Chapter 33
“Professor, I’ve sent multiple collaboration invitations to the masked streamer, but he hasn’t replied.”
Professor Yin smiled: “Increase the offer, there’s no streamer that can’t be bought with star coins.”
“I’ve, I’ve already increased it several times.” His subordinate was drenched in cold sweat. “If we increase it any further, the Mermaid Center will go bankrupt!”
Professor Yin froze for a moment: “I understand, cease all attempts at collaboration.”
He hung up and called another person.
The best way to silence someone, besides collaboration, was destruction…
“Who the hell is calling so early in the mor… Professor, Professor Yin?”
In the video call, Qi Xuan crawled out of bed, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth: “What can I do for you?”
Qi Xuan’s slovenly appearance would make anyone with even a mild case of OCD uncomfortable.
Professor Yin covered his nose with a pristine white handkerchief, as if he could smell the other end through the optical brain:
“I want you to ruin the mermaid language streamer’s channel.”
Qi Xuan thought he was still dreaming, pointing at himself:
“Me?”
“I don’t care how you do it, just make sure he’s no longer relevant.”
“Why are you asking me to do this?” Qi Xuan whined. “I’m not a villain.”
“If you succeed, I’ll give you the most beautiful high-grade mermaid in the Mermaid Center.”
“Deal!”
Professor Yin quickly ended the call, sprayed disinfectant into the air in disgust, and continued his work.
He had successfully deciphered another passage from the ancient text about Jiao Ren:
‘Jiao Ren and mermaids have similar genetic makeup, but a Jiao Ren’s soothing ability far surpasses a mermaid’s.’
Professor Yin frowned: “Number 55 only has low-grade soothing ability…”
But what if it was hiding its true strength?
The entire interstellar world knew that Wen Ming’s mental seascape was damaged, but in their previous clash, he had seemed surprisingly capable.
Number 55’s soothing must have played a part!
Professor Yin pondered: “Should I focus on soothing next?”
…
Professor Yin’s meticulous plans didn’t account for the fact that the masked streamer he wanted to ruin and the Number 55 he wanted to acquire were the same mermaid.
MuMu was planning its next livestream.
Its logic was impeccable:
Dai Rong had developed a treatment for Wen Ming, brought a high-grade mermaid, performed one soothing session, and left.
This meant their family couldn’t afford a high-grade mermaid, it had been borrowed for the emergency!
The family was relying on MuMu’s livestreams to earn money!
“MuMu, the company’s new product is launching tomorrow. I’ll be home late today. Eat the snacks, don’t go to the swimming pool on your own.”
“Awoo!” Perfect timing!
The little mermaid spun around in the pool, cheering.
“In a good mood?”
Wen Ming took out a seashell hair clip from the overflowing cabinet of mermaid accessories: “Then let’s wear your favorite clip today.”
“Awoo—”
After braiding its hair and clipping in the seashell, MuMu admired its reflection in the water.
Wen Ming carefully styled the little mermaid’s hair, then simply put on his own tie.
“Awoo.” Work hard!
MuMu jumped into the scooter and followed him to the door:
“Awoo, awoo.” I’ll work hard on my livestream too, we’ll earn star coins together and buy a high-grade mermaid soon!
It waved its small fists, cheering itself on, utterly adorable.
Wen Ming was already thinking about clocking out.
He stood at the door, stroking the tip of MuMu’s ear for a long time.
MuMu: ?
“Growl…” Why aren’t you leaving yet? Don’t delay my livestream.
MuMu pushed Wen Ming out the door, and the home butler, seizing the opportunity, closed the door with a click.
The mermaid and the robot waited by the door until the sound of the airship faded away.
MuMu jumped out of the scooter, its tail transforming into legs just before touching the floor.
The human MuMu bumped fists with the home butler’s mechanical arm.
“Let’s get to work!”
“Beep beep!”
While MuMu hadn’t been livestreaming, the home butler had upgraded the livestream assistance system to its highest level.
