Hi Master, Little Mermaid Will Support You! 69

Chapter 69

MuMu’s tail itched so badly it couldn’t sleep. The itch seemed to emanate from deep within, rubbing against the pool walls and rocks provided no relief.

What’s going on!?

MuMu woke up countless times, its body restless and uncomfortable.

Is there something wrong with my mermaid form?

It transformed into its hunting form, but it only got worse. Not just itchy, but hot too.

MuMu thrashed in the pool, then, unable to bear it any longer, jumped out and rubbed its tail against a corner.

“Scrape… crack…”

Its scales, incredibly hard, scraped against the doorframe, sending chips of wood flying.

When the heat subsided and MuMu regained its senses, it looked back—

The doorframe was scarred and gouged, the door ruined.

“!?” When I demolish things, I don’t hold back.

MuMu guiltily jumped back into the pool, spun around a few times, grabbed its tail, and bit down hard.

Stupid scales! Not only itchy, but hard too!

Wen Ming turned on the light, just in time to see the little Jiao Ren biting itself.

“…MuMu?”

“Munch.” Actually, biting it helps with the itch.

MuMu mumbled through gritted teeth.

Wen Ming had heard the ancient human story of the “spear and shield” – the unstoppable spear versus the impenetrable shield, which would prevail?

MuMu seemed to be testing the relative strength of Jiao Ren scales and teeth.

Wen Ming approached the pool: “What’s wrong with your tail?”

MuMu, afraid of injuring him in its hunting form, quickly transformed back into a mermaid, its tail resting on the padded wall:

“Woo.” Itchy!

Wen Ming examined it carefully: “Looks fine, is it uncomfortable?”

The itch had subsided, but Wen Ming’s light touch sent a jolt through its tail.

“Awoo!” Don’t touch me!

It dove underwater and hid behind the artificial rock, its mood inexplicably foul. It suddenly took offense at a nearby rock, biting it angrily as if it had stolen its snacks.

Wen Ming activated the home butler’s health monitoring function.

“Beep beep, all vital signs within normal range.”

Wen Ming frowned, worried: “MuMu, come here, let’s go for a checkup.”

“Growl!” No! I’m fine as long as you don’t touch me!

“Really?”

“Awoo.”

MuMu glanced at the pre-dawn sky: “Awoo?” You’re up early? Its gaze fell on the damaged doorframe, and it froze. Did he hear me demolishing the door…?

Wen Ming didn’t mention the door, scheduling repairs on his optical brain, and explained:

“Yes, I have to go to work early.”

The rescued mermaids had disrupted the company’s schedule, doubling his workload.

MuMu slowly swam to the edge, feeling inexplicably dejected:

“Woo…”

“What’s wrong?” Wen Ming reached out, but MuMu flinched away.

“Okay, I won’t touch you.” He picked up a comb. “Want me to brush your hair?”

MuMu’s tail swished restlessly. It looked at him, then leaned against the padded wall:

“Awoo.” Only if you braid my favorite hairstyle will I let you go to work.

“Okay.”

Wen Ming chuckled, his fingers running through its damp hair, then he paused: “MuMu, was your hair this long yesterday?”

“?” MuMu grabbed a strand.

It seemed to have grown…

Wen Ming said thoughtfully: “We’ll go for a checkup after work.”

Work, work, work, always work!

MuMu couldn’t contain its frustration and slapped the water with its claw:

“Awoo!” You just don’t want to braid my hair, using work as an excuse!

Water splashed onto Wen Ming’s suit.

Wen Ming stroked its hair soothingly: “Good MuMu, don’t be angry, I’ll buy you new seafood today.”

MuMu turned and bit his hand: “Growl!” Don’t touch me, it’s too itchy!

It was like a prickly hedgehog – wanting attention when ignored, but bristling at any touch.

Wen Ming gentled his touch, coaxing and braiding its hair.

New message notifications flashed on his optical brain.

Assistant Xu: Admiral, what should we do with the tags on the mermaids’ ears?

Marshal: I’ve sent a reporter for an interview, please introduce him to the mermaids.

…

Work piled up. Wen Ming changed his clothes: “MuMu, use the home butler if you need anything.”

MuMu, silent, jumped into the scooter and followed him to the door.

Wen Ming asked again: “MuMu, is your tail uncomfortable?”

MuMu shook its head. It felt better now.

They looked at each other for a moment, then MuMu looked away:

“Awoo.” Come home early. It would be even better if you could stay home with me all day…

Wen Ming kissed its cheek, and the door closed.

“Whoo…”

MuMu slumped against the scooter, dejected. It didn’t return to the mermaid room, but went to Wen Ming’s bedroom.

“Ding, automatic cleaning complete.”

The sleep pod announced, and MuMu, drying its tail, climbed in and sniffed around. Only a faint scent of air freshener remained.

MuMu’s nose twitched, its anxiety growing: “Awoo!” Where did you hide Master’s scent?

The sleep pod replied coldly: “Ding, your access to electrical appliances has been revoked.”

MuMu’s mood darkened further, and it lay down on the sleep pod:

“Woo…” I didn’t mean to bite Master earlier.

That strange sensation returned, coursing through its body.

