The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 39

Around noon, as promised, Gu Yao borrowed a few picture books.

Although the research institute’s library was large and held many books, most of them were professional texts. Novels and picture books were very rare. So the picture books Gu Yao borrowed were all pretty worn out, and they were old editions from the last century.

But the old books were still intact, and since no one else had borrowed them, aside from the paper being fragile, there weren’t many other problems.

At night, the doctor gave Zhao Shuqing a few reminders before finishing their shift. Lin Feng’s condition was steadily improving, and her wounds were slowly healing.

The hospital ward was incredibly boring—there wasn’t even a TV.

But thinking about it, who would watch TV here?

The fish?

After finishing her work past nine p.m., Zhao Shuqing got into bed and cuddled with Lin Feng under the same blanket. She began reading the picture books to her.

Zhao Shuqing noticed Gu Yao’s strange taste and picked out a picture book called The Little Mermaid. Since Lin Feng was also a mermaid, she decided to read that one tonight.

Lin Feng had never seen a picture book before. She leaned against Zhao Shuqing’s chest, pointing at the pictures and words. Zhao Shuqing’s deep, soothing voice slowly told the story. Lin Feng listened carefully, but when she heard that the little mermaid liked the prince who fell into the water, she started asking questions.

“Prince?”

Zhao Shuqing held her close and explained, “That means the leader’s son.”

“Son?” Lin Feng looked puzzled.

Zhao Shuqing raised an eyebrow and gently patted Lin Feng’s side to tell her not to interrupt the story.

Lin Feng obediently snuggled in Zhao Shuqing’s arms. The Little Mermaid was a short story, finished in less than half an hour. Zhao Shuqing glanced at the clock; it was still before ten o’clock.

“Do you want to sleep?” Zhao Shuqing asked softly. “It’s late. You need to rest more.”

Lin Feng had been lying around for days and was almost getting moldy. Now that she had a picture book to listen to, she wasn’t ready to sleep so early.

“No,” Lin Feng stubbornly opened the picture book to the first page and said to Zhao Shuqing, “Read it again.”

Zhao Shuqing: “…”

Well, guess I have to read it again.

The Little Mermaid was read three times before Lin Feng finally let go of Zhao Shuqing. By then, it was already eleven o’clock. Lin Feng was getting sleepy, her pale eyelashes fluttering, leaning on Zhao Shuqing’s chest with eyes barely open. But stubbornly, she still wanted Zhao Shuqing to keep reading to her.

Just like a child.

“Let’s stop here for tonight,” Zhao Shuqing closed the book, wrapped her arms around Lin Feng’s waist, and whispered, “We should rest now.”

Thinking Zhao Shuqing was about to leave, Lin Feng quickly grabbed her clothes, her sleepy voice begging, “Don’t go.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Zhao Shuqing said with a soft smile, lowering her head. “I’ll just turn off the lights.”

Lin Feng had no choice but to let go. She watched Zhao Shuqing get out of bed to switch off the lights, then come back in the moonlight and crawl under the blanket to snuggle with her.

Zhao Shuqing’s body was warm, and Lin Feng liked that very much. The moment she got into bed, Lin Feng eagerly opened her arms and hugged her tightly.

If it weren’t for her tail still suspended and unable to move, Zhao Shuqing might have suspected she was being wrapped up by this mermaid.

To be precise, she already was.

Zhao Shuqing chuckled softly. Lin Feng felt her chest vibrate with laughter, but she was so sleepy she couldn’t even lift her head. She just let Zhao Shuqing tease her.

The two lay in bed together. Lin Feng was the first to fall asleep, holding tightly onto Zhao Shuqing’s waist, burying her face in her shoulder, like a clingy octopus hanging on.

Zhao Shuqing turned onto her side, holding Lin Feng close. Her temperature was just over twenty degrees—cold to the touch.

Her waist was slim, her skin smooth.

Her breath brushed against Zhao Shuqing’s neck, making her heart tingle.

Zhao Shuqing had been a little sleepy before, but now she was wide awake, staring at the person in her arms.

Was Lin Feng always like this when she slept?

Her hair was light-colored, as were her eyelashes. With eyes closed, she looked like she was dusted with frost.

Her nose was high, but small—delicate and beautiful, just like her lips.

Zhao Shuqing felt a little dizzy and slowly lowered her head, pressing her forehead against Lin Feng’s, looking at her so close.

She wanted to kiss her.

Zhao Shuqing knew this thought was dangerous, but she couldn’t control herself. Her mind kept replaying the moment Lin Feng had leaned in to kiss her cheek that day.

If she had another chance, she wouldn’t have pulled away so fast.

At least, she would have paused for three seconds before pulling away.

Feeling conflicted, Zhao Shuqing closed her eyes, tightened her arms around Lin Feng, holding her close. Lin Feng, fast asleep, knew nothing.

After more than a week of treatment, Lin Feng’s tail was finally ready to have the stitches removed.

She struggled fiercely during the procedure. Zhao Shuqing had to hold her in her arms, soothing her softly, only then could the doctor remove the bandages.

When Lin Feng saw her own tail, she was completely stunned.

The once-beautiful tail now looked ugly, like a broken piece of glass. Half of the fins were torn, and the tail was covered with deep and shallow scars. Especially at the most delicate part where the tail connected to the fins—it was almost falling off.

Lin Feng stared at it for a long time, her nose tingling, and then she burst into tears.

