Leahy's gaze lingered on the mermaid's slender waist. It was astonishingly narrow—no wider than a palm—her figure gracefully contoured, supple and well-proportioned. Perhaps from a lifetime spent in water, faint lines of toned muscle traced her abdomen with subtle definition.
If this mermaid were human, she would surely be a celebrated beauty, the sort whose admirers might queue from the cabin all the way to the deck.
Did mermaids have mating seasons?How did they conceive new life?Did they possess reproductive organs akin to those of humans?
Such questions stirred Leahy's curiosity. Slowly, she reached out and brushed the mermaid's cheek. At her touch, the mermaid hesitated only for a breath before obediently lifting her chin, meeting Leahy's eyes.
"You're beautiful," Leahy said without restraint. "The most beautiful mermaid I've ever seen."
She had, after all, seen only this one; the praise was hardly dishonest.
The mermaid's blue eyes flickered, as though she had noticed something. Unexpectedly, she leaned closer, braced her hands against the edge of the platform, and sat directly before Leahy. Raising a hand remarkably human in form, she mirrored the gesture, gently touching Leahy's face.
"My God…" Someone behind them gasped, and soon others began arranging to record the scene.
Leahy felt the mermaid's touch—cold, startlingly so. Her skin was icy against Leahy's cheek, so frigid that, were it not for the steady rhythm of breath and heartbeat, Leahy might have suspected her lifeless.
How could she be so cold?
The mermaid studied Leahy intently at close range, her fingers slowly tracing the ridge of her brow and the tip of her nose, as though confirming something.
"Qing…"
Leahy's eyes widened slightly. She watched as the mermaid parted her lips, revealing rows of sharp, triangular teeth, and carefully, deliberately, spoke a single syllable to her—qing.
Please?Light?Or… pure?
Leahy stared at the mermaid in astonishment, wondering whether she had misheard. How could a stranger—an unfamiliar mermaid—know her name?
The mermaid closed her mouth again, her expression turning blank and faintly puzzled as she tilted her head, studying Leahy.
Leahy frowned. This was likely part of the mermaid's own language, carrying meanings beyond human understanding. It could not truly be her name—they had only just met.
As she pondered this, her peripheral vision caught sight of the area below the mermaid's abdomen. Near where a human's triangular region would be, one patch of scales stood out, clearly different from the rest.
Those scales appeared softer than the others. Underwater, the difference had been indistinct, but seated above the surface, it became unmistakable.
Was this… a mermaid's reproductive organ?
Leahy's gaze fixed on the patch, curiosity overtaking caution. Without further thought, she reached out to touch it.
Even through her rubber gloves, the sensation was muted, but the mermaid's reaction was anything but. She stared at Leahy in utter disbelief, shock written plainly across her face.
"What is this?" Leahy murmured, lowering her head as she pried at the edge of the scale.
Before she could see anything clearly, the mermaid reacted as if startled. Her tail snapped upward with a sharp crack, striking Leahy squarely across the face. Stars burst across Leahy's vision. By the time she recovered her senses and looked again, the mermaid had already dived to the bottom of the tank.
Leahy sat frozen on the floor, staring blankly at the disturbed water, only gradually realizing what she had just done.
"Pfft—"
Her colleagues behind her couldn't hold back their laughter. Covering their mouths, they teased, "Dr. Zhao, that kind of behavior on land would get you hauled away by the police."
"Hahaha, Shu Qing didn't mean it. She probably never expected the mermaid to slap her."
"I'm sorry, but this is just too funny—ha ha ha!"
Mocked by her coworkers, Leahy could only sigh helplessly. Rubbing the swelling on one side of her face, she said bitterly, "Please, sisters, have mercy. You must keep this secret for me—if my senior hears about it, she'll laugh at me for the rest of my life."
Several hours later, inside Torin's cabin.
"I hear you were slapped by a mermaid for acting indecent. Is that true?" Torin asked, amusement curling at her lips as she slipped on her coat and glanced at Leahy.
Leahy pressed a hand to her forehead in despair. "Who leaked that? How am I supposed to face anyone once we're back on land?"
