Ten spaceships, costing up to 100,000 interstellar credits, could easily secure a down payment for a house in the suburbs, yet they were so casually gifted on the live stream! If this money can't be spent, why not give it to me! Countless onlookers were incredibly envious, shouting inwardly.
Lu Mingming's live stream had a disruptive bird-person who, after typing a long string of insults, found it was blocked by the system. Enraged, he slammed his hand on his computer desk, only for the force to rebound, leaving his hand reddened. Asier's hand trembled in pain as he cursed, "What the heck? I'm not leaving until I get to post my insults today." Once the pain subsided slightly, he continued to stare intently at the stream.
Everyone in the competition hall whispered amongst themselves, their naked, curious eyes scanning Lu Mingming wantonly, eager to dissect every detail and discuss it at length. Unfortunately, not a single person could guess which magnate from Xing Fu Star was being so generous. "Is this some kind of mining boss?" "Could it be a CEO looking to hire a high-caliber nanny!" "Not to mention, Lu Mingming does have a certain beauty and demeanor. If the nine-tailed fox is a dazzling rose, Lu Mingming is like a gentle lilac." No one could escape humanity's innate nosiness.
Media professionals were eager to uncover sensational news, aiming to top the day's headlines. Streamers were even more keen to learn from Lu Mingming, to understand how to gain so many influential fans. As the discussion grew louder, the host, noticing the strange turn of events, stepped in front of Lu Mingming, turning his back to the camera, and signaled with a wink, "Does our second streamer have anything to say to this fan?"
In contrast to the astonishment and eagerness to spectate from others, Lu Mingming felt more of a sense of apprehension. While being so fortunate to receive trust and support was incredibly blissful, Lu Mingming worried that under the gaze and encouragement of the benefactor, she might become nervous and make small mistakes she wouldn't normally make. Lu Mingming lowered her eyes and pondered for a few seconds, a gentle flame appearing in her dark eyes, and two shallow dimples naturally forming on her cheeks. "Thank you for your support. I will do my best."
Soon, the text on the central screen changed, with a top comment reading: 【I believe in you.】 Seeing this, Lu Mingming's mind conjured the man's seemingly cold and gloomy, statue-like appearance. Just as she expected his lips to utter sharp words, the outcome was the surprisingly encouraging statement. He was actually a soft-hearted and passionate beast-person. Lu Mingming's smile became a little more genuine.
The next moment, a small soft hand in her palm tugged at her, successfully shifting Lu Mingming's attention. It was Huahua. "Sister, we, compete." Huahua lowered his head and leaned against Lu Mingming, trying to avoid the frequent glances. Lu Mingming noticed this, gently covering the little one's chubby cheeks with the back of her hand, shielding him from some of the invasive gazes, and said in a softer voice, "We have a competition later, Huahua, remember to change back to your parrot form." Seeing Huahua nod obediently, Lu Mingming couldn't help but poke his nose with her fingertip and led the little cub to the washroom arranged by the organizers. After all, the competition was funded by Xing Fu Star's official capacity, so the washroom was even better than the upscale neighborhood Lu Mingming lived in.
A ring of control lights illuminated the walls, casting a hazy white glow onto the patterned marble floor. The walls were surprisingly embedded with a natural and fresh plant-based fragrance, emitting a faint floral and fruity scent. Two temporary metal stands, designed to mimic real wood, were also set up for the young birds to perch on or for hanging towels. A gentle breeze from the ventilation shaft carried the fresh outside air into the washroom, finally transforming into a comfortable caress. In a daze, there was a sense of returning to nature.
Lu Mingming first laid a plain, anti-slip mat on the tiles to prevent Huahua from slipping and getting injured during his bath. Next, she turned on the washroom's heating – parrots are more comfortable in warm weather and less prone to catching colds. Although Lu Mingming had never raised a parrot before, she had learned some skills for caring for them from her grandfather. A sprayer hung on the wall, and Lu Mingming tested the water temperature with her hand, confirming it was comfortable on her skin. After completing these preparations, she faced the door and called out, "Huahua, get ready—"
Hearing the call, the little one voluntarily walked into the washroom. He shrunk himself into a small ball, his entire body slowly covered in very fine down, as if he were a snow团子 escaping the world. A moment later, the little one, having returned to his original form, lifted his head – it was an exceptionally beautiful parrot. His head bore a crest, like the wings of an angel in bloom. His snow-white feathers were dotted with light gray patterns, his red claws were like jade, bordered by lake blue hues, and his tail was long and lush. Most striking were the distinct orange patches on each of his cheeks, reminding Lu Mingming of a three-year-old who had stolen adult makeup and applied a thick layer of blush to their chubby cheeks. Utterly adorable. Even before fully grown, one could guess Huahua's future handsome appearance from his looks.
