Chapter 85: I Love Slacking Off
Cooking in the interstellar age was very convenient. Ingredients were prepped, and one only needed to retrieve them from the freezer, set the desired cooking method, and the meal would be ready in no time.
From beside her, Gu Yuan’s voice drifted over: “There’s not much variety here… There happens to be some dishes you like, so let’s make those.”
An He looked towards the freezer. Gu Yuan had already rolled up his sleeves, looking quite experienced.
Tao Ning, resting her head on the table, simply replied with an “Mm,” showing no courtesy.
Zang Yuzhu herself was someone who didn’t know the meaning of politeness, so it wasn’t surprising that Gu Yuan would cook for her.
However, she was also frail and sickly, so what could be expected of her?
An He hesitated for a moment before quietly going over to hand him plates.
Soon, the dishes were served, fragrant and enticing. An He, who hadn’t felt hungry before, suddenly felt her stomach rumble, wanting to sit down and feast.
Tao Ning, who had been resting her head on the table, finally deigned to lift it. Her eyes immediately landed on shredded carrots, and her brows furrowed.
Pushing the plate away with her fingertip, Tao Ning said, “I don’t like carrots. Get me another one.”
Tao Ning herself wasn’t a picky eater, but Zang Yuzhu hated carrots with a passion, once declaring that she wanted to eradicate all carrots in the universe.
To annoy her, netizens specifically changed their usernames to “Universe Filled with Carrots,” infuriating Zang Yuzhu to the point of staying up all night arguing with them online.
An He, being good-tempered, looked at the three dishes and said, “They all have carrots. I can’t change them. Why don’t you just…” give the carrots to me.
Another hand reached out, pushing the plate back to its original position. It was Gu Yuan, who had finished washing his hands.
Gu Yuan said gently, “Carrots are good for you. Don’t be picky. There’s not much, just eat it.”
Tao Ning stared at the carrots with a look of utter despair: “I’d rather eat three bitter melons than a single bite of carrot.”
An He was surprised: “You hate carrots that much?”
Tao Ning looked up at An He: “Yes, I hate carrots the most.”
An He offered, “Then give them all to me. I don’t hate carrots, but I don’t like cooked tomatoes, or tomato sauce.”
Tao Ning asked, puzzled, “Doesn’t your mother cook them differently for you?”
An He replied, equally puzzled, “Other vegetables can also provide vitamins. Eating a little less of one and a little more of another won’t make much difference. Why be so fixated on one vegetable?”
After speaking, An He felt something was off.
Tao Ning smiled at her, using her untouched spoon to transfer all the carrots to An He’s plate, saying cheerfully, “Thank you.”
Meeting those smiling eyes, An He immediately dismissed her doubts, shaking her head: “You’re welcome, it’s nothing.”
Gu Yuan, who had been silent, spoke up: “Let’s eat.”
The two girls sat together, with Gu Yuan opposite Tao Ning. After a few bites, Gu Yuan, not accustomed to eating in silence, started a conversation.
Gu Yuan said, “You’ve just recovered from your injury, yet you’re still running around at night without sleeping. What if you develop headaches?”
It was easy to let one’s guard down at the dinner table.
Tao Ning sighed, putting down her spoon: “I actually wanted to sleep, but I heard a sound that drew me to the lower decks.”
520, hearing this tone, thought to itself: Here we go again.
Gu Yuan, still unaware that the person before him was no longer the outspoken Zang Yuzhu but the cunning Tao Ning, followed her words and asked, “What sound?”
Tao Ning said, “The Mermaid’s singing.”
Gu Yuan replied without thinking, “Impossible. The ship has special equipment that would detect any attempt by the Mermaid to lure someone with her singing.”
Tao Ning let out an “Ah,” as if realizing her words weren’t very convincing. She furrowed her brows slightly: “What if she didn’t make any sound?”
Gu Yuan chuckled: “If she didn’t make any sound, how did you hear her singing?”
Tao Ning showed an expression of displeasure at being questioned: “I just heard it, that’s why I went down there, believe it or not.”
Gu Yuan surrendered: “Alright, alright, you heard the singing. I’ll take you back to your dormitory to rest later. After we go home, you don’t have to worry about anything else, I’ll take care of it for you.”
An He tried to approach the matter from a scientific perspective: “I heard that Mermaids have very strong psychic powers, and their singing also carries psychic energy. Is it possible that the sound waves affected Zang?”
Tao Ning, unexpectedly finding someone so understanding, gave her an appreciative look: “You make a good point.”
Gu Yuan: “…”
520 didn’t expect an honest person to be caught in the middle, feeling a bit sorry for An He, who was seriously trying to interpret the host’s words.
