Chapter 20: Kong Tela

Chapter 20: Kontra

"What's the matter? You're not looking down on me for being illiterate, are you?" Liu Hai leaned on the edge of the tank, arguing his point. "I know many more characters than before! I’ve made huge progress!"

"Of course," Jiang Xun praised generously. "It seems giving you a phone was indeed a wise decision. You’ve worked very hard to understand the words on those web pages."

"Now, with a mix of guessing and recognizing, I can mostly understand the news."

"Compared to human children, who spend years learning most common characters, his progress can truly be called fast."

"Exactly, our Liu Hai is very smart." Jian Yu leaned in with a smile. "Of course I’m not looking down on you. If Dr. Jiang Xun is being too strict with your studies, you can complain to me."

"I’ll represent the company and have a good talk with him."

Liu Hai said magnanimously, "Nah, it's fine. He’s actually pretty nice."

Jiang Xun: "...Thanks?"

Jian Yu turned away with a laugh, then suddenly caught herself—oops, she’d unwittingly gotten swept up in his rhythm and started comforting him. She was meant to be just an observer outside the lab, not getting so involved.

As she was still thinking, she heard Liu Hai call out, "Xiao Yu—hurry up and follow us! We’re going in!"

"Shh—" Xiao Jin corrected him. "You should call her 'sister'! Be sweet with your words."

Jian Yu snapped out of it and followed with a smile. "Coming!"

Soon, they reached the penguin habitat. Liu Hai was glued to the cartoon penguin image on the sign, his body being ushered along while his head remained turned upward.

"Something up?" Jiang Xun noticed his gaze. "You’re really focused on that penguin?"

"So that’s what a penguin is," Liu Hai said hesitantly. "I’ve never seen one before… What if I can’t understand what they’re saying?"

"It’s fine," Jian Yu quickly reassured him. "We’re just taking a shot in the dark anyway. We won’t—"

"You’ve never seen a penguin before?" Jiang Xun seemed surprised. "Since you both live in frigid waters, I thought your habitats might overlap somewhat."

He mused, "Most penguins live in the ancient Antarctic region. Does that mean you live on the other side, in the Arctic?"

Liu Hai was about to answer but suddenly remembered his persona and quickly caught himself. "Merfolk can go anywhere. I just prefer colder places."

"I don’t know about north or south… It’s all just snow, ice, and ocean to me."

"I see." Jiang Xun let it drop, just smiled at him. "Then today, we’ll introduce you to penguins. These two little ones are real crowd-pleasers here."

"Right." They had reached the penguin enclosure, where a researcher opened the door for them. Jian Yu introduced, "Here, we have two emperor penguins. One is named Aphrodite, and the other, Adonis."

"Both are just young, fluffy adults."

"Aphrodite and Adonis?" Jiang Xun made a face. "Those are the names of the ancient goddess of love and her lover. There are many versions of the myth, but most end in tragedy—or start as one."

"To name them that…"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Kontra stood nearby in his white lab coat, his usual arrogance on full display. "Still better than someone who refuses to name their creations at all, calling them 'Restoration Experiment No. 001' and 'No. 002.'"

"At least I put care into it. I believe my precious creations deserve the name of the goddess of love and beauty, and her partner should match her."

Jiang Xun countered, "'Restoration Experiment No. 001' is just the lab code. They already have formal scientific names, preserved from antiquity. There’s no need for me to rename them."

"As for naming every individual… sorry, but they can lay hundreds of eggs at once."

"Tsk." Kontra, as usual, was outmatched and turned away with a cold expression, then turned to Jian Yu. "So this is the solution you came up with for me?"

He glanced at Liu Hai.

Liu Hai was also sizing him up.

The young man had a classically handsome face, his demeanor marking his privileged birth. The ever-present arrogance in his expression made him seem unapproachable, but now, the faint dark circles under his eyes gave him a weary anxiety.

"Yes," Jian Yu smiled gently. "Dr. Kontra, I trust you won’t let personal feelings interfere with more important matters?"

Kontra bristled, then huffed and turned his head away.

"Explain the situation," Jiang Xun spoke up. "Jian Yu only told us to come here. The details are for you to share."

"Ugh." Kontra massaged his temples gloomily, closing his eyes briefly. "You’ll see for yourselves once you look at these two."

He led them deeper into the colder penguin habitat, pausing to glance back. "There are coats on the rack. It’s quite cold in here—you might want to grab one."

"Got it!" Xiao Jin chirped, lightening the mood. "Thanks, Dr. Kong!"

Kontra corrected her, "It’s Dr. Kontra."

Liu Hai whispered, "Why?"

"Don’t you have the surname Kong?"

Kontra met his gaze, his expression complicated. "No, I do have the surname Kong."

"But I hate being addressed only by my surname. It makes me feel like they’re invoking the Kong family’s prestige rather than showing respect to me as an individual."

"Oh—" Liu Hai nodded in sudden understanding.

Jiang Xun asked with a smile, "What kind of person do you think he is?"