Zhao Shuqing gently wiped her tears and softly comforted her, “It’s okay. Even with an injured tail, it will heal. You’re still beautiful. Don’t cry.”

Lin Feng’s eyes were red and swollen, and her whole body trembled with sobs.

It was heartbreaking to see.

After the doctor finished the examination, he said to Zhao Shuqing, “There’s no major problem here. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you to apply. After about a month, it should be mostly healed. But during this time, it’s best not to go into the water. Also, come back every week for a medicinal bath.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded politely, “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll bring her here every week.”

Seeing Lin Feng still upset about her damaged tail, Zhao Shuqing couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor, will her tail really heal?”

“The wounds are indeed deep, but with a mermaid’s self-healing ability, it’s only a matter of time before it grows back,” the doctor said with a smile as he saw Lin Feng crying. He added to Zhao Shuqing, “Give her extra nutrition, and she should slowly recover.”

Hearing this, Zhao Shuqing felt relieved.

The doctor grew curious and asked, “Where do you plan to take the mermaid after she’s discharged?”

He already knew Zhao Shuqing didn’t believe the aquarium’s explanation. Plus, since Lin Feng needed rest, she probably wouldn’t be going back. The doctor was just curious about where she might go instead.

Zhao Shuqing didn’t hide anything and said calmly, “I plan to have her live with me in the dorm.”

Though the dorm’s bathroom was small, the balcony was quite spacious. She planned to buy a bathtub for the balcony so Lin Feng could sunbathe and soak in the tub, making it easier for Zhao Shuqing to take care of her.

The doctor thought it was a good plan. After all, given Lin Feng’s condition—no one was allowed near her except Zhao Shuqing.

When they were discharged, some people from the aquarium came by, including Wen Xiaoying, who had been helping Zhao Shuqing care for Lin Feng. Wen Xiaoying visited occasionally but Lin Feng didn’t pay much attention to her. Because of work, she couldn’t come often, so she only dropped by now and then.

Wen Xiaoying held a bouquet of fresh flowers. Seeing Zhao Shuqing pushing Lin Feng in a wheelchair, she immediately stepped forward to hand over the flowers. Worried Lin Feng might not like them, she gave them to Zhao Shuqing first.

“Shuqing, these are flowers and gifts from the aquarium staff for Lin Feng,” Wen Xiaoying smiled as she took out a bag of presents and handed it to Zhao Shuqing. “Where will you rest after discharge? Going back to the aquarium?”

Zhao Shuqing noticed Lin Feng’s eyes fixed on the bouquet and gifts in her arms. She bent down and gave everything to Lin Feng before answering Wen Xiaoying, “Lin Feng still needs to rest, so she’ll live with me for now. It’s easier for me to take care of her.”

Lin Feng’s eyes lit up looking at the bright flowers. She curiously picked a petal and tried to taste it, but Zhao Shuqing quickly covered her mouth.

Zhao Shuqing bent down and reminded her, “Flowers are for looking at, not eating.”

Lin Feng blinked and obediently nodded.

Wen Xiaoying smiled and said to Lin Feng, “If you want something to eat, there are pastries in that box. They’re your favorites. Try some.”

Hearing the word “food,” Lin Feng immediately got excited. She opened the box, looked at the pretty pastries inside, picked up a piece of mung bean cake, and started eating.

Her mouth was full of sweetness.

Zhao Shuqing patted Lin Feng’s head and said like she was talking to a child, “You can only eat two now. Save the rest for later.”

Lin Feng wrinkled her nose and carefully picked the next flavor she wanted to try.

Wen Xiaoying laughed and offered to push the wheelchair. Seeing that Lin Feng didn’t particularly dislike her, Zhao Shuqing let her.

One carried the things, the other pushed the wheelchair, and they headed toward the dorm.

Lin Feng glanced back at Wen Xiaoying, who smiled with a slightly goofy grin, then looked at Zhao Shuqing. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, “The orca?”

“The orca?” Wen Xiaoying answered quickly, “That orca has been locked up already. Don’t worry. It’ll be locked up for at least a month. This is a serious matter. The director of the aquarium is angry, and the orca’s trainer even had his bonus docked.”

Hearing the orca was locked up, Lin Feng frowned. She remembered that night when Xu Tang opened the door, and that scared, silly orca just ran away without looking back. It felt like the orca was wrongly punished.

Lin Feng knew better than anyone how miserable being locked up was.

“Don’t lock it up,” Lin Feng looked up and told Zhao Shuqing, “Don’t lock it up.”

Zhao Shuqing looked at Lin Feng strangely and signaled Wen Xiaoying to stop. She squatted down in front of the wheelchair and looked up at Lin Feng. “Why? Is there something you want to tell me?”

Lin Feng opened her mouth but didn’t say anything.

She couldn’t say.

It was a mermaid’s secret.

Lin Feng avoided Zhao Shuqing’s eyes and held the bouquet tightly, but she insisted, “Don’t lock up the orca.”

“It didn’t do anything.”

Zhao Shuqing looked at Lin Feng and squinted slightly.

Lin Feng wasn’t good at lying, and her behavior these days made Zhao Shuqing feel something was off. She felt like her mermaid was hiding something very important from her.

But with Wen Xiaoying around, Zhao Shuqing kept her doubts to herself for now. She stood up, rubbed Lin Feng’s cheek, and smiled, “Okay, I’ll talk to the aquarium about it.”

Lin Feng carefully looked at Zhao Shuqing and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.