The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 36

The news about Lin Feng’s injury quickly reached the higher-ups. When Xu Tang and Shen Qingming arrived, it was two o’clock in the afternoon.

Zhao Shuqing let them in as soon as she saw them. It was Shen Qingming’s first time seeing a mermaid. The moment he laid eyes on Lin Feng, he froze for a long time, staring intently at her face, his hands trembling slightly.

Zhao Shuqing found it strange and was about to say something, but Xu Tang interrupted her.

“How’s the situation?” Xu Tang asked.

Zhao Shuqing pulled her gaze away from the strange behavior of the teacher and quietly replied to Xu Tang, “It’s a bit complicated.”

Lin Feng had lost too much bl00d, and there was no compatible bl00d type to transfuse to her. Although genetic testing showed her bl00d was 99% similar to humans’, there was still that 1% difference. No one knew what kind of adverse reaction human bl00d might cause in her.

After discussion, the doctors decided to let Lin Feng heal naturally for now, increasing medication only if necessary to avoid unknown risks.

Zhao Shuqing didn’t dare take any risks and accepted this conservative treatment. Fortunately, mermaids healed quickly, so there wasn’t too much to worry about.

“Senior Sister.”

Zhao Shuqing thought for a moment, then looked at Xu Tang and said, “I’m not satisfied with the investigation results from the aquarium. They said the killer whale did it, but I don’t think so. When I asked them to check the surveillance footage, they told me the system was broken and couldn’t be accessed.”

Xu Tang’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at her thoughtfully. “Oh? You don’t believe that?”

Zhao Shuqing nodded. “Of course not. That’s why I want you to help me investigate this matter again.”

Xu Tang gave her a deep look, thought for three seconds, then agreed, “I understand. I’ll look into it further.”

Hearing her agree, Zhao Shuqing finally felt relieved. Right now, she trusted no one here except Xu Tang.

The two casually chatted a bit more about Lin Feng’s condition. Xu Tang seemed genuinely concerned, asking very detailed questions. Zhao Shuqing answered them all without sensing anything odd.

When they entered the ward, Zhao Shuqing was surprised to see Shen Qingming still standing by the bedside, eyes wide open as he stared hard at the unconscious Lin Feng, his face pale.

“Teacher?” Zhao Shuqing asked in surprise, “Are you okay? Do you feel unwell?”

Shen Qingming finally snapped out of it and looked at her, shaking his head repeatedly. “I’m fine. I’m not feeling sick, just… it’s my first time seeing a mermaid, so I’m a little emotional.”

First time?

Zhao Shuqing looked at him, confused. “Didn’t you say you saw a mermaid twenty years ago?”

Shen Qingming was startled. “Ah? Oh, yes. I did, but that was so long ago I barely remember what the mermaid looked like.”

He gave Lin Feng a deep glance again, then turned to Xu Tang and Zhao Shuqing. “I just remembered I have something to handle. You two take over here.”

With that, Shen Qingming left the ward.

“Hey?” Zhao Shuqing wanted to follow him to talk about her thesis, but Xu Tang stopped her. “I’ll go check on the teacher. You stay here with Lin Feng.”

Zhao Shuqing was a bit stunned but nodded. “Okay, Senior Sister, please go quickly.”

She thought she’d find a chance later to talk to Shen Qingming about her thesis.

They had come and gone in a rush, and Zhao Shuqing didn’t understand what they were really up to. She shook her head, looked at Lin Feng again, and decided not to dwell on it. Instead, she sat down by the bedside once more.

“Lin Feng.”

Zhao Shuqing held the hand of the person on the bed, gently kissed it, and softly said, “Please wake up soon…”

Perhaps because of losing too much bl00d, Lin Feng stayed unconscious for two full days.

During this time, countless experts and scholars came to examine her wounds but dared not take any risks. Zhao Shuqing could only stand by helplessly.

Fortunately, the mermaid’s self-healing was strong. The two days of unconsciousness seemed to be her body adjusting. When they removed the bandages for the second time to apply medicine, most of the deep and shallow wounds had healed quite a bit. However, the injuries were still severe, and it was estimated she wouldn’t be able to walk for about two months and couldn’t go back into the water for three months.

When Lin Feng slowly opened her eyes, she saw Zhao Shuqing standing nearby, discussing something with a doctor in a white coat.

Lin Feng’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She opened her mouth to call Zhao Shuqing’s name but suddenly stopped.

She still remembered what Xu Tang had said to her that night.

[If Zhao Shuqing knew you were such a monster, would she still treat you so well?]

[Don’t forget your mission on land—to make humans believe mermaids are just mermaids.]

[I can’t believe you’ll complete the mission, so I will personally take action.]

Xu Tang’s words filled Lin Feng with anger and fear. She wanted to escape, but Xu Tang wouldn’t let her run. She even pulled Lin Feng into the tank, forcing her to reveal her tail, and the two started fighting.

Lin Feng’s memories of that time were blurry—too painful. Xu Tang nearly tore her tail apart.

She broke out of the cage, trying to escape into deeper water, but Xu Tang clearly didn’t want to let her go. They shouted at each other in the water, but Lin Feng wasn’t a match for Xu Tang and was left badly injured.

