest spicy hot pot—but swallowed it. She forced a smile. “Sounds good.”

She was used to it by now.

Xu Tang really loved fish. She ate it in every style imaginable, only occasionally switching to other meats. Fish was her absolute favorite.

Gu Yao was sick of it.

Not that the fish was bad—every restaurant made it tasty, and they varied it up: fish hotpot, fish head rice, grilled fish, sweet and sour fish, braised fish, even West Lake vinegar fish. Xu Tang loved them all.

But even the best fish gets old after a month or two. Now Gu Yao found herself craving vegetables she used to hate.

After fish for lunch, Xu Tang drove Gu Yao to a spot in the suburbs.

When Xu Tang parked, Gu Yao finally got a clear look at the building—a place that resembled a church.

“Little Tang Sis, why’d you bring me to a church?” Gu Yao asked, puzzled, as she got out.

Xu Tang locked the door and smiled at her. “The Mermaid Appreciation Society. Ever heard of it?”

“What society?” Gu Yao stared at the church in surprise. “Mermaids? Like… the ones we’re researching?”

“Exactly,” Xu Tang nodded calmly. “Come on in.”

Gu Yao had never heard of such a place. The white building looked just like a grand European cathedral, with neat lawns in the courtyard. People in casual clothes chatted amiably. Spotting Xu Tang and Gu Yao, they turned to size Gu Yao up before resuming their conversations.

Xu Tang led her inside. It was like any ordinary church: rows of long benches upon entering, and at the front, a massive relief sculpture embedded in the wall—a giant beautiful mermaid with her eyes closed, cradling a shell nearly as large as herself.

The colorless relief depicted the beautiful mermaid in serene repose, curled protectively around the shell in her arms as if in deep slumber.

Gu Yao stared, entranced.

She was an atheist, and as a researcher, she trusted science over mysticism. She’d only heard about religion from others and never sought it out.

But she had to admit, the mermaid carving in this church was exquisitely beautiful. The enormous relief drew every eye.

Sacred. Pure.

“Is that…?” Gu Yao asked in surprise, glancing at the mermaid relief before turning to Xu Tang. “A mermaid?”

Xu Tang nodded gently. “Come on in.”

Gu Yao hesitated, looking at her. “I don’t believe in this stuff. I’ll wait outside in the car.”

Xu Tang met her gaze steadily. After a pause, she said, “I don’t believe either, but sitting in won’t hurt. Just watch from the side. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

Since Xu Tang put it that way, refusing would seem rude. Gu Yao nodded and took a seat in the corner, telling Xu Tang to hurry back.

The church wasn’t empty, but it was hushed. Everyone seemed intrigued by the newcomer, sneaking glances her way. New arrivals shot looks at Gu Yao too.

It made her uncomfortable, so she pulled out her phone and scrolled.

Xu Tang circled behind the giant relief and headed to the back of the church. Soon, someone emerged to meet her.

“Is that girl your newly selected target?” the person asked.

“Something like that,” Xu Tang replied, turning back. “I’m here to show her our world and to register her with you.”

The person looked up. “Is something wrong?”

Xu Tang nodded calmly. “Shen Qingming is dead. He’s a mermaid now.”