“Beep beep, your channel has received an excessive number of gifts. It is recommended to modify the connection requirements and post an announcement to inform viewers.”
“Okay, leave it to you, Little Butler!”
The human MuMu’s hair didn’t transform simultaneously, and its carefully styled short hair became long black hair.
It took off the seashell hair clip and, after a moment of hesitation, removed the ear stud.
Now Master won’t recognize me!
MuMu put on the mask and muttered: “I can stream for longer today…”
#Masked Streamer Livestream Announcement#
The topic trended on StarNet, reaching number one.
“Change the connection requirements to—randomly selecting from gift-giving users before the livestream?”
An elderly man with a white beard stroked his chin with a folding fan:
“What now? Connecting with him will take forever, these old bones can’t wait that long!”
“Expert, don’t worry, I’ve bought off the user selected for this livestream. I’ll log in with that account and connect.”
Qi Xuan said respectfully: “We’re relying on you to expose the masked streamer’s scam!”
“No problem, no problem.”
The elderly man’s voice was sonorous as he unfolded his fan, which had four large characters written on it—
Mermaid Expert.
“I’ve studied mermaids my entire life, I’ve seen countless scammers like him, but he’s the most successful one yet.”
Qi Xuan echoed: “I agree, but most people in the interstellar world trust him, will our plan really go smoothly?”
The expert smiled confidently, pointing his fan at the masked streamer’s face on the optical brain:
“Wearing a mask, concealing his face, indicates he doesn’t want to be recognized in real life;
He never directly addresses the comments during his livestreams, indicating a lack of confidence, he must be hiding something;
His eyes are innocent, he clearly hasn’t experienced much, his mentality must be fragile, a little pressure and he’ll crumble.
In short, he’s not a sophisticated scammer, easily exposed.”
“Oh!” Qi Xuan was impressed. “Your bonus will be substantial once this is done!”
The expert’s smile widened, and he patted Qi Xuan’s shoulder: “Is the equipment ready?”
“Don’t worry.” Qi Xuan opened a door. “You can connect from this room. The decor is different, no one will recognize it.”
Everything was ready, all it took to ruin the masked streamer was one livestream…
[He’s live! Why is the livestream lagging?]
[Half the interstellar world is probably trying to watch at the same time, it’s impressive the server hasn’t crashed.]
[Streamer, you finally remembered your password? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to go live?]
“Hello everyone!”
The masked streamer waved at the camera: “Thank you so much for the gifts, now let’s connect, I’ll do my best to translate.”
[Like he’s giving a work report, so well-behaved.]
[I don’t care, I’m a fan of his looks, the part not covered by the mask is enough for me. /Swooning/]
[Who won the connection lottery? The luckiest person in the interstellar world!]
The moment the connected video feed loaded, all the viewers instinctively shielded their eyes—
Too bright!
Not only was Qi Xuan’s external optical brain flashing, but his mermaid pool was also encrusted with rhinestones.
Single-handedly increasing the livestream’s brightness.
MuMu squinted, adjusting to the light, and barely made out the other person:
Isn’t this the one who always bothers Master?
“Hello, streamer.”
Qi Xuan gave a standard noble’s bow: “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Qi Xuan, manager of Qi Corporation’s mermaid supplies, the genius behind the top-ranked toy water ball.”
MuMu was much better at mermaid language than human language, and he was already confused by the long introduction:
“…Oh, hello, Sweet Beet Cyclone.”
Qi Xuan’s carefully maintained gentlemanly expression faltered: “My name is Qi Xuan!”
[I’m dying of laughter, instantly broken.]
[Isn’t this the infamous Qi Xuan? Living up to his name, showing off every second. /Thumbs up/]
[Water ball ranked number one? I thought it was exposed for its poor quality.]
[There’s so little competition in the toy market, “mermaids love it” is a get-out-of-jail-free card.]
Qi Xuan, seeing comments praising the water ball, seized the opportunity to promote it: “Qi Corporation is truly an undervalued mermaid supply company, besides the water ball, we also have…”
The masked streamer coughed: “Can we start the mermaid language simultaneous interpretation now?”
