The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 33
Lin Feng was sitting on the bed, a towel just covering her legs. When Gu Yao pushed the door open, she immediately thought Zhao Shuqing was drying Lin Feng’s hair after some intimate moment.
Zhao Shuqing gave her a dark look, and Lin Feng looked confused, then glanced up at Zhao Shuqing.
“You’re mistaken,” Zhao Shuqing said, putting down the hairdryer. “We’re not that kind of relationship.”
Gu Yao: “…” A total player—still on your bed, and you say you’re not that kind of relationship?
Truly, being a jerk knows no gender or education.
Seeing Gu Yao’s face full of expressions like [player], [used and abandoned], and [can’t believe it], Zhao Shuqing helplessly lifted one corner of the towel, revealing Lin Feng’s beautiful big tail, and said, “Got it now?”
Gu Yao: “”
A mermaid!
Gu Yao immediately ran in excitedly, eyes shining as she looked at the mermaid so close: “Oh my god, so this is Lin Feng, right? I saw you singing on the trending searches online. Didn’t expect you to be even prettier in person.”
Gu Yao sounded like a fan at a concert. Lin Feng didn’t understand many of the words—what’s a “trending search” anyway?
But she caught the compliment and smiled happily. “Hello,” she said to Gu Yao.
Gu Yao covered her mouth, almost crying with excitement: “A mermaid actually said hi to me!”
Zhao Shuqing gently patted Lin Feng’s head, then looked up at Gu Yao and said, “Don’t scare our Lin Feng.”
Lin Feng looked up and smiled at Zhao Shuqing, her eyes curved in a warm smile.
Even though she had escaped from the aquarium, the mermaid seemed completely unaware of it. She sat on Zhao Shuqing’s bed fiddling with her hair while Gu Yao sat nearby, snapping photos and recording videos.
Zhao Shuqing came in from the door carrying takeout and saw Gu Yao praising while recording: “So pretty. If my wife looked like that, my life would be complete.”
Zhao Shuqing put the breakfast on the table and casually asked, “Are you off work today?”
“Yeah, I’ve worked overtime for half a month straight. Finally got a day off. If I don’t rest, I’m gonna drop dead on the experiment table,” Gu Yao replied, putting away her phone. She looked curiously at Zhao Shuqing taking food out of the bag and asked, “Why did you order so much? Can you eat it all by yourself?”
“It’s not just for me,” Zhao Shuqing said. “Lin Feng needs to eat too.”
Lin Feng had already smelled the food long ago. She pressed her hands on the bed edge, slightly twitching her tail as she asked, “What’s for breakfast?”
“Fish cakes and fish porridge. Like it?” Zhao Shuqing asked.
Lin Feng nodded.
The delivery also included a spicy snack stick. Zhao Shuqing thought about it and, since neither she nor Lin Feng liked spicy food, casually tossed it to Gu Yao: “This one’s for you.”
Gu Yao looked at her with a hint of disdain: “You eat the good stuff, and just give me one spicy stick, huh?”
Zhao Shuqing laughed, “Don’t want it? Then scram.”
Gu Yao stuck out her tongue but didn’t leave.
Lin Feng really liked human food, especially seafood like fish and shrimp. But she couldn’t eat spicy food well and preferred mild flavors. Her favorites were steamed fish and fish porridge. Today was the first time she tried fish cakes, and she liked them too—after eating half, she even saved two for Zhao Shuqing.
Gu Yao watched the two of them eating breakfast together with envy. If it weren’t for Lin Feng’s big tail, they really looked like a cute couple who had just started dating.
Zhao Shuqing could feel Gu Yao’s intense gaze and lost her appetite halfway through, looking at her with mock complaint: “If you stare like that, how are we supposed to eat?”
Gu Yao was puzzled: “Lin Feng is eating just fine, only you’re being picky. Can’t you just look without making a fuss?”
Zhao Shuqing: “Early morning and you’re already picking a fight?”
Gu Yao, acting hurt: “I’m just in a bad mood and want you to keep me company.”
Lin Feng looked up, glanced at Gu Yao, then back at Zhao Shuqing.
Zhao Shuqing gave Lin Feng the rest of the fish cakes and said, “Eat yours.” Then she turned to Gu Yao, “Stop acting up. If you have something to say, just say it.”
Actually, Gu Yao didn’t mean to cause trouble. She really felt down.
Ever since Xu Tang told her she liked someone else, Gu Yao hadn’t dared contact Zhao Shuqing, afraid she’d ask why things didn’t work out that day.
What else could it be?
Because the other person didn’t like her back.
Gu Yao sighed and sat in a chair, twisting the corner of her shirt, wondering, “I never saw Xu Tang get close to anyone. Do you think she just made up some reason to let me give up on her?”
After hearing Gu Yao, Zhao Shuqing thought it was possible. After all, she’d often seen Xu Tang with her but never noticed her being interested in anyone.
So where did this ‘someone she likes’ suddenly come from?
“I think my senior sister was probably just looking for any excuse to reject you,” Zhao Shuqing said seriously to Gu Yao as she analyzed the situation. “I’m with my senior sister every day, so how could I not know? You definitely haven’t caught her attention yet. Being friends is one thing, but going further is really tough.”
“Huh?” Gu Yao panicked. “Then what should I do? Now I don’t even dare to say hi to Director Xu when I see her in the cafeteria.”
Zhao Shuqing tapped her forehead. “See, that sentence right there is the problem.”
Gu Yao looked confused. “?”
