Chapter 65
“How can it rub like that?” MuMu mimicked the mermaid’s awkward movements, correcting it: “You have to use these parts of your tail, coordinating them for a smooth, effective rub, relieving the itch and removing the scales.”
[Listening intently, so professional. /Bowing to the master/]
[I instinctively tried it, now I’m wriggling in my sleep pod like a maggot.]
[Don’t use such disgusting analogies! I’m also wriggling, I wish I had a tail.]
“Streamer, thank you, I’ve learned something new,” the connected user said, exasperated. “But how do I teach my mermaid?”
MuMu scratched its head: “Rubbing their tails is an innate skill, they shouldn’t need to be taught.”
[A mermaid with amnesia?]
[Wait, if it’s innate, why is the streamer so knowledgeable?]
[He understands mermaid language, he must have learned it from a mermaid.]
“My mermaid has a neurological condition, it needs regular medication, the inability to rub its tail might be related to its illness.”
The connected user said worriedly: “I named it Kang Kang, hoping it would grow up healthy, but now this problem during shedding season…”
Kang Kang, frustrated by its inability to rub its tail properly, swam around the pool. Its movements were clumsy, as if it couldn’t control its tail precisely.
MuMu observed for a moment: “Part of its tail seems unresponsive.”
“Yes, because of its condition.” The connected user petted Kang Kang. “Streamer, is it saying it’s uncomfortable?”
Kang Kang’s speech was also affected by its illness, slightly slurred:
“Legged one, help me scwatch! (scratch)”
MuMu instructed the connected user: “It wants you to scratch it, not with your hand, the old scales are hard, use that cardboard.”
Kang Kang leaned its tail against the wall contentedly, but MuMu soon stopped them: “Okay, that’s enough scratching.”
The connected user hesitated: “But it still seems itchy.”
“If you scratch too much, you might accidentally remove its new scales, it’s best to let mermaids handle their own shedding.”
The connected user seemed to want to emphasize Kang Kang’s condition: “Can it do it on its own?”
“Do you ever take Kang Kang outside?”
“I take it to the Mermaid Center’s recreational area every Sunday.” The connected user’s eyes lit up. “Could other mermaids help it?”
Other mermaids, maybe not, but I can.
MuMu noted the time and place: “Let it interact with other mermaids, if that doesn’t work, then you can intervene.”
“Okay.”
[Yi Yi’s social anxiety was cured by going out, could the same happen to Kang Kang?]
[Maybe mermaids have their own healing methods.]
[I’ve noticed a strange sense of unity among mermaids lately, like there’s a secret leader in human society.]
[Agreed, the mermaids at the Soothing Competition suddenly figuring out how to beg for snacks wasn’t a coincidence!]
[And spokesmermaid MuMu’s popularity has increased mermaid awareness!]
After the first connection ended, MuMu checked the time.
Master will be off work soon!
What if the second connection takes too long and he finds out?
MuMu hesitated: “That’s all for today, leaderboard next ti…”
[I think the anonymous user is being discriminated against.]
[They reached the top last time and didn’t get connected, money can’t buy luck.]
[Streamer, you’re so heartless! Did you tell them “next time for sure”?]
“Beep beep!” Just as MuMu was about to end the stream, the home butler received a voice message.
Wen Ming’s voice:
“MuMu, I’m working overtime today, have some snacks if you’re hungry.”
“!”
A perfect opportunity!
MuMu sent a “Good luck!” emoji to Wen Ming and said to the camera:
“Let’s finish the stream as planned. Second connected user, are you still here?”
The anonymous user, having reached a high fan level, had a unique comment display effect:
“Here.”
“Wow~” MuMu stared at the colorful special effect, learning the character “here.”
The connection was established. The user’s profile picture was a black circle, no video feed.
“Hello, connected user?” MuMu cupped its hands around its mouth. “Are you there?”
“Here.”
The voice was similar to the displayed comment, a single word, but with an unusual coldness.
[That voice… surprisingly ordinary.]
[Definitely using a voice changer.]
[Understandable, the leaderboard is getting competitive, the top users are usually not ordinary people. Some, like the Marshal, can show their faces, others can’t.]
The home butler, detecting a voice changer, flashed a red light.
MuMu said with concern: “Connected user, I can’t understand the mermaid if you use voice effects.”
“My mermaid doesn’t make much sound, I can describe the situation, is that okay?”
“A quiet, introverted mermaid…”
MuMu understood: The complete opposite of me!
“What’s the problem?”
“My mermaid is very independent.” The connected user’s voice was calm. “It always tries to solve its own problems, doesn’t ask for help, even hides things from me.”
“There are mermaids like that?” MuMu was incredulous.
[Dude, that’s not realistic, mermaids can’t survive on their own, what does it eat if it doesn’t rely on you?]
[Probably not survival-related, like if a toy gets stuck, it tries to figure it out itself instead of asking for help.]
[Comes home: “Fish, cook me dinner.”]