Watching on screen, Asier was shocked and quickly rummaged through his nightstand for a bird species catalog. He compared Huahua's race one by one – it turned out to be a cockatiel, an extremely rare species! This kind of chick should be sent to the sacred land of the bird race for nurturing, so why was it appearing on an obscure asteroid?! He was both surprised and angry. Using the contact information in the manual, he quickly sent Huahua's photo.
While Asier waited, the live stream continued. The little parrot, not yet accustomed to its original form, stood on the anti-slip mat and pecked at its feathers with its sharp beak. Then, with a few flaps, it spread its powerful wings and flew around the washroom twice before landing steadily on Lu Mingming's arm. Lu Mingming could feel that the little one wasn't using much force; its tiny claws rested gently on her forearm. Fearing the little one might not hold on securely and fall, Lu Mingming cupped her hand to support him, gently placing the cub in the washbasin. Seeing this on screen, Asier cursed coldly, "As expected of a trash streamer, you have no idea about bird customs! Don't drown the chick later."
Birds bathe differently from felines. Birds do not use soap or specially produced bathing products; they only need water to soften dirt on their feathers and skin. The next moment, Lu Mingming's words silenced him. "Everyone, please pay attention, young bird chicks are different from young cat chicks, remember to use a shallower basin..." Lu Mingming chose a washbasin for Huahua that had no lid and was very shallow, unlike the depth that submerged Tangyuan up to its head when bathing. To avoid misunderstanding from the viewers, Lu Mingming was about to launch into a lengthy explanation, but as she opened her mouth, she remembered that the live stream had been cleared by someone.
The popularity in the top corner of the live stream was rapidly increasing, visibly approaching 1.3 million. The screen remained eerily silent, as if nothing was happening. Without knowing the viewers' questions and answers, Lu Mingming had to retract her words and focus on the task at hand. The sprayer cast a fine stream of water, feeling slightly cool to the touch, like melting stream water under the long illumination of a warm spring day, soaking the cub inch by inch, wetting the feathers layer by layer. Parrots also do not bathe in hot water, as it can damage the protective oil layer on their feathers and skin.
It was the little cub's first bath in its original form. Its large, round eyes blinked repeatedly. After a moment to recover, it slowly extended its head and touched the water flow behind it with the tip of its beak. It was clearly adapting well and soon began to preen its feathers freely in the washbasin. Seeing that the little one had no adverse reactions, Lu Mingming tried pointing the sprayer at Huahua's back and asked, "How does it feel? This temperature." A thin mist hovered around the washbasin, and water droplets formed strings on the parrot's magnificent back feathers, flowing down. Perhaps unaccustomed, the little one shook its body, flicking the water droplets away, and Huahua's voice echoed in the room, "Just right, very comfortable."
Receiving the little one's feedback, Lu Mingming dared to proceed with confidence, pouring the water over Huahua's body. Under the baptism and embrace of the water, Huahua's plump body instantly shrunk by two sizes, its downy feathers sticking to its body, revealing its very small frame. Lu Mingming felt a pang of tenderness and gently mimicked a mother bird's beak with her fingertip, carefully preening Huahua's back. "If you have time, come find sister, and sister will cook delicious food for you."
Seemingly stunned by this sudden abundance of joy, after a minute, when Lu Mingming even thought the other party might silently refuse, the little one's muffled voice sounded from ahead. He dared not turn his head, fearing the sprayer. "Can I? Want to, finish the competition." "Of course!" Lu Mingming assured him with unwavering confidence, carefully brushing away the feathers near Huahua's ears with her fingers, avoiding the sides of his head, lest Huahua feel uncomfortable. "I have two little cubs at home, and they both have very good temperaments. You will surely become great playmates."
The white tiger in the family seating area and the little Samoyed watching the live stream in the bedroom simultaneously paused. A suspicion arose from the depths of their hearts. Two cubs: Who has a good temperament? Olanar/Morian? I didn't know. The anticipated things arrived so quickly, like a budding flower, its pistils still adorned with dew, emitting a delicate fragrance. This time, Huahua nodded his agreement without hesitation. Playmates were secondary; what he mainly wanted was to eat delicious food and stay with Lu Mingming. Thus, a pact was made between the person and the cub. Huahua still felt a sense of elation, his body feeling unprecedentedly light. He was already looking forward to a bright future.
With the intention of spreading happiness and joy, he quietly leaned in and kissed Lu Mingming's palm, lowering his head slightly, allowing Lu Mingming to help him groom his feathers. Apart from the bird race, no one knew that this gesture was a unique way for parrots to show closeness and dependence. Only Asier, unable to comment from his screen, felt a complex mix of emotions. This little cub had truly accepted the second streamer as family!