Chapter 59
MuMu remembered the first few days after being brought home by Wen Ming. Every time he applied ointment to its tail, it could feel the calluses on his fingertips. Later, it got used to the calluses, only noticing that a human’s body temperature was slightly higher than a mermaid’s. And then, even a casual brush from Wen Ming could send shivers down its spine.
Now, in its human form, its body temperature similar to Wen Ming’s, a spark still ignited at their touch, spreading warmth through its hand.
MuMu finally understood, the warmth wasn’t from the difference in their body temperatures.
Another piece of evidence that I like Master!
MuMu’s face beneath the mask flushed with excitement. It intertwined its fingers with Wen Ming’s, its slightly rounded nails brushing against his skin.
Wen Ming pulled his hand away, his voice calm: “Something you need?”
MuMu wiped the sweat from its palms against its clothes, feeling apprehensive.
Master is so scary outside, he never uses that tone at home…
MuMu tried a different approach, shaking his hand politely:
“You helped me again, thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
Their handshake was brief, and Wen Ming quickly withdrew his hand: “I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, okay.” MuMu froze, its earlier assertiveness gone, replaced by a sense of helplessness.
“You might not be aware of your fame and influence.”
Wen Ming picked up a pen that had fallen to the floor and placed it in MuMu’s hand:
“Be more assertive, don’t be afraid.”
He turned and left, leaving MuMu staring after him, repeating softly:
“Assertive… be assertive… I have to be assertive!”
A sense of foreboding washed over the organizer: “Streamer?”
“Do you have a hair tie?”
“Yes, here.”
MuMu tied its hair back: “Okay, all set, where do I get my award?”
The organizer, not daring to say anything more, led the way:
“I’ll take you to the red carpet entrance. Walk down the red carpet when the host announces your award.”
“Red carpet?” MuMu asked curiously. “Just walk normally? Or do I have to perform? Can I do flips and rolls?”
“No, no! Just walk, be confident, like a model.”
“A model!” I can do that!
The “mermaid model” clenched its fists: “Don’t worry, I’ll be assertive!”
Organizer: …
The best seats for the awards ceremony were filled.
“Mr. Liu? You’re here too?”
“Mr. Li, long time no see!”
They shook hands like business partners, their eyes full of veiled curiosity:
“You usually don’t attend these events, what brings you here?”
“The same reason as you…”
The two old foxes exchanged a knowing smile and said in unison: “The masked streamer!”
“My company has sent him several collaboration offers, no response.”
“Don’t even mention it, I’ve sent over a dozen. I heard he doesn’t even reply to Wen Corporation.”
Forgetting their rivalry, they looked at each other like confidants:
“I wasn’t planning to come, but when I saw the trending topic about him appearing, I had to see how arrogant he is in person!”
“Me too!”
As they spoke, the host’s voice boomed:
“Next, the award everyone has been waiting for, the ‘Most Influential Streamer’ award goes to—
The Mermaid Language Simultaneous Interpreter, the masked streamer!”
The audience erupted in applause, all eyes on the red carpet entrance.
Mr. Li and Mr. Li leaned forward, practically jumping out of their seats, silently demanding:
Let’s see how arrogant he really is!
The music changed to a dramatic drumbeat, like a boss’s theme song.
A figure emerged, walking to the beat—
“Hello everyone, I couldn’t have achieved this honor without your support, first, I’d like to thank…”
MuMu stood at the entrance, reciting the prepared speech seriously.
Audience: ?
“Streamer!” The organizer whispered from behind. “You haven’t received the award yet, save the speech for later.”
“Can’t we change the order?”
MuMu’s voice, amplified by the microphone clipped to its collar, echoed through the venue:
“The speech you gave me is too long, I haven’t memorized it all, I’ll say it now while I still remember, then I can leave after getting the award.”
The organizer closed his eyes in despair.
That’s not what I meant by assertive!
“Please, just walk down the red carpet, it’s fine if you can’t remember the speech, just improvise, and…”
“Okay.” MuMu raised a hand, interrupting him. “I understand, walk like a model, right?”
It turned and stepped onto the red carpet, radiating confidence.
The organizer’s hand trembled: “No, I was going to say don’t speak randomly, your microphone is connected to the venue’s sound system…”
I’ve heard the masked streamer is “unproficient at being human,” but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.
This awards ceremony is doomed!
Mr. Li, dumbfounded, said: “He actually admitted he didn’t memorize the speech?”
“No one would say that unless…” Mr. Liu speculated, “he’s doing it on purpose?”
Mr. Li’s eyes lit up: “He’s expressing his dissatisfaction with being forced to give a speech?”
“Brilliant, the masked streamer is playing 4D chess!”