Qi Xuan obligingly turned the camera towards his mermaid room: “Speaking of mermaids, I have seven, all high-grade.”
“Seven?”
The masked streamer frowned: “…That’ll cost extra.”
“No, just translate for one!”
[Turns out being straightforward is the best way to deal with braggarts!]
[Others: Oh, he’s showing off. Streamer: I charge by the piece.]
[Look, the livestream has been automatically categorized as comedy, haha!]
Qi Xuan didn’t dare digress any further and focused the camera on a bright red mermaid:
“Streamer, can you translate for this mermaid? It keeps refusing to eat its food.”
He placed a bowl of fish food by the pool. The red mermaid sniffed at it, then backed away, letting out dry “awoo” sounds.
Qi Xuan smirked: “Streamer, what is it saying?”
The masked streamer’s video feed seemed to freeze, his head tilted, motionless.
[I refreshed, it’s not a still image.]
[Streamer, don’t stall, tell us the answer, let’s move on to the next one, this one is blinding me.]
[I think there’s something wrong with the fish food.]
[No, the other six mermaids are eating it.]
“What’s wrong, streamer?” Qi Xuan pressed. “I can get closer if you didn’t hear clearly.”
The mermaid’s cries were clearly audible through the speakers.
“It, it…”
MuMu’s face beneath the mask paled: Why can’t I understand it!?
Each individual sound was familiar, but together, they didn’t form any coherent meaning.
Strange, I could understand it last time!
During the Mermaid Competition, MuMu had been in the same tank as the red mermaid and had heard it say:
‘The legged ones are so stupid. I do a little spin according to their hand gestures, and they offer me more food. It’s hilarious how easily fooled they are!’
The red mermaid was swishing its tail just as flamboyantly as that day, but MuMu couldn’t understand its cries.
MuMu hesitated: “It’s probably saying you’re easily fooled…”
“Haha, do you think your viewers are idiots?”
Qi Xuan scoffed: “It’s obviously not saying that. Besides, if you could really understand it, why would you add ‘probably’? You’re not sure, are you?”
“I…”
Before the streamer could reply, Qi Xuan interrupted:
“Tell you what, I’m not unreasonable. I know a very famous mermaid expert, let’s invite him to join the connection and judge your translation, how about it?”
MuMu’s heart pounded.
Understanding mermaid language was as natural to it as breathing underwater.
With this innate ability suddenly gone, MuMu felt like a drowning mermaid, suffocating under the pressure of Qi Xuan and the livestream comments…
[What’s going on, the streamer is so hesitant today, completely different from his previous livestreams. /Disappointed/]
[I believe in the masked streamer! But connecting with a mermaid expert sounds interesting too, let’s hear what the expert has to say.]
[Where did the streamer’s skills go? Is he just scamming us for gifts…?]
[I knew his livestreams were scripted, he’s falling apart as soon as it’s a random connection, busted!]
[Give me my gift money back!]
“I…” I’m not a scammer.
MuMu wanted to retort, but even with its ear pressed against the speaker, it couldn’t understand the red mermaid.
Its confusion was evident to all the viewers.
The mermaid expert Qi Xuan had mentioned hadn’t even appeared yet, but he had already gained the favor of many netizens…
“Beep beep!”
A system notification appeared on the home butler’s screen:
“Upgraded Comment Assistant activated, Green Comment Mode enabled, automatically filtering comments for you!”
An electronic voice read aloud in MuMu’s ear:
“A comment from ‘Miserable Assistant Xu, Mermaid Nanny’:
[Don’t worry.]”
For a moment, MuMu thought it was Wen Ming’s familiar, reassuring voice.
“Phew—”
It took a deep breath, slowing its racing heart:
“Okay, bring on your ‘mermaid expert.'”
Thank you for the update!! I hope MuMu gets to face slap everyone trying to sabotage him in this livestream 😤
Assistant Xu coming in clutch lol