The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 29
On Saturday, Zhao Shuqing was chatting in the lab with Ye Xun about Lin Feng’s quarantine ending and her moving into the aquarium.
The aquarium wasn’t far from here, just next door. It was the largest aquarium in the country, even in the world. It wasn’t just an aquarium — there was also a marine museum displaying marine animal specimens and skeletons. Every day, it welcomed more than fifty thousand visitors.
Zhao Shuqing was worried that Lin Feng might not adapt well. After all, she used to live in the Pacific Ocean. Even though the aquarium was huge, it was still way smaller than the Pacific.
Ye Xun said, “From the quarantine observation so far, Lin Feng adapts quickly. She’s not really rejecting the researchers. Last night during my night shift, she even asked me, ‘What’s for a midnight snack?’”
Zhao Shuqing gave a bitter smile and sighed, “She’s just a foodie.”
Ye Xun laughed happily, “She’s really cute.”
Just as they were discussing which tank to put Lin Feng in, the lab door opened.
Ye Xun glanced behind Zhao Shuqing and said in surprise, “Captain Xu, you’re here?”
Zhao Shuqing turned around and saw Xu Tang standing at the door. She quickly smiled and greeted her, “Senior Sister, you came!”
Xu Tang nodded and walked over, asking, “Not off work yet?”
“Off work, off work,” Zhao Shuqing said. “I was just talking with CaptainYe about Lin Feng moving into the aquarium. I’m about to pack up now.”
Xu Tang looked back toward the nearby ecological pool, where Lin Feng was already hiding. She squinted slightly but didn’t say anything.
Zhao Shuqing quickly packed up, took off her work jacket, and hung it in her locker. Before leaving, Ye Xun reminded her, “Don’t forget to come by tonight to apply medicine to Lin Feng.”
“I know,” Zhao Shuqing said, pulling Xu Tang along as they left.
Walking side by side, Xu Tang curiously asked, “What medicine?”
“Just regular wound medicine,” Zhao Shuqing replied casually. “Lin Feng has a wound on her tail, so we decided to put some medicine on it, twice a day. It works pretty well; it’s mostly healed now.”
Zhao Shuqing was also surprised by Lin Feng’s healing ability. Normally, losing such a large piece of tissue would never fully heal, but mermaids are mermaids — she actually grew new flesh.
“She’s been healing well these past two days. Only this much left,” Zhao Shuqing gestured about three to five centimeters and told Lin Feng, “I believe by the end of quarantine, it will be almost fully healed.”
Xu Tang seemed deep in thought. After a few seconds, she nodded and changed the subject, “Shall we go eat now?”
Zhao Shuqing suddenly remembered she needed to contact Gu Yao. Gu Yao had even come by earlier looking for her. She quickly took out her phone and said to Xu Tang, “Wait, I’ll call Yao Yao.”
Five minutes later, after finishing the call, Zhao Shuqing told Xu Tang, “She just finished. She wants us to come over first; she’s already booked a table.”
Xu Tang didn’t object and nodded, then they took a taxi together.
When they arrived at the restaurant, it was quite crowded, mostly locals from nearby. The place wasn’t fancy but acceptable. Upon entering, they smelled the strong spicy aroma of grilled fish.
Not long after they sat down, Gu Yao arrived. Zhao Shuqing raised an eyebrow as she watched her sit.
“You’re wearing makeup?” Zhao Shuqing asked quietly.
Gu Yao elbowed her lightly, then smiled at Xu Tang. “Captain Xu, what flavors do you like? Their grilled fish here is really good. I’ve eaten here many times with colleagues. My favorite is their special-flavor grilled fish — sweet, sour, spicy, all at once. It’s delicious.”
Xu Tang had never been here before, so she smiled and said, “I’m fine with anything.”
“Then we’ll order that,” Gu Yao said, then asked about side dishes Xu Tang liked. After ordering on the iPad, she suddenly remembered Zhao Shuqing sitting next to her and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Zhao Shuqing was munching on sunflower seeds and said, “Hey, you still remember me?”
Gu Yao secretly kicked her, and only then did Zhao Shuqing tap her paw and glance at the menu, ordering a plate of soy sauce fried rice.
“You’re just eating that?” Gu Yao saw she only ordered fried rice and thought she might be upset, so she also ordered some fried chicken snacks.
Xu Tang excused herself to go to the restroom. Gu Yao quickly grabbed Zhao Shuqing’s hand and apologized, “Hey, why are you still giving me that look? Aren’t you supposed to help me get close to your Senior Sister? It’s only normal I care about her a lot, right?”
Zhao Shuqing explained, “I’m not mad at you two. I just don’t want to eat fish.”
She had eaten so much fish on the sea these past months, she felt like throwing up. Now that she was on land, she still had to eat fish? She wasn’t Lin Feng — not that into it. She ordered fried rice simply because she liked it.
Gu Yao felt relieved knowing she hadn’t lied, and confidently promised, “Today, you just handle two bites, and in a couple of days, I’ll treat you to a nice meal.”
Zhao Shuqing glanced at her sideways: “Barbecue?”
Gu Yao: “Sure.”
Zhao Shuqing smiled. While Xu Tang hadn’t come back yet, she quietly said to Gu Yao, “I’ll eat half and then leave. You keep eating with my senior sister. After that, go back to the dorm together, how about that? Sisters are good to you, right?”
Gu Yao smiled warmly, her eyes curved with happiness. “You’re the best to me. Later, I won’t just treat you to barbecue, I’ll also treat Guazi to some canned food.”
