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.
Chapter Two: The Beauty Upstairs (8)
Back downstairs, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me. Initially, I found it mentally exhausting to keep up with Su Ying’s conversational rhythm. A military expert once said, “Mental attacks are the most crucial,” and he was absolutely right. After a quick wash, I lay down on the bed but found no sleep would come. My mind was replayed her words. It seemed she was convinced of the existence of the Sea People, almost to the point of reverence. To put it more strongly, it was almost a form of faith. I had never encountered the concept of “Sea People” before, and now a beautiful woman had forcefully introduced it to me, repeatedly emphasizing it. Then I remembered how she let her home flood, making me think that this outwardly beautiful girl’s behavior was full of oddities, leaving me unable to fathom her.
After some time, I was jolted awake by a piercing scream. Upon listening closely, I could confirm it was the yowl of a cat, similar to what I heard yesterday. It was definitely not the cry of a lovesick baby or a hostile roar, but rather the mournful wail of an injured animal. The pitch was high, almost hoarse, filled with pain, and the more I listened, the stranger it seemed. I was too lazy to get up and look outside, knowing I wouldn’t catch it to see what was happening. However, the cat didn’t stop; it kept howling near my door throughout the night. Could it have been run over by a truck, its spirit not at rest, wailing in the night? Was I only seeing its ghost? Tossing and turning in bed, my mind was surprisingly clear, and my usually dull sixth sense was telling me something was happening around me.
Introduction
The next day, nearing noon, I finally caught up on my sleep. It was odd; once the sunlight touched me, the nighttime thoughts seemed unreal. So, I set aside my unease temporarily and prepared for work.
Chapter Three: The Archaeologist from Beijing? (1)
The next day, nearing noon, I finally caught up on my sleep. It was odd; once the sunlight touched me, the nighttime thoughts seemed unreal. So, I set aside my unease temporarily and prepared for work. Reflecting on last night’s experience, I figured that perhaps people are more prone to wild thoughts at night. Su Ying might just be a girl with a vivid imagination, which is quite normal. Temporarily escaping from that strange girl, I planned to interview a real expert today. I called Ruan Xiuwen, the archaeologist. His voice on the phone was polite; he had arrived in Shanghai early that morning. Being busy in the afternoon, we agreed to meet at his hotel room for the interview in the evening. I was a bit surprised to learn he was staying at the Hilton, a five-star hotel. That afternoon, I stayed home, cramming basic archaeological knowledge, frantically browsing relevant webpages. Before an interview, a journalist needs to do extensive preparation, understand basic facts, and formulate questions; otherwise, one risks embarrassment and losing face for the newspaper. I take my job seriously in this regard, so journalists often have a broad but not necessarily deep knowledge. Incidentally, I also looked up some legends about the sea online. After all, when talking to a beautiful woman, I didn’t want to just listen without contributing, which would make me seem incompetent. A little vanity is forgivable.
