The Mermaid and Her Keeper (GL) - Chapter 50

Everyone felt complicated after hearing Xu Tang’s words. During the following meeting, some people stayed while others left. Those who left had to sign a confidentiality agreement with the assistant at the door before they could go. Most chose to stay.

Zhao Shuqing stayed, and so did Gu Yao.

They sat in different spots but glanced at each other, both seeing confusion in the other’s eyes.

Neither of them left. Gu Yao stayed because she was the professor in charge, and Zhao Shuqing had to stay—she couldn’t let these people experiment on Lin Feng without her knowing.

The meeting went on slowly. Xu Tang outlined the tasks and priorities for the two teams. The joint experiment required not only oceanography knowledge but also heavy gene engineering work.

The meeting finally ended at noon after four hours.

Zhao Shuqing left the conference room with a serious expression, holding some files. Gu Yao quickly ran after her and called out, “Shuqing, wait a moment. Let’s go back together.”

Gu Yao jogged over and saw Zhao Shuqing’s troubled face—she knew what she was thinking. There were too many people in the hallway to talk openly, so she just grabbed Zhao Shuqing’s hand and hurried away.

When Xu Tang came out of the meeting room, he glanced coldly at their backs, then turned away without expression.

Downstairs at the dormitory, Gu Yao finally asked, “Shuqing, what’s this mermaid project all about? You don’t know either?”

Zhao Shuqing shook her head. She never expected Xu Tang to hide this from her.

Why?

If this was really a national mission decided before the sea expedition, why keep it secret from her?

Is it because it’s classified?

Or because she’s not high enough in rank to be told about the project in advance?

No matter the reason, Zhao Shuqing felt bad—for herself and for Lin Feng.

“How can they do this?” Gu Yao said angrily. “Lin Feng is so pitiful, having to go through experiments like this.”

Zhao Shuqing said nothing and kept walking. Gu Yao couldn’t guess her thoughts and just followed quietly into the elevator, watching her carefully.

Lin Feng was lying on the table, bored, staring at the ugly little fish. Suddenly, she heard the door open and sat up excitedly, looking toward the entrance. When she saw it was Zhao Shuqing coming in, she smiled brightly. “Zhao Shuqing.”

Zhao Shuqing looked at Lin Feng.

Behind her, Gu Yao’s eyes were complicated as she glanced at the two of them. Deciding she didn’t want to be a third wheel, she quietly said, “You two talk, I’m going back to my room.”

After Gu Yao left, Zhao Shuqing went in and changed her shoes. Lin Feng sat in the chair watching her and tilted her head to ask, “What’s for lunch?”

Zhao Shuqing paused, then put her shoes in the cabinet, came over, and crouched in front of Lin Feng. “What do you want to eat?”

Lin Feng smiled. “Anything you make is fine.”

Seeing Lin Feng smile, Zhao Shuqing felt both bitter and sad inside. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if Lin Feng really became a test subject.

But for now, Zhao Shuqing forced a smile and decided to cook for Lin Feng.

The fridge was full of ingredients. Zhao Shuqing washed a small plate of cherry tomatoes first to let Lin Feng have a little snack, then tied on her apron and started cooking.

Half an hour later, a simple meal of two dishes and one soup was ready. Lin Feng saw her favorite steamed fish and large shrimp on the table and happily held her bowl and chopsticks.

After eating, Lin Feng saw Zhao Shuqing cleaning the dishes and came over to help put them away.

“No need,” Zhao Shuqing stopped her, speaking softly. “You rest well. I’ll wash the dishes.”

Lin Feng held her bowl and thought for a moment. She really didn’t like washing dishes—she had tried before and hated the feeling of dish soap on her hands—so she quickly handed the dishes over to Zhao Shuqing and quietly asked, “Can I take a bath?”

Zhao Shuqing glanced at the time and nodded. “Go ahead. Fill the water yourself.”

Lin Feng was happy, holding the ugly little fish’s tank as she went to the balcony to fill the water for her bath.

When Zhao Shuqing finished tidying the kitchen and came out, she saw Lin Feng already sitting in the tank, muttering to the little fish. She smiled and wanted to pour Lin Feng some milk but couldn’t find her usual cup. So she took another, rarely used one, and came over.

Zhao Shuqing put down the milk and asked, “Have you seen the cup I usually use?”

Lin Feng stiffened and didn’t dare to look up. “No.”

Zhao Shuqing was puzzled. “Lately, things keep going missing at home. Even that little bear spoon disappeared. Did I just forget where I put it?”

Lin Feng lowered her head and whispered, “I don’t know.”

Zhao Shuqing looked at her strangely. She felt Lin Feng was acting odd, but maybe the missing cups and spoons were just her own carelessness. They weren’t valuable, and she could always buy new ones later.

She stared at Lin Feng and after a moment’s hesitation, sat down calmly in front of her.

Lin Feng was terrified, thinking her secret hiding place might have been discovered. She didn’t dare meet Zhao Shuqing’s eyes and was already planning what to do if she was found out.

