Shapeshifters

I thought for a moment, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, and smiled, “It’s possible.” Su Ying also smiled and said, “I believe it.” I noticed a look of determination in her eyes as she looked at me, which I found somewhat amusing. Although I had experienced many events that were beyond ordinary comprehension, I was well aware that many unknown events had numerous possibilities, and the final answer often came as a surprise. True bizarre events often occur right beside us, unnoticed, rather than in those distant, baseless legends. Listening to Su Ying’s theoretical discussions on mysterious events, I felt she was still quite childlike in her charming way. Su Ying had evidently found a topic she liked and started discussing various sea-related topics with me. “Do you know about the Sirens?” “Yes, the mythical creatures that lure sailors to jump into the sea with their songs.” “I think they might be inhabitants of the underwater world. The sailors who jumped into the sea were probably invited to their underwater kingdom. This suggests that underwater people existed thousands of years ago. Legends usually have some basis, right?” I thought she truly had a gift for storytelling. “Hmm, maybe.” “I think Ru Liang is just an excuse those people came up with because they couldn’t find a mermaid.” “Hmm, possibly.” “Don’t you think jellyfish are the most beautiful creatures on Earth? Many people think so.” “Perhaps.” “Do you think there could be a submerged city in the Chinese sea?” “There might be.” “There must be. China’s coastal areas also have those kinds of trenches. There must be underwater people living there.” “Under… underwater people…” I was already struggling to keep up with the conversation. It was like talking to a grade schooler. “Underwater people, there are so many things science can’t explain now, right? I think underwater people are an undiscovered link. Isn’t there supposed to be gaps or mismatches in the evolutionary tree according to evolution theory? Adding underwater people might just complete it.” I hadn’t even responded yet, astonished by her bizarre and extensive knowledge. “Starting from amphibians, don’t you think there could be two evolutionary paths? Why must they go onto land?” Since I wasn’t engaging much, she probably began to doubt my educational background. “That’s related to the respiratory system, isn’t it?” I answered, trying to remain composed. “Because of the increased need for oxygen…” “So, you’ve already decided that living on land is a more advanced form of life than underwater?” She actually looked somewhat displeased. “Well… that’s hard to say.” “I think underwater people might be a more intelligent species, living in such a beautiful place…” She went on and on, making me feel the pressure Captain Zhang Qiang faced when dealing with a group of reporters. However, Su Ying was very pleased that I kept agreeing with her statements and showed no sign of stopping. I let her continue to swim freely in her imagined ocean. It was clear she didn’t want a discussion; she just wanted me to keep listening. Before I knew it, several hours had passed, and it was already past eleven. I took the opportunity when she paused to excuse myself. She laughed, “I’m sorry for keeping you so long.” “Not at all, it wasn’t bothersome.” I said my goodbyes. Just as I was about to walk out the door, she suddenly asked, “Do you want to know what I was doing there last night?” I paused, then nodded. Her thought process was so erratic; I couldn’t predict what she would say next. I waited for her response, but she paused before speaking. “I was looking for underwater people,” she said seriously. I was genuinely taken aback. She had mentioned underwater people in five out of ten sentences earlier, but I hadn’t expected her to bring it up again now. I looked at her, and she didn’t seem to be joking. “At that… construction site?” I suddenly remembered that wasn’t an ordinary construction site.
“Do you think the archaeological site at Zhidan Garden is related to the Sea People?” I asked. Su Ying let out a couple of chuckles, tossed her hair, and turned to look out the window. “The world is full of endless possibilities, isn’t it?” she said. Her eyes once again flickered with an enigmatic light, leaving me at a loss for words.