Chapter 93

Zhao Shuqing lay on her side, propping her head up with one hand as she gazed at Lin Feng, who slept soundly nestled in her arms. She glanced at the digital clock on the desk. It was already four in the morning.

In just a few hours, she would have to head to the airport.

Lin Feng’s sleep was restless. Her delicate brows were furrowed slightly, and her shoulders and chest still bore the marks Zhao Shuqing had left the night before. The two of them had lost control yesterday, as if they’d crammed a whole week’s worth of passion into one night. Lin Feng’s body was sticky all over, so Zhao Shuqing had eventually carried her to the bathroom for a rinse.

Of course, they’d done it once more in there too.

Zhao Shuqing’s gaze softened as she recalled how, toward the end, Lin Feng had gone limp against the bathroom wall, her tail drooping limply. Zhao Shuqing had kissed her body tenderly, but Lin Feng had seemed overwhelmed, clinging to her shoulders and pleading for her to “slow down”…

Gazing at the peaceful sleeping face in her arms, Zhao Shuqing leaned down and brushed her cheek lightly against Lin Feng’s.

When Lin Feng woke, it was already ten o’clock. She opened her eyes to bright daylight outside. Zhao Shuqing had already packed her things, and the room was quiet. A black suitcase stood by the door, while Zhao Shuqing herself was out on the balcony, speaking softly into her phone.

“The flight’s at 2:40. I’ve got everything packed,” Zhao Shuqing said, her back to the bedroom. “I know. Mm, I won’t forget. Okay, I’ll call you when I land.”

She only turned around after Shen Qingming hung up—and found Lin Feng sitting upright, her beautiful blue eyes fixed intently on her.

They were filled with melancholy.

Zhao Shuqing couldn’t bear to see that look on Lin Feng’s face. She stepped in from the balcony and sat on the bed’s edge, reaching out to stroke her cheek. But Lin Feng threw herself into her arms instead.

“Come back soon,” Lin Feng murmured. “I’ll miss you.”

Zhao Shuqing paused, then hugged her back. “Mm.”

In addition to her own luggage, Zhao Shuqing had also packed some of Lin Feng’s daily essentials and had them sent along to the oceanarium’s office area with the car. Lin Feng perched at the pool’s edge, watching as Zhao Shuqing carefully arranged her pillow, blanket, stuffed animals, and the like. She gave instructions to Wen Xiaoying and placed her toothbrush, towel, and little brush for cleaning her tail scales in the bathroom.

Everything anyone could need was already there in abundance, but Zhao Shuqing fussed over every little detail anyway, as if terrified her little mermaid might go without.

Wen Xiaoying gave a wry smile. “Shuqing, are you going for seven days or seven years? No need to spell everything out like this. People might think you’re not coming back.”

Zhao Shuqing hurriedly gestured for her to keep it down, lest Lin Feng overhear and get upset.

“Fine, fine,” Wen Xiaoying said helplessly. “You’ll be back next week anyway. It’s just one week—what could possibly go wrong?”

Zhao Shuqing tugged at the corner of her mouth in a smile. She didn’t know why, but a vague unease gnawed at her heart.

“I’ll video call Lin Feng every morning and evening,” Zhao Shuqing said. “Leave this phone right here—don’t let her take it underwater.”

“Got it.”

“If anything seems off with her, you have to tell me right away.”

“Don’t worry.”

Wen Xiaoying dug in her ear with a finger. “I promise to send you videos of her every day. I’ll take good care of her.”

Once everything was squared away, Zhao Shuqing walked to the pool’s edge. Lin Feng perked up the moment she approached, sitting up straighter and slapping the water excitedly with her tail.

“I’m heading out,” Zhao Shuqing said, crouching down. “I’ll video call you once I arrive. Remember to pick up.”

Lin Feng nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Be safe on the road.”

Zhao Shuqing smiled and returned the kiss.

She skipped lunch altogether, driving straight to the airport. She didn’t need anyone to see her off. During check-in and security, Lin Feng’s scale drew extra scrutiny, but Zhao Shuqing showed her credentials and paperwork before they let her through with it.

Before boarding, she texted Shen Qingming and Gu Yao, then called Lin Feng. In the video, Lin Feng’s image looked a bit distorted. She knew how to use the phone, of course, but it wasn’t the same as seeing her in person.

Lin Feng’s expression soured when she learned the flight would take ten hours. She lowered her eyes, clutched the phone, and nodded silently.

“Once we land, if you haven’t gone to bed yet, we’ll video call again,” Zhao Shuqing said gently. “Remember to have Xiaoying put medicine on your tail, let it dry before getting in the water, and eat on schedule every day—or your stomach will hurt again.”

Lin Feng nodded to show she’d heard.

Even so, every conversation had to end eventually. When boarding time came, Zhao Shuqing reluctantly hung up, shouldered her bag, and boarded the plane.