What could she do?

She’d just keep hiding things. Zhao Shuqing wouldn’t throw her away, right?

Lin Feng puffed out her cheeks and asked, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

This time, Zhao Shuqing was speechless. She silently looked at Lin Feng with a complicated expression in her eyes.

“Lin Feng,” Zhao Shuqing said, “there’s something I think I should tell you.”

Lin Feng’s eyes widened. Could this woman really be planning to throw her away over a cup and a spoon?

The more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed. Her eyes turned red with anger as she shouted, “You bad woman!”

Zhao Shuqing was stunned. “Huh?”

She hadn’t even said anything yet—why was she being scolded?

Lin Feng started crying, “You just want to get rid of me.”

Zhao Shuqing was startled and quickly moved closer to comfort her. “No, how could I ever throw you away?”

Tears hung at the corners of Lin Feng’s eyes as she said, “You just want to.”

She thought Zhao Shuqing disliked her because she was lazy and only cared about taking baths.

She was messy when she slept and didn’t even brush her teeth properly.

She wasn’t as motivated or cute as Gu Yao, nor as human-like as Xu Tang.

Zhao Shuqing just looked down on her.

Throw me away, throw me away—if she did, Lin Feng could just swim back to the Pacific Ocean. If she couldn’t make it, she’d starve.

Starve to death.

Seeing Lin Feng getting more and more upset, with tears dropping like little pearls, Zhao Shuqing couldn’t help but laugh and cry as she comforted her, “I really don’t want to throw you away. What I meant was… at this morning’s meeting, they said they might need to use your eggs, so I wanted to tell you.”

Hearing this, Lin Feng stopped crying and sniffled, “Eggs?”

She didn’t really understand the term as a human, but she had heard it long ago when she was trapped in a narrow rock crevice in the deep sea. Now, looking at Zhao Shuqing with a blank expression, she realized what she was about to face.

Zhao Shuqing explained what eggs actually were, and Lin Feng sat quietly in the bathtub, listening.

Finally, Zhao Shuqing looked at Lin Feng’s lowered eyes, now dull and lifeless, and felt a bitter sadness welling up in her chest.

“Lin Feng.”

Zhao Shuqing cupped her face gently, kissed her softly, and whispered, “If you don’t want to, I can help you escape.”

Lin Feng was stunned. “What?”

Help her escape?

Zhao Shuqing nodded slightly, her eyes determined. “Yes. If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll find a way to get you out, then you’ll be free. You can go back to the sea and live without any restrictions.”

Lin Feng stared at her blankly and asked, “Will I still see you?”

Zhao Shuqing gave a bitter smile. “Of course not.”

Lin Feng immediately shook her head. “Then I won’t go back.”

“But do you know what your future will be like?”

“I still won’t go back.”

Lin Feng reached out, touching Zhao Shuqing’s cheek. “I won’t go anywhere without you.”

Zhao Shuqing opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. She could only lower her head and kiss Lin Feng, their breaths mingling.

Lin Feng responded with gentle kisses, stroking Zhao Shuqing’s face, letting her kiss freely.

Even though they were under the sunlight, Zhao Shuqing felt freezing cold.

She understood now: taking the eggs was only the first step in the plan. If everything went smoothly, Lin Feng might still have to endure the pain of childbirth. She would carry a child, a brand-new human being growing inside her…

Xu Tang’s office was always dark with the curtains drawn, only opened when someone came in or when the lights were turned on.

Usually, her room was dim, sometimes with no lights on at all.

But even so, Xu Tang moved around effortlessly in the dark. After all, she was human now. No matter how uncomfortable she was with sunlight, she had to accept it.

Today, after the meeting, she stayed in her office until her assistant called to say someone was here to see her.

When Zhao Shuqing arrived, she saw Xu Tang pulling the curtains open, though half the office remained dim.

Xu Tang looked back and smiled, “You’re here.”

Zhao Shuqing nodded. “Senior sister, you still like to keep the curtains closed? It’s not good for your eyes.”

“It’s okay.” Xu Tang fixed the curtains in place and said, “I’m used to it. I don’t think it affects my eyesight.”

She added, “Have a seat. Want me to make you some coffee?”

“I don’t like coffee.” Zhao Shuqing pulled out a chair and sat down. “Don’t bother. I just want to say two things and then I’ll go.”

Xu Tang raised an eyebrow and sat down. “What things? Is it about Lin Feng?”

Zhao Shuqing nodded seriously. “I’ve already told Lin Feng about the mermaid project. She agreed to participate, but I have two requests. The project can only start after Lin Feng has fully recovered. She’s still injured and can’t undergo any experiments yet.”

Xu Tang nodded. “That’s no problem. The genetics team still has some tasks unfinished, so they won’t start the project anytime soon. By then, Lin Feng should be healed. What’s your second request?”

Zhao Shuqing hesitated for a moment, then said, “The mermaid project needs human eggs and mermaid eggs, right? I want to provide the human genes myself.”