Chapter 86

Zhao Shuqing felt that her current life was quite comfortable. She was single and carefree, with a stable job. As long as she didn’t quit, she could live in the single dormitory for the rest of her life. She had bought a car and had no plans to get married. Everything seemed more or less dispensable to her.

“There’s really nothing I want,” Zhao Shuqing said to Gu Yao. “Besides, I don’t celebrate my birthday, so don’t waste money buying me stuff.”

Gu Yao could hardly believe it. How could anyone in this world have nothing they wanted?

“What about clothes?” Gu Yao asked her. “You only have a few pieces in your closet, and you’ve been wearing them on rotation for years. Aren’t you going to buy some new ones?”

“My clothes aren’t worn out, so why buy new ones?” Zhao Shuqing looked at her in confusion. “I wear my work uniform every day anyway. Didn’t I just buy a short-sleeved shirt the other day? Over a hundred bucks, good quality, doesn’t pill.”

Gu Yao was speechless. “What about shoes then? Or stuff for the house? Isn’t there anything special you want to eat? Don’t you want to go to a five-star hotel suite to watch the sunrise and sunset while feasting on steak?”

Zhao Shuqing met her gaze frankly and shook her head. “Not at all.”

She had several pairs of spare shoes, nothing needed replacing at home, and she could buy whatever she felt like eating whenever she wanted. Besides, what was so special about sunrises and sunsets? The sun looked the same from home as it did from a five-star hotel.

Gu Yao nearly choked with frustration.

“If you’re like this, what are you going to do if you get married someday?” Gu Yao muttered. “She’d complain about you nonstop.”

Zhao Shuqing wasn’t offended. She smiled, walked over, and patted Gu Yao’s shoulder. “I’ve never planned on getting married anyway.”

Before Gu Yao could argue, Zhao Shuqing headed out of the bathroom. She saw that Lin Feng had already eaten two hot dogs and quickly advised her, “Why did you eat so many? Didn’t you have lunch? Eat a little less; there’s good stuff for dinner tonight.”

Lin Feng swallowed the last bite of her hot dog and asked curiously, “What’s for dinner?”

The seafood feast at noon must have put Zhao Shuqing off fish and shrimp for a while. She wanted something different now.

“How about hot pot?” Zhao Shuqing suggested. “You didn’t get your fill last time, so let’s do it again.”

“Sure!” Lin Feng nodded eagerly, grabbing Zhao Shuqing’s forearm to urge her on. “Remember to book a private room.”

Zhao Shuqing loved how easy Lin Feng was to please. She agreed with a “Sure,” then turned to Gu Yao. “Are you coming? More people, more fun.”

“I’ll pass,” Gu Yao said. She didn’t want to intrude on their twosome. “I want to catch up on some sleep this afternoon. You two go ahead. We’ll eat together next time when I’m free.”

“Okay.” Zhao Shuqing didn’t push. Seeing there was nothing more for her here, Gu Yao said her goodbyes.

That evening at hot pot, Shen Qingming sent Zhao Shuqing a message. They’d approved it on his end, the timing was set, and she should book her international flight. She was scheduled to leave for the business trip next month.

It would last about a week there.

A week…

Zhao Shuqing stared at the message from Shen Qingming. She couldn’t help glancing up at Lin Feng, who was beside her struggling with a shrimp ball. Lin Feng scooped up the cooked shrimp ball with a small spoon and placed it in front of Zhao Shuqing.

Lin Feng smiled at her. “You eat it.”

Zhao Shuqing’s heart softened. She reached out to rub Lin Feng’s cheek and asked, “If you didn’t see me for seven days, would you miss me?”

Lin Feng looked puzzled. “Seven days? Why so long?” She leaned in anxiously. “Where are you going?”

Zhao Shuqing figured Lin Feng would find out eventually, so she might as well tell her now. She trusted that Lin Feng would understand.

“I might have to go on a business trip—work out of town,” Zhao Shuqing explained. “Next month, for seven days. I’ll be giving a lecture there.”

Lin Feng didn’t like the sound of Zhao Shuqing leaving. “Why do you have to go? Can’t you skip it?”

As she spoke, Lin Feng’s delicate brows furrowed, and her blue eyes gazed at Zhao Shuqing with resentment. It was only next month, but she acted as if Zhao Shuqing was leaving right that instant.

“It’s for work,” Zhao Shuqing said, setting down her chopsticks. She ruffled Lin Feng’s hair and leaned in to kiss her lips, soothing her. “Like with Gu Yao or Wen Xiaoying—we all have jobs. You saw how Gu Yao spent several days at the laboratory, right? It’s the same thing.”

“Is a business trip just staying at the laboratory?”

“No, it’s staying at a hotel out of town.”

“Can you come back?”

“Not in the middle, but yes, after it’s over.”

“Seven days?”

“Yeah, seven days.”

Lin Feng hung her head in thought for a long while. When she looked up again, the agitation was gone from her eyes, but they were still full of disappointment. She gently tugged at the hem of Zhao Shuqing’s clothes. “Then I’ll wait for you at home.”

Those words touched Zhao Shuqing deeply. She pulled Lin Feng into her arms, patted her back soothingly, and chuckled softly. “Don’t be so sad. It’s not until next month. We still have a whole month together.”

Lin Feng hated the idea of her leaving. Mermaids didn’t have a strong sense of time, so it felt to her like Zhao Shuqing might vanish any moment.