In the dim office, Xu Tang stared at the data on her computer screen. The pale glow illuminated her face, making her skin look sickly green.

So far, aside from those two eggs that had successfully fused, no other viable eggs had formed. The experiment had stalled, throwing everyone’s work into disarray.

The data from Group Leader Liu that week was especially dismal—virtually no progress at all.

What a bunch of incompetents.

Xu Tang leaned back in her chair, rubbing her aching temples. She hadn’t rested properly in days, spending every hour glued to the laboratory and watching the data. But data didn’t magically improve just because you stared at it. The Genome Group was pulling all-nighters, yet they had nothing to show for it.

The higher-ups were paying close attention to the project too. They were all desperate to know when humans might finally achieve a five-hundred-year lifespan.

“Pathetic,” Xu Tang muttered, the very thought striking her as absurd. “As if they truly believe themselves omnipotent.”

For all her disdain, Xu Tang was still human—at least on paper—and the lead researcher on this team. She had no choice but to push the project forward.

Knock knock knock.

Her assistant rapped on the door. With Xu Tang’s permission, she entered. “Group Leader Xu, Zhao Shuqing has boarded her flight.”

“Already?” Xu Tang was mildly surprised. She checked her phone—no call or message from Zhao Shuqing. If she hadn’t had someone tailing her, she wouldn’t have even known when the flight departed.

Irritation flickered in Xu Tang’s chest. Zhao Shuqing was clearly on guard against her.

Had she figured something out?

Her junior sister might seem unambitious and guileless, but she was sharp. Perhaps she’d already uncovered the secret. It seemed they couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

“Understood,” Xu Tang said, setting her phone facedown on the desk. “Help me set up a dinner with the oceanarium’s curator. I’d like to treat her.”

The assistant nodded and stepped out to make the call.

Xu Tang moved to close the file but paused at the signature at the bottom of Group Leader Liu’s document: ‘Gu Yao.’ She stared at the two characters for a long moment.

Nearly a month had passed since Gu Yao had declared their breakup. Xu Tang had assumed she wouldn’t hold out and would soon come crawling back begging forgiveness. Then Xu Tang could smile at her, whisper a few sweet nothings, and Gu Yao would fall back into line.

But almost a month later, not only had Gu Yao not come sobbing for reconciliation—even if they crossed paths in the cafeteria from afar, Gu Yao would turn and bolt.

Xu Tang frowned. Could human emotions really change so abruptly?

She slid the mouse to close the interface, lost in thought.

After landing, Zhao Shuqing managed only a one-minute video call with Lin Feng before being whisked away by the waiting car. The days that followed were a whirlwind of busyness. If not for the alarm reminding her, she might have forgotten to call altogether.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, lacked energy these days. She either sat blankly in the water like a lifeless doll or sprawled at the pool’s edge, staring at her phone and waiting for Zhao Shuqing’s call.

Sometimes Wen Xiaoying thought this wasn’t healthy and suggested Lin Feng play with the dolphins, but Lin Feng showed no interest in the oceanarium’s other creatures.

In time, Wen Xiaoying stopped pushing.

It was only seven days, after all—halfway gone already. A bit more patience, and Zhao Shuqing would be back. Lin Feng would be her lively, vibrant mermaid self once more.

With her guard down, Wen Xiaoying stopped urging Lin Feng to cheer up. As long as she ate and slept properly, things would return to normal when Zhao Shuqing returned.

That evening, Lin Feng curled up on the lounge chair hugging her phone. After work, she had nothing to do but lie there waiting for Zhao Shuqing’s call.

The scent of Zhao Shuqing on the blanket and pillow had faded. Lin Feng missed her terribly—more with each passing day. Video calls weren’t enough; she yearned to see her, to hold her, to be intimate…

Click.

Lin Feng heard the corridor door open. She lay still on her side.

Security patrolled every night, and the on-duty keepers and vets slept in their offices. This had become routine.

But this time, the footsteps sounded like more than a few people?

They were disorderly. Lin Feng twitched her ears, sat up warily, and peered toward the distant gate.

The oceanarium gates weren’t fully enclosed like regular doors. The upper half consisted of barred iron grilles, spaced with steel rods, allowing a clear view inside without opening.

The other rooms housed large marine animals that didn’t need lights. Only Lin Feng’s room glowed faintly from a nightlight, casting shadows of the bars on the opposite corridor wall.

The footsteps drew nearer. Lin Feng listened—they didn’t sound like the usual security rounds. They were moving fast, as if rushing to some urgent task.

When the first figure appeared at the bars, Lin Feng spotted the black steel tube in their hand.

A remote anesthetic gun, the kind zoos used.

She realized instantly what it was. She flung off the blanket and lunged for the pool, but they were prepared. As she reached the edge, ready to dive in, a soft ‘thwip’ sounded. A dart struck her lower back.

Within a second, Lin Feng lost consciousness and collapsed onto the waterproof platform by the pool…