Chapter 660

“I lived in the sea for six years. At the age of twelve, my foster father found me in the ocean and adopted me, and that’s how I became who I am today,” Ye Xingguang glossed over her experiences from six to twelve years old, succinctly.

“Hmm,” Ye Shiting hummed and pondered briefly, “Then, what’s with my second brother’s disease?”

Ye Shiting had been searching for a cure to Ye Junqing’s bloodsucking disease but had never found the root cause. Now he understood; his second brother’s disease was likely related to the incident of saving her ten years ago. But the younger brother didn’t want to talk about it in detail.

Ye Xingguang felt a pang of pain and shook her head, “I don’t know either. When I was twelve, I was being chased at sea, and I ran into him being attacked by a group of sharks. I saved him and because he was grateful, he helped me to escape. Later, he hid me and lead the pursuers away himself. That’s the last I saw of him until the civil affairs office rolled his case to me.”

Ye Shiting scrutinized her for a while before Ye Xingguang divulged some more, “His sickness may be related to severe injuries from diverting the pursuers away from me. A while ago, the doctor diagnosed my father with a terminal illness. He was told that medical treatment was no longer effective. But he survived. After returning from death’s door, he too was afflicted with a disease requiring him to consume blood. My dad said that it was Junqing who saved him, so… Perhaps he contracted the disease in order to survive back then. That’s all I know.”

Ye Shiting didn’t question further. He simply said: “I understand. Since you’re a mermaid, you’re a national treasure. I’ll arrange for the relevant departments to announce your identity soon.”

...

“No need,” Ye Xingguang shook her head in refusal, “I don’t want to be a national treasure.”

“Hmm?”

“I think my life is great as it is, whether I’m a national treasure or not. I frankly don’t care. I also don’t want to be like Xia Yanyan, showcased like a rare animal at every national event. Even thinking about it is unbearable. To put it bluntly, I’m not a singer, let alone a tail-seller. Only Xia Yanyan would enjoy flaunting her fish tail in the water.”

Ye Shiting said, “As a national treasure, you would be entitled to many state-level benefits.”

“I’m not interested. However, can I, as a member of the President’s press office, write articles criticizing the Xia family? Seeing their nostalgic faces during news interviews… I can’t take it! No one has more right to speak about this than me.”

“You write it. You have this right,” Ye Shiting said, expressing his regret about her reluctance to reveal her identity, but he chose to respect her decision, adding, “If you change your mind, let me know anytime.”

“Yes, thank you, big brother.”

Ye Shiting had other matters to attend to. “You may proceed with your work now.”

Ye Xingguang excused herself, leaving the President’s office and went back to the President’s Press Office. She immediately began typing on her keyboard, releasing the results of the investigation regarding the Xia Qiongqiong case on the official website of the President’s Press Office.

The President’s Press Office news release:

[After investigation, we now announce to the nation another national treasure, Xia Qiongqiong’s Notice:

Xia Qiongqiong was born in good health. After donating bone marrow to Xia Yanyan, she suffered severe adverse reactions. The Xia family concealed Xia Qiongqiong’s physical condition, neglected treatment, leading to the deterioration of Xia Qiongqiong’s condition. On November 25th, xxxx, at around 3 in the afternoon, the critically ill Xia Qiongqiong was thrown into the sea, abandoning her treatment.]