Can Mermaids Drown in the Deep Sea?

The Coastal Research Institute recently captured a rare, special mermaid specimen, numbered AS001, and handed it over to Shen Qi, the head of the relevant research project.

Shen Qi is a rare scientific genius, renowned for being ruthless and coldhearted. He has countless patents and awards to his name, and has drawn just as much criticism and abuse. Moderate organizations around the world love to condemn him, claiming all his research achievements are built upon a mountain of bloody lives and that he is unfit to be called human.

So when specimen AS001 fell into his hands, the mermaid protection organizations strongly objected.

They all believed AS001 would end up dead in Shen Qi's hands. Shen Qi himself thought so too.

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[AS001, name: Astuya. Pure white hair and pale blue eyes. Based on current information, he appears to belong to the rarest and most prestigious mermaid species.]

[AS001's tail fin is more than twice as long as those of the other specimens...]

"Researcher." The mermaid pressed close to the wall of the tank. His muscles were sculpted and perfectly defined, and the scales on his tail shimmered in the cold laboratory light.

"This tank is way too small. There's not even enough room to move my tail. Don't believe me? I'll swim around and show you."

Shen Qi turned around and ignored him, continuing to take notes.

[May request a custom tank one size larger.]

"Researcher, why are you keeping me in here? What are you going to do to me? Do you like me?"

"Researcher, you're so cold to me."

"Researcher, you're so handsome. Your eyes are more captivating than the finest black pearls in the deep sea."

Astuya's voice was full of laughter.

[Talkative.]

"Researcher, can you hear my heartbeat?"

"Would you like to see my heart?"

Even with his back to Astuya, Shen Qi could feel those mysterious, deep-sea-blue eyes fixed on him.

"Researcher.

"Do you believe that the moment I saw you, my heart started beating for you?"

It felt as if his heart were being squeezed. His blood surged beyond his control, and an unfamiliar sensation spread through his body.

Shen Qi took a deep breath to steady his trembling hand, but his handwriting came out unsteady.

[Suspect the legendary mermaid ability to bewitch others is real. Requesting isolation.]

[AS001, designated a key S-class surveillance subject.]

[Cunning and deceitful. A chronic liar.]

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A few things about a ruthless researcher who gets seduced by his test subject at work every day (not really)

A beautiful, coldhearted, absolutely rational, highly intelligent researcher as the bottom

X

A high-EQ, mysterious and noble deep-sea siren of a mermaid as the top

The bottom is truly heartless. At first, he treats the top as nothing but a research subject.

Love and hatred pull them to extremes.

Not recommended for readers with extreme preferences about character purity.

One-on-one, both physically and emotionally faithful, happy ending, primarily from the bottom's POV

Theme: Be self-reliant and strong, and treat everyone with sincerity