"What?" Kontra scoffed dismissively. "You’re having him analyze me?"

Liu Hai said with great seriousness, "He’s someone who cares deeply about his own worth and wants to prove something."

Kontra: "..."

"Well, well." Jiang Xun nodded slightly. "Spot on."

A Yu put on a thick coat, even pulling up the hood, his voice muffled. "Liu Hai might not know many characters yet, but he’s surprisingly good with specialized vocabulary."

"Hmph." Liu Hai wagged his tail proudly in the water. "Impressive, right? I’ve met a lot of people."

"What?" Kontra snapped out of his daze, looking indignant. "What’s there to be proud of when you can’t even stand up in water?"

"Hmm?" Liu Hai frowned, fixing Kontra with a piercing stare.

Kontra: "..."

He was already regretting his words. Attacking an innocent ancient creature wasn’t really his style.

"Watch me." Liu Hai’s expression turned solemn. Suddenly, he lowered his tail, pressed his rear fin firmly against the bottom of the tank, and straightened his body upright.

Kontra: "..."

Liu Hai crossed his arms. "I’m standing now. Anything else to say?"

"Oh oh oh!" Xiao Jin clapped excitedly. "Good job, good job!"

She nudged Kontra. "Dr. Kontra, say something nice too! He’s never performed this for us before!"

Kontra: "...I told you, call me Dr. Kontra. Are you doing this on purpose?"

He took a deep breath, his expression softening slightly, and muttered something under his breath.

Liu Hai tilted his head. "What did you say?"

"I said!" Kontra raised his voice. "Fine, you’re impressive! You can stand! Tch, so what if you can talk, read, have a pretty face, a good personality, and a fluffy tail too—I get it, you’re adorable. But this is emperor penguin territory! No matter what anyone says, Aphrodite and Adonis will always be the cutest in my heart!"

Liu Hai, still standing, replied, "I think they’re cute too."

Kontra paused, stammering slightly. "Oh... really? Well, then I’ll allow you to add ‘great taste’ to your list of merits."

Jian Yu stifled a laugh. "Guess I can relax now."

"I’m not the kind of person who takes out anger on innocent animals," Kontra turned away. "Hmph! Besides, he’s here to help."

"At least I have better manners than some people. Whether he can help or not, I’ve prepared a proper thank-you gift."

Liu Hai’s ears perked up and he leaned in curiously. "Who are ‘some people’?"

Jiang Xun admitted readily, "Probably me."

Liu Hai glanced left and right before declaring bluntly, "Just make up already!"

Kontra reflexively retorted, "Like it's that easy!"

"Forget it." He rubbed his temples in frustration. "Let’s just focus on them. The smaller one is Aphrodite, and the bigger one is Adonis."

He gestured for the group to look inside. The two recently matured penguins were kept in separate rooms, both covered in injuries, with the larger one looking in worse shape.

Liu Hai blinked and asked, "Got any shorter names?"

"Excuse me?" Kontra resisted immediately. "Do you have a problem with the names I carefully chose?!"

Jiang Xun interjected, "Their fans like to call them ‘Luo Luo’ and ‘Nini.’"

"Way easier!" Liu Hai knocked on the tank door, signaling to open it. "Let me take a look."

Kontra glanced at Liu Hai’s bare chest, then shot Jiang Xun a few looks before finally speaking up. "Hey, aren’t you gonna get him something to wear?"

Liu Hai tilted his head. "I’m not cold."

"At least dry off!" Kontra glared at Jiang Xun before rolling up his sleeves and began fussing over Liu Hai. "Seriously, have some common sense. This is a simulated polar marine environment—you want him to catch cold?"

"And you!" He scolded Liu Hai sternly. "Wildlife can handle more than humans. When you say you’re not cold, it’s not reliable! You’re not struggling to survive in the wild anymore—use what humans have to offer! For crying out loud, at least dry your hair after coming out of the water!"

Xiao Jin cupped her cheeks. "Dr. Kontra, you’re such a mother hen."

"Nonsense!" Kontra snapped back angrily.

Liu Hai patted him. "Okay, okay, I’ll remember. Don’t worry, you humans are the fragile ones."

Jiang Xun had just taken off his own jacket, but Liu Hai was already bounding toward the penguin enclosure.

Kontra glared at him. "Why are you just standing there? If you want to give it to him, go after him! Wait, I’ll get you another one."

Jiang Xun rubbed his nose, stepped forward, and tossed the jacket over Liu Hai.

"What’s this?" Liu Hai poked his head out from under the fabric. "I’m not cold… Wow! So warm!"

The naive seal looked utterly astonished.

Jiang Xun couldn’t help but laugh. "Arms—put your arms through the sleeves."

Liu Hai put on the jacket, stumbled a little awkwardly in the oversized but warm jacket.

He let out a happy sigh before lightly knocking on the emperor penguin Luo Luo’s door and greeting it warmly. "Hello."

Luo Luo slowly turned to look.

Author’s Note:

Jiang Xun: Might as well get Liu Hai a wardrobe too.