Hi Master, Little Mermaid Will Support You! 64

Chapter 64

MuMu, assuming the endorsement deal had fallen through, dejectedly headed for the exit.

“Sir?” The receptionist who had checked his appointment asked, “Are you alright?”

“Yes, it’s fine, just lost a collaboration worth xxxx star coins.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened again. As expected of someone who knows Admiral Wen, casually mentioning such a large sum.

“I’ll be going then.” MuMu pointed at the ornamental fish tank. “Perhaps we’ll meet again in a different form, goodbye!”

The receptionist instinctively replied, “Goodbye.” What does meeting again have to do with the fish tank?

“Wait!”

Hurried footsteps approached from behind.

Assistant Xu rarely ran in dress shoes. The only two times had been recently – once chasing after the scooter-driving mermaid heading for the auditions, and now, chasing after the disguised masked streamer. Both times on Wen Ming’s urgent orders.

Assistant Xu stopped MuMu, panting: “My sincere apologies, I’ll be taking over as the person in charge of your contract negotiations.”

MuMu: “You?”

Receptionist: Assistant Xu!? Just who is this “strange person” to have Assistant Xu personally handling their contract?

There must be a reason!

The receptionist, glancing around, spotted Wen Ming hidden in the shadows, out of MuMu’s line of sight.

Wen Ming, ever vigilant, noticed her gaze and his brow twitched.

The receptionist mimed zipping her lips, her survival instincts kicking in.

Wen Ming nodded, his gaze returning to the “strange person.”

The receptionist was stunned: The Admiral can make that kind of expression?

Mystery solved, that’s not a “strange person,” that’s a “lover.”

Assistant Xu’s tone confirmed her suspicion. He said earnestly: “Do you have time now? Any adjustments to the contract, just tell me.”

MuMu looked around: “Where’s that guy from External Communications?”

“He…” Assistant Xu broke out in a cold sweat. “He resigned.”

MuMu was surprised: “So suddenly?”

“Some unexpected personnel changes.” Assistant Xu lowered his gaze. “Nothing to worry about.”

MuMu said worriedly: “Your company seems unstable. Does your boss fire people often?”

“No, our boss is a great judge of character, that employee must have had performance issues.”

“But my family member also works here, he’s hardworking and talented, but his benefits are terrible.” MuMu defended its Master.

Assistant Xu frowned: “Can you tell me his name? I’ll check with HR.”

“Wen Ming.”

Assistant Xu’s mind went blank.

He and the receptionist exchanged glances, the same question in their eyes:

What kind of game is Admiral Wen playing?

Assistant Xu cautiously glanced at his optical brain: “I’ll check later, let’s discuss the contract first, okay?”

“Okay.”

Assistant Xu was incredibly accommodating, patiently answering every one of MuMu’s questions, no matter how absurd.

“Don’t worry, everything can be arranged. Any other concerns?”

MuMu mimed tearing open a package: “Will my masked face be ripped apart when opening the package?”

Assistant Xu chuckled: “Our packaging design isn’t that bad.”

MuMu froze: “…A close-up of my face is bad?”

“Yes, even ancient human photos aren’t that outdated.” He paused. “Although, I have seen a residency permit with a close-up selfie, kind of cute… Streamer, are you alright?”

MuMu clutched its chest: “I’m fine.”

It carefully wrote the character “Mian” (face) on the signature line:

“Please transfer the endorsement fee directly to my family member’s account. Tell him it’s a bonus for his hard work.”

“You mean… transfer it to Wen Ming?”

MuMu nodded firmly.

Assistant Xu’s expression turned troubled: “…That’s not really standard procedure…”

Having Wen Corp transfer money to Wen Ming wouldn’t pass the audit!

MuMu stared at him intently: “You don’t want to give Wen Ming a bonus?”

“I…” Checkmate!

Assistant Xu forced a smile: “It’s better to transfer it to you, for both our sakes.”

“Fine.” MuMu blinked. “Do you know what floor Wen Ming works on? I want to see him.”

“Shall I call him for you?”

“No, don’t disturb his work, I’ll just take a quick peek.” MuMu fidgeted with its nails.

Assistant Xu was bewildered: “I’ll take you.”

He messaged Wen Ming: “Admiral, the masked streamer wants to visit your office, but he seems to think you’re a regular employee.”

“Play along.”

“Understood.”

Assistant Xu, keeping his thoughts to himself, led MuMu to Wen Ming’s office.

MuMu, however, couldn’t stay silent: “Do you always wear the same clothes to work? So boring.”

“I change, but suits all look similar.” Assistant Xu added, “Your family member also wears suits every day.”

“He’s different!”

MuMu’s face lit up when talking about its family: “He’s very stylish, the subtle patterns on his cuffs are unique.”

Assistant Xu touched his own cuffs: “See, mine are unique too.”

MuMu said dismissively: “Mm-hmm.”

Assistant Xu: …

In terms of double standards, this person and the Admiral are a perfect match.

“This is your family member’s office.”

MuMu gasped: “It’s so big!?”

Assistant Xu said vaguely: “He handles a lot of important matters, so he needs a spacious office.”

MuMu gritted its teeth: “That evil boss, this is exploitation!”

“?” Assistant Xu adjusted his glasses. “Let me know if you need anything, I won’t disturb your reunion.”

MuMu waved: “Thank you, you’ve worked hard!”