Tao Ning changed the subject: “Cousin, why did you come here? This isn’t the way back to your quarters. Don’t tell me you also heard the singing?”
“…” Gu Yuan was speechless. “I have military duties, I came back late.”
Tao Ning nodded: “I see.”
Gu Yuan: “I won’t be so busy after we go back. I should have a few days off.”
An He, caught in the middle, was bewildered. How did the conversation suddenly turn into casual chatter?
Tao Ning dropped a bombshell: “In that case, Cousin, can I be the Mermaid’s keeper? You’re so capable, you can definitely make it happen, right?”
Gu Yuan choked, his face turning red as he tried to suppress a cough to maintain his image. The two people opposite him didn’t think to offer him water.
This was because An He thought Zang Yuzhu would offer, but Tao Ning wouldn’t, only looking at him with concern: “Are you alright? Why are you coughing so badly? Are you catching a cold?”
She feigned concern with remarkable skill.
After a while, Gu Yuan, supporting himself on the table, stood up to pour himself some water. Taking a large gulp, he coughed lightly: “What did you say?”
Tao Ning said, “It’ll take quite a while to return to the First Star System. I’m afraid I won’t be able to graduate. How about I take care of the Mermaid? The Federation might recognize my contribution, and perhaps it will offset my failings.”
Gu Yuan wanted to say that this wasn’t how things worked, that she was just making things up as she went along.
But the words changed as they left his mouth. Gu Yuan said with difficulty, “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee success.”
After the meal, Tao Ning declined her cousin’s offer to escort her back, using the excuse that it wasn’t on his way, and returned to the dormitory area with An He.
Gu Yuan stood there, watching them leave. After they disappeared from sight, he turned and left as well.
Back in her dormitory, An He followed her usual routine, washing up and changing into her pajamas. Lying in bed, she pulled the blanket over her stomach, ready to sleep.
Half an hour later, lying in the darkness, An He opened her eyes. For some reason, she kept replaying the events of the evening in her mind.
Suddenly, a phrase came to her: Don’t listen to what people say, watch what they do.
Treating one’s sister like this wasn’t unusual if they were blood-related, but what if they weren’t?
The next day, the Mermaid was transferred to another location. Having her in the lower decks, with people coming and going, wasn’t conducive to her emotional stability.
The ship’s swimming pool was temporarily requisitioned and, after some modifications, used to house the Mermaid, keeping her under strict protection.
Now, no one could see the Mermaid without permission.
On the third day, Song Man suddenly announced that Zang Yuzhu, who was still recovering, would be taking care of the Mermaid. Her dormitory was also moved next to the swimming pool.
Hearing this news, An He assumed Gu Yuan had actually succeeded in his persuasion, wondering how he managed it.
She woke up according to her schedule, changed into her training clothes, and headed towards the training grounds. Along the way, she was surprised to find that everyone knew about it.
A student who wasn’t aware of the situation asked, “What’s wrong with taking care of a benefactor’s orphaned child? And it’s not guaranteed to make up for her mistakes.”
“See? Another person deceived by Zang Yuzhu’s appearance.”
Then the student was bombarded with gossip, listening in astonishment.
On the fifth floor, Song Fangzhou knocked on Song Man’s door.
Song Fangzhou frowned: “Aunt, why let Zang Yuzhu take care of the Mermaid? Aren’t more specialized personnel on their way? I think Gu Yuan is showing favoritism to Zang Yuzhu.”
Song Man held a pen: “Last night, the Federation Research Institute, monitoring remotely, reviewed a video. Within 72 hours of coming ashore, the Mermaid only interacted with Zang Yuzhu.”
What does that have to do with anything? Thinking carefully about Song Man’s words, she seemed to understand, yet didn’t.
Song Fangzhou held her aunt in high regard. She asked, “Is that the reason?”
Looking at her expression, Song Man knew she didn’t understand and patiently explained, “The Federation Research Institute has been studying Mermaid language for a long time. This isn’t a secret. But do you know why our research in this area is still largely blank?”
Song Fangzhou: “Isn’t it because Mermaid language is different from most existing languages, and human vocal cords have difficulty mimicking Mermaid sounds?”
Song Man: “That’s only a small part of the reason. Because this species rarely speaks, we have very little audio data, making it naturally difficult to decipher their language.”
Song Fangzhou hadn’t considered this reason and fell silent.
Song Man stood up, walking around the desk: “Therefore, the Federation Research Institute believes that the most suitable person to care for the Mermaid at this stage is Zang Yuzhu. Even Gu Yuan, who brought her ashore, can’t get close to her. Don’t worry, she’s a thoughtful person.”
She had never imagined that Zang Yuzhu, in her aunt’s eyes, could be associated with the words “thoughtful” and “careful.”