She didn’t want Zhao Shuqing to go on the trip.

“Can’t you skip it?” Lin Feng rested her head on Zhao Shuqing’s shoulder, her voice muffled. “Or take me with you…”

“I can’t.” Zhao Shuqing shook her head and briefly explained what she’d be doing. Lin Feng sat quietly beside her, listening intently, her eyes fixed on Zhao Shuqing as if afraid she’d disappear on the next “business trip” and never be seen again.

“While I’m away, you can stay at the oceanarium,” Zhao Shuqing said gently. “They have everything there, and Wen Xiaoying and the night shift staff will take good care of you. Don’t worry—I’ll come back as soon as I’m done.”

“Mm.”

Lin Feng agreed reluctantly, nestling her head against Zhao Shuqing’s chest and murmuring softly, “You have to come back.”

Zhao Shuqing laughed in exasperation. “I haven’t left yet. It’s next month.”

Lin Feng wouldn’t hear it. To her, it felt like Zhao Shuqing was leaving right now.

News of the business trip left Lin Feng anxious and clingy. In the middle of the night, she’d press against Zhao Shuqing’s back, hugging her tightly as if she’d be gone by morning. During the day, her gaze followed Zhao Shuqing everywhere. Once, when Zhao Shuqing was out a bit too long, Wen Xiaoying called to say Lin Feng was looking for her.

Her neediness had multiplied several times over.

“My little fish,” Zhao Shuqing said helplessly as she wiped Lin Feng’s face. “How many times have you come looking for me today? Hmm? Can’t you let me read my papers in peace?”

Lin Feng gazed at her eagerly. “I’m not disturbing your reading.”

True, she wasn’t interrupting the reading itself—just calling for Zhao Shuqing eight hundred times a day.

Zhao Shuqing sighed. If she’d known Lin Feng would react like this, she wouldn’t have told the mermaid about the trip ahead of time. Now she felt like she might never get away.

After soothing Lin Feng, Zhao Shuqing stepped out and ran into Wen Xiaoying, who was carrying a bucket of fish. Spotting Zhao Shuqing, Wen Xiaoying greeted her enthusiastically. “Shuqing~”

“Mm.” Zhao Shuqing paused and eyed the bucket. “Who’s that for?”

“For the dolphins,” Wen Xiaoying replied. “We found out one is pregnant today, so this is an extra meal for her and the baby.”

It was rare for animals in captivity to breed on their own these days. The oceanarium hadn’t had a newborn in ages, and this was a natural conception—a precious event. No wonder they were making a fuss.

“Let me help,” Zhao Shuqing said, taking the bucket from her. “I wanted to check on that dolphin anyway.”

Wen Xiaoying gave her a puzzled look. “Aren’t you worried about Lin Feng looking for you? She’s been so clingy lately. No one else will do—she has to see you.”

Zhao Shuqing kept walking. “We have to wean her off it eventually. She can’t be with me forever.”

Wen Xiaoying sighed. “True enough.”

They seemed glued together now, but Zhao Shuqing was different from them, the hands-on keepers. She was a research PhD—destined not to stick around here forever.

At the dolphin enclosure, Zhao Shuqing saw the pregnant dolphin. The eight dolphins there were all meticulously cared for by the keepers, but no one knew whose baby this one was carrying.

Other keepers were cleaning it, hosing it down with a water hose while chatting idly.

“Who do you think got Yuan Yuan pregnant?” one asked, stroking the dolphin’s snout curiously. “We’ve got two males here.”

“I bet it’s Duo Duo,” another said. “Yuan Yuan loves playing with him. I see them nuzzling all the time. Gotta be his.”

“Hu Zi likes Yuan Yuan too. Why assume it’s Duo Duo’s? Hu Zi had a shot.”

“Hu Zi’s such a goofball. I don’t think he knows how to chase girls.”

“Haha, if Hu Zi could talk, he’d jump up and cuss you out.”

Zhao Shuqing listened to their carefree banter, her eyes on the bottlenose dolphin. She’d dissected ones like this before and knew where their reproductive organs were. Being newly confirmed, there was no visible sign of pregnancy yet.

Wen Xiaoying set the bucket nearby, went over to pat Yuan Yuan’s head, and cooed in a high-pitched voice, “You’re so amazing, Yuan Yuan! You’re going to be a mommy~”

Yuan Yuan seemed to understand, nudging Wen Xiaoying’s palm with her snout to signal she wanted fish.

Wen Xiaoying promptly obliged, feeding her the small fish in batches. Zhao Shuqing watched Yuan Yuan interact with the keepers, her gaze growing pensive.

The birth of new life really was something to celebrate.

Wen Xiaoying remembered Zhao Shuqing was waiting. After feeding and petting Yuan Yuan a bit, she trotted back with a smile. “Sorry to keep you. Let’s head back before Lin Feng starts fretting again.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded, glanced back at Yuan Yuan one last time, and walked away.

On the way, she told Wen Xiaoying about the overseas trip. Wen Xiaoying was stunned. “A whole week? That’s forever. No wonder Lin Feng’s been extra clingy these past few days.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded gravely. “While I’m gone, I’m entrusting Lin Feng to you. Don’t let anyone from the laboratory near her. Call me right away if anything comes up.”

Wen Xiaoying thumped her chest. “Don’t worry, leave her to me. I’ll fatten her up nice and plump for you.”