Chapter 54
An unusual situation unfolded in the masked streamer’s livestream—
The streamer was asking the connected user a question.
“And then?” The gaze behind the mask was eager. “What happened to the snail fairy?”
[My kid is just like the streamer when I read him stories, hanging on every word, his eyes sparkling.]
[The caretaker is suffering, taking care of little mermaids at work, then “babysitting” the streamer after work.]
The caretaker continued the story: “The person came home early and discovered the snail’s secret.”
MuMu gasped.
The plot was heading in the direction it feared most…
“Why would they come home early? Now the human and the snail fairy can’t meet as equals anymore.”
“Equals?” The caretaker was confused. “Streamer, your interpretation of the story is… unique.”
MuMu smiled modestly: “Thank you, you’re the first to say so.”
It glanced at the time: “Remember to let the little mermaids see you when you feed them. Now, let’s welcome the second connected user!”
I can’t spend too long, I have to be prepared in case Master comes home early.
Snail fairy senior, I’ll learn from your mistakes!
The second connected user, the top gifter, was a familiar face—
The pet streamer, Yi Yi, whose mermaid was named Yi Yi.
“Streamer, we meet again!” Yi Yi greeted enthusiastically.
Her video feed showed her livestream, and her mermaid, Yi Yi, was as beautiful as ever, albeit with a different outfit.
[Yi Yi’s fashion sense is impeccable, she makes her mermaid look so adorable every day.]
[Last time they connected, the masked streamer said Yi Yi was a little shit, redefining “beauty gets away with everything.”]
[If Yi Yi went to the Mermaid Center, she’d be surrounded by admirers, a bunch of lovesick fish following her into the tank. /Chuckling/]
“I’m not sure how popular she is, Yi Yi is very socially anxious.”
Yi Yi described dramatically: “Last time I put her in the tank at the Mermaid Center, she shrieked like she was being murdered, jumped out, and refused to go back in.”
Contrary to her description, Yi Yi in the video feed was swimming around confidently, looking for opportunities to cause mischief.
“Really, don’t doubt me!” Yi Yi, seeing the skeptical comments, pulled out a mermaid cage.
Yi Yi, upon seeing the cage, reacted as if she had seen a ghost, retreating and shrieking in terror.
Yi Yi sighed: “She’s so anxious that she won’t even leave the mermaid pool… My poor Yi Yi, changing owners must have traumatized her, she’s afraid of being abandoned if she goes outside.”
MuMu listened intently to Yi Yi’s shrieks:
“She says she’ll never leave this place. She can bully you at home, but no one outside, it’s boring.”
Yi Yi’s sadness vanished instantly: “…Huh?”
[So it’s a homebody haha!]
[Timid outside, a tyrant at home, demolition expert, attack!]
[Following Yi Yi now, I love watching the battles of wits between pets and owners, it’s a form of love, right? /Smirk/]
“I underestimated her personality.” Yi Yi chuckled wryly. “Streamer, is there a way to fix her social anxiety? I have to take her to an audition tomorrow.”
MuMu caught a familiar word: “Audition? Like for an advertisement?”
“Yes, for the first time ever, a company is choosing a mermaid spokesperson, the same brand that makes the fish food and floating water balls you recommended.”
Master’s company is choosing a mermaid spokesperson?
MuMu pondered: “You want Yi Yi’s picture on the product packaging?”
“Haha, you could say that. If Yi Yi gets the endorsement, not only will there be a fee, but it will also promote my channel, increasing my popularity.”
“Endorsements pay star coins!?”
MuMu smacked the home butler’s casing, regret flooding its heart:
Little Butler, if you had told me endorsements paid, I would have accepted those offers!
But it’s okay, there’s another chance now…
MuMu asked: “Is the audition tomorrow? Does the mermaid have to go to the company?”
“Uh, yes.”
Yi Yi tried to steer the conversation back to mermaid language: “So how do I make Yi Yi act more natural in front of others? She’ll never pass the audition like this.”
MuMu’s eyes darted around: “Just take her tomorrow, she’ll be fine.”
[Her personality will change just by taking her outside?]
[Sounds absurd, but I unconditionally trust the masked streamer!]
[Yi Yi is the top gifter, the streamer wouldn’t scam her.]
[Actually, it makes sense, taking the mermaid out for desensitization, that’s a technique used in high-level academic forums!]
MuMu smiled mysteriously:
I can’t do anything through the screen, I’ll talk to Yi Yi personally tomorrow!
The next morning, Wen Ming woke up to find MuMu waiting by the sleep pod.
“Awoo.” You’re awake, time for work, right?
“?” Wen Ming guessed, “Hungry?”
MuMu happily accepted a bag of snacks.
Munching on its breakfast, it followed Wen Ming in its scooter, refusing to leave his side.
While Wen Ming brushed his teeth, it squeezed into the bathroom and watched; while Wen Ming drank nutrient solution, it waited by the freshness preserver and watched; while Wen Ming changed clothes, it “awooed” at his reflection in the mirror, offering fashion advice:
That tie is perfect!
Wen Ming asked carefully: “MuMu, what is it?”