Their seats were right next to the red carpet, giving them a clear view of the cameras.
The awards ceremony, originally a small platform event, had become an interstellar sensation thanks to the masked streamer.
The audience, both in the venue, outside, and watching the livestream, was massive.
“Our companies are both in the fashion industry, if we could sign him as a spokesperson, we’d be rolling in money.” Mr. Li sighed.
“With his current popularity, we can’t afford him.” Mr. Liu agreed. “Who’s he endorsing now?”
They both looked at MuMu’s outfit: “This…”
A plain, unbranded suit, probably provided by the platform.
The organizers usually provided basic outfits, but streamers typically wore their own.
No “eccentric” streamer had ever worn the provided outfit on the red carpet before.
“What brand is that? He’s making a public appearance and not endorsing anything?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Mr. Liu pondered. “The masked streamer might be focusing on the details, the biggest sponsor might not be a clothing brand!”
They started searching for details—
Jewelry: pierced ears but no earrings.
Hair accessories: a plain hair tie you could buy for five star coins.
Mr. Li paused: “…Did you find anything?”
“Almost! We’re not being detailed enough, think smaller…”
Mr. Liu said confidently: “Perfume! It must be perfume!”
As MuMu approached, Mr. Li and Mr. Liu took a deep sniff:
“Is that…” the smell of barbecue?
Mr. Li paused: “Mr. Liu, such a strong ‘culinary aroma’ is too avant-garde for the perfume industry, don’t you think?”
Mr. Liu slumped back in his chair, defeated: “He really isn’t endorsing anything, such a waste of his popularity!”
“By appearing in public like this, he’s making a statement, rejecting all commercial endorsements, showing his dedication to mermaid language.”
“Admirable, admirable, we must never send him another offer, it would be disrespectful!”
All the brands in the interstellar world reached a consensus, withdrawing their endorsement offers…
MuMu, walking down the red carpet with its head held high, felt incredibly confident.
Hmph, my model walk is pretty good, right?
It touched the ear stud in its pocket: I might get an endorsement offer after this!
The thought made it almost giddy with excitement.
It walked straight to the center of the stage, picked up the award, returned to the red carpet, and prepared to leave.
“Wait!” The host exclaimed in alarm. “Streamer, it’s not time for the award presentation yet!”
MuMu pouted and reluctantly put the award back:
“Didn’t you say there were only three parts, walking the red carpet, receiving the award, and giving a speech? I’ve walked the red carpet, given my speech at the entrance, so all that’s left is receiving the award.”
Mr. Li and Mr. Liu below the stage were once again impressed:
“He’s clearly mocking these formal events, such personality, haha.”
“Living life on his own terms, a true role model!”
…
MuMu went to the host and whispered:
“How much longer until I get the award? I want to go home, I’ll miss the latest episode of my drama otherwise.”
“…Soon, really.”
The host chuckled wryly: “Streamer, your microphone is very sensitive, the audience can hear you even if you whisper.”
“!” MuMu nodded sheepishly at the audience.
The audience erupted in applause:
“Little streamer, you’re so brave, everyone can see they’re just using you for clout!”
“I support you, the interstellar world needs people like you who dare to speak their minds!”
MuMu blinked and replied with a few “thank yous.”
The host glanced at the lengthy script and discreetly spoke into his earpiece, asking the organizer:
Are we still proceeding as planned?
The organizers, hoping to capitalize on the masked streamer’s popularity, had planned numerous segments to keep him on stage for as long as possible.
But it seemed those plans wouldn’t work.
“No, we have to simplify the program.
The masked streamer is playing us, he acts clueless, but he’s actually rejecting our attempts to exploit his popularity, he’s very clever!”
The organizer’s voice came through the earpiece:
“If we can’t use him, then let’s use someone else!”
The two most popular topics in the interstellar world were related to mermaids.
One was the human streamer who could translate mermaid language;
The other was a mermaid itself…
The host nodded discreetly and said into the microphone:
“Everyone, I’m sure you’re all wondering who will be presenting the award to the masked streamer.”
MuMu turned its head, surprised: “Isn’t it you?”
“To match your unique influence in the interstellar world, we’ve specially invited the recently popular, the first mermaid spokesperson in interstellar history!”
“?” Something felt wrong.
The spotlight focused on a mermaid cage that had appeared on stage.
The host’s voice boomed: “MuMu’s schedule is too full to attend in person, but we have—
MuMu’s best friend, MuMu!”
MuMu: …
They’re using this for clout?
The host, even through the mask, could see MuMu’s speechless expression and asked hesitantly:
“Uh, streamer, haven’t you heard of the spokesmermaid MuMu?”
“No, I have.”
MuMu paused: “More than just heard of it…”
