The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 3
At this moment, the water tank where the mermaid was held was dimly lit. Several researchers were half-squatting on the platform above the tank, measuring various data.
“Water temperature—26.5 degrees Celsius.”
“Water quality—slightly acidic.”
“Emotions—still stable.”
“…”
A female researcher half-squatted on the platform, squinting slightly as she looked at the figure curled up in the deepest part of the tank. After hesitating for a few seconds, she recorded: “Refuses to eat, rejects most researchers approaching.”
After making a brief record, since this was the only mermaid captured in the world, the higher-ups decided to observe her for a short time first. Further research would only begin after the ship returned to port.
With a hiss, the lab door opened, and Zhao Shuqing came in wearing a change of clothes.
“How’s it going?” Zhao Shuqing looked up and asked her colleagues.
Several researchers immediately got down from the platform and took turns reporting.
“Six hours ago, Dr. Zhao, you fed the mermaid two green fish, but she hasn’t eaten since.”
“The mermaid is very resistant to the new environment and has been curled up at the bottom of the tank.”
“Based on the data comparison, this mermaid is quite thin, roughly estimated to weigh about 50 kilograms.”
Zhao Shuqing glanced at the data sheets. Because no one was allowed to get close, all the data was just basic testing done right after the mermaid was caught.
Zhao Shuqing frowned slightly as she flipped through the reports.
The mermaid was 2.3 meters long. Her huge blue tail alone measured more than 1.5 meters, but her weight was very light.
Unlike humans, in the natural world, females are not valued for being skinny.
If a female is too weak, she can’t hunt or even defend herself from males. If she then sadly gets pregnant and gives birth, the whole family could starve to death.
Zhao Shuqing raised her head and looked at the mermaid curled up in the corner of the glass tank. She closed the folder and said, “Leave two people here in the lab. The rest, bring your things and head to the conference room for a group meeting.”
“Yes.”
Several researchers grabbed notebooks and pens. Two stayed behind to watch the mermaid; the others followed Zhao Shuqing out of the lab.
The figure in the glass tank heard Zhao Shuqing’s voice and slowly lifted her head. Her gaze followed the group and finally settled on Zhao Shuqing’s back. Zhao didn’t notice. After the lab’s automatic door opened behind her and she left, the figure hesitated for a moment, then gently swayed her long tail and curled back into the corner.
Xu Tang’s group meeting lasted more than three hours. They mainly reviewed all the data about the mermaid, assigned specific tasks to everyone—including research plans for when the mermaid would be brought ashore—and most importantly, chose the person who would be the dedicated caretaker researcher.
“To prevent stress for the mermaid, we need to assign a full-time caretaker researcher for her,” Xu Tang leaned back in her chair, glanced at the researchers sitting in two rows, and said, “This is a tough job. Until the research results come out, this person won’t be allowed to take on any other work. So the caretaker’s contract will last roughly 2 to 5 years. It’s a long-term commitment.”
After hearing this, most researchers didn’t react much. Spending three to five years on one project was normal, and some people even dedicated their entire lives to a single topic.
Time wasn’t much of a problem for most researchers.
Besides, if they could fully understand this rare and intelligent species, it would benefit them for life.
“If no one objects, I’ll make the decision,” Xu Tang looked around and stopped at Zhao Shuqing. “Let Zhao Shuqing take this role. Any objections?”
Everyone immediately turned their eyes to Zhao Shuqing, who was quietly taking notes nearby.
“Wait a moment.”
A male researcher sitting opposite Zhao Shuqing stood up. He was one of the few male researchers on the ship. He pounded the table and said to Xu Tang, “Captain Xu, the mermaid is the hard work of all of us. I don’t think you should decide the caretaker alone, especially since Zhao Shuqing is your junior disciple.”
Xu Tang calmly raised her eyes to look at him. Zhao Shuqing looked up as well.
The male researcher’s name was Sun Chengzhou, one of only two male researchers.
Sun Chengzhou stared at Xu Tang and said firmly, “Besides, Zhao Shuqing went to the lab earlier and got publicly slapped by the mermaid. Everyone on the ship knows about that.”
Zhao Shuqing’s expression stiffened. She reached out and touched the spot where she was slapped.
It still hurt a little.
But no matter the slap, she couldn’t slack off on the mission assigned by her senior sister. She had to earn the caretaker position.
“Dr. Sun is right,” Zhao Shuqing said calmly, playing with her pen as she looked at him with a slight smile. “I admit I was a bit reckless back then, but that also shows I really like that mermaid. As the caretaker, I must love her first, then study her.”
She said with calm confidence, “Our goal isn’t just to explore this rare, spiritual species. She might live with us in the future. Compared to cold research, only true love and care for the mermaid can lead to better care and study.”