Torin laughed, turning to her. "Congratulations. You're officially the first person in history to sexually harass a mermaid. You'll be remembered forever."
"Senior, please don't make fun of me."
"Alright, alright." Though she said so, the smile never left her face. Looking at Zhao Shu Qing, she asked, "Have you finished organizing the mermaid's data?"
"More or less. It's all here."
After being slapped, Leahy had immediately returned to the literature. Only then did she learn that a mermaid's tail was not to be touched casually—only an intimate partner was permitted such contact. Worse still, she had pried open the scales directly. A single slap was, frankly, mercy.
Leaning against the desk, Torin lazily flipped through the files Leahy had prepared. Just awakened from sleep, she lacked her usual refined, elite air, appearing instead relaxed and natural. Her glossy black hair spilled over her shoulders, black-rimmed glasses perched on a high, straight nose. She sipped freshly brewed coffee as she read.
"All the baseline metrics are here," Leahy said, watching her. "The mermaid is still highly alert. Aside from eating a few fish from my hand at the beginning, she hasn't eaten since."
Torin hummed softly in acknowledgment.
Leahy stood nearby, hesitating.
She wanted to tell Torin that the mermaid had seemed to call her name—but it felt unnecessary to publicize something so uncertain. That sound might simply be part of the mermaid's language, devoid of any special meaning.
And yet, whenever she recalled the mermaid sitting before her, gazing at her with those sapphire-blue eyes, Leahy felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Perhaps she was overthinking it.
After a brief review, Torin closed the folder and looked up. Noticing Leahy's distracted expression, she smiled. "What's wrong? You seem lost in thought."
Leahy paused, then awkwardly touched her cheek. "Senior… I was thinking about the mermaid. How exactly are we going to study her? Will we…?"
After all, this was the first mermaid ever captured. Leahy wanted their methods to be as scientific, rigorous—and as gentle—as possible. The mermaid was so uncannily human that Leahy could not bear the thought of such a rare, beautiful being being dissected.
"Don't worry," Torin said lightly, handing the folder back. "Everything you've thought of has already been considered. Gather everyone—we'll hold a group meeting shortly."
"Alright. I'll notify them."
"Shu Qing."
Just as Leahy turned to leave, Torin called her name. She stopped and looked back, puzzled. "Yes?"
"There's something… I want to tell you in advance." Torin brushed her hair back, idly twirling a strand around her finger. After a brief hesitation, she said, "We need to assign a dedicated researcher to the mermaid. Would you be willing?"
"You mean a caretaker?" Leahy frowned slightly. "But I offended her just hours ago. If you're choosing someone, I don't think I'm suitable."
Torin gave her a long, meaningful look, then stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. Lowering her voice, she said, "There's something I haven't told you, because there were too many people around earlier."
Leahy looked at her in surprise.
"When we first retrieved the mermaid," Torin said softly, "she spoke your name."
Leahy's brow tightened. "Senior… are you certain she said my name?"
"I might mishear another person's name," Torin replied, meeting her gaze steadily, "but I would never mistake yours. It's strange, yes—but I would not lie to you. And you know that once we bring the mermaid ashore, countless nations and organizations will try to seize her. Even without foreign involvement, domestic institutions alone will be overwhelming."
Her voice grew grave. "Whether you, I, our mentor, and this entire team are remembered in history depends on that mermaid. Do you understand, Shu Qing?"
Leahy fell silent.
"Among all the researchers," Torin continued, "you're the only one I trust. No matter what, you must be her researcher."
Leahy nodded slowly. She understood the mermaid's significance—to the nation, and to the world. If handled correctly, this expedition would be recorded in textbooks. For researchers, a lifetime of effort was devoted to advancing humanity; more practically, it was also about creating value and earning recognition.
She understood what Torin was asking. Though she had no desire to be entangled in political or organizational struggles, for her senior and her mentor, Leahy was willing to try.
"Alright," Leahy said at last, lifting her eyes to meet Torin's. "I'll secure the caretaker position. I won't let you down."