In the end, she could only attribute it to Song Man’s filter for her comrades, which had transferred to Zang Yuzhu. She wasn’t often in the First Star System, so naturally, she wasn’t aware of this delicate rose’s true nature.
Song Fangzhou left in a daze, only realizing after returning to her dormitory: “So, this is a Federation order?”
“Yes, I’m willing to accept the Federation’s appointment to care for the Mermaid,” Tao Ning said to several academy teachers.
The teachers nodded. The appointment had been conveyed, the conversation was over, and they all stood up.
The teacher who was a step behind was Zang Yuzhu’s main course instructor. She paused at the door, looking at Tao Ning, a hint of worry in her eyes: “Be careful.”
Mermaids were wild and untamed. Humans were no match for them physically. The teacher didn’t understand the Federation’s appointment, but she couldn’t stop it.
Tao Ning: “I will, teacher.”
On their way downstairs, the person leading the way said, “You’ll be alone for a few days. Personnel from the Research Institute will come to assist you later.”
Research Institute personnel? Were there such people?
Tao Ning recalled the world line. There was no specific time recorded for the space pirate attack, only that it happened one day, and then Gu Yuan stepped forward to protect the Mermaid.
This act of saving her life made the Mermaid realize that this might be an opportunity to find her people, and her attitude gradually softened.
Seeing the person beside her lost in thought, the guide said, “Did you hear me?”
Tao Ning snapped back to attention: “I heard you.” She repeated the other person’s words verbatim.
This surprised the guide. Her memory seemed fine, so why did everyone say her grades were terrible? Most of the Command Department courses were purely theoretical; even a quick glance before the exam shouldn’t result in such poor results.
Back at the pool, Tao Ning picked up the bucket of live fish and set it aside: “The Mermaid doesn’t eat fish. No need to feed her this.”
The man who had been temporarily assigned as a keeper asked, “She doesn’t eat fish? Then what does she eat?”
Tao Ning pointed at the pool full of live fish: “They’re all alive and kicking. If you keep feeding her live fish, you’ll create an ecosystem for her. Perhaps she prefers fruit.”
The man looked speechless: “Are you kidding me?”
Tao Ning didn’t bother arguing. She took an apple from her pocket, casually tossed it towards the pool, and quickly retreated: “Go, go quickly.”
The man stood there: “?”
A blue figure surged out of the water, snatching the apple mid-air with lightning speed before crashing back down, sending splashes everywhere, drenching the man on the shore.
The speed was so fast that he didn’t see anything clearly, only a blur.
The man: “…”
Tao Ning strolled back, a faint smile on her face: “Believe me now?”
The man wiped his face. How could he not believe it? He said, “I’ll apply to my superiors. You take good care of her.”
With that, he left, soaking wet.
Tao Ning found a fishing net and began scooping the live fish from the pool, transferring them to another bucket.
These rough soldiers on the ship were formidable in combat, yet they hadn’t noticed that the Mermaid hadn’t touched a single fish in the pool.
In fact, not only had they not noticed that the number of live fish hadn’t decreased, but a piece of coral that had been brought up with her was also missing.
Walking around the pool with the net, scooping as she went, Tao Ning was slow but precise, never missing a scoop.
She heard a plop behind her and turned to see a fish flapping on the shore.
Tao Ning: “Are you dissatisfied with my slow pace and came to help?”
The fish didn’t understand. It tossed another live fish onto the shore.
The fish thrown onto the shore stared with wide eyes, innocent, anxious, and dehydrated, desperately flapping its tail, trying to absorb moisture.
Tao Ning said humbly, “Alright, you’re indeed faster than me.”
She put down the net and picked up the bucket to collect the fish. The Mermaid threw, and she chased after them, changing buckets when one was full.
The human and the Mermaid worked together seamlessly.
Another splash sounded. Tao Ning instinctively reached out to pick up the fish, but stopped midway.
Because it wasn’t a fish thrown ashore, but the Mermaid’s hand, deliberately placed on the edge.
Long, slender fingers, palm up, with transparent webbing between them, and sharp nails at the tips.
These were the Mermaid’s webbed claws, cold and soft in appearance, yet the nails could easily dislodge a tile from the pool.
The reason she was content to stay in the pool was because she chose to.
The Mermaid’s pale skin had a faint blue tinge, clearly different from human skin, which was soft, while the Mermaid’s skin was supple.
Tao Ning also noticed a red dot on the Mermaid’s middle finger, not a bloodstain from an injury, but more like a cinnabar mole.
Slowly raising her head, the Mermaid, who had surfaced at some point, looked at Tao Ning with narrowed eyes, a playful glint in them.
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