Chapter 79
As his energy indiscriminately attacked both Zerg and his own allies, Wen Ming accepted his fate – a collapse, just like his father. He felt no surprise, no sadness, no regret. His eyes were dry, his mental seascape a wasteland. An empty shell.
Before completely losing control, he picked up his dagger and plunged it into his abdomen…
“You’re even more handsome than in the pictures!”
The mech’s alarms blared, but Wen Ming’s senses were dulled. He heard the voice and realized someone had entered the mech. A stranger’s face, but a flicker of awareness returned:
“Who are you?”
“Why did you stab yourself!?” The stranger grabbed his wrist. “Let go!”
The stranger, small but incredibly strong, pulled the dagger from his grasp. Blood dripped from his hand, staining the stranger’s cheek.
Wen Ming instinctively tried to wipe away the blood, not wanting this person to cry. But his touch only smeared it further.
“Your body… it’s so cold.”
MuMu, unfazed by the blood, nuzzled his cheek: “Does it hurt? Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” It climbed on top of him and kissed him.
The young Wen Ming’s lips were different, the lines less weary, more youthful. MuMu couldn’t imagine the pain he would endure, the slow erosion of his spirit.
“You’ll go through hell, but don’t die, please, hold on, I’ve waited so long to meet you.”
MuMu whispered against his lips: “You’ll earn so much money and spoil me rotten.”
Wen Ming’s eyes were unfocused, but he raised his arms, embracing MuMu. A gentle, soothing warmth flowed through him, calming his burning veins.
MuMu, ignoring the heat, entered his mental seascape – a barren desert, the tree withered, only bark remaining.
“It’s too late.” Wen Ming pushed him away, reaching for the dagger.
“Still hurting yourself? Having a rebellious phase?” MuMu held his hands. It didn’t care about the collapse, it just wanted to ease his pain.
It kissed him again, its love surging, overwhelming its usual weak soothing ability. The mech glowed with blue particles, like a galaxy.
New buds sprouted on the withered tree trunk, reconnecting to the broken branches, sending life back into the leaves. The wind died down, the rain stopped.
The mech, its power gone, crashed into the lake.
Wen Ming, before losing consciousness, saw a flash of blue.
…
The soldiers’ rescue attempt was chaotic. MuMu, unnoticed, pushed Wen Ming towards the shore in its mermaid form, then snuck onto the rescue airship.
When Wen Ming woke up in the hospital, he was restrained.
“Why are they tying him up like this!?” MuMu extended its claws, carefully cutting the restraints.
“Alert!” The alarm blared.
“What’s going on? Who cut the restraints!?” They searched the room, not seeing MuMu.
“?” MuMu walked towards one of them. Am I invisible? The soldier walked right through it.
“…” MuMu looked down, its body translucent, outlined by faint energy particles. Time’s running out.
It rushed to Wen Ming’s bedside: “Remember, the greatest Jiao Ren King saved you, we’ll meet again!” It lifted the flowerpot from the windowsill and placed it beside Wen Ming before disappearing.
“…Wen Ming?” Wen Ming’s eyes fluttered open. He saw the Marshal, then looked at the other side of the bed – empty.
A hallucination? He touched the flowerpot. The succulent was healthy and vibrant.
“Not a hallucination.”
“Yes! You’re alive! A miracle! The first to survive a collapse!” The Marshal’s joy faded. “But your mental seascape is damaged…”
“I know.” Wen Ming touched the succulent.
The Marshal sighed, relieved: “Any plans now that you’re retiring?”
‘You’ll earn so much money and spoil me…’ The voice echoed in his mind.
“I’ll start a company.”
“What kind?”
Wen Ming smiled: “Mermaid supplies.”
“Interesting.” The Marshal. “But it’s strange… all that energy you released during the collapse, it’s just gone.”
“Welcome home.”
MuMu shook its head, its body solid again. Back!
“MuMu?” Wen Ming saw a figure in the darkness. “Why are the lights off?”
A soft glow filled the sky. They looked outside – shooting stars, then countless lights illuminating the night.
[Meteor shower!]
[Incredible, no warning from the satellites?]
[Those aren’t meteors…]
[They look like warp signatures, energy bursts!]
MuMu stared, dumbfounded: Wen Ming’s energy, it followed him back!? It instinctively called out to the lights:
“Awoo!”
At the same time, Jiao Ren on Ocean Star and mermaids across the human planets all cried out: “Awoo—”
[My mermaid is howling.]
[+1]
[+10086, all the mermaids in the neighborhood are howling.]
[Like they’re cheering for Little Jiao Mu’s proposal!]
[Streamer, now’s your chance!]
The ear stud glinted. The home butler activated the mood lighting, illuminating a heart-shaped formation of seashells on the floor.
MuMu, its voice trembling, called out: “Will you marry me!?”
Wen Ming pulled the seashell pendant from his collar, as if adding the final piece to the heart.
“Yes.” He knelt and kissed MuMu’s hand. The energy particles outlined his face, the corners of his lips turned upwards, no longer the somber Admiral.
“End the stream?” His kiss deepened. “What happens next, can’t be livestreamed.”
The “meteor shower” lasted for a long time. When the sky calmed down, MuMu snuggled under the covers:
“I’m disabling the gift function on my channel.”
Wen Ming held the bundled-up MuMu: “Why?”
“We’re rich.” MuMu sighed. “Or maybe donate the earnings to the mermaid rescue center.”
Wen Ming’s eyes narrowed: “I thought you figured out I was the anonymous user.”
“…!”
MuMu was wide awake: “You were my top gifter!?”
Wen Ming’s gifts → MuMu’s livestream earnings → MuMu’s “donations” to Wen Ming’s account. A closed loop.
“What was the point of all that?” MuMu pouted. “We only lost money to the platform’s cut.” It burrowed under the covers, its voice muffled: “I don’t need to be the breadwinner anymore, what’s the point of anything?”
Wen Ming patted it reassuringly: “You always sounded so happy during your livestreams, doing what you love is its own reward.”
“But my earnings were pointless to you.” MuMu was confused. “Is the livestream pointless to everyone else too?”
“Have you read the thank you messages from your viewers?”
MuMu shook its head.
“Home butler.”
“Displaying private messages.”
‘Little Mermaid Caretaker: Streamer, I now let my mermaids see me when I feed and clean, and they’re so much more affectionate now! Thank you!’
‘Yi Yi’s Mermaid Yi Yi: Streamer, you’re MuMu!? Thank you for helping us during the audition, you’re a blessing to all mermaids! /Heart/’
…
As Wen Ming read the messages, MuMu emerged from under the covers, listening intently.
“The character for ‘thank you’ is complicated, but I’ve learned it now!”
“Every viewer is thanking you, do you still question the meaning of your livestreams?”
MuMu beamed: “I’ll keep streaming! It’s fun, you know, the comments have different borders…”
Wen Ming listened patiently.
Being separated from its clan and its first owner had left scars. Beneath its cheerful exterior was a sensitive heart, insecure and seeking validation.
So Wen Ming would tirelessly remind it of how special and loved it was.
“One day, you won’t worry about being abandoned, you won’t need anyone’s approval, and you’ll embrace your uniqueness without hesitation.”
Wen Ming kissed its forehead: “I’ll always be here, exploring tomorrow with you.”
So sweet! Thank you for the update!! 🥰💕