Before losing consciousness, Lin Feng saw Xu Tang open the killer whale’s cage. That clumsy whale got scared and fled without looking back.

Lin Feng tried to get up but felt pain all over. Her head spun, and she had no strength. As soon as she lifted herself, the world spun, and she fell back down hard.

“Ugh…”

The movement caught the attention of the two nearby people immediately. Zhao Shuqing turned and saw Lin Feng was awake. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried over, anxiously asking, “You’re awake? Are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Feng lay on the bed, looking at the person so close to her. The feelings of hurt and helplessness exploded, tears rolling down her cheeks and soaking her light-colored long hair. With a trembling voice, she said to Zhao Shuqing, “It hurts…”

Zhao Shuqing was heartbroken. She reached out to touch Lin Feng’s face and wiped away her tears. “It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re hurt, of course it hurts. I’ll ask the doctor to give you some medicine.”

After saying that, she looked back at the doctor. The doctor quickly called some staff over and began examining Lin Feng.

Lin Feng didn’t want to be touched, but she was weak now. There was nothing she could do but watch helplessly as the doctors and nurses checked her, feeling annoyed and powerless.

Zhao Shuqing sat beside her, watching her reluctant expression. She wanted to smile but held it back. Then she covered Lin Feng’s eyes with her hand and whispered softly in her ear, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

Lin Feng’s breath caught at those words, and soon she stopped struggling.

The doctors and nurses exchanged a glance but said nothing unnecessary. They quickly finished their work and slipped out.

A nurse told Zhao Shuqing, “The IV drip is almost done. I’ll come back to check soon.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded and finally removed her hand from Lin Feng’s eyes.

Lin Feng saw the sunlight again and Zhao Shuqing in the light. She looked a little flustered, and Zhao Shuqing smiled gently at her. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Suddenly remembering something, Lin Feng turned her head away.

Zhao Shuqing’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly said, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have punished you with solitary confinement or ignored you for so long.”

Lin Feng kept her head turned away, unmoved.

“I bought a lot of snacks to apologize to you, but before I could see you, this happened.” Zhao Shuqing gently coaxed her, holding Lin Feng’s hand. “I promise, I won’t lose my temper with you again.”

Lin Feng listened carefully for a long time before understanding that Zhao Shuqing was apologizing.

She slowly turned her head to look at Zhao Shuqing. Their eyes met, and Lin Feng glanced down at their hands clasped together, whispering, “Zhao Shuqing…”

“Yeah, I’m here,” Zhao Shuqing said softly. “I’ll always be with you.”

Lin Feng whimpered, overwhelmed with emotion, and tears started falling again. Zhao Shuqing felt both heartache and amusement as she sat beside her, wiping her tears and soothing her gently for half an hour. It wasn’t until the nurse came to take away the IV drip that it finally ended.

Zhao Shuqing had planned to get Lin Feng some food, but before she could decide whether to order fish or porridge, she looked back and saw Lin Feng had already fallen into a deep sleep again.

Zhao Shuqing touched Lin Feng’s cold cheek, hesitated for a few seconds, then leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.

“Good night.”

My little mermaid.

Without a bl00d transfusion, all Lin Feng could do was sleep—sleep as much as possible to lower her body functions and let her cells focus on healing the wounds.

When she opened her eyes this time, Lin Feng felt much better. She wasn’t as weak as during the day and even started feeling a little hungry.

She noticed the light in the ward and turned her head to see Zhao Shuqing sitting on the sofa nearby. A laptop rested on her lap, and she was focused on the screen, typing softly with a ‘tap tap’ sound.

Maybe because she was so focused, Zhao Shuqing didn’t notice Lin Feng waking up at first. After writing for a while, her eyes felt tired, and the bent posture made her back ache. Just as she was about to set the laptop aside and stretch, she saw a pair of big blue eyes staring at her.

It was late at night, and Zhao Shuqing was really startled.

“You’re awake. Why didn’t you say anything?” Zhao Shuqing put the laptop aside and came over, reaching out to touch Lin Feng’s cheek. Feeling a slight rise in temperature, she took a thermometer from the bedside cabinet and said, “Let me check your temperature first.”

Lin Feng looked confused at the small device. Then Zhao Shuqing lifted her arm and gently placed the thermometer under her armpit.

“Uh…” Lin Feng shivered and blinked her eyelashes, saying to Zhao Shuqing, “Ticklish.”

Zhao Shuqing sighed in relief. At least it was ticklish, not painful.

“It’s okay,” she reassured her. “It’ll be done soon.”

After a minute, Zhao Shuqing took out the thermometer and glanced at it. Although the temperature was low enough to be scary, it was normal for a fish like Lin Feng. She put everything away and covered Lin Feng with a blanket.

Lin Feng frowned delicately and said, “Hot.”

Zhao Shuqing laughed and loosened the blanket a bit. “Your choice of words is getting better. Maybe one day we’ll really be able to talk like normal people.”

Lin Feng quietly looked at her, her beautiful eyes lowered, saying nothing.

Will there even be an “after” for them?

Noticing Lin Feng’s mood drop, Zhao Shuqing reached out and rubbed her cheek gently, asking softly, “Lin Feng, are you hungry?”