Assistant Xu walked away, then stopped abruptly:

I forgot to tell him it’s one-way glass, he can’t see inside!

He hesitated, then decided against going back.

It’s probably part of the Admiral’s plan…

“Strange, I can’t see anything.”

MuMu peered through the office window, seeing only its reflection.

It made sure no one was around, took off its sunglasses and cap, pulled down its mask, and pressed its face against the glass.

“Whoo, I still can’t see anything, even this close?”

It didn’t realize that the person it was trying to peek at was right there, less than thirty centimeters away—

Wen Ming, on the other side of the one-way glass, was watching it with a faint smile.

Just like he had seen MuMu through his mech’s camera when it had fallen into the mech bay.

The day Wen Ming had suspected MuMu was the masked streamer, he hadn’t returned home empty-handed.

A mech and its pilot were one.

When a pilot connected their mental seascape to a mech, their senses were linked.

Wen Ming, standing at his front door, had seen a human enter the mech bay through the mech’s camera.

The human, wearing the masked streamer’s signature outfit and with the little mermaid’s face, had stared at the mech with wide eyes:

‘You’re here!’

Wen Ming had instantly recognized MuMu’s clear, bright eyes.

He had underestimated his little mermaid.

He had thought the “Jiao Ren identity” was MuMu’s biggest secret, but it had revealed an even more shocking one – its “human identity.”

All the familiarity he had felt towards the masked streamer hadn’t been an illusion…

‘Is this glass or a wall?’

Wen Ming read MuMu’s lips.

MuMu instinctively scratched at the glass, then pressed its face closer, its cheeks squished against the cold surface. Its lips also touched the glass, leaving a faint imprint.

Like the little mermaid in the fish tank, swimming up to him, seeking a kiss.

Wen Ming lowered his head and gently kissed the glass.

The cold touch tempered his desire, but it couldn’t extinguish the surging emotions within him.

Disguising as a mermaid was easy for a Jiao Ren, disguising as a human was a different story. Human society was complex, and someone as innocent as MuMu could easily be hurt.

Like when Wen Ming had asked the External Communications Department to handle the masked streamer’s visit, not anticipating the employee’s jealousy and malicious assumptions.

Wen Ming was both angry and worried, wanting to protect MuMu, to keep it by his side at all times.

But he could only watch from the shadows.

MuMu, venturing into human society alone, must have its reasons.

“I’ll be here, waiting for you to tell me.”

Wen Ming’s nose almost touched MuMu’s through the glass, his voice a soft whisper:

“See you at home, little streamer.”

MuMu was very self-conscious about its “low-budget” livestream setup.

Before going home, it bought the latest fashion magazine.

No more tacky livestreams!

It flipped through the entire magazine, not a single picture was a straightforward headshot.

MuMu felt a profound artistic awakening:

“I get it!”

That day, viewers entering the “Mermaid Language Simultaneous Interpretation” livestream saw only a mysterious, shadowed profile. In the darkness, only a plain light from the projector illuminated the sharp lines of the mask.

[???]

[I always thought “a face as sharp as a knife” was just an abstract expression in novels. /Kneeling/]

[What? The little streamer has a new look? Let me see… emmm… petition for the old look to return! /Praying hands/]

[Streamer, are you possessed? Can this ghost understand mermaid language?]

The Comment Assistant read a few comments aloud, and MuMu angrily turned on the lights:

“Do you even understand fashion!?”

MuMu gestured, explaining: “I’ve done my research, for a sophisticated look, I can’t be too close to the camera, this angle is best, looking off into the distance, free and unrestrained.”

[You could have just said that, I thought you were rolling your eyes.]

[Whatever fashion magazine you read, throw it away, the further the better.]

MuMu sighed: “But someone said my livestream setup was tacky…”

[Who cares about tacky? We love your natural, unpretentious style!]

[No need for fancy sets, your language skills are enough.]

[Don’t want you so far from the camera, your skin is so nice, and your jawline too, we want a closer look!]

[Don’t listen to the haters, you’re our favorite streamer!]

[The anonymous user is topping the gift leaderboard again, you have to connect with them this time!]

MuMu’s eyes teared up.

So Assistant Xu’s online alias is “hater.”

“Then I’ll use the old setup.” MuMu began the livestream. “Hello to the first connected user!”

“Hello.” The connected user was wearing a waterproof cap, goggles, and a mask, their voice muffled.

Even more covered up than me when I go out?

MuMu pondered: “Are you a celebrity?”

The connected user waved a hand covered in a rubber glove: “No, I’m helping my mermaid shed its scales, there’s a lot of splashing.”

“Oh.”

MuMu paused, then rushed to the camera and yelled: “No! You can’t remove a mermaid’s scales, only barbecue vendors do that!”

The connected user quickly explained: “My mermaid is shedding its scales, I’m just helping it remove the loose ones.”

[Scared me for a second, abusing a mermaid is illegal!]

[So meticulous, don’t old scales fall off on their own?]

[My mermaid sheds its scales naturally, never heard of helping them.]

MuMu also looked disapproving: “Mermaids itch during shedding season, they rub their tails to remove the old scales, humans shouldn’t interfere.”

“But its old scales won’t come off, it’s been crying all day and night, so I’m helping.”

The connected user showed the mermaid. It was rubbing its tail against the pool wall.

“…” MuMu adjusted its mask, its tone disdainful. “Its rubbing technique is terrible.”