“Woo~” Take me to work with you, please?
MuMu clung to Wen Ming’s arm, refusing to let go, and counted on its fingers:
“Awoo, awoo.”
You have one job, plus human MuMu livestreaming and mermaid MuMu endorsements, that’s three sources of income for our family!
If not now, when?
The little mermaid, filled with enthusiasm, pointed out the window:
“Awoo!” Master, I’ll conquer the interstellar world for you!
Wen Ming followed its gaze and saw dark, gathering clouds:
“Are you worried about my mental seascape because of the potential thunderstorm, so you want to come with me to the company?”
MuMu paused, then nodded vigorously: “Awoo.” You can think of it that way.
Although your reasoning is completely wrong, the conclusion is correct, so it doesn’t matter.
Wen Ming pulled the scooter towards the mermaid room: “Your soothing is very effective, my mental seascape is stable, no need to worry.”
MuMu continued its persuasive efforts, muttering: “Woo.” I promised Yi Yi I’d help with her mermaid’s problem, I have to go!
Take! Me! With! You!
“I saw the things you hid in the artificial rock.”
MuMu instantly fell silent, its hair standing on end.
“Are you collecting those broken things because you want to fix them?”
Cold sweat trickled down MuMu’s forehead: “Awoo…” Those are just camouflage for my mask and clothes.
Wen Ming, seeing the little mermaid trembling, was even more certain of his guess:
“I’m sorry, keeping you cooped up at home must be making you anxious, we’ll consider this an outing.”
“!” MuMu raised its claws in celebration.
Wen Ming smiled and wrapped it in the small blanket, like comforting a scared child.
MuMu patted Wen Ming’s back: “Whoo.” Silly Master.
MuMu put on its Ocean Star gear and boarded Wen Ming’s airship.
The airship was fast, and MuMu watched the world whiz by, arriving at their destination in minutes.
It pressed its face against the window, eagerly searching:
“Awoo, awoo?” Where’s Master’s evil company? Is it that small, shabby building?
The airship landed, but Wen Ming didn’t move.
MuMu raised its voice: “Awoo!”
Wen Ming looked up from the urgent message he had received: “MuMu, go inside the company and wait for me.”
MuMu looked anxious: “Woo?” Me, a mermaid, alone?
“Someone will be there to meet you.”
Wen Ming opened the airship door, and Assistant Xu rushed over: “Who am I supposed to be meeting…?”
His question was answered as he saw the little mermaid peeking out.
A fatherly pride swelled within Assistant Xu: Back when the Admiral was still a mermaid novice, this little mermaid was his “mentor,” and look how well it trained him!
He adjusted his glasses, wiping away a tear: “MuMu, welcome to the company!”
MuMu grinned at him.
Wen Ming carried the scooter out of the airship: “I have some matters to attend to, take MuMu inside, and cooperate with whatever it wants to do.”
Assistant Xu stared at the modified mermaid cage, dumbfounded: “A scooter? Just let it drive itself?”
“Yes, follow it and keep it safe.”
Wen Ming checked the contents of MuMu’s bag: “Do you know what to be mindful of?”
Assistant Xu: “Yes, keep a close eye on MuMu.”
MuMu: “Awoo.” Yes, don’t let anyone kidnap me.
They answered simultaneously, then exchanged puzzled glances, both thinking:
He was clearly asking me!
Wen Ming continued: “Contact me immediately if anything happens.”
Assistant Xu: “Understood.”
“Awoo—” MuMu howled loudly, drowning out Assistant Xu’s voice. It pointed at its ear stud, imitating the home butler: “Beep beep!”
Wen Ming nodded: “Yes, use the home butler to contact me.”
“?” Assistant Xu spoke up weakly, “Isn’t that my task?”
Wen Ming glanced at him: “I’m entrusting it to you.”
Assistant Xu raised an eyebrow at MuMu: See, he was talking to me.
“Growl!” MuMu glared back, sparks practically flying between them.
Wen Ming somehow felt they would get along well…
“Whoosh—”
The airship took off, shrinking into a small dot in MuMu’s vision.
It pushed the joystick, driving the scooter towards a small, inconspicuous building.
“MuMu, that’s the wrong way,” Assistant Xu corrected. “Follow me.”
MuMu stared blankly as he walked towards a towering skyscraper that pierced the clouds.
Is this right?
Master works at such a wealthy company?
“MuMu!” Assistant Xu held the automatic door open, beckoning it. “Come in.”
MuMu sped up and joined him, glancing at him sideways, seemingly hesitant.
“What’s wrong?” Assistant Xu tried to sound approachable. “Don’t be shy, tell me if you need anything.”
He displayed a screen on his optical brain with simple animated phrases like “I’m hungry” and “I’m cold.”
He remembered Wen Ming saying MuMu was intelligent and held the optical brain out to it:
“Just tap on what you want to say.”
The little mermaid, as expected, understood immediately.
It scrolled through the options, carefully selecting one, and pressed it. Everyone at the Wen Corporation entrance heard a startling electronic voice:
“How many star coins do you earn each month?”
Bahaha MuMu about to scrutinize this company from top to bottom