MuMu rolled around, then fell to the floor. Its nose twitched, and it crawled towards Wen Ming’s scent…

…

#Breaking! Mermaid Center Scandal!#

#Nearly a hundred sick and malnourished mermaids held captive in tanks, a twisted and depraved act!#

#”Gentle Mermaid Healer,” Head of the Mermaid Center, Professor Yin arrested, what secrets was he hiding?#

A reporter, filming close-ups of the mermaids’ wounds, muttered to himself:

“Which headline is better…?”

Many Wen Corp employees were helping care for the rescued mermaids. They noticed someone at the entrance:

“The Admiral is here!”

“Yes! I have some documents for him to sign.”

“Can’t you give them to Assistant Xu?”

“Special circumstances, Assistant Xu is busy with the mermaids, important documents go directly to the Admiral.”

The reporter joined the employees, crowding around Wen Ming.

Wen Ming, looking up from the documents, asked the reporter: “Here to interview the mermaids?”

“Yes, the Marshal sent me, please continue your work.”

“Ask your questions now.”

Wen Ming seemed to be in a hurry, his focus intense.

He scanned the documents quickly, answering the reporter’s questions in an official tone.

“Many kind netizens want to adopt, what are the requirements?”

“No adoptions for now,” Wen Ming replied. “We’ll open the adoption channel after they’ve recovered at the temporary shelter.”

“Temporary shelter?” The reporter caught the key words.

Wen Ming answered smoothly: “A permanent shelter is under construction, the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the Wen Corp Charity Gala.”

Wen Corp had recently released a promotional video for the gala, using the masked streamer’s voiceover: “Price is irrelevant, they are the sole comfort to a parched mental seascape.”

The reporter continued: “About the video, netizens are curious—

Why did the subtitles use ‘they’ instead of ‘it’ to refer to the mermaid?”

Wen Ming raised an eyebrow, about to answer…

“Beep beep, alert! Mermaid’s body temperature abnormally high!”

Wen Ming’s expression changed drastically.

The reporter quickly put away his equipment: “If that’s inconvenient to answer, we can end the interview here.”

Wen Ming nodded apologetically and said to the waiting employees:

“Give the rest to Assistant Xu.”

He hurried away, leaving Assistant Xu, exhausted and overwhelmed, almost in tears:

“Admiral, wait!”

More work for me!?

On his way home, Wen Ming tried to video call the home butler.

The call rang for a long time before connecting, the screen black.

“MuMu?” Wen Ming’s voice was filled with worry. “I’m almost home, how are you?”

“Gasp… wheeze…”

Only labored breathing, no answer.

Unconscious?

Wen Ming sped home, not finding MuMu in the mermaid room. He checked the home butler’s location and ran to his bedroom.

The scooter was parked by the sleep pod, which was empty.

“MuMu!”

“Thud…”

Following the sound, Wen Ming entered the closet and opened the wardrobe—

Empty hangers, clothes scattered on the floor.

And a blue tail thrashing among them.

Wen Ming crouched down and pulled the little mermaid out of the pile: “MuMu, what are you doing in here?”

“Woo.” Your scent is only here.

MuMu struggled weakly, trying to burrow back into the clothes: Your clothes are too clean, I can barely smell you in here. So sad…

“Looking for my scent?”

Wen Ming’s expression softened, and he nuzzled MuMu’s cheek: “Then why not smell me directly?”

“…Awoo.” Makes sense.

MuMu emerged from the clothes and buried its face in Wen Ming’s neck, its voice muffled:

“Woo.” Sorry for messing up your closet.

The little mermaid in his arms was warm, almost as warm as him. For a mermaid, that was a fever.

“How long have you been in here? Are you too hot?”

Wen Ming carried it to the mermaid room and placed its tail in the water: “Feeling better?”

MuMu’s pale cheeks flushed pink, and it scratched Wen Ming’s face:

“Growl!” No, this isn’t enough!

The scratch, with the full force of its mermaid form, left four marks on Wen Ming’s cheek.

MuMu, its mind hazy with fever, touched his face in surprise:

“Awoo!” Master, when did you grow whiskers? Are you a cat beastman?

Wen Ming: ?

The next second, the little mermaid jumped out of the pool and clung to the home butler’s casing, the cool metal soothing its burning skin. It sighed contentedly.

Wen Ming tried to pick it up: “Let’s go to the medical center.”

“Boo!” This is the coolest spot, I’m not going anywhere!

The little mermaid clung to the home butler, wailing. Wen Ming thought it was worried about its livestream.

He pulled it away: “We’ll go to the doctor first, don’t worry about other things.”

“Awoo?” What other things?

Wen Ming patted its back: “I’ll take care of it.”

“…?” What are you talking about?

Wen Ming messaged the home butler: “Post a livestream cancellation notice on MuMu’s account.”

The home butler obeyed, then, after processing the command, realized what it meant. The ear stud on MuMu’s ear flashed frantically.

Home Butler: How did he find out!?

Wen Ming covered the ear stud, his tone menacing:

“No unnecessary chatter from robots, understand?”

The ear stud stopped flashing, defeated.

First, I had to keep MuMu’s secret from Wen Ming, now I have to keep Wen Ming’s secret from MuMu.

Is my role in this household a little too complicated?