When one person achieves success, even their pets benefit. Zhao Shuqing liked Gu Yao even more.
Gu Yao had a striking appearance, was about the same age as her, and had a kind, generous personality. If Xu Tang could really be with her, Zhao Shuqing would be happy.
Now it was just up to Gu Yao to see if she had the skill to win over Xu Tang.
Soon the dishes arrived. Xu Tang came back from the bathroom. The three of them sat at the table, each lost in their own thoughts. Most of the talking was between Zhao Shuqing and Gu Yao, while Xu Tang quietly ate the fish.
Gu Yao looked at Xu Tang with curiosity and said, “Captain Xu, I heard from Shuqing that you really love eating fish?”
Xu Tang’s hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly. She lifted her eyelids and glanced at her. “It’s okay.”
Gu Yao smiled, “If you like fish, I know a lot of seafood restaurants. I can take you there sometime, okay?”
Xu Tang smiled but said nothing.
Zhao Shuqing checked the time and felt it was about time. If she stayed longer, she’d hold Gu Yao back from her real mission, so she hurriedly told Xu Tang and Gu Yao, “I need to go back and apply medicine for Lin Feng. You two eat slowly. I’ll leave first.”
Xu Tang glanced at her, and Gu Yao pretended to be surprised, “Ah? You’re leaving already? Wait a bit, let’s finish eating and then go back to the research institute together.”
Zhao Shuqing shook her head with a smile, picked up her bag, and said, “Lin Feng really needs the medicine. Before I left, Director Ye reminded me to definitely go back. She said no one else should touch her if I’m not there.”
Gu Yao ‘regretted’ it, “Alright then. Be careful on your way.”
“Got it.” Zhao Shuqing gave her a teasing wink. “You’re responsible for seeing my senior sister back, don’t lose her.”
Gu Yao’s smile curved her eyes even more. “Okay.”
Though Xu Tang didn’t say a word, from their expressions and actions, she had already sensed something. After Zhao Shuqing left, she remained silent, calmly watching the girl named Gu Yao sitting in front of her.
Gu Yao noticed Xu Tang’s gaze and grew nervous. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. She quickly picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of fish into Xu Tang’s bowl. “Captain Xu, you eat. It’s a waste if you don’t eat the fish. After we finish, how about we go out and stroll around? Or do you want to go straight back to the research institute?”
Xu Tang looked at the fish in front of her, then glanced at Gu Yao.
She remembered this girl lived next door to Zhao Shuqing and specialized in genetic engineering.
Zhao Shuqing often mentioned her. They seemed very close, often going out to eat and hang out, even closer than with their senior sister.
But today, Zhao Shuqing left for some unknown reason, using the excuse of applying medicine for Lin Feng. It wasn’t urgent and could wait an hour or two. Yet she still left, leaving Xu Tang and Gu Yao alone.
Xu Tang understood what this meant very well.
“Gu Yao.”
Xu Tang crossed her arms, leaned against the chair back, and calmly looked at the girl in front of her. She asked, “Do you like someone?”
“Cough, cough, cough—cough, cough.”
Gu Yao nearly choked, drank some water to calm her throat, blushing deeply, and shyly said, “Captain Xu, I, I actually…”
Xu Tang cut her off, speaking each word clearly: “But I already like someone.”
Gu Yao sat there stunned, suddenly realizing she hadn’t even confessed yet and had already lost…
Zhao Shuqing took a taxi back to the research institute.
She glanced at her phone and noticed it was still early. She guessed the two would finish eating, then find some excuse to stroll around, probably returning by ten at the earliest.
Zhao Shuqing worried that Gu Yao, that silly girl, might just come back right after eating. At least she should find a reason to go shopping or something. They didn’t see each other often, so she wanted them to spend more time together while they could.
“Hope you try hard,” Zhao Shuqing said with a smile, slipping her phone into her pocket and heading toward the lab.
Someone was on duty in the lab. Zhao Shuqing greeted them as she entered.
“Zhao Bo, here to see Lin Feng again?” a colleague joked. “We’re ordering takeout. Want to join?”
“No thanks, I just ate,” Zhao Shuqing smiled and walked over. “I’m here to apply medicine to Lin Feng. After that, I should head back.”
She expertly took the medicine and sat beside the eco-pond, tapping the water surface. Lin Feng quickly swam up from underwater.
These days, Zhao Shuqing had been applying medicine morning and night. Hearing the door open, Lin Feng guessed it was her, pushed herself up with her hands, and skillfully draped her tail over Zhao Shuqing’s lap.
Zhao Shuqing wiped Lin Feng’s tail with a towel and checked the wound. After using the medicine for several days and being in a peaceful environment, it had already healed more than half.
After applying the medicine, Zhao Shuqing didn’t leave immediately. She sat by the pond with Lin Feng, waiting for the medicine to dry.
“Zhao Shuqing.”
Lin Feng moved closer to her, lifted a finger to point at the courtyard. Zhao Shuqing looked up and saw a bright full moon hanging in the sky above the courtyard. Silver moonlight bathed them both, like a layer of frost.
Bathed in the moonlight, Zhao Shuqing looked down at Lin Feng, noticing her eyes burning brightly—more beautiful than the full moon above.
Lin Feng reached out and held Zhao Shuqing’s hand. Sitting beside her, she softly said, “Listen.”
Zhao Shuqing was about to ask, “Listen to what?” when Lin Feng looked up and started singing right there under the moonlight.