Zhao Shuqing raised her thin eyelids and smiled at Sun Chengzhou, asking, “Dr. Sun, what do you think?”
Sun Chengzhou’s face darkened. He pounded the table again and argued, “Everyone on this ship loves the mermaid. Why does the caretaker have to be you?”
“I love her as an individual, this living being—not just the job of caretaker,” Zhao Shuqing said calmly. “Besides, the mermaid is female, and her body is very similar to a human woman’s. Having a male researcher take care of a female mermaid just doesn’t seem right.”
Sun Chengzhou’s face turned black as he stammered, “Mermaids don’t have genders.”
Zhao Shuqing interrupted him: “How can mermaids have no gender? Without gender, how would they reproduce? Mermaid breeding will surely be a key research area for us. Dr. Sun, your comment seriously questions your professionalism.”
The colleagues around them all turned their eyes toward Sun Chengzhou.
Some looked at him with ridicule, some with curiosity, others with schadenfreude.
One female researcher next to Zhao Shuqing chuckled and joked, “I think Dr. Zhao is right. Except for the tail, the mermaid is almost indistinguishable from a human female. It really doesn’t seem appropriate for a male researcher to be her caretaker.”
Sun Chengzhou wasn’t ready to give up. Everyone knew that once someone became the mermaid’s caretaker, they’d get first-hand research data. With the mermaid’s intelligence close to humans, she might even develop an attachment to her caretaker over time.
Like a baby bird that can’t leave its mother, as long as the mermaid lived, the caretaker would keep receiving more resources and research opportunities.
Just as Sun Chengzhou was about to continue, Xu Tang calmly tapped the table, and everyone’s eyes turned to her.
“This is a group meeting, not a debate,” Xu Tang said, calmly looking at Sun Chengzhou. “The caretaker’s role is important but not a big deal. There’s no need to fight over it.”
Zhao Shuqing glanced at Xu Tang, and their eyes met.
Sun Chengzhou frowned and stood firm: “Looks like Captain Xu really wants Zhao Shuqing to be the caretaker.”
Xu Tang looked at him and raised her chin slightly: “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing,” Sun Chengzhou crossed his arms and said, “But since we’re choosing a caretaker, we can’t just pick anyone randomly. Anyone can say the right things, but whether they can deliver is another matter.”
Zhao Shuqing frowned, about to reply, but Xu Tang stopped her.
She nodded slightly: “Go on.”
Sun Chengzhou’s eyes lit up when Xu Tang loosened up. He straightened his back and said, “Then why not let the mermaid choose the caretaker she likes? That way, everyone has a chance.”
Everyone looked at each other.
Researching the mermaid was extremely valuable. Being part of the expedition was already a dream come true for many. Getting first-hand contact with the mermaid would be a major boost to their resumes.
A creature that once only existed in legends.
Who wouldn’t want to be the first to get close to her?
“Fine.”
Xu Tang didn’t hesitate and calmly agreed with Sun Chengzhou, then said to everyone, “Since everyone wants a chance, let’s have the mermaid decide.”
Zhao Shuqing turned her head in surprise but couldn’t guess Xu Tang’s real plan. She stayed silent and watched.
More than a dozen researchers came to the lab. The two left behind were puzzled to see everyone come. Xu Tang called them over.
“Some of you disagree with my plan. I don’t want to waste words.”
Xu Tang stood on the tank platform and glanced at the mermaid at the bottom. “This mermaid hasn’t eaten for a long time. The kitchen has fresh green fish prepared. Each of you should try feeding her and see if she accepts anyone’s food.”
The researchers exchanged looks but quickly got excited. They wanted to try feeding the beautiful mermaid.
The platform could only hold a few people at a time, so Zhao Shuqing volunteered to go first.
“Isn’t the first person at a disadvantage?” someone whispered.
“Definitely. The mermaid hasn’t moved in that corner for hours. Who knows if she’s asleep?”
“What if she refuses all the food?”
“Then… we just don’t know.”
Zhao Shuqing overheard this quietly. She calmly glanced at Xu Tang, who was watching her and gave her a reassuring look.
Zhao Shuqing thought: Senior sister… has another plan?
She still clearly remembered the slap from yesterday. Standing on the platform again, she felt a bit nervous.
What if the mermaid refuses her food again?
What if she gets slapped again?
Zhao Shuqing was so worried that she dropped the green fish a crew member handed her. It flopped and fell into the water.
Sun Chengzhou stood behind, watching with a smug smile: “Dr. Zhao, you better steady yourself.”
Zhao Shuqing didn’t look back. She took another green fish from a staff member and crouched down.
She looked at the blurry figure in the corner of the tank and muttered softly, “Please give me some face, my mermaid lady.”