[Haha, this comment section is great, why not have the mermaid earn millions of star coins? /Crying laughing/]
MuMu rested its chin on its hand: “So you want your mermaid to be more clingy?”
“No, I’m here to brag to the entire StarNet about how amazing my mermaid is.”
“?”
Could this be Qi Xuan?
The connected user continued to praise: “It’s intelligent and brave, always making progress in secret, I support everything it does.”
[Dude, you…]
[Where am I? Is this a relationship advice livestream?]
[Such heartfelt praise for a mermaid, a natural romantic, must be a playboy in real life.]
[This is emotional support, right? If I were half as smooth-talking as this guy, my girlfriend wouldn’t complain so much.]
MuMu clasped its hands together, touched: “If only you could speak mermaid language, your mermaid would be so happy to hear those words!”
“That’s good.” The connected user’s tone was ambiguous.
MuMu’s eyelashes fluttered: “Your voice is so gentle, the person I have a crush on is like that too, I love listening to him speak.”
The connected user’s calm demeanor shifted, and he asked: “You like him? How much?”
“Have you ever heard the sound of waves washing over the beach? When I see him, I hear that ‘shushing’ sound, and it sends shivers down my spine.”
[If I were the person the streamer has a crush on, I’d be ecstatic right now. /Ascending/]
[Something’s not right, this isn’t a couples’ livestream, but I feel like I’m being fed dog food.]
[Is the masked streamer’s crush Admiral Wen? I’m all in on this ship!]
MuMu, realizing what it had said, pursed its lips:
“Connected user, any more mermaid-related questions?”
“No.” The other party’s breathing evened out, their tone regaining its composure. “Thank you, streamer.”
After ending the livestream, MuMu put on its ear stud:
“Little Butler, the anonymous user is so mysterious, appearing and disappearing without a trace.”
“Beep beep, unable to trace IP address, possibly located in a military zone or high-security residential area.”
MuMu picked up a pen and wrote the character “here” from memory:
“My intuition tells me he’s a good person. See, he even taught me a new character!”
MuMu practiced writing a few more times, then crumpled the paper and hid it with its clothes and mask in the artificial rock.
“I have to go to the Mermaid Center on Sunday to help Kang Kang.”
MuMu transformed into its mermaid form and rubbed its tail against the pool wall:
“Awoo, awoo!” I’ll definitely find a comfortable rubbing position for Kang Kang!
“Wen Ming, no progress on my end.”
The Marshal’s voice was grim: “I still haven’t found where Professor Yin moved those mermaids.”
Wen Ming analyzed: “A large number of mermaids require a lot of water, they’re most likely still at the Mermaid Center.”
“I thought so too, but we’ve searched multiple times, nothing.” The Marshal frowned. “I suspect there’s a hidden compartment, undetectable even by machines.”
Wen Ming stared into space: “Water…”
‘I heard the sound of water, I’m sensitive to water flow!’ The little streamer’s proud voice echoed in his mind.
“Professor Yin is preoccupied with his mental seascape, now is the time to investigate.”
The Marshal didn’t follow his train of thought: “The machines can’t detect it, what do we use?”
“A mermaid.”
“…A mermaid!?”
Wen Ming opened a recording of the masked streamer’s livestream and scrolled through it:
“Sunday, see you at the Mermaid Center.”
…
When Wen Ming returned home, MuMu, exhausted from rubbing its tail, was fast asleep by the edge of the pool.
“MuMu?” Wen Ming whispered. “Sleep pod tonight?”
“Whoo…”
MuMu, half-asleep, nuzzled his shoulder.
Wen Ming carried it to the sleep pod and returned to the mermaid room, going to the back of the artificial rock and removing the loose stone.
MuMu’s secrets were hidden inside.
A few sets of clothes, the mask, the “Most Influential Streamer” award, and several sheets of paper with messy handwriting, practicing its signature – “MuMu,” “Mian,” and a crumpled “Here.”
The little mermaid’s journey in human society seemed to be stalled at “writing.”
Wen Ming carefully placed the items back and returned to his room. MuMu, hearing him, stirred in the sleep pod:
“Awoo?” Did I say welcome home?
“Good night.” Wen Ming stroked the tip of its ear and kissed its forehead…
MuMu slept soundly, unaware that its peaceful days were numbered—
“MuMu, I’ve removed the time limit on the projector.” The next morning, before leaving for work, Wen Ming adjusted the settings.
MuMu kissed him, overjoyed:
“Awoo!” Binge-watching time!
“But no internet access.”
“…?” MuMu wiped the drool from Wen Ming’s cheek, retracting its kiss.
“Woo?” What do you mean?
Wen Ming opened a downloaded video, and a cheerful voice filled the room:
“Children, are you ready to learn how to write?”
MuMu’s face fell: “Boo!” But mermaids don’t go to school!
Wen Ming placed a stack of grid paper in front of MuMu and said ruthlessly:
“Practice, I’ll check your work when I get home.”
A heart-wrenching cry echoed through the high-security residential area:
“Awoo—”
School is torture!
The real initiation to human society, going to school… 😂
Thank you for the update!