Zhao Shuqing said, “You’re still calling her Director Xu?”
Gu Yao was speechless.
Then it hit Gu Yao, and she scooted her chair closer to Zhao Shuqing. “Then what should I call her? Little Tang?”
Zhao Shuqing shook her head. “My senior sister is older than you.”
Gu Yao brightened up. “Sister Tang?”
Zhao Shuqing replied, “Sounds like one of those cafeteria aunties serving food.”
Gu Yao thought for a moment. “Little Sister Tang?”
Zhao Shuqing’s eyes lit up. “That works.”
Gu Yao smiled happily but was still worried. She nudged Zhao Shuqing with her arm. “But I’m still worried — what if she really does like someone else? Shuqing, help me out. I haven’t slept well these past few days because of this. Look, I even have dark circles under my eyes.”
It wasn’t an unreasonable request, and Zhao Shuqing thought she could help.
“How about I ask around for you when I have time?” Zhao Shuqing offered.
Gu Yao nodded eagerly, linking her arm with Zhao Shuqing’s. “I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
Zhao Shuqing smiled, not really caring about the meal but curious to find out if Xu Tang really liked someone.
With that worry eased, Gu Yao started watching Lin Feng, who had been sitting quietly nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation. Lin Feng and Gu Yao exchanged glances, then Lin Feng pretended to be busy looking around before burying her head back in her porridge.
“Lin Feng… right?” Gu Yao kept her distance, since Lin Feng looked human but wasn’t one. She was afraid Lin Feng might scratch her if she got too close — then she’d really never get to pursue Xu Tang.
Lin Feng lifted her head from the bowl and stared at Gu Yao with her beautiful blue eyes.
Just now, Gu Yao noticed that this woman named Gu Yao had a close relationship with Zhao Shuqing. They whispered and chatted a lot — some of it Lin Feng couldn’t understand. In the end, Gu Yao was all smiles and even linked arms with Zhao Shuqing.
Lin Feng felt a little jealous — she had never been held like that.
Seeing Lin Feng ignoring her, Gu Yao didn’t mind and smiled warmly. “What else can you say? You look really human. If you were a human, I bet people would line up from the dorm all the way to the gate to chase after you.”
Lin Feng raised her head, hesitating, then glanced at Zhao Shuqing as if she wanted to say something.
Seeing Gu Yao so enthusiastic and worried she might scare Lin Feng, Zhao Shuqing decided to end the visit. “Alright, you should get going.”
Gu Yao turned around. “Why? I just sat down.”
“You’ve been sitting here for over half an hour.” Zhao Shuqing grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Then she whispered at the door, “Lin Feng escaped from prison, and I need to take her back now. You’ve worked hard to rest, so don’t hang around here.”
“All right then.” Gu Yao was pushed out the door but didn’t forget to remind Zhao Shuqing, “Remember, you promised to find out if Little Tang really likes someone.”
Zhao Shuqing said “Got it, got it,” as she pushed Gu Yao outside and added, “Lin Feng’s afraid of cats, so keep feeding the sunflower seeds these days. Don’t make our little chubby one suffer.”
Gu Yao laughed. “Don’t worry, she just eats and sleeps all day — she’s in paradise.”
After saying goodbye to Gu Yao, Zhao Shuqing closed the door and turned to see Lin Feng sitting on the bed, looking at her with a sad, longing expression as if she had something to say.
“Zhao Shuqing.”
Lin Feng called her name.
“Yeah.” Zhao Shuqing walked over, and just as she sat down, Lin Feng suddenly threw herself into her arms. Her long tail messed up the bed.
Zhao Shuqing was stunned for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Lin Feng’s waist, gently holding her and softly said, “You didn’t forget to apply the medicine last night, did you? Let me see your tail.”
Lin Feng obediently handed over her tail. Zhao Shuqing took out a new box of ointment from the cabinet. The vet had prescribed a simple anti-inflammatory ointment for Lin Feng’s injury, something humans could use too, and luckily Zhao Shuqing had some at home.
She squeezed a big dollop of white cream onto her hand. Looking at the almost healed wound, she applied the ointment directly.
The cool ointment on her tail made Lin Feng shiver. She stared at Zhao Shuqing, watching her seriously apply the medicine without blinking. The tail she held felt warm and hot.
Sitting in Zhao Shuqing’s arms, Lin Feng blinked and suddenly called out, “Wife.”
Zhao Shuqing’s hand shook, and she accidentally smeared ointment on a different scale.
She looked at Lin Feng in surprise. This fish was smiling, and it seemed the “wife” wasn’t her own voice.
“What… what nonsense are you saying now?” Zhao Shuqing frowned, remembering that Gu Yao had once said something like, “If my wife were that pretty, my life would be complete,” when she was recording a video. Lin Feng had probably picked it up.
She frowned and said, “Don’t just copy what others say. Not everyone can be called ‘wife.’”
Lin Feng tilted her head and looked at her with deep, clear blue eyes. Meeting Zhao Shuqing’s gaze, she smiled again and softly called out, “Wife~”
Zhao Shuqing felt her eye twitch.
Lin Feng seemed to really like this name. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhao Shuqing and called “Wife” again, softly.
Zhao Shuqing was internally freaking out. She knew Lin Feng probably didn’t understand what “wife” meant, but as a human, she definitely did.
Just as Zhao Shuqing sighed, ready to explain that she wasn’t Lin Feng’s wife and never could be, Lin Feng leaned forward and placed a cool, soft kiss on Zhao Shuqing’s cheek.