Chapter 71
The medicine Dai Rong gave him was effective, and after a few days of drowsiness, MuMu’s mating season symptoms subsided. Its hair and nails grew rapidly, especially its hair, longer than before it had cut it in a week.
Wen Ming worked from home more often, trimming MuMu’s nails and practicing new braiding styles. His StarNet Circle was gaining followers rapidly:
“Admiral, your skills are improving, long-haired MuMu is adorable!”
“You’re a true pet blogger now, if you livestream MuMu, you have my vote for next year’s ‘Most Influential.'”
“I love how you prioritize MuMu’s comfort with those loose braids.”
“So thoughtful, reminds me of the Wen Corp commercial, ‘They are the sole comfort…'”
“Why ‘they’ not ‘it’ in the subtitles? Trying to sound sophisticated?”
“It means mermaids aren’t just soothing tools, they’re family.”
“So touching, I’ll buy anything for my mermaid!”
“What does ‘price is irrelevant’ mean? Are the rescued mermaids being auctioned off?”
“No, Wen Corp is holding a charity gala to raise funds for them, they’ll be adopted for free after they recover.”
Initially, only animal lovers were interested in the gala, but when the masked streamer was announced as a guest, it sparked widespread curiosity. The shipping threads exploded again:
“The masked streamer attending a Wen Corp event, they’ll finally be in the same frame!”
“I hope they’ll be smiling sweetly together, perfect for a wedding photo.”
“Calm down, the masked streamer attends mermaid-related events, regardless of the organizer.”
“Even if they interact, we won’t see it, the gala is invitation-only, for VIPs and nobles.”
“Check Wen Corp’s website, there’s a livestream!”
“Bless the organizers, they know what we want, the camera is focused on the little streamer.”
MuMu stood at the gala entrance, grinning. Wen Ming’s words from that morning echoed in its mind—
‘MuMu, company event tonight, I won’t be back until after ten.’
MuMu, with its sharp wit, had understood the hidden message: ‘Go ahead and attend, I’ll pretend I don’t know.’
“Pretend, huh? Let’s see how long you can keep this up!”
MuMu put its hands on its hips, glaring at the venue:
Master, I’m coming for you!
“…Streamer?” The cameraman, unable to stand it any longer, whispered, “You’re on camera, expression management.”
MuMu stopped grinning.
The elaborate outfit, with its complicated instructions, indicated this was a high-profile event. It greeted the camera politely: “Hello everyone, I’m the ‘Mermaid Language Simultaneous Interpretation’ streamer.”
The cameraman gave it a thumbs-up: Perfect, just like that!
[So composed, like a normal person now, unlike his early livestreams.]
[I’m sure that wasn’t meant as an insult, but haha!]
[Honestly, I’m attracted to the little streamer…]
[Agreed, that physique, those proportions, before seeing the mask, I thought it was a celebrity.]
[Able to pull off such a complicated outfit, great figure, slim but toned.]
MuMu’s composure lasted only a few seconds.
“Gasp!” Its eyes widened. “Could that be!?”
The cameraman whispered: “Expression management! Streamer…”
“Emergency, gotta go!”
MuMu, like a bull released from its pen, darted away.
The cameraman, stunned, followed it with the camera—
MuMu weaved through the crowd, gracefully vaulting over a table, like a parkour enthusiast who had stumbled into a high-society gathering.
[“Like a normal person now,” we spoke too soon. /Smirk/]
[@Interstellar Track and Field Team, potential athlete here, great for running or high jump.]
[Most influential indeed, he’s the center of attention no matter what he does.]
[He’s so energetic, like a breath of fresh air.]
[Love his carefree attitude, not caring about what others think.]
[Living life on his own terms, that’s what he taught me.]
Eighty percent of the comments were about the masked streamer. The director switched to the closest camera.
“Oh my god, it’s her!”
MuMu stopped before a woman, clutching its chest: “I’m your fan!”
The actress, who played the female lead in the melodrama, was surprised: “Thank you, I’m your fan too.”
She extended her hand.
MuMu’s hand trembled as it reached out: “Can I touch you? Are you a real human?”
The actress chuckled: “You’re so energetic, so different from your livestream persona, it’s breaking my fourth wall.”
A good person!
MuMu shook her hand:
“At the end of episode thirty, you and the male lead attended a family dinner, what happened next?”
“?” The actress thought for a moment, then answered.
MuMu proceeded to ask about dozens of episodes, and the actress practically recounted the entire script, finally exclaiming:
“You’re watching the series out of order?”
“My family is strict, they only let me watch thirty minutes a day, but each episode is forty minutes long.” MuMu scratched its head sheepishly.
[So that’s why he was running, the masked streamer is also a fanboy.]
[Strict family? How old is he? Still has screen time limits?]
[Not necessarily parents, I remember him mentioning a family member who works at Wen Corp…]
[Sorry, Admiral Wen, my mind went straight to you.]
[The “WenMu” shippers are the best at digging up clues!]
The camera returned to the entrance as more guests arrived. Those already inside were seated at round tables.
The comments flooded the screen: [Organizers, please seat Admiral Wen and the masked streamer at the same table!]
MuMu ended up sitting with the actress.
The wine glasses on the table emitted a smell MuMu wasn’t used to, and it looked around restlessly.
The actress followed its gaze: “Looking for someone?”
“Yes, but I can’t find him.” MuMu admitted readily. “He works here, but he’s not at his seat.”
“May I sit next to you?”
A man behind MuMu stared at him intently, his polite words laced with a predatory undertone.
MuMu’s hair was styled upwards to match his outfit, exposing the back of his neck.
The man’s gaze lingered on his exposed skin.
“?” MuMu shivered and turned around, disgusted. “No.”
“Thank you.” The man sat down beside him, picking up his wine glass.
“That’s not what I…”
The actress stopped MuMu, whispering:
“He’s a notorious investor, uses his wealth to harass attractive commoners, the more you resist, the more he’ll persist.”
MuMu touched his ear: “He’s so strange, staring at me, do you think he’s…”
The actress nodded grimly.
MuMu said angrily: “He’s after my ear stud!” MuMu was wearing the ear stud tonight.
“This gala is supposed to be invitation-only for VIP philanthropists, seems like they made a mistake.”
MuMu glared at the investor: “Letting a thief like this in.”
Actress: …
Their whispered conversation only boosted the investor’s ego, and he took a sip of wine, smugly.
MuMu shook its head: “Look at him, putting on airs, he’s probably faking his wealth too!”
“Are you unaware of how attractive the back of your neck is?” The actress tried to explain. “He’s interested in you, not your ear stud!”
MuMu froze.
Interested means he likes me, right? A perfect opportunity to observe how humans express affection!
It extended its hand towards the investor: “Hello.”
“You have good taste.” The investor, acting superior, took its hand, his tone flirtatious. “Has anyone ever told you you have beautiful hands?” He held its hand. “So soft, no calluses at all.”
MuMu pulled its hand away in disgust.
“Strong grip for such slender fingers,” the investor said, flexing his hand.
MuMu flexed its fingers back: “Of course.”
One swipe from these claws, and you’ll be singing a different tune.
A singer on stage was performing a love song.
“Beautiful lyrics, perfect for the mood, don’t you think?”
MuMu: ?
The investor, his spirits high, pressed: “Why so quiet? Such a lovely voice, it would be a waste not to use it.” He leaned closer. “Or, are you in the mood to sing?”
The others at the table looked surprised: “The masked streamer is going to sing?”
“Seems like everyone wants to hear it.” The investor challenged. “Don’t be a spoilsport, give us a performance!”
MuMu looked at him seriously: “Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“Absolutely!”
The investor chuckled, oblivious to what was coming…
MuMu launched into a dramatic, heart-wrenching rendition of the theme song from the melodrama.
To be precise, it didn’t finish the song.
After a few lines, everyone at the table almost knelt before him:
“We were wrong, please stop! Don’t sing anymore!”
The investor, closest to MuMu, suffered the most damage, his hand trembling, spilling wine.
MuMu, its face full of anticipation, asked: “How was it?”
The investor, struggling to find the right words, finally said: “indescribable, emotional, complex…”
MuMu applauded itself: “Exactly! That’s the essence of melodrama, I captured it perfectly!”
“Bang!”
In the only private box at the gala, a wine glass was slammed onto the table.
From Wen Ming’s vantage point, he could see everything happening below.
“You had the perfect opportunity to expose me, and you didn’t.”
A wave of resentful energy emanated from his mental seascape, directed at a certain someone whose gaze was wandering.
Wen Ming sighed: “Come here, I can’t hold back anymore…”
lol Wen Ming if you don’t show yourself, MuMu will just keep playing around by himself!
Thank you for the update~