The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 37
Lin Feng had been unconscious for two days and then slept for another day. Although she was on an IV drip every day, hunger still caught up with her.
Seeing Lin Feng nod slightly, Zhao Shuqing took out her phone, planning to order some takeout for Miss Mermaid.
But unfortunately, it was past 2 a.m., and most delivery places were closed. Lin Feng’s favorite fish fillet porridge shop was closed too. Nearby, only a few barbecue shops and convenience stores were still open.
“…No more takeout,” Zhao Shuqing put away her phone and thought for a moment. Then she said to Lin Feng, “Wait for me here. I’ll go back and get some things to make porridge for you.”
She remembered there were plenty of ready-to-eat fish balls, shrimp, and crab sticks among the snacks she bought. If she cooked them with some rice, it could at least pass as seafood porridge.
When Lin Feng heard she was going to leave, she quickly grabbed Zhao Shuqing’s clothes. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not leaving,” Zhao Shuqing explained. “The dorm is just nearby. I’ll be back in at most fifteen minutes.”
But Lin Feng shook her head, “I don’t want to eat anymore. Please don’t go.”
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Shuqing sat down. “Alright, I’ll check if there’s any other takeout available.”
In the end, Zhao Shuqing found a 24-hour porridge shop ten kilometers away. She paid a delivery fee and ordered a bowl. When it arrived, it was still warm.
Zhao Shuqing silently thanked the modern delivery system that let her and Lin Feng enjoy a hot meal without leaving the house.
Since Lin Feng’s tail injury was severe and her hospital bed couldn’t be adjusted like in a regular hospital, Zhao Shuqing had to stack several cushions behind her back. Then she fed her porridge spoonful by spoonful.
“There’s not much shrimp,” Zhao Shuqing said as she fed her. “The portion isn’t as big as your favorite place, but it smells pretty good. Do you like it?”
Lin Feng nodded. She thought all human food was delicious—any place was good.
Zhao Shuqing smiled and slowly fed Lin Feng about half a bowl. Lin Feng’s stomach was still weak after just waking up, so Zhao Shuqing stopped feeding her and ate the rest herself.
By then, it was past 3 a.m., and Lin Feng was getting sleepy again.
Zhao Shuqing wasn’t too tired. She was used to staying up late—her record was two straight days without sleep during thesis deadlines, after which she slept for more than twenty hours.
“Are you sleepy?” Zhao Shuqing asked softly. “If you’re tired, just sleep. I’ll stay with you.” Lin Feng tilted her head, looked at her, then slowly reached out and touched Zhao Shuqing’s cheek. Zhao Shuqing didn’t pull away but gently held Lin Feng’s hand against her face and whispered, “Sleep well. Tomorrow you’ll still see me.”
Lin Feng nodded and slowly closed her eyes. Soon her breathing became steady—she was asleep.
Zhao Shuqing marveled at how fast Lin Feng fell asleep. She reached out and gently touched Lin Feng’s messy hair. The once light-colored long hair had lost its shine and looked dull. Lin Feng had always been very clean and tidy, but now, with no energy to take care of herself, she looked a little disheveled.
After tucking Lin Feng in, Zhao Shuqing glanced at the fish tail wrapped up like a rice dumpling and sighed softly.
Early the next morning, just after 7 a.m., Lin Feng opened her eyes.
Zhao Shuqing, true to her word, was still there—curled up at the edge of the bed asleep. Because she was curled up in an uncomfortable position, her brow was furrowed, and she looked restless.
Lin Feng tried to shift her body a little, then lightly traced Zhao Shuqing’s furrowed brow with her finger, looking a bit dazed.
“Blub—”
A grouper in the nearby tank blew two bubbles. Lin Feng glanced at it sideways but didn’t say a word.
“Blub—”
In another tank, a butterflyfish also blew a few bubbles.
Lin Feng couldn’t stay still any longer. She turned to look at her few fish companions and said angrily, “Don’t laugh. If you laugh, I’ll eat you.”
Zhao Shuqing frowned, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and asked Lin Feng, “Who are you talking to?”
Lin Feng lay back down, pouting.
Zhao Shuqing glanced at the fish in the tanks nearby. She had a strange feeling, like the fish were watching her.
It was a weird feeling.
Probably just her imagination.
Zhao Shuqing yawned and checked the time—it was already 7 a.m.
The aquarium’s clinic wasn’t like a regular hospital ward with rounds. Usually, only one doctor was on duty, and if nothing happened, they just rested. After all, the fish couldn’t speak or cause trouble, so morning rounds were usually late.
Zhao Shuqing got up to wash up. She had been staying in the ward these days, so she had her toothbrush and towel with her. After a simple wash, she wet a towel, wrung it out, and came over to Lin Feng.
“I’m going to wipe your face.”
Lin Feng had been either sleeping or crying for the past two days, so her face was dirty. Zhao Shuqing carefully wiped it clean. Lin Feng looked a little shy, avoiding her gaze and trying to grab the towel, whispering, “I can do it myself.”
“No need,” Zhao Shuqing said, flipping the towel over and gently wiping Lin Feng’s hand. “Don’t move. I’ll be done quickly.”
After wiping Lin Feng’s face and hands, Zhao Shuqing rinsed and wrung the towel again, then came closer to wipe Lin Feng’s neck.
The warm towel covered Lin Feng’s neck. She instinctively lifted her chin, making it easier for Zhao Shuqing to clean carefully. It also revealed the pale blue veins visible on Lin Feng’s fair skin.
Lin Feng was naturally beautiful. Her neck looked like a white swan’s. Now, lying on the white pillow and tilting her head back, she showed her most vulnerable side.
Zhao Shuqing stroked her neck gently through the towel, her eyes momentarily unfocused.
So delicate.
So pale…
Zhao Shuqing wiped Lin Feng’s neck with her own towel, then brushed aside Lin Feng’s long hair and wiped along her collarbone down to her shoulder and chest.
Although Lin Feng was still wearing her swimsuit, her skin felt burning hot under Zhao Shuqing’s touch. Especially when Zhao Shuqing gazed at Lin Feng’s beautiful chest, she suddenly had the urge to undo that annoying piece of clothing and carefully clean her properly.
It was a dangerous thought. Zhao Shuqing quickly turned her head to rinse the towel, trying to calm her racing heart. Then she turned back and wiped around Lin Feng’s waist and lower belly.
“Mm…” Lin Feng frowned slightly and softly called out, “Zhao Shuqing.”
Zhao Shuqing broke out in a sweat. After a couple of seconds, she finally looked up and met Lin Feng’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Feng blinked at her and said, “Your face is really red.”
Zhao Shuqing felt like a boiling kettle — she instantly flushed bright red.
“Don’t, don’t say that,” she hurriedly denied. “I’m just hot. It’s so warm today.”
Lin Feng looked at her strangely. She didn’t feel hot at all.
Zhao Shuqing quickly put away the towel and carried the basin out to change the water, her cheeks still burning red. A passing doctor greeted her, but Zhao Shuqing didn’t respond.
She stayed in the bathroom for half an hour before coming back with a calm expression.
By then, Lin Feng was sitting on the bed looking quite upset.
She had been touched by the nurse.
She wasn’t happy about it.
But Lin Feng also knew she was sick and wouldn’t get better without treatment. So, biting her teeth, she let the nurse give her an injection.
The nurse originally planned to inject directly into her tail since fish usually receive fluids there, but Lin Feng refused, so the nurse had to inject her hand instead.
The moment Zhao Shuqing came back in, Lin Feng’s pleading eyes immediately found her. Zhao Shuqing braced herself and walked in, placing the basin on the nearby table before sitting by the bed.
“Zhao Shuqing,” Lin Feng said pitifully, holding up the arm with the IV drip, “It hurts.”
The nurse asked curiously, “Does it hurt?”
Zhao Shuqing sighed and translated, “She doesn’t really hurt; she just needs me to comfort her. Sorry about that.”
The nurse laughed softly. “No problem. You really have a close bond with the mermaid.”
Zhao Shuqing smiled too, though it was a little bitter.
After the nurse left, Zhao Shuqing held Lin Feng’s hand and sat down. She covered her with a blanket and asked, “Is there anywhere else that hurts? Tell me everything.”
Lin Feng looked upset. The injection did hurt, and she wasn’t lying.
Seeing her like that, Zhao Shuqing felt helpless. She scooted closer, propped up the pillows, and said, “Sit up for a bit. Don’t lie down all the time.”
Lin Feng leaned against the pillows and asked, “What’s for breakfast?”
Oh right, they hadn’t eaten yet.
Zhao Shuqing asked, “What do you want to eat? Still want porridge?”
Lin Feng shook her head.
Zhao Shuqing glanced at the time. It was before eight, and the steamed fish place wasn’t open yet. After thinking for a moment, she said, “I’ll go to the cafeteria and get you some soy milk.”
Lin Feng had tried soy milk before—not exactly liked it, but didn’t hate it either.
When she heard “soy milk,” Lin Feng quickly added, “And buns.”
This fish really knew that soy milk goes with buns.
“Okay.” Zhao Shuqing pinched Lin Feng’s cheek, then stood up and said, “I’ll go get breakfast now. I’ll ask the nurse to watch you while I’m gone, okay?”
After saying this, Zhao Shuqing wanted to bite her tongue.
“Nurse” was a strange way to put it—Lin Feng was older than all of them.
But when she saw Lin Feng’s deep blue eyes, Zhao Shuqing swallowed the words, ruffled her head, and went out. She also reminded the nurse to keep an eye on Lin Feng.
After buying breakfast at the cafeteria—two cups of soy milk and four buns—Zhao Shuqing returned to the medical building and saw a familiar figure walking ahead of her.
“Senior sister,” Zhao Shuqing greeted and immediately ran up.
Xu Tang stopped and turned around, smiling at Zhao Shuqing.
When Zhao Shuqing got close, she noticed the breakfast Xu Tang was holding and raised an eyebrow. “You bought breakfast?”
“Yes,” Zhao Shuqing smiled. “Lin Feng wanted soy milk, so I got some for both of us. Have you eaten?”
“I already have.” Xu Tang chatted casually as they walked to the ward door. “I also asked about the thing you had me check yesterday. It really was equipment failure. All the surveillance footage was lost and only restored this morning.”
Zhao Shuqing frowned. She asked Xu Tang, “Senior sister, do you really believe their story that the orca attacked Lin Feng?”
Xu Tang looked at her silently and didn’t answer.
Zhao Shuqing dropped her shoulders helplessly and sighed. “I know these are just guesses, but I really think someone might want to harm Lin Feng. Could there be foreign agents involved this time? Maybe spies?”
Xu Tang smiled gently and pressed her hand on the door handle, slowly pushing it open.
The ward door creaked open. Lin Feng looked up and met Xu Tang’s eyes.
Xu Tang looked at Lin Feng and said, “If someone wants to hurt her, wouldn’t it